Dear Cherry Run Families,
Fall is in the air! We had a wonderful week filled with community spirit, pies in the face, and Fall Festival fun. Our Cardinals had a fantastic time at this memorable event. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a success, and a special thank-you to our PTA for organizing such an incredible annual celebration!
This week, we invite you to recognize a Cherry Run staff member who makes a difference by nominating them through FCPS Honors (linked below). Your nomination is a wonderful way to celebrate the dedication and care our staff brings to the school community.
A reminder that today, Friday, October 30, is the last day of the first quarter. Students will be dismissed two hours early, at 2:05 p.m. Monday, November 2, and Tuesday, November 3, are student holidays.
We wish you a wonderful long weekend and look forward to seeing our Cardinals on Wednesday!
Sincerely,
Maura Donahue and Dave Arthur
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10/30 End of Quarter-2 hour early release (2:05pm)
11/2 Student Holiday
11/3 Student Holiday
11/11 Veterans Day Celebration
11/18 Early Release Wednesday (1:05pm)
11/25-11/27 No School-Thanksgiving Holiday
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Superintendent Community Conversations
Superintendent Community Conversations
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
2026 Outstanding Employee Awards Nominations
Nominations are now open for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Cherry Run ES Outstanding Employee, please complete the nomination through this Google form link: Nomination Form
All that is required is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees. (one individual may only nominate one employee per category)
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district)
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district)
Outstanding New Principal
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding School Professional Staff Leader
Eligibility: Non-instructional position with at least one year in their current position at their current work location.
Includes Special Education Department Chair who serves in a non-instructional role for more than 50% of their time, School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Psychologist, Reading Specialist, Social Worker, Speech Language Pathologist, and School Counselor.
Outstanding Educational Services Employee
Eligibility: Schedule-A, Schedule-H, or Classroom Instructional Support (CIS) with at least one year in their current position at their current work location.
Includes Administrative Assistant, Office Assistant, Student Information Assistant, School Finance Assistant, Instructional Assistant, Family Liaison, and Public Health Training Assistant.
Outstanding Operational Services Employee
Eligibility: Schedule-A or Schedule-H employee with at least one year in their current position at their current work location.
Includes Custodian, Building Supervisor, and Food Services staff.
The deadline for submitting a nomination is: Wednesday, November 11.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hammond at: ldhammond@fcps.edu
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Special Education Family Conference
Hear From Parents, Students, and Others at the Special Education Family Conference Opening Session
The annual Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, November 14, at Hayfield Secondary School.
New this year, the conference will open with an inspiring panel discussion featuring voices from across our school community: an FCPS student, a high school principal, a community partner, and an FCPS parent.
Panelists will share personal experiences and practical ideas for building supportive, inclusive communities where students can thrive both in and beyond the classroom.
Register to attend and visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage to learn more about the panelists. Email questions to SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu.
Digital Device Policy
Help Your Student Stay Focused and Engaged Without Digital Distractions
Please remind your student that personal electronic communication or computing devices should be off and personally stored (i.e., in backpacks) for the duration of the school day: bell to bell.
This includes personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices. Students can only use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. There are exceptions for students with disabilities and those enrolled in specific courses.
If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call the school’s front office. Learn more about the FCPS cellphone policy and device policy.
Impact Aid
Please Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. Schools will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, October 28.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is how we ensure we receive all the resources available to us from the federal government. For more information, please visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.
Dates for Early Release
26-27
Early release Wednesdays started in late September 2026. Each elementary school will have a total of four early release days throughout the school year. Lunch will be provided on early release Wednesdays.
Days depend upon the pyramid under which a school falls. Check FCPS' Region and Pyramid Map for a breakdown.
Early release Wednesdays for elementary schools in the Annandale, Edison, Falls Church, Herndon, Langley, Madison, Marshall, McLean, Lake Braddock, South Lakes, West Springfield, and Woodson pyramids:
November 18
January 13
April 7
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From the Cherry Run Family Liaison
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Family Engagement news
In this section every week you will find information about happenings at our school, pyramid schools and wider FCPS and partners’ workshops, events, training and relevant offers.
Valentini Ioannou, your Family Liaison can help with enquiries about FCPS and life in the community. Email: vcioannou@fcps.edu , call/text +1 (571) 474-5250 or message in TalkingPoints.
FCPS Updates & Resources
The FCPS Special Education Family Conference will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School. This is a free event, and childcare and interpretation services will be available. Please register online. For more information, email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu.
If any families or staff members are attending, please send me a message on TalkingPoints or email me at vcioannou@fcps.edu. I’d love to connect with you.
The Family Resource Center offers practical, everyday support for you and your family.
Please visit its website for contact information and helpful webinars on YouTube. You can also join informative webinars each week by signing up for its newsletter on News You Choose.
Below, you’ll find additional family support and events happening in our community.
Family and School Partnerships
Parent Project in Arabic is a free, 10-week program designed to help Arabic-speaking families build positive relationships with their children and find practical ways to address parenting challenges. Sessions will be held on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., beginning November 7, 2026, and ending January 30, 2027. Most sessions will be virtual; the final session will be in person. Please register online. For more information, contact Hiba Abdulwahhab at haabdulwahha@fcps.edu or (571) 567-0972; Amal Elsayed at aielsayed@fcps.edu or (703) 204-3956; or Nafisa Mohamed Taha at nmmohamedtah@fcps.edu or (703) 813-8820.
Fairfax County Government Programs & Services
The Fairfax County Department of Family Services offers an ongoing food assistance program. SNAP provides grocery assistance to eligible individuals and families. You can apply online or by phone. Phone applications offer interpretation in many languages. SNAP does not affect the chance of becoming a U.S. citizen, but starting September 18, 2026, it may affect some family- or work-based green card applications.
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Eligibility: Household income requirements apply. A household member must be a U.S. citizen, a child born in the U.S., or a lawful permanent resident.
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Registration: Apply online or call 855-635-4370, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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Contact: Fairfax County Department of Family Services, 703-324-7500, or DFSinfo@fairfaxcounty.org. For questions about green card applications, call the Virginia Legal Aid Justice Center at 703-778-3450.
Please visit the Fairfax County Department of Family Services website to learn about the many services available to you or someone you know.
Virtual Parent Café: “Talk. They Hear You®” (Upcoming: November 10, 2026)
“Talk. They Hear You®” is a national substance use prevention campaign that encourages talking to children early and often about alcohol and other drugs. Fairfax County parents and guardians of children ages 0–18 can join to learn practical information and find resources. The webinar will be held in English on Tuesday, November 10, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Please register online. For more information, email BuildingStrongerFamilies@FairfaxCounty.gov or call 703-324-7720.
Community Partners and Organizations
Office of New Americans (Upcoming: November 17, 2026)
H.R. 1’s Upcoming Medicaid Work Requirement and How to Prepare Immigrants in Virginia
Join this webinar to learn about the upcoming Medicaid work requirement, which begins in January 2027. The session will also share information for community providers who support immigrant communities in Virginia. Please register for the webinar.
Ecumenical Community Helping Others (ECHO)
ECHO offers food, clothing, household items, school supplies, and limited financial assistance to eligible residents in the Burke and Springfield area. Its service area includes all addresses in ZIP codes 22151, 22152, 22153, and 22015, as well as some addresses in 22150 and 22312. Call 703-569-9160 to check eligibility and make an appointment. Walk-ins are not accepted. Phone hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m.
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