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Our first grade Cubbies exploring pumpkins!
Upcoming Dates
October 30: Storybook Character Day
October 30: Cub Run-a-thon (during school)
October 30: End of the First Quarter; 2-hour early release-Dismissal at 1:25pm
November 2: No School for Students - School Planning Day
November 3: No School for Students - Teacher Workday
November 11: Veterans Day Assemblies
November 16 FLE Parent/Guardian Information Session (Virtual) 6:30 - 7:15
November 16-20: Fall Book Fair
November 19: Thanksgiving Luncheon
November 19: Family Engagement Night - Second Step; 6:00pm
View the 2026-27 school year calendar for additional important dates.
Cubbie News
Dear Cub Run Families and Friends,
As we wrap up the first quarter of the school year this week, I want to take a moment to reflect on what a wonderful and productive few months it has been. Walking through our hallways and visiting classrooms every day, I am continually inspired by the energy, curiosity, and growth our students demonstrate. Whether tackling challenging new concepts, collaborating on creative projects, or showing kindness to one another, our students have set an outstanding tone for the year ahead.
This incredible progress is a direct result of the dedication and hard work of our amazing teachers and staff. Day in and day out, our team goes above and beyond to foster a safe, engaging, and supportive learning environment for every child. We are immensely grateful for their passion and commitment.
Speaking of incredible effort, I am thrilled to share an extraordinary update regarding our Cub Run-a-thon! Thanks to the overwhelming generosity and spirit of our Cub Run family, we have achieved 104% of our $40,000 goal!
Reaching this milestone as we celebrate 40 years of Cub Run pride is a testament to the strength of our community. Your contributions will directly impact our students and school environment as we continue honoring our rich history while building for the future. Thank you to everyone who has donated, volunteered, or shared our mission, we are very excited for our Cub Run-a-thon on Friday!
As we transition into the second quarter, we look forward to building on this momentum with new learning opportunities, upcoming school events, and continued partnership with all of you. Thank you for your ongoing support, enthusiasm, and dedication to our school.
Warm regards,
Melissa Miller, Principal
Nausheen Haider, Assistant Principal
Stephanie Kaminsky, Assistant Principal
Storybook Character Day - October 30
Mark your calendars! Storybook Character Day is coming on Friday, October 30, and we invite all students and staff to join the fun by dressing up as their favorite book character!
This is the perfect chance to read together at home and brainstorm a simple, homemade costume. Pull out those hats, props, and old clothes—no need to buy anything new!
For the safety and comfort of everyone, please ensure outfits are not scary. Masks, weapons, and dangerous-looking items are strictly prohibited.
Talk with your child about their character choice; sharing their story will be the best part of the day! We look forward to seeing our school filled with characters from countless stories!
Calendar Reminder: Quarter End
Friday, October 30, is the last day of the first quarter. Students will have a two-hour early release. We will dismiss at 1:25pm.
Schools will be closed for students on Monday, November 2, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 3, for a teacher workday.
See the complete school year calendar.
Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back)
Daylight saving time will end this Sunday, November 1, at 2 a.m. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!
Veterans Day
Wednesday, November 11, is a school day. Please note, Fairfax County’s SACC and Beyond the Bell programs are closed on November 11 due to a county holiday.
See the complete school year calendar.
Lost and Found
Many items have found their way into our Lost and Found in the cafeteria. Please have our Cubbies check to see if any of the items belong to them. All items will be donated after Friday, October 30.
Veterans Day Assemblies - November 11
As Veterans Day approaches, our school community is honored to pause and recognize the brave men and women who have served in our nation's Armed Forces. To show our gratitude, we will be hosting our annual Veterans Day assemblies to celebrate the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of our service members—including the veterans within our very own Cub Run family and local community. We warmly invite our veteran guests to join us as our students pay tribute to all who have served.
9:15-10:00: Preschool and Grades 4-6
2:15-3:00: Preschool and Grades K-3
We look forward to coming together to honor our heroes!
Reminder: Pictures Needed for Veterans Day
Calling all Cub Run connected Veterans! We would love to honor you on our Veterans’ week “Wall of Honor” this year. If you have previously submitted a photo, you do not need to resubmit- we save them! If you are new or would like to honor a Veteran in your family, please send the photo to me, Tracy Cousino, at the following email: tacousino@fcps.edu.
Family Life Education (FLE) & Parent Preview Night
Students in grade K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction. Students in Kindergarten through grade three receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit. For more information about FCPS' Family Life Education program, please see the detailed descriptions here. In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in Schoology. To find those lessons, log into your Schoology account with your SIS login.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out the opt out forms online here. If you have already indicated your desire to opt your child out of FLE lessons in ParentVue, you do not need to complete another form.
A virtual parent preview night will be held on Monday, November 16 from 6:30 - 7:15 (link will be sent out via an e-Notify email).
Family Engagement Night - November 19
Please join us for a family engagement night to learn more about Second Step, the program that supports students’ social and emotional learning. We’ll share an overview of the program and offer time to explore ways families can support these skills at home. This will also be a potluck. Families are welcome to bring a dish to share, though it’s completely optional.
Date: November 19Time: 6:00–7:00 p.m.Location: Cub Run - Theater 1Format: In person or virtual
Please RSVP using this Google Form HERE. If you plan to attend virtually, we will share the meeting link with you after you RSVP. We hope you can join us!
Save the Date - Thanksgiving Lunch
Our Thanksgiving lunch will be on Thursday, November 19. Specific class times and how to purchase your Thanksgiving lunch is coming soon!
FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards
Nominations are now open for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Cub Run Outstanding Employee, please complete the nomination through this Google form link.
All that is required is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work. You may nominate one or more employees.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Professional Staff Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a School-Based Administrator (that is not the building principal) or Schedule-B employee or Teacher Scale employee in a non-instructional position at their current location.
Positions in this category include Assistant Principal, Associate Principal, Director of Student Services, Director of Student Activities, Resource Teacher and Special Education Department Chair and Multilingual Learners Department Chair who serves in a non-instructional role for more than 50% of their time, After-School Specialist, Assessment Coach, Athletic Trainer, Career Center Specialist, Career Experience Specialist, College and Career Specialist, Crisis Resource Teacher, Instructional Coach, School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Psychologist, Reading Specialist, Safety and Security Specialist, Social Worker, Speech Language Pathologist, School Counselor, Systems of Support Administrator, or other employee paid as a Resource Teacher who serves in a non-instructional or administrative role in the school.
Outstanding Educational Services Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A, Schedule-H, or Classroom Instructional Support (CIS) employee at their current location.
Positions in this category include Administrative Assistant, Office Assistant, Student Information Assistant, Finance Technician, School Finance Assistant, Student Services Assistant, Instructional Assistant, Family Liaison, and Public Health Training Assistant.
Outstanding Operational Services Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Schedule-H employee at their current location.
Positions in this category include Custodian, Building Supervisor, Food Services staff, and Safety and Security Assistant.
Please note: The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 13th.
If you have any questions, please contact Jenny Sisk at jeschoensisk@fcps.edu.
PTA News
Cub Run-a-thon: The Big 4-0…Go Cubbie, It’s Your Birthday!
Wow...big news! As of Thursday, we have exceeded our Cub Run-a-Thon goal! Thank you to everyone who has supported our PTA fundraiser! It has been incredible to watch our Cubbies come together and get excited about our big event that will take place this Friday! On Wednesday, October 28, our principals dressed up in crazy costumes (this incentive was unlocked for reaching 50% of our goal). On Thursday, October 29, mystery staff members will get Bean Boozled and taste yucky jelly beans (75% incentive unlocked). We are super close to meeting our school goal...which means the principals will get slimed in a crazy challenge!
Congratulations to additional classes that have exceeded their classroom goals! They will get extra recess and popsicles!
- Ms. Mason's 4th grade class
- Ms. Lee's 2nd grade class
- Ms. McWhirt's first grade class
- Ms. Coch's 2nd grade class
- Ms. Katz' kindergarten class
- Ms. Welliver's first grade class
- Ms. Hagen's 4th grade class
There are many classrooms that are so close to meeting their goals!
- Mr. Taylor's 2nd grade - 96%
- Ms. Lee's 4th grade - 94%
- Mr. Koblinski's 6th grade - 92%
- Ms. Sisk's 3rd grade - 88%
- Mr. Olivos' 5th grade - 85%
- Ms. Hoey's 2nd grade - 82%
A huge congratulations to 2nd grade as they have exceeded their grade-level goal and have earned a mega recess with music, games, bubbles, and chalk! Fourth grade also exceeded their grade-level goal and unlocked free seating in the cafeteria for a day!
The other grades are getting closer to their goals!
- 3rd grade - 100%
- 5th grade - 73%
- 6th grade - 56%
Cub Run-a-Thon raffles end this week! We will have special grade-level raffles on Thursday with 40 new prizes...squishies, Nee Dohs, dumplings, and more! On Friday, one student will win a Family Fun Pack to Fun Land! All students who have registered and have a donation will be entered!
Raffle Prize Calendar
Thursday, 10/29 = 6 winners...Dumplings
Thursday, 10/29 = 40 winners (grade-level raffles)
Friday, 10/30 = 1 winner (Family Four Fun Pack to Fun Land)
The Cub Run-a-Thon is the PTA’s biggest fundraiser! The event will be held during school on Friday, October 30th. Students will run, walk, and dance their way around the field to the tunes of the DJ! All students will receive a popsicle and sweatband on event day!
Step 1 - REGISTER NOW! bit.ly/cubrun40
Step 2 - SHARE your donation page with family and friends!
Step 3 - VOLUNTEER! Volunteer Run-a-Thon Sign Up Genius
Step 4 - On event day, remind your Cubbie to wear sneakers, their favorite Cub Run gear, neon, 80s attire, or storybook costume!
Thank you for your support!
Join our PTA
Supporting Cub Run enables us to give back to our #Cubbies.
No time commitment, no volunteer hours! Just your financial support.
Membership Levels: $40-Gold Family Membership | $25 Silver Family Membership $10 - Teacher/Staff only Membership
Join Today: https://cubrun.givebacks.com/shop
Yearbook Cover Contest
Get creative, artists! This year marks our school’s 40th Birthday, and we need a cover design that celebrates four decades of memories.
Submit your original artwork for a chance to have your design featured on the front of this year's yearbook.
Requirements:
- Must be on an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of white paper.
- Create a vertical piece of art – horizontal pieces cannot be used on the cover.
- You may use crayons, colored pencils or markers.
- If you use crayon or colored pencil, press hard! You want your colors to be dark and vibrant. Lightly colored artwork will not print well.
- Include the school’s name, Cub Run Elementary, and the school year, 2026 - 2027.
- Artwork must be original and it must reflect a vision of the theme: 40th Birthday!
Submit your artwork:
- Give your original artwork to your teacher before the contest deadline, October 30.
- Use a pencil to write your name, grade and teacher’s name on the back of the artwork.
Winners will be announced in November.
The first-place winner’s artwork will be featured on the front cover of the yearbook!
QUESTIONS? Contact Corinne Stanley at yearbook@cubrunpta.org
FCPS News
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:
Complete the Federal Impact Aid Survey Online
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.
Share Your Thoughts on Schools & Building in the Renovation Queue Survey
Whether you work in an FCPS school, have a child enrolled, or live near an FCPS school, please share your perspective about building conditions, how facilities affect teaching and learning, renovation priorities, and what information would help you better understand this process.
Look for the survey in your email from Friday, October 16. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. Participation is voluntary, and all responses will be kept confidential. The survey will remain open until Saturday, October 31.
Did You Know? Bond Referendums Fund Facility Renovations
FCPS does not pay for facility renovations out of its general operating budget. Instead, Fairfax County voters decide on how much money FCPS can spend on capital improvement projects through bond referendums. Bonds are issued by the county to the school division and allow FCPS to renovate buildings without increasing taxes.
Learn more about bond referendums and how they support our schools on the Bond Referendum webpage.
Reminders
Safety Reminder - ID Required
The safety and security of our students and staff is always our top priority. To ensure a safe environment for everyone, we want to remind all parents, guardians, and visitors of our front office check-in policy.
Please remember to bring a valid government-issued photo ID every time you come to Cub Run.
A photo ID is required for:
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Student Pick-Up: Standard dismissal, early check-outs, or emergency pick-ups.
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School Visits: Parent-teacher conferences, classroom visits, or school events during instructional hours.
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Volunteering: Classroom help, event coordination, or chaperoning field trips.
When you arrive, our office team will verify your physical ID before issuing a visitor badge or releasing a student. Even if our staff recognizes you, this standard procedure ensures consistent safety for all children.
Thank you for your partnership, patience, and commitment to keeping our school community safe.
Encouraging Regular Attendance
Regular attendance is a good habit to establish in childhood. It can lead to greater success in high school, college, and careers. Teachers and students miss your child when they can’t make it to school. If you or your family need support, please reach out to your school's front office. We are here for you!
If students miss too much school, school staff may reach out to the family to partner with them on addressing barriers to regular attendance. Visit the FCPS website for attendance resources.
Literacy Webinar Series
Fairfax County Public Schools is presenting a literacy webinar series to help families understand reading assessments, reading plans, and how to support their child at home. The series and topics:
- December 15, 10 a.m.- What is a Reading Plan?
- February 19, 10 a.m.- How Do I Support My Child With a Reading Plan at Home?
- May 14, 10 a.m.- Continuing Reading Success Through the Summer.
Be Informed, Stay Involved!
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