Cub Run Family Newsletter

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Collage of seven photos that include elementary students performing for veterans.

Our Cubbies honoring veterans during a Veterans Day assembly with friends and family.


Collage of students standing next to teachers while holding CARES award certificates.

Some of our C.A.R.E.S. recipients for the month of October!


Upcoming Dates

November 16 FLE Parent/Guardian Information Session (Virtual) 6:30 - 7:15pm

November 16-20: Fall Book Fair

November 18: Principals’ Walking Club - 8:05am; Blacktop

November 19: Thanksgiving Luncheon

November 19: Family Engagement Night - Second Step; 6:00pm

November 25-27: No School for Students - Thanksgiving Break

December 2: Early Release Wednesday - Dismissal at 12:25pm

December 7: Fall Picture Retakes

December 16: PTA Meeting - 7:00pm, In person & virtual; Library

December 21-January 1: No School for Students- Winter Break

View the 2026-27 school year calendar for additional important dates.


Thanksgiving (Holiday)

Schools and offices will be closed Wednesday, November 25, through Friday, November 27. 

Classes will resume on Monday, November 30. See the complete school year calendar


Cubbie News

Dear Cub Run Families and Friends,

Our school community gathered for two deeply moving Veterans Day concerts to honor the brave veterans among our families and local community. Our second graders and our 5th and 6th grade chorus gave incredible performances that brought our school together in gratitude and celebration. It was a privilege to recognize the service and sacrifice of our veterans alongside our students, staff, and guests. Thank you to all who attended and to our dedicated music educators and student performers for making it such a memorable day.

Last week, we also officially kicked off our first Den Meetings of the school year! Students were thrilled to join their new dens, get to know new Cubbies, and jump right into fun, meaningful community-building activities. These cross-grade den gatherings play a big role in fostering belonging, leadership, and camaraderie across our school, and we can't wait to see these friendships flourish throughout the year.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support in making our school community such a welcoming place for all of our learners.

Warm regards,

Melissa Miller, Principal

Nausheen Haider, Assistant Principal

Stephanie Kaminsky, Assistant Principal


Message from our Cub Run-a-thon Chair

Dear Cub Run Community,

It has been a busy week as we celebrate with incentives from the Cub Run-a-Thon! Ms. Nokovich's kindergarten class had an awesome time at their PJ/pizza party on Monday! They had a special visit from Cubbie Bear! This class raised the most amount of money for our fundraiser! On Tuesday, kindergarten, first, second, and third grade students enjoyed their MEGA recess! They played lots of games, drew with chalk, listened to music, popped bubbles, and played soccer with a huge ball! On Wednesday, fourth graders earned free-seating in the cafeteria and got to sit with friends from other classes! Due to weather, the big slime event has been rescheduled for next Friday, November 20. On Friday, the first teachers from each grade level to meet their goal will get lunch from Farmside Kitchen! Thank you again to everyone who has supported our fundraising event!! It was a huge success!!

Thank you,

Kristin Bawarski

Cub Run-a-Thon Chair


Thanksgiving Luncheon - November 19

Families are invited to join their students for a Thanksgiving lunch on Thursday, November 19th. Any adults attending that also wish to purchase a school lunch will need to purchase a presale ticket by Tuesday, November 17th. Meals are $5.50 each. Exact change must be sent in, meal tickets will not be available after 11/17. Please send money in to your student’s teacher, we can accept cash or a check made payable to Cub Run Elementary. You do not have to purchase a meal to attend. All visitors aged 18 and up must show ID at check in. Refund requests can be made up to 11/17. Any funds remaining after due to non attendance will be donated back to the school. Please see the flyer that went home in Wednesday folders last week for more information. Please see the schedule below for grade level lunch times.

Kindergarten                            

10:30 - 11:00                            

First Grade

11:10 - 12:15

AM Preschool

11:25 - 11:55

Third Grade

11:45 - 12:15

PAC

11:45 - 12:15

Fourth Grade

12:10 - 12:40

Second Grade

12:30 - 1:00

Fifth Grade

1:05 - 1:35

PM Preschool

1:15 - 1:45

Sixth Grade

1:35 - 2:05


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).


Principals Walking Club 

Please join Mrs. Miller and Cub Run Staff for our Principals Walking Club on Wednesday, November 18 at 8:05 a.m. Students are invited to meet on the field or in the gym (weather permitting). Come join us!


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 event will now take place through Zoom. 

Date: November 19

Time: 6:00–7:00 p.m.

Location: Online

Format: Virtual

Please RSVP using this Google Form HERE. Zoom links will be sent out to families who register. 


SCA Spirit Week - November 30 - December 4

Monday: Camo Day – Wear your favorite camo pieces or wear all green to blend in

Tuesday: Twin Day – Match your fit with someone or with your teacher

Wednesday: Jersey Day – Represent your favorite team or player by wearing a jersey of your choice

Thursday: Cub Run Den Color – Wear the color of your Den to represent our four dens

Friday: Pajama Day – Get comfy and ease into the weekend by wearing school appropriate pajamas


Spring Full-Time AAP Referral Window Closes on December 15

The spring referral window is for students in Grades 2-7. Parents and guardians who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services must submit the Full-Time AAP Referral Form to Naomi Egerton Baker, AART, at nhegertonbak@fcps.edu by December 15, 2026.

Late referrals will not be accepted.

Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time AAP services.

Next Steps for Parents/Guardians

Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April to the email address that is in ParentVue for your student. Parents and guardians may request a copy of their child’s portfolio after February 22, 2027, by emailing the school’s AART.

At the elementary level, referrals for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP are screened by the school. If you miss the Full-Time referral deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific or Part-Time AAP services.

At the middle school level, honors courses are open to all students. Families should work with their student’s school to select the courses that best meet their academic needs.

For more information, please contact Naomi Egerton Baker, AART, at nhegertonbak@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website.


PTA News

Fall Book Fair is Coming Next Week!

Get ready to discover your next favorite story! The Scholastic Book Fair is returning to Cub Run Elementary from November 16 through November 20.

It is always one of the most anticipated events of the year, and students are eager to explore the shelves, browse the huge selection of books, and take home new adventures to read. In addition to inspiring a love for reading, the fair offers a wonderful opportunity to check off your holiday gift list early with classic titles, popular new series, and fun literary finds for readers of all ages.

Mark your calendars and make sure to stop by to help support our school community while stocking up on great reads! 

Please visit our home page below for information, including our link for volunteer sign-ups. 

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/cubrunelementaryschool


Volunteers for Thanksgiving Lunch

Cub Run will be holding the annual Thanksgiving Luncheon for cubbies and their families on Thursday, November 19th. We are looking for parent/guardian volunteers to help support this wonderful gathering by assisting with serving food and helping cubbies and their families around the event as needed during each grade luncheon session.

Parents/guardians: If you are able to assist during any of the available luncheon sessions, please sign up below. 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DABAD22AAF4C43-67432853-cubrun#/

We welcome parents/guardians to sign up for any grade level session or multiple sessions, if schedules allow. As a reminder, volunteers will need to complete the Fairfax County School System (FCPS) volunteer application if they have not already and prior to the luncheon to support. The FCPS volunteer application can be found here: https://fcps.samaritian.com/custom/501/volunteer_home. 

We greatly appreciate your support in making this a memorable event possible for our Cub Run Families. If you have any questions or need assistance signing up, please don't hesitate to reach out to volunteer@cubrunpta.org. 


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


FCPS News

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. 

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. 


School Start Times Survey Headed Your Way

FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the goal of implementing healthy school start times that are budget neutral, where possible, and minimize impacts on staff. Your feedback remains an important part of this conversation.

At yesterday’s School Board work session, staff presented recommendations for K-12 school start times. They also shared that a survey will be sent to families and staff on Tuesday, November 17. 

The survey will close on Tuesday, December 1. The School Board plans to review the results in December and take action later that month. Learn more about the K-12 School Start Times project.


November is National Family Engagement Month

Family Engagement Month is a time to remember that families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. 

The FCPS Family Academy supports the continued success and well-being of each and every student within the FCPS community. The Academy offers a variety of positive and engaging learning opportunities and meaningful connections to transform the FCPS experience into a welcoming environment for all families.

Growing Together: Talking About Social-Emotional Learning at Home

Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps children develop confidence, resilience, self-awareness, and other important skills that support their success in school and throughout life. Participate in a Family Cafe workshop to:

  • Understand your child’s Fairfax County SEL Screener results.
  • Use the SEL Screener results as a starting point for meaningful conversations at home.
  • Support your child’s social and emotional development.
  • Build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills together. 

Learn practical ways to talk with your child about their social and emotional well-being and support their continued growth at home. Events will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on:

Click on the date to register. Find additional details on the FCPS Family Academy page. 

Childcare will be available. Interpretation services are available upon request. For more information, contact the Family and School Partnerships office at 703-204-4300 or FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu. 

Tutoring Resources for Families

Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as a tutor. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant as a resource to families.


Attendance Matters

Every day at school is an opportunity for your child to learn, connect, and grow. Just a few missed days of school here and there can add up to significant losses in learning. This is true in every grade, from kindergarten to high school. Below are some ways to support your child’s learning:

  • Help your child maintain routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
  • Check in with them to see if they feel connected, included, and able to take part in learning at school. If challenges are affecting their school day, contact their teachers or counselors to discuss support.
  • Follow their assignments and grades in Schoology and ParentVUE. If help is needed, reach out to teachers or encourage older students to connect with their teachers. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in ParentVUE so teachers are able to contact you.

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, talk to your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. But remember, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that goes on in the classroom.

If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to the front office of your school. We are here for you! Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.


Reminders

FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards - Last Call!

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.

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.  

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. 


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.


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. 

2026-27 TJ Invitational Science Fair

TJ Investigative Science Outreach, a student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will be hosting their 14th annual Invitational Science Fair in mid-April, and would like to invite 5th-8th graders to participate. Admission to the science fair is completely free. 

Participants will complete a research project of their choice and present it in-person at the fair in April. TJ Investigative Science Outreach members will help students prepare for this fair by holding multiple sessions to teach them important STEM skills, including brainstorming, building an experimental design diagram, data collection and analysis, scientific writing, and presentation. 

More information is available on their website, tjsciencefair.wordpress.com or they can be reached at tjhsstsciencefair@gmail.com. 


Top left to right images: Den of Adventure and Exploration.  Bottom left to right images: Den of Discovery and Wonder.
CARES Values Listed: Community, Act Responsibly, Ready to Learn, Empathy, Safe Choices

Be Informed, Stay Involved!