Daniels Run ES- November 21, 2025

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

A Note from the Principal

Dear Daniels Run Families,

It was wonderful to see so many of you at our Thanksgiving luncheon today! The cafeteria was filled with smiling faces, lively conversation, and a sense of community that truly warmed the heart. Some of you stayed for two and even three lunches, and some of you even generously volunteered your time to help manage the bustling book fair in between seatings. Your dedication is incredible.

We are so grateful for our wonderful community, and days like today are powerful reminders of the close-knit and supportive group we have. Your partnership makes Daniels Run Elementary a truly special place to learn and grow.

As next week is a short one due to the upcoming holiday, we wanted to highlight a few important reminders and upcoming events to help everyone plan accordingly:

Short Week Schedule: School will be in session on Monday, November 24, and Tuesday, November 25. Please note there will be no school on Wednesday, November 26; Thursday, November 27; and Friday, November 28, in observance of the Thanksgiving break.
Thanksgiving Break: We wish you all a safe, restful, and joyous Thanksgiving holiday. We hope you get to enjoy quality time with family and friends.
Return to School: We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school, refreshed and ready for learning, on Monday, December 1.

We wish all of you a peaceful and restorative break. Enjoy the precious moments with your loved ones, and we look forward to seeing our students back in the building the following week.

Warmest regards,

Susan Mullen, Principal

Upcoming Dates

November 24- Fall Picture Retakes

November 26-29: Thanksgiving Break- No School

December 11- Winter Chorus Concert at 6:30pm

December 17: 3 Hour Early Release Wednesday (dismissal at 12:45pm)

December 19: Last Day before Winter Break

December 22-January 2: Winter Break- School Closed

January 19: MLK Day Holiday- No School

January 28: End of Quarter- 2 Hour Early Release (dismissal at 1:45pm)

January 29-30: Teacher Workdays- No School

PTA News

We will be partnering with South Block Fairfax for a Daniels Run PTA Fundraiser!

You can support the school starting on Friday, November 14th - Sunday, November 23rd, using the code DRES on the South Block App. In the App, click "more" Promo Code: DRES, Start Your Order: Add items to check out and select the fundraiser from the Pink Box of Available Offers.

This code will remain in the Available Offers for the duration of the fundraiser!

AAP News

Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15

Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Ms. Danni James, DFJames@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2025.

Each year, families can submit a referral for full-time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for full-time AAP services will be accepted.

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

Next Steps for Parents

Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of their child’s materials after February 20, 2026, by emailing Ms. Danni James, DFJames@fcps.edu.

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 for the remainder of the year.

At the middle school level, honors courses are open to all students.

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs webpage.

Volunteer FCPS Helps Community Members Connect With Schools

The new volunteer management system, Volunteer FCPS, allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities at our school or across the school district.

Volunteer FCPS is how FCPS provides a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. Anyone interested in volunteering with FCPS must:

Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk on EVERY visit – no exceptions.

Recent Updates to Volunteer Opportunity LevelsDue to the overwhelming response, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers. Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities.

Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a comprehensive background check that includes fingerprinting).

To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal confirmation that you have no history of violent felonies, physical or sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude (dishonesty, fraud, things that are immoral by society’s standards).

Visit the Volunteer FCPS website to complete a volunteer orientation. View Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the volunteer levels.

❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.

⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

Monitoring Support for Your Child in ParentVUE

All FCPS schools use an approach called Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to make sure every student gets the help they need to learn.

MTSS helps school teams deliver high-quality instruction for all students and provide extra time, support, and interventions as needed. Families are partners in this process. We will share information about your child’s individual learning, needs, and progress.

You may view your child's intervention plans and progress in SIS ParentVUE. Expect progress to be updated quarterly, with report card due dates.

Every Day Is a Stepping Stone to Success

Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child later in life. It’s a good habit to build now that will help them graduate on time and help them with time management. Parents and families can play a big role in helping kick-start good attendance habits.

Please take a look at the FCPS Calendar. Try to schedule any trips or family events on weekends and school holidays. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered “chronically absent.”

When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, you must report the absence to our school. Visit our attendance webpage for more information.