Cub Run Family Newsletter

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Collage of photos of students and staff at the annual Asha-Jyothi 5k.

Students and staff participating in the annual Asha-Jyothi 5k Fun Run! We also ran into school board member, Seema Dixit!

Four photo collage of some of our Cubbie Kinders learning the letter "L"!

Kindergartners are all smiles as they practice their letters!

Upcoming Dates

September 26-October 4: Blue Star Welcome Week

September 30: Review and Sign SR&R in ParentVUE

September 30: AAP Parent Information Session - Continuum of Services- 5:30pm; Library

October 2: Westfield High School Homecoming Parade

October 12: No School for Students - School Planning Day

October 16: PTA Movie Night

October 21: Early Release Wednesday - Dismissal at 12:25pm

October 22: Parent Coffee- AAP Full-time Identification- 9:15am; Cafeteria

October 27: Fall Picture Day

October 30: Cub Run-a-thon (during school)

October 30: End of the First Quarter; 2-hour early release-Dismissal at 1:25pm

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

Cubbie News

Blue Star Welcome Week

Every year, approximately 600,000 military-connected families relocate, and schools are a primary way they get integrated into their new location. Most of these families move to new duty stations, while some transition out of the military and others transition in. Most of these moves take place over the summer, and Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring our military families feel welcomed and a sense of belonging to their local community.

Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices. Throughout the week, FCPS will help ease their transition through events, messages, actions of welcome, and opportunities to make meaningful connections. Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 26 through October 4, 2026, and throughout the year! #BlueStarWelcomeWeekFCPS

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. Thank you and we hope you will join us at our Veterans Day assembly in November. Stay tuned for more information!

Advanced Academics Programs

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services is available to students in Grades K-12 and is designed to match services to each student’s unique academic needs.

Identification for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services occurs throughout the school year. Full-Time AAP services have two identification cycles:

Fall identification: Students in grades 3-7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15, 2026.
Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2-7 may be referred by December 15, 2026.

FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration in the holistic identification process for AAP services.

All students in Grade 2 take the Naglieri General Ability Tests (NGAT).
Students in Grades 3-6 who do not have a multi-domain ability test score take the NGAT.
Students in Grades 3-6 may retake an ability test one time. Families may request the ability test retake by contacting Nausheen Haider, School Testing Coordinator, at NFHaider@fcps.edu by September 30.

Families are invited to attend two AAP information meetings, led by Naomi Egerton Baker, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):

AAP Continuum of Services: September 30 at 5:30 PM in the Library. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
Full-Time AAP Identification: October 22 at 9:15 am in the cafeteria. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.

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

Review and Sign SR&R by September 30

The FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) booklet explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. We encourage families to discuss these expectations with their child(ren).

Families should review the SR&R and sign the acknowledgement form by next Wednesday, September 30, either by logging into SIS ParentVUE or by signing and returning the Signature Sheet to their child’s school.

Cellphones and Personal Devices

Students may only use a personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device. Learn more on the FCPS website.

Understanding the Acceptable Use Policy

FCPS provides students with digital tools and devices to support their learning, encourage easy collaboration, and help students learn how to interact with technology safely. The FCPS Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) guides how these technologies are used both inside the classroom and at home. By following the AUP, students learn how to become not just users of technology, but responsible and ethical digital citizens with critical real-world skills such as:

Responsible Communication and Conduct: Communicating respectfully and using technology appropriately.
Digital Footprint Awareness: Understanding online actions can have lasting effects on a student’s reputation, future opportunities and relationships, career prospects, and safety.
Data Privacy and Security: Learning how online safety can protect their digital work, personal information, and guard against cybersecurity risks.
Self-Regulation: Learning to manage digital distractions to stay focused when needed.
Accountability: Understanding that they are responsible for how they use FCPS technology and digital resources.

Learn more about digital citizenship at FCPS.

PTA News

Dear Families,

We are thrilled to report a smooth, energetic, and successful start to the new school year. It has been fantastic seeing our students and families settle in, reconnect, and bring so much positive energy back to the halls.

Our PTA family needs your help to make this school year unforgettable for our kids! We are currently looking for enthusiastic volunteers to step this impactful yet vacant positions:

Spirit Night Coordinator (organizing fun community dining events)
Cub Run-a-thon, our biggest and most exciting fundraiser.

Strong communities are built together, so please invite and remind other families to join the PTA—every new member brings fresh ideas, extra support, and a stronger voice for our children. We look forward to working alongside you!

Warmly,

Your Cub Run Elementary PTA

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

Traffic Safety Near Our Schools

We understand that families may need to drop off or pick up their children at school from time to time. Please familiarize yourself with your school’s kiss-and-ride procedures for the safety of all children and staff.

Please drop off or pick up your students in the designated areas. Students should not be dropped off or picked up in other areas around the school or in nearby neighborhoods. Also avoid parking in neighborhoods or double parking in front of a school if you intend to walk your child to school. This can increase the number of students walking through busy intersections and create traffic hazards for other drivers and families trying to get to school.

Always follow all signs and directions posted at schools, on public roads, or provided by school staff or crossing guards, and avoid making U-turns. Most of all, always — ALWAYS — drive slowly near our schools. The safety of all our students is one of our top priorities!!

The Fairfax County Police Department has additional safety tips for families, including ways to keep walkers safe and what to do about scooters, bicycles, and e-scooters.

Twice Exceptional Students

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners are students who are gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities.

Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage, which also includes a link to the Special Education Handbook.

New information, including printable flyers, has been added under the heading Supporting 2e Learners in FCPS.

For more information, please contact Emily Wood, special education department chair, or Naomi Egerton Baker, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher.

Digital Literacy Resources for Families

As part of the division’s continued support for digital literacy, families can access lesson materials that introduce the concepts students will explore throughout the school year. These resources include student lessons and supporting materials organized by grade level. Resources will be shared on a quarterly basis through Schoology.

The All Parent/Guardian Course is available in Schoology through a parent or guardian account. Schoology and ParentVUE use the same login credentials. Families who need assistance can review How Do I Log in to and Access Schoology? or watch the brief walkthrough on the Schoology Snippets page.

Families can also learn more about FCPS guidance and practices on the Educational Technology in FCPS webpage.

Superintendent Community Conversations

Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:

Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.

Stay in the Know With Here Comes the Bus

Even though FCPS has launched a new bus navigation system, some aspects like the new FCPS My Ride mobile app are still in development. Families should still use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to track the location of their child’s bus. This app is still compatible with the new system.

FCPS will notify families and schools when the new app is ready to download and use. In the meantime, everyone should reinforce with students that they need to tap on and off the bus with their student ID cards.

Did you already download the new app? That’s okay! The new app is in the final stage of testing, so some features are not yet fully functional. At this time, you should refer to Here Comes the Bus for the most accurate information.

Reminders

Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window for Students New to FCPS Closes on October 15

The Advanced Academic Program (AAP) fall referral window is only for students in Grades 3 to 8 who are new to FCPS since January 1, 2026. Parents and guardians who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time AAP services must submit the Full-Time AAP Referral Form to Naomi Egerton Baker, AART, at nhegertonbak@fcps.edu by Thursday, October 15. Late referrals will not be accepted.

For students who are not new to FCPS, the spring Full-Time AAP identification window is open to students in Grades 2 to 7. Families interested in referring their student for consideration during the spring window must submit a referral by Tuesday, December 15.

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.

Other Advanced Academic Services

At the elementary level, all students are screened each spring for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services. Families may also refer their student for consideration for Subject-Specific or Part-Time AAP at any time during the school year. Eligibility decisions are made at the school level, and families are notified of the decision within 30 school days of the referral. The Full-Time AAP referral deadlines do not apply.

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

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

Early Release Wednesdays for the 2026-27 School Year

FCPS will continue with limited early release Wednesdays for elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year. The number of days has been reduced from eight to four.

Early release Wednesdays provide elementary teachers with a dedicated block of time to prepare lessons, participate in professional development and training, and collaborate with their peers. A well-supported and continuously improving teaching staff leads to better educational outcomes for students.

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