FCPS

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From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

Wow it has been cold!  Driving through the neighborhood, you would have thought that it snowed a day or two ago, not almost two weeks ago!  The amount of snow still out there is amazing!

I wanted to give a quick SHOUT OUT to my amazing custodial staff.  They did an incredible job getting our school ready to go after the snow.  The school was ready to go on Wednesday, but unfortunately, the roads and sidewalks around Northern Virginia were not.  Every morning, I still see Ms. Susana wheeling a cart of sand and salt around to cover any place where snow melt may have re-frozen.  All of them (Dany, Susana, Gloria, and Angel) have worked diligently to keep our school grounds safe for the students!  For that, I sincerely thank them.

Next week, schools are closed on Monday, including the office.  Next week is the just about the end of the 2nd quarter.  There will be two days the following week, before a teacher workday to complete grades, and then the 3rd quarter starts on Thursday, January 30th.  The last day of the quarter is NOT an early release day.

With cold weather and potential precipitation in the coming weeks, keep an eye on the FCPS website about delays and closings.  If you haven't already, sign up for the FCPS alerts on the FCPS website.  That will keep you immediately informed if anything happens.

Have a great weekend.  Stay WARM!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

January 20 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

January 28 - Last Day of 2nd Quarter - Regular dismissal!

January 29 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

February 10 - 3 Hour Early Closing - Students dismissed at 1:05

February 17 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

Spelling Bee & Club

 

It is not too late to register for the spelling bee! 

 

Spelling Bee Myths

1. You must be a good speller to participate. 

- All spellers are welcome! It's about playing the game and what you can learn from it. Yes there will be a winner, but it's also fun to just play the game. 

1. You must attend the club to participate in the bee

- While highly encouraged to attend club, we understand you all have busy schedules. 

1. You have to study or it's not worth it.

- Yes, studying will help and there is a fun Word Club App to help, BUT if you only study at club, you are still welcome. 

 

Sign up Here: https://forms.gle/KNEEH7phNptdNKYaA 

Keeping Warm!

• • 🧥 Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor ActivitiesWinter weather is here! As a reminder, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy time outdoors. Schools monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside for activities like recess or physical education.

  View Fairfax County’s Winter Weather/Extreme Cold safety tips. 

Cell Phone Policy Reminder

 

📵 Phones Down, Engagement Up: FCPS Cell Phone Policy Keeping cell phones off during the school day helps students focus and learn. It also boosts positive social behavior. Review FCPS’ cell phone expectations by grade level with your child and help keep our classrooms free of distractions! If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office at 703-923-2800 and we will get a message to your child.

Literacy Resources for Parents

FCPS has created the following sites as literacy resources for families:

Literacy Resources for Families

Family-Facing Curriculum 

Each site provides resources for families to support their students at home.  The first site is a link to resources, definitions of words/acronyms, and other general supports for students.  The second site is a link to the FCPS program of studies, pacing guides, and quarter expectations.

Cherry Run Cold Weather Policy

 

FCPS - SEH-23

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??

Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet.  Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).

Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:

When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns. 

Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE!  While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!  

We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.

Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good morning families!! 

Well, it seems like FOREVER since I had seen any of our students!!  It was great seeing the students coming into school with smiles on their faces.  Our typical two-week break was extended to nearly three weeks, but the students arrived today and were safe and happy.  I hope that they were all able to relax, recharge, and get ready for the second half of the year!

We do have some more days off in January (20th & 29th) and there is always the chance for more weather interruptions.  Please make sure that you have subscribed to the FCPS Alert notifications, and they will text and email you of any change to school operations!  You can also check the FCPS website for emergency announcements at www.fcps.edu .

We only have about two weeks left in the 2nd quarter and then we have a LONG run through the 3rd quarter that is fairly uninterrupted.  One day off in both February and March, with the possible addition of weather closures, are that interrupt the weekly schedule.

Just a reminder, students who are listed as 'chronically absent' (10% or more of the total attendance days) at the end of the 2nd quarter will receive a notice of the student's current standing.  This notice is part of the attendance recovery plan implemented as part of the new state accreditation system.  While the letter notifies parents that you are "on pace" to be chronically absent (10% at the time of the letter), you are not going to be chronically absent for the year until you reach 18 days absent.  I also wanted to share that there is not a difference between excused or unexcused absences.  It is a total number of days out of school, for any reason.

I hope you have a great weekend after this 5-hour school week and I look forward to getting back into a regular routine next week!!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

January 13 - Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night - 6:30 @ LBSS

January 16 - PTA Monthly Meeting - 7:00-8:00 - Cafeteria & Online

January 20 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

January 28 - Last Day of 2nd Quarter - Regular dismissal!

January 29 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

February 10 - 3 Hour Early Closing - Students dismissed at 1:05

February 17 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

LB 7th Grade Curriculum Night Winter Resources

• Student and Family Resources

Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.

School’s Closed, Learning Can Continue! 

FCPS encourages students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during winter break and snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play for your students during winter break or weather-related school closures. 

• Recursos para estudiantes y familias

Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Fairfax han compilado una lista de recursos para estudiantes y familias en caso de que necesiten ayuda mientras las escuelas están cerradas por las vacaciones de invierno. Por favor visite nuestra página web de recursos de invierno para enlaces a apoyo académico; apoyo a la salud mental; y alimentos, ropa, vivienda y otros recursos del condado.Cuando las Escuelas están Cerradas, el Aprendizaje Puede Continuar

FCPS anima a los estudiantes a aprovechar las oportunidades de aprendizaje divertido durante las vacaciones de invierno y días de nieve. Considere estas actividades de invierno para que sus estudiantes combinen la educación y la diversión durante las vacaciones de invierno o en caso en que se cierren las escuelas debido al mal tiempo.  

Cell Phone Policy Reminder

 

📵 Phones Down, Engagement Up: FCPS Cell Phone Policy Keeping cell phones off during the school day helps students focus and learn. It also boosts positive social behavior. Review FCPS’ cell phone expectations by grade level with your child and help keep our classrooms free of distractions! If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office at 703-923-2800 and we will get a message to your child.

Literacy Resources for Parents

FCPS has created the following sites as literacy resources for families:

Literacy Resources for Families

Family-Facing Curriculum 

Each site provides resources for families to support their students at home.  The first site is a link to resources, definitions of words/acronyms, and other general supports for students.  The second site is a link to the FCPS program of studies, pacing guides, and quarter expectations.

Cherry Run Cold Weather Policy

 

FCPS - SEH-23

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??

Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet.  Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).

Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:

When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns. 

Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE!  While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!  

We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.

Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good morning families!! 

I hope everyone has a joyous and restful winter break.  Ms. Wilson shared on Tuesday night at the music festival that there are over 20+ holiday celebrated between November and the beginning of January.  That is a LOT to celebrate and I hope you all have fabulous time with your families.  If you are traveling, please be safe while doing so.  If your loved one is deployed and will not be with you, please know that they are in my/our prayers, and I am thankful for what they do to keep us safe.

School is closed during the winter break and our custodians are performing the annual winter 'maintenance' cleaning.  The office is also closed, though you may see my car in the parking lot most days.  If there is something that you NEED from the school, please send me an email and we can arrange for a pickup.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

Dec 23 - Jan 3 - Winter Break - No Students - School is CLOSED

January 20 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

January 28 - Last Day of 2nd Quarter - Regular dismissal!

January 29 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

Spelling Bee & Club!! Inclement Weather? Update ParentVUE

• Be Among the First to Hear About School Delays/Closings

Watch this video to see how FCPS makes weather closing decisions. 

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, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Be among the first to hear about weather delays and closings! Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE. Emails and text messages are sent to parents and caregivers based on the addresses and cell phone numbers entered on this platform. 

• ❄️ Sea uno de los primeros en enterarse de los retrasos/cierres de escuelas

Mire este video para ver como FCPS toma decisiones sobre cierres por mal tiempo. 

El sitio web de FCPS es generalmente el primer lugar para enterarse de los cierres de emergencia por el clima. Otros canales de comunicación serán usados lo más pronto posible, incluyendo correo electrónico, texto, medios sociales, y estaciones de noticias. Aprenda más sobre cómo se comunican los cambios de horario.Sea uno de los primeros en enterarse de los retrasos y cierres por mal tiempo. Actualice su información de contacto en SIS ParentVUE. Los correos electrónicos y mensajes de texto se envían a los padres en función de las direcciones y números de teléfono móvil introducidos en esta plataforma.

Family Resource Center Webinars and FCPS Academy Classes

•  Free Webinars and Events for Families

In January, the Family Resource Center (FRC) will host webinars for families on:

• Overcoming School Refusal and Resistance
• Virtual Meeting for Siblings of Children with Special Needs
• FCPS Math Week
• Supporting Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills
• Depression in Teens
• Understanding Trauma in Your Child/Comprendiedo el Trauma en su Hijo (presented in Spanish)

Sign up for the FRC newsletter or visit their webinar webpage.

Upcoming Family Academy Events

You are an important part of your child's education! The FCPS Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by FCPS to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. Browse Family Academy offerings. 

• 🖥️ Webinarios y eventos gratuitos para familias

En enero, el Centro de Recursos Familiares (FRC) organizará seminarios web para las familias sobre:

• Cómo superar el rechazo y la resistencia a la escuela
• Reunión virtual para hermanos de niños con necesidades especiales
• Semana de Matemáticas de FCPS
• Apoyando las habilidades de funcionamiento ejecutivo de su hijo
• Depresión en Adolescentes
• Understanding Trauma in Your Child/Comprendiedo el Trauma en su Hijo (presentado en español)

Inscríbase para recibir el boletín de FRC o visite su página de webinar.

Próximos Eventos de la Academia Familiar

¡Usted es una parte importante de la educación de su hijo! La Academia Familiar recopila clases, seminarios en línea, talleres y programas ofrecidos por FCPS para ayudarle a apoyar las necesidades y el aprendizaje de su hijo en casa. Vea las ofertas de la Academia Familiar. 

Winter Resources

• Student and Family Resources

Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.

School’s Closed, Learning Can Continue! 

FCPS encourages students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during winter break and snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play for your students during winter break or weather-related school closures. 

• Recursos para estudiantes y familias

Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Fairfax han compilado una lista de recursos para estudiantes y familias en caso de que necesiten ayuda mientras las escuelas están cerradas por las vacaciones de invierno. Por favor visite nuestra página web de recursos de invierno para enlaces a apoyo académico; apoyo a la salud mental; y alimentos, ropa, vivienda y otros recursos del condado.Cuando las Escuelas están Cerradas, el Aprendizaje Puede Continuar

FCPS anima a los estudiantes a aprovechar las oportunidades de aprendizaje divertido durante las vacaciones de invierno y días de nieve. Considere estas actividades de invierno para que sus estudiantes combinen la educación y la diversión durante las vacaciones de invierno o en caso en que se cierren las escuelas debido al mal tiempo.  

Literacy Resources for Parents

FCPS has created the following sites as literacy resources for families:

Literacy Resources for Families

Family-Facing Curriculum 

Each site provides resources for families to support their students at home.  The first site is a link to resources, definitions of words/acronyms, and other general supports for students.  The second site is a link to the FCPS program of studies, pacing guides, and quarter expectations.

Cherry Run Cold Weather Policy

 

FCPS - SEH-23

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??

Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet.  Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).

Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:

When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns. 

Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE!  While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!  

We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.

Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good morning families!! 

I hope you enjoyed the weekend and were able to engage in some fun activities.  We are now in the holiday season, so please make sure that you notify the classroom teacher AND the front office if you will be missing any school this week.  We have a full, five-day week with no early closings.  This is the last week before winter break.

This week there are a variety of activities scheduled, so please make sure you read your teacher's (or grade level's) newsletter.  Winter parties, special instruction (like FLE), and assemblies may change the daily schedule.  Please be aware of any changes if you are coming to visit or volunteer!

The weather is fluctuating daily with temperatures swinging above and below 50 on a near daily basis.  Please make sure that students have appropriate clothing for outside participation in recess, PE, or other instructional opportunities (like the Nature Nook).  I hate seeing our little friends missing out on some of the fun activities because they don't have a coat, jacket, or sweatshirt.

Just a reminder, during the winter break (Dec 23 - Jan 3), the school will be closed to visitors.  Staff will not be in attendance at school and the custodial staff will be conducting their deep, mid-year cleaning.  Hallways and classrooms will be off limits.  If your child needs anything over the break, please remind them to bring it home or email a teacher to ask them to check.

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

December 17 - Interims come home (Only for 1's & 2's)

Dec 23 - Jan 3 - Winter Break - No Students - School is CLOSED

January 20 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

January 28 - Last Day of 2nd Quarter - Regular dismissal!

January 29 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

SCA Spirit Week! Winter Resources

• Student and Family Resources

Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.

School’s Closed, Learning Can Continue! 

FCPS encourages students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during winter break and snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play for your students during winter break or weather-related school closures. 

• Recursos para estudiantes y familias

Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Fairfax han compilado una lista de recursos para estudiantes y familias en caso de que necesiten ayuda mientras las escuelas están cerradas por las vacaciones de invierno. Por favor visite nuestra página web de recursos de invierno para enlaces a apoyo académico; apoyo a la salud mental; y alimentos, ropa, vivienda y otros recursos del condado.Cuando las Escuelas están Cerradas, el Aprendizaje Puede Continuar

FCPS anima a los estudiantes a aprovechar las oportunidades de aprendizaje divertido durante las vacaciones de invierno y días de nieve. Considere estas actividades de invierno para que sus estudiantes combinen la educación y la diversión durante las vacaciones de invierno o en caso en que se cierren las escuelas debido al mal tiempo.  

Literacy Resources for Parents

FCPS has created the following sites as literacy resources for families:

Literacy Resources for Families

Family-Facing Curriculum 

Each site provides resources for families to support their students at home.  The first site is a link to resources, definitions of words/acronyms, and other general supports for students.  The second site is a link to the FCPS program of studies, pacing guides, and quarter expectations.

School Climate Survey

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Our school, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Department of Education, is conducting the Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions. We will survey students in grades {6, 7, and 8}, as well as classroom instructors and staff, beginning in January 2025. The purpose of the student survey is to measure student support, student engagement, school discipline, and safety conditions in each school. This information will be used to guide educational practices that produce a safe and supportive school environment.

The survey does not ask for your child’s name and all answers are anonymous. No one, including teachers and administrators, will know how your child answered the survey questions. You will not have access to your child’s survey answers. You may preview the questions asked in the student survey at this website: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurveyDCJS .

The survey will ask questions such as how students feel about their school, how students get along with one another and their teachers, how students feel about school rules, and their perceptions of their teachers’ willingness to help them. Please note that there are questions about topics that may be sensitive to some, including questions about bullying, mental health, and suicide. This is a great time to talk to your child about these important issues. For guidance and more resources on these topics, please see:

https://tinyurl.com/MentalHealthdcjs or https://tinyurl.com/VDOEstudentservices.

All students in your child’s grade level are eligible to participate in the survey. The survey is voluntary, and you and/or your child can decide they prefer not to participate. No action will be taken against you, your child, or the school if your child does not participate. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please notify the school office by telephone, email or letter by January 8th, 2025.

The Virginia School Survey results are provided to the school around the end of the school year. You can find survey results for your school and division here: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurvey. The results are used by the school, the division, and the state to identify strengths and to address relevant needs to improve learning environments for your child as well as students across the state.

Thank you for your cooperation in this important study of Virginia’s schools.

Cherry Run Cold Weather Policy

 

FCPS - SEH-23

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??

Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet.  Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).

Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:

When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns. 

Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE!  While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!  

We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.

Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

I hope that everyone was able to enjoy the extended break and spend time with loved ones over the holiday weekend.  The weather has taken a decidedly sharp turn towards frigid temperatures this week!  I see our little ones bundled up so much they can't put their arms by their sides!!  Next week it looks like it may crawl over 50 for a couple of days, then right back down to the 30's!  Please make sure your children understand the cold weather policy for recess and other outdoor activities.  I'd love to see some snow soon (and I might be in the minority on that!).

We were able to celebrate our Reflections Contest winners and participants this week.  There is more information below, but I am very proud of the students that took the risk to 'put themselves out there' and produce work for everyone else to see (and judge).

Over the next two weeks we have some things happening like winter parties, 6th Grade Battle of the Bands, FLE (5th & 6th), etc., so please make sure you are keeping up with the grade level newsletters!  We also have our December PTA meeting next week on Wednesday.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

December 11 - PTA Meeting - Cafeteria & Zoom - 7:30-8:30

December 15 - AAP Referral Deadline - FIRM Deadline!

December 17 - Interims come home (Only for 1's & 2's)

Dec 23 - Jan 3 - Winter Break - No Students - School is CLOSED

January 20 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

Reflections Contest Winners

 

Congratulations to all of the student who participated in our annual reflections contest.  This year, we had ELEVEN students participate in the program and they all produced some incredible work.  I hope this program continues to grow and the we see even more students participate next year.  Here is a list of our participants and winners:

Visual Arts - Primary PreK - Grade 2

1st place - Kenji Lee

Visual Arts - Intermediate Grades 3-5

1st place - Sophia Hagemeier

2nd place - Christopher Lewis

3rd place - Nicholas Seto

Visual Arts - Middle School Grades 6-8

1st place - Stavros Giatas

2nd place - Esther Nobles

Film - Intermediate Grades 3-5

1st place - Sonia Quinones

2nd place - Noah Balangue

Literature - Intermediate Grades 3-5

1st place - Abigail Houlahan

Photography - Primary Grades preK - 2

1st place - Jack Nobles

Photography - Middle School grades 6-8

1st place - Lily Carroll

AAP Referrals (2nd-6th Grade)

Advanced Academic Program (AAP)

Parents -  A quick reminder that Level IV (full-time AAP) Referral Forms for students in grades 2-6 are due December 15, 2024. This is a FIRM deadline.  Any referrals submitted after the 15th will not be considered for the 2025-2026 school year.

If you have questions about the screening process, please reach out to Debbie Hollings,  [email protected]

For more Information about AAP:

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary/advanced-academic-programs

Referral Forms:

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs-aap/advanced-academic-program-aap-forms

Literacy Resources for Parents

FCPS has created the following sites as literacy resources for families:

Literacy Resources for Families

Family-Facing Curriculum 

Each site provides resources for families to support their students at home.  The first site is a link to resources, definitions of words/acronyms, and other general supports for students.  The second site is a link to the FCPS program of studies, pacing guides, and quarter expectations.

School Climate Survey

Dear Parent or Guardian,

Our school, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Department of Education, is conducting the Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions. We will survey students in grades {6, 7, and 8}, as well as classroom instructors and staff, beginning in January 2025. The purpose of the student survey is to measure student support, student engagement, school discipline, and safety conditions in each school. This information will be used to guide educational practices that produce a safe and supportive school environment.

The survey does not ask for your child’s name and all answers are anonymous. No one, including teachers and administrators, will know how your child answered the survey questions. You will not have access to your child’s survey answers. You may preview the questions asked in the student survey at this website: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurveyDCJS .

The survey will ask questions such as how students feel about their school, how students get along with one another and their teachers, how students feel about school rules, and their perceptions of their teachers’ willingness to help them. Please note that there are questions about topics that may be sensitive to some, including questions about bullying, mental health, and suicide. This is a great time to talk to your child about these important issues. For guidance and more resources on these topics, please see:

https://tinyurl.com/MentalHealthdcjs or https://tinyurl.com/VDOEstudentservices.

All students in your child’s grade level are eligible to participate in the survey. The survey is voluntary, and you and/or your child can decide they prefer not to participate. No action will be taken against you, your child, or the school if your child does not participate. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please notify the school office by telephone, email or letter by January 8th, 2025.

The Virginia School Survey results are provided to the school around the end of the school year. You can find survey results for your school and division here: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurvey. The results are used by the school, the division, and the state to identify strengths and to address relevant needs to improve learning environments for your child as well as students across the state.

Thank you for your cooperation in this important study of Virginia’s schools.

Cherry Run Cold Weather Policy

 

FCPS - SEH-23

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??

Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet.  Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).

Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:

When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns. 

Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE!  While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!  

We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.

Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  We are wrapping up our third "3 hr early closing" today.  This is our last early closing until February (the remaining schedule is listed below).  This week, we do not have a lot of 'events' that are happening outside of our FLE Parent Preview Night (November 20th) and picture 'retakes' (November 21st).  You can find out more information about both of those events in the summaries below.

The FCPS Boundary Review is underway.  This is a system-wide look at every school boundary and school utilization.  Community nights are scheduled by region and the Region 4 night is set for Tuesday, December 3rd, 6:30 pm @ Lake Braddock HS.  Links can be found below that will provide a wealth of information about the process.

Last Thursday, the FCPS School Board recognized Cherry Run (and many other schools) for our recognized status as a "Purple Star School".  I was thrilled to participate in this event along with our Purple Star sponsors, Mrs. Angela Lock and Mrs. Chelsea Kelly-Sipe.  We had a fantastic time meeting with our LT team, the FCPS School Board, and several special guests.  I am extremely proud, and grateful, of the work that the committees put in for us to achieve this designation.

Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

November 20 - FLE Parent Preview Night - 7:00pm - Zoom

November 21 - Make Up Pictures - All Day

November 27-29 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

December 11 - PTA Meeting - Cafeteria & Zoom - 7:30-8:30

Dec 23 - Jan 3 - Winter Break - No Students - School is CLOSED

January 20 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

FLE Parent Preview Night

Each year, students in grades 4 - 6 participate in our Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum.  This ranges from 1 day (4th grade) to 5 days (5th & 6th grades) and includes 1 hour lessons on a variety of topics.  Parents have the opportunity to preview these lessons PRIOR to our instructing of students.

Mrs. Goss and Ms. Valenzuela have scheduled the FLE parent preview night for Wednesday, November 20th at 7:00pm.  They plan on hosting a virtual meeting again this year.  The link will be sent closer to the day of the event so families can have it at the top of their inbox.  This meeting will provide an overview of the curriculum and share some examples of the materials that will be used.

For a deeper inspection of the materials used, you are welcome to schedule a visit to the school to look at the full curriculum.

Boundary Review Starting!

• 📍 Boundary Review Community Meetings Start This Month

As a reminder, FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This important work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is vital to this process. With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will be hosting a series of community meetings in each of FCPS’ six regions. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.

Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.

• Tuesday, December 3, 6:30-8 p.m., at Lake Braddock Secondary School Cafeteria. 

• Reuniones Comunitarias sobre la Revisión de Límites Empiezan Este MesComo recordatorio, FCPS ha comenzado el proceso de revisar los límites escolares en toda la división. Este importante trabajo ayudará al distrito a apoyar mejor a nuestra creciente población estudiantil, las capacidades cambiantes de las escuelas, y la evolución de las necesidades de la comunidad. La opinión de la comunidad es vital para este proceso. Con eso en mente, FCPS, en asociación con la Consultoría Thru, será el anfitrión de una serie de reuniones de la comunidad en cada una de nuestras seis regiones. Animamos a los participantes a compartir sus pensamientos, hacer preguntas y aprender más sobre la revisión de límites.

Por favor visite el sitio web de FCPS para las fechas de las reuniones, lugares, y otra información. Suscríbase a nuestro boletín de noticias de la Revisión de Límites Escolares para actualizaciones.

• Martes, 3 de diciembre, 6:30-8 p.m., en la cafetería de la Escuela Secundaria Lake Braddock. 

Make Up Pictures - 11/21

 

Make up pictures are this Thursday, November 21st!!

Victor O’Neill Studios is coming back for underclassmen portrait
makeups/retakes! This session is open to those who meet the following criteria:

● Any student or staff member who was absent for the original sessio
● Any new/transfer students or staff who joined after the original sessio
● Any student/staff who was dissatisfied with their original picture day portrait. 

 

HERE IS THE LINK FOR PHOTOS: 

https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001147808#login

 

NOTES:
○ No purchase is necessary to retake photos. Any student may retake their photo for use in the yearbook.
○ Students retaking their portrait will not receive a new ID card, exceptions below.
○ The new portrait will replace their original yearbook portrait and then be available for purchase.
○ Students who previously purchased a photo package and would like to retake their photo MUST return their original photo package to the photographer in order to receive a new package. Please communicate this important piece of information to students/parents.

Impact Aid Forms

Here is a link for parents to look at for information and how to complete the survey though ParentVue https://www.fcps.edu/impact

We also sent home the forms on Tuesday for students that still needed them completed.

Please reach out to Ms. Naldo if you have any questions: [email protected]

Cherry Run Cold Weather Policy

 

FCPS - SEH-23

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??

Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet.  Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).

Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:

When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns. 

Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE!  While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!  

We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.

Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

I will be following up with a more complete "weekly bulletin" on Monday.

I wanted to send out this reminder for our Early Release that is coming this Monday, November 18th. I currently have responses for 331 of our 446 K-6 students and I am hoping that we can get the rest this weekend!  I will be making our after-school groupings this weekend and wanted to let specialists and support staff know who they will be supporting.

The link and QR code are listed below.  Thank you very much for taking the time to fill out the survey!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

November 18th - Early Closing Info

 

On November 18th, Cherry Run will host the third "Early Release Monday" so that teachers can participate in professional development and planning with the new Language Arts program.  In order to accurately plan for students, I am asking parents to click the link below (or use the QR Code in the flyer), to designate their child(ren)'s intention for this day.  Please fill out the form one time for each child.  We appreciate your attention to this matter!

LINK: https://forms.gle/TDvDJoBrc6i7QjCq5

 

A HUGE shout out to our Military Committee and Purple Up club for the work they put in to our Veteran's Day Celebration.  Special guests and speakers helped make this a wonderful experience.  The pictures submitted were amazing and we really appreciated the music provided again this year!  We were extremely pleased that the weather cooperated and we were able to host our "Clap Out" parade line outside!!

Thank you to all of our Veterans and guests who attended to celebrate with us!

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and had a chance to celebrate Veteran's Day!  From today, through Winter Break, we have a 3 hour early closing (November 18) and a 3-day break for Thanksgiving (Nov 27-29), and the rest of the days are school days!  Please make sure that students are in school as much as possible (unless they are sick!) since "Chronic Absenteeism" is now a factor in school accreditation!

FCPS HONORS: Please see the section below with regards to nominating some of our amazing staff!  If you have had a great experience with a staff member, please make sure to reach out and nominate them for and "FCPS Honors" award!

For our 3 hour early release next Monday, I have included a link (and a QR code) for you to submit your intentions.  The October early release went so much smoother and I can only thank all of you, the parents, for that!  The survey is basically the same survey as before.  If you select that you will NOT be staying after school, please select "N/A" in the final question.

This Thursday night, the FCPS School Board will be honoring Cherry Run (along with other schools) for becoming a first time Purple Star School.  I want to again thank all of the people who made this happen and who supported our work towards this goal.  Mrs. Angela Lock and Mrs. Chelsea Kelly-Sipe will be joining me at the school board meeting for the recognition of this accomplishment.

For our veteran's (active, retired, reserve) and their families, I want to send you a personal "THANK YOU" for all that you do, and all that you sacrifice, on behalf of the rest of us.  Beyond the personal sacrifice and risk of being in harm's way, it is the other things you sacrifice such as a baby's first step, a son's/daughter's birthday, an anniversary, and other special moments that you can never get back.  Those things are so incredibly important and you sacrifice those moments for us as well.  I will often see on YouTube "Soldier comes home surprise" and you cannot help but tear up watching the reactions of these families when their loved ones return.  Those videos show the impact and the sacrifices of the families affected by deployments better than any words ever could.  I always try to keep that in mind, especially in a community as special as ours.

Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

November 18 - 3 Hour Early closing - 1:05 Dismissal

November 27-29 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

December 11 - PTA Meeting - Cafeteria & Zoom - 7:30-8:30

Dec 23 - Jan 3 - Winter Break - No Students - School is CLOSED

January 20 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

November 18th - Early Closing Info

 

On November 18th, Cherry Run will host the third "Early Release Monday" so that teachers can participate in professional development and planning with the new Language Arts program.  In order to accurately plan for students, I am asking parents to click the link below (or use the QR Code in the flyer), to designate their child(ren)'s intention for this day.  Please fill out the form one time for each child.  We appreciate your attention to this matter!

LINK: https://forms.gle/TDvDJoBrc6i7QjCq5

FCPS Honors Outstanding Staff

 

2025 Outstanding Employee Awards Nominations

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Cherry Run ES Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link: Nomination Form. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The Google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards. The eligibility requirements are below. 

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 Principal

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district) 

Outstanding Leader  

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal) at their current location 

Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals

Outstanding Professional Employee  

Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership at their current location 

Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Special Education Department Chairs that teach less than 50% of their time, Reading Specialists that do not have a regular course load/do not give grades 

Outstanding Operational Employee 

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee at their current location 

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons 

The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 15.

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hammond at [email protected]

Veteran's Day Celebration!!

 

A HUGE shout out to our Military Committee and Purple Up club for the work they put in to our Veteran's Day Celebration.  Special guests and speakers helped make this a wonderful experience.  The pictures submitted were amazing and we really appreciated the music provided again this year!  We were extremely pleased that the weather cooperated and we were able to host our "Clap Out" parade line outside!!

Thank you to all of our Veterans and guests who attended to celebrate with us!

FLE Parent Preview Night

Each year, students in grades 4 - 6 participate in our Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum.  This ranges from 1 day (4th grade) to 5 days (5th & 6th grades) and includes 1 hour lessons on a variety of topics.  Parents have the opportunity to preview these lessons PRIOR to our instructing of students.

Mrs. Goss and Ms. Valenzuela have scheduled the FLE parent preview night for Wednesday, November 20th at 7:00pm.  They plan on hosting a virtual meeting again this year.  The link will be sent closer to the day of the event so families can have it at the top of their inbox.  This meeting will provide an overview of the curriculum and share some examples of the materials that will be used.

For a deeper inspection of the materials used, you are welcome to schedule a visit to the school to look at the full curriculum.

Boundary Review Starting!

• 📍 Boundary Review Community Meetings Start This Month

As a reminder, FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This important work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is vital to this process. With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will be hosting a series of community meetings in each of FCPS’ six regions. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.

Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.

• Reuniones Comunitarias sobre la Revisión de Límites Empiezan Este MesComo recordatorio, FCPS ha comenzado el proceso de revisar los límites escolares en toda la división. Este importante trabajo ayudará al distrito a apoyar mejor a nuestra creciente población estudiantil, las capacidades cambiantes de las escuelas, y la evolución de las necesidades de la comunidad. La opinión de la comunidad es vital para este proceso. Con eso en mente, FCPS, en asociación con la Consultoría Thru, será el anfitrión de una serie de reuniones de la comunidad en cada una de nuestras seis regiones. Animamos a los participantes a compartir sus pensamientos, hacer preguntas y aprender más sobre la revisión de límites.

Por favor visite el sitio web de FCPS para las fechas de las reuniones, lugares, y otra información. Suscríbase a nuestro boletín de noticias de la Revisión de Límites Escolares para actualizaciones.

"IEP Palooza"!

• IEP Palooza and Community Resource FairParents/caregivers, school staff, and students over the age of 14 are invited to attend an interactive event celebrating the individualized education program (IEP) process. The IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, November 16, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Jackson Middle School. 

The event is sponsored by Fairfax County Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA). Activities include simulated IEP meetings, break-out sessions on the various parts of an IEP, and a resource fair to learn more about community supports. Register in advance. 

• IEP Palooza y Feria de Recursos Comunitarios

Los padres / cuidadores, personal de la escuela, y los estudiantes mayores de 14 años están invitados a asistir a un evento interactivo que celebra el programa de educación individualizada (IEP) el proceso el sábado, 16 de noviembre, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., en la Escuela Intermedia de Jackson Luther.  

Patrocinado por el Condado de Fairfax Educación Especial Asociación de Padres y Maestros (SEPTA), el evento contará con reuniones simuladas IEP, sesiones de trabajo sobre las diversas partes de un IEP, y una feria de recursos para aprender más acerca de los apoyos de la comunidad. Inscríbase con antelación. 

Cherry Run Cold Weather Policy

 

FCPS - SEH-23

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??

Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet.  Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).

Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:

When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns. 

Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE!  While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!  

We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.

Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• November 18
• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

I wanted to send a reminder about our Veteran's Day celebration happening tomorrow morning, Friday, November 8th.  The program will start in the cafeteria at 8:45 and conclude at 9:30.  Please see below for details!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Veteran's Day Celebration!!

 

Cherry Run Elementary School is so excited to celebrate our Veterans for the upcoming Veteran's Day Celebration. We would love to showcase all the amazing service members who have served (retired or veteran) or are currently serving, and your family. 

We will be celebrating Military Families on November 8th from 8:45am-9:30am. We will start the program with our Purple Team leading the pledge of allegiance, then as you enjoy refreshments, the slideshow will play in the background, and you will enjoy music from the Air Force Woodwind Band. In addition, our Cherry Run chorus will sing a song and we will have a guest speaker.

Lastly, at 9:25, Cherry Run students and staff will "Clap Out" our beloved Veteran's, spouses, and other family members in attendance.

Looking forward to seeing our Cherry Run Families!

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

We are happy to celebrate the last day of the first quarter and we are ready to launch ahead into quarter #2!  As we move into the 2nd quarter, we also move into November which has multiple disruptions to the school calendar.  Teacher conferences, election day, Veteran's Day!!, and Thanksgiving all impact our schedule.  We do have a major celebration (Veteran's Day!) on tap for November 8th.  Please see below for more information.

November also brings about the annual "FCPS Honors" event where families can nominate Cherry Run staff for their exemplary efforts on behalf of students and families.  Please look through the categories below and, if you feel a person fits the criteria, we encourage you to nominate our amazing staff members!

Lastly, as we wind down the 1st quarter, I wanted to share some information about "Chronic Absenteeism".  Chronic absenteeism (CA) is defined as any student who misses 10% of the schools days, for any reason.  There is no discrepancy for students who stay home sick vs students who go on multiple vacations.  10% of days missed makes you chronically absent.  While we encourage students who are sick to stay home (!), students who are frequently sick AND go on vacations during the school year tend to fall into this CA category.  Starting this year, CA is now a part of our school accreditation and counts 10% towards our accreditation status.  It is imperative that students attend school regularly.

Last year, students who were chronically absent were notified at the semester mark indicating their CA status. This year there will be a slight change to that process.  During the 1st quarter, we are not sending home letters because we have only had 44 days of school and a student with 5 absences would be "chronically absent".  So, any student who had the flu or a stomach bug and missed a week would be "CA".  As we add school days, the threshold for CA continues to go up (e.g. any student with five absences now (out of 44 days) is CA, but in two weeks, that same student with 5 absences (out of 54 days) would no longer be considered CA).  At the end of the second quarter, the threshold for CA would be 10 days absent (out of 96 days) to be considered "CA".  At the end of the 3rd quarter the "CA" status would be 14 days and for the year, 18 absences would make a student CA for the year, assuming they were enrolled on day 1.

At the end of the 2nd quarter, those students who are "CA" will receive a letter indicating their current status, whether they were "CA" last year or not, and a notice that an action plan will need to be created for students on track to be CA for the year.  At this time, we have over 50+ students who are technically "CA".  As we add days of school, my hope is that the number of students in this category will go down, but those students will need to continue to attend on a regular basis.

Please feel free to ask me any questions about Chronic Absenteeism and how it impacts our school's accreditation status.  Have a great LONG weekend.

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

November 1 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

November 4 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

November 5 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

November 7 - PTA Monthly Meeting - 7:30 - Cafeteria/Zoom

November 8 - Veteran's Day Celebration!!

November 11 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

November 27-29 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

Veteran's Day Celebration!!

 

Cherry Run Elementary School is so excited to celebrate our Veterans for the upcoming Veterans. We would love to showcase all the amazing service members who have served (retired or veteran) or are currently serving, and your family. Please email our Family Liaison, Stacy Huisman ([email protected]) to send a picture and information about your family and service member. Feel free to include any service member that you would like to honor including, but not limited to Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, parents and children. We will put all the photos into a slideshow and classes will be able to view the slideshow as Veteran’s Day approaches. If you have submitted a photo and information from previous year, no need to send one in unless you’d like info/photo updated.  Please submit your photos by November 4th to be included in the slideshow.

In addition, we will be celebrating Military Families on November 8th from 8:45am-9:25am. We will start the program with our Purple Team leading the pledge of allegiance, then as you enjoy refreshments, the slideshow will play in the background, and you will enjoy music from the Air Force Woodwind Band. In addition, our Cherry Run chorus will sing a song and we will have a guest speaker.

Lastly, at 9:25, Cherry Run students and staff will "Clap Out" our beloved Veteran's and spouses.

Looking forward to seeing our Cherry Run Families!

Fall Festival Recap!

 

Thank you, Cherry Run community, for an amazing Fall Festival! The evening was filled with excitement, fun games, face painting, pies in faces, music, and lots of sugar! We had around 250 families and over 500 people present!  This year's proceeds will help fund new instruments for the music program, teacher appreciation events and teacher wish list items, as well as other requests that come up throughout the year. The PTA would like to thank all the volunteers who helped run this event – it would not have been possible without you!

A very special thank you to the following people and families who donated off the Amazon Wish List: Sarah Taylor, Brittany Blake, Mark E Scepansky, Lisa, Robert Poubelle, Kara Goehring, Laura Davis, Lauren Tower, Brian Juola, Jennifer, The Watson Family, Meagan Van Hoy, Christian & Holly Cunningham, Anne Neumann, Garrett Johnson, Freude Family, Anastasia Gunberg, Laura Lewis, Patricia and Daniel Davila, Marcia Lundin, Kristin Wiley, Melanie Vrabel Adams, Christine Lee, Lucinda Klingensmith, and Nico and Andre Castro and Mirella Tafur. Thank you so, so much for your generosity! Our wish list was completely bought out by these amazing folks which allowed more money to go back the school and teachers.

CANDY CORN GUESS WINNERS: Total Candy Corn 1,349

WINNER: Eva, Ms. Bills 2nd grade, guess 1346

2nd: Addie, Mr. McCain 5th grade, guess1344

3rd: Abby S., Mr. Callahan, guess 1342

4th: Sunny S., Ms. Ko 2nd grade, guess 1300

5th: Charlotte, Ms. Waggoner 4th grade, guess 1255 

PUMPKIN PALOOZA WINNERS:

With 49 fabulous pumpkin entries and an astonishing 178 ballots (totaling over 450 votes), our pumpkin decorating contest was nothing short of a spooky success!

We were absolutely spellbound by the creativity displayed in this year’s entries! Each pumpkin was a true masterpiece, showcasing the incredible talent of our K-6 students and making it a tough decision for our voters! But without further ado, here are the spine-tingling results of the 2024 Cherry Run PTA Pumpkin Decorating Contest:

Scariest Pumpkins: 1st Place: Pumpkin #5: Cauldron – Braydon Sipe (4th Grade) 2nd Place: Pumpkin #12: Snake Eggs Hatching – Hadley Fried (4th Grade) 3rd Place: Pumpkin #17: Jack Skeleton – Joshua Callister (3rd Grade)

Funniest Pumpkins: 1st Place: Pumpkin #42: Olaf – Ella Arca (6th Grade) 2nd Place: Pumpkin #1: Dunkin Donuts – Ester Nobles (6th Grade) 3rd Place: Pumpkin #6: Peas in a Pod – (If this is your pumpkin, please come forward to claim your prize! We wouldn’t want you to be left hanging in a pickle!)

Most Creative / Original Pumpkins: 1st Place: Pumpkin #1: Dunkin Donuts – Ester Nobles (6th Grade) 2nd Place: Pumpkin #34: Spa Day – Sage Sutton (5th Grade) 3rd Place: Pumpkin #42: Olaf – Ella Arca (6th Grade)

Thank you again for supporting this event and helping strengthen our community!

And last but certainly not least, shout out to the following teachers for winning this month’s teacher appreciation gifts!

• Connelly 1st
• Ganahl- ID
• Stockburger- PM/PS

FCPS Honors Outstanding Staff

 

2025 Outstanding Employee Awards Nominations

Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Cherry Run ES Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link: Nomination Form. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The Google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards. The eligibility requirements are below. 

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 Principal

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district) 

Outstanding Leader  

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal) at their current location 

Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals

Outstanding Professional Employee  

Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership at their current location 

Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Special Education Department Chairs that teach less than 50% of their time, Reading Specialists that do not have a regular course load/do not give grades 

Outstanding Operational Employee 

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee at their current location 

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons 

The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 15.

If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hammond at [email protected]

FLE Parent Preview Night

Each year, students in grades 4 - 6 participate in our Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum.  This ranges from 1 day (4th grade) to 5 days (5th & 6th grades) and includes 1 hour lessons on a variety of topics.  Parents have the opportunity to preview these lessons PRIOR to our instructing of students.

Mrs. Goss and Ms. Valenzuela have scheduled the FLE parent preview night for Wednesday, November 20th at 7:00pm.  They plan on hosting a virtual meeting again this year.  The link will be sent closer to the day of the event so families can have it at the top of their inbox.  This meeting will provide an overview of the curriculum and share some examples of the materials that will be used.

For a deeper inspection of the materials used, you are welcome to schedule a visit to the school to look at the full curriculum.

Elementary Grading Policy Update

• Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates

Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.

This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reporting and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.

We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!

• Actualizaciones de las Calificaciones de Lenguaje para la Escuela Primaria

Nuestros maestros han estado trabajando duro enseñando con el nuevo currículo de Artes del Lenguaje, ¡y estamos emocionados de ayudar a todos nuestros estudiantes a convertirse en fuertes lectores y escritores! Este año también tenemos nuevas evaluaciones, que es como comprobamos si su estudiante necesita ayuda adicional con la lectura y la escritura, y los nuevos Estándares de Aprendizaje (SOLs).

Debido a estos cambios, ahora estamos enseñando todas las habilidades de Artes del Lenguaje que su hijo necesita saber (y comprobar si necesitan ayuda adicional) durante todo el año escolar, en lugar de diferentes habilidades cada trimestre. Aunque estas habilidades serán nuevas para su hijo al principio del año, el objetivo es que su hijo se fortalezca en todas sus nuevas habilidades al final del año.

Esto significa que cuando reciba el informe de progreso de su hijo el mes que viene, puede que tenga un aspecto diferente. El profesor de su hijo le dará más información sobre los nuevos informes de progreso y sobre cómo nos aseguramos de que su hijo reciba la ayuda adicional que pueda necesitar. También puede encontrar más información en la página web de Calificaciones y Reportes de FCPS.

También tendremos nuevas maneras para que usted ayude a su niño a practicar sus habilidades de lectura y escritura en casa. ¡Estos recursos vienen pronto!

Cherry Run Cold Weather Policy

 

FCPS - SEH-23

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??

Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet.  Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).

Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:

When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns. 

Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE!  While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!  

We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.

Family Engagement

• The application period for Fuel Assistance 2025 began October 8th and will end on November 8th. This year, the state of Virginia pre-approved selected households for Fuel Assistance. If a family is unsure if they were pre-approved, please have them contact [email protected]. If they were pre-approved, there is no need for them to submit an additional application. More information in attached English and Spanish flyers.
• The Getting to Know FCPS interactive orientation seminar provides information about the school system, the links between family engagement and student achievement, school staff you should know, and programs and technology considerations for families. The orientation includes a discussion that is helpful for families new to the United States. Sessions in English will be held online on Tuesday, November 12th, at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, December 10th, at 6 p.m.; and Thursday, December 19th, at 6 p.m. The Family Academy Catalog page has registration information and dates this orientation will be offered in Arabic, Korean, and Spanish.
• Looking for a way to support military families in the NOVA area?  Operation Homefront provide Holiday Meals and gifts military families who qualify. Volunteer to pack, wrap, or distribute this season at Operation Homefront/NOVA

Reflections Contest - LAST CHANCE

 

Calling All Cherry Run Artists!

The PTA Reflections National Art Contest is back at Cherry Run Elementary School! The 2024 theme is "Accepting Imperfection."  Submissions will be accepted until November 1, 2024. Below you will find the guidelines for each art category, as well as a Digital Dropbox where you will submit photos of your child's art and the Entry Form.  Happy Creating!

Entry Form with Guidelines

Digital Dropbox - For Entry Submission

Cherry Run Kindness Pledge Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• November 18
• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

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School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

There is one week left in the first quarter (and October) and we close out with a great event!  Fall Festival is Tuesday, October 29th, from 4:30-6:30 after school.  There is a link below for "pre-ordering" tickets and food.  There are games, events, and the annual "pieing" of the administrators!  Make sure you buy raffle tickets for that fun opportunity!

We also have the last day of the 1st quarter on Thursday, October 31st.  That day will also be a 2 hour early release.  All students will be released at 2:05 to go home (or to SACC).

Thursday is also Halloween.  While we love this fun day and celebrate it in a variety of ways, we do not allow students to wear Halloween costumes to school (pre-school is exempt).  While some costumes are fun, others can be scary and we do not want to disrupt instruction.  I also do not want to tell some students they can wear a costume and others they cannot.  Students who arrive in costume will be kept in the main office until a parent can arrive with regular school clothing.

Lastly, I want to give a HUGE shout out to our Military Connected Families Committee and our Purple Up Team for all the work they have done over the last three years.  During that time, we have had professional development exercises, programs & events, community outreach, and school improvements with regards to our military connectedness.  The end result is that we were awarded our FIRST "Purple Star Designation" as a military connected school.  Thank you to Angela Lock, Chelsea Sipe, and their committees, for all of the work they did to earn us this prestigious honor!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

October 29 - Fall Festival - Blacktop & Field - 4:30-6:30

October 31 - Last Day of Quarter - 2 hr Early Release

November 1 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

November 4 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

November 5 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

Elementary Grading Policy Update

• Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates

Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.

This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reporting and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.

We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!

• Actualizaciones de las Calificaciones de Lenguaje para la Escuela Primaria

Nuestros maestros han estado trabajando duro enseñando con el nuevo currículo de Artes del Lenguaje, ¡y estamos emocionados de ayudar a todos nuestros estudiantes a convertirse en fuertes lectores y escritores! Este año también tenemos nuevas evaluaciones, que es como comprobamos si su estudiante necesita ayuda adicional con la lectura y la escritura, y los nuevos Estándares de Aprendizaje (SOLs).

Debido a estos cambios, ahora estamos enseñando todas las habilidades de Artes del Lenguaje que su hijo necesita saber (y comprobar si necesitan ayuda adicional) durante todo el año escolar, en lugar de diferentes habilidades cada trimestre. Aunque estas habilidades serán nuevas para su hijo al principio del año, el objetivo es que su hijo se fortalezca en todas sus nuevas habilidades al final del año.

Esto significa que cuando reciba el informe de progreso de su hijo el mes que viene, puede que tenga un aspecto diferente. El profesor de su hijo le dará más información sobre los nuevos informes de progreso y sobre cómo nos aseguramos de que su hijo reciba la ayuda adicional que pueda necesitar. También puede encontrar más información en la página web de Calificaciones y Reportes de FCPS.

También tendremos nuevas maneras para que usted ayude a su niño a practicar sus habilidades de lectura y escritura en casa. ¡Estos recursos vienen pronto!

Cherry Run Cold Weather Policy

 

FCPS - SEH-23

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??

Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet.  Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).

Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:

When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns. 

Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE!  While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!  

We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.

Pumpkin Decorating!! Fall Festival - October 29th!!

 

Fall festival is right around the corner and we need your help to make it a success! We have lots of fun games planned, concessions, a "treat" walk, and not one but two inflatables! Please consider volunteering your time before, during, or after the event. See the sign up genius for all the opportunities to help. If time is not something you can donate, consider purchasing something from our amazon wish list. This year's proceeds will fund fun new instruments for the music program, teacher appreciation events and teacher wish list items, as well as other requests that come up throughout the year. Preorders for unlimited game wristbands, concessions, and the famous pie in the face raffle will be coming in the next few weeks. 

Contact: [email protected] 

Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/16PM1LBUY5T88?ref_=wl_share

Sign Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4FADA92BA4F5C07-51358591-cres

A sign up genius for games is circulating at Lake Braddock. If slots are not filled, we will post that sign up here closer to the event. 

Family Engagement

• The application period for Fuel Assistance 2025 began October 8th and will end on November 8th. This year, the state of Virginia pre-approved selected households for Fuel Assistance. If a family is unsure if they were pre-approved, please have them contact [email protected]. If they were pre-approved, there is no need for them to submit an additional application. More information in attached English and Spanish flyers.
• Safeway Pharmacy has been hosting free immunization clinics at Frost Middle School for any FCPS student age 18 or younger. The clinics are one of many ways FCPS is providing opportunities for students to receive their required immunizations. The next clinic will be Monday, October 28th, 3-7 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times.
• The Getting to Know FCPS interactive orientation seminar provides information about the school system, the links between family engagement and student achievement, school staff you should know, and programs and technology considerations for families. The orientation includes a discussion that is helpful for families new to the United States. Sessions in English will be held online on Tuesday, October 22nd, at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, November 12th, at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, December 10th, at 6 p.m.; and Thursday, December 19th, at 6 p.m. The Family Academy Catalog page has registration information and dates this orientation will be offered in Arabic, Korean, and Spanish.
• Looking for a way to support military families in the NOVA area?  Operation Homefront provide Holiday Meals and gifts military families who qualify. Volunteer to pack, wrap, or distribute this season at Operation Homefront/NOVA

Reflections Contest

 

Calling All Cherry Run Artists!

The PTA Reflections National Art Contest is back at Cherry Run Elementary School! The 2024 theme is "Accepting Imperfection."  Submissions will be accepted until November 1, 2024. Below you will find the guidelines for each art category, as well as a Digital Dropbox where you will submit photos of your child's art and the Entry Form.  Happy Creating!

Entry Form with Guidelines

Digital Dropbox - For Entry Submission

Cherry Run Kindness Pledge Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• November 18
• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Community Conversations

• 🎤 Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:

• Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary 
• Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle 

Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

As we wind down the last two weeks of the 1st quarter, we have a LOT of things going on here at school.  Two different early closings, the teacher workdays for conferences, book fair, fall festival, and more!  Please peruse through the information below to stay up to date!

At this time, I have 368 out of 450 K-6 student responses for Monday, October 21st.  If you haven't filled that out, please do so ASAP.  I'll be making groups over the weekend and what to make sure I can account for every student!

This week it was COLD in the mornings!  Luckily, it warmed up by lunch time and our students were able to enjoy recess and PE outside in milder weather.  However, this is a great time to remind everyone of our cold weather policy.  The details of the policy are below, but in short, students have to wear 'appropriate' clothing to access outside activities when the weather is below 50 degrees.

If you haven't scheduled a conference, it is not too late!  Make sure you sign up with your classroom teacher to talk about your child's progress so far this year!

Enjoy the weekend!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

October 21 - 3 Hr Early Closing - 1:05 dismissal

October 22-25 - BOOK FAIR!!

October 29 - Fall Festival - Blacktop & Field - 4:30-6:30

October 31 - Last Day of Quarter - 2 hr Early Release

November 1 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

November 4 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

November 5 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

Early Release Info Needed - Oct. 21

 

On October 21st, Cherry Run will host the second "Early Release Monday" so that teachers can participate in professional development and planning with the new Language Arts program.  In order to accurately plan for students, I am asking parents to click the link below (or use the QR Code in the flyer), to designate their child(ren)'s intention for this day.  Please fill out the form one time for each child.  We appreciate your attention to this matter!

LINK: https://forms.gle/iCpiCizeiZLNcm7VA

Cherry Run Cold Weather Policy

 

FCPS - SEH-23

How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??

Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet.  Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).

Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:

When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns. 

Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE!  While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!  

We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.

Book Fair Volunteers Needed

 

Volunteers are needed for the upcoming Cherry Run Book Fair. Please use the Sign-Up Genius link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054EAAA729ABFE3-51952215-cherry#/

Any questions? Please email Ms. Hammond, CRES Librarian: [email protected]

Pumpkin Decorating!! Fall Festival - October 29th!!

 

Fall festival is right around the corner and we need your help to make it a success! We have lots of fun games planned, concessions, a "treat" walk, and not one but two inflatables! Please consider volunteering your time before, during, or after the event. See the sign up genius for all the opportunities to help. If time is not something you can donate, consider purchasing something from our amazon wish list. This year's proceeds will fund fun new instruments for the music program, teacher appreciation events and teacher wish list items, as well as other requests that come up throughout the year. Preorders for unlimited game wristbands, concessions, and the famous pie in the face raffle will be coming in the next few weeks. 

Contact: [email protected] 

Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/16PM1LBUY5T88?ref_=wl_share

Sign Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4FADA92BA4F5C07-51358591-cres

A sign up genius for games is circulating at Lake Braddock. If slots are not filled, we will post that sign up here closer to the event. 

Downs Syndrome Awareness Month Reflections Contest

 

Calling All Cherry Run Artists!

The PTA Reflections National Art Contest is back at Cherry Run Elementary School! The 2024 theme is "Accepting Imperfection."  Submissions will be accepted until November 1, 2024. Below you will find the guidelines for each art category, as well as a Digital Dropbox where you will submit photos of your child's art and the Entry Form.  Happy Creating!

Entry Form with Guidelines

Digital Dropbox - For Entry Submission

Cherry Run Kindness Pledge Family Engagement Opportunities

Adaptive Sports and Recreation

The adapted resources listed here are provided for informational purposes only. They do not reflect recommendations or endorsements by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) or The FCPS Family Resource Center. Please contact the locations directly for fees, availability, and whether they meet your needs.

Adaptive Recreation Services and Programs PDF

Community Sports ad Park Authority Programs

• Fairfax County ParkTakes
• Springfield Youth Club
• Burke Athletic Club
• Braddock Road Youth Club
• South Run Recreation Center  

Family Community Events/Parent Interest

Corn Mazes in Virginia

Virginia Corn Mazes

Apple Picking – Pick Your Own

Great Country Farms Virginia

Fall Festivals

Virginia Fall Festivals

Annandale's Fall Festival  October 19 Petting zoo, delicious food, and festive activities for all ages, adds up to an autumnal extravaganza! 

George Washington's Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Festival October 19 - 20  Celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities & demonstrations at the Farm at Mount Vernon.

OmBaked Global FallFest October 20  Embark on a captivating exploration of distinct regions, each represented as its own autumn traditions. Treat your taste buds to an array of culinary delights and look through handcrafted treasures. 

Military Families

Our Miliary Kids

Our Military Kids® is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering extracurricular activity grants to children and teens of deployed National Guard, deployed Reserve, or post-9/11 combat wounded, ill, or injured Veterans in treatment. OMK activity grants build the children's self-confidence, enhance family wellness, and strengthen a shared sense of community.

Military Child Care

Access to childcare directly affects mission readiness, morale, and retention of defense personnel worldwide. For this reason, the Department of Defense is committed to connecting military and DoD-affiliated families to quality, affordable childcare programs. For an overview of MCC and how you can request childcare for your family, watch this short video and/or select Learn More.

National Museum of the United States Army (Fort Belvoir)

Free general admission ticket reservations are encouraged. Walk-up tickets are available. 
Up to 9 tickets per request. See Group Tickets for 10 tickets or more.

Military Family & Life Counselors

The Military and Family Life Counseling Program provides free, confidential non-medical counseling to service members, their families and survivors on or near installations. Trained to work with the military community, military and family life counselors deliver valuable counseling services, briefings and presentations to the military community.

Quantico USO

USO Quantico Fall Fest

24010 Montezuma Ave. Quantico, VA United States

🍁🎃 Fall into fun with us at the USO Quantico West Fall Festival! 🍂

Oct 25th, 2024

5:00 PM EDT

Facebook groups for local miliary families 

GAMS - https://www.facebook.com/groups/greateralexandriamilitaryspouses/

PCS to DC - https://www.facebook.com/groups/PCSMilitaryMovetoVirginia

Fairfax County Spouses - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2053938148258566/

Other Resources

School Liaison Office – Fort Belvoir

EFMP Military One Source

EFMP – Fort Belvoir

MWR – Fort Belvoir

Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• October 21
• November 18
• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Community Conversations

• 🎤 Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:

• Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary 
• Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle 

Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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

From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

Today's bulleting includes a LOT of new information as well as some reminders for upcoming events.  Please let us know if you have any questions.

We have about 3 week remaining in the first quarter.  We have some early closing, school closings, and special events.  Please make sure you view each of the sections below.  If you have not yet scheduled a conference, please make sure you do so ASAP.  Every family has the opportunity to meet with the classroom teacher at the end of the first quarter.  If you'd like to schedule a meeting with a specialist, please reach out to them directly.

Enjoy the fall weather!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

October 14 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

October 21 - 3 Hr Early Closing - 1:05 dismissal

October 29 - Fall Festival - Blacktop & Field - 4:30-6:30

October 31 - Last Day of Quarter - 2 hr Early Release

November 1 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

November 4 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

November 5 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

Early Release Info Needed - Oct. 21

 

On October 21st, Cherry Run will host the second "Early Release Monday" so that teachers can participate in professional development and planning with the new Language Arts program.  In order to accurately plan for students, I am asking parents to click the link below (or use the QR Code in the flyer), to designate their child(ren)'s intention for this day.  Please fill out the form one time for each child.  We appreciate your attention to this matter!

LINK: https://forms.gle/iCpiCizeiZLNcm7VA

Book Fair Volunteers Needed

 

Volunteers are needed for the upcoming Cherry Run Book Fair. Please use the Sign-Up Genius link below.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054EAAA729ABFE3-51952215-cherry#/

Any questions? Please email Ms. Hammond, CRES Librarian: [email protected]

Pumpkin Decorating!! Fall Festival - October 29th!!

 

Fall festival is right around the corner and we need your help to make it a success! We have lots of fun games planned, concessions, a "treat" walk, and not one but two inflatables! Please consider volunteering your time before, during, or after the event. See the sign up genius for all the opportunities to help. If time is not something you can donate, consider purchasing something from our amazon wish list. This year's proceeds will fund fun new instruments for the music program, teacher appreciation events and teacher wish list items, as well as other requests that come up throughout the year. Preorders for unlimited game wristbands, concessions, and the famous pie in the face raffle will be coming in the next few weeks. 

Contact: [email protected] 

Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/16PM1LBUY5T88?ref_=wl_share

Sign Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4FADA92BA4F5C07-51358591-cres

A sign up genius for games is circulating at Lake Braddock. If slots are not filled, we will post that sign up here closer to the event. 

Digital Citizenship Week FCPS Youth Survey - 6th Grade

The Fairfax County Youth Survey, a collaboration between the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is a comprehensive, anonymous, and voluntary survey given each year to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. The survey examines behaviors, experiences, and other factors that influence the health and well-being of Fairfax County's youth. The results, published each year at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/youthsurvey, identify trends and areas of need, providing a snapshot of the county's youth and serving as a barometer of the community's effectiveness in fostering healthy choices in young people. Cherry Run ES will be administering the Fairfax County Youth Survey on November 13, 2024 during science class.

While it is our hope that as many students as possible will participate, if you do not wish for your child to take part in the Youth Survey, please complete the form linked here and return it to your child's school counselor no later than November 8, 2024. If you have already opted your child out of this survey using the Parental Digital Consent Portal you do not need to provide additional information to the school counselor.

National School Lunch Week

• Celebrating the Power of School Lunches

Multiple studies show that school lunches are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school lunches consume more fruit, vegetables, and fiber than their peers. 

This School Lunch Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services reminds families that they are dedicated to providing flavorful, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. Also, new menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback. 

Want to know what’s for breakfast or lunch? Nutrition Services now has printable menus. 

• Celebrando el poder de los almuerzos escolares

Múltiples estudios demuestran que los almuerzos escolares son importantes para apoyar la salud general de los estudiantes al mejorar sus dietas y combatir la inseguridad alimentaria. Los estudiantes que comen almuerzos escolares consumen más frutas, vegetales, y fibra que sus compañeros. 

Esta Semana de Almuerzo Escolar, los Servicios de Alimentos y Nutrición (FNS) de FCPS les recuerda a las familias que están dedicados a proveer comidas sabrosas, saludables, sostenibles y enfocadas en los estudiantes. Nuevos artículos de menú han sido lanzados este año basado en la retroalimentación de los estudiantes. 

¿Quieres saber lo que hay para el desayuno o el almuerzo? Los Servicios de Nutrición ahora tienen menús para imprimir disponibles.

Family Engagement Opportunities

Math is Everywhere! Talking to Your Children about Mathematics

Join the FCPS Elementary Math Team to discuss ways to engage your children in mathematics.

During our time together we will highlight books, games, and other materials that assist you in talking about mathematics with your child throughout the day.

Teaching math to your children doesn’t have to be intimidating. This webinar will provide concrete examples for caregivers with ideas to spark math joy.

October 18, 2024 10-11:30 A.M.

Register Online 

Adaptive Sports and Recreation

The adapted resources listed here are provided for informational purposes only. They do not reflect recommendations or endorsements by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) or The FCPS Family Resource Center. Please contact the locations directly for fees, availability, and whether they meet your needs.

Adaptive Recreation Services and Programs PDF

Community Sports ad Park Authority Programs

• Fairfax County ParkTakes
• Springfield Youth Club
• Burke Athletic Club
• Braddock Road Youth Club
• South Run Recreation Center  

Family Community Events/Parent Interest

Corn Mazes in Virginia

Virginia Corn Mazes

Apple Picking – Pick Your Own

Great Country Farms Virginia

Fall Festivals

Virginia Fall Festivals

City of Fairfax Fall Festival October 12 Enjoy more than 400 arts, crafts, information, food & gourmet food vendors, children’s activities and three stages of music and entertainment for all ages.

Clifton Day Festival October 13 Festival includes arts and crafts, antiques, demonstrations, the Town Market, live music, children’s activities and lots of good food.

Annandale's Fall Festival  October 19 Petting zoo, delicious food, and festive activities for all ages, adds up to an autumnal extravaganza! 

George Washington's Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Festival October 19 - 20  Celebrate the crisp autumn season with 18th-century activities & demonstrations at the Farm at Mount Vernon.

OmBaked Global FallFest October 20  Embark on a captivating exploration of distinct regions, each represented as its own autumn traditions. Treat your taste buds to an array of culinary delights and look through handcrafted treasures. 

Military Families

Our Miliary Kids

Our Military Kids® is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering extracurricular activity grants to children and teens of deployed National Guard, deployed Reserve, or post-9/11 combat wounded, ill, or injured Veterans in treatment. OMK activity grants build the children's self-confidence, enhance family wellness, and strengthen a shared sense of community.

Military Child Care

Access to childcare directly affects mission readiness, morale, and retention of defense personnel worldwide. For this reason, the Department of Defense is committed to connecting military and DoD-affiliated families to quality, affordable childcare programs. For an overview of MCC and how you can request childcare for your family, watch this short video and/or select Learn More.

National Museum of the United States Army (Fort Belvoir)

Free general admission ticket reservations are encouraged. Walk-up tickets are available. 
Up to 9 tickets per request. See Group Tickets for 10 tickets or more.

Military Family & Life Counselors

The Military and Family Life Counseling Program provides free, confidential non-medical counseling to service members, their families and survivors on or near installations. Trained to work with the military community, military and family life counselors deliver valuable counseling services, briefings and presentations to the military community.

Fort Belvoir -USO

Fall Fest Cupcake Bake Off

5940 9th Street Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 United States

Oct 12th, 2024

11:00 AM EDT

Knitwell

5940 9th Street Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 United States

Whether you are a Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced Knitter….Let’s Knit Together! Join us for a session where you get to learn new skills, meet new friends, and best of all have fun! For new participants, Knitwell has a Welcome Kit with everything…

Oct 14th, 2024

6:00 PM EDT

Baker's Bounty

5940 9th Street Fort Belvoir, VA 22060 United States

Join us every Tuesday at USO Fort Belvoir starting at 9am for a relaxing morning with some freshly brewed coffee, delicious pastries for you and your friends, and while you are here enjoy a variety of fresh bread and other baked goods from Panera

Oct 15th, 2024

9:00 AM EDT

Quantico USO

USO Quantico Fall Fest

24010 Montezuma Ave. Quantico, VA United States

🍁🎃 Fall into fun with us at the USO Quantico West Fall Festival! 🍂

Oct 25th, 2024

5:00 PM EDT

Facebook groups for local miliary families 

GAMS - https://www.facebook.com/groups/greateralexandriamilitaryspouses/

PCS to DC - https://www.facebook.com/groups/PCSMilitaryMovetoVirginia

Fairfax County Spouses - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2053938148258566/

Other Resources

School Liaison Office – Fort Belvoir

EFMP Military One Source

EFMP – Fort Belvoir

MWR – Fort Belvoir

Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• October 21
• November 18
• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Community Conversations

• 🎤 Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:

• Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary 
• Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary 
• Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle 

Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

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School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

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From the Principal's Desk:

Good afternoon families!! 

It feels a bit strange to send out a newsletter on a Wednesday, but with it being the last day of the school week, I wanted to make sure parents had all of the information that they need.  Students are off on Thursday and Friday.  The building will be shut down tomorrow, but the office will be open on Friday for parents who may need to pick things up, drop off items, etc.  The office is open normal hours.

In just under 3 weeks we'll have our second "Early Closing Monday" (Oct. 21st).  Our first session went very well, but we had some issues with tracking students and groups.  About 70 families filled out the form multiple times, with conflicting information, and about 40 families changed their minds on the day of the event.  This created a bit of uncertainty about who was supposed to stay and who was not.  In the end, it all worked out and all of our students were safe and accounted for.  Below, I have a **NEW** link and QR Code that I'd like you to use to indicate your preference for Oct. 21.  My current data is very inaccurate, and I'd like to try again.  The main purpose for this is for student safety!!  We want to make sure we know where every child is supposed to be.  More information can be found below.

Lastly, we have scheduled our annual Fall Festival which includes games, music, face painting, and a raffle to "pie Mr. Bibbee".  The event will be held on October 29th (rain date is October 30th) and more information can be found below.

Have a great extended weekend and we'll see you on the 7th!

Sincerely,

Mark Bibbee

Principal

Cherry Run ES

Important Dates:

October 3 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED

October 4 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

October 8 - PTA Meeting - Cafeteria & Zoom - 7:00 pm

October 9 - "Bike & Roll" to school day!

October 11 - Picture Day!

October 14 - Teacher Workday - No Students - School is OPEN

October 21 - 3 Hr Early Closing - 1:05 dismissal

October 29 - Fall Festival - Blacktop & Field - 4:30-6:30

October 31 - Last Day of Quarter - 2 hr Early Release

Early Release Info Needed - Oct. 21

 

On October 21st, Cherry Run will host the second "Early Release Monday" so that teachers can participate in professional development and planning with the new Language Arts program.  In order to accurately plan for students, I am asking parents to click the link below (or use the QR Code in the flyer), to designate their child(ren)'s intention for this day.  Please fill out the form one time for each child.  We appreciate your attention to this matter!

LINK: https://forms.gle/iCpiCizeiZLNcm7VA

Picture Day - Oct 11th   Let's Make 2024-25 Picture Day a Success @ Cherry Run Elementary School

 

School Picture Day is Coming!

📅 Date: Friday, October 11, 2024

📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day

🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001141798#login

📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at [email protected]

Fall Festival - October 29th!!

 

Fall festival is right around the corner and we need your help to make it a success! We have lots of fun games planned, concessions, a "treat" walk, and not one but two inflatables! Please consider volunteering your time before, during, or after the event. See the sign up genius for all the opportunities to help. If time is not something you can donate, consider purchasing something from our amazon wish list. This year's proceeds will fund fun new instruments for the music program, teacher appreciation events and teacher wish list items, as well as other requests that come up throughout the year. Preorders for unlimited game wristbands, concessions, and the famous pie in the face raffle will be coming in the next few weeks. 

Contact: [email protected] 

Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/16PM1LBUY5T88?ref_=wl_share

Sign Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4FADA92BA4F5C07-51358591-cres

A sign up genius for games is circulating at Lake Braddock. If slots are not filled, we will post that sign up here closer to the event. 

Annual Hearing & Vision Screening

SY 2024 -2025 Vision and Hearing Screenings

Vision and Hearing screening will be held on:

Testing Schedule:

 

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 *** (& other students needing screening)

Testing Time:

3rd Grade    9:45 am – 10:40 am & 11:45 pm – 3:30pm

 

If your child wears glasses, please be sure he/she has them at school on their screening day. 

The purpose of screening is to identify students who need further evaluation because they have difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones. 

Vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning. Prompt follow-up of a referral is recommended.

Parents will be notified by a letter if screening results indicate that further testing is needed by a doctor.

 **Screenings will be done along with the students who needs re-screenings & NEW to the Fairfax County School system.**

Thank you so much for your support in keeping our students’ Vision and Hearing healthy and ready for learning!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the School Health Aide: at 703-923- 2810 [email protected]  (Mylene Crisostomo)

Limited Early Release Mondays

• Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers. 

Early release Mondays for our school include:

• October 21
• November 18
• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays. 

Community Conversations

• 🎤 Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:

• Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary 
• Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary 
• Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle 

Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Bus Late? Here Comes the Bus!  

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to [email protected].  

Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.

• 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)

¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.  

Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.

Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.

¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a [email protected].  

Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.

Student Attendance

 

• 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement

During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan. 

Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.

Data shows that:

• Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance. 
• Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
• Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
• By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

Attendance is critical for academic success!

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

Tutoring Information

• 📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Click to edit this placeholder text.

School Hours

9732 Ironmaster Drive, Burke, Virginia, 22015 | Main Office: 703-923-2800
Attendance: 703-923-2828 | Web | Twitter | Facebook