The BULLS Bulletin (Week of 02/17)
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Principal's Message:Hello Bull Run families,
Yet another weather-impacted week... bring on the warm weather!
Our students have worked so hard this year, and I am impressed with the growth demonstrated on the winter windows of iReady and VALLSS. As you know, I believe very much in being transparent with families, so next week I will have some data to share with you all, so you can share in my pride!
This week was Friendship Spirit Week at Bull Run, and our students and staff showed their school spirit every day! Let's not forget that we don't need a special week to be Charger STRONG and be kind to one another!
REMINDERS:
*Tomorrow, Friday 02/14, we finish our Friendship Spirit Week on Valentine's Day. Students are encouraged to wear red, pink or hearts!
*There is NO SCHOOL on Monday, 2/17, in honor of Presidents Day
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Have a wonderful weekend!
-Mr. Marotta
February 17: Presidents Day (NO SCHOOL)
February 21: School Pep Rally and Bull Run Staff vs. Centre Ridge Staff Basketball game at night
February 24: Three-Hour Early Release Monday
February 26: Bull Run Spelling Bee Finals
February 28: Ramadan (begins at sundown)
Ramadan begins at sundown on Friday, February 28. This day is an evening-only observance day. There is school on these days, but certain activities that cannot be made up can not take place after school.
Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact Mr. Marotta regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about Black History month.
*The full FCPS 2024-2025 calendar can be accessed here.
School Year CalendarBe sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.
- Days marked with blue Hs are student holidays.
- Days marked with orange Os are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings if only half marked).
- Days marked in pink are holidays for students, but working days for teachers and staff.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and the start of each month coincides with the birth of a new moon. The date of Eid a-Fitr is regionally decided, which can lead to unexpected date changes. Eid al-Fitr is currently slated to begin at sundown on Sunday, March 30, 2025, and lasts through sundown Monday, March 31, 2025. Monday is a holiday, with all schools and offices being closed. If the day for Eid changes after the school year begins, the calendar may be adjusted.
HIGHLIGHTS AND WHAT'S NEW AT BULL RUN!Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one guardian must be present), the student will be ready for orientation (more information to come at a later date). Read more about the registration process. For additional information, please contact Maria Betancourth, our school registrar.
Try Online Registration
Learn how to begin the online registration process.
When registering, parents/caregivers will need to create or log in to an existing SIS ParentVUE account.
- ¡Es el Momento de Inscribirse para el Kindergarten!
Asistir al kindergarten ofrece a los niños la oportunidad de aprender y practicar las habilidades sociales, emocionales, de resolución de problemas y de autorregulación esenciales que usarán durante toda su vida. Las escuelas públicas del Condado de Fairfax normalmente llevan a cabo eventos de inscripción para kindergarten-incluyendo orientación-en la primavera durante Lunes o Abril. Los niños elegibles también pueden inscribirse durante el verano, pero inscribir a su hijo temprano ayuda a las escuelas a prepararse y asegurarse de que tengan a mano los maestros y recursos que necesitan el primer día de clases.
Después de determinar a qué escuela asistirá su hijo, las familias deben prepararse para la inscripción reuniendo documentos y completando formularios, los detalles se pueden encontrar en la página web de inscripción de kindergarten de FCPS. FCPS ofrece apoyo y recursos para todas las familias para ayudar con la inscripción y la transición al kindergarten. Para apoyo en otros idiomas, visite la página web de inscripción de kindergarten.
Do you have a preschool student?
Bull Run has inclusive PreK/Head Start program to provide a quality preschool experience with comprehensive services at no cost to qualifying families, who reside in Fairfax County. Though families may qualify, spaces are limited, and selection is based on need, not “first come, first serve”, with PreK priority given to 4 year olds and Bull Run based students. More information and the application in both Spanish and English can be found at this link. https://www.fcps.edu/registration/early-childhood-prek/fecep-head-start-application
This program will be in addition to our Preschool Autism Program. If you think your preschooler has a developmental delay or a disability contact Child Find for FCPS. Child Find is the process of identifying children with potential special education needs. Child Find screenings are free to residents of FCPS whose child is 2 through 5 years old. https://www.fcps.edu/registration/early-childhood-prek/early-childhood-child-find
If you have a child who is under the age of 2, who may have a delay contact https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/office-for-children/infant-and-toddler-connection/ for a free screening
AART is enrolling for the upcoming school year in Centreville! Classes are held twice a week for 90 minutes. AART’s FREE part-time preschool program is specifically designed for children who fall in the gap between those who qualify for publicly funded programs and those families who cannot afford preschool.
To qualify for AART, your child must be: 4 or 5 years old, Not enrolled in another preschool program, Head Start, STEP, or PreK. Enroll / Inscribirse School-Year Classes - All Ages Read Together
Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day.Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student.To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28, and the week of March 3, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
PTA NEWS AND EVENTSHey Bull Run Families-
PTA is looking for a few board members this year, as several members have come to the end of their term. We are in need of a President, Vice President and Secretary. Bull Run PTA needs a President and CANNOT run without one.
If your child has:
-Enjoyed any after school club (3D club, Cheer Club, Music Lessons, Engineering, Robotics, etc.)
-Participated in a school assembly (Mad Science, Inflatable Planetarium)
-Read current books at our school library
-Been to an after school event (like Winterfest, Back to School Bash, Restaurant Night)
-Had a teacher who's received a teacher grant (most have)
-Had a child attend a field trip on a bus
-Planted seeds at school in the Spring
-Enjoyed the yearbook & the cover contest
-Enjoyed one of the many, many other things PTA has done...
Then YOU should consider joining the PTA Board, otherwise those activities (and more) could end. Term is 1 year (July-June) and we will show you the ropes! Participating in this is a rewarding experience! If you have more questions or would like to be nominated at our May 2025 election, please email: [email protected]
Volunteers for basketball night: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4AADA828A31-54695960-family
Volunteers for Bull Run's Got Talent:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4AADA828A31-54695846-bull#/
IMPORTANT LINKS AND INFORMATIONGrade Level Curriculum 2024-2025
Bull Run Elementary Spirit Days -Wear Blue and White!
Bull Run Elementary encourages every students to wear our school colors, blue & white, every Friday! This is a simple way we can show our community spirit and love for all things BRES! Spirit wear is encouraged or wear your blue and white. Make a plan with friends and see how many of you can participate! Staff often wear their blue and white or Spirit Wear on Fridays!
Jersey Day! Every First Friday of the Month!Bull Run Elementary encourages every student to wear a jersey, shirt or colors of their favorite team or sport!
Recognizing BRES staff who go above and beyond
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Bull Run Elementary. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
FCPS NEWS AND RESOURCESProposed Budget Presented to School Board
The Fairfax County School Board discussed the FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget at their work session on February 4. They discussed details regarding student enrollment and investments in students requiring additional support, market comparison data for surrounding school divisions, and an update on progress toward achieving the Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence. Baldrige is a framework used to assess and improve organizational performance across various sectors, including education.
The School Board also held a public hearing on February 4, where they invited the community to share their feedback on the proposed budget.
On Tuesday, February 18, the Fairfax County executive will present the county’s Advertised Budget, and the School Board will hold a work session on FCPS’ FY 2026 Proposed Budget. View the Budget Development Calendar.
Breaking Down the Budget: Investing in Our Classrooms:
Did you know that more than 85% of FCPS’ budget stays in our classrooms? Currently, 92.5% of FCPS staff are school-based, more than neighboring school districts. We are in the middle of FCPS’ annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback. Learn more about the proposed FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget and see the budget timeline.
Dual Language Immersion Lottery Registration
Countywide lottery registration for the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program for first graders in the 2025-26 school year is open through Thursday, February 13, at 4 p.m. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program through Thursday, March 6, at 4 p.m.
Dual Language Immersion is available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
Interested parents/caregivers may attend an informational meeting at the school site. Visit the Dual Language Immersion Program registration page for a list of meetings by language offered.
Get more details on the DLI Program webpage.
🧲 Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools
Three FCPS elementary magnet schools — Hunters Woods, Bailey’s Primary, and Bailey’s Upper — provide enhanced learning programs in science, technology, and performing arts.
Registration for the 2025-26 elementary magnet lottery is open Tuesday, March 4, through Friday, April 4. Learn more about the programs on the Elementary Magnet Schools page and information on the magnet lottery on our Registration page.
🤧 Protect Yourself and Your Community From the Flu
Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department.
The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
- Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
- Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.
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.
Get to Know FCPS and the Resources Available to FamiliesBeing connected to your school community helps you stay informed and support your child’s success. Take some time to get familiar with the many resources and tools available to FCPS families, including:
- School Age Child Care (SACC) – This Fairfax County government program provides a safe and fun environment before and after school for elementary school-age children.
- FCPS Communications for Families – FCPS shares news and information to support student learning and promote family involvement.
- Family Academy – Where families can learn and get support for their child's school journey. Learn more on our website.
- Do You Know About Family Liaisons – Family liaisons serve as a link between families and schools. Find out how family liaisons can support you and your family.
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
FCPS This WeekIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week.
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!Follow us to see photos and videos from our classrooms and connect with other families.
FACEBOOK: FCPS Bull Run Elementary School
INSTAGRAM: bullrunelem
FACEBOOK (PTA): BullRunESPTA
BRES Website: https://bullrunes.fcps.edu/
PTA Website: https://bullrun.memberhub.com/
Bull Run Special Olympics Instagram: BullRunESSpecialOlympics
#chargerSTRONGWant to view previous Bull Run Bulletins? Click here.
15301 Lee Highway, Centreville, VA 20121 | Main Office: 703.227.1400
Attendance: 703.227.1495 | Web | Twitter | Facebook