Cub Run Family Newsletter: Back to School Information

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kINDER CLASS

Welcome Class of 2039! Yesterday we welcomed students and families for Kinder Camp and family orientation! 

Upcoming Dates

August 20: New Family Orientation with Admin - 1:00pm

August 20: Open House - 1:30-3:30pm

August 20: Popsicles on the Playground - 3:00pm

August 24: First Day of School for the 2026-27 school year (Grades K-12)

August 24: First Day of School for Students in the Preschool Autism Classroom (PAC) Program

August 27: First Day of School for Students in the ECCB Program

September 4 & 7: No School - Labor Day 

September 17: Back to School Night

September 21: No School - Yom Kippur

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

Cubbie News

New Family Orientation - August 20 

Are you a new family joining us at Cub Run? We are looking forward to welcoming our new Cubbies to the school year! 

Our new Cub Run families with students in grades 1-6 are invited to join us for our Meet and Greet/New Family Orientation on Thursday, August 20 at 1:00 PM in our cafeteria. Families will have the opportunity to learn about Cub Run in preparation for Open House and our first day of school! 

Open House - August 20 

We are excited to welcome our families and students back for another wonderful school year! There’s nothing quite like the magic of meeting new and familiar faces, greeting our teachers, and coming together to welcome a new school year. 

Please join us for our annual Open House on Thursday, August 20. Come explore classrooms, meet teachers and staff, and reconnect with friends! Afterwards, join us for popsicles on the playground, a great chance for our community to mingle and celebrate the new school year. 

Thursday, August 20, 2026

1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Cub Run New Family Orientation - Cafeteria 

1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cub Run Open House

To help create a comfortable experience for everyone, we recommend the following classroom visit schedule:

  • Last names A through L: 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
  • Last names M through Z: 2:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Here’s to another fantastic year ahead! This year is extra special as we celebrate 40 years of Cub Run, and we are thrilled to learn, grow, and celebrate together. Thank you for making our community extraordinary. We look forward to seeing everyone!

Teacher Assignments Available in ParentVUE - August 20

Families will be able to view their child's 2026-27 teacher assignment beginning at 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 20 through their ParentVUE account. We encourage families to log in before arriving at Open House so you'll know which classroom to visit. We will also have many staff members available to help direct you to your child’s classroom.

If you have not yet activated your ParentVUE account, you can learn more and get started by visiting the FCPS ParentVUE information page: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/student-information-system-sis-fcps/sis-parent-account-overview

Don't have a ParentVUE account yet? No problem! We will have a ParentVUE assistance table available during Open House where staff members can help you create your account.

Back to School Checklist

We’re Eager to Welcome You Back to School!

As summer winds down, we are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Use the following list to help make sure your child is ready! 

☑️Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE

Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our registrar, Mrs. Saxena, if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE. Also, download the new ParentVUE mobile app so you can access your child’s records easily from anywhere! 

☑️Update Your Contact Information

Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts. 

 ☑️Update Immunizations and Records

Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. 

When your child is immunized, remember to request a copy of their immunization record and bring that to our front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.

☑️Learn About School Meals

Families need to provide their children with money to purchase meals at school or send them with a packed lunch. Alternatively, families may apply to receive free and reduced-price meal benefits, pending approval.

☑️ Bookmark the School Year Calendar

Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:

  • Days marked blue with an “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
  • Days marked orange with an “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings, if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days.
  • Days marked as TW, SD, and SP and in pink are holidays for students but working days for teachers and staff.

Please note that some holidays and observances, such as Eid al Fitr, may shift, and the calendar may be adjusted.

26-27 School Supply Lists

Please visit our website to review grade level school supply lists. 

Student Online Verification Update

The 2026–27 Online Verification/Update (OVU) packet is now available in ParentVUE. The OVU packet allows parents to electronically update phone numbers, emergency contacts, health conditions, and upload immunization records for their students via ParentVUE. 

Please take time in the coming days to update your student's information.  Instructions and detailed information are available here.

The OVU packet includes a section where parents can request childcare for the four elementary Early Release Wednesdays.  

Early Release Wednesdays for the 2026-27 School Year

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

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

Please view the dates for Cub Run's early release Wednesdays below:

  • October 21
  • December 2
  • February 10
  • May 5

Visit the FCPS website for more information about early release Wednesdays.

Back to School Night - September 17

Please join us for Back to School Night on Thursday, September 17. This evening, our teachers will be presenting sessions, you can meet our specialists, and hear important FCPS information on what to expect this school year. We look forward to seeing you!

6:00-6:40PM - Session 1 & Welcome Videos

6:00-7:15PM - Specialists available in library

6:50-7:30PM - Session 2 & Welcome Videos

Safety at Arrival & Dismissal

Arrival Reminders

If you are walking your child to school, please use our crosswalk with the assistance of our outstanding crossing guard. If you are driving your child, please use our Kiss and Ride/Car Rider loop that is adjacent to our school that loops around the parking lot. This is the safest option for dropping off students and as students get used to the process, the line moves quicker.

Dismissal Reminders

All students should know how they will be going home from school each day, whether they are a walker, bus rider, or kiss and rider. Please also work on remembering the following:

Walkers: Who they walk home with and where they are supposed to meet them

Kiss and Riders: Their Kiss and Ride number

Bus Riders: Their bus number and bus stop

Need to  communicate an early dismissal or a change in dismissal plans for a particular day?

Please contact our main office BEFORE NOON on the day of the change to notify both the front office and our classroom teachers of the dismissal change.

If you will be picking up your child for an early dismissal, we request for you to pick them up by 3:00pm. This allows time for our main office staff to successfully prepare for dismissal.

Kiss & Ride Procedures 

In order for the Cub Run staff to ensure a safe environment for all children, the following drop-off and pick-up procedures should be followed by all families. These procedures will be strictly adhered to each day.  If you need a Kiss and Ride number, please contact our main office. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our cubbies safe!

Morning Drop-off Procedures

    • Drop off begins at 8:30 a.m.
    • When entering the parking lot for the Kiss & Ride line, please do not block the crosswalk. Proceed to the side of the school and follow the loop around to the right.
    • Do not leave your child if there is no staff member present at Kiss & Ride. You must line up and wait at the starting location until a staff member is in position at Kiss & Ride to receive your child. 
    • The students may exit their vehicle on the right passenger side only. The left door should always be closed for safety purposes. 
  • All other individuals in the car should remain in the vehicle at all times for safety reasons.
  • After dropping off your child, proceed to exit the Kiss & Ride line carefully. Use extreme caution when you get to Sully Station Drive,  as walkers will be crossing at various times in a designated crosswalk.  The crossing guard will use a stop sign to halt traffic when walkers are present. 
  • Parents arriving after 8:40 a.m. must park and escort students to the main entrance (Door 1), where you check in your students in the front office.    

Afternoon Pick-Up Procedures

  • When entering the parking lot for the Kiss & Ride line, please do not block the crosswalk.
  • When you arrive, please be sure to have your Kiss & Ride number card visibly displayed on your dashboard when you pull forward.     
  • All cars should move up as far as possible along the sidewalk so that we may get as many cars loaded as possible. Please do not stop directly in front of your child, as this will delay all of the cars behind you.   
  • Children may only enter their vehicle from the right side of the vehicle. The left door should always be closed for safety purposes, especially during dismissal time. 
  • Ensure that your child wears a seat belt and proceed to exit the Kiss & Ride loop carefully.  
  • Parents arriving after 3:45 p.m. must park and sign out students from the office staff.

Walker Procedures

In the afternoons, walkers are met at Door 4 by the playground. Kindergartner walkers are required to have an adult meet them.

Bus Riders

Arrival: All bus riders enter through door 1. 

Dismissal: Kindergarten students will be escorted to their buses. All Kindergarten students must be met at the bus stop by an adult.

Students will watch for their bus numbers on our Silent Dismissal slide. Teachers will have bus number information to encourage students to leave at the appropriate time.

Reporting Absences

Parents/caregivers may report absences by using ParentVUE or by contacting the front office. Please find important details below:

  • How to Use ParentVUE: Log in to your ParentVUE account and select “Report Absence.” 
  • More Ways to Report: Use our attendance line at 703-633-7575 or email cubrunelem.attendance@fcps.edu for absences longer than two days, late arrivals, and early dismissals.
  • Where to Get Help: Visit FCPS’ Attendance Reporting webpage for step-by-step instructions. 

If you need to set up a ParentVUE account or have questions, please contact our front office at 703-633-7500. They will provide you with an “activation key” and instructions to create a ParentVUE account.

New Requirement for Student Device Use During the School Day

Starting this school year, students must use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. This is in accordance with a new School Board requirement, approved on July 16, which states that students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices, including personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices. 

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

Families can help support this requirement by reminding students to bring their FCPS-issued device each day and use it for all school-related digital activities unless an approved exception applies. 

Medical Dietary Accommodations

Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is implementing a standardized process for dietary accommodations to ensure the provision of safe and healthy food for our students. This form only needs to be filled out once while your student is enrolled at FCPS.

Please visit the website for details https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/food-and-nutrition/dietary-accommodations

Complete the appropriate Dietary Accommodation form for each child in your household who needs dietary accommodation(s).

  • Medical Dietary Accommodation Form
    • This form is for Medical Accommodations such as food allergies, texture modifications, or other dietary needs.
    • This form requires a signature from a state-licensed healthcare provider.  
  • Medical dietary form must be sent to dietary.forms.fns@fcps.edu.
  • Forms should only be sent to FNS if your student plans to eat school meals.

Explore School Meals in the New Menu Platform

Experience an easier way to view your child’s school menus using MealViewer:

  • View what is being served each day.
  • View the nutritional information for each meal.
  • See if any specific allergens are being served.
  • Get notified when your student’s favorite meal is being served.

Printable menus are always available on the Food and Nutrition Services webpage.  

FCPS Mobile App

Download the FCPS App Today!

The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep you connected and informed, directly from your smartphone. Download the FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or