From the Administration
Dear Belvedere Family,
We hope this message finds you well. We are excited to be in week five of the school year with students actively engaged in instruction with their peers and teachers.
We are thrilled to share that Kelly Cabezas, our assistant principal, and her husband welcomed a baby boy into their lives this past week. Cristhian Cabezas is their second son and his brother Matias is thrilled to be a big brother. Kelly will be out on leave until early December. Ms. Bunny Lancaster, retired principal, has agreed to once again support Belvedere, taking on the role of interim assistant principal. She will begin her work with Belvedere on October 15.
As you have learned from Superintendent Brabrand, Fairfax County Public Schools will begin to reintroduce some students to in-person instruction. For our school this includes preschool special education classes, enhanced autism class, and a very small group of beginning English learners in grades 3-5. Our first groups returning will be the week of October 19.
We are excited to share that Belvedere has been selected as a pilot school for distributing Free Fairfax Meal Kits to families. Each kit, which can be picked up on Wednesday mornings starting on October 21, contains seven days of breakfast and lunches for every child 18 years and under in the household. These meals are free for all families. Please be on the lookout for additional information coming home this week.
On Wednesday, October 14, Belvedere staff will hold a virtual Back to School Night from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. There will be two sessions for each grade level and each session will be interpreted into Spanish. You will be receiving a separate invitation to Back to School Night with the detailed times and Blackboard Collaborate link to the grade level specific session.
Best Regards,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal
Back to School Night
Belvedere's virtual Back to School Night will be held on Wednesday, October 14, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. There will be two sessions for each grade level and each session will be interpreted into Spanish. You will be receiving a separate invitation to Back to School Night with the detailed times and Blackboard Collaborate link to the grade level specific session.
No Classes on Monday, October 12
Please note that Monday, October 12 is a designated Teacher Work Day. Students will not have any class sessions on that day.
Newsletter from our Specialists
Want to learn what's happening in your child's Specials classes? Click here to read this month's Specialists' Newsletter for all the details about Art, Music, Health & Physical Education, Spanish and Library lessons.
Student Rights & Responsibilities: Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement
Parents and guardians, please review the Student Rights and Responsibilities and related resources at www.fcps.edu/srr. After reviewing the information, please help us by filling out the SR&R Parent Acknowledgement Form. The form must be filled out one time per student. Thank you!
Home Internet Access Assistance
FCPS is working to ensure that all FCPS students have internet access at home. FCPS is transitioning to a new program in partnership with Cox Communications, in which the school system will pay for internet service for qualifying families for the school year. Cox’s Connect2Compete program provides low-cost internet to families that meet these qualifications:
- Have at least one child that attends an FCPS school.
- Participate in, or qualify for, one of these government subsidy programs: the National School Lunch Program, SNAP, TANF, or Public Housing.
- Have not had Cox standard internet services in the home within the last 90 days.
If your family needs internet service at home so that your student can participate in virtual learning, please contact the Belvedere office to begin the application process. If you qualify for the program, the school will contact you to let you know how to complete the steps to receive your internet service.
AAP Services Presentations
Please mark your calendars for presentations by our Advanced Academic Resources Teacher, Ms. Lynch, on the Advanced Academic Program (AAP):
- Thursday, October 22: Presentation on the AAP Level IV screening process (in English with Spanish interpretation, beginning at 6:00 p.m.)
- Friday, October 23: Presentation on the AAP Level IV screening process (in English with Spanish interpretation, beginning at 2:00 p.m.)
Links for these sessions will be included in a future issue of News You Choose.
Important Information about Grab and Go Meals
Fairfax County Public Schools will be offering healthy breakfasts and lunches throughout Fairfax County during the school year. To find out more about this service and find locations click here.
There are currently two bus routes delivering food within the Belvedere boundary: COAH-21001 and COJS-24003. Details on those bus routes can be found here. Please note that this information has recently been updated!
These buses stop at Belvedere at 6:30 a.m., and at Barcroft View Terrace (at the bus stop on the Columbia Pike Service Road) at 7:10 a.m. every day Monday to Friday.
Free and Reduced Lunch
Belvedere is a Title I school and our Title I status is determined based on the percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced price meals. If you think you might qualify for free and reduced meals, please click here to apply. If you need help with the application, please contact the Belvedere office at 703-916-6800 and we will help you with the application. If you would like a paper application, they can be picked up at all food distribution sites.
Our Title I Family Engagement Policy and Compact
As a Title I school, Belvedere has collaborated with families to develop a Family Engagement Policy and Compact describing the school’s approach to involve families in students’ learning. This includes a compact expressing the partnerships among staff, caregivers, and students to reach high academic goals for every student. To read the full Family Engagement Policy and Compact, click here.
From the School Counseling Team
Please click here to read the October newsletter from our School Counselors! Learn about our lesson plans for Anti-Bullying Month, our new student group, and a School Counseling Google site for students.
Library Books by Bus!
Belvedere will be delivering library books by bus on Fridays, beginning this year! Click on this link to find out how your child can participate. Please note that the deadline to place holds will be Tuesdays at noon for book deliveries that Friday, so the deadline for this Friday's deliveries has passed.
From the PTA
In Case You Missed It:
FCPS Tech Help Desk
To support families who are working with their children during virtual learning, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has launched a new Parent Technology Help Desk, effective Monday, August 24. The help desk can be reached at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS) and will be answered by staff members between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week.
Parents or guardians who need help in a language other than English can inform the help desk staff when they call, and an interpreter will join them live on the call.
If help desk staff members are unable to solve the issue, they will request help from the appropriate FCPS team.
For a list of Tech help resources, please visit the Belvedere website here.
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, 10/12: No Classes (School Planning Day)
- Wednesday, 10/14: Back to School Night (6:00 to 8:00 p.m.)
- Thursday, 10/22: Presentation on the AAP Level IV screening process (in English with Spanish interpretation, beginning at 6:00 p.m.)
- Friday, 10/23: Presentation on the AAP Level IV screening process (in English with Spanish interpretation, beginning at 2:00 p.m.)
- Monday, 11/2 and Tuesday, 11/3: No Classes (School Planning and Teacher Work Days)
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