Belvedere News and Announcements

From the Administration

Dear Belvedere Family:

Thank you to all who attended last week’s Q&A regarding return to in-person learning.  I want to thank everyone for replying to our email from last week to confirm or revise your choices for your child’s educational program (continuing with 100% online or moving to in-person instruction).  It was important to hear from you, even if you maintained your decision from this summer. Based on parent selections, we are preparing for the return to in-person instruction for identified cohorts of students as follows:

  • FCPS PK and Kindergarten- return to in-person instruction on Tuesday, November 17
  • First and second grade students- return to in-person instruction on Tuesday, December 1
  • Third through fifth grade students- return to in-person instruction on Tuesday, January 5

By Friday, Head Start and Kindergarten parents will receive an email from school (sender: bjhemmens@fcps.edu) that indicates the child’s type of instruction (100% virtual instruction or in-person instruction, including the weekdays the child will attend school) and the assigned classroom teacher. First and second grade parents will receive a similar communication next week. Parents of students in grades three through five will receive this communication in December.

As you know, changes to class rosters and schedules may be necessary at times.  Please know that our staff is exceptional and that they’ll be ready to establish great relationships with new students and build joyful, new classroom cultures.  All our teachers are members of a grade level team.  They plan lessons together, solve problems together, and advocate for students together. I am confident that a new teacher, should your child have one, will continue the great work her/his teammate has started this fall.

Before students can return to school for in-person instruction, parents MUST complete a health commitment form, which can be found through this link.  As indicated in that form, parents commit to reviewing this health questionnaire each morning before sending the child to school. 

Children will have their temperature taken before boarding the school bus and upon arrival at school. If a child presents with a fever of 100.4 F or higher, s/he will not be able to board the bus. Therefore, parents or a responsible adult or middle school or high school sibling must accompany the child to the bus stop each morning.  Once at school, if the child presents with a fever or any flu/COVID-like symptoms, the child will be taken to the isolation room and be sent home.

Thank you for helping us make the return to in-person instruction as safe as possible. 

Sincerely,

Cecilia Vanderhye


Early Release on November 11

As a reminder, there will a 2-hour early release on Wednesday, November 11 (Veteran's Day). This will be a Synchronous (virtual) learning day for all students, including those students who have begun in-person classes in the school building. Classes will conclude 2 hours earlier than usual.


Employment Opportunities

New opportunity:  Classroom Monitors

FCPS schools and centers will be hiring classroom monitors to provide in-person classroom assistance for students when a staff member remains virtual.  If you would like more information about the position, please review the job description and qualifications online and apply if interested. Please feel free to share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested.

Substitute Teaching

Are you or somebody you know interested in substitute teaching with FCPS? Apply here or attend one of our Friday information sessions to learn more! To sign up for a session, visit our substitute information page here.  Say Yes 2 FCPS!


News 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.


Book Bus Changes

As we continue to have more students join us in the building for in person learning, we have to make some adjustments to our Book Bus delivery schedule.  Our buses will be delivering books during your student's lunch break between noon and 1:00 p.m. starting Friday, November 6.  You will receive a personal email with the time and location of your child's stop early next week.  The location won’t change, just the time.  You will continue to put your books on hold the same way.

Thanks for your flexibility and supporting our Book Bus program!  Click on this link if you need a reminder on how your child can participate.


"Paperless" Report Card Option

Parents can now opt to review their child's report card online in SIS ParentVue, rather than receiving a paper version by mail.  If you are interested in this option, you will need to:

  • Log into SIS ParentVue
  • Go to "My Account"
  • Select "Go Paperless"

Please know that selecting the "Go Paperless" option will set that preference for all of your students, regardless of their school and grade level.


FREE Fairfax Meal Kits

We are excited to announce that we will begin distributing FREE Fairfax Meal Kits--containing seven days breakfast and lunches--at Belvedere on Wednesdays, beginning October 21.

The kits will be available for pick up from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or until they run out. Meal kits will be available to ALL FCPS students and children 18 years of age and under at no cost. Each meal kit will contain breakfast and lunch for one person for a week. Parents and caregivers may pick up one meal kit for each child. Adults may purchase meal kits for $28.

Instructions on how to store the food and prepare it will be provided.  Initially, meal kits will be distributed every Wednesday.

Don’t miss out! Stop by Belvedere and pick up your no-cost Fairfax Meal Kit on Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.!


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.  A separate form must be filled out for each student.  Thank you!

NEW:  Translated versions of the Student Rights and Responsibilities are now available here.


Virtual 5K for Justice HS Athletics

Justice High School Athletics is offering a Virtual 5K Community Event and Fundraiser. Cost is just $20 for students and teachers, $25 for parents and relatives! Click this link to register.

We would love to see many of our students, parents and community members exercising and showing their school and Justice Spirit! All participants will receive a t-shirt, racing bib, and certificate of completion. Questions? Email Dylan Forshay at dtforshay@fcps.edu.

Turkey

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.


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 PTA

Girl Scouts Interest Virtual Meeting

There will be a virtual meeting tonight, Wednesday, November 4, for families that may be interested in Girl Scouts.  Here is the meeting information:

1. Click to join the meeting:

https://chime.aws/1676618583

Meeting ID: 1676 61 8583

You can use your computer’s microphone and speakers, however, a headset is recommended.

2.  Or, call in using your phone:

United States: +1-267-866-0999
Meeting PIN: 1676 61 8583

Contact:  Michele Randall – mrandall@gscnc.org or 703-372-4352

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

  • Wednesday, 11/11: Veteran's Day (2-hour Early Release and Virtual Day for all students)
  • Week of 11/16: In-Person Head Start and Kindergarten Students Return to Building
  • Wednesday, 11/25 to Friday, 11/27:  School Closed (Thanksgiving Holiday)
  • Week of 11/30: In-Person 1st-Grade and 2nd-Grade Students Return to Building

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