From the Administration
Dear Belvedere Family:
It’s hard to believe this is the last message from us for the 2020-2021 school year! What a year it has been! And we made it! We would be remiss in not recognizing the huge role you have played this year, teaching alongside us while in your homes. Thank you for all that you have contributed to your child’s learning and for your unwavering support. We could not have done this without you!
With summer heat and humidity firmly settled into our area, we end this year looking forward to the new year to begin in August. Fairfax County Public Schools is excited to welcome back students for five days per week of instruction in an environment that is as close to pre-COVID times as it can be. We are excited to welcoming our returning students back!
Last night was the final PTA meeting of the school year. We thank our outgoing PTA board for their dedication and support throughout this year. Ms. Chodos, Ms. Lewis, Ms. Rogers, and Ms. Long have led the PTA through collaboration with parents and the school, supporting students, staff, and families alike. Thank you for your dedication!
The PTA meeting also resulted in the election of a new PTA board for this coming school year. We are excited to continue to work with Ms. Long in her role as new PTA president; Ms. Owens as Vice President; Ms. Kelley as Secretary; and Ms. Magoulas as Treasurer.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to our fifth graders and to the fifth-grade families. This past Monday, they embraced the heat and humidity while spending hours painting the blacktop area of the school. The result is a fabulous array of spaces where students can play games and enjoy the outdoors. What an incredible gift from our graduating 5th-grade class! On behalf of Belvedere students and staff, we thank you. Please see pictures below.
Please remember to have your child return their laptop, MiFi (if applicable), power cord, and mouse before leaving for the summer. Please also return any math manipulatives you may have at home. See below for more information about return of supplies.
Finally, we remind you that Friday, June 11 (the last day of school) is a two-hour early release day, and school ends at 2:15 p.m.
We wish you a wonderful summer!
Best Regards,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal and Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
5th Grade Graduation
We are planning a fun virtual graduation celebration for our fifth-graders on the last day of school, Friday, June 11. Click here for more details!
End-of-Year Return of School Supplies
We are looking for your child to find and return these items to school before the end of the school year:
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Technology Items: Laptop, charger, carrying case (if given), and MiFi device (if given)
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Language Arts Items: Bags of Books that had the Return to BES Teddy bear sticker on it
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Math Items: Any dice, counters, Unix cubes, base ten blocks, 100s charts
- You do not need to return: any notebooks, folders, or art supplies.
For In-Person students, please bring items to school with you and give to your teacher.
For Virtual students, please return all items during one of these times:
- Friday, June 11 from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.;
- Monday, June 14, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; or
- Tuesday, June 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you are moving or leaving before the last day of school, please drop your items off beforehand!
Medication Pick-Up
If you left medications for your child at Belvedere, they must be picked up no later that 2:00 p.m. Friday, June 11. Any medications remaining at Belvedere after that date will need to be destroyed, in accordance with FCPS regulations.
Summer Practice Books
Dear FCPS Community,
Summer Practice Books will be mailed home to FCPS students in grades PreK-8 to provide suggested activities to support continued learning. Students will be mailed books based on course enrollment for the 2020-21 school year. Students will receive the following books:
- Pre-Kindergarten students will receive one interdisciplinary Summer Practice Book.
- Students enrolled in grades K-8 in 2020-21 will receive one Language Arts Practice Book and one Math Practice Book by course enrollment. These books will also include information and guidance about digital tools that can be accessed by students and families to support learning throughout the summer.
- English Learners and students receiving Special Education services may receive additional or customized books. Links to the Adapted Curriculum, PAC, and Special Education Early Childhood books will be emailed to identified families in a separate email.
If your mailed books do not arrive before the end of June, please reach out to your school to request a print copy. Families who have opted-out of paper mailings from the division will not receive mailed copies of books. Digital versions of Summer Practice Books can be accessed below and will be available through July 30, 2021.
Links to the Summer Practice Books are available here.
Glasgow JumpStart for Rising 6th Graders
Glasgow Middle School Rising 6th grade JumpStart Program: August 2 & 3 or August 4 & 5
Help your student get a JumpStart on middle school! Students take a tour of the school and engage in a series of group activities and learning experiences to prepare for in-person sixth-grade in the fall. All rising sixth-graders registered for Glasgow Middle School in the fall of 2021 are eligible to register. Space is limited, so please register soon.
Check out the JumpStart Promotional Video here!
See this flyer for details. To register, click here. For more information please email: Melinda Hedenberg, Rushel Grillo or Emily Wasserman.
Summer Reading Program
The Fairfax County Public Library has a wonderful summer reading program this year that begins on June 11. Click here to read more. Students also have access to e-books all summer long. We hope you’ll keep your Belvedere Bulldog reading all summer!
Order your School Supply Kits Now!
School supply kits for next school year are now available for purchase through the Belvedere PTA! School supply kits allow you to do your back to school shopping risk free from the comfort and safety of your own home. Get the exact supplies your teacher requested without the hassle and aggravation of shopping at big box retailers. To purchase next year's supplies, Click here!
Free Summer Soccer Camp
The Culmore Soccer Camp is a county-sponsored program that is free for all participants in the Bailey’s community. This soccer camp is a place where young athletes, ages 6 to 16, can continue to develop their skills and participate in a team setting during the summer months.
Please visit their website here for more information. For a registration form in English, click here. For a registration form in Spanish, click here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Available to Children 12-15
Good news! Vaccine providers in Virginia began vaccinating teens between 12-15 years old, following federal approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine last week. Fairfax County Health Director Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu and FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand sent a joint letter to parents stressing the important role that vaccinating young people plays in keeping our schools a healthy place to learn. Check out FCPS teens from Justice High School who are sharing why they are getting vaccinated.
Vaccines are widely available now:
- To learn how to get a vaccine at a Health Department clinic site, including the Fairfax County Government Center, George Mason University, and the Tysons Community Vaccination Center, go to the Fairfax County COVID-19 Vaccine webpage or call the Fairfax County Health Department vaccine call center at 703-324-7404. You can schedule directly, and you don’t need to pre-register.
- Walk-in appointments are also being offered at the Tysons Community Vaccination Center Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. This center is in the former Lord & Taylor site at Tysons Center at 7950 Tysons Corner Center in McLean.
- To schedule an appointment at Inova’s Stonebridge site at 5001 Eisenhower Avenue in Alexandria, go to the Inova COVID-19 scheduling webpage.
Register for Kindergarten Now!
Registration for the 2021-2022 school year is underway. If you have a child who will be 5 years old on September 30, 2021, they will be eligible for Kindergarten this fall! Please contact the Belvedere office (703-916-6800) for additional information on registering your incoming Kindergarten student.
PreK and Early Head Start for SY 2021-22
FCPS PreK and Early Head Start is now accepting applications for School Year 2021-22! Please watch this video to see if your 3 or 4 year old may qualify for PreK.
Registration for Fairfax County's School Age Child Care (SACC) Coming Soon
Fairfax County’s School Age Child Care (SACC) program will be open to provide before- and after-school services for the 2021-22 school year. The SACC program is currently assessing Center capacities based on health and safety protocols. More information for the 2021-22 school year program will be available by June 15 on the SACC website. Families who were previously enrolled will be contacted to determine their need for services.
Library Books Overdue!
If your child has library books at home, please return them to the tubs at Door 1 as soon as possible. We still have hundreds of books out. If your child is learning virtually, please bring them to the school. Contact Mrs. Atkins with questions at: mfatkins@fcps.edu.
Want to find out what books your child needs to return to the library? Watch this short video.
Meal Kit Distribution Dates
Dear Belvedere Family:
The end of the school year is coming quickly, and we have a few meal distribution days left. We want to share the days and times with you so you can take full advantage of the remaining days:
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Thursday, June 10: 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (7 day meal kit-Breakfast and lunch)
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Monday, June 14: 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (7 day meal kit-Breakfast and lunch)
Best,
Gloria Acosta, Food Services Manager
Free Meals Available Throughout the Summer, June 28-August 5
FCPS is committed to providing all students access to no-cost meals over the summer months at meal kit sites and on bus routes. Each site and bus route will offer meal kits containing seven days of breakfast and lunch. Please note that locations of the meal distribution sites and all bus routes have changed from the school year plan.
Summer Meal Kits will be offered on Mondays at 10 sites throughout the county beginning June 28 and ending August 2. Please note that meal kits will be distributed on Tuesday, July 6, due to the Monday, July 5 holiday. Meal kits contain 7 days of breakfast and lunch items packed in bulk. The meal kits will be available for pick up from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. or until supplies are exhausted. All meals are available at no-cost to FCPS students and children eighteen (18) years of age and under. Parents and caregivers may pick up food for children and adults may purchase kits for $28.
Meal Kit bus routes will run June 28 through August 5. Buses will run weekly routes throughout the community distributing meal kits, containing seven days of breakfast and lunch items packed in bulk. The buses will not distribute meals on a daily basis. The bus stops are weekly and run Monday-Thursday only. Please note that on Friday, July 2, Monday bus routes will operate to cover the Monday, July 5, holiday. Meal kits are available at no-cost to FCPS students and children eighteen (18) years of age and under. Parents and caregivers may pick up food for children. Adult meals will not be available for purchase on the bus routes.
Rec-PAC is Back!
Rec-PAC is a structured recreation program operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority for elementary school children. Six one-week sessions will be offered this summer, from June 28 to August 5. Rec-PAC locations near Belvedere include Parklawn, Bailey's Primary, and Bren Mar Park Elementary Schools
Participants enjoy activities such as fitness, indoor and outdoor games, team sports, nature, crafts, special events, talent shows, and play sessions. Fees are designed to be affordable, and scholarships are available.
For more information, click here.
Book Fair!
The Bookworm Central Book Fair is open now through the last day of school. It’s a great way to support the library, a local business, and keep your student reading! Belvedere’s Book Fair site is here. You can also see more specific directions here.
From the PTA
In Case You Missed It
FREE COVID-19 Testing at George Mason Regional Library
Click here for information about a new FREE COVID-19 testing site at George Mason Regional Library.
Individuals who exhibit any symptoms, or who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive, should get tested. Fairfax County has an incredible array of services and supports to help individuals who test positive!
Information about additional COVID-19 testing sites in Fairfax and surrounding jurisdictions is available here.
Upcoming Dates
- Friday, 6/11: Last Day of School, 5th Grade Promotion Celebration, and 2-hour Early Release
Keep in Touch
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FCPS Calendar: 2021-2022
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