From the Administration
Dear Belvedere Family:
Fall weather is here, and children are excited to see the changes the fall season brings. Many students are interested in collecting leaves of different colors, sorting and arranging these into various shapes and collages. We hope you have an opportunity as a family to enjoy the outdoors.
This past Saturday approximately 70 people joined Outdoor Club for its first 2021-2022 outing to Huntley Meadows Park. Two buses funded through Title I funds helped transport families to the park. Everyone attending had a chance to enjoy the beautiful scenery in the park. Participants saw a bald eagle, great blue herons, mallard ducks, Canada geese, a spotted salamander, and a variety of other birds and fish while exploring the boardwalk over the wetlands and the woods. Belvedere’s Outdoor Club welcomes students, parents, staff, spouses, siblings, and other relatives to participate in its adventures at local parks. We hope you can join us next time the Outdoor Club meets. Please be on the lookout for more information soon.
Community clinics and local pediatricians have begun administering the COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5-11. Up-to-date information about vaccination opportunities will be available on the FCPS website. FCPS asked local pediatricians to talk about some of the questions families have about the vaccine. In this short video you can learn how the vaccine works and about its safety.
Best regards,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal and Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
Early Release on November 11
Please note that Veteran's Day (Thursday, November 11) is a 2-hour early release day, so students will be dismissed at 2:05.
Veterans Day provides a great reason to pause, reflect, and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices our Veterans and their families have made on our behalf, and we thank them for their service.
Classes will resume on Friday, November 12. See the complete 2021-22 school year calendar here.
Fall Picture Retakes on November 16
Strawbridge will be at Belvedere for Fall Picture Retakes. Pictures will be taken for:
- any children who were absent on our Fall picture day (September 27);
- any children new to Belvedere since September 27, and
- any children who did not like their first picture and would like a new one taken.
If you are taking a new picture, your child should bring in their original pictures and give them to the photographer. Please call the office (703-916-6800) if you have any questions.
Free and Reduced-Price Meals Application
Although this school year breakfast and lunch meals are free to all students, we encourage families who believe their children might qualify for free and reduced-priced meals to apply for this program. Qualifying for free and reduced-priced meals has many added benefits, beyond the free meals. For elementary students, these include:
- Reduced or waived musical instrument rental fee
- Information about holiday assistance
- Information about non-FCPS scholarships, classes and other non-FCPS educational related services
- Pupil placement fees
There are also many other benefits and fee waivers that apply to students in middle school and high school (see this earlier letter from Dr. Brabrand).
Belvedere is a Title I school. A school’s Title I status is calculated based on the percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals. As a Title I school, Belvedere benefits from grant funds that support many school programs.
To apply for free and reduced-price meals, please go to this website.
We are here to support you. If you need help completing this application, please call the school. We can help you over the phone or schedule a time for you to come to school and complete the application.
Thank you for considering this important matter.
Parent Meeting on AAP Screening and Identification Process
The Level IV (full time) center services of the Advanced Academic Program in Fairfax County are designed for students who are highly motivated and who demonstrate an exceptional ability to apply knowledge and exceptional creative/productive thinking. In Fairfax County, there is a central-selection screening committee which reviews information on each student in grades 2-8 being considered for participation in the Level IV Advanced Academic Program. This is the time of year to start thinking about whether or not to refer your child in grades 2-8 for Level IV screening. All students need to be referred in order to be screened for services.
Please join our Advanced Academic Resources Teacher, Preshion Lynch, at one of two virtual sessions to learn about the screening and identification process for level IV (full time) AAP services:
We hope to see you there!
From our Counselors
Please check out the November/December newsletter from our School Counselors, Paige Simpson and Tracy Ballard. They discuss their activities in classrooms and with student groups. Thank you!
Belvedere Spirit Wear!
The PTA is running a Belvedere Spirit Wear sale through November 30! Click here to see a list of items for sale. Click here to order!
Support the Belvedere PTA
Our PTA supports Belvedere in myriad ways: organizing school events, enrichment and outreach activities; providing funding for field trips, library books, and technology in the classroom; and building a school community outside the classroom.
There are several ways to support the PTA:
Parent Center Resources
Our Family Liaison, Ashley Hidalgo, has created this padlet where you can view information from FCPS and outside organizations to help support our families, including information on personal finances, tutoring services for students in grades K-7, FCPS webinars, and more!
Ms. Hidalgo will continue to add resources to this padlet as she receives them. We will highlight noteworthy items in this space as well.
Also, if you are in need of school supplies for your child, please contact Ms. Hidalgo by email or phone (703-916-6824).
Upcoming Dates
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Friday, 11/12 at 11:30 a.m. and Thursday, 11/18 at 6:30 p.m.: Parent Meetings on AAP Screening and Identification Process
- Tuesday, 11/16: Fall Picture Retake Day
- Wednesday, 11/24 to Friday, 11/26: School Closed for Thanksgiving Break
Keep in Touch
Daily Health Screening Questionnaire
Health and Safety Guidance Webpage
Visit the Belvedere website
Report student absences
Follow Belvedere on Twitter
Follow our PTA on Facebook
Change your email preferences
FCPS Calendar: 2021-2022
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