From the Administration
Dear Belvedere Family:
Despite the cold weather this week, spring is here, and spring break is next week. We hope your time with the children at home allows for family time and fun.
Although it’s hard to believe, we are only a couple of months away from the end of the school year. This means SOL testing for students in grades 3-5 will begin at the end of April and continue through the month of May. All students in K-5 will be assessed on their reading and spelling skills, helping us see the overall growth they have experienced since the beginning of the year. Additionally, student in grades 1-5 will for the third time this year complete the problem-solving assessment, a grade level specific assessment that focuses on the most important math problem solving skills for that age group. Ongoing small assessments and observations, as well as these bigger assessments, help guide instructional plans and teacher support for the students.
Our students work so hard while at school, our hope is that they have a relaxing time during spring break. We also encourage the students to read a little over break. This can take on many different forms, including reading alone, reading with a partner, being read to, taking turns reading, and reading to someone. The goal is to enjoy the experience. Thank you for your support.
Best regards,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal and Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
All-Belvedere Authors Visit: Tuesday, April 12
We are proud to welcome multiple-award-winning children’s book author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Jeffrey Weatherford on Tuesday, April 12. Ms. Weatherford’s 2021 book Unspeakable is the most-awarded book of the year. They will be discussing their new book Call Me Miss Hamilton and reflect on the meaning of identity and "What is a Noun?"
The authors will present virtually from 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom. The Zoom link will be sent to parents by email prior to April 12, and will be shared with your students in their Schoology courses.
Click here for more information
Mark your calendars now for this wonderful event! Our thanks to the Title I office for providing funding for the event.
3rd Grade Seed Sale a Big Success!
Third Grade held their Seed Sale earlier this week. Here some photos all of the activity!
AAP Spring Newsletter
The spring advanced academic programs’ newsletter provides families with important information about AAP levels of service and the Young Scholars program in Fairfax County Public Schools. Screening for AAP levels II-III and Young Scholars is done at the base school.
If you have any questions regarding the advanced academic programs in FCPS, you may email Preshion Lynch, advanced academic resource teacher, at pmlynch@fcps.edu.
Counselors' Corner
Click here for the April edition of the Counselors' Corner newsletter from our wonderful counselors, Paige Simpson and Tracy Ballard!
PTA Plant Sale on Earth Day!
Plant Sale
Buy Plants for your Garden to Support Belvedere's PTA, donate plants to Belvedere's gardens, or donate directly to the Belvedere PTA!
Pre-order plants at: https://app.memberhub.gives/belvederebulldogs
Pre-orders for plants are due by April 11. Plants must be picked up at Belvedere Saturday, April 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you do not wish to pre-order plants, there will be additional plants for sale on April 23.
Tour Belvedere's Gardens
When you come to pick up your plants, you can also take a tour of Belvedere's gardens, meadow, and woods, and speak with a Belvedere Student Educator!
We are looking for student volunteers to serve as tour guides, educators, and sales team on the day of the event. Families are also invited to volunteer.
There is something for everyone!
Please contact Amanda Grier at argrier@hotmail.com or 202-374-3435 (text or call) to volunteer. Students must be accompanied by an adult volunteer.
Last Chance to preorder PTA Yearbook!
The deadline to preorder the 2021-22 Belvedere Yearbook is April 1.
For $18 you can have a wonderful keepsake book of photographs from the 2021-2022 school year, including portraits of every child at Belvedere, candid photos of the kids at work and play, and pictures of Belvedere teachers and staff.
Go to www.strawbridge.net, click Order Pictures/Yearbooks and enter the code YB115015
If your family is eligible for free or reduced lunch, use the code BES8OFF to order at the discounted rate of $10.
Purple Up! on Wednesday, April 20
April is the month of the military child. On Wednesday, April 20 wear purple to help Belvedere celebrate and honor all FCPS military families and their children.
Spring Class Photos
We will be taking class group photos on April 18! To order the group photos, go to https://www.strawbridge.net, click on "Order Pictures and Yearbooks," and enter code FM374811.
For additional details, please see the flyer here.
Register for Kindergarten Now!
Registration for the 2022-2023 school year is underway. If you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 30, 2022, they will be eligible for Kindergarten this fall! Please contact the Belvedere office (703-916-6800) or visit our website here for additional information on registering your incoming Kindergarten student.
Justice HS Summer Basketball Camp
Justice High School is hosting a basketball camp for rising 4th through 9th graders from June 13-17. For more information, see the flyer below.
To register for the basketball camp, click here.
Continue to Shop the Book Fair Online
The library's Bookworm Book Fair ended on December 10, but you can still shop online using the Online Book Fair link here. The shopping link will be open for the rest of the school year!
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.
PTA News
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:
Upcoming Dates
- Thursday, March 31: 2-hour early release
- Friday, April 1: Student Holiday (Teacher Workday)
- Monday, April 4 to Friday, April 8: Spring Break
- Tuesday, April 12: All-Belvedere Virtual Author Visit (6:30-7:30 p.m.)
- Thursday, April 14: COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for Belvedere students
- Monday, April 18: Class Group Picture Day
- Wednesday, April 20: Purple Up! Day
Keep in Touch
Daily Health Screening Questionnaire
Health and Safety Guidance Webpage
Visit the Belvedere website
Report student absences
Bus Delay Website
Follow Belvedere on Twitter
Follow our PTA on Facebook
Change your email preferences
FCPS Calendar: 2021-2022
FCPS Calendar: 2022-2023
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