Belvedere News and Announcements

From the Administration

Dear Belvedere Family:

It was a surprisingly cold start to the week.  We look forward to warmer temperatures ahead!

Spotting Ticks and Poison Ivy

With Spring comes the resurgence of ticks in the outdoors. Below is some information that Ms. Auerbach, Belvedere’s environmental educator, has shared with all teachers at Belvedere. You may also find this useful.

As you spend more time outside, a few things to remember:

  • Do a tick check after spending time outdoors
    • Ticks are not just in the meadow or woods. They may also be on the field, playground, and garden areas—anywhere mice and deer go
    • Learn to do a tick check with Tick Check 1-2, a Lyme Disease Prevention Rap from Fairfax County. Also see this information from the CDC
    • The CDC and the Fairfax County Health Department offer more information about preventative measures, tick checks, identification, and removal
  • Lookout for poison ivy

Upcoming Student Testing

We are entering the time of year where all students in our building will be taking assessments in all subject areas. Students in grades three through five will be taking the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Assessments starting from April 26 through May 27. Students in all grades will also be taking individual reading assessments throughout May and June to determine reading levels.

Your child’s teacher will be communicating specific dates to you. We ask that, if possible, you avoid travel and appointments on days your child will be testing. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions!

Some students in grades three through five who do not pass the SOL tests, but are just a few points short of a passing score, may have the opportunity to retake the test. (The retake score ranges are determined by the state.)  If your child is eligible for a retake, we will contact you so that you can give permission and learn the specific dates for retakes.

Best regards,

Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal and Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal


Parent Volunteers Needed

We are looking for Parent Volunteers to help as hallway monitors during our SOL testing at Belvedere.  Volunteers are needed between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on April 26-29, May 9, and May 12.

If you are available to help, please sign up using this Sign-Up Genius link, or call the Belvedere Office (703-916-6800).  Thank you for your support!


AAP Level IV Orientation on Tuesday, April 26

On Tuesday, April 26, there will be an orientation for Parents of Students found Eligible to receive level IV services at Belvedere in 2022-23.  This orientation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Belvedere gymnasium.  At this time, we will share information about our school, our International Baccalaureate Program, and the Primary Years Programme.  Spanish interpretation will be provided.

The orientation will be held simultaneously in person and online. The details to join the orientation virtually are:

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.


Outdoor Club Outing on April 30

Mark your calendars for the next Belvedere Outdoor Club outing on Saturday, April 30!  We will visit Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC. Kenilworth is a unique spot with aquatic gardens, a tidal marsh, and forested areas near the Anacostia River.

Detailed information and the permission form is being sent home in today's Wednesday folder and is also available here.


Belvedere Carnival Night on May 25!

We are excited for our first annual Carnival Night focused on literacy, mathematics & play! Join us for delicious snacks, games hosted by our creative staff and free books to enjoy at home!

Carnival Night will be held on the field and blacktop at Belvedere on Wednesday, May 25 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. (rain date: Thursday, May 26).

Belvedere families will get to choose at least two fun math and literacy experiences from a number of offerings by our staff. Students will also choose a math book, a new independent reading book and enter into a raffle for a playful prize!  All Belvedere students and families are invited!

For further information and an RSVP form, please check your child's Wednesday Folder this week, or click here.


Seeking Career Day Speakers

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Career Day at Belvedere Elementary School and we need your help to make it a success! 

We are currently seeking parents, family members and neighbors of students from any grade level who are interested in sharing with students about their careers. Those who are interested in participating will be asked to give a short presentation (15-20 minutes) with time for questions.

Our fourth and fifth grade students will be participating in this event on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 9:30-12:05.  We will also be inviting speakers into our first, second and third grade classrooms during May lessons. 

Please see this letter and response form for more information.  If you are interested in participating, please return the response form by April 25.

Thank you for your support!


Costume Jewelry Donations Needed

In honor of Mother’s Day, the Belvedere PTA will be hosting a "Jewelry Shop for Mom" in early May. Every Belvedere student will be able to earn a ticket to "shop" for one free piece of costume jewelry for their mother, stepmother, grandmother, or other special woman in their life.

We’re collecting donations of gently used:

  • necklaces
  • bracelets
  • pins
  • pierced or clip earrings

If you have any costume jewelry you no longer wear, we’d be grateful to have it. The jewelry doesn’t have to be fancy – just something in good condition that might make a student and one of their "moms" smile on Mother’s Day.

We need about 1,000 pieces of jewelry to give the students a wide selection to choose from. We’re also accepting monetary donations to help pay for supplies – tissue paper, gift bags and card tags. Checks can be made payable to "Belvedere PTA" with "jewelry shop" in the memo line.

There’s a donation box in the Belvedere front office or you can contact Ann Sisson at 703-945-0228 or 2esisson@gmail.com to arrange a pick up.

Please submit all donations by April 27.  Thank you!


PTA Meeting Tonight (April 20)

Join our Belvedere PTA meeting tonight (Wednesday, April 20) at 6:30pm (English) and 7:30 pm (Spanish). The meeting will be live-streamed on Facebook Live. 

Click here to join.  [Meeting ID: 872 5659 8890; Password: 952095]


PTA Plant Sale on Earth Day!

Plant Sale

The deadline for plant pre-orders has passed.  Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered plants!  Plants must be picked up at Belvedere on Saturday, April 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

If you did not pre-order plants, it's not too late! There will be additional plants for sale at Belvedere 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.

Revised PS English

Justice HS Mini-Golf Tournament on May 5

Justice High School will be hosting our first Justice High School Mini-Golf Tournament for our Justice Pyramid at Jefferson District Park on Thursday, May 5 at 6:30 and 7:30 PM. All staff, families, and students are invited from our feeder schools! We are looking forward to an awesome night with our community!

Come out and enjoy an evening with family, music, mini-golf, a mini-meal, and most of all FUN!

Sign-up here.  Check out the flyer here.


Free School Physicals for Uninsured Children

Inova is offering free school physicals for students age 4-18 between April and August 2022 at the Inova Cares Clinic for Families at 8051 Sudley Road, Manassas VA 20109.

For an appointment, call 703-698-2550. Parents should take a copy of their child's vaccination record with them to the clinic.


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.

Justice BBall Camp

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

  • Wednesday, April 20: PTA Meeting (6:30 English, 7:30 Spanish)
  • Saturday, April 23: PTA Plant Sale Pick-up 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Belvedere Parking Lot
  • Tuesday, April 26: AAP Level IV Orientation (6:00 to 7:30 p.m.) 
  • Tuesday, April 26 to Friday, May 27: SOL Testing
  • Saturday, April 30: Outdoor Club Outing to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
  • Wednesday, May 25: Belvedere Carnival Night (6:00 to 7:30 p.m.)
  • Monday, May 30: No School (Memorial 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