Belvedere News and Announcements


From the Administration

Dear Belvedere Family:

With only two days of this school year left, we look back and celebrate the growth we have seen in our students. The culmination of the elementary school IB-PYP journey is the Exhibition. Fifth graders worked with passion and enthusiasm on their final projects, teaching us about topics ranging from climate change, vaping, taking care of feral cats, self-image, and getting sea turtles off the endangered list, among many other topics.

Their commitment to making the world a better place is exemplified in the thoughtful actions of each group. Teaching other students, sending persuasive letters, collecting books, donating to animal shelters and creating a cool down zone at school are some of the actions taken by the Exhibition groups.

Each year, life changes and personal choices result in some Belvedere staff moving to pursue other opportunities. This year, three of Belvedere’s long-time staff members are retiring. Ann King, lead special education teacher, began at Belvedere as a parent and PTA president. She has been teaching at the school for the past twenty years. She is looking forward to spending time with her husband and to enjoying more time with her grandchildren. Margeaux Frank has worked as a special education instructional assistant for the past fifteen years. Her flexibility and willingness to support anywhere she is needed has led her to work with students from kindergarten through grade five. She is looking forward to spending more time with her family by the water. Rosie Ferraro has been a preschool teacher at Belvedere for the past 23 years, with a total of 31 years in Fairfax County Public Schools. Her love of young children and her commitment to supporting their growth is her passion. Ms. Ferraro will be sorely missed.

We have some other staff members leaving due to changes in work location, changes in careers, and other life changes. These staff members are:

  • Ms. Van Peenen, kindergarten teacher
  • Ms. Hammel, ESOL teacher
  • Ms. DiPietro, second grade teacher
  • Ms. Combs, preschool special education teacher
  • Ms. Watson, third grade teacher
  • Ms. Ramirez, enhanced autism teacher
  • Ms. Davis, special education instructional assistant
  • Ms. Peacock, reading teacher
  • Ms. Linarte Saavedra, office assistant

We wish these staff members the best on the next steps in their careers. They will be missed at Belvedere.

We thank you for your incredible support throughout this school year. Your kind words and gestures have meant so much for our staff. Thank you!

We wish you a wonderful summer!

Best regards,

Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal and Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal


2-Hour Early Release on Friday, June 10

Please note that Friday, June 10, which is the last day of school for students in grades K-5, will be a 2-hour early release day.  Students will be dismissed at 2:05 on June 10.


5th Grade Promotion Ceremony

The 5th Grade promotion ceremony will be held on Friday, June 10 starting at 10:00 a.m.  Please join us in celebrating as we send our 5th graders off to middle school!

Each 5th grader has been issued 2 tickets for the ceremony. To maintain social distancing during the event, families are limited to 2 guests per 5th grader. There will be no exceptions to this limit.

Please sign in at the main office with you arrive before proceeding to the Gym.  If your child will be leaving after the ceremony, please be sure to check them out in the office.


Order School Supplies for Next Year!

If your child is returning to Belvedere next year, you can order school supplies now through July 1.  Follow these steps to order:

  1. Go to this link (note that this link has been updated; the link sent last week was faulty)
  2. Enter our ZIP code: 22041
  3. Click on the "Supply Kits" button for Belvedere Elem.
  4. Select your child's grade level for next year.

The kits have items selected by our teachers. You can also order additional items such as backpacks, lunch coolers, and water bottles. The supply kits will be delivered FREE to your home over the summer!

Thanks to the Belvedere PTA for organizing this activity!


From our Counselors

Click here for our latest Counselors' Corner newsletter, which contains summer resources for parents.  Thank you for your support!


Gardening Volunteers Needed

Interested in helping take care of Belvedere’s gardens over the summer? Contact Andrea Auerbach (asauerbach1@fcps.edu) if you would like to help water, weed, harvest, and plant in our gardens. Instructions and tools will be provided.


Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications Due This Summer

For the past two years, the federal government has provided no-cost meals to all public school students without the need to complete the annual Free and Reduced-Price Meal application. The extension of the no-cost meals benefit to all students is expected to expire at the end of this school year, meaning families must submit an application and be approved to be eligible for free and reduced price meals for the 2022-23 school year.

Eligible families are encouraged to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application before the first day of the 2022-23 school year. The online application will be available later this summer and accessible via the FCPS homepage.

Students approved for Free and Reduced-Price Meals may qualify for additional benefits such as waived or reduced fees for instruments, uniforms, field trips, FCPS class fees, and Parktakes classes. 

F&R

Yearbooks are Here!

Pre-ordered Yearbooks have been distributed to students.

If you did not pre-order a yearbook but would like to purchase one, a limited number of copies are now available for purchase in the main office. The cost is $18 ($10 for students on free/reduced lunch).  Please provide exact change or a check payable to "Belvedere PTA."


FCPA Summer Camps

Fairfax County Park Authority offers many summer camp opportunities for children ages 3-17, including sports, chess, science, nature, technology, performing arts, swimming, adventure, cooking, and more!

Full-day and half-day programs are available, and extended care is available at some locations.

For more information, see the flyer here or see the camp guide here. To register, go to the FCPA website 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.


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

  • Friday, June 10: 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony (10 a.m.) and Last Day of School (2-hour Early Release)
  • Monday, August 22: First Day of School (K-5)

Keep in Touch

Daily Health Screening Questionnaire

Health and Safety Guidance Webpage

Visit the Belvedere website

Report student absences

Bus Delay Website

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FCPS Calendar: 2021-2022

FCPS Calendar: 2022-2023