From the Administration
Dear Belvedere Family:
Thank you to all who attended the PTA meeting last Wednesday. We are excited for all the support our PTA gives our school, including paying for buses for two fieldtrips per grade! As our teachers design curriculum and plan engaging learning for students, teams also consider how to enhance learning with meaningful fieldtrips. Currently, grade level teams have plans for various fieldtrips, including trips to the Capitol, to various National parks, and to Jamestown.
The PTA will also organize the family pasta dinner on November 15th before the Partners in Print school event. The dinner has historically been a wonderful family event. We hope you can join us for that and then participate in Partners in Print. Partners in Print is a family literacy night where parents and students will have opportunities to engage in literacy experiences they can then do at home.
Next Wednesday, November 9, is the Level 4 Screening and Identification-Parent Information night. If you child is in grade 2, if you are new to FCPS, or if you are thinking about referring your child for level IV services, we highly encourage you to attend this evening. It will be a virtual event and you can find the link below in this News You Choose edition.
We hope you enjoy the gorgeous fall weather this weekend!
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal, & Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid
FCPS will be asking ALL families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid. Returning this form is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For each school-aged child in your household, please complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school. If sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the box in Section 3. All forms needed to be signed, dated, and returned by today, November 4. If you have not submitted your form yet, please send it in with your child next week. All results are confidential.
Belvedere sent home these forms on Friday, October 21st in your child’s Friday Folder.
AAP Screening and Identification for Full-Time (Level IV) Services for Grades 2-7
The Full-Time (Level IV) 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 2-7 being considered for participation in the Full-Time Advanced Academic Program. This is the time of year to start thinking about whether or not to refer your child in grades 2-7 for Full-Time Services screening. All students need to be referred in order to be screened for services. The window closes on Thursday, December 15, 2022 to submit a referral for Full-Time Services.
There will be two virtual presentations on the screening and identification process for Full-Time (Level IV) Advanced Academic Services. The presentations will include information about the Full-Time Advanced Academic Program, the identification process through which students may be found eligible for Full-Time services, the kind of information you might include about your child, and the forms that you will need to complete. Spanish interpretation will be provided and we hope to see you there!
Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 6:00pm-7:00pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/97931185523?pwd=ZWU1K0VSbFZ6bjdwTkVra085VXVYZz09
Meeting ID: 979 3118 5523
Passcode: 701346
Friday, November 11, 2022, 10:00am-11:00am
Join Zoom Meeting
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/95534635023?pwd=U2NSQWJjUWhLNXpmc3pEVTBUMDhqQT09
Meeting ID: 955 3463 5023
Passcode: 418764
Chorus Program
We are extending another invitation for fifth grade students to join chorus. The prior invitation had a final performance inadvertently scheduled during Ramadan. Therefore, we have rescheduled the final chorus performance for Monday, March 20th at 6:30 PM. Additionally, families and classes will be invited to a dress rehearsal on Friday, March 17th during the afternoon.
If your child had expressed interest in joining the chorus but your family schedule conflicted with the final performance, please consider signing the permission for your child to attend chorus rehearsals and performance. Revised chorus permission slips are being sent home this week in today’s Friday folders.
Dads @ Belvedere
Dads at Belvedere (formerly Watch D.O.G.S.) is a program to help our school be positively impacted by the committed involvement of fathers and father-figures in their student’s life. Our goal is to have you spend at least one day this year at the school to be a positive male role-model. Dads this is your chance to get involved in a fun atmosphere at school!
Dads will volunteer at the school for one full day. School will provide the schedule to include activities such as: recess, lunch, specials, classroom time, etc.
Our kids love seeing the grown-ups in their life at school! Additionally, Dads are demonstrating through their presence that education is important.
Sign up for a day on our calendar using the Signup Genius below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090449A4A722A64-dads
BES PTA Restaurant Night - TACO ONE
Pickup will take place on November 9, 5:00-7:00pm in Belvedere ES Parking Lot. 10% of sales go to Belvedere!
PRE-ORDER ONLINE Starting Monday, November 7
How to place your order:
- Go to: https://gfynd.in/dl/ZiJ7 or scan the QR code attached in the flyer below
- Scroll down to Current Pickup Location
- Choose Belvedere Elementary
- Select your pickup time
- Add your items
- Click the bag in the upper right-hand corner
- Click Proceed to Checkout
- You will receive a text message when your order is ready
Download the flyer for all the details!
Partners in Print - November 15th 5:15-7:00 PM.
We are so looking forward to our annual Partners In Print (PIP) Night that is back in person this year! We will be welcoming families to BES on Tuesday, November 15th from 5:15-7:15 PM. From 5:15-6:00 there will be a Spaghetti dinner served by the PTA and an opportunity for students to pick out books to take home. After that, there will be two learning sessions, 6:00-6:30 and 6:35- 7:00, for families to attend.
FLE Instruction Preview - Tuesday, November 15
Students in grades K-5 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. Students in Kindergarten through grade three receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit. Students in grades 4 and 5 receive instruction in a human growth and development unit and an emotional and social health unit. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle.
In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in multiple locations.
- Online in Schoology - includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for. Any additional media or book titles that are not streamed are available at your child’s school library.
- Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.
- Your child’s school. Please contact the school to schedule a time to review lessons and/or media.
- City of Fairfax Regional Library – lessons only. Media is not available.
You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 15 from 4:30-5:00 in the library. All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out the form provided to you in your child’s orientation packet at the beginning of the school year or you may access the opt out forms online at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle. If you have already indicated your desire to opt your child out of FLE lessons by using the form provided earlier in the school year, you do not need to complete another form. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify your child’s school principal in writing before instruction begins.
An alternative non-FLE health instructional program is provided for students who do not take part in FLE instruction, and every effort is made to foster understanding and respect for family choices and to avoid peer pressure for or against participation in the program.
Instruction occurs at various during the school year. Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction. We look forward to working as your partner in providing information that will help your child make healthy choices related to the exciting changes and new challenges he/she will be facing in the next few years.
Counselor's Corner
Click here to read the November Counselor's Newsletter!
End of Quarter SIS Updates
FCPS Weekly Progress Reports will not be sent to parents through Wednesday, November 9, while first quarter grading and report cards are created. Also, the Grade Book and Report Card modules in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed until Wednesday, November 9, at 6 a.m.
Tutor.com
Does your child need homework help or feedback on their writing? How about a practice quiz to get ready for a test? Tutor.com is open to FCPS students in all grades, on-demand, 24/7, at no cost to families. Learn more.
Staying Healthy this Cold/Flu Season
Although the community level of COVID-19 in Fairfax County is currently low, cases of RSV, the flu, and other viruses are on the rise. It continues to be important to wash your hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, monitor your health daily, and stay home if you are sick. For more tips, visit our Return to School website.
Superintendent Community Conversations
Please save the date for a very special event! Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS superintendent, will host a Community Conversation at Justice High School on November 21st, 6:30-7:30 p.m. This event will be a unique opportunity to help Dr. Reid get to know our school community and learn more about her vision for our district.
Language interpretation will be provided, as available, as well as child care and light refreshments. Please register to attend.
Why Does FCPS Need a New Strategic Plan?
By now, you may have heard that FCPS is developing a new Strategic Plan. Here are some reasons why the school division is engaging in this important work. Our last strategic plan was developed in 2015. Since then, we experienced a pandemic that changed the way we think, a shift in technology that has seen eight new versions of the iPhone, and plans developed for the first manned mission to Mars.
Our students are preparing for careers that don’t exist today. In order to keep pace with these needs, we need to rethink our plans for the future—and how we will best serve our students for this new era. Employees, parents/caregivers, students, and our FCPS community must share the same purpose in order to recognize how we can move forward together.
We are all much more motivated, and successful, when we share clear end goals. Learn more on our Strategic Plan webpage.
How FCPS Develops Its School Year Calendar
In an annual planning process, Fairfax County Public Schools uses input from the community to develop the calendar for the following year. Our framework for creating the calendar is available online to ensure transparency, as we work to build a calendar that is inclusive and equitable. Watch your email for a feedback form, which will be shared with parents, staff, and middle and high school students.
Buses and Delays
If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Use code 28982 when registering for Here Comes the Bus.
PTA News
Join the PTA!
The QR Code in last week's PTA Membership / Direct Donation Flyer is no longer working. Please do not use the QR code. In order to purchase a membership or make a direct donation, please go to belvederepta.memberhub.com/store and choose your membership type (Staff $5 or Parent $10) and/or select Direct Donation to make a one-time or recurring donation. Thank you again for supporting the Belvedere PTA!
Questions or concerns? Email bespta.va@gmail.com.
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
- Tuesday, November 8: No School (Election)
- Wednesday, November 9: BES PTA Restaurant Night
- Friday, November 11: No School (Veteran's Day/School Planning)
- Tuesday, November 15: PIP Night at Belvedere
- Wednesday-Friday, November 23-25: No School (Thanksgiving)
- December 19-January 2: Winter Break
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: 2022-2023
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