From the Administration
Dear Belvedere Family:
Thank you to those who attended today’s Parent Coffee. Parents had an opportunity to learn about the IB-Primary Years Program and its impact on students at Belvedere. We discussed the PYP framework that focuses on three large pillars:
- The Learner
- Learning and Teaching
- The Learning Community.
Within each of these, there are ideas about teaching and learning that drive the instructional approach at Belvedere.
We explored the Learner Profile, which supports students in developing international-mindedness and in taking action for positive change. The learner profile are traits or ways of being that help students in their learning and in their lives. These traits include being knowledgeable, inquirers, reflective, balanced, principled, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, caring, and open-mindedness. The learner profile is specifically taught and reflected on during the units of inquiry. For example, students learn to be Caring and Inquiring during trips to Mason District Park to learn about ecosystems and human impact.
Our next parent coffee will be on January 13, 2023, and we hope you can join us then.
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal, & Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
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
After-School Enrichment Program
Belvedere’s PTA is once again offering after school enrichment programs! Students can join weekly athletic, academic, and fine arts classes like soccer, fencing/archery, basketball, tennis, yoga, dance, cooking, chess, and STEAM.
The winter session starts Tuesday, January 3, 2023 and ends Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Registration is now open and available on a first come first served basis, with limited spots available. A limited number of scholarships are available for students who qualify for a free/reduced lunch.
Register here: https://www.belvederepta.org/programs
Students will be dismissed directly from their classrooms to their club at the end of the school day. Students must be picked up at the front of the school at 5:15pm. SACC students will be sent to SACC and parents may pick them as usual. Clubs are cancelled during student holidays and early release days. We need volunteers to make the program successful. Email bespta.va@gmail.com to volunteer or if you have any questions.
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.
From the Math Department
We hope that your Winter Break is a time of rest & relaxation with the ones you love! We wanted to share with you some ways to joyfully engage in mathematics as a family. We would love for you to share any pictures or playful mathematics you tried over Winter Break! You can e-mail Mary Beth Dillane at medillane@fcps.edu with any photos or questions!
-Ms. Dillane, Ms. Mundy & Ms. Davis
From the Counselors
Many of you have inquired about students who are in need holiday assistance this year. The counselors have a list of 333 students who qualify for free and reduced meals and are using that list to identify students for holiday assistance as well. To date, we have two organizations who will be providing gifts to 8 families and we have 19 gift cards. But many more will need help.
If you are wishing to donate, or wanting to support, we would love $25 gift cards to either Target, Walmart, Aldi or Giant. If we get enough we can provide a gift card to each of the remaining students on the list. Also, if you are part of an organization that might be able to sponsor a family or families, please let Paige or Tracy know and we can coordinate.
Paige Simpson, School Counselor - pesimpson1@fcps.edu
Tracy Ballard, School Counselor - tmballard@fcps.edu
National Special Education Day
National Special Education Day is recognized each year on Dec. 2 and commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. We celebrate our teachers and staff who serve and support our students with special needs, as well as our families who are partners in the education and support of those students!
Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Free Dental Hygiene Screenings - Annandale HS
Northern Virginia Community College and Medical Care for Children Partnership will bring our Mobile Dental Vans to Annandale High School to provide free dental screenings for children from 3- 19 years old. A parent or guardian must be present so that we can discuss how to find affordable dental treatment if needed. We will also teach children about good dental care to prevent cavities and other dental problems. And we have goody bags for them!
Medical Care for Children Partnership (MCCP) works with community partners to offer access to comprehensive medical and dental care to eligible uninsured children of working families in Fairfax County. NVCC’s Medical Education Campus in Springfield has an excellent dental hygiene training program with a clinic that offers dental cleanings at a reasonable cost. Together we are working to bring dental care to communities that have had limited access to dental preventive services and treatment.
Date: Saturday December 3
Time: 10 am- 1 pm
Click here to view the informational flyer.
IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair
Join us for an interactive event celebrating the IEP Process.
- Visit our Resource Fair to learn about community supports
- Watch a simulated IEP meeting
- Attend breakout sessions explaining the various parts of the IEP
Saturday, December 3, 2022
9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon (Registration begins at 8:30 AM)
Annandale High School
Click here to download the flyer and register in advance.
Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ inclement weather procedures will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will use the flexibility provided by the Virginia General Assembly to have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction, following the inclement weather virtual learning day schedule (includes a two-hour delay).
FCPS’ website is generally the first mode of communication during emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan ahead for the winter season. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in weCare@school, bookmark the FCPS website, plan for childcare, if appropriate, and know what items your child may need to take home before a weather event.
Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
Your school’s principal will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. The multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and healthcare.
Multicultural and Language Resources for Families
FCPS’ Office of Family and School Partnerships would like to remind families of some of the many resources available to them:
- Bilingual community liaisons support student registrars by providing families with information about school and community services offered in Fairfax County. Liaisons are available to help families speaking Spanish, Korean, and Arabic. Once registered at a school, families can contact their family liaison for assistance.
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Early literacy programs are available to Fairfax County residents for parents of children up to 5 years old. These programs help prepare children for school and build confidence in parents as their child’s first teacher. They also help parents become active partners in their child’s education. Programs are available in African-Heritage, Arabic, Spanish, and Korean.
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Parent Information Phone Lines are available in eight languages for parents who speak languages other than English.
- A Multilingual Family Podcast is produced by the offices of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Family and School Partnerships, and Professional Learning and Equity. It covers important information for parents in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Korean.
- ESOL services are available in Fairfax County not only for students, but also for adults and families. Information on Spring classes will be posted in March 2023.
Visit the Family Engagement webpage for more resources.
Bodhi Day (O Day)
Bodhi Day, Thursday, Dec. 8, is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. Learn more about Bodhi Day in this video from the Miami Children’s Museum.
See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
Multicultural and Language Resources for Families
FCPS’ Office of Family and School Partnerships would like to remind families of some of the many resources available to them:
- Bilingual community liaisons support student registrars by providing families with information about school and community services offered in Fairfax County. Liaisons are available to help families speaking Spanish, Korean, and Arabic. Once registered at a school, families can contact their family liaison for assistance.
-
Early literacy programs are available to Fairfax County residents for parents of children up to 5 years old. These programs help prepare children for school and build confidence in parents as their child’s first teacher. They also help parents become active partners in their child’s education. Programs are available in African-Heritage, Arabic, Spanish, and Korean.
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Parent Information Phone Lines are available in eight languages for parents who speak languages other than English.
- A Multilingual Family Podcast is produced by the offices of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Family and School Partnerships, and Professional Learning and Equity. It covers important information for parents in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Korean.
- ESOL services are available in Fairfax County not only for students, but also for adults and families. Information on Spring classes will be posted in March 2023.
Visit the Family Engagement webpage for more resources.
Strategic Planning
The success of our strategic planning process depends on our entire community being engaged. Watch as some of our amazing elementary students share their hopes and ideas for the future of schools. Also, stay tuned for information on upcoming opportunities to participate in the development of FCPS’ Strategic Plan.
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.
How Can You Help Your Child Have Good Attendance?
Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school.
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, make that the expectation.
- Help your child maintain routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Find out if your child feels engaged by his classes and feels safe at school. Make sure he or she is not missing class because of behavioral issues and school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, work with your school.
- Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
- Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
- Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and clubs.
Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, talk to your children’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. But remember, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that goes on in the classroom.
Visit our website for more attendance resources.
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
- December 19-January 2: Winter Break
- Monday, January 16: No School (MLK Jr.'s Birthday)
- Wednesday, January 25: Early Release (End of Semester)
- Thurs-Fri, Jan. 26-27: No School (Staff Dev. and Teacher Workday)
- Monday, February 20: No School (Presidents' 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: 2022-2023
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