From the Administration
Dear Belvedere Family:
We have just completed our only five days of school week in January. Next Monday, is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The week after includes a two-hour early release day on Wednesday, January 25th, and two teacher workdays on January 26th and 27th. Students do not have school on those two days.
This afternoon we held a Parent Coffee, continuing our conversation around the Primary Years Program. We discussed the Transdisciplinary Units, which is the way we structure our curriculum. Each unit is centered on a theme that captures universal, enduring understandings. Teachers combine subject specific topics together within the transdisciplinary units. These units allow for students to explore real world contexts and build understandings together. After completing a unit, students reflect, and teachers send home a progress report.
We also talked about inquiry and action, both central to the Primary Years Program. Teachers carefully consider how to teach in a manner that sparks inquiry. The inquiry process helps students use their voice, make choices, and take ownership. Action is authentic, meaningful, and mindful. It can happen at any time, and it can be short or long term, revisited or ongoing. Demonstrations of action can include participation, advocacy, social justice, social entrepreneurship, or lifestyle choices.
If you have not yet had an opportunity to attend a parent coffee, we encourage you to attend in the future. Our next parent coffees will be on Friday, February 10 at 9:30 a.m. and on Friday, March 10 at 3 p.m.
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal, & Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 16, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday.
Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
FCPS students continue to find incredible ways to serve their community while building Portrait of a Graduate skills such as becoming an ethical and global citizen. FCPS is excited to collaborate again with Volunteer Fairfax for the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend of Service, Saturday, January 14, to Monday, January 16. This service opportunity helps empower individuals and strengthens communities while honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Volunteer Fairfax will host several ways for the community to get involved including volunteer activities for students and adults of all ages. To learn more about the MLK Jr. Weekend of Service and the specific service activities, visit Volunteer Fairfax’s website
Magnet School Application and Lottery Information
The Magnet Program registration window will be open from Wednesday March 1, through Wednesday, April 12, 2023. No late applications are accepted.
To learn more about the programs and the registration process, families are encouraged to attend one of the Parent Informational Nights:
- Hunters Woods Elementary, February 13, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. - In-person
- Snow date: February 21, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
- Bailey’s Upper, February 15, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. - Virtual only
- Bailey’s Primary, February 16, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. - In person
- Snow date: February 23, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
Please visit the link below for more information:
https://www.fcps.edu/registration/elementary-magnet-school-lottery
Belvedere Outdoor Club
Join Outdoor Club trip on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at Potomac Overlook Regional Park. Outdoor Club meets on Saturday mornings several times per year to explore local parks with students and their families. Bus transportation is available from Belvedere and Barcroft View apartments. More information and permission slips were sent home in Friday folders (also available here). Space is limited and participation is first come, first served, as forms are received.
Outdoor Club trips are scheduled for 3/18, 4/29, and 5/20. Please contact our Environmental Educator, Andrea Auerbach (asauerbach1@fcps.edu) with questions.
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
From the Counselors
Parent Resource Center Webinars
Parents, please view this flyer about webinars that cover a variety of topics, including social- emotional milestones in children.
Rising 6th Grade Curriculum Night
Our Rising 6th grade curriculum night is January 18 with a snow date of January 25. We received budget approval to have buses come to/from Glasgow at three locations:
- Baileys Elementary 6111 Knollwood Dr, Bailey's Crossroads, VA 22041
- Skyline 5599 Seminary Rd, Falls Church, VA 22041
- Willston Community Center 6131 Willston Dr, Falls Church, VA 22044
Please see this flyer from Glasgow Middle School and their January 18th event. Ms. Simpson & Ms. Ballard will be in attendance and hope to see you there!
We will need to have all Rising 6 course selections finalized by March 15 so that we can send mock/draft schedules to families in early May.
COVID-19 Compensatory Education Plan Meetings for Families of Students with Disabilities
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to implementing a plan for COVID-19 compensatory education as part of its obligation to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities. Please join us at an informational meeting for parents/guardians and other stakeholders:
Visit our website to see what language interpretation services will be available at each meeting and to learn more about the COVID-19 Compensatory Education Plan.
National Mentoring Month
Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are.Learn more about Mentoring Month.
Research has shown that young people with at least one trusted mentor are less likely to skip school, less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol, and more prepared to enter college or the workforce. Yet one in three children lack a mentor.
All it takes is one person to serve as a trusted adult to help change a young person’s path in life. Mentors provide attention, support, and enrichment, and help connect their mentees to resources that may help them on their journey in life.
FCPS’ MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student. Please contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at mmacdonald@fcps.edu.
Dual Language Immersion Program Registration
Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 23. Current pre-k students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion programs for the 2023-24 school year.
Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Visit the DLI registration page for more information on where the programs are offered.
Parents who are interested in the DLI programs in FCPS are encouraged to attend an informational meeting at their school site. Meetings will begin on January 11. Details regarding access to virtual meetings will be available on the Dual Language Immersion registration page by the meeting date.
Get more information on DLI programs and registration.
Youth Substance Use Presentations
FCPS is dedicated to providing parents and community members with the most accurate and up-to-date information on youth substance use, prevention, addiction, interventions and available supports. Please join us and our partners from the Fairfax County Police Department and Community Services Board as we discuss these topics as well as the ongoing opioid crisis. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of:
Monday, March 6, 2023 6-8pm
@Justice HS Library
Click here to view the flyer with additional details.
Strategic Planning
Why Do We Need a Strategic Plan? The Strategic Planning process is well underway, with the Community Forums beginning in less than three weeks. But why do we need a new strategic plan?
Similar to a roadmap, a strategic plan clearly defines the best route for us to take in the years ahead to reach our goals. 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.
Register Now for Community Forums!
Visit our Strategic Planning webpage for the schedule of Community Forums. Register for the one that is most convenient for you and get more information on our exciting Strategic Planning process!
Tutor.com
Tutor.com Testimonials
Are you wondering what experience other FCPS families have had with Tutor.com? Read some comments below:
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“As a parent, I logged in for the first time to see what my student could expect here. The tutor I chatted with was very helpful with my questions and gave me some great tips to try with my child. Next time, I will log in with my child and hopefully match with a tutor that will help him realize learning can be done in different ways.” -Elementary school parent
- “My child used tutor.com last night and said her math tutor was EXCELLENT. She was happy and so now I'm happy, too, as she's been grinding it out solo in the hardest math.” -High school parent
Unless they have been opted out, students can access Tutor.com through Schoology. Every session is personalized to meet students’ needs from remedial to advanced levels. Sessions focus on conceptual learning and critical thinking—not quick answers.
Learn more on FCPS’ Tutor.com webpage.
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!
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
- 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)
- Thursday, March 2: Early Release
- Friday, March 3: No School (School Planning)
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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