From the Administration
Dear Belvedere Family:
We want to take a moment to remind everyone to stay safe and have fun during the upcoming break.
Our teachers and students have been working incredibly hard this year, and we want everyone to take this time to recharge and relax. Whether you are traveling or staying close to home, we hope that this break allows you to spend quality time with loved ones and enjoy some well-deserved time off.
When we return to school after spring break, we have some important dates to keep in mind. There will be an early release on Thursday, April 13th, and Friday, April 14th will be a student holiday. Also, our SOL testing will begin on May 1st. Please mark your calendars accordingly.
We appreciate your continued support and look forward to finishing the school year strong.
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal, & Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
Spring Break
As a reminder, April 3-7 is spring break. Schools and school offices will be closed. We wish our students and teachers a happy and restful Spring Break! Students will return to school on Monday, April 10, 2023. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
SOL Testing and Attendance
We wanted to remind you of our upcoming SOL testing schedule. As you know, these tests are an important measure of our students' progress and are required by the state. Please make sure that your child attends school on the day of their test.
We kindly ask that you avoid scheduling any appointments or vacations on these testing days. We understand that unexpected circumstances may arise, but it is essential that your child is present for their test. If your child is absent on the day of their test, they will have to make up the test on a different day.
Please refer to the schedule below for the testing dates for your child's grade level:
May 1: 5th Grade Science
May 2: 4th Grade Reading
May 4: 3rd Grade Reading
May 5: 5th Grade Reading
May 9: 4th Grade Math
May 10: 3rd Grade Math
May 11: 5th Grade Math
Week of May 15: Makeups
Week of May 22 and 30: Retakes
Thank you for your cooperation and continued support in ensuring our students' academic success.
Kindergarten Orientation - April 27
Kindergarten Orientation for the 2023-2024 school year will be held on Thursday April 27th at 6 – 7:30pm in the Belvedere Cafeteria. Registration is now open and we encourage parents to bring their paperwork in as soon as possible. No appointment is necessary.
Registration forms can be found at www.fcps.edu/registration/forms or you can stop by the office and we can give you a packet. Please contact our registrar, Mandy Belcher at 703-916-6804 or by email at abelcher@fcps.edu, if you have any questions.
We look forward to welcoming you to Belvedere ES!
Belvedere is on Facebook!
We are thrilled to announce that we have officially launched our Facebook page! This is an exciting step for us as we look to strengthen our connection with families and the wider community.
Our Facebook page will be a hub for all the latest news, events, and activities happening at our school. We will keep you informed about everything from upcoming events to amazing things happening in our classrooms. We'll also be sharing helpful tips and resources to support your child's learning and development.
We're looking forward to engaging with you all on Facebook and keeping you updated on everything that's happening at our school. So be sure to follow our page, and keep an eye out for our upcoming posts. We can't wait to connect with you!
Thank you for your continued support!
From the Counselors
Please check out the latest newsletter from our school counselors!
There will be a parent workshop in Spanish on May 2nd from 5:30-7:30 pm in the school cafeteria to address effective parental involvement in education for academic success through graduation. Check out the details and register!
Advanced Academic Programs Spring Newsletter
Fairfax County Public Schools AAP offers levels of services to foster and develop the academic and cognitive needs of each child. Screening for Subject-Specific Advanced Differentiation (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) Services will happen later this spring for students in kindergarten through fourth grade. If you have any questions about FCPS AAP or the Young Scholars program, please contact our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Preshion Lynch, at pmlynch@fcps.edu
Please check out the latest newsletter from the AAP Office!
PTA Volunteer Opportunities
Want to help? We have many ways
Silent Auction this April!
Please join us in making this year's silent auction the best yet! We are looking for people to help us get donations, set up the website, and even help organize an in person portion. If you can help with anything, even have some suggestions for some auction items- LET US KNOW! Join us in bringing in some funds to help our incredible school and hopefully have some fun too. I am hoping to have a "party" during the last hours of the auction for all volunteers so we can enjoy our hard work together. If interested in joining Maddie and Theresa please email at theresacanopa@gmail.com or snowbird_105@yahoo.com
Costume Jewelry Donations Needed
The Belvedere PTA will be hosting its annual “Jewelry Shop” 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 person 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 his or her chosen recipient smile.
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 May 1st!
Thanks!
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
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
This year, spring break is April 3-7. We will be eager to welcome your children back in school on Monday, April 10. Their attendance is very important. Every day, our teachers will be teaching, and students will be learning. Studies have shown that just two absences per month can cause students to fall behind. Let’s finish this school year strong. Visit FCPS’ website for attendance resources.
Proposed Updates to the SR&R
The Department of Special Services will host a virtual meeting for the FCPS community regarding proposed updates to the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) regulation on Monday, April 10, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the suggested updates and ask questions via Zoom Chat. Language interpretation will be available in Spanish. A certified deaf interpreter will be available as well. Please register online.
View Updated Draft Goals for FCPS’ New Strategic Plan
We are excited to show you the most recent version of proposed goals for the new Strategic Plan. Join us for a virtual community forum and see how your survey feedback has helped inform the latest draft of the plan. Community forums are open to parents/caregivers, staff, students, and community members. Please register by clicking on one of the following dates:
We appreciate your continued involvement throughout every step of this important process. Together, we will help ensure a thriving future for each and every FCPS student. Visit our Strategic Planning webpage.
No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for Students Starting April 10
FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to begin offering virtual mental health services to high school students via live video sessions. Starting Monday, April 10, parents/caregivers who have been struggling to find a therapist for their child or who notice changes in their child’s behavior will be able to connect them virtually with a licensed therapist.
Teletherapy services for students are short-term, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive. Teletherapy is available on any device, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Therapists will be locally-licensed clinicians; 50% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); and 40% of whom are bilingual. More than 15 languages are available.
Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students who are experiencing:
- Mood/behavior changes, lack of motivation, grief/loss.
- Anxiety, worry, fears.
- Bullying, sexual identity challenges, challenging peer and family relationships.
- Academic stress.
The first step for parents is to provide information through an opt-in form. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.
Navy League STEMEXPO at Gaylord National
Now in its sixth year, STEM Expo is a free event geared toward 5th- to 12th-grade students interested in science, technology, engineering and math careers. It will take place Sunday, April 2, from noon to 4 p.m., at National Harbor.
ESSER Funds Help Students Make Big Gains In Small Groups
Justin, a third-grader, struggled to identify most letters and their sounds in fall 2021 when students returned for the first year of fully in-person instruction since the pandemic began. After a year of reading intervention services—supported by ESSER COVID relief funding—testing data maintained by his school show he’s made more than two years of progress in his reading skills in one academic year! Read more about how schools are overcoming pandemic-related challenges.
Community Meeting on the Dangers of Fentanyl
Last month, the division hosted a conversation on the dangers of fentanyl. During this impactful event, audience members heard testimonials from individuals affected by the opioid epidemic and learned facts from medical experts and law enforcement representatives.
The conversation will continue on Monday, April 24, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Woodson High School. Transportation will be available from select schools throughout the county. View the registration page for details.
Visit our Opioid Awareness webpage for more information. Visit the Fairfax County Government webpage on opioids for information on how you can take action and how to get help for yourself or loved ones.
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-Friday, April 3-7: Spring Break
- Thursday, April 13- Early Release
- Friday, April 14 - Student Holiday (Teacher Workday)
- Friday, April 21 - No School (Eid al Fitr)
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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