From the Administration
Dear Belvedere Families,
We've successfully navigated through our only five-day week of January! As we look ahead, please mark your calendars for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday. The following week brings a two-hour early release on Thursday, January 25th, and a teacher workday on Friday, January 26th. Keep an eye on the weather forecast, as there's a chance of snow next week. Stay tuned to local news stations and the FCPS website for any schedule adjustments. More details about potential snow days are included in this newsletter. Wishing you a wonderful weekend with your loved ones!
Best regards,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal
Tara Boone, Assistant Principal
Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Holiday
As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 15, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. See the complete school year calendar.
Volunteer with Give TogetherVolunteer with Give Together
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. The school division is excited to collaborate with Volunteer Fairfax for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Students and families can volunteer on Monday, January 15, at Volunteer Fairfax’s Give Together event. It is designed to engage families with children (ages 5-12) in service learning. Projects will include a food drive, assembling caring kits for community members who need support, making no-tie fleece blankets for veterans, environmental stewardship, and support for animal welfare.
Students ages 13 to 18 are welcome to serve as teen event volunteers. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Need Help with Food, Financial Assistance, or Medical Assistance?
You may qualify for federal benefits, such as Medicaid, Food Assistance (SNAP), TANF (Temporary Financial Assistance for Families), Energy Assistance (Fuel, Cooling), and more. Visit https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/access/ or call 1-833-522-5582 to apply. Call 703-324-7500 or visit Fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/financial-and-medical if you need help applying.
Children who do not qualify for Medicaid may qualify for the Medical Care for Children Partnership (MCCP), a reduced-cost healthcare program for children under 18 from low-income families. Call 703-324-7315 for more information.
Please click here for more information about food, financial and medical assistance available to students and families. If you need support or have questions, please contact the Belvedere parent liaison, Ivanova Plazas, at 703-916-6824 or at implazas@fcps.edu. We are here to support you and want to support all who may qualify to access this assistance.
Free Resources for Families
Did you know that caregivers can access free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities?
Learn more about FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC).
Be the first to learn about new workshops by signing up for the FRC newsletter.
Belvedere Spirit Wear
The deadline to order Belvedere spirit wear has been extended to January 14 - order today!
https://stores.blue84spirit.com/BULLDOGSBELVEDERE
Belvedere Outdoor Club
Join Outdoor Club trip on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Mason Neck State Park! Outdoor Club meets on select Saturday mornings 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.
This year’s remaining Outdoor Club trips are tentatively scheduled for 3/16, 4/13, and 5/18. Please contact our Environmental Educator, Andrea Auerbach (asauerbach1@fcps.edu) with questions.
Save The Date! Rising 6th graders curriculum night at Glasgow
Glasgow Middle School’s Curriculum night is January 24, 2024 with a snow date of January 31, 2024. Families will have the opportunity to learn about course offerings at Glasgow Middle School. Please stay tuned for communication from your student’s counselors with additional details such as timing. Please note, this event is held at Glasgow Middle School. Interpreters will be on site at Glasgow to provide translation for families in several languages.
Important Form for Parents of Rising Kindergartners!
We're excited to inform you about an essential form that will be sent home in this week's Friday folders. This form is specifically for parents with a rising kindergartner for the 2024-25 school year.
Completing this form is crucial for the enrollment process, and we kindly ask all eligible parents to take a moment to fill it out and send it back to our dedicated Student Information Assistant, Ms. Belcher. Your cooperation ensures a smooth transition for your child into the upcoming school year.
If you have any questions or require assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to our school office. We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to welcoming the newest members of our Belvedere community!
Thank you for your cooperation.
Bailey's Crossroads and Culmore PBI Coalition
Community Listening Session
Join us in welcoming the first Latino Mason District Supervisor, Andrés Jiménez, to Culmore!
Supervisor Jiménez wants to meet community residents and hear your thoughts about what changes you would like to see in your neighborhood.
Free lunch and childcare will be provided. All are welcome.
WHERE:
BAILEY’S ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CAFETERIA
6111 KNOLLWOOD DRIVE
WHEN:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20TH, 10 AM - 12 PM
Read the flyer for more details.
Snow Days This Winter
For the current school year, FCPS will be returning to its previous procedure for snow days — there will be no virtual learning days when school is closed due to bad weather.
During snow days, students may still access Tutor.com, complete any supplemental learning opportunities recommended by their teachers, and view educational programming (available virtually and on public access television channels):
Eleven snow days are built into the existing FCPS calendar. Eliminating virtual learning days will allow us to maximize students’ in-person learning and provide equitable access to instruction and student services.
❄️ 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’ website is generally the first place where we will post an emergency weather closing. 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 for the winter season. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and plan for childcare if appropriate.
🗺️ Dual Language Immersion Program Registration
Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 22. 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 2024-25 school year. Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Check the FCPS events calendar for the most current information. Meetings will begin on Tuesday, January 16.
A virtual meeting hosted by the World Languages Office will include general program information. Access to this virtual meeting will be made available on the FCPS events calendar and the Dual Language Immersion registration site on the day of the meeting.
Get more information on the immersion program webpage and registration page.
Dads at Belvedere (DAB)
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-dads1#/
Download the flyer!
📝 Tutor.com Can Help With More Than Homework
Tutor.com offers more than help with homework! This on-demand tutoring service also provides a comprehensive range of resources including exam prep for AP, SAT, and ACT tests at no cost to families.
Students can take practice quizzes at any time. If they struggle in particular areas, they can immediately connect to a live tutor for help through voice or chat options. Learn more on the 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
Belvedere Spiritwear - Order by January 14!
The deadline to order Belvedere Spiritwear has been extended to January 14 - order today! https://stores.blue84spirit.com/BULLDOGSBELVEDERE
VIP and Me
VIP and Me is back and scheduled for January 25. Stay tuned for more information coming soon....
Become a Member of the PTA and/or Support Belvedere with a donation
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 through events like movie night, teacher appreciation, international night, read-a-thon, and more.
To purchase a membership or make a direct donation, please go to https://www.belvederepta.org/membership 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!
Visit belvederepta.org for more information about our PTA or to make a donation.
Save the date for our next meeting, Wednesday, February 7, 6:30 pm.
Questions or concerns? Email bespta.va@gmail.com.
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday (No School)
- Thursday, January 25 - Quarter End / Early Release
- Friday, January 26 - Teacher Work Day (No School)
- Wednesday, February 7 - PTA Meeting
- Monday, February 19 - President's Day (No School)
Keep in Touch
Visit the Belvedere website
Report student absences
Bus Delay Website
Follow Belvedere on Twitter
Change your email preferences
FCPS Calendar: 2023-2024
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