Belvedere News and Announcements - February 23, 2024

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 02/23/2024 04:00 PM EST

From the Administration

Dear Belvedere Family:

Another week at Belvedere comes to a close, buzzing with engaged students and dedicated teachers! We're energized by their commitment and excited to share what's next: the IB Evaluation Visit.

This special event on February 28th and 29th is our chance to shine! Representatives from the International Baccalaureate (IB) will be visiting to experience firsthand the unique learning environment fostered by our Primary Years Programme (PYP). Imagine vibrant student displays, dynamic classrooms, and the positive energy that fills our halls – that's the Belvedere experience!

We wouldn't be here without YOU. Your unwavering support, involvement, and enthusiasm are the cornerstones of our PYP success. We deeply appreciate your partnership in shaping our students' educational journey.

Warm regards,

Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal

Tara Boone, Assistant Principal

Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal

Heading home safely: A friendly reminder for walkers and Kiss & Ride families!

We want to remind all families picking up walkers or using Kiss & Ride to be mindful of parking and driveway access during dismissal time. 

Please remember not to block driveways, even for a quick drop-off or pick-up. This helps ensure everyone can leave the school zone safely and efficiently.

️Also, if students are walkers, families should NOT park in the school parking lot. It is dangerous and causes traffic.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community safe and considerate!

Public Schools Week: February 26 - March 1

Public Schools Week is an annual celebration that brings together school leaders, educators, parents & community leaders to recognize the importance of our nation’s public schools.

Public Schools Week

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.

After School Club Registration

Registration closes THIS Sunday, February 25 for Belvedere PTA’s after school clubs. Spots are filling up fast! Glee Club has just been added for music lovers and vocalists! Check it out at the registration page at https://www.belvederepta.org/. 

Students can join weekly athletic, academic, and fine arts clubs after school. The Spring 2024 session begins March 4 and ends on May 10. 

Register here: https://www.belvederepta.org/

Email: belvedereclubs@gmail.com

🧸 Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…

There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:

  1. Determine eligibility. 
  2. Identify your local school. 
  3. Gather documents. 
  4. Fill out forms. 
  5. Schedule an appointment.

After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation, Bridge to Kindergarten, or any other introductory events each school may host. Read more about the registration process.

💻 Try Online Registration

Parents may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process. 

When registering, parents will create (or log in to an existing) SIS ParentVUE account. Please note that passwords should be more than 12 characters long. If you have an existing account and your password is shorter, please update it when you log in

International Night at Justice High School

Where: Justice HS

When: February 28th

Cultural showcase and international food: Cafeteria 4:30-6:00 pm

Performance: Auditorium

Tickets are $5 per seat

Download the flyer for a link to purchase tickets. 

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener

The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3rd - 5th   during the week of March 4th . Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. More information is available about the SEL Screener by accessing this link: 

https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener  

If you have any questions please reach out to our SEL Screener Lead, Paige Simpson, at Pesimpson1@fcps.edu or 703-916-6829.

Belvedere Career Day 2024

Our 4th and 5th grade students will attend Career Day on Tuesday, June 4, from 9:40 a.m.-11:40 a.m. Career Day consists of students rotating to four different 20-minute sessions.

Please download this flyer for more information on ways you can help or sign up to be a presenter. Thanks!

Counselor Corner

Read the latest newsletter from our school counselors. 

Family Engagement Survey to Open March 3

FCPS is partnering with independent research firm K12 Insight to administer a Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Sunday, March 3, to Friday, March 22. Your feedback is critical in helping FCPS to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs throughout the district. Survey topics include:

  • Welcoming environment
  • Communication
  • Student success
  • Advocacy
  • Family and school partnerships
  • Community partnerships

The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. 

Parents/caregivers will receive the survey link via email from K12 Insight. A public link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available in our front office. Please stay tuned for more information.

💭 Share Your Thoughts on Schoology

FCPS will be conducting voluntary, anonymous surveys on the use of Schoology from Monday, March 11, to Friday, March 22. Surveys will be delivered to:

  • Elementary students (grades 3-6) through the Schoology App Center.
  • Secondary students via email from Naviance.

Student feedback will inform the school division’s use of Schoology and help improve its processes, communication, and professional learning for staff. FCPS’ Instructional Services Department will also be reaching out to families through focus groups. 

Please contact Schoology@fcps.edu if you have questions. 

Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge 

The Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 10:45 a.m., at Hayfield Secondary School. The event features a public tasting of student dishes and demonstrations from two local celebrated chefs. 

The student challenge at the heart of this event is to create healthy, delicious, and culturally diverse school menu items that meet USDA guidelines. Entries will be judged by a panel including celebrity chefs, school food professionals, and local food producers. The public is invited to vote for their favorite dish. 

Chefs Najmieh Batmanglij and Chris Morgan of Joon will offer a demonstration at 11:15 a.m. Public tasting of student dishes will get underway at noon. 

Student-created dishes from this annual event have been featured on school menus throughout the Greater Washington Region. It is free to attend, but registration is required.

👩‍🏫 Help Students Achieve Their Dreams. Teach for FCPS!

Save the date! Attend FCPS’ instructional job fair on Saturday, February 24, 9 a.m.-noon, at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Network and take advantage of interview opportunities with representatives from various FCPS schools. Employment offers may be extended during the fair. Register today. 

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Fairfax County Science and Engineering Fair Open House

Members of the general public are invited to attend the science fair open house at Robinson Secondary School on Sunday, March 17, 1-3 p.m.

Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools

Three FCPS elementary magnet schools provide programs that enhance learning in science, technology, and performing arts. 

If you are interested in sending your student to an elementary magnet school program, consider attending a school-based information night at Hunters Woods Elementary School, Bailey’s Primary Elementary School, or Bailey’s Upper Elementary School. 

Information nights will provide an opportunity to learn about individual school programs, student eligibility, the lottery process, and transportation.

Registration for the 2024-25 elementary magnet lottery is open Tuesday, March 5, through Friday, April 12. Get more information about the schools, their programs, and locations.

Sign Up for FCPS Summer Camps 

Registration is now open for several summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. 

Tech Adventure Camp is available for current grade K-5 students to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for elementary students who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Visit the E-IFTA webpage to register.

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 Teacher-Referred Tutoring

Through Schoology®, all FCPS students have 24/7 access to no-cost, year-round, on-demand, 1-to-1 tutoring services through Tutor.com.

A new Teacher-Referred Tutoring program feature provides targeted support and extends student learning. Teachers can now refer students for tutoring, with their specific needs already identified. Students can get extra support — on their own schedule — and reinforce their in-class learning.

Caregivers can guide students to access expert tutoring, homework help, and writing support by clicking on the Tutor.com icon in their Schoology portal—anytime, anywhere.

Plus, look for teachers’ tutoring session referrals on the Tutor.com homepage.

Here Comes the Bus

Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. 

Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.

To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.

Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to HCTB@fcps.edu

PTA News 

Save the Date!

The Belvedere auction fundraiser will take place on Sunday, April 14, from 4-7pm at Caboose Commons in the Mosaic District (https://caboosebrewing.com/restaurant-brewpub-fairfax-va/). Watch for more information coming soon!

Volunteers needed! Belvedere Auction Fundraiser in April 

We are still looking for volunteers to help with the auction. We can use several people to help with soliciting, classroom basket, help setting up the website, etc. If you are able to volunteer in any way, please email us at  belvedereptaauction@gmail.com. 

Lebanese Taverna Food Truck - Order today!

Back by popular demand, the Lebanese Taverna food truck will be at Belvedere on Thursday, February 29. Order in advance for pick-up between 4:15-5:15 pm. Order here or click link in flyer: Lebanese Taverna (https://www.giftrocker.com/secure/Order/?h=c6f53b22). A portion of the sales will go to support the Belvedere PTA.

food truck

 

Belvedere Ballers in March 

Belvedere Ballers is coming back Thursday, March 21! Look out for more information coming next week. Also if you or your child is interested in playing, please let us know by March 1 (bespta.va@gmail.com).

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.

Please note the revised date for our next PTA meeting: Wednesday, March 13, 6:30 pm. 

Questions or concerns? Email bespta.va@gmail.com.

Upcoming Dates

  • Tuesday, March 5 - Election Day (No School)
  • Wednesday, March 13 - PTA Meeting
  • Friday, March 22 - End of Quarter
  • March 25-29 - Spring Break 
  • April 1-2 - Student Holiday (Professional Workdays)

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