A Message from the Principal, Dr. Jemison
Fort Belvoir Primary Families,
We consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have the privilege of teaching such remarkable students. The month of March began on a high note, brimming with joy and enthusiasm for learning throughout our school building. We’re proud to share that many of our students are making significant strides in their academic journey, with notable growth observed on Lexia. Moreover, we commend our students for their dedication to achieving perfect attendance and earning their incentives. Your unwavering support plays a vital role in creating a positive learning environment, and for that, we express our sincere gratitude.
Next week is spring break, we want to take this opportunity to wish you all a restful and enjoyable time with your families. We eagerly anticipate welcoming our students back on April 3rd, refreshed and ready to finish the school year strong. Together, let’s keep nurturing a culture of learning, growth, and community within our school. Thank you for being such an integral part of our school community.
Together, we are and will continue to be Fort Belvoir strong!
In partnership,
Dr. LaZedrick (Zed) Jemison, Principal
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March 25-29: Spring Break- School/Office Closed
April 1-2: Student Holidays
April 5: Picture Day
April 10: Holiday- Eid al Fitr: School/Office Closed
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Superhero Learning Night!
The atmosphere at the Learning Night event was electric, with everyone donning their favorite superhero attire. It was a sight to behold, witnessing the enthusiasm of both the children and adults alike as they flooded into the school. The sheer number of over three hundred families in attendance was truly remarkable, highlighting the strong sense of community within our school.
For our amazing teachers, this event provided a golden opportunity to showcase the innovative learning experiences happening in their classrooms. From interactive displays to hands-on activities, parents gained valuable insights into the curriculum and teaching methodologies. Simultaneously, parents seized the chance to glean practical tips on how to support their children’s learning journey at home. The event was not only informative but also immensely enjoyable, with families engaging in various fun games and activities. Students took immense pride in demonstrating their understanding of different concepts to their families, fostering a sense of accomplishment and connection between home and school.
 
Second Grade Field Trip to the Museum of Natural History
Our second graders had a fantastic time on their recent field trip to the Museum of Natural History. They were thrilled to explore the exhibits and see artifacts that were directly tied into their curriculum. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the parents who graciously volunteered as chaperones, making the trip both educational and memorable for our students.
Lexia March Madness Begins!
 Get ready for an academic showdown! We’re thrilled to announce our own version of March Madness for students, where each grade level will compete to boost their reading levels on Lexia. The stakes are high as classes vie for the top spot, aiming to accumulate the most Lexia points and clinch victory. It’s inspiring to witness students’ enthusiasm for academic growth, and we can’t wait to see who emerges as the ultimate champions. Let the reading games begin!
Spring Break - No School
We are reminding families that on Friday, March 22 students are in school for a full day. It is not an early release day. Additionally, there is no school from March 25-29, 2024. We hope families enjoy their spring break! Rest, read, and relax. Schools within the district will be closed and our front office will be closed.
Student Holiday for Teacher Work Days - Monday, April 1 and Tuesday, April 2, 2024. We are excited to welcome students back on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
Wear Blue for Autism Awareness Day!
On April 3rd, we are encouraging everyone to wear the color blue to show support and raise awareness for autism, as April marks National Autism Awareness Month. Additionally, April is dedicated to honoring the resilience and sacrifices of military children. Let’s come together to celebrate both causes by wearing blue on this day (Wednesday, April 3rd), symbolizing solidarity with individuals on the autism spectrum. Join us in recognizing and supporting these important initiatives.
Attendance Round Table Talk with Dr. Jemison
 We had a very productive conversation about attendance with families, with representatives from FCPS and our Fort Belvoir School Liaison Officer, Marie Bailey. The overall message conveyed to families is that the district understands the unique challenges posed by the military schedule, which often differs from the school calendar. Recognizing that families may not always be able to schedule their child’s leave around school breaks, both Fort Belvoir Upper and Primary are committed to working closely with families. We acknowledge that family deployments and other factors must be taken into consideration when students are absent from school. It’s imperative for families to understand that we are here to support them, and we encourage continued communication regarding their child’s absences.
Fort Belvoir Primary will maintain its dedication to collaborating with families, and we will continue to send the attendance report cards home as a means of keeping families informed. The purpose of these report cards is simply to provide families with awareness and ensure transparency regarding their child’s attendance. By keeping families informed, we aim to foster a strong partnership between home and school, ultimately supporting student success. We want families to feel empowered to reach out to us whenever their child is going to be absent from school, knowing that we are here to assist and accommodate their needs to the best of our abilities. Through ongoing communication and collaboration, we can work together to ensure that every student receives the support they require to thrive academically and personally.
Can My Child Go to School?
FCPS recommendations below are for children 5 to 18 years of age. Additional information about attendance is linked HERE.
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Symptoms and Illnesses
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Can My Child Go to School
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Parent is Sick, Stressed, Hospitalized
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Yes - If you are sick, your child still needs to attend school. Your illness does not excuse your child from attending. Plean from these days. Ask a neighbor, relative, or spouse to take your child to and from school.
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Chronic Illness (Asthma, Diabetes, Sickle Cell, Epilepsy, etc.)
Chronic illness is a long-lasting condition that can be controlled but not cured
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Yes - As long as your child’s symptoms are controlled, your child should attend school. School personnel are trained to assist children with chronic illnesses and related health care requirements.
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Cold Symptoms
Stuffy/ runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, mild sore throat, earache
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Yes - If your child can participate in school activities school should be attended.
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Head Lice
Intense itching of the head; may feel like something is moving
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Yes - Your child can be in school if an initial treatment of shampooing of hair with a product for lice has been completed.
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Strains, Sprains, and Pains
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Yes - if there is no known injury and your child can function (walk, talk, eat), school should be attended. If pain is severe or doesn’t stop, consult a healthcare provider
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Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
The white of the eye is pink and there is a thick yellow/green discharge
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No - If there is yellow/green discharge from the white of the eye, your child must be evaluated by a healthcare provider before returning to school. If diagnosed with bacterial conjunctivitis, the child should remain home while symptomatic or until 24 hours of antibiotic treatment has been completed.
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Coughing
Severe, uncontrolled, rapid coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing
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No - Keep your child home and contact a healthcare provider. If symptoms are due to asthma, provide treatment according to your child’s Asthma Action Plan. When symptoms are controlled, send your child to school.
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Diarrhea
Frequent, loose or watery stool may mean illness but can also be caused by food and medication
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No - If, in addition to diarrhea, your child acts ill, has a fever or is vomiting, please keep your child home until the diarrhea has stopped for 24 hours. If stool is bloody, if the child has abdominal pain, fever or vomiting, consult with a healthcare provider.
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Fever
Fever usually means illness, especially if your child has a fever of 100.4 or higher as well as other symptoms like behavior change, rash, sore throat, vomiting, etc.
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No - If your child has a fever of 100.4 or higher, keep them at home until his or her fever is below 100.4 for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. If the fever does not go away after 2-3 days or is 102.0 or higher, consult with a healthcare provider.
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Rash with Fever
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No - Keep your child home if they have a rash with a fever. If a rash spreads quickly, is not healing, or has open weeping wounds, you should keep your child at home and have your child seen by a healthcare provider
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Strep Throat
Sore throat, fever, stomachache, and red, swollen tonsils
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No - Keep your child at home for the first 12 hours after an antibiotic is begun. Your child may return to school when they have completed at least 12 hours of antibiotic use, is fever free and symptoms are improving
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Vomiting
Child has vomited 2 or more times in a 24-hour period. If vomiting is associated with diarrhea or fever, please reference the recommendations from those symptoms (diarrhea, fever).
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No - Keep your child at home until the vomiting has stopped for 24 hours. If vomiting continues, contact a healthcare provider.
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This information is based upon recommended guidelines from reliable sources to include the Center for Disease Control (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics, and Public Health Association.
Classrooms with Perfect Attendance
Congratulations to our outstanding classrooms and dedicated students who achieved perfect attendance throughout the month of March! We are delighted to see such a strong commitment to regular attendance, as it is crucial for academic success for our students. Their consistent presence of being in school is greatly appreciated. We appreciate the efforts and dedication families have shown.
The following classes won for this month:
Ms. Sanchez
Ms. Fenderson
Ms. Mbem
Ms. Mueller
Ms. Cassell
Stay tuned, as we eagerly anticipate announcing the winners of next month’s stuffed dolphin for the classes with the highest number of students maintaining perfect attendance. Keep up the excellent work!
March Food Market Success
The March edition of our food market was a resounding success, with close to two hundred families benefiting from its offerings. We are committed to maintaining our role as a pillar of support within our school community, ensuring that those in need receive the assistance they require. Families are warmly encouraged to explore our monthly food market, which remains entirely free of charge.
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Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8
A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04pm. and end around 4:32pm. With the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20pm. Because the timing overlaps with dismissal, it is crucial that students understand the importance of safe viewing practices.
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We encourage families to review these Solar Eclipse Resources, especially the eye safety information. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon while prioritizing safe solar viewing.
Save the Date - April 17 is Purple Up!
 We are asking families to join us on Wednesday, April 17 for Purple Up! On this day we will be clapping-in our students. Our parent line up will start at 8:45am at the front entrance. Please join us as we celebrate our military children. This day is special for ALL of our students!
 We’re excited to welcome our newest Dolphins to Fort Belvoir Primary Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year!
On May 3rd we are hosting two sessions of kindergarten orientations from 9:30 - 10:30 am and 2:00 - 3:00 pm. This event is intended for the rising kindergarten student(s) and their parents/guardians. This year we are trying something new! Rising kindergarten students and their families will get a glimpse of our exceptional kindergarten program. Families will preview the curriculum and the day life of a kindergarten student. Additionally, we are providing tours of our building. At the conclusion of the tour, we are hosting Popcorn on the Playground. This is an excellent opportunity for families to connect with other kindergarten families. If you know of a family that has a rising kindergarten but does not receive our letters, please inform them of our orientation.
Due to limited space, we ask that only rising kindergarten students and their parents/guardians attend.
Please click here to RSVP to the event.
Working at Fort Belvoir Primary!
 We are excited to announce the commencement of our hiring process for the 2024-2025 school year at Fort Belvoir Primary Elementary School. We are actively looking for dedicated and passionate teachers and instructional assistants who share a strong commitment to making a positive impact on our students’ lives. If you or someone you know possesses the enthusiasm and qualifications for this rewarding opportunity, we encourage you to apply.
In addition, Fairfax County Public Schools offers an alternative teacher learning program, making it accessible for candidates with a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college to join our team as a teacher. Embrace the chance to contribute to the growth and development of young minds at Fort Belvoir Primary Elementary School.
Please click on the link https://careers.fcps.edu/vl/vacancy.htm and select Fort Belvoir Primary for available positions that either you or someone you know is interested in applying for. We pride ourselves in saying we are a fun and loving school community.
Winter iReady Score Reports
Families can anticipate receiving the winter iReady report for their child shortly through ParenVue. For those without access to ParentVue, iReady reports will be conveniently mailed to ensure all families stay informed about their child’s progress
Check for Lost Items - Fort Belvoir Primary
Attention all families, we kindly request that you check the lost and found for any missing items. After the month of April, any unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity. We are kindly asking families to retrieve any belongings before they are donated. Thank you for your cooperation.
Advanced Academic Program Spring Information AAP Spring Screening for Subject-Specific Advanced Differentiation (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) Services
This spring, students in grades K-5 will be screened for Advanced Academic Subject-Specific Advanced Differentiation (Level II) and Part-Time (Level III) services. Our school-based committees will review data to determine services for the start of the next school year.
Parents or guardians can submit the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form by April 15, 2024 as an email attachment to Dorothy Stafford, AART at Primary (dlstafford@fcps.edu) for students in grades K-2 or to Alex Nietert, AART at Upper (annietert@fcps.edu) for grades 3-5.
The AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form may be found at
https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/AAPSchoolBasedServicesReferralForm.pdf.
Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by the local elementary school of their student’s eligibility status by early June.
Subject Specific Advanced Differentiation, Grades K-6 (Level II)
Some students require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in at least one specific subject area. Classroom teachers may adjust instruction for students in these areas by:
- Providing different assignments and resources in those subjects.
- Grouping students by their strengths, interests, and readiness.
- Providing additional challenges using materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework.
Student needs for subject specific differentiation are re-evaluated each year at the local school.
Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III)Some students have advanced academic abilities in multiple subject areas and require differentiation beyond the needs of age-level peers in their class in multiple content areas.
- Students work with other students that have similar academic needs through weekly pull-out classes or weekly co-taught lessons with the AART and classroom teacher.
- Teachers provide frequent opportunities to use materials from the AAP Curriculum Framework in Language Arts, science, social studies, and/or mathematics.
Part-time services continue through Grade 6. Students do not need to be evaluated each year.
If you have any questions, reach out to Ms. Stafford directly (dlstafford@fcps.edu).
A Message from Our Family Liaison, Ms. Elliott
 
$20 per book
Deadline to order: April 12, 2024
Please click here to order!
Primary's access code: 0037114YB
Updated COVID Recommendations
In accordance with the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) respiratory virus guidance, FCPS and the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) have updated school COVID-19 recommendations.
The COVID-19 isolation period of five days is no longer recommended.
New respiratory virus guidance applies to respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Students who have symptoms of, test positive for, or have been diagnosed with a respiratory virus may return to school when the student is fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication; AND the student’s symptoms have improved or resolved.
Students should follow additional precautions as outlined per the CDC upon resumption of normal activities.
Should I Send My Child to School?
Please refer to the chart on this attendance webpage if your child is experiencing symptoms or illnesses, and you are unsure if they should go to school.
Thank you for helping keep our students and staff healthy.
Lexia Parent Night: How We Help Your Child Learn to Read
FCPS funds the use of Lexia for all elementary and middle schools as part of their literacy instruction. Lexia is a computer-based program that supplements classroom instruction to help students develop literacy skills. It also provides teachers with data to identify students who need additional support and the ability to know which specific concepts and skills to prioritize.Attend a virtual information night on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m., to learn more about Lexia and how FCPS is integrating it into the classroom to support student growth. Participants will also get tips for supporting their students at home. Integrating Lexia into the literacy curriculum aligns with the Virginia Literacy Act, FCPS’ Equitable Access to Literacy, and FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3, which aims to have all students reading on level by the end of third grade.
FCPS PreK and Early Head Start is now accepting applications for School Year 2024-25!
We are an income eligible program that prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accept applications for children 3- years-old by September 30th.
Apply for FCPS PreK and EHS Now
Email: fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu
Visit our PreK office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22042
For more information call our main line: 703-208-7900
FCPS Cares!
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Fort Belvoir Primary ES. We love our Primary staff members, let's tell them how we feel!
Fairfax County Public School 2024-2025 School Year Calendar
We are encouraging families to review the FCPS 2024-2025 School Year Calendar linked HERE.
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