FCPS's New Initiatives/Event Reminders

Dear Belle View Families,

Ms. Lehner and I have had an amazing week at FCPS’s leadership kick-off and have learned so much about the new and exciting initiatives and curriculum updates for the 2024-2025 school year. I wanted to take a moment to highlight two new initiatives and extend calendar reminders for events in August!

For the 2024-2025 school year, in compliance with the Virginia Literacy Act, Fairfax County Public Schools is adopting Elementary (K-6) Language Arts Basal Resources. Belle View has had teachers receive training this summer on how to implement these added resources and we will be ensuring a full staff training in August before the start of the school year. More details to follow, but you can certainly read up on the program here.

FCPS has also shared its Limited Early Release Monday’s plan for staff development. The reasoning behind these three-hour planning afternoons is to allow for training concerning the adoption of new textbooks, differentiated support plans for students, needed professional development for the new Virginia Literacy Act, new reading, and math Standards of Learning exams (SOLs) from the state, and other initiatives. These demands require blocks of uninterrupted, in-person, planning time.

We encourage all parents/caregivers to have their student take their normal route home (bus, walk, kiss, and ride) on early dismissal days. FCPS is working on supplemental activities for students who may have extenuating circumstances and need supervision on a particular day while their teachers are receiving professional development and curriculum training.

Please mark your calendars and we will certainly provide more details as we approach the first start in September. For Belle View and all students within the West Potomac Pyramid, the dates below are our Early Release days. Belle View will dismiss at 12:55 pm on those days.

• September 16
• October 21
• November 18
• February 10
• March 10
• April 21
• May 12

Calendar reminders:

Popsicles on the Playground-Tuesday August 13^th, 3-4 pm (K-2) 4-5 pm (3-6)

Open House-Thursday, August 15^th, 4-5pm

First Day-Monday, August 19^th

Back to School Night-Thursday, September 19^th, 6:30-8:30 pm

Enjoy the rest of July and we will see you in August!

Proud Principals,

Katie Pluntke and Kristen Lehner