From the School Administration
Dear Belvedere Family:
We’ve had a wonderful start to the school year, and we are thrilled to see our halls filled with so much energy and enthusiasm. It’s inspiring to observe our students diving right into their learning, eager to explore and grow. This positive momentum is a testament to the strong support from our entire community and our wonderful staff.
Our arrival and dismissal have been running very smoothly and decreasing in time as the days pass by. Your cooperation plays a huge role in ensuring that our days begin and end on a positive note. As we continue to work together, please remember to be mindful of our neighbors by not blocking driveways when on Whispering Lane. Your attentiveness to this makes a big difference in maintaining a safe and respectful environment for all.
As we head into the long Labor Day weekend, we hope you find time to relax and enjoy time doing whatever brings you joy.
Sincerely,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal
Tara Boone, Assistant Principal
Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
Family Responses Needed for Childcare Needs on Early Release Mondays!
This is an important reminder regarding the Early Release Mondays planned throughout the school year for elementary schools. These early releases are essential to allow educators time for planning and professional development. Students will be dismissed 3 hours early on seven occasions throughout the school year and are encouraged to return home via their normal route.
However, we understand that Early Release Mondays may create childcare challenges for many of our families. To address these concerns, we are offering student supervision for those who need it. You must fill out the Childcare Needs Form for each child that will need supervision.
The following dates are planned for Early Release Mondays throughout the school year:
- September 16
- October 21
- November 18
- February 10
- March 10
- April 21
- May 12
To help us effectively plan for our school’s childcare needs on these dates, we need all families to complete this form: Childcare Needs Form.The form covers the first two Early Release Mondays, scheduled for September 16, 2024, and October 21, 2024. If you have multiple children enrolled at Belvedere Elementary, please submit a separate form for each child. Staff will confirm the after-school supervision plan for each student.
Your timely response is crucial in ensuring that we can accommodate the needs of all our students.
Labor Day
Friday, August 30, and Monday, September 2, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students. Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends. See the complete school year calendar.
|
Science Olympiad
Attention BES 3rd-5th Grade Families! The Science Olympiad team will meet once a week, beginning September 12th.
The club will engage in research and experiments using a variety of materials in preparation for the Science Olympiad Competition. Bus transportation home will be provided.
Science Olympiad Competition will take place on one of the following Saturdays - October 26, November 2, November 9, OR November 16
If interested, please complete the attached form and return it to your child's teacher.
Join us next Wednesday for the September PTA meeting
The first PTA meeting of the 2024-2025 school year will be on Wednesday, September 4, at 6:30 pm. We’ll be focused on planning for the year ahead and want you to share your ideas on the best ways for us to engage the BES community. All subsequent PTA meetings will take place on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 pm. Most meetings last about an hour and are offered in a hybrid format – both online and in person in the BES cafeteria. Spanish translation is available for all meetings as part of the virtual format, so please join us via Zoom if you require Spanish support.
Staff and all BES families are welcome to join these meetings and volunteer, but you must be a PTA member to vote on any financial decisions during meetings.
FCPS CARES Program
The FCPS CARES Program allows parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees who go above and beyond to help others and show they care about their students, colleagues, and the community. We invite you to submit a story below to acknowledge the great work of an FCPS employee or group of employees who should receive FCPS CARES recognition.
Please take note of the following before submitting an FCPS CARES:
- A notification email, with the submission text included, will be sent to the recipient(s) and copied to the recipient's supervisor(s).
- All submissions will be posted to our FCPS CARES webpage and shared via other FCPS news outlets.
- Submissions containing personal or sensitive information may be edited to protect individuals' privacy.
- Feel free to compose your submission using a text editor such as Microsoft Word, and then paste it into the text box provided below.
For questions, please email employeeawards@fcps.edu.
Read more and Submit an FCPS CARES today!
2024 Student Rights and Responsibilities
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Monday, September 30.
You can submit questions online regarding the SR&R.
Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE
Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.
Update Contact Information
Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form (PDF) and submit it to their child’s school.
Complete Permission Forms
Families can now easily give permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Submit Absences
Parents can submit daylong absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Note: Partial day absences and changes of transportation should still be reported directly to the school front office.
Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet?Contact your school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Safety Drills During the School Year
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.
⚠️ Know Our Security Terms
FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.
Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned.
If students, staff, or community members have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
🎤 Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:
-
Monday, September 9, at Holmes Middle School
-
Monday, September 23, at Newington Forest Elementary
-
Monday, September 30, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary
-
Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary
-
Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary
-
Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle
Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Cell Phones Off, Learning On
Thank you for helping to support the FCPS cell phone policy by waiting to call or text your child about non-urgent matters until the school day is over. In case of an emergency, it is always best to contact the school’s front office to reach your child during class time.
Visit the FCPS Cell Phone Policy webpage to read more about usage policies by grade level and to share your feedback on the current cell phone policy.
Updated Laptop Policy for Students in Grades 3-5: Taking Laptops Home
Based on feedback from last year, we are adjusting our device policy for students in Grades 3-5. Moving forward, families will have the option to opt-in for their child to bring home a school-issued laptop.
Key Points:
-
Opt-In Process: If your child needs to bring their laptop home regularly, please complete this opt-in form or let your child's teacher know that you'd like for them to bring their school-issued device home on a daily basis.
-
Default Option: If you do not opt-in, your child’s laptop will stay at school unless a specific assignment requires it to be taken home. The teacher will give families notification when laptops are being sent home with your child.
This change aims to protect our devices while ensuring that all students have equitable access to the technology they need. We will also provide MiFi devices for families who need internet access at home. Please reach out to Mr. Downing (kwdowning@fcps.edu) or your child's teacher if you have any questions.
🔍 Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.
Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.
Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
🙋 Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.
Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records
Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office.
If your child needs a vaccine, please make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form.
Find more information on immunizations on the FCPS website.
Belvedere is on Instagram
Welcome back, Belvedere families! 🎉 New school year, new Instagram account! 📸 We’re thrilled to share all the incredible moments ahead. Stay tuned and follow along!
https://www.instagram.com/belvedereelem/
✨ 2023-30 Strategic Plan: Foundation of Four Pillars
- While the five goals of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan focus on student success, the four pillars describe what FCPS must do well to reach our goals for all students:
- The first focus of the pillars is on teaching and learning. We want to make sure each and every student has access to excellent and inclusive learning environments, and that instruction meets students’ individual needs.
- The second pillar focuses on our connection with families and our communities. We cannot do this work alone. Strong partnerships are key to our students’ success.
- The third pillar is centered on our hiring and maintaining a world class, diverse workforce. We want to make sure our incredible employees have what they need to help our students thrive.
- The fourth and final pillar centers on how we bring this all together. We remain focused on creating a culture of equity, excellence, and accountability where data guides our decisions.
Visit our Strategic Plan webpage for more information.
Introducing the FCPS Family Academy
The Office of Experience and Engagement has embarked on a groundbreaking and collaborative effort to transform the way that families partner and interact with the educational system. More than an outreach program, FCPS Family Academy is a comprehensive strategy to provide families with exceptional access, opportunities, and intentional collaboration. The goal is to ensure the continued success and well-being of each and every student within the FCPS community. At its core, this initiative seeks to create a tapestry of positive and engaging experiences, as well as meaningful connections to transform the educational landscape into a welcoming environment for all families.
The primary vision of the FCPS Family Academy, in alignment with the 2023-30 Strategic Plan’s Pillar B: Vibrant Home School & Community Partnerships, is the empowerment of families through intentional partnerships that contribute to the holistic development and success of each student. This ambitious endeavor is driven by a set of clearly defined goals and strategies that underscore its commitment to inclusiveness, collaboration, and sustained support.
Our hope is to provide a one-stop shop for families in FCPS to better enrich the educational journey of their child in partnership with FCPS.
Check out the FCPS Family Academy here.
Solve the Puzzle Before It’s Gone!
Fairfax County's Puzzle Hunt will end on Sunday, September 15. Families have been solving puzzles and finding clues all summer in this unique community event that takes solvers on a journey to the wonderful parks in Fairfax County. There is still time to join before it ends!
Puzzles are filled with creative thinking, logic, and wordplay. They are designed to be completed with friends and family and are challenging and accessible for all skill levels. Solve the puzzles, then find clues at the parks for a final meta-puzzle. Visit our wonderful local parks with friends and family.
Transportation Patience and Safety
Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses.
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. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office at 703-446-2050 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.
Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM)
Learn more about the criteria and process to apply for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch.
Food and Nutrition Services Career Opportunities
FCPS Food and Nutrition Services is hiring. Please learn more about opportunities by clicking here.
Support PTA’s work: Become a Member
Our PTA supports Belvedere in many ways, including organizing major school events, enrichment and outreach activities; offering teacher grants and providing funding for field trips, library books and technology in the classroom. The PTA works to build a strong school community outside the classroom through fun events like movie nights, teacher appreciation events, international night, read-a-thon and much more.
To become a member 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 Direct Donation to make a one-time or recurring donation.
Visit belvederepta.org for more information about our PTA or to make a donation.
Questions or concerns? Email bespta.va@gmail.com.
Have a few hours to share? PTA has volunteer needs
The PTA has volunteer needs around events such as DABs, teacher appreciation events, 5th grade promotion, movie nights, the Election Day bake + wrapping paper sale, Bingo nights, VIP & me, International Night and more.
Please contact the PTA at bespta.va@gmail.com if you are interested in any of these opportunities and we will share details.
Upcoming Dates
- Friday, August 30 - NO SCHOOL (Labor Day Holiday)
- Monday, September 2 - NO SCHOOL (Labor Day Holiday)
- Wednesday, September 4 - PTA Meeting 6:30 pm
- Thursday, September 19 - Back to School Night (6-8 pm)
Keep in Touch
Visit the Belvedere website
Report student absences
Bus Delay Website
Follow Belvedere on X
Change your email preferences
FCPS Calendar
|
