From the School Administration
Dear Belvedere Families,
What an incredible week it’s been! As we wrap up the first quarter, we want to thank everyone for making this week so memorable. And this weather! Low 80’s in the end of October? It’s wild!
On Tuesday night, our Trunk or Treat event was a huge success! It was amazing to see so many creative costumes and decorated trunks, and we appreciate everyone who came out to make it special.
Today’s Storybook Parade was another big hit, bringing our favorite characters to life and spreading excitement throughout the school. A special highlight of the week was when the Washington Capitals visited a third-grade classroom to inspire our students about the joys of reading—what an unforgettable experience!
As we look forward to the second quarter, we’re excited to build on this momentum. Enjoy the long weekend, and we can’t wait to see everyone back, ready to dive into an awesome new quarter. Plus, don’t forget we have a PTA meeting next Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 6:30 p.m., and we hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal
Tara Boone, Assistant Principal
Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
Outdoor Workday - Volunteers Needed
Help us refresh our outdoor learning spaces on Friday, November 1, 10am-12pm or Saturday, November 2, 10am-12pm (stay for any amount of time). Tasks may include removing invasive plants from the back meadow, cleaning up/weeding gardens, planting, building garden beds, and moving mulch. Students are welcome with an adult. Sign up now! Questions? Contact Andrea Auerbach at asauerbach1@fcps.edu.
Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.
For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates
Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).
Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.
This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reports and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.
We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
If you prefer to have an abbreviated way to share district news, consider sharing the language below in your newsletter. Please edit the list of topics to best fit the needs of your community.
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FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Calendar Reminders
- Resources for Families
- Complete Impact Aid Survey
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Get Your Books Ready for Belvedere's Read-A-Thon: Nov 12-26!
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The PTA is proud to announce our second annual Belvedere Read-a-Thon fundraiser that not only supports our school’s field trips and classroom supplies, but encourages students' reading habits!
We have set a goal to raise $20,000, and students and families are asked to collect monetary pledges of support from friends, family, and neighbors. People can donate a flat amount ($20, $50, $100 etc.) or pledge an amount based on the number of minutes read by your student.
Detailed information will be sent home in students’ folders on Friday, November 8 and you will receive an email from the fundraising platform we are using, 99 Pledges.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Read-a-Thon coordinator Laura Nunneker at lauradiserio@gmail.com. Please help us support this wonderful fundraiser by sharing it with your networks. Our Bulldogs will benefit from every dollar raised…and every book read!
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Resources for Students by Fairfax County Park Authority
Winter Camps - Registration Opens Tuesday, October 22 at 9 a.m.
Plan to keep the holiday cheer going with winter camp offerings taking place when schools close for holiday breaks and cultural observances. These single-day and two-day camp sessions run December 8-February 17.
Learn More About Camps
Explore Winter Camps
Winter Classes - Registration Opens Tuesday, December 3 at 9 a.m.
There is more to come, so check back for registration updates at Parktakes Online.
Discounts applies for families in the Free and Reduce meal program.
If you need more information, please contact Mrs. Plazas, Family Liaison at 703-916-6824.
Lacrosse Clinic Held by Justice Girls Lacrosse!
Justice Girls Lacrosse is hosting a Fall Clinic, which is a fantastic opportunity for both beginner and experienced players. Targeting girls in 5th – 8th grade in the Justice Pyramid, this clinic will feature our dedicated coaching staff and Varsity players, all focused on growing the sport of lacrosse in our community. Over three days, players will learn essential passing and catching fundamentals, offensive and defensive strategies, and wrap up each session with small-sided competitive scrimmages. The cost is $50 and includes a t-shirt! Lacrosse is a growing sport in the U.S. and will be featured in the 2028 Summer Olympics! We hope to continue expanding the sport in our community and grow our Justice GLAX program. We finished our season as National District Champions and advanced to the Occoquan Region Semi-finals for the second year in a row! We also celebrated Coach of the Year and had the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in the National District. To say we are proud is an understatement! Our goal is to continue this success and make history each year, and we want you to be a part of it!
If you are interested in registering, please complete the form HERE.
Join us next Wednesday for the November PTA meeting
New month, new updates! The November community meeting will be on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 6:30 pm. 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 as part of the virtual format, so please join us via Zoom if you require Spanish support.
The virtual link will be shared via News You Choose and via MemberHub (PTA’s communication link for members) in advance. Children are welcome to join in person at Belvedere, and there will be space for them in the cafeteria to snack, play games, use electronics, read and/or color. All staff and BES families are welcome to join these meetings and volunteer. You must be a PTA member to vote on any financial decisions made during meetings.
We need volunteers on Nov. 5!
We still need at least 5 more volunteers to collect donations in exchange for baked goods and to help clean as part of the Election Day Bake + Wrapping Paper Fundraiser on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Open slots are here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E054AA9A822A4FC1-51192210-electionYou can also donate (or purchase) cookies, bread, coffee, brownies, breakfast items or wrapping paper (our supplies are low!).
Spirit Wear sale is open
The Belvedere Spirit Wear shop is open for orders until Nov. 18, 2024. Go to https://belvedere24.itemorder.com/shop/home/ to order Bulldog t-shirts, sweatshirts and more – for students and adults. Orders take 3-4 weeks to process so order now for the holidays.
On tap in November: Community Meeting + Read-a-thon
There are many fun ways to support BES PTA before the Thanksgiving break, including:
Nov. 5, 6 a.m.-8 p.m.: Election Day Bake + Wrapping Paper Fundraiser
Nov. 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Community Meeting, hybrid – BES cafeteria and online. All are welcome!
Nov. 12-24: Read-a-thon, our biggest fundraiser of the year. Details to come.
Nov. 18: Spirit Wear sale closes
Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM)
Learn more about the criteria and process to apply for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch.
If you need assistance with the Free and Reduced-Meal application, please visit Belvedere's Family Liaison, Mrs. Plazas in the Parent Center or you may call her office at (703) 916-6824
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.
For questions, please email employeeawards@fcps.edu.
Read more and Submit an FCPS CARES today!
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/
Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
National Career Development Month
By enrolling in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment. A core program of CTE courses is offered in every middle and high school. Based on the needs of the populations served, each school determines optional courses to be offered. Learn more about Academies and Specialized Programs.
National Family Engagement Month
This month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Strong family support is vital to student well-being and success.
FCPS has many resources designed to increase engagement and partnerships with families while fostering academic success and social-emotional growth.
Additionally, every school has a family liaison who will welcome and orient families, and help them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development.
If you have questions or would like more information, ask your school office to connect you with your family liaison or visit FCPS’ website for a list of region representatives.
Upcoming Dates
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Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back)
This Sunday, November 3, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time ends. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!
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November 5 - Election Day
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