A Message From The Principal
Our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon was a huge success, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended. Your continued support for our school is truly overwhelming, and it was wonderful to see our community come together in such a meaningful way. A special shout-out goes to our volunteers who went above and beyond, from setting up tables and decorating the cafeteria and gym and to spending time with students who did not have family members with them.
We were especially moved by the kindness of one father who, not only attended the luncheon, but also chose to eat lunch twice—once with his child and once with two students who were not his own. Acts of selflessness like this are what create the loving, supportive environment that defines our school community. Thank you again for making this event so special!
Together we are and will continue to be Fort Belvoir strong!
Dr. LaZedrick (Zed) Jemison, Principal
Ms. Linda Ferguson, Interim Assistant Principal
Ms. Tieya White, Assistant Principal
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Upcoming Dates
November 27- 29: Thanksgiving Break
School/Office Closed
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Highlights from the Principal Coffee
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who continues to engage in our monthly meetings with Dr. Jemison, our principal. Your active participation is crucial in ensuring we work together to address the various issues impacting our school community. These meetings provide an important platform for collaboration and communication, and we appreciate your commitment to making our school a safe and supportive environment for all.
In November, we had the privilege of inviting Michelle Mairon, the supervisor assigned to Fort Belvoir from the FCPS Department of Transportation, to speak with our parents. Michelle shared valuable insights into how transportation concerns are being addressed, including the issue of buses speeding while on the base. To tackle this matter, Michelle has asked families to email her office directly at OTS_team11@fcps.edu. She and the team are committed to addressing this issue promptly to ensure the safety of our students and community members.
Additionally, we discussed the handling of lost items on the bus. Moving forward, bus drivers will now bring any lost items to the schools, where they will be placed in the lost and found. Families will have one month to retrieve these items before they are donated to charity. Finally, we want to emphasize the seriousness with which transportation takes inappropriate behavior. The school and transportation services work closely to determine appropriate consequences, as outlined in the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibility (SR&R) handbook. The first offense we host a conversation with families and the second time students are suspended from the bus.
Students who are repeat offenders will face more severe consequences, and families will be promptly notified of any inappropriate behaviors. The safety and well-being of our students will always remain our top priority.
Fort Belvoir Primary Outstanding Employees
We take immense pride in recognizing the exceptional contributions of our Fort Belvoir Primary employees. In the photo above, we celebrate Angie Day, Second Grade Teacher, Beth Nanguata, Multi-age Teacher, Dee Idlet, Social Worker, and Dolores Elliott, Family Liaison. These outstanding individuals were chosen by their peers to represent our school, and their names will be submitted to the regional team for potential selection to represent the entire region. Should they be chosen at the regional level, they will then have the opportunity to move forward to represent Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) on a broader scale.
While we commend these four individuals, we want to express our pride in our entire staff, acknowledging the many unsung heroes who contribute significantly to the well-being and education of the children in our school. Though we couldn’t highlight everyone, we appreciate the collective efforts that make our school community thrive. Your dedication and hard work are truly what make Fort Belvoir Primary a special place for both students and staff alike.
Fun Run is Friday, December 6th!
We are asking families to save Friday, December 6th on their calendars for our annual Fun Run Day! This exciting event, hosted by our PTO, serves as a fundraiser with the goal of raising $25,000 to purchase much-needed materials for both teachers and students. The event will take place inside our school gym, and we encourage everyone to put on their running shoes as we work together to reach our fundraising goal. Families are encouraged to come cheer on the students. Additional details with start times to be announced at a later date.
Your participation and support are key to making this event a success! Families can learn more about the process for contributing using the link HERE.
Donation from American Legion 176
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the American Legion 176 for their generous food donation. These items will be distributed to families of active military members. We are incredibly grateful for their unwavering support and dedication to our school community.
FCPS CARES Submissions for Fort Belvoir Primary
Mrs. Kim, First Grade Teacher
FCPS CARES submission:
"Mrs. Kim strikes an extraordinary balance between kindness and firmness. She fosters a supportive, nurturing environment that allows students to feel safe and valued while maintaining clear expectations. She handles essential matters like encouraging students to keep their hands to themselves, staying on task, and respecting classroom norms with firm but caring authority that resonates with children. Additionally, Mrs. Kim works incredibly well with students who may have behavioral challenges. Her patience, empathy, and tailored strategies ensure these children feel supported, while also reinforcing a positive and structured classroom dynamic for all. This is no small feat, and it reflects her deep understanding of both educational best practices and her students’ individual needs. Teachers like Mrs. Kim play a crucial role in shaping the next generation, and I want to extend my highest recommendation for her. She is a shining example of the excellence we strive for in our district. Thank you for recognizing her hard work and the lasting impact she makes. Sincerely, A parent seeing her hard work."
This information is posted on the FCPS CARES webpage, accessible at https://www.fcps.edu/news/fcps-cares-november-2024.
Mrs. Andress-Day, Second Grade Teacher
FCPS CARES submission:
"Mrs. Andress is an amazing teacher who goes above and beyond to not only connect with her students, but to engage parents and families as well. The growth my child has made so far this year is without a doubt due to the incredible support and care of a great teacher. I appreciate how deeply she cares for the well-being of each of her students. Mrs. Andress is someone that I know my child can count on, that I myself as a parent can count on, and the teachers and staff that she works with can count on. I have always felt like my child has had great teachers, but Mrs. Andress is in a league of her own. I am so thankful that my child was placed into Mrs. Andress’ class."
This information is posted on the FCPS CARES webpage, accessible at https://www.fcps.edu/news/fcps-cares-november-2024.
Square 1 Art at Fort Belvoir Primary
Ms. Koduah and Ms. Turner are excited to share that 650 of their students’ artwork has been successfully shipped to Square 1 Art Company in Georgia. Square 1 Art will photograph students' work and generate catalogs featuring each student’s individual art project that we hope to send home to all families in the next couple of weeks. Square 1 transforms artwork into keepsakes. Purchases made by December 3, 2024, will support our Fort Belvoir Primary Art Department and will help bring special supplies and unique gallery opportunities to our “dolphin artists. This is an excellent opportunity to capture your child’s primary experience for life.
Lost and Found at Fort Belvoir Primary
We kindly ask all families to take a moment to check our school's Lost and Found for any misplaced items. On Thursday, December 12th, any remaining items will be donated to a local shelter. Please make sure to retrieve your belongings before the deadline. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.
Advanced Academic Programs
Full-Time Referral Deadline
The county deadline for submitting the Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Full-Time referral is Sunday, December 15th. This is a county set deadline, and late entries will not be accepted. Parents are encouraged to submit their forms and supporting documents early via email to Ms. Stafford (dlstafford@fcps.edu) to ensure that they are formatted appropriately for the screening portfolio. The AAP Full Time Parent Referral form and the optional Parent Questionnaire can be found on AAP Forms link at the bottom of the AAP In FCPS website. You can also contact Ms. Stafford with any questions you may have about AAP services and the Full-Time referral process
Attendance
We wanted to take a moment to acknowledge and sincerely thank you. Due to your incredible partnership and support, we are elated to share that we have achieved a significant milestone for our school community. As of today, the chronic absence rate for our school has dropped from 17% to 13%! This is an incredible feat given the tremendous amount of work that went into this change from our families and students. We know that the road ahead of us will continue to challenge us as we work towards our ultimate goal of reducing absenteeism to 9% or lower. Every day that a child attends school is another chance for greatness. We take heart in knowing that we are allied with an incredible community of families here at Fort Belvoir Primary that will never abandon the mission of student success.
Fort Belvoir Primary School Staff
❤️Follow Fort Belvoir Primary on Facebook and Instagram
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Facebook at this link HERE
Instagram at this link HERE
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Please see the FCPS 2024 - 2025 calendar linked HERE.
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