From the School Administration
Dear Belvedere Families,
What a busy and productive week it has been here at school! Our students in grades three through five have been hard at work completing their Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. We are incredibly proud of the resilience and determination they have shown in tackling these lengthy assessments with such focus and effort. A heartfelt thank you to all our parents and guardians for the support you have provided throughout the testing process. Your encouragement and understanding play a big role in helping our students succeed.
Can you believe we only have three more Fridays left in the school year? It is hard to imagine how quickly the year has flown by. While we begin to look toward the end of the year, there is still plenty of excitement ahead! Mark your calendars for our Literacy and Math Family Festival on Thursday, May 22! It will be an evening filled with fun learning games, food, and opportunities for families to come together and celebrate the joy of learning. We cannot wait to see you there!
Thank you, as always, for being a vital part of our school community.
Warm Regards,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Principal
Tara Boone, Assistant Principal
Kelly Cabezas, Assistant Principal
Dismissal Schedule for the Last Day of School
On the last day of school, Wednesday, June 11, school will be dismissed at 2:05pm.
Attendance Notifications on Last Day of School
Please note that on the last day of school, June 11, 2025, morning attendance calls, texts, and e-mails will not be suspended. All schools must follow standard attendance procedures and record student attendance to ensure all students are accounted for and enable timely communication with families regarding any absences.
Be a Plant Hero This Summer
Save the date! Join us in the gardens on Tuesday, May 27 at 5:30pm or Saturday, May 31 at 9:30am to learn about summer break garden volunteer opportunities. Please contact our environmental educator, Andrea Auerbach, at asauerbach1@fcps.edu with questions.
Jump Start Registration (for Rising 6th Graders):
Attention rising 6th grade families! Glasgow Middle School is now accepting registrations for their Jump Start program this summer. Jump Start is a time when rising 6th grade students get to meet other peers and staff, participate in fun activities, and get to learn more about Glasgow. To register your student, please fill out the form below.
Registration link: https://forms.gle/BYHpV4sTMmJw7CEi8
We will be offering multiple sessions, so once you register your student, you will be notified of which session your child is assigned. Registrations will close on Friday, June 6th. Please email Hina Zafar at hzafar1@fcps.edu with any questions.
Kiss and Ride Courtesy Reminder
We kindly ask all families using Kiss and Ride—both in the morning and afternoon—to be respectful of our neighboring community. Please do not block driveways while waiting in line. Thank you for helping us maintain a positive relationship with those who live near our school!
A Note from Jaclyn Walsh, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher
FCPS provides a continuum of services to challenge and engage all students. Students are screened annually to asses academic strengths and needs and align those with the level of AAP services through a process called School-based Screening. Belvedere will hold school-based screenings in early May. For more information about the Advanced Academics continuum of services, please visit https://www.fcps.edu/academics/advanced-academic-programs-aap/elementary .
You may also contact Jaclyn Walsh at jwalsh@fcps.edu.
Belvedere Family Fun and Learning Festival!
What:
Belvedere families are invited to enjoy a variety of fun math and literacy activities hosted by our amazing staff! Students will have the chance to take home math books and independent reading books—and even enter a raffle for a fun prize! Free food will be provided for all families.
Who:
All Belvedere students and their families are welcome!
Where:
Belvedere Elementary School
(Enter through the front parking lot)
When:
Thursday, May 22
Time:
5:30 – 7:00 PM
RSVP here:
https://forms.gle/Nivh1MnWrecqcbBP8
Please note:
Parking at Belvedere is limited. We encourage you to park at John Calvin Presbyterian Church across the street, on Whispering Lane, carpool, or walk if possible.
Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) Testing Schedule
Below is the schedule for Virginia Standards of Learning for grades 3 through 5. Please strive to ensure that your child is present on the days that they will be testing.
Thank you!
Information from the Registrar
If your student is not returning to Belvedere ES for the 2025-26 school year, please be sure to contact our Registrar, Mandy Belcher at abelcher@fcps.edu or at (703) 916-6804.
Kindergarten Registration for the 2025-26 School Year is Now Open!
If you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 30, they are eligible to attend Kindergarten for the upcoming year.
Registration paperwork can be downloaded at https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/Enroll_Pre-Kindergarten_Experience.pdf. Once you have completed the paperwork and gathered the required documents, please come into the front office to meet with our registrar, Mrs. Mandy Belcher (abelcher@fcps.edu).
Alternatively, you can now choose to use our online registration tool https://www.fcps.edu/online-registration. If you choose the online option, you will then have to come into the office with the child’s original birth certificate, your proof of residence (deed/lease) and your ID.
Please note the Commonwealth of VA medical form (showing immunizations and physical exam) can be submitted at a later date, as long as we have this by August 15, 2025 at the latest.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Belcher.
Early registration is strongly encouraged.
Time to Order Your Yearbook
Get those Sharpies ready! It's time to close out another school year and look back on all of the memories from 2024-25. Order your yearbook today for $12 each. Yearbooks should be delivered in June with enough time to have classmates and friends sign them in the final days of this school year.
Join the BES PTA Board for 2025-26
Are you interested in joining the Belvedere PTA Board for the 2025-26 school year? If you are a current BES member, you can run! The PTA has officer positions for President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary and is also looking to add a Volunteer Coordinator position to the Executive Board for 2025-26. All four current Board members also intend to run again: https://www.belvederepta.org/membership-board
PTA Board members are expected to help promote PTA membership, attend planning meetings with school staff and other Board members and help lead and support PTA activities and events throughout the school year -- in addition to individual position duties.
If you're interested in running for a position, please send a note by May 30 to bespta.va@gmail.com and the Nominating Committee will be in touch. If you are added to the slate, you would be encouraged to attend -- either virtually or in person -- the June 4 community meeting where members will vote. Candidates will have an opportunity then to share brief remarks about why they are interested in a leadership position.
UPDATED – Save the Date: Jeni’s Ice Cream, June 5
Our last Restaurant Spirit Night of the school year will be held at Jeni’s Splendid ice Cream in Shirlington (4150 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA) on a rescheduled date of Thursday, June 5, from 4-7 p.m. Come after (or before!?) dinner, practice or just to celebrate summer being right around the corner. There will be a special Belvedere flavor too! Take-out or dine in – all orders from 4-7 p.m. will benefit the Belvedere PTA.
ISO: Boxes!
Belvedere teachers are preparing to pack up their classrooms for the summer and need our help! If you have any medium to large cardboard boxes, please drop them at the front office. Check with your neighbors or in your local Buy Nothing group to see if anyone has boxes to donate.
💪 Let's Finish the School Year Strong!
Student attendance at school is important all year long, up to the last day of school. Attendance has an effect on student performance and on school accreditation. See how to:
- Check your child’s attendance record.
- Help your student stay engaged at school.
- Report future absences.
- Understand the FCPS school calendar.
Learn more about attendance resources.
Phase 2 Community Boundary Review Meetings
Families, staff, and community members can explore and visualize potential boundary scenarios using a customized Boundary Explorer Tool. The tool will be accessible from the FCPS website. You are also invited to participate in another series of community meetings in order to review and reflect on the initial draft scenarios before the start of summer break:
- Friday, May 16, 6:30-8 p.m., Robinson Secondary School
- Monday, May 19, 6:30-8 p.m., Herndon High School
- Friday, May 23, 7-8:30 p.m., Lewis High School
- Wednesday, May 28, 7-8:30 p.m., Annandale High School
- Thursday, May 29, 6:30-8 p.m., Whitman Middle School
- Friday, May 30, 6:30-8 p.m., Chantilly High School
- Friday, June 6, 6:30–8 p.m., Glasgow Middle School
Each meeting will be hybrid, meaning that you may attend in person or via Zoom. Childcare for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed. Registration links will be shared soon. Another round of community meetings will be held in the fall.
Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review page for more information.
Protect Your Child from Measles: What You Need to Know
Measles cases continue to rise in the U.S. About 1 in 5 people who get measles end up in the hospital. Measles can cause severe complications like a lung infection (pneumonia), brain inflammation (encephalitis), and possibly death, even with medical care. Symptoms of measles typically include:
- High fever (may spike up to 104°F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- A rash that appears around 3-5 days after other symptoms begin. The rash typically starts on the face and spreads down the body.
The best way to protect a child from measles is by getting two doses of the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
If you are unsure of your child's vaccination status or your personal vaccination status, talk to your health care provider. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your health care provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources.
✅ Share Feedback With County Health Department on School Health Services
The Fairfax County Health Department and Fairfax County Public Schools School Health Services invite parents/caregivers of FCPS students to participate in a survey on satisfaction with school health room services. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and will be open until Monday, May 5.
School health rooms (clinics) are managed by public health nurses and school health aides. Those staff provide care for students who become sick or injured during the school day, who require medications during the school day, and/or who have a chronic health condition that requires management during the school day.
Additionally, the school health room staff:
- Provide health education, communicable disease prevention, and health screenings.
- Work with schools to help address the root causes of population health disparities so that all students have equitable access to educational and health opportunities.
- Ensure that students have care for minor injuries and illnesses, and chronic health conditions, thus helping to minimize health barriers to learning.
Survey results will provide a basis for quality improvement of school health room services as well as inform future planning for schools.
🌱 Your Child's Mental Wellness Matters: Access Comprehensive Services
Reach out to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for specialized youth mental health services designed to help your child succeed. The CSB has individual and family counseling, psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, parenting groups, peer support, crisis response, recovery supports to include medication assisted treatment (MAT), intensive services, and more.
Contact CSB Entry and Referral by calling 703-383-8500 or emailing csb@fairfaxcounty.gov.
📞 FCPS Ombuds Office Provides Confidential Guidance
The Office of the Ombuds engages with families, students, and staff to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help answer questions, offer options to resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters. Anyone seeking assistance from the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, text 571-496-8284, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit their webpage, where you may Submit a Question. Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
Parent Information Line Available in Eight Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow. We All Belong Here!
In FCPS, we all belong. From the first day of school, to the last day of school, every child matters. If your student is having a hard time finishing the year strong and attending school, please contact a trusted adult at our school — a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.
This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 19. Visit the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage to access the nomination information form.
Increasing Access to Middle School Algebra 1
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence places a focus on successful completion of Algebra 1 by eighth grade. To increase access to Algebra 1 for middle school students, the school division has decided to streamline the criteria for taking Algebra 1 Honors in seventh grade.
With the simplified criteria, Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) scores are no longer a prerequisite when selecting either Mathematics 7 Honors or Algebra 1 Honors. Although it is not a requirement for advanced math, families may still use the test scores to help decide which level of mathematics their child signs up for.
Families of students who took the IAAT this winter will receive their score report by the end of this month. Students who were scheduled for the IAAT but did not get to complete the test will have the chance to opt-in for a makeup test at the end of the year. Parents/caregivers will receive information about this makeup testing opportunity.
Additional information and copies of upcoming family communication can be found on the IAAT webpage.
Pre-K Program Accepting Applications for Fall
The FCPS PreK Program serves 3 and 4 year old students with a high quality, full-day preschool program with no cost to families at 78 Fairfax County elementary schools.
Students may qualify with a variety of economic or educational risk factors. Learn more about the Pre-K and Early Head Start Program by watching this video (English) or video (Spanish).
Spaces fill quickly, so complete an application online now or call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish) for more information.
🏫 Helping Your Child Prepare for Kindergarten
We recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Explore the resources on FCPS’ School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage for ways to help ensure your child starts kindergarten with confidence.
🍲 Food Assistance and Resource Guide
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Learn how to help these families and the many resources available to support those who need food assistance on Fairfax County’s website or view the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
If you need further assistance please contact either Jeffrey Hewitt, Social Worker, or Belvedere's Family Liaison, Iva Plazas.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Celebrating Students
- Stop Arms Issue Tickets
- Next Steps in Budget Process
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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/
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
People with ancestral roots in Asia and the islands of the Pacific have been integral to the story of America. In 1992, May was designated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate their heritage and contributions.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
Upcoming Dates
May 26 - Memorial Day Holiday
All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 26, for the Memorial Day holiday. Learn about the history of Memorial Day. See the complete school year calendar.
June 6 - Last Day of School
The last day of the school year is Wednesday, June 11, and students will be dismissed early. Check with your child's school for its individual dismissal time.
June 19 - Juneteenth (Holiday)
Wednesday, June 19, is a holiday for FCPS employees. Schools and offices will be closed.
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