From the School Administration
Dear Belvedere Family,
We’re excited to share some wonderful updates from this week!
The bulk of our SOL retakes are now complete, and we are proud to report that our students performed well. This success is a true reflection of their hard work and resilience—as well as your continued support at home. Thank you for all you’ve done to help them achieve their best!
We also want to give a special shout-out to our 5th grade students and Mr. Norm Dietz, band director, for an outstanding performance at the band concert. Their teamwork, coordination, and talent were on full display. It was a joy to see families enjoying the evening and celebrating this milestone in their musical journey.
This morning’s Volunteer Breakfast was a great success! A heartfelt thank you to our amazing PTA for providing breakfast items, and to all the volunteers who joined us. It was a lovely way to connect and reflect on the many ways our community has come together this year.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to invite you to our school Exhibition next Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This is a special opportunity to see our 5th grade students present their culminating IB-PYP projects—an impressive demonstration of inquiry, research, and personal growth. We hope you can join us!
Wishing you a restful and enjoyable weekend.
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.
Jump Into June: Spirit Month at Belvedere!
🏥 A Note from the Clinic! 🏥
As we wrap up another amazing school year, it's time to clean out the clinic! If your student has medication stored at school, please plan to pick it up before 10:00 AM on the last day of school, June 11—even if they’ll be back next year.
The clinic will be open from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, but all medications must be picked up by 10:00 AM on the last day (Wednesday, June 11). Any leftover medications will need to be disposed of per district policy.
Thanks for helping us keep our clinic clean and ready for another great year! 💊🎒😊
Don’t Let the Books Take a Summer Vacation! Return Library Books by May 27!
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.
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.
Last Chance to Order Your Yearbook
Today is your last day to order a 2024-25 BES Yearbook. Order today for $12 each. Yearbooks will be distributed next week so classmates and friends have time to sign them in the final days of this school year.
Final Community Meeting + Elections – Wednesday, June 4
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 TODAY 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. The final community meeting of the school year will start at 6:30 p.m. and last about an hour. We will also look back on the activities this year, discuss end-of-year events and vote!
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 next Wednesday via News You Choose.
Save Room for Ice Cream on 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 sales from 4-7 p.m. will benefit the PTA.
Final Popsicles on the Playground of the Year: June 11
Caregivers can bring students to the Belvedere playground after the last day of classes to enjoy popsicles – provided by the PTA – and have a little more time to sign yearbooks with friends. School will be dismissed two hours early on June 11 at 2:05 p.m. All students must have a caregiver with them to attend; family members are welcome!
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.
School Board Unanimously Adopts the FCPS 2025-26 Budget
The Fairfax County School Board unanimously adopted the FCPS Fiscal Year 2025-26 Approved Budget. Facing years of chronic underfunding, the final budget required $121 million in reductions to the needs-based budget that was carefully developed with the FCPS community’s high expectations in mind. While these cuts and reductions will impact our classes, the school division will continue to do what is necessary to provide a world-class education for every student. Read more about the budget in this news release.
Phase 2 Community Boundary Review Meetings
You are invited to participate in community meetings to review and reflect on the initial draft boundary scenarios before the start of summer break:
Click the date to register. Each meeting will be hybrid, meaning that you may attend in person or via Zoom. Child care for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed. Another round of community meetings will be held in the fall.
Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review page for more information.
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.
Limited Early Release Days Continue Next Year
During a report to the School Board this month, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid announced plans to continue limited early release days in elementary schools and shift them to Wednesdays for the 2025-26 school year. This plan is based on recommendations from the Early Release Steering Committee. The committee includes parents, caregivers, school-based staff, and central office personnel. Read more about the reasons for early release and the proposed early release dates.
🥗 Don’t Forget to Check Your Student’s Lunch Balance!
As we approach the end of the school year, it is important to remember to check your students’ MySchoolBucks account and pay any remaining school meal balance.
Families that earn less than 185% of poverty level qualify for free and reduced-price meals. However, an application must be completed and submitted each school year to receive that benefit. The application for the 2025-26 school year will be available this summer.
If families have a current balance and think they may be eligible for free and reduced-price meals, please fill out the FRM application for the 2024-25 school year. Get more information about free and reduced-price meals.
Student Testing Results Coming Soon
Throughout May and June, you will receive your child’s spring assessment results. If you aren’t sure what assessments your child took this year, there is a list of tests by grade level on the FCPS website.
How the results are delivered depends on the test. Scores will be delivered in SIS ParentVUE or from the school or testing organization. Learn what to expect regarding assessment reporting practices and timelines.
Visit FCPS’ website for additional information about how test results are reported to families. Individual test websites provide report translations and help for interpreting test results. Please contact us with any testing questions or for additional information about how we use test results to support student success.
Support Your Child’s Success in SIS ParentVUE
Signing up for a SIS ParentVUE account helps you to support your child’s academic success! Caregivers can view important information like attendance, grades, progress reports, and assessment scores through ParentVUE.
Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. A SIS ParentVUE app is available for Apple and Android devices.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVue account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
If you already have an account, be sure your contact information is up-to-date. Parents/guardians can update their phone numbers or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section. Find more information and an FAQ online.
🌱 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.
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.
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.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- School Board Adopts Next Year’s Budget
- Mental Health and Wellness Supports
- Bookmark FCPS’ 2025-26 School Year Calendar
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/
LGBTQIA+ Pride Month.
In the month of June, we recognize the resilience and determination of the many individuals who are fighting to live freely and authentically. We stand with those facing an ongoing struggle against discrimination and injustice. This Pride Month, we reaffirm and uphold the dignity of LGBTQIA+ people. Each individual in our school community should feel valued for who they are. Visit our LGBTQIA+ Student Resources and Supports webpage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
Caribbean American Heritage Month
FCPS celebrates the rich diversity and honors the many contributions of immigrants of Caribbean heritage to our nation during the month of June. Caribbean individuals are some of the most ethnically diverse in the world. There are more than 8.5 million individuals in the United States born in the Caribbean or of Caribbean ancestry. Learn more about Caribbean American Heritage Month.
Upcoming Dates
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Eid al-Adha: Evening-Only Observance Day
Eid al-Adha begins at sundown on Friday, June 6. This day is an evening-only observance day. There is school on these days, but certain activities that cannot be made up can not take place after school. See the complete school year calendar.Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact their student’s principal regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.
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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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