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A Note from your BES Administration
Dear Families,
Welcome back to school, and happy 2026. We are excited to begin the second half of the school year and to welcome students back into the building. We look forward to the continued learning, growth, and connections that the coming months will bring.
We would like to share an important update regarding our Kiss and Ride procedures. Due to continued neighborhood concerns about drivers blocking residential driveways, the Police Department is working in partnership with the school to help us maintain a Kiss and Ride line that meets the needs of our community while also being respectful of our neighbors.
Please review the attached flyers, which will be distributed to all drivers in the Kiss and Ride line this coming Monday. Police officers will be present in the Kiss and Ride line beginning January 19 to issue warnings to drivers who are not following the established procedures. Ticketing will begin on February 2.
We appreciate your cooperation and support as we work together to ensure a safe, efficient, and neighbor-conscious arrival process for all. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
We are confident that, by working together, we can be successful.
Warm Regards,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Tara Boone, Kelly Cabezas
Belvedere Elem Admin Team
🚗Kiss and Ride Update Flyer
 
Survey of Preschool Children
Please complete the Survey of Preschool Children form if you have a child who will be 5 years of age as of September 30, 2026. You can access the form in multiple languages at this link: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/it112.pdf
Please complete and return the form to your local elementary school by March 31, 2026.
This will allow for FCPS to estimate the number of incoming kindergartners to plan for staffing and resource needs.
IB & AVID Parent and Student Info Night Presentation
On Thursday Night, January 8th, students and families from the Justice Pyramid had the opportunity to gather at Justice High School and learn more about the benefits IB and AVID offer our students. There was a brief presentation and then we heard from a panel of graduates who shared how both IB and AVID helped them prepare for their futures. It was truly inspiring to hear from them.
The event had a great turnout of BES families, both current and past, including two BES graduates who sat on the panel. If you were not able to make it, you can view the presentation slides here. Please reach out to our IB Coordinator, Margot Hwang, if you have questions about the presentation (mahwang@fcps.edu). We look forward to seeing you at a future pyramid event!
😷Healthy Habits to Reduce the Spread of Flu and Other Germs
Fairfax County is seeing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. Visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings.
Consider these tips from the Fairfax County Health Department to help reduce the spread of flu and other germs. .
Apply for Your Child to Learn in Two Languages
FCPS’ 2026-27 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program lottery opens on Monday, January 12. The program offers students in kindergarten and first grade the opportunity to learn in English and another language — French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish — for half of each instructional day.
The online, countywide lottery is open to Fairfax County residents. Families must have a SIS ParentVUE account. Students not currently enrolled in FCPS should register at their base school before applying for the immersion program.
Families applying for first grade must do so by Thursday, February 12, at 4 p.m. Those applying for kindergarten must do so by Monday, March 2, at 4 p.m.
Informational meetings will begin in January. View dates and details on the FCPS calendar. If you have questions, please contact Brigid Williams at 571-423-4600.
🧮ST Math Week
MIND Research, the organization behind ST Math, is hosting Family Math Week from January 12–16, 2026. During this week, students are encouraged to log in to the ST Math FCPS Family Math website (link coming out soon!) to participate in fun math activities with their families at home.
Family Math Week features engaging activities including stories with mathematical concepts connected to a variety of different math games from around the world! . All activities are available in English and Spanish, making it easy for families to learn and play together.
We encourage all families to join in as FCPS works toward a community goal of three million minutes of math engagement.
🏀Justice Basketball Youth Night
Justice High School will be hosting a youth night on Wednesday, January 14th for their Varsity Basketball Double Header.
5:30pm - Justice Boys vs. Osbourn HS
7:30pm – Justice Girls vs. Osbourn HS
All students’ 8th grade and under will have free entry when they arrive & attend WITH a paying adult. Entry is $7 for adults.
 
📆Rising 6th Grade Night
5th Grade Families save the date! The Rising 6th Grade Night will be Thursday, January 15th from 6-8 PM. Learn about middle school schedules and programs, Parent Vue, course selection, and more. Transportation will be provided from Baileys Lower, Skyline & Wilston Community Center. For more information please call 703-813-8740
 
A Message from Belvedere Attendance Committee
Keep Your Child Healthy and in School!
A regular attendance routine is important for your child’s well-being,
learning and long-term success. Below are tips to keep your child
healthy and avoid unnecessary absences from school.
🥣😴🏃♂️➡️Nutrition, Sleep and Exercise
- Ensure your child eats a good breakfast every morning or check if your school serves breakfast.
- Maintain a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Keep screens out of the bedroom and limit use prior to bedtime.
- Encourage your child to stay active for at least 60 minutes a day.
🪥Hygiene
- Stress hand washing, particularly before eating, and after using the restroom.
- Remind your child to brush their teeth twice a day.
- Avoid close contact with individuals who are sick. Don’t share cups, utensils, hair brushes or combs.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough/sneeze into an elbow.
🦺Safety
- Make sure your child wears a seatbelt and/or appropriate car seats during car rides and a helmet when using a bike, skateboard or scooter.
- If your child walks to school, help them find a safe route to school and to travel with at least one friend. Have a backup plan in case of bad weather.
💻 Action Required! Update Your Permission for Google Tools
Google recently made changes to how educational applications are managed and accessed on the Chrome Browser and Chromebooks. Many applications are moving from the Chrome Web Store to the Google Play Store.
To ensure your student(s) can continue accessing all approved instructional tools, FCPS has updated its digital consent platform to include both the Chrome Web Store and the Google Play Store.
Please review and provide your consent for these two new options through our easy-to-use Parent Digital Consent system:
- Additional Google Services – Chrome Web Store
- Additional Google Services – Google Play Store
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting safe and effective digital learning experiences for all students.
For questions or support, please visit FCPS’ Family Technology Resources page or open a ticket with our Technical Support desk.
💰Follow Our Budget Process
Encourage your neighbors, friends, and community members to follow the FCPS budget process and look for opportunities to share your ideas about funding public education. Key decision dates and engagement opportunities are coming up in the next few weeks:
- The Fairfax County delegation to the General Assembly will hold a public hearing regarding the upcoming 2026 session on Saturday, January 10, at 9 a.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center.
Fairfax County residents can sign up in advance to speak at the hearing online or contact the Department of Clerk Services at 703-324-3151, TTY 711, by Thursday, January 8, at noon.
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Thursday, January 22, Dr. Reid will present the proposed budget to the School Board.
Visit our budget webpage for more information.
📰FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- The FCPS Budget Process
- Course Selection
- Language Immersion Lottery
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
 Join the January Community Meeting Next Wednesday
The first PTA community meeting of 2026 will be held Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 6:30 pm. Meetings last 45 minutes and are offered in a hybrid format – both online and in person in the Belvedere cafeteria. A virtual link will be shared with the BES community before the meeting date if you prefer to meet remotely. Spanish interpretation offered!
🌮Taco ‘Bout a Perfect Thursday - BES @ Taco Zocalo Jan. 15
Back by popular demand – the next Restaurant Spirit Night will be held at Taco Zocalo's location in Barcroft Plaza (6343-D Columbia Pike, Falls Church) next Thursday, Jan. 15, from 3-9 p.m.
ALL dinner orders – including to-go, online and dine-in -- will support the PTA. Take a look at their tasty menu and share the news with your neighborhood. Be sure to mention "Belvedere ES" when you place your order in the store or write it in the notes section for online orders.
Call for Volunteers + Donations: VIP + Me
Join us for VIP & Me on Jan. 21 and 22 when BES students are invited to bring the most special people in their lives to have breakfast with them before the school day starts. We are looking for volunteers to help set-up and clean-up as part of these events. You will need to be available to be at school from 7:30-9:30 a.m. on one (or both) of the days to help with setting out food and cleaning up after the event. Your students can come with you and then head to class. This is a great opportunity for families to come to school and wish their students well as we start the new year! Active time is 8:15-9 a.m. We are also looking for donations for the breakfast including fruit, pastries, yogurt, juice and other continental breakfast items. Sign up today for K-2 donations and grades 3-5 donations and volunteer opportunities.
Upcoming PTA Events
January:
14 - January Community Meeting ** New Date!**
15 - Restaurant Spirit Night, Taco Zocalo (Taco Zocalo, 6343-D Columbia Pike, Falls Church), 3-9 p.m. 21 - VIP & Me, K-2, 8:15-8:50a
22 - VIP & Me, Grades 3-5, 8:15-8:50a
February:
2-12 - Purse Fundraiser
5 - Movie Night @ BES (TBD)
26- Family Culture Night @ BES
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