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Our first graders had a memorable field trip to Lincoln’s Cottage, where they explored the power of ideas through the program In Lincoln’s Hat. Students learned how President Abraham Lincoln tucked important notes inside his famous stovepipe hat and used that creative habit as inspiration for their own thinking. After listening to the story Abe Lincoln’s Hat, they reflected on their own values and big ideas, then created a special place to keep their own powerful thoughts. It was a meaningful day filled with imagination, problem solving, and a little bit of presidential history.
Wednesday, March 4- PTA Community Meeting
Thursday, March 12- Spring Picture Day
Thursday, March 19- PTA Sponsored Belvedere Ballers
Friday, March 20- Eid al-Fitr - Division Closed
Saturday, March 21- Special Education Family Conference @ Marshall High School
Wednesday, March 25- 3 Hour Early Release Wednesday
Friday, March 27- 2 Hour Early Release and End of Quarter 3
Monday, March 30 - Friday, April 3 - Spring Break (Belvedere Offices Closed)
Monday, April 6 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
Thursday, April 9- Kindergarten Orientation
Friday, April 10 - School Planning Day - Student Holiday
Dear Belvedere Family,
What a full and exciting week we’ve had, even with a snow day on Monday! Classrooms have been buzzing with learning, and it’s been wonderful to see our students engaged and thriving.
Last night, our PTA hosted a Family Culture Night, and it was a fantastic event! Families enjoyed delicious food, great company, and wonderful performances from our students. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make it a memorable evening.
Looking ahead, our monthly PTA meeting will be held next Wednesday evening, March 4, at 6:30 PM. Families are welcome to join in person or via Zoom. We’d love to see you there!
Wishing you a relaxing weekend and hoping you enjoy the warmer temperatures.
Warm regards,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Tara Boone, Kelly Cabezas
Belvedere Elem Admin Team
 FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, living in Fairfax County.
- Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30 of the same year.
- Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from pregnancy to 2 years old.
Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible; space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications are accepted online, by email, by mail, or in person at the program office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.
If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
From February 18 to March 19, students who are fasting during the day can take school meals home. These kits include one breakfast and one lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.
Families must fill out a request form each week for every student who wants a kit. Please note important details below:
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Cost: Meals are charged just like a normal school day.
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Pickup: Students must grab their kits at the end of the school day.
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Menu: Kits include school meals that are easy to heat at home.
Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:
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March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
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March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026
Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.
Visit the Food and Nutrition webpage for forms, deadlines, and other information. Please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services with any questions at FCPSFNS@fcps.edu or 703-813-4800.
Parent Access to Schoology
Did you know that parents and guardians have access to our learning management system, Schoology?
Schoology is an online learning space that supports communication, collaboration, and personalized learning for students, teachers, and families.
Teachers use Schoology to:
- Post classroom materials and resources
- Provide a safe space for student discussion and collaboration
- Assign and collect work electronically
Schoology helps students stay organized and keeps classes connected.
What Can You See with a Parent Account?
With a Schoology Parent Account, you can access:
- Your child’s classes
- Assignments
- All Parent/Guardian Course
To get started, visit the Welcome FCPS Parents and Guardians to Schoology Page.
All Parent/Guardian Schoology Course
Schoology is more than just a place to check assignments. All parents and guardians are automatically enrolled in the All Parent and Guardian Schoology Course.
In this course, you will find:
- Helpful resources for navigating Schoology
- Information about FLE content
- Recordings and slides from our Parent Coffee information sessions
Be sure to explore this course to stay informed and connected throughout the school year.
Thinking Routines invite learners of any age to be close observers, organize their ideas, to reason carefully, and to reflect on how they are making sense of things. A Thinking Routine is a set of questions or a brief sequence of steps used to scaffold and support student thinking. Thinking Routines deepen students’ thinking and to help make that thinking “visible.” They are a big part of the work we do here at Belvedere in helping our students engage in new learning. Check out some examples of our students' Thinking Routines:
 Kindergarteners See, Think, and Wonder where people live today.
 3rd Graders use Parts, Purposes, Complexities to explore the Great Wall of China.
 Another class of 3rd Graders explore the Great Wall of China with Claim, Support, Question.
 4th Graders used Making Meaning to think deeply about techonology.
Special Education Family Conference
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, March 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Marshall High School. Families will have the opportunity to hear from internationally renowned educator and advocate, Dr. Shelley Moore, connect to resources and other families, and participate in afternoon sessions.
FCPS families are invited to register to attend this year’s conference. Childcare, accommodations, and language interpretation are available.
Families are also invited to register to serve as event volunteers by Friday, February 20. Volunteer hours will be awarded to student volunteers.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for updates and more details.
5th graders working with Ms. Walsh. Ms. Walsh is an expert at using different types of thinking routines to engage students and expand their learning.
Middle School Transition Fair
Planning for Life in and After High School for Students with IEPs
Families, caregivers, and educators of elementary and middle school students receiving special education services are invited to join Career and Transition Services (CTS) to learn about planning for life in and after high school.
The transition fair will take place on Wednesday, March 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Luther Jackson Middle School.
Ensuring the success of our students with disabilities after high school is dependent on what is known as transition planning. Please join CTS and other support service personnel for an evening focused on planning for the future.
An exhibitor fair will include teachers and representatives from CTS high school courses, career academies, age 18-22 programs, and transition services for students with disabilities. This event also includes a presentation with a brief overview of transition services and a student/parent panel sharing firsthand experiences. Register in advance.
Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students
Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp that allows current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open through Friday, June 5.
Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) is a weekly fine and performing arts camp for students in grades K-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students attend four daily classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts and work with experienced educators who create engaging, fun classes.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
 Our PTA sponsored Family Culture Night was a wonderful celebration of the many cultures that make up our Belvedere community. Families gathered to share traditional foods, music, dances, and crafts, creating a vibrant evening filled with learning and connection. From colorful displays and handmade projects to delicious dishes from around the world, the event highlighted the pride and diversity within our school. Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, talents, and traditions to make this special night such a success.
 DABS needed for March + April!
Calling all male caregivers - we need your support. Come brighten your child’s day volunteering as a Dad at Belvedere (DABs). DABs work in their student’s classroom, play on the playground and greet students at the kiss and ride line. It’s a fun-filled day that your children will never forget! Sign up today for March and April.
Can you Donate to the Spring Auction?
We are preparing for the Belvedere PTA Spring Auction - one of our biggest events of the year. Proceeds from this fundraiser help fund field trip buses, teacher appreciation support and community events like this week’s Family Culture Night.
Do you have a donation you can contribute to the auction? Let us know by emailing BelvederePTAauction@gmail.com.
Donations can range from:
- Tickets for events, shows, movies or experiences
- Complimentary lessons or discounts on lessons
- Unique gift baskets
- Restaurant and business gift cards
- Services for fitness, beauty, health and wellness
- Art
- Sports memorabilia
- And more! We love creative ideas
Want to help? We need volunteers NOW who can spare **60 minutes** to e-mail local businesses for donations. We'll give you the template and the contacts.
We are also looking for volunteers who would be willing to coordinate grade-level baskets for K-5. If you can help, please let us know by emailing BelvederePTAauction@gmail.com.
Save the Date: March 4 Community Meeting
The March Belvedere ES PTA community meeting is next Wednesday, March 4, starting at 6:30 pm. Meetings last 45 minutes and are offered in a hybrid format – both online and in person in the Belvedere front office.
The Zoom link will be shared via email to the BES Community. Everyone in the BES community is welcome! If you have a topic you would like us to address, please let us know at bespta.va@gmail.
Spanish translation is only available as part of the virtual format, so please join us via Zoom if you require Spanish support.
Upcoming PTA Events
March:
4 - Community Meeting @ BES
19 - Belvedere Ballers @ Glasgow Middle School
26 - Spirit Night, 2fifty BBQ (Food truck drop off)
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Dr. Reid’s Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
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Tuesday, March 3, at Waples Mill Elementary School.
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Tuesday, March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
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Monday, March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
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Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
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Monday, April 20, Westgate Elementary School.
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Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
FCPS This Week
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- The FCPS Budget
- School Safety
- Community Conversations
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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