Fort Belvoir Upper News
End of Semester:
March 20 - Holiday (Eid)
March 27 - Quarter end 2 Hr Early Dismissal
March 30-April 6 - Spring Break
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Last week’s Dolphin Splash was filled with fun, excitement, and plenty of dancing! Students had a wonderful time celebrating with their families and friends, enjoying music, movement, and the opportunity to connect with one another in a joyful environment.
Events like Dolphin Splash help us continue building a culture of belonging within our school community. When students have opportunities to come together, celebrate, and create positive memories, it strengthens their connection to school and to each other. Feeling welcomed, valued, and included helps students grow in confidence and engagement both inside and outside the classroom.
Thank you to all the families who joined us and helped make the evening such a success. Your presence and support play an important role in fostering a school community where every student feels that they truly belong.
We look forward to many more moments of connection, celebration, and school spirit throughout the year!
💜 Save the Date: Purple Up! Clap-In
April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize and celebrate the resilience and sacrifices of our youngest heroes. To show our support, we are hosting a special Purple Up! Clap-in event, and we want you to be a part of it!
Please join us as we line the entrance to cheer and celebrate our students as they arrive for the school day.
📅 Event Details
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When: Wednesday, April 15, 2026
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Time: 8:55 am – 9:20 am
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Who: All families are invited to attend!
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What to Wear: Your favorite purple attire to show your support.
🎒 Why We "Purple Up"
Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is a combination of Army green, Marine red, and Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard blue. By wearing purple and joining our "Clap-in," we let our military-connected students know that their community stands behind them.
Honoring Our Youngest Heroes: Help us start their day with a round of applause and a lot of heart!
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New Visitor Management System We are excited to announce that our school is now using the new Raptor Visitor Management System (VMS). This upgrade is part of our school’s and FCPS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining the process for visitors at our school. The VMS ensures that no visitor is on the sex offender registry.
For most visitors, the user experience will be the same when you check-in at the front office.
But now there is also an app, which can make check-in’s even faster at school. Visitors who choose to download the RaptorSafe App and create a Raptor Passport can pre-verify their information before they get to school. The app will give you a QR code you can use when you check-in at school.
If you have questions or need assistance with the new system, please contact our front office. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe!
Fort Belvoir Upper and Primary Families,
Join us at the Primary School on March 18th from 5:30-7:30 for our annual STEAM FAIR! We'll have our Community Partners here with fun STEAM activities, games, and demonstrations. Night Vision, The Army Museum, ASNE, AFCEA, Fairfax Waterworks, and more!
The PTA will have food and soft drinks for sale in the cafeteria. The Kids Lab Showcase will have even more fun displays and activities to show you what our Kids Lab students have been learning in class!
Register for an evening of family fun at: https://forms.gle/h7CrmxdT3tpUAvtz5
- Please join F.B.E.S. Family Liaisons for the Parent Talk Café on March 24 at 10:00-10:45 at the PX Starbucks.
- School Head Nurse, Mrs. Grealish, will explain how stress can show up physically and offer tips to help support your child.
- Open discussion about your concerns and ideas.
- Meet the Family Ambassadors, P.T.A., and other families!
- It’s PCS season! We want to help you prepare for your move, so your child’s transition to their next school is a little easier. FCPS Family & School Partnerships staff and Fort Belvoir School Liaison Officers (SLOs) will explain:
- How to withdraw from FCPS
- How to obtain unofficial student records from your current school
- How to connect with the SLO at your next duty station
Virtual Meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 from 6:00-7:00 PM Register at https://shorturl.at/4Kx41
FCPS PreK and Early Head Start is now accepting applications for School Year 2026-27!
We are High Quality Early Childhood Program for eligible families. PreK is a full day M-F program that prioritizes children 4-year-old by September 30 but also accept applications for children 3- year-old by September 30th. Spaces are limited.
Learn More and Apply
March 24 (11am-2pm) at Fort Belvoir Primary
To Apply In-person please bring:
-Child’s birth certificate
-Address Verification Letter
-Proof of Income (2025 taxes, W2 or 1-month paystubs)
For more information or to apply online scan QR code
Visit our website – www.fcps.edu/PreK
Call PreK Office-English: 703-208-7900 Spanish: 703-208-7901
Email- fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu
We are excited to share information about our Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) — a dynamic summer enrichment program serving students currently in grades K–5. Students currently in grade 6 are eligible for our secondary program, Institute for the Arts (IFTA).
Our programs offer students daily experiences in Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance in a fun, supportive environment designed to nurture creativity and confidence. To ensure access for all families, we provide:
- Tuition assistance
- Transportation
- After care options
We would greatly appreciate your help sharing this opportunity with families in your school community. Flyers for all programs — including translated versions — are available here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qX_RLDLyI5_U81c3kF34ZbR87G98KG3O?usp=drive_link
Please feel free to print, post, include in newsletters, send home in folders, or share digitally with families.
Thank you for helping us expand access to high-quality arts experiences for our elementary students. We are grateful for your partnership!
Spark Your Future at the CTE Summer Academy!
Is your student ready to build, create, and explore this summer? Registration is now officially OPEN for the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) CTE Summer Academy!
This enrichment program is a fantastic way for students to dive into Career and Technical Education through hands-on learning. Whether they want to program a robot, cook a gourmet meal, or learn the basics of medical science, there is something for everyone.
📅 The Essentials
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Who: Current 6th to 11th graders.
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When: Weekly sessions from July 6 to July 31.
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Time: 8:30 am – 2:00 pm (Early drop-off and After Care available!).
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Where: Robinson Secondary School.
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Cost: $300 per week (Tuition assistance is available—check the website for details).
🛠️ What Can Students Do?
Students get to be the architects of their own summer! Each week, they create a unique schedule by selecting 4 classes from a wide variety of program areas, including:
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Business + Information Technology
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Health + Medical Sciences
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Technology + Engineering Education
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Family + Consumer Sciences
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Trade + Industrial Education
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Marketing
Note: Classes repeat each week, so students attending multiple weeks can choose different subjects every time!
The F.B.E.S. Family Food Market’s new location is at F.B.E.S. Upper School! Starting March 12 from *Noon-3:00 PM you can get fresh fruits and vegetables, a protein, and non-perishables at no cost to Primary and Upper families and Ft. Belvoir Homeschoolers. Mark your calendar for market dates: March 12, April 9, May 14, and June 11 from Noon-3:00 PM. The opening time may change due to our protein temperature requirement.
We desperately need volunteers to help unload the truck (arrival time between 8:00-10:00 AM) and with help takes about 15-20 minutes. A parent suggested we call volunteers when the truck arrives, so you don’t have to commit to two hours of waiting. I’m happy to do so! Please contact Dolores Elliott DElliott@fcps.edu or call 571-982-1419 for more info.
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.
When Should Your Child Stay Home?
Help your student succeed in school by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. Visit the FCPS website for helpful insights regarding absences and how to work with your child and our school to minimize impacts on learning.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to let us know so we can provide assistance, if needed.
- Meal Accommodations Provide Safe, Nutritious Meals
FCPS’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) works to ensure every student has access to school meals that are safe, nutritious, and meet their individual dietary needs.
FNS works closely with families to provide reasonable meal accommodations for students whose medical needs affect what they can eat at school. To support students appropriately and safely, families are asked to submit medical documentation to FNS from a U.S. licensed health care provider so we can tailor meals to each child’s needs.
Learn more about the documentation required and the steps to develop a menu for your child.
Did you know Fort Belvoir Elementary has dedicated Family Liaisons to help you and your family connect with the school?
Fort Belvoir Upper Volunteers
Beginning January 12th, all Upper volunteers will need to check-in on the visitor's kiosk and sign-in using the Volunteer Log Book located in the blue basket. We appreciate your support and time!
Blue Star Welcome Coffee
If you're a military family, join the Liaisons for a Blue Star Welcome Coffee! It's a relaxed way to meet new families, share your ideas, and discuss topics that matter to you. All families are invited!
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Where: PX Starbucks
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When: 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM
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Upcoming Dates: March 24, April 21, and May 19.
New Family Orientations
New to Fort Belvoir Elementary (FBES) or FCPS? We host monthly New Family orientations to help you learn the ropes. If you need help with school apps like ParentVue, Schoology, or MySchoolBucks, stop by or call!
PCSing? We're Here for You!
If your family is moving or PCSing, the Liaisons can support you by:
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Providing new school district Points of Contact.
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Reaching out to the community for resources.
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Connecting you to Military Family Life Counselors (MFLCs).
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Setting up a virtual meeting.
Don't hesitate to reach out to Dolores or Jeannette!
Apply for free & reduced meals at: https://www.fcps.edu/frm.
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Dear Parents,
Please be sure to make childcare arrangements on our early dismissal Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. each month! 😊
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