Dear Belle View Families,
This week’s newsletter is coming to you a day early, as there will be no school tomorrow in observance of Eid. We hope all who celebrate have a joyful and meaningful holiday!
What a wonky week it has been—from tornado warnings to bright, sunny skies! Despite the unpredictable weather, it has been full of excitement here at school. Our kindergarten classes had a wonderful time with a special visit from some mischievous leprechauns, bringing lots of smiles and laughter. We also welcomed back a former Bobcat, Dr. Susana Lopez, who delivered an engaging dental hygiene presentation to all students. Dr. Lopez, a 2005 Belle View graduate, went on to attend West Potomac High School, George Washington University, and the Tufts School of Dentistry, and now owns Sparkle Orthodontics in Old Town. Our students learned so much from her visit, and we always love celebrating the accomplishments of our alumni!
Looking ahead, next week marks the end of Quarter 3. Students will be dismissed two hours early on Friday, March 27 at 1:55 PM to allow for end-of-quarter planning and to kick off Spring Break. Spring Break will run from March 30 through April 5, followed by a teacher workday on Monday, April 6. We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, April 7, refreshed and ready for the final stretch of the school year!
Have a great long weekend, and I will see you around the View! 🐾
Principal Pluntke
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🍎📚😎SAVE THE DATE!!!
Kindergarten Orientation is right around the corner.
Wednesday, April 15th at 9:30 AM in our library.
Join us for a brief overview of the registration process, a sneak peek of a day in the life of a kindergartener, and time for Q and A with our kinder team.
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Countdown to Kindergarten: Supporting a Smooth Transition
Is your child heading to kindergarten this fall? Join FCPS staff for Countdown to Kindergarten, a virtual event designed to help families prepare for this exciting transition! The webinar will take place on Friday, March 27, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
During this webinar, families will learn practical tips and essential information to support their child's smooth and successful start to kindergarten in Fairfax County Public Schools. Register to receive the event link.
Kindergarten Registration
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment (the student and one caregiver must be present).
Read more about the registration process.
 Basketball camp for 5th and 6th grade students hosted at West Potomac High School.
Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Volunteers Needed
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, at Marshall High School. During this no-cost, in-person event, families will have the opportunity to hear a keynote address 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 an event volunteer by Thursday, March 19. Volunteer hours will be awarded to student volunteers.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for updates and more details.
 Join us for a military connected breakfast!
Montessori Program: 2026-27 Lottery Application Now Open
The West Potomac Pyramid Montessori Program at Bucknell ES is now accepting applications for Pre-K and Kindergarten for the 2026-27 school year.
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The Approach: Multi-age classrooms focused on discovery, independence, and hands-on learning.
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No Tuition: New PreK students will attend tuition-free for the 2026-27 school year.
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Key Dates: The lottery is now open. Apply by March 20 for initial consideration.
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Eligibility: Open to eligible students living in the West Potomac Pyramid.
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Information Sessions and Tours for New Families: Sign up through the webpage for available info sessions and tours this month.
Explore the program and apply today at www.fcps.edu/montessori.
Questions? Email Montessori@fcps.edu.
CALENDER CHANGE! April Statewide Election: No School for Students
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
Fairfax County Public Schools will still exceed the required number of instructional hours for students, as set by the Virginia Department of Education.
We Want Your Feedback! Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Questionnaire
On Monday, April 6, parents and guardians of [School Name] will receive an email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and provides an opportunity to share anonymous feedback about our school’s leadership and environment.
Topics covered in the survey include:
✅ Instructional leadership
✅ School climate
✅ Management (human resources and organizational)
✅ Communication and community relations
✅ Culturally responsive and equitable leadership
✅ Professionalism
The questionnaire will be open April 6 - April 19 and will be collected online. When you receive the email from noreply@fcps.edu, please take a few minutes to complete it. Your input is valuable and helps shape the future of our school. Thank you for your time and feedback!
Phones Off, Learning On
FCPS’ cell phone policy helps students focus, learn, and engage. When students put their phones away, they have more face-to-face interactions with their peers and teachers and more opportunities to develop resilience and problem-solving skills. Please remind your child that:
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Cell phones and personal devices (earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).
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Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.
If you need to contact your child during the school day, please call our front office at 703-660-8300. Visit our cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9
FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Your feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools.
Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment.
- Communication.
- Student success.
- Advocacy.
- Family and school partnerships.
- Community partnerships.
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers will receive a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her 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 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, at 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.
Early Release Wednesdays for the 2025-2026 school year. Belle View students will be dismissed at 12:55. Students will go home their usual way. SACC is open for those registered for afternoon SACC.
Please contact the administration if you have a childcare hardship.
Countdown to Kindergarten Friday, March 27th from 10-11:30 a.m. Where: Virtual Who: All Families This virtual Fairfax County Public Schools event is designed to help families prepare for this exciting transition. During this webinar, families will learn practical tips and essential information to support a smooth and successful start to kindergarten in FCPS. Register Here
Friends of the Martha Washington Library Book Sale Friday, March 27th to Saturday, March 28th from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Where: Martha Washington Library Who: All Families Browse the large selection of books and media for all ages and interests! Proceeds benefit the Martha Washington Library and related activities.
Spring Break…Ready, Set, Go! Monday, March 30th from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Where: Sherwood Regional Library Who: Ages 2-10 Speed into Spring Break with a toy car race! Bring your own or borrow one of Sherwood's fastest toy vehicles. No registration required.
Spring Break Movie Matinee: Dog Man Wednesday, April 1st from 3-5:00 p.m. Where: Sherwood Regional Library Who: All ages Watch Dog Man (2025) and enjoy light refreshments in the meeting room. Dog Man is rated PG. For children and families. Registration is not required, but you may do so below to receive a reminder about the event.
Spring Break Movie Matinee: Zootopia 2 Thursday, April 2nd from 2-3:30 p.m. Where: Martha Washington Library Who: All ages Bring the whole family for a movie at the library. The library will be showing “Zootopia 2" rated PG.
FCPS Special Education Family Conference Saturday, April 18th from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Where: George C. Marshall High School, 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043 Who: Families and Caregivers FCPS is pleased to announce the 2026 Special Education Family Conference - Stronger Together: Connecting Families & Schools. This no-cost, in-person event is hosted by Fairfax County Public Schools in collaboration with a host of internal and external community partners. Families will have the opportunity to hear a keynote address from internationally renowned educator and advocate, Dr. Shelley Moore. Following lunch, families will be able to connect with resources and community organizations available in the vendor hall and participate in breakout sessions. Register Here
Military Family Field Day Saturday, April 18th from 12-2:00 p.m. Where: Annandale High School, 4700 Medford Dr, Annandale, VA 22003 Who: Military Connected Families FCPS is excited to celebrate the Month of the Military Child with a good, old-fashioned field day! We invite all military-connected families with FCPS students to a special field day to honor our military-connected children. Join us for an afternoon of fun and community at Annandale High School on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 12 - 2 p.m. Head to the football and track stadium to play games and create crafts while food and beverages will be available for purchase to support various FCPS school clubs and organizations. Please contact Katie Server at kaserver@fcps.edu with any questions. Register Here by Friday, March 27th
Month of the Military Child & Military Families Appreciation Breakfast Wednesday, April 22nd from 9:30-10 a.m. Where: Belle View ES Cafeteria Who: Military Connected Families Come join us as Belle View ES is hosting a Month of the Military Child & Military Families Appreciation Breakfast to recognize all the children and military-connected families in our Bobcat community! RSVP by Monday, April 20th to Mrs. Bartolome via email (rcbartolome@fcps.edu) or Talking Points.
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) 2025-26 School Year: October to May - Open Now! Where: In-person Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) partners with parents to prepare their children for success in school. Adult family members of 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds meet with their instructor for 1 hour each week to learn more about instructing their children at home.
For more information, please complete the interest form.
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) colabora con los padres para preparar a sus hijos para que tengan éxito en la escuela. Los padres o tutores de niños de 2, 3 y 4 años se reúnen con una instructora durante 1 hora cada semana para aprender más sobre cómo instruir a sus hijos en casa. Año escolar 2025-26: octubre-mayo – ¡INSCRIPCION ABIERTA
Para más información, complete la forma de interes.
Inova Cares for Families Who: All Ages Providing primary care for all ages, including Medicaid, FAMIS, financial assistance, and uninsured patients. Please call the clinic to schedule an initial well-adult or well-child visit. Locations:
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Mount Vernon 8101 Hinson Farm Rd., Suite 415 Alexandria, VA 22306 Phone: 703.664.7005 Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Alexandria 4700 King Street, Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22302 Phone: 571.665-6599 Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
 Pages of Possibility is a student-led literacy event sponsored by students at West Potomac High School.
All three Kindergarten classes recently engaged in a Socratic Seminar about their social studies unit on Being an Ethical and Global Citizen. Students discussed the importance of rules, and how and why rules may be different at home, school and in different settings. Students also talked about the rules that adults have to follow, and if all rules are good rules. Students practiced respectfully agreeing and disagreeing with one another, and worked on adding details and examples to support their thinking.
Socratic Seminar is part of the AAP curriculum and is a rigorous opportunity for students to engage in a formal discussion based on a shared topic. Socratic Seminar improves comprehension and challenges students to engage in thoughtful dialogue to foster critical thinking. The seminar includes a lively discussion around open-ended questions that leads to a deeper understanding of issues, themes and ideas. Our Kindergarteners did a great job during their first Socratic Seminar, and they participated in the ‘grown up’ conversation without raising their hands!
 Kindergarten studnts participate in Socratic Seminar.
Have a question? Want to share your students' success? Click Here
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Parents, Families, and Teachers can join today!!
$11 for Individuals/$20 for a Family
Join Today!
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March 17th-Virtual Special Education Night-6 pm (link provided in flyer above).
March 20th-No School-Eid-al-Fitr
March 25th- 3 Hour Early Release
April 15th-Kindergarten Orientation 9:30 in the library
April 21st-No School/Special Election
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Quick Links
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