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Thanks to our fabulous PTO Belvedere Ballers was a smashing success! Check out some action footage on our Instagram page and be sure to watch our Belvedere Ballers Reel!
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
Wednesday, April 15- Full-Time AAP Services Orientation
Saturday, April 18- Special Education Family Conference @ Marshall High School
Tuesday, April 21- Special Election- Student Holiday
Wednesday, April 22- Chorus Concert
Tuesday, April 28- Strings Concert
Dear Belvedere Family,
What a wonderful week we have had! We packed so much into just a few days!
Our kindergarten students did an amazing job presenting their museums. It was such a joy to see our youngest learners confidently sharing their knowledge with peers and adults. Belvedere Ballers brought plenty of energy and excitement, and the kids clearly had a blast. The Justice Pyramid Art Show was also a great success, showcasing the many talented artists in our school. In second grade, students and families enjoyed a cultural feast filled with delicious food, beautiful attire, and meaningful celebration.
A heartfelt thank you to SCA for organizing such a fun Spirit Week. Your efforts helped create excitement, connection, and school pride for our community.
And now, we have arrived at spring break! I know everyone is ready for a well-deserved week to rest, recharge, and enjoy time doing whatever fills your cup, whether that means relaxing, traveling, spending time with loved ones, or simply slowing down.
Enjoy every moment of spring break!
Cecilia Vanderhye, Tara Boone, Kelly Cabezas
Belvedere Elem Admin Team
SOLs are coming up in May for 3rd-5th graders! Our fantastic Resource Teachers gave a presentation on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the upcoming assessments. Check out the Parent Coffee Recap for more info. Please take time to review the Testing Calendar to know when your child is scheduled to be assessed.
- Tuesday, May 5th- 5th Grade Reading
- Wednesday, May 6th- 4th Grade Reading
- Thursday, May 7th- 3rd Grade Reading
- Tuesday, May 12th- 5th Grade Math
- Wednesday, May 13th- 4th Grade Math
- Thursday, May 14th- 3rd Grade Math
- Monday, May 18th- 5th Grade Science
Cait Fiocchi, Jess Potter, and Shea Hopkins welcomed many parents on Wednesday morning to present on Supporting Your Child with SOL Testing. MAny valuable questions were asked and answered. You can watch a video of the presentation and get access to the presentation slides on the All Parent/Guardian Schoology Page.
Not sure how to get to Schoology? Check out the FCPS Schoology Info Page and learn how to log in.
 Step 1 go to All Parents/Guardians Course.
Step 2 Click on Parent Coffees.
Step 3 Click on 3/25/26 Supporting your child with SOL Testing.
Selecting the top resource brings you to the slides presentation.
Selecting the bottom link takes you to the presentation video. Click on the link again at the top of the grey box.
We are so excited to welcome your child to Belvedere Elementary! We hope to see parents and rising kindergarten students at our Kindergarten Orientation on Thursday, April 9 at 6:00pm-7:30pm in the Cafeteria. Registration is open and we encourage you to register your child prior to April 9th.
Please contact Mandy Belcher at 703-916-6804 or at abelcher@fcps.eduIf you have any questions.
Date: Thursday, April 9th 2026
Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Where: Belvedere ES Cafeteria.
Tuesday, April 21, is now a teacher workday and staff development day because of a recently announced special election that will impact all FCPS schools.
Students will now have a traditional full day of instruction and be released at the regular dismissal time on April 22 and April 29, which were previously early release Wednesdays for elementary schools.
This adjustment allows our staff to still have dedicated time for planning, collaboration, and professional learning without reducing instructional time on other school days.Read Dr. Reid’s letter to elementary parents for more details.
The energy in our Kindergarten classrooms has been incredible! In February, students began their Primary Years Programme (PYP) unit, Where We Are in Place and Time, diving into an inquiry about history, culture, and how people live and change over time.
Through exploring timelines, artifacts, and classroom discussions, students investigated the connections between the past and present. Their curiosity quickly grew, and so did their excitement to learn more. Students eagerly shared their ideas, asked thoughtful questions, and took pride in contributing to class displays and projects.
As their engagement deepened, students’ curiosity about Powhatan life in the 17th century naturally grew into a desire to share what they were learning with others. Teachers recognized this excitement and supported students in turning their interests into meaningful, authentic exhibition experiences.
- Mrs. Wille’s class explored toys and tools, creating a museum to teach others about daily life.
- Mrs. Symolon’s class focused on food, learning how it was cooked and preserved.
- Mrs. M&M’s class built a Yehakin to demonstrate what homes were like during that time.
Students created detailed replicas of artifacts and confidently presented their learning, answering questions and teaching others about Powhatan life. It was inspiring to see their knowledge, creativity, and confidence on display.
This work is a powerful example of the meaningful, student-centered learning happening every day at Belvedere through the Primary Years Programme.
Our 2nd Grade Family Culture Feast was a truly memorable celebration of learning, community, and identity!
In the weeks leading up to the event, students explored their heritage and family traditions, diving into meaningful conversations about culture, history, and what makes each of us unique. They proudly created posters to showcase their learning, highlighting important aspects of their backgrounds and the stories that shape who they are.
The celebration came to life as families joined us, transforming our space into a vibrant gathering filled with sharing, storytelling, and incredible cultural foods. Students had the opportunity to teach others about their traditions, while also learning from their classmates and families. The sense of pride and excitement was evident in every conversation, display, and dish.
Moments like these remind us of the power of connection and the importance of honoring the diverse experiences within our school community. It was a joyful, meaningful event that brought everyone together in the best way
Check out our Instagram Reel to see even more!
Belvedere was proudly represented at the Justice Pyramid Art Show, where artwork from 103 of our talented student artists was on display. We are incredibly proud of their creativity and hard work, which truly showcased the strength of our school’s art program. We are also deeply grateful to our dedicated art teachers, Tania Guzman and Fran Oviedo, whose passion and commitment make these opportunities possible and inspire our students every day.
Special Education Family Conference
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Marshall High School.
Dr. Shelley Moore will deliver the keynote address on The Evolution of Inclusion. It will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information, including breakout session offerings and a list of vendors that will be on site. Confirm your attendance for this year’s conference.
Urgent: Spring Auction Donations (and Help!) Needed!
We are preparing for next month’s 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 Belvedere Ballers!
Do you have donations you can contribute? Let us know by emailing BelvederePTAauction@gmail.com.
We are still looking for volunteers who can spare an hour over Spring Break to e-mail local businesses for donations. We have a template and contacts. If you can help, please let us BelvederePTAauction@gmail.com.
Questions? Bring them to the April Community Meeting
The next Belvedere ES PTA community meeting is Wednesday, April 8, starting at 6:30 pm. Meetings last 45 minutes and are offered in a hybrid format – both online and in person in the Belvedere cafeteria. The Zoom link will be shared via email to the BES community in advance and everyone in the BES community is welcome!
At this meeting, we will discuss the Spring Auction and Auction Party at Glory Days (April 24), Spring Bingo and plans for Teacher Appreciation Week in May, and get a important updates from BES leadership. If you have a topic you would like us to address, please let us know at bespta.va@gmail.com.
Spanish translation is only available as part of the virtual format, so please join us via Zoom if you require Spanish support.
Make BES More Beautiful!
Have a few hours to spare? Want to make Belvedere look even more beautiful? Come hang artwork at school! Contact Tania Guzman at tguzman@fcps.edu if you can volunteer any time during the school day.
Upcoming PTA Events
April:
8- Community Meeting, Belvedere Elementary School + Online
13-25 - Silent Auction (Online)
24 - Auction Party @ Glory Days
29 - Spring Bingo, Belvedere Elementary School (To Benefit the Fifth Grade Class!)
FCPS Students are Invited to Get2Green's First Student Action Summit
Join fellow FCPS students in grades K-12 for an evening of learning and connecting about environmental action at schools. The Student Action Summit will take place Thursday, May 14 from 5:30-7pm in the FCPS Welcome Center at 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA. This event is open to all students in Fairfax County Public Schools. Elementary school students must be accompanied by an adult. Register for the FCPS Get2Green Student Action Summit by May 8, 2026. Questions? Email Get2Green@fcps.edu.
Inova Healthy Plate Club – FREE Online Cooking Classes
What:
Try new vegetables and cook a new recipe in each class.
Ingredients are provided to any family who needs assistance.
Who:
Students in grades 1 through 7 in Northern Virginia who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and/or attend Title I schools.
Note: For students with food allergies, please contact the program.
When:
Tuesdays, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Dates:
April 7, 14, 21, and 28
May 5
(Students must attend all five classes)
Register:
https://bit.ly/4oGbfxi
Contact:
Text: 571-328-2802
Email: HealthyPlateClub@inova.org
Do you know a Belvedere Elementary School or FCPS employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.
⛈️FCPS Commitment to Weather Safety
At FCPS, the safety of our students, staff, and visitors is our highest priority — no matter the season. In extreme cold, we monitor National Weather Service (NWS) guidance, adjust outdoor activities, and ensure our buildings are warm and secure. In extreme heat, we modify or cancel outdoor activities, use on-site measurements to guide athletic decisions, and promote hydration and cooling breaks.
FCPS has plans in place to provide guidance during severe weather, including storms, flooding, and tornadoes. Decisions are informed by industry best practices, weather alerts, and a commitment to keeping our school community safe and healthy year-round. Read more about weather safety, including the differences between an advisory, watch, and warning.
💰Provide the County Government With Feedback on its Budget
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is reviewing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Advertised Budget and considering possible adjustments before adoption in May. Opportunities to provide feedback to the county include Budget Town Hall Meetings airing on Channel 16 on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m., (Springfield District) and Friday, April 10, at 6 p.m., (Franconia District).
You can also provide your input during the county’s Budget public hearings on Tuesday, April 14, at 4 p.m., and Wednesday, April 15, and Thursday, April 16, at 3 p.m. at the Government Center Board Auditorium. Register in advance to speak.
Visit the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors website to learn more about the county’s FY 2027 Budget.
🎤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. on:
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. 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:
- School Weather Safety
- Science Fair Winners
- Summer Internships at FCPS
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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