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 Our Kindergarten Orientation was a great success! Our Kindergarten team, Admin, and Office staff welcomed so many families and had the opportunity to share about Kindergartener life at Belvedere!
Wednesday, April 15- Purple Up Day
Wednesday, April 15- Full-Time AAP Services Orientation
Saturday, April 18- Outdoor Club @ Turkey Run Park
Saturday, April 18- Garden Workday @ Belvedere
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
Wednesday, April 29- PTA Bingo Night
Wednesday, May 6- PTA Community Meeting
Thursday, May 7- Family Fun & Learning Festival
Wednesday, May 20- 3hr Early Release Wednesday
Monday, May 25- Memorial Day- Division Closed- No School
Tuesday, May 26- Teacher Workday- No School for Students
Wednesday, May 27- Eid-al-Adha- Division Closed- No School
Dear Belvedere Family,
We can’t believe how quickly this week has flown by, and even more so, that we are already entering the final quarter of the school year! Time truly is flying.
Even with a shorter week, bookended by two school planning days, it has been a meaningful and productive time for both our staff and students. Our teachers used planning days to collaborate and prepare engaging learning experiences, and it was wonderful to see students jump right back into their routines during our three days together.
As we move into Quarter 4, there will be a number of important assessments taking place as part of end-of-year learning. Your child’s grade level team will be sharing specific dates and details in their upcoming newsletters, so please be on the lookout.
Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support. We hope you enjoy the long weekend ahead and take some time to rest and recharge.
Warm regards,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Tara Boone, Kelly Cabezas
Belvedere Elem Admin Team
Purple Up Spirit Week is April 13–17, 2026!
We are excited to honor and support our military-connected students with a full week of spirit days:
Monday, April 13: Wear red, white, and blue (US flag colors)
Tuesday, April 14: Superhero Day, wear your favorite superhero outfit
Wednesday, April 15: Purple Up Day, wear as much purple as possible
Thursday, April 16: School Spirit Day, wear blue and white
Friday, April 17: Camo Day, wear camouflage or any color
Join us in showing appreciation for our military families and making this a fun, meaningful week for all!
Saturday, April 18 (9am-12:30pm): Outdoor Club
Come explore the wild side of Northern Virginia with Outdoor Club on Saturday, April 18! Turkey Run Park is a hidden gem of the National Park system along the shores of the Potomac River. We will hike through the forest and to the river looking for wildlife and plants on this optional family field trip. You can ride the bus from Belvedere or Barcroft View or meet us directly at the park. Get all the details and sign up online at https://forms.gle/ecK6ZN8hHJ9nSZqF7.
Saturday, April 18 (1:00-4:00pm): Garden Workday
The growing season is here! Help us weed, mulch, and plant in the gardens behind the school. Students are welcome with an adult. Feel free to drop in anytime during the workday.
Let’s show our Belvedere teachers how much they mean to us!
We’re participating in bartaco’s Teacher Appreciation Week contest, and community nominations will help put our school in the running. Nominations are open now through April 13, and community voting will take place April 15–24.
Please take a minute to submit a nomination and support our amazing staff.
Helpful info for the form: Address: 6540 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041 Closest location: Mosaic Staff size: 140 PTA Instagram: @belvederees_pta
Submit your nomination here: bit.ly/bartacoteacherappreciation Thank you for helping us celebrate our teachers!
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.
FCPS will offer lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on Tuesday, April 21, at participating schools. The meals must be eaten on site, and enrichment activities will be available for the children. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
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
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Students can be screened for subject specific and part time AAP services at any time in the school year. In the spring, schools review data on all students to determine services for the start of the next school year. More information about this process can be found in the AAP Spring Newsletter. Click on the language needed to access the Newsletter:
English
Arabic
Chinese
Korean
Spanish
Urdu
Vietnamese
Our 5th grade students recently visited Bladensburg Waterfront Park for an exciting, hands-on learning experience all about wetlands and their important role in our environment. During their trip, students explored how wetlands support the health of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding ecosystems. They also learned about wetland plants and animals, pollution, erosion, and watersheds, including how water moves through our environment and impacts local rivers.
One of the highlights of the day was a hands-on science activity where students designed and built their own model wetlands, giving them a deeper understanding of how these natural systems work. Students also enjoyed a boat tour, allowing them to explore river habitats and observe wetlands up close.
It was a meaningful and engaging experience that brought science to life and helped students better understand the importance of protecting our natural resources!
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.
Mark Your Calendar for Spring Bingo: April 29!
Get ready to shout "BINGO!" and win some amazing prizes at this fun-filled family evening. Every student receives two Bingo cards and popcorn! Drinks, snacks and extra cards will be available for purchase. All proceeds support BES 5th grade graduation events – including their class gift for the Belvedere community.
Date: Wednesday, April 29
Hours: 6-7:30 p.m.
Location: Belvedere ES Cafeteria
We need everyone's help to make this event a success! We need adult volunteers to manage our student support, popcorn poppers, people to hand out Bingo cards, sell pizza and more.
We are also looking for refreshment donations including drinks (especially Gatorade– these kids are obsessed), chips, brownies and cookies. Those items can be brought into school and dropped in the front office until April 29. Sign up to volunteer and donate today!
Final Call for Spring Auction Donation
The Belvedere PTA Spring Auction - one of our biggest events of the year - opens next week! Proceeds from this key 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. The auction opens April 13 and runs through April 24 when the PTA hosts a closing party with complimentary food and drinks at Glory Days Grill in Barcroft Plaza! All are welcome!
Last Call for DABS!
There are only seven slots left to be a DAB in your student's classroom this school year! Sign up to help in the classroom, play at recess and be with your student. Open to all dads, grandpas, uncles or dad-like figures in your student’s life. Sign up!
Upcoming PTA Events
April:
13-25 - Silent Auction (Online)
24 - Auction Party @ Glory Days Grill, Barcroft Plaza
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.
💰Help FCPS Sustain Excellence: Make Your Voice Heard on the FY 2027 Budget
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. There are several upcoming opportunities to provide feedback to the county on its budget before final adoption in May. This includes public budget hearings (April 14-16) and an online survey. Learn how the FCPS budget helps us sustain our excellence.
🎤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:
- Support Military Children
- National Merit Finalists
- School Board to Present Budget to Board of Supervisors
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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