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Belvedere welcomed Military students and their families to our Purple Up Breakfast. General Tracy Smith was a phenomenal speaker talking about the importance of connection and supporting each other. We are proud to have military families as part of our community at Belvedere.
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’ve had a wonderful week here at Belvedere! The warm temperatures certainly gave us a true taste of summer, and our students made the most of the sunshine and time together.
This week, we were proud to celebrate our military families with a spirited schoolwide spirit week and a special breakfast in their honor. It was a meaningful opportunity to recognize and thank those who serve our country and support our community.
We also had the pleasure of welcoming new families who will be joining us for our Advanced Academic Placement Night. It’s always exciting to meet new members of the Belvedere community, and we look forward to all that lies ahead.
Tomorrow, we’re excited for one of our outdoor field trips to Turkey Run Park in McLean, VA. We would love for families to join us, please see this newsletter for more details.
Thank you for your continued support, and we hope you enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!
Cecilia Vanderhye, Kelly Cabezas, & Tara Boone
Belvedere Elem Admin Team
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.
Belvedere had a very special visitor this week! FCPS Superintendent Dr. Reid came on Tuesday to see all the wonderful things happening here at Belvedere.
She was greeted by our 5th grade SCA representatives, who represented our school with confidence and leadership. During her time in the building, she visited several classrooms and saw a variety of engaging learning experiences.
In first grade, students were writing narrative pieces about their spring break. In fourth grade, students were launching their geometry unit by identifying key vocabulary such as lines, angles, rays, points, and line segments in real-world images. She also visited the gym, where third graders were excited to begin their basketball unit in physical education.
We are proud to showcase the meaningful learning and strong student voice happening every day at Belvedere Elementary!
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 April 21 at participating schools. The meals must be eaten on site. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
Adjusted Elementary Early Release WednesdaysStudents 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.
No-cost meals available for children on April 21 at select FCPS schools. 🍎While schools are closed for students for the special election, FCPS will provide free lunch and a snack for children 18 and younger from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at select locations.Meals must be eaten on-site, and enrichment activities will be offered.We are proud to support our students’ health and well-being, even on days when school is not in session.
See the list of meal locations:
- Annandale HS
- Bailey’s Upper ES
- Bucknell ES
- Dranesville ES
- Fort Belvoir Primary ES
- Fort Belvoir Upper ES
- Glasgow MS
- Mount Vernon HS
- Providence ES
- Sandburg MS
- Springfield Estates ES
- Weyanoke ES
- Woodlawn ES
More information can be found at: www.fcps.edu/food
Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.
FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.
Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.
It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.
Learn more about how to support your child and why test participation matters.
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
We are excited for our annual festival night focused on literacy, mathematics & play! Join us for delicious snacks and games hosted by our creative staff and free books to enjoy at home!
What? Belvedere families will get to choose between many fun math and literacy experiences from a number of offerings by our staff. Students will have the option to take home, math books, independent reading books, and enter into a raffle for a fun prize! Free food will be provided to our families!
Who? All Belvedere students and families are invited.
Where? Belvedere Elementary School (Entry at Front Parking Lot )
When? Thursday, May 7 (Rain or Shine)
Time? 5:30-7:00 pm
Please note: Limited parking will be available at Belvedere Elementary School. Please consider parking at John Calvin Presbyterian Church across the street, parking on Whispering Lane, carpooling or walking!
On Thursday evening, we had the pleasure of welcoming many prospective Belvedere families to our school community. Students and their families from seven different elementary schools visited to learn more about the Advanced Academic Program (AAP) at Belvedere and to take a tour of the building as they consider their next steps.
Guests heard from current students who once made the same transition and are now thriving here. Their stories helped reassure families that, while moving to a new school can feel uncertain, it can also be an exciting and rewarding experience.
At Belvedere, students benefit from not only full-time AAP services, but also the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), creating a rich and engaging learning environment.
We are excited to welcome these new students and families and look forward to having them join our community next year.
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
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.
Bid now! The Spring Auction is Open
The Belvedere PTA Spring Auction - one of our biggest events of the year - is now open! Proceeds from this key fundraiser help fund field trip buses, teacher appreciation support and community events like last month's Belvedere Ballers.
Don’t miss the chance to win:
- Break the “rules” at school, Principal for the afternoon and other special experiences
- Local Love, I love the 80's, Books, Fitness and many more themed baskets
- Sports tickets — Capitals, Wizards, George Mason basketball, rounds of golf + putt-putt
- A cabin getaway in the Shenandoah Valley
- Beautiful jewelry
- Restaurant gift cards for Lebanese Taverna, Silverado, Alta Strada, Bartaco
…. And so much more!
Items will be added throughout the week, so check back often!
The auction will run through April 24 at 8 p.m. when the PTA hosts a closing party with special give-aways, complimentary food and drinks at Glory Days Grill in Barcroft Plaza from 6-8 p.m. All are welcome!
Shout “BINGO” on April 29!
Win some amazing prizes at this fun-filled family evening when Bingo returns to Belvedere on April 29. 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! Adult volunteers are needed to manage our student support, pop popcorn, 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!
Last Call for DABS!
There are only a few 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:
17-24 - Silent Auction (Online)
24 - Auction Party @ Glory Days Grill, Barcroft Plaza
29 - Spring Bingo, Belvedere Elementary School (To Benefit the Fifth Grade Class!)
Are you concerned about your infant, toddler, or preschool-aged child’s development? Resources are available if your child exhibits difficulties in one or more of the following areas: communication, fine and/or gross motor skills, self-help skills, problem-solving, and attention skills. Learn more about typical developmental milestones.
The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia (ITC) provides evaluations and services for children (0-36 months) who have developmental delays or medical conditions that may affect development. Parents are encouraged to contact ITC at 703-246-7121 to share their concerns.
Early Childhood Child Find is the process of identifying children with potential special education needs between the ages of 20 months and 5 years (children must be two by September 30).
FCPS Early Childhood Identification and Services (ECID&S) offers a free referral process to identify potential developmental delays or disabilities. Special education services are provided for all children who are found eligible through the referral process. Parents are encouraged to call 571-423-4121 with questions.
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.
Updates to 2026-27 School Year Calendar
The School Board voted to direct the superintendent to designate Veterans Day as a standard instructional day for the 2026-27 school year. Because this day was added, the 2026-27 school year will now end for students on Wednesday, June 16, 2027. Find additional information on BoardDocs. View the updated complete school year calendar on FCPS’ website.
The last day of school for the current school year — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — has not changed.
🎤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:
- Calendar Updates
- Teacher on The Kelly Clarkson Show
- Support Your Student During SOLs
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about
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