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Leading with confidence and learning by doing! Our “Principal for a Day” winners jumped right into the action alongside our admin team, helping set up for SOL testing, recording school announcements, preparing for a staff meeting, and even running a fire drill. A fun and unforgettable day of leadership at Belvedere!Caption Here
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
Friday, May 29 - PTA Volunteer Breakfast
Wednesday, June 3- PTA Community Meeting
Thursday, June 4- Band Concert
Friday, June 5- Field Day
Wednesday, June 10- PYPX Community View from 10:00-12:00
Thursday, June 11- PTA Spirit Night- Jeni's Ice Cream
Wednesday, June 17- 5th Grade Promotion
Wednesday, June 17- Last Day of School
Dear Belvedere Families,
What a full and exciting week we have had at Belvedere! With testing taking place nearly every day, we are so thankful for our entire school community working together to help everything run smoothly with very few disruptions. Our students have shown tremendous focus and perseverance, and we are grateful for the support from families and staff alike.
We also had an amazing time celebrating Belvedere’s 70th Anniversary! From the fun and energy of 123 Andrés to the excitement of the ice cream truck, it was a joyful opportunity to celebrate our school’s history and the incredible community that makes Belvedere so special. A special thank you to the BES PTA and the Fairfax250 Commission for sponsoring this spectacular event!
We hope everyone enjoys the beautiful weekend ahead and has a chance to relax and recharge. It’s hard to believe there are only 4 weeks left until summer break — we’ve got this!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Your Belvedere Admin Team
Cecilia Vanderhye, Kelly Cabezas, and Tara Boone
A reminder that Wednesday, May 20th is a 3 hour early release day for grades K-5. Your student will be dismissed at the same time as the previous 3 hour release day. Students will dismiss at 1:05. Students that have opted-in to stay will dismiss at 4:05. Please notify the front office, 703-916-6800, no later than May 20th at 11 AM if you need to change your
child’s dismissal for this day.
Friendly reminder for families about upcoming school closures later this month:
• Monday, May 25: No School for Memorial Day
• Tuesday, May 26: No School for a Teacher Workday
• Wednesday, May 27: No School in observance of Eid al-Adha
We hope your family enjoys this special time together and has a safe and restful extended break!
A Parent Input Form for class placements for the 2026-2027 school year will be coming home in students’ Friday Folders this week.
This form gives families an opportunity to share information about the type of learning environment and teacher characteristics that best support their child’s success. You may wish to consider your child’s personality, learning style, and the types of adults and classroom environments in which they thrive.
Please note that requests for specific teachers by name will not be considered.
If you would like to submit input please complete and return to office by Friday, June 5.
We appreciate your partnership and thoughtful input as we begin planning for next school year!
SOL testing is almost complete, and we are incredibly proud of all the hard work our students have shown throughout the testing season! We have just one SOL remaining:
Monday, May 18th - 5th Grade Science
Some students may also participate in SOL retakes in the coming days. Families of students participating in retakes have already been contacted by administration.
As we finish strong, you can continue supporting your child by helping them get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time. Encouraging a positive mindset and reminding them to take their time and do their best can also make a big difference.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement throughout SOL season!
For more information about SOL testing, including what to expect and how results are used, please visit the SOL Tests in Elementary and Middle Schools page.
Updated Lunch Schedule for SOL Testing:
To accommodate SOL testing on Monday, May 18th, lunch schedules will be adjusted: 4th grade will have lunch from 12:25–12:55, and 5th grade from 1:35–2:05.
Field Day is coming up on Thursday, June 5, and we would love your help to make it a fun and memorable day for our students! We are looking for parent volunteers to assist with games, activities, and cheering on our students throughout the day. Thank you for helping make this special event a success for our Belvedere community!
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E44AFA82DA0FCC34-63934634-belvedere
On Wednesday night, we celebrated Belvedere’s 70th Anniversary! The rain may have moved us inside, but we still had a blast. An amazing performance by 123 Andrés had students, families, and staff up on their feet dancing and singing along all night long. A special appearance from a mobile ice cream truck was the perfect sweet treat to top off the celebration!
Thank you to the BES PTA and the Fairfax250 Commission for funding and sponsoring this memorable event. Relive the fun by checking out our Instagram reel above!
We thank the Fairfax250 Commission for its support of this event as part of Fairfax County’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
As we enter the final weeks of the school year, Fairfax County Public Schools appreciates your continued partnership in supporting your child’s success. Regular attendance plays an important role in helping students stay engaged in learning, maintain connections with their teachers and peers, and finish the school year strong.
Attending school consistently also helps students build valuable habits such as responsibility, perseverance, and daily routines that support success both in and out of the classroom.
If your child needs to miss school, please remember to report the absence. Full-day absences can be reported in ParentVUE. Families may also report absences by calling the school attendance line or emailing the school-designated attendance address.
If your child is experiencing challenges that are affecting attendance, we are here to help. Please contact your child’s school so staff can partner with you to provide support and resources. Learn more about attendance resources.
Belvedere Elementary is now enrolling community peers for the 2026-2027 school year in our FREE half-day preschool program!
This inclusive preschool experience allows children to learn alongside preschool students with disabilities in a nurturing, high-quality environment led by licensed teachers.
Program Highlights
• Play-based learning and engaging curriculum
• Licensed preschool teachers
• Focus on social and emotional learning
• Opportunities to build confidence, friendships, and social skills
Who Can Apply?
• Children ages 3-4 who live in Fairfax County or are children of FCPS employees
• Children who are fully toilet trained
Interested Families
- Complete the interest form and return it to the Belvedere Front Office
- Save the date: Monday, June 8 at 4:30 PM
Parents and children are required to attend an Information Session & Play Date at Belvedere.
Belvedere is seeking individuals who can provide continuity of instructional teaching as a substitute instructional assistant. Able to inspire, enable and empower students to meet high academic standards. The position offers:
✔ Flexible schedule
✔ Make a difference in your local community
✔ Great for people with a passion for teaching/assisting students
Join our team and support student learning!
Apply today! For details, visit the FCPS Substitute Employment Website. When applying, search “Substitute” and select the Justice pyramid posting.
This week brought even more excitement to kindergarten as the chicks began hatching. Students have loved watching the eggs crack open and meeting the newest additions to their classrooms. They are eagerly naming the chicks and checking throughout the day to see when the next one will hatch!
The experience has captured the attention of students across the school, with classes from multiple grade levels stopping by to observe both the older chicks and the newly hatched ones. Students have also been able to watch the process unfold through the live chick camera feed, giving everyone a chance to witness this incredible moment of the life cycle in real time.
This has truly been an amazing hands-on learning experience filled with curiosity, wonder, and excitement for learners of all ages.
Upcoming PTA Events
May
29 - Volunteer Acknowledgement Breakfast, BES
June
3 - PTA June Community Meeting + Elections
10 - Spirit Night @ Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, Shirlington, 4150 Campbell Ave., Arlington
17 - End of Year, Popsicles on the Playground, BES
Looking for a creative and engaging summer opportunity for your child? The FCPS Fine and Performing Arts Camp, Elementary Institute for the Arts, is open to students currently in grades K-5. FCPS students, private school students, homeschooled students, and non-Fairfax County residents are all welcome to attend.
The camp will be held at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax and offers four week-long sessions:
• July 6-10
• July 13-17
• July 20-24
• July 27-31
Camp hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with early drop-off beginning at 7:30 a.m. New this year, aftercare is available until 5:00 p.m.
Tuition assistance is available as well as free transportation. Registration is open now until June 5th.
For more information and registration details, visit https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning-programs/camps-and-institutes-elementary-institute-arts-e-ifta#tuition
Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas
Join Fairfax County Public Schools for a free, family-friendly community celebration filled with hands-on STEM, arts, and creative experiences for students of all ages. This year’s Summer Extravaganza takes place on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School.
Explore summer learning resources and connect with FCPS offices and community partners. Don’t miss the Student Market and a full day of engaging activities designed to spark learning, growth, and inspiration for the whole family.
For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
💵Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Update
On Friday, May 8, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid provided an update on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget. FCPS receives the majority of its funding from the Fairfax County Government and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Fairfax County Government recently adopted its FY 2027 Budget, and at the funding levels provided, there is currently a $28 million budget gap. In addition, the state budget has not been finalized. At last Thursday's School Board meeting, the superintendent proposed adjustments that would balance the FCPS budget.
Read Dr. Reid’s message to the community for more information on the budget process and budget priorities.
☎️Family Information Phone Lines
FCPS family information phone lines are available in nine different languages. An FCPS employee will respond to your call in your preferred language within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.
Call the phone line with questions about your child’s education or FCPS, and someone will help connect you to resources or arrange for you to speak to the appropriate school employee. Learn more about family information phone lines.
📵New Cellphone Policy Starts July 1
On Thursday, May 7, the Fairfax County School Board approved changes to the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R). The approved changes include updated guidance for cellphone possession and use, to align the FCPS cellphone policy with Senate Bill 108. This new Virginia law goes into effect on July 1 and states that all schools in the Commonwealth must follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy.
This means that starting July 1, 2026, across all grade levels at FCPS, student cellphones, phone accessories, and all smart devices (including watches that serve a dual purpose, such as smart watches, as well as earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, and other other items connected to the internet) must be off and personally stored (i.e., put away in backpacks) for the duration of the school day — thus, no cellphones from bell to bell.
Other SR&R Changes for the 2026-27 School Year
Visit the FCPS website or the School Board agenda to learn about additional updates, including:
- Added guidance and procedures for in-school and out-of-school suspensions and discipline investigations, including supports for students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
- Expanded guidance and standardized disciplinary procedures (“Universal Grade Matrices”) related to harassment, hate speech, discriminatory behavior, and Title IX reporting requirements.
- Responses to incidents involving intimate images, fighting, physical aggression, object throwing, and drug policy violations.
FCPS This Week
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- 2027 Budget Updates
- New Cell Phone Policy
- Stay Up-to-Date with the Mobile App
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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