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አማርኛ: ይህን ጋዜጣ ለመተርጎም ከላይ የመረጡትን ቋንቋ ይጫኑ።
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In P.E., students built strength, focus, and spatial awareness while staying active and having fun!
Wednesday, October 7- PTA & Annual Title 1 Meeting
Monday, October 12 - Staff Development Day - Student Holiday
Thursday, October 15- Bingo Night! Brought to you by the BES PTA & 5th Grade
Wednesday, October 21- Parent Coffee: Understanding Belvedere's IB-PYP, School Goals, and Title I
Wednesday, October 21- Early Release Wednesday
Thursday, October 29- Trunk or Treat
Friday, October 30- Storybook Character Parade
Friday, October 30- End of Quarter 1/Early Release
Monday, November 2- School Planning Day- Student Holiday
Tuesday, November 3- Teacher Work Day- Student Holiday
Dear Belvedere Family,
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Back to School Night! It was a well-attended evening, and we enjoyed having the opportunity to welcome families into our school. Teachers shared information about the IB program, as well as the curriculum and learning students will experience across subject areas throughout the school year.
If you were unable to attend Back to School Night, or if you would like to revisit the information that was shared, classroom teachers will be including their slide decks in their upcoming newsletters.
We are also excited about our upcoming Blue Star Welcome Week as we celebrate our military-connected families. Please see below for more information about the activities planned for the week.
With half of the first quarter already underway, we continue to focus on building a caring community centered around the IB Learner Profile attribute of caring. Throughout the school, we have common expectations for areas including the cafeteria, hallways, recess, and bathrooms. These expectations are all grounded in caring for ourselves, caring for others, and caring for our school.
We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these caring behaviors with your child at home. When students understand that these expectations apply throughout the school, they help create a welcoming and respectful environment where everyone can learn and feel a sense of belonging.
As shared at Back to School Night, we are also looking for parent volunteers and room parents to support classrooms and school events throughout the year. If you are interested in partnering with us in this way, please connect with your child's teacher. You are also welcome to reach out to Iva Plazas, our parent liaison.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us build a caring, connected, and welcoming Belvedere community.
Warmly,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Tara Boone, and Jess Duvel
Belvedere Elem Administration Team
America’s military families live a transient lifestyle, moving into a new community every two to three years.
Help make the move easier for military families transitioning into our local community! Join Belvedere Elementary in celebrating #BlueStarWelcomeWeekFCPS from September 26 through October 4 and help create a greater sense of belonging for military and Veteran families in our neighborhood.
Celebrate with us during Spirit Week:
- Monday, September 28: Wear U.S. flag colors, red, white, and blue
- Tuesday, September 29: Wear camouflage
- Wednesday, September 30: Pajama Day
- Thursday, October 1: Swap Day, when teachers dress as students and students dress as teachers
- Friday, October 2: Choose Your Favorite Military Branch Day
We look forward to celebrating our military-connected families!
Belvedere will have four Early Release days this year for K-5:
- Wednesday, October 21
- Wednesday, December 2
- Wednesday, February 10
- Wednesday, May 5
On these days, our instructional school day ends at 1:05pm. Students will be dismissed at 1:05 or remain at school until 4:05 for supervised activities. Families must complete the Early Release Wednesday Form to let us know your child’s dismissal time and how they will be dismissed.
Vision and hearing screening will be held on:
- October 13th for 3rd Graders and new to FCPS Students
- October 14th for Kindergarten Students
The purpose of screening is to identify students who need further evaluation due to difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones. If your child wears glasses, please be sure that their glasses are at school on screening day. Parents will be notified by letter if screening results indicate that further evaluation is needed. Prompt follow-up with your health care provider is recommended as vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning.
AAP Information Sessions:
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Full-Time AAP Identification: Thursday, November 12th from 5:30-6:30 PM. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services. Language Translation services are available. Please contact Ms. Walsh before November 6th with the language needed.
For more information, please contact Jaclyn Walsh, AART, at jwalsh@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
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On Thursday, October 15 Belvedere will be hosting author Drew Brockington in partnership with Old Town Books to promote his new book #8 in the Catstronauts series, Module Mayhem. Students in second and third will attend the assembly that day, but anyone can order a book! Books will cost $9.99 and can be ordered in advance of the author visit. Preordered books will be signed and can be personalized! Order books from the link from Old Town Books by 5 pm on Friday, October 9. Questions? Contact Mrs. Zamudio at rhzamudio@fcps.edu
Order link: https://oldtownbooks.com/teachers-schools/belvedere-brockington
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Belvedere's Outdoor Club brings students and families together to discover local parks, connect with nature, and build community through optional Saturday morning field trips.
On Saturday, September 26 (9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.), join Outdoor Club to explore Huntley Meadows Park—one of the area's top nature spots! All Belvedere students and their families are invited to participate.
- Take the bus from Belvedere or Barcroft View, or meet us at the park.
- Students in grades 2–5 may attend independently; preK–1st grade students must be accompanied by a guardian.
Space is limited, so be sure to register and view full details here.
Future Outdoor Club trips are tentatively scheduled for October 24, January 23, March 6, April 3, and May 1.
Learning about energy transformations in Ms. Summers’ class took a hands-on turn! Students became scientists as they explored force and motion, asked questions, made predictions, identified variables, conducted experiments, and used the scientific method to guide their discoveries. They then presented their findings to classmates and shared what they learned.
Click the image below to check our our Instagram Reel to see for yourself!
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Riverside Elementary School
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
Are you working your way through back-to-school forms and checklists? Make sure you have a SIS ParentVUE account for your family and log in to find important forms and updates.
- Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in ParentVUE. To update your contact information in ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
- Submit daylong absences by clicking “Report Absence.”
If you do not have a ParentVUE account, contact your child’s school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
Families can now easily grant consent for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account login. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of a variety of resources, including online educational tools, school counseling services, and more.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
The FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) booklet explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. We encourage families to discuss these expectations with their child(ren).
Families should review the SR&R and sign the acknowledgement form by Wednesday, September 30, either by logging into SIS ParentVUE or by signing and returning the Signature Sheet.
📵Cellphones and Personal Devices
Students may only use a personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device. Learn more on the FCPS website.
💻Understanding the Acceptable Use Policy
FCPS provides students with digital tools and devices to support their learning, encourage easy collaboration, and help students learn how to interact with technology safely. The FCPS Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) guides how these technologies are used both inside the classroom and at home. By following the AUP, students learn how to become not just users of technology, but responsible and ethical digital citizens with critical real-world skills such as:
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Responsible Communication and Conduct: Communicating respectfully and using technology appropriately.
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Digital Footprint Awareness: Understanding online actions can have lasting effects on a student’s reputation, future opportunities and relationships, career prospects, and safety.
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Data Privacy and Security: Learning how online safety can protect their digital work and personal information, and guard against cybersecurity risks.
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Self-Regulation: Learning to manage digital distractions to stay focused when needed.
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Accountability: Understanding that they are responsible for how they use FCPS technology and digital resources.
Learn more about digital citizenship at FCPS.
Set Screen Time Limits and Monitor Online Activity With Lightspeed
The free Lightspeed Parent Portal makes it easy for you to see and manage how your child uses their FCPS-issued device outside of school hours. New Lightspeed Parent Portal features for this school year include:
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Schedules: Pause or restrict internet access during specific times, such as during homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.
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Web Rules: Block specific websites you don’t want your child accessing at home.
Be sure to check your email (subject line: “Filter Portal Weekly Report”) each Sunday for the Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report, a weekly summary of the websites your child has visited. Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
As part of FCPS’ continued support for digital literacy, families can access lesson materials that introduce the concepts students will explore throughout the school year. These resources include student lessons and supporting materials organized by grade level. Resources will be shared on a quarterly basis through Schoology.
The All Parent/Guardian Course is available in Schoology through a parent or guardian account. Schoology and ParentVUE use the same login credentials. Families who need assistance can review How Do I Log in to and Access Schoology? or watch the brief walkthrough on the Schoology Snippets page.
Families can also learn more about FCPS guidance and practices on the Educational Technology in FCPS webpage.
Third graders explored ancient Egypt through a grade-level Chalk Talk displayed in one of our lighted hallways. Rather than completing the routine within a single classroom, each third grade class visited the hallway at a different time to participate. Students described what they saw, shared what they wondered, and connected their thinking to responses left by classmates.
As more classes contributed, the Chalk Talk became an ongoing written conversation across the entire third grade. This experience encouraged students to think deeply, respond thoughtfully, and learn from one another.
Learn more about the Chalk Talk thinking routine from Project Zero: https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/chalk-talk
The photo above is just a sneak peek, but be sure to check out our Instagram Post for the full thing by click the image below.
Each one of us is unique. And every student matters and belongs in school. If a student is having a difficult time attending class, please tell a trusted adult at school. There are solutions.
If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to our front office. We are here for you! Visit the FCPS Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.
The Importance of the Flu Vaccine
Staying up to date with your child's flu vaccination helps:
- Reduce School Absences: Keeping students healthy means more time spent learning and engaging with peers.
- Protect the Community: Vaccination helps shield vulnerable family members and neighbors from seasonal illness.
- Support Overall Wellness: Routine flu shots are a key component of a proactive student health plan.
Upcoming Flu Shot Events
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
Menu items include:
- Breakfast items such as honey chicken biscuits, guava pastelitos (whole-grain pastries filled with tropical guava fruit), and roasted apple parfaits, made with vanilla yogurt and homemade granola.
- Lunch items such as crunchy beef or fiesta tacos, ramen bowl with diced chicken or hard-boiled egg, beef or vegan banh mi burger, and southwest fiesta soup with corn chips.
Stay up to date on FCPS menus and nutrition news by subscribing to the Food and Nutrition Services newsletter.
Full-Time AAP Identification: Thursday, November 12th from 5:30-6:30 PM. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services. Language Translation services are available. Please contact Ms. Walsh before November 6th with the language needed.
For more information, please contact Jaclyn Walsh, AART, at jwalsh@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
Learn About Applied Behavior Analysis and Teaching New Skills at Home
All family members and caregivers are invited to attend monthly Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Family Training to learn how to support and teach students with autism and related disorders. No registration is needed.
Virtual trainings take place at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Join the session. Upcoming topics include:
- Autism and ABA Overview on Wednesday, October 14. (It is highly recommended that you attend this session before any future sessions.)
- Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home on Wednesday, November 18.
- Toilet Training on Wednesday, December 9.
- Managing Challenging Behaviors at Home on Wednesday, January 13.
- Communication: a Foundation for Independence on Wednesday, February 10.
Visit the ABA webpage for a full list of classes. Need an interpreter? Contact Stephanie Watkins two weeks before the training at 571-423-4110 or sawatkins@fcps.edu.
Annual Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Call for Volunteers
Join us for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students on Saturday, November 14, at Hayfield Secondary School.
Families, educators, and community members are invited to this no-cost, in-person event to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided for all participants.
How to Get Involved
Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
Join Us for Volunteer Night at Total Wine, Sept. 29
Join the PTA Board for Volunteer Night on Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Total Wine (Plaza at Landmark, 6240 Little River Turnpike) to learn about opportunities throughout the year. Come take a break with fellow BES parents, grab some snacks and enjoy a (FREE) wine tasting or non-alcoholic beverage while learning more about how to support the PTA. Bring a friend! More information is on our Facebook page and will be going home in Friday folders.
You May be Impacted! Potential Changes to Belvedere Boundary
Families are invited to attend the Boundary Study Meeting on Monday, September 28 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Falls Church High School
Register by clicking: In Person | Virtual
This meeting will review the proposal to reassign the neighborhoods below (referred to as "Student Planning Areas or SPAs") to address the capacity deficit at Glasgow Middle School. Students living in these SPAs will be moved from Glasgow Middle School/Justice High School to Poe Middle School/Falls Church HS or Holmes Middle School/Annandale High School:
*Please note we just received information on more potential changes to the boundary scenarios and are working to clarify these for our community. Along with the BES administration, we will send out updates ASAP. Please consider attending the 9/28 community meeting for additional clarification.
- Student Planning Area (SPA) 6002 and SPA 6006 from Glasgow Middle School and Justice High School to Poe Middle School and Falls Church High School.
- SPA 6015, SPA 6103, and SPA 6117 from Glasgow Middle School and Justice High School to Holmes Middle School and Annandale High School.
Additionally, FCPS will once again host localized boundary meetings for the communities included in this boundary study. These smaller meetings are for anyone unable to attend the September 28 pyramid meeting — each meeting will cover the same information:
Learn more about the Greenway Downs, Jefferson Village, City Park Homes, and Kingsley Commons, Plus Glasgow Middle School Boundary Study webpage.
Child care and language interpretation will be available at all meetings as needed.
Be a DAB: Dad at Belvedere
Calling all dads, grandpas, funcles or special caregivers: Spend the day as a Dad at Belvedere or DAB! Show school matters while you help get those cars moving in the Kiss & Ride, work with students and play on the playground! It’s a day your student will always remember. Sign up here!
Can’t Join Us for Volunteer Night? Here are Ways to Help
Please consider volunteering for one (or more!) of these opportunities this fall. These are manageable ways to support your school, get to know our wonderful teachers and create community among families. Upcoming events:
October:
Bingo Night, Oct. 15
Volunteers needed for welcoming families, distributing prizes, helping student volunteers, selling refreshments set-up and clean-up.
November:
Election Day Bake & Wrapping Paper Sale, Nov. 3
Volunteers needed for donations, staffing the sales throughout the day, set-up and break-down.
December:
Fun Run, Dec. 5 (morning)Volunteers needed for serving cocoa and other refreshments, taking photos and cheering the runners on!Reach out to Volunteer Coordinator Laura Nunneker at lauradiserio@gmail.com for more information. Thank you in advance for any time and effort you can contribute.
Join the PTA!
Our goal is to top the membership involvement we saw last school year when 120 members of the BES community joined the PTA. We have 40+ members to go! Belvedere PTA membership is $10 per caregiver or $5 for Teachers/Administrators/Staff. Members have to renew each year to retain their voting rights.
Joining the PTA comes with no commitments or expectations. We simply hope you will join us to further build the Belvedere community. Joining the PTA does not commit you to volunteer time. Your membership means that you support our efforts and our goals. In addition, your membership gives you voting privileges at our general meeting and teacher-members also qualify for the BES PTA mini-grant program, which is funding for projects and other classroom needs.
Annual membership is open now! If you have questions, please reach out to bespta.va@gmail.com and a Board member will be in touch.
Room Parents Are Needed!
BES is looking for room parents. Typical room parents responsibilities include:
- Supporting communication with families
- Coordinating volunteers
- Assisting with teacher-requested needs
The role is generally about building classroom community and helping with logistics, not assisting with instruction or managing the classroom. If you are interested in becoming a room parent, contact bespta.va@gmail.com.
Come see photos of the many ways the PTA supports the BES community. We plan to share updates, stories and behind-the-scenes looks at what goes into building a volunteer organization like the Belvedere PTA. Follow us @belvedereES_PTA. |
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The Annual Title I Meeting will take place during the PTA meeting on Wednesday, October 7th at 6:30 PM in the Belvedere Library or on Zoom.
Information will be provided about the Title I Program. Parents will have an opportunity to review and provide input for the Title I Family Compact.
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Belvedere needs a representative for Fairfax County Public Schools' Title I Parent Advisory Committee (TPAC). Committee representatives, Title I staff and principals meet up to seven times during the school year for 90 minutes -- in person at Title I schools as well as virtually -- to discuss topics around Title I funding and family engagement initiatives taking place in other schools.
Committee members also:
- Develop leadership and advocacy skills by sharing strategies used to foster family engagement in schools.
- Provide input into the planning and implementation of Title I family engagement programming in Fairfax County.
- Support the development and presentation of an annual school board report describing the focus of the committee during the school year, information and resources gained throughout the year and recommendations for the next school year.
This committee is very valuable to our school community! If you are interested in serving, please contact Tasha Floyd, Belvedere Administrative Assistant, at 703-9166800. The first TPAC meeting is Oct. 20.
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Do you know a Belvedere Elementary School Employee or FCPS employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then visit the FCPS Cares Page to submit a nomination! Watch the video below for directions on submitting. |
Shredding Event & Donation Drive
Date: Saturday, October 3rd, from 11am-2pm
Location: Annandale High School Parking Lot (4700 Medford Drive, Annandale, VA, 22003)
Description: Join us for our annual shredding event! An industrial shredding truck will be available in the front parking lot of Annandale High School for residents to safely dispose of old or confidential documents for free. Additionally, we are partnering with the Annandale High School Food Pantry and while not required, we encourage attendees to items to donate: shelf stable food items, canned goods, individually packaged student snacks, personal hygiene products, or household cleaning items.
Transportation Fair
Date: Saturday, October 10th, from 11am-1pm.
Location: Minnie H Peyton Community Center at Bailey's (5920 Summers Lane, Falls Church, VA, 22041)
Description: Learn about local transportation projects and different public transportation resources, programs, and services available to Mason District residents.
Restaurant Week
Date: Saturday, October 10th, to Saturday October 17th
Location: All around Mason!
Description: Celebrate the diverse restaurants throughout Mason and "eat around the world!" Participating restaurants will offer special discounts throughout the week.
Mason District Arts Festival
Date: Saturday, October 17th, from 10am-3pm
Location: Eileen Garnett Civic Space (7200 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003)
Description: The 2nd Annual Mason District Arts Festival will feature local and regional artists showcasing murals, paintings, prints, poetry, jewelry, pottery, and more, including an artist material exchange space.
Health Fair
Date: Saturday, November 14th, from 9am-12pm
Location: James Lee Community Center (2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042)
Description: A free health fair offering a variety of services, information, and resources for Mason residents including flu vaccines, hearing and vision screenings, child dental screenings, HIV tests, Hepatitis C tests, and more.
Have Children in Multiple FCPS Schools?
The FCPS mobile app lets you follow updates from all your children's schools in one place! Simply open the app, tap the teal pull-down menu, then tap the gear icon and select every school you want to follow. See this video of how to follow your school.
Find out about more features of the app. Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
☎️Family Information Line Available in Nine Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
📲Follow FCPS on WhatsApp
Is WhatsApp one of the ways you stay connected with family, friends, and your community? Now you can use it to stay connected with FCPS, too.
Follow the new FCPS WhatsApp Channel for helpful information and reminders throughout the school year, including important announcements, upcoming dates, tips for families, and more.
FCPS This Week
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Traffic Safety Near Our Schools
- Sign and Return the SR&R
- Check Out New Menu Options
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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