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Español: Haz clic en tu idioma preferido arriba para traducir este boletín.
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አማርኛ: ይህን ጋዜጣ ለመተርጎም ከላይ የመረጡትን ቋንቋ ይጫኑ።
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中文: 点击上方您选择的语言来翻译本期通讯。
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اردو: اس نیوز لیٹر کا ترجمہ کرنے کے لیے اوپر اپنی پسندیدہ زبان پر کلک کریں۔
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فارسی: برای ترجمه این خبرنامه، روی زبان مورد نظر خود در بالا کلیک کنید.
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العربية: انقر على لغتك المفضلة أعلاه لترجمة هذه النشرة الإخبارية.
Swap Day brought a fun change of style to Blue Star Welcome Week! Ms. Dillane and one of her students dressed as each other for the day. 💙⭐
Check out our Instagram page to see different ways we have been celebrating Blue Star Welcome Week!
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,
We had a great, full week at school! The weather has been all over the place, and we’re looking forward to the return of fall temperatures this weekend. Last Saturday, we had a wonderful turnout for our first outdoor field trip at Huntley Meadows. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
A reminder that our school day begins at 9:20 a.m. Doors open at 8:55 a.m., and the warning bell rings at 9:15 a.m. The 9:20 a.m. bell signals the start of the instructional day. We’ve activated the bell system to help students get to class on time. Please make every effort to have your child arrive between 8:55 and 9:15 so they’re ready to learn by 9:20. We’re also working with Transportation Services to support on-time bus arrivals. Thank you for your partnership in helping students start the day on time.
Students have also started the bike unit in PE. If you’re picking up your child before the end of the school day, please be mindful of the cones in the parking lot, do not move, and leave them in place.
Our second PTA meeting is next Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. You can attend in person or online. Please join us as we share important information regarding the Title 1 program. We will review and update the Title 1 family compact and value your input. Additionally, we will share events happening across our school.
We hope you enjoy your weekend and look forward to seeing our building full again on Monday!
Warmly,
Cecilia Vanderhye, Tara Boone, and Jess Duvel
Belvedere Elem Administration Team
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.
FCPS will mark the beginning of Eid al-Fitr with an evening-only observance day on Monday, March 8. There will be school on this day, but major school-sponsored events and activities (such as auditions or tryouts) will not take place.
Tuesday, March 9, will be a holiday for students and staff.
Wednesday, March 10, will be an observance day. There will be school on this day, but certain activities that cannot be made up (major tests, field trips, or mandatory events) will not take place on this day.
A new school year calendar has been published, which includes this change. Please note that holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings.
Help your child prepare for future success by encouraging them to develop positive attendance habits. Regular attendance supports learning and helps students stay on track for college, careers, and other opportunities after graduation.
Take a look at the FCPS calendar. Try your best to schedule any vacations or planned family events on weekends and school holidays. If the appointment needs to be during the school day, when possible, schedule it for the beginning or end of the day to minimize time missed.
If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, please report the absence to our school as early as possible. Find out how to report an absence on our homepage or call the front office.
If you or your family need any kind of support, please let us know. We are here for you! Visit the FCPS Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.
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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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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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As an IB School, teachers at Belvedere work hard to build in opportunities for student agency. One of the best examples of student agency in action at Belvedere is Student-Led Conferences. Student-Led Conferences provide an opportunity for students to invite their families into the classroom and share their progress, strengths, and excitement with them. Leading up to these conferences, students reflect on their growth and learning so far this year, select artifacts of learning to share with their parents, and practice how they will share their growth with their families. Be on the lookout for an invitation to select a conference time from your child’s teacher, if you haven’t already. This is a conference you won’t want to miss!
As part of the Fairfax County School Board’s Annual School-Based Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment, the FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are inviting parents and caregivers to share their experiences traveling to and from school.
The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss and ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns.
Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15.
Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu.
Belvedere Outdoor Club had a wonderful Saturday at Huntley Meadows! So many Belvedere families joined the adventure, enjoying time together on the park’s boardwalks and taking in the beautiful wetlands. There were smiles all around, and lots of fun was had! A big thank you to Ms. Andrea Auerbach for making this special day possible for our school community.
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, 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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Tuesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School (note date change)
Join us for Parent Coffee on October 21 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Learn about Belvedere’s IB-PYP, school goals, and Title I, and hear how our school supports every student and family. Meet us in the Belvedere Elementary Parent Center at 6540 Columbia Pike, or join by Zoom at fcps.click/pc1.
The event is provided courtesy of Title I FCPS.
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.
From bike riding in PE and trying out juggling to preschoolers creating their own Go Away, Big Green Monster! characters, there’s been lots to celebrate this week! Students also enjoyed the playground, learned in small groups with teachers, and dressed up for Swap Day. Check out our Instagram post to see all the photos!
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Join us on Thursday, October 29, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for Trunk R Treat! Belvedere staff will decorate, dress up, and pass out treats to students inside the school.
Candy and treat donations are welcome throughout the month. Please drop them off in the office or send them in with your student. Families may park on Whispering Lane or in the church parking lot.
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Belvedere students and staff are invited to dress as a favorite storybook character for our parade on Friday, October 30, at 9:30 a.m. Classes will parade through the hallways, and parents and guardians are welcome to watch. Please bring your ID to sign in. Parking is available on Whispering Lane and in the church parking lot. |
Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps children develop confidence, resilience, self-awareness, and other important skills that support their success in school and throughout life. Join a workshop for parents and caregivers to:
- Understand your child’s Fairfax County SEL Screener results.
- Use the results as a starting point for meaningful conversations at home.
- Support your child’s social and emotional development.
- Build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills together.
Learn practical ways to talk with your child about their social and emotional well-being and support their continued growth at home. Events will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, at Skyview High School and Wednesday, October 21, at Kingstowne Regional Library. View additional dates on the FCPS Family Academy webpage.
Childcare will be available. Interpretation services are available upon request. For more information, contact the Family and School Partnerships office at 703-204-4300 or FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu.
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.
FCPS Seeks Community Input on Middle School AAP Centers
FCPS is exploring a plan to offer Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services at every middle school. Under the proposal, students who qualify could attend their neighborhood middle school and take advanced classes with other AAP students. The School Board has approved community engagement at Franklin, Hayfield, Holmes, Key, and Whitman middle schools, where programs could open for the 2027-28 school year. The proposal is still under consideration, and the School Board is expected to make a decision in December.
Each community meeting offers in-person and virtual participation. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:
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Franklin Middle: Monday, October 5, at 6 p.m.
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Holmes Middle: Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m.
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Whitman Middle: Thursday, October 22, at 6 p.m.
Current middle school students will remain at their assigned AAP centers through middle school. Learn more and find meeting sign-up forms on the Middle School AAP Centers page.
Full-Time AAP Identification Information Session
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.
You’re Invited: Next Community Meeting is Oct. 7
More than 60 BES caregivers joined the September community meeting! We hope to see you at the October meeting – Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 6:30 pm. – where we will hear from BES leaders on how the school year is going and answer your questions, get clarification on the ongoing Boundary Study, and discuss upcoming events like Bingoween.Community meetings are limited to 45 minutes to be mindful of your time. All meetings are hybrid – held online and in person at the BES library. Spanish translation is available as part of the virtual format, so please join us via Zoom if you require interpretation support.
A meeting link will be shared via Talking Points and via MemberHub (PTA’s communication link for members) in advance of the meeting. Children are welcome to join in person at Belvedere, and all staff and BES families are welcome to join PTA meetings, share ideas, ask questions and learn about volunteer opportunities.
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.
Couldn’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 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.
Boundary Study Update
FCPS is currently in Phase 2 of the Boundary Study. The proposals in Phase 2 of the study have changed since Phase 1 in the spring. The Belvedere SPAs (Student Planning Areas) that were previously being considered to move out of Glasgow Middle School and Justice High School have been updated to stay at Glasgow MS and Justice HS.
You can check your SPA here. You can also read more about the Phase 1 Boundary Study and the current Phase 2 Boundary Study.
Additionally, FCPS will once again host localized boundary meetings for the communities included in this boundary study.
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!
Join the PTA! Help Us Reach 100 Members
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 just six members to go to reach 100. 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.
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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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:
- College Prep Resources
- Life in the Community Fair
- Calendar Update: Eid al-Fitr
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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