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A Message from the Principal

Dear Belle View Families,

Today is an Early Release Monday, students will be dismissed at 12:55 pm while teachers engage in professional development and our kindergarten orientation this afternoon at 3pm. 

I wanted to give a huge thank you to our PTA for hosting and incredible book fair and to all our teachers who supported our "Books and Beyond" event last Thursday. The turn-out was amazing and we were so happy to see everyone come out to support our bookfair and learn about activities to support our Benchmark Advance K-6 reading curriculum. 

Also, as the weather has been a little warner in the morning, we have noticed students arriving out front early.  Please do not have your child dropped off before 8:50 am, as we have no student supervision until 8:50 am each day.  Thank you for your continued support!

Proud Principal, 

Katie Pluntke 

🐻TODAY!! It’s Kindergarten Orientation Time at Belle View! March 10th at 3:00pm

Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us prepare and ensure we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school. 

Families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms on the FCPS kindergarten registration webpage. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the kindergarten registration webpage.

✨ A strong start is Goal 1 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

Belle View Kindergarten Orientation is March 10th @3pm

Save the Date: BV Art Show 4/3

All Belle View families are invited to join us for our Art Show on Thursday, April 3, from 6:00-7:30 pm in the Belle View ES Cafeteria. Student artwork will be displayed, and families can connect with each other and BVES staff while enjoying light refreshments. Spanish interpreters will be present. Hope to see you there!

Attendance Matters - Even Tardiness

We are seeing an increase in the number of students with unexcused tardies. At Belle View, students are expected to be inside by 9:10 am. Some effects of being late to school include:

• Missing out on important learning: It's like walking in late to a movie and you're confused about what the plot is.
• Embarrassment
• Disrupting the learning of the rest of the class
• Receiving fewer hours of instruction 
• Establishing bad punctuality habits
• Negatively impacting future work ethic and employment opportunities

Thank you for working to ensure your child is at school before 9:10 am.

A message from our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Please join us on Friday, March 21st at 9:30am for a Family Coffee & Conversation on Kids & Tech.  We will be sharing tips and resources for helping your children build healthy digital habits, limiting screen time and talking about social media with your kids. Please let us know you can come by filling out this short form.

2025 FCPS Family Summit - Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging.

This in-person summit will be held on Saturday, March 15th, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston, VA 20191.  We invite you to join us as we come together to create a safer, more supportive, and inclusive community for all. Childcare will be provided during both the morning and afternoon sessions. Special education staff will be available to care for children with high support needs.  Language interpretation will be provided. For more information, please visit our website.  Register here for the Family Summit

Meet the Sandburg Middle School Family Liaison via Zoom on March 11th from 6:00-7:00 pm.

In this event, families can:  Ask questions about school staff, counselor contacts, communications, caregiver supports and volunteer opportunities. Get suggestions on staying engaged during middle school and get to know the family liaison, Ms. Arlene Tunon, so families can know a friendly face in the school. Submit questions for the liaison here before the event, or they can ask during the Zoom meeting. There will be simultaneous interpretation in Spanish. Zoom Information: Meeting ID: 978 9226 4445 Passcode: 943455

Kindergarten Orientation-March 10th @3pm

PTA Meeting-March 11th @6:30pm

Family Coffee-Kids and Tech-March 21 @9:30am

Art Show-April 4 @6-7:30pm

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

 

Quick Links

• FCPS School Year Calendars
• Forms for the Start of School
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• FCPS Schoology Support
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• Educate Fairfax
• FCPS Cares 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name: Angela Klopson

Position: 3rd grade teacher 

Years in FCPS/Education: 12th year at Belle View; 19th year teaching; 

Interest/hobbies: reading, running, hiking, biking, paddling

Favorite Children’s Book: The Lorax; The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

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A Message from the Principal

Dear Belle View Families,

Happy Ramadan for those who celebrate!

This past week, we sent 10 students from our Student Council to the "Future of FCPS Student Food Show" at the Dulles Marriott.  Student were able to taste culinary creations from high school students who used FCPS nutritional requirements, stayed within a budget, experimented with ethnic cuisines to create new lunch options for our FCPS cafeterias.  We also had the 6th grade members of Bobcat News Show take a field trip to ABC News 7 to learn about careers in journalism and broadcasting!

As I mentioned last week, we will start our March attendance challenge.  We encourage all students to attend school every day.

I hope to see everyone at our Books and Beyond Event this Thursday evening!

Proud Principal, 

 

Katie Pluntke 

 

Books and Beyond Family Event-THIS THURSDAY!

Get ready to embark on a literary adventure with your loved ones at Belle View Elementary's Family Books and Beyond! We invite you to join us for an evening filled with bookmark decorating, the Scholastic Book Fair, interactive activities, and stories. We can’t wait to see you there! Details are included below. 

 

📖 Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025

🕕 Time: 5:30-7:00 pm 

📍 Location: Belle View Elementary School

 

Point of Contact: Becka Borasky ([email protected])

Dear Parents and Families:

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Belle View Book Fair. This annual event is an opportunity for students of all ages to build their home libraries and further their love of reading. As always, all purchases benefit our school.

Here’s what you need to know about the Fair, which will take place from March 3-7 in the BVES library:

We need parent volunteers to make this event happen!

Click here to sign up for a volunteer spot. This is a great way to support our students and get to know our school community.

• Student preview day will be on Monday 3/7. All classrooms will visit the Fair during the school day to build their book wish list. No sales will take place.
• You can send in cash with your child to shop the Fair March 4-7 or set up a Scholastic e-wallet on our Book Fair homepage. Click here to get started.
• We will have a family night on Thursday 3/6 from 5-7 pm. Families can shop the fair and purchase books to help teachers stock their classrooms.

We’re excited to celebrate our love of books together at the Book Fair. We look forward to seeing your child there!

 

– The Belle View Elementary School Parent Teacher Association

Students have read "The Kindness Snippets Jar", by Diane Alber for their monthly guidance lessons with Ms. Sheckels and each student contributed a kindness snippet for school staff to take when they are having a bad day or need a pep talk! 

Thank you, Ms. Sheckels, for teaching our students that kindness can be very simple and make a huge difference.  

• 📖 Supporting Academic Growth and Reading on Level by Third GradeThe FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget invests in academic growth and excellence for each and every student, which is one of the priorities of the FCPS Strategic Plan. 

Across FCPS, teachers, staff, parents, and even older students are invested in helping our youngest learners grow their love of reading from a strong foundation. 

The goal is for students to move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” by the end of the third grade. Reading on grade level is connected to other Strategic Plan goals, including completing advanced coursework and graduating on time. 

Last fall, FCPS introduced a new reading curriculum that aligns with evidence-based literacy instruction. Between fall and winter, reading screener results show more than a 4% increase in the number of students in kindergarten to third grade approaching or meeting expectations. Similarly, 3.4% more third graders demonstrate strong foundations of reading and 8.4% more third graders are mastering grade-level standards. 

Discover how an elementary school employs a science-based approach, including phonics, to supercharge students' reading.

Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Advertised Budget. View the Budget Development Calendar to stay up to date.

 

• 🌟 Your child deserves the best teachers, safe schools, and the resources to achieve their highest academic potential! On Feb. 20, the School Board unanimously approved the FY 2026 Advertised Budget to invest in what works: competitive salaries to attract top educators, expanded learning opportunities, and school safety improvements.

Now, it’s time for the next step! The budget moves to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, with opportunities for the community to provide feedback from Feb. 24 through April, before a final vote in May.

📖 Learn more about the FY 2026 Advertised Budget: bit.ly/26AdvBudgetFCPS 

📊 See the budget documents and timeline: bit.ly/FCPS-FY2026-Budget 

#InvestInExcellence

🐻 It’s Kindergarten Orientation Time at Belle View! March 10th at 3:00pm Get ready for summer!

 

Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us prepare and ensure we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school. 

Families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms on the FCPS kindergarten registration webpage. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the kindergarten registration webpage.

✨ A strong start is Goal 1 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

Belle View Kindergarten Orientation is March 10th @3pm

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child and on Purple Up! Day! 

Due to schools being out for spring break, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. The color purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military. 

FCPS Purple Up! t-shirts are available for purchase until Friday, March 7, 2025, through Custom Ink.

The shirts highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our over 13,500 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS! 

A message from our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Registration is opening soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.

Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Summer Camps

Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts camps (IFTA) will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration begins for these programs on Monday, March 10, and ends Friday, June 6. Scholarships are available for students

Tech Adventure Camp is a week-long exploratory camp for current K-5 students. It offers a range of activities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), as well as in culinary arts, health, trades, and business and marketing. CTE Summer Academy is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration.

IFTA is a two- or three-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, Health and Physical Education 9 (graduation requirement), music, and theater. E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes.

 

Registration also opens soon for Camp Fairfax! 

Camp Fairfax is a weekly summer camp located in public schools and community centers throughout Fairfax County for rising 1st - 7th grade children. Each weekly session offers the opportunity for children to explore their creativity and develop their talents and skills. Camp Fairfax also provides opportunities for children to develop friendships, enjoy time outdoors, and participate in field trips. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack are provided. A sliding fee scale is available. Registration begins the week of March 10, based on the location name. Please visit the Camp Fairfax website for locations and registration information.  

 

Questions about these or other summer programs? Please contact Family Liaison, Amy Garcia, [email protected], call/text 571-501-8170, or by Talking Points.

Book Fair-March 3-7th

Books and Beyond/Book Fair Family Night-March 6 from 5:30-7pm

Kindergarden Orientation-March 10th @3pm

PTA Meeting-March 11th @6:30

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

Stay tuned for book fair sign-ups and volunteer opportunities.  Book Fair is March 3-7th.

Quick Links

• FCPS School Year Calendars
• Forms for the Start of School
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• FCPS Schoology Support
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• Educate Fairfax
• FCPS Cares 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name:Taylor Mutchler

Position:5th Grade AAP

Years in FCPS/Education: 8

Interest/hobbies:Hiking, hockey, concerts, cuddling with my cats.

Favorite Children’s Book: How to Train Your Dragon

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

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A Message from the Principal

Dear Belle View Families,

It is hard to believe we are coasting into the month of March in just a few days.  March is a month with nearly every week with 5 full days of school!  Our only early day is Monday, March 10th and it a 3-hour early release. 

 In March, we will also be kicking off another attendance challenge, "Let's Make March Magical".  Being present in school is so important.  Our students work so hard daily, and we love when our entire community is at school each day!

Proud Principal,

Katie Pluntke 

 

Books and Beyond Family Event

Get ready to embark on a literary adventure with your loved ones at Belle View Elementary's Family Books and Beyond! We invite you to join us for an evening filled with bookmark decorating, the Scholastic Book Fair, interactive activities, and stories. We can’t wait to see you there! Details are included below. 

 

📖 Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025

🕕 Time: 5:30-7:00 pm 

📍 Location: Belle View Elementary School

 

Point of Contact: Becka Borasky ([email protected])

Dear Parents and Families:

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming Belle View Book Fair. This annual event is an opportunity for students of all ages to build their home libraries and further their love of reading. As always, all purchases benefit our school.

Here’s what you need to know about the Fair, which will take place from March 3-7 in the BVES library:

We need parent volunteers to make this event happen!

Click here to sign up for a volunteer spot. This is a great way to support our students and get to know our school community.

• Student preview day will be on Monday 3/7. All classrooms will visit the Fair during the school day to build their book wish list. No sales will take place.
• You can send in cash with your child to shop the Fair March 4-7 or set up a Scholastic e-wallet on our Book Fair homepage. Click here to get started.
• We will have a family night on Thursday 3/6 from 5-7 pm. Families can shop the fair and purchase books to help teachers stock their classrooms.

We’re excited to celebrate our love of books together at the Book Fair. We look forward to seeing your child there!

 

– The Belle View Elementary School Parent Teacher Association

🐻 It’s Kindergarten Orientation Time! March 10th at 3:00pm

 

Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us prepare and ensure we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school. 

Families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms on the FCPS kindergarten registration webpage. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the kindergarten registration webpage.

✨ A strong start is Goal 1 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

Belle View Kindergarten Orientation is March 10th @3pm

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child and on Purple Up! Day! 

Due to schools being out for spring break, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. The color purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military. 

FCPS Purple Up! t-shirts are available for purchase until Friday, March 7, 2025, through Custom Ink.

The shirts highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our over 13,500 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS! 

A message from our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Please join our School Based Technology Specialist, Ms. Charity Risko, for a Virtual Office Hour on Schoology and ParentVUE on Wednesday, February, 26th from 6:00-7:00 pm. We will have a brief ParentVUE and Schoology presentation followed by plenty of time for questions. Please join us anytime in the hour.  Spanish translation will be available. The Zoom link to join the meeting will be sent by Talking Points on February 25. Questions? Please contact Amy Garcia, Family Liaison, [email protected] or call/text 571-501-8170.

All Belle View Families are invited to the Capital Area Food Bank Free Fresh Food Market on Wednesday, February 26 at Bucknell Elementary School (6925 University Drive, Alexandria, VA 22307). Distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables will begin at 10:30am and continue until the food is gone. We will be at the back of the school, Door #9. Bring your own bags. Please contact Amy Garcia, Family Liaison, [email protected], (cell) 571-501-8170, if you have any questions.

Student Engagement Survey

Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

All students in grades 3-6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 24. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 24, and Friday, March 7. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out on 2/3 if you choose. 

We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

Book Fair-March 3-7th

Books and Beyond/Book Fair Family Night-March 6 from 5:30-7pm

Kindergarden Orientation-March 10th @3pm

PTA Meeting-March 11th @6:30

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

Stay tuned for book fair sign ups and volunteer opportunities.  Book Fair is March 3-7th.

Quick Links

• FCPS School Year Calendars
• Forms for the Start of School
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• FCPS Schoology Support
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• Educate Fairfax
• FCPS Cares 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

 

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

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A Message from the Principal

Dear Belle View Families,
I hope you are enjoying your long President's Day Weekend! Looks like we may be in for some more snow this week, please continue to look out for FCPS delays or closures online or through our social media platforms.

This month, students are learning about the contributions of African Americans in historical, political, entrepreneurial, and artistic aspects during Black History Month.  

Our staff and students had a blast this week celebrating our 100th day of school and Valentine's Spirit Week!  Check out our Belle View Elementary Facebook page for pictures!

Proud Principal,

Katie Pluntke 

 

Books and Beyond Family Event

Get ready to embark on a literary adventure with your loved ones at Belle View Elementary's Family Books and Beyond! We invite you to join us for an evening filled with bookmark decorating, the Scholastic Book Fair, interactive activities, and stories. We can’t wait to see you there! Details are included below. 

 

📖 Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025

🕕 Time: 5:30-7:00 pm 

📍 Location: Belle View Elementary School

 

Point of Contact: Becka Borasky ([email protected])

🐻 It’s Kindergarten Orientation Time! March 10th at 3:00pm

 

Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us prepare and ensure we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school. 

Families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms on the FCPS kindergarten registration webpage. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the kindergarten registration webpage.

✨ A strong start is Goal 1 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

Belle View Kindergarten Orientation is March 10th @3pm

First Class Awards Nominations

The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is seeking nominations for the 2025 First-Class Awards. The First-Class Awards are presented annually to individuals who support, design, and/or implement inclusion activities that result in positive student outcomes. This is a great opportunity for the community to recognize and celebrate the inclusion efforts of educators, administrators, and students who demonstrate inclusion of students with disabilities in all facets of education. 

Nominees should demonstrate the following skills/criteria:

• Modelling excellence in their role relative to special education
• Positive impact that benefits disabled and non-disabled students alike
• Commitment to creating an inclusive environment and mindset

Up to 14 awards in the seven categories include:

1. Elementary: Teacher, Administrator, Student and School Support Staff (instructional assistant (IA), office staff, librarian, bus driver, cafeteria worker, etc.)
2. Middle, High School & Secondary: Teacher, Administrator, Student and School Support Staff (IA, office staff, librarian, bus driver, cafeteria worker, etc.)
3. Central Office: Any FCPS central office staff member (superintendent, assistant superintendent, executive principal, director, coordinator, specialist, resource teacher, administrative support, etc.)
4. Specialty Program Staff: Anyone assigned to a public day school, alternative school, home based instruction, or other FCPS educational program not clearly defined as an elementary, middle, high, or secondary school
5. Specialist: Professional staff categorized as related service providers (speech language pathologist, counselor, occupational therapist, physical therapist, itinerant, etc.)
6. Team: Any team of two or more staff members who work together to support special education students, whether directly or indirectly. This award is not specific to a role, it may be awarded to any staff team (ex. administrators, teachers, related services, etc.)
7. Community Partner: Any person or organization not employed by FCPS which contributes to excellence in special education

Complete this form to nominate an administrator, a staff member, or a student who has made an exceptional contribution to inclusive practices in Fairfax County Public Schools. Nominations close on February 19, 2025. Contact Diana Ree-Reeder ([email protected]) for more information.

 

FCPS Budget 2026

• FCPS Proposed Budget Progress

The Fairfax County School Board discussed the FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget at their work session on February 4. They discussed details regarding student enrollment and investments in students requiring additional support, market comparison data for surrounding school divisions, and an update on progress toward achieving the Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence. Baldrige is a framework used to assess and improve organizational performance across various sectors, including education. 

The School Board also held a public hearing on February 4, where they invited the community to share their feedback on the proposed budget.

 

On Tuesday, February 18, the Fairfax County executive will present the county’s Advertised Budget, and the School Board will hold a work session on FCPS’ FY 2026 Proposed Budget. View the Budget Development Calendar.

• Breaking Down the Budget More than 85% of the budget is dedicated to instruction and reflects the needs of our community’s young people in response to the changing world around us. Budget priorities include providing competitive compensation for all employees, including a 7% salary increase for all staff.  

Our families want their children in high-quality schools with the best teachers who provide rigorous academic experiences. FCPS must provide competitive compensation to attract and retain our outstanding educators, administrators, and other school-based and operational staff dedicated to the success of our students. 

The proposed 7% salary increase would likely move FCPS to the highest starting salary for teachers with a master's degree among our neighboring counties and greatly improve our recruitment efforts amidst an ongoing teacher shortage. Visit the Budget webpage for more information. 

Love our staff as much as I do?  Please nominate a staff member for and FCPS cares award. 

FCPS Cares Nomination

A message from our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

School Based Technology Specialist, Ms. Risko and Family Liaison, Ms. Garcia, will be hosting Virtual Schoology/ParentVUE Office Hours on Wednesday, February 26th from 6:00-7:00 pm. We will have a brief ParentVUE and Schoology presentation followed by plenty of time for questions. Please join us anytime in the hour.  Spanish translation will be available. The Zoom link to join the meeting will be sent by Talking Points on February 25. Questions? Please contact Amy Garcia, Family Liaison, [email protected] or call/text 571-501-8170.

FCPS’ Chief Equity Office invites the community to an Inaugural Black History Month Kickoff Celebration on Wednesday, February 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Carter G. Woodson High School.  The event begins with a light reception followed by a formal program, From the Threads of Our Past to the Fabric of Our Future. The program will honor the enduring contributions of Black history and culture while envisioning a future rooted in equity and excellence. It will include inspiring performances, personal stories, reflections, and opportunities to connect and celebrate. The event is open to the entire community. 

🤧 Protect Yourself and Your Community From the Flu

Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department. 

The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:    

• Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
• Clean frequently touched surfaces.

According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school. 

Student Engagement Survey

Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

All students in grades 3-6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 24. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 24, and Friday, March 7. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out on 2/3 if you choose. 

We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

Book Fair-March 3-7th

Books and Beyond/Book Fair Family Night-March 6 from 5:30-7pm

Kindergarden Orientation-March 10th @3pm

PTA Meeting-March 11th @6:30

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

Stay tuned for book fair sign ups and volunteer opportunities.  Book Fair is March 3-7th.

Quick Links

• FCPS School Year Calendars
• Forms for the Start of School
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• FCPS Schoology Support
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• Educate Fairfax
• FCPS Cares 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name: Maureen Shelley

Position: 5th Grade

Years in FCPS/Education: 17 years in all!  15 years in NJ and 2 years in FCPS.

Interest/hobbies: I love dogs, reading, going for walks, and being at the beach. 

Favorite Children’s Book: I can’t choose, but I can narrow it down to two.  Skinnybones by Barbara Park and Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor.

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

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A Message from the Principal

Dear Belle View Families, 

REMINDER: Dismissal is at 12:55 TODAY!

February brings a lot of celebrations. 

Students will be learning about many of the cultural, entrepreneurial, musical, and historical contribution of African Americans this month as we celebrate and honor Black History Month.  

This week primary classrooms will be celebrating their 100th day of school!  Baring no snow, the 100th day of school is this Wednesday, February 12th.  This is a fun filled day to connect with classmates, explore ways to make 100, envision what it would be like to be 100 years old, and celebrate all that has been accomplished in 100 days of school. 

We also have an SCA sponsored spirt week. Please see the flyer below.  We look forward to seeing our staff and students spread the love this week!

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Proud Principal,

Katie Pluntke 

 

4th Grade Feature!

Belle View's 4th grade was featured in this months issue of "Advance Academics Connection". 

The students engaged in a Socratic Seminar classroom discussion technique. 

Awesome Job, 4th Grade Team and Ms. Betz

Books and Beyond Family Event

Get ready to embark on a literary adventure with your loved ones at Belle View Elementary's Family Books and Beyond! We invite you to join us for an evening filled with bookmark decorating, the Scholastic Book Fair, interactive activities, and stories. We can’t wait to see you there! Details are included below. 

 

📖 Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025

🕕 Time: 5:30-7:00 pm 

📍 Location: Belle View Elementary School

 

Point of Contact: Becka Borasky ([email protected])

SCA Sprit Week-February 10th-14th

Love our staff as much as I do?  Please nominate a staff member for and FCPS cares award. 

FCPS Cares Nomination

A message from our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Weekend Snack Pack Program

We participate with Food for Others and Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church to provide free weekend snack packs to students to take home on Fridays.  The weekend snack bag contains two breakfast items, two lunch items and several snacks. If you would like your children to receive a food pack each week, please email Family Liaison, Amy Garcia, [email protected], or call/text 571-501-8170 to be added to the list.  Due to the limited number of bags we receive, we may not be able to meet all families requests. 

If you need assistance getting additional food for your family, please contact our Family Liaison, Amy Garcia. You may also contact Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care. 

All Belle View families are invited to the Free Family Food Market at Whitman Middle School on Wednesday, February 12. Distribution begins at 3:00pm until the food is gone. The next Free Family Food Market at Bucknell Elementary School will be on Wednesday, February 26 at 10:30 a.m. 

There is still time to enroll in the Free Family Workshop Loving Solutions.  Classes meet Tuesdays at Hybla Valley Elementary School, starting Tuesday, February 11, from 6:30-8:30pm for 10 weeks.  Dinner (at 6:00pm) and childcare will be provided. The class is offered in English. Get tools to learn how to improve communication and boost self-esteem and support strong-willed children in a positive and loving way. Sign up today by completing this form. Please contact Family Liaison, Amy Garcia, [email protected] if you have any questions or need help registering.  

Building Stronger Families, an Office in the Fairfax County Department of Family Services has virtual and in person parenting classes and monthly Virtual Parent Cafes.  The next free Virtual Parent Café will be held Tuesday, February 11, 6:30 to 8 p.m. to discuss Understanding the Dynamics of Cyberbullying, Technology and our Youth. Join us for this presentation by PEATC—Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center to discuss the types of cyberbullying, learn the warning signs, and explore the motivations of those who engage in cyberbullying. We hope to provide attendees with tips and strategies to address cyberbullying when individuals with disabilities are involved. Parents or caregivers of children 0-18 can join in through Zoom. For more information, email or call 703-324-7720. 

Thank you to the families who joined our January Family Coffee and Conversation with the Belle View Wellness Team.  You can view the presentation here. Please check out student wellness resources here. If you need assistance finding additional resources please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Family Liaison, Amy Garcia, [email protected]. If you have questions about how we support student wellness at Belle View you can email our School Counselor, Ms. Sheckels at [email protected].

 

Make Sure Your Children Are Up-to-Date on ImmunizationsPlease make sure your child has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy!

Starting Monday, May 19, students who have not provided proof of immunization may not be allowed to attend school. You can check your child’s immunization status and submit updated immunization information by accessing SIS ParentVUE. 

Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources. Be wise and immunize!

Student Engagement Survey

Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

All students in grades 3-6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 24. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 24, and Friday, March 7. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out on 2/3 if you choose. 

We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

 

TODAY!  Early Release Monday-Monday, 2/10 12:55 Dismissal

 

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

Stay tuned for book fair sign ups and volunteer opportunities.  Book Fair is March 3-7th.

Quick Links

• FCPS School Year Calendars
• Forms for the Start of School
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• FCPS Schoology Support
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• Educate Fairfax
• FCPS Cares 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name: Becka Borasky

Position: Reading Specialist

Years in FCPS/Education: 11 years at Belle View, Penn State alumn!

Interest/hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, reading, walking with my bernedoodle (Shiloh), watching football (Go Birds and Nittany Lion!) and traveling!

Favorite Children’s Book: Love You Forever

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

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A Message from the Principal

Dear Belle View Families, 

It was so much fun to see so many of our students and families join is for the Winter Dance.  Thank you to the PTA for hosting such an amazing event. 

This week, we celebrate National School Counselors Week.  Belle View is so lucky to have Ms. Sheckels as our school counselor.  She works so hard to make sure the social-emotional needs of all of our students are met!

This Wednesday, students will be bringing home their 2nd quarter progress reports. Please take a moment to celebrate your child's progress and talk about perseverance and motivation for a 3rd and 4th quarters.

Next Monday, February 10th is a 3-hour early release Monday. Dismissal is at 12:55. If you have a childcare hardship for that day, please email Ms. Lehner at [email protected].

I also hope to see many parents join us tomorrow, Tuesday 2/3 for the PTA meeting in the library at 6:30 to learn about all things Benchmark.

Proud Principal,

Katie Pluntke 

 

 

 

NEXT MONDAY!!  

February 10th. Early Release.

Dismissal is at 12:55

Childcare hardship? Please email Ms. Lehner at 

[email protected] 

THIS FRIDAY! 6th Grade Parent Coffee-Middle School Transition

Come join us for coffee and conversation with a Carl Sandburg Middle School Representative

Friday, February 7th 9:30-10:30 in the Cafeteria

Love our staff as much as I do?  Please nominate a staff member for and FCPS cares award. 

FCPS Cares Nomination

 

On behalf of myself and the PTA I would just like to say thank you to everyone who donated to the staff breakfast. Your generosity was greatly appreciated, especially by the teachers and staff who were all greatly touched by the love and support shown to them by the Belle View Community.

The event was an overwhelming success and I received many thank yous from the teachers and staff and just wanted to pass those thanks on to everyone. Personally, I would like to thank everyone as well, without your kind donations of food and drinks the event would not have been possible.

Sincerely,

Jeff Foltz 

A message from our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Please join us for the 6th Grade Parents Coffee and Conversation on Friday, February 7th from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the cafeteria. The 6th grade team and staff from Sandburg Middle School will lead a discussion and answer questions about your child’s transition to middle school. Please let us know you are coming by completing this form. Questions? Contact Amy Garcia, Family Liaison, [email protected].

Fairfax County Public Schools is offering a free 10-week parenting class called Loving Solutions. The class teaches concrete strategies to address difficult behaviors, including positive reinforcement, setting clear limits, and effective communication. Learn to support strong-willed children in a positive and loving way. The class is being held weekly, beginning Tuesday, February 11, from 6:30-8:30pm. The workshop is offered in English. Dinner (starting at 6:00pm) and childcare are provided. Register today using this form. Questions or need help registering? Please contact Amy Garcia, Family Liaison, [email protected] or call/text 571-501-8170.

 

📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost for all FCPS Students K-12

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors. 

Third Grade learning about water conservation. 

Coming Soon...Student Engagement Survey

Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

All students in grades 3-6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 24. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 24, and Friday, March 7. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out on 2/3 if you choose. 

We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

PTA Meeting-Tuesday, 2/4 All About Benchmark Reading Program for grades K-6.

6th Grade Parent Coffee-Friday, 2/7 9:30 AM

Early Release Monday-Monday, 2/10 12:55 Dismissal

 

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

 

PTA Meeting, Tuesday, February 4th at 6:30 pm in the library, featuring Mrs. Borasky, our reading specialist to discuss Benchmark curriculum and more. 

Quick Links

• FCPS School Year Calendars
• Forms for the Start of School
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• FCPS Schoology Support
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• Educate Fairfax
• FCPS Cares 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name:Lindsay Ahart

Position: 1st grade teacher

Years in FCPS/Education: 5 with FCPS, 18 in education

Interest/hobbies:stand up paddleboarding, sailing, surfing, hydrangeas, art, chocolate, movies, travel, country concerts, LA sports, my church and MY FAMILY!

Favorite Children’s Book: The Day the Crayons Quit

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

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A Message from the Principal

Dear Belle View Families, 

We made it through the darkest days of winter!  

Looks like sunshine and some higher temperatures for next week as we close out Quarter 2 here at Belle View.  Tuesday, 1/28 is the final day of the quarter and is a full day of school.  Wednesday, 1/29 is a teacher workday and a student holiday. We will end our week with the amazing PTA sponsored Winter Dance on Friday, 1/31.  Please see the flyer below and we look forward to seeing you and your student at the dance. 

This month, families of students who took any Standards of Learning (SOL) test between school years 2015-16 and 2023-24 will receive a Student Assessment Summary Report. The report shows a student’s state percentile ranking for each test. This allows families to see how their child ranked compared to all Virginia students who took the same test that year. 

Reports are available now in SIS ParentVUE Documents. We will distribute them to students whose families do not have ParentVUE access. Learn how to access ParentVUE. 

The report is intended to help families reflect on how their child performed across all tested subjects over the years. Our staff members are committed to working with families to help every student reach their highest potential. Learn more about student assessments in FCPS.

And as always, thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Proud Principal,

Katie Pluntke 

 

 

  THIS WEDNESDAY!! No school for students.

 Please note that school will be closed for students on Wednesday, January 29th for a teacher workday. It's a few weeks away, but it's a day off in the middle of the week which might catch families off guard. 

Love our staff as much as I do?  Please nominate a staff member for and FCPS cares award. 

FCPS Cares Nomination

PTA Sponsored Staff Breakfast January 31st

The Second quarter Staff Appreciation Breakfast is coming soon.  Please consider donating food items or a few minutes of your time to help run a successful staff breakfast. 

Sign Up Here!

We need help setting up, making/taking in food, and cleaning up! 

Please drop off food beginning at 7:30a.m.-8:15 am. Please drop off items in the staff lounge down stairs. 

For any questions please contact Jeff Foltz through email [email protected]

A message from our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Family Coffee with the Belle View Wellness Team

Please join us for coffee and conversation with the School Counselor, Social Worker and Psychologist on Tuesday, January 28 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Learn what we are doing to support student wellness at Belle View. You will leave with mental health resources, tips and strategies you can use at home. Spanish interpretation will be available. Please let us know you are coming by signing up here.  Questions? Contact Amy Garcia, Family Liaison, [email protected] or call/text 571-501-8170.

Summer Camps 2025

Please check out this Guide to Summer Camps 2025 for information on Fairfax County Public School summer programs, Fairfax County Park Authority Camps and offerings from Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services including Therapeutic Recreation Camps.  Please email Family Liaison, Amy Garcia, [email protected] with any questions.

 

The Fairfax County Park Authority offers a large selection of spring and summer break day camps for kids aged 3-16. Registration for these camps starts Tuesday, February 4th or Thursday, February 6th, at 9:00 a.m., depending on the location of the camp. Find the location lists here. Create or update/recover your account prior to February 3 at 9:00pm.  Many popular camps fill up quickly! Please check the camp website for the most updated information and contact the camps team at [email protected] with additional questions. Summer camps are scheduled for the newly renovated Mount Vernon Rec Center.

 

February Webinars at the Family Resource Center

Interpretation available for all webinars.

Feb 7, 10-11:30 a.m.: Understand Executive Function Milestones, Challenges, & Implement Effective Strategies at Home for Children in Upper Elementary (3-6)

We will present information on understanding your child’s developmental milestones, recognizing signs of executive dysfunction, and implementing effective strategies to support their learning at home and in school. Register Here

Feb 14, 10-11:30 a.m.: Comprendiendo el Trama en su Hijo (presented in Spanish: Understanding Trauma in Your Child)Aprendemos sobre el Trauma en este semanario de web de 3 partes y sobre los diferentes tipos de trauma, las respuestas naturales y los efectos que esto puede tener tanto en los niños como en los padres y estrategias que los padres pueden usar para apoyar a sus hijos. Register Here

Feb 18, 10-11:30 a.m. FCPS Risk Prevention Series: Part 1 Risk Prevention Review how FCPS Risk Prevention processes and procedures support a safe and healthy school community. Learn about risks assessments when a child expresses threats of harm to self and threats of harm to others and/or demonstrates concerning behaviors. Register Here

Feb 21, 10-11:30 a.m. Nurturing Adolescent Growth: Part 4 - Supporting Mental Health: Recognizing and Addressing Anxiety and Depression in Teens Dr. Jain will help caretakers and families be able to identify mental health symptoms, enhance communication skills, and explore professional and self-care strategies. Register Here

Feb 22, 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m. SibShops:For children grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have a sibling with a disability. It is an opportunity to meet other siblings in a relaxed setting. Sully Community Center, 13800 Wall Road Herndon, Virginia Register Here

Feb 25, 10-11:30 a.m. FCPS Risk Prevention Series: Suicide Prevention – Supporting Your Child This session will equip caregivers with the knowledge and skills to identify signs of suicidal ideation in their children and respond effectively to these crises. Register Here

 

Lunar New Year 2025, the Year of the Snake!

Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays among East and Southeast Asian cultures. It is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar, which begins on Jan 29 this year. Lunar New Year is a celebration of community. During this time, families gather to eat feasts and practice cultural traditions. Many celebrations are happening in our area!  The Asian Community Service Center, a non profit organization, will be hosting their annual Chinese New Year Festival on Saturday, January 25 from 10am-5:30 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School. There will be traditional dances, musical performances, arts and crafts, children’s games and ethnic cuisines. Children aged 6-12 are $2, Adults $5. Children under 6 are free. Visit the Chinese New Year Festivalwebsite for more information. There is also a free Lunar New Year Celebration in Old Town Alexandria, featuring family-friendly activities, live cultural performances, and more on Saturday, January 25 from 12 - 4pm at the ALX Community -Atrium. Pre-registration is required for all guests. Visitthe event website for more information and to register.  

 

📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost for all FCPS Students K-12

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors. 

PLEASE NOTE: The dance is NOT a drop off event.  All students must be accompanied by an adult and the adult must remain for the duration of the event. Students must remain indoors for the event.  There is no supervision on the blacktop or playground areas. 

Coming Soon...Student Engagement Survey

Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

All students in grades 3-6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 24. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 24, and Friday, March 7. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out on 2/3 if you choose. 

We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

 

Tuesday, January 28-Family Coffee with our school wellness team 9:30-10:30am in the cafeteria

Tuesday, January 28-End of Quarter 2

Wednesday, January 29- Teacher Workday. No school for students

Friday, January 31-Winter Dance sponsored by the PTA

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

 

PTA Meeting, Tuesday, February 4th at 6:30 pm in the library, featuring Mrs. Borasky, our reading specialist to discuss Benchmark curriculum and more. 

Quick Links

• FCPS School Year Calendars
• Forms for the Start of School
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• FCPS Schoology Support
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• Educate Fairfax
• FCPS Cares 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name: Claire Taylor

Position: 4th Grade

Years in FCPS/Education: This will be my second year as a teacher at Belle View. I am a Purdue Alum BOILER UP!!

Interest/hobbies:

Spending time with family, Doing Puzzles, Being Outside, Watching Sports

Favorite Children’s Book:

Richard Scarry’s Cars and Trucks and Things that Go

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

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A Message from the Principal

Dear Belle View Families, 

I hope you all are enjoying this sunny, yet bitter cold Martin Luther King and Inauguration Day holiday weekend!  Temperatures over the course of the next few days are well below freezing so please make sure your child has appropriate winter clothing. If your child is in need of a coat or other outdoor clothing items, please reach out to our office or school counselor.

As a reminder, if you are interested in knowing more about curriculum changes, division wide assessing, and the VA Literacy-Benchmark Advance resources, please plan to attend the February 4th PTA meeting and email me directly with specific questions at [email protected]. 

See you all tomorrow at the View!

Proud Principal,

Katie Pluntke 

 

 

  Upcoming Teacher Workday Reminder

 Please note that school will be closed for students on Wednesday, January 29th for a teacher workday. It's a few weeks away, but it's a day off in the middle of the week which might catch families off guard. 

PTA Sponsored Staff Breakfast January 31st

The Second quarter Staff Appreciation Breakfast is coming soon.  Please consider donating food items or a few minutes of your time to help run a successful staff breakfast. 

Sign Up Here!

We need help setting up, making/taking in food, and cleaning up! 

Please drop off food beginning at 7:30a.m.-8:15 am. Please drop off items in the staff lounge down stairs. 

For any questions please contact Jeff Foltz through email [email protected]

A messge from our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

 

Family Coffee with the Belle View Wellness Team

Please join us for coffee and conversation with the School Counselor, Social Worker and Psychologist on Tuesday, January 28 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Learn what we are doing to support student wellness at Belle View. You will leave with mental health resources, tips and strategies you can use at home. Spanish interpretation will be available. Please let us know you are coming by signing up here.  Questions? Contact Amy Garcia, Family Liaison, [email protected] or call/text 571-501-8170.

 

Free Fresh Market 

Belle View Families are invited to the Capital Area Food Bank Free Fresh Food Market on Wednesday, January 22 at Bucknell Elementary School (6925 University Drive, Alexandria, VA 22307). Distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables will begin at 10:30am and continue until the food is gone. We will be at the back of the school, Door #9. Bring your own bags. Volunteers are needed to help with distribution and breaking down boxes.  Please contact Amy Garcia, Family Liaison, [email protected], (cell) 571-501-8170, if you can help or if you have any questions.

 

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. 

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.

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Midyear Assessments-Reminder

As we near the halfway point in the school year, we will doing some assessments with students in January to see their progress. Students in Grades 1-6 will be taking the math iReady assessment in January. Our multi-lingual learners will be assessed in their listening, reading, writing and speaking skills through the WIDA test. And our primary grade students will have a midpoint assessment in language arts using the VALLSS.  

📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost for all FCPS Students K-12

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors. 

 

 

Monday, January 20-School closed for MLK Jr Holiday

Tuesday, January 28-Family Coffee with our school wellness team 9:30-10:30am in the cafeteria

Tuesday, January 28-End of Quarter 2

Wednesday, January 29- Teacher Workday. No school for students

Friday, January 31-Winter Dance sponsored by the PTA

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

 

PTA Meeting, Tuesday, February 4th at 6:30 pm in the library, featuring Mrs. Borasky, our reading specialist to discuss Benchmark curriculum and more. 

Quick Links

• FCPS School Year Calendars
• Forms for the Start of School
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• FCPS Schoology Support
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• Educate Fairfax
• FCPS Cares 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name: Ficela Espinoza

Position: LD Instructional Assistant 5th and 6th

Years in FCPS/Education: This is my 26 years at Belle View.

Interest/hobbies: spending time with my family and my dogs, traveling back home (El Salvador),and watch television.

Favorite Children’s Book: "I Like Myself" by Karen Beamont.

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

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A Message from the Principal

Welcome back officially! It was hard to believe that we had nearly a whole week off for snow!  Friday was a short day, but a wonderful day to get back into routines and catch up with teachers and classmates. 

January will mark the final weeks of the second quarter of school.  We are nearly halfway through the year already! Daily attendance will continue to be important, especially with the changes in weather and schedules.  Please continue to plan vacations and trips during schedule FCPS holidays so that we can ensure your children are learning every day we are here.

As a reminder, if you are interested in knowing more about curriculum changes, division wide assessing, and the VA Literacy-Benchmark Advance resources, please plan to attend the 2/4 PTA meeting and log any questions Here.

Proud Principal,

Katie Pluntke 

 

 

  Upcoming Holidays

Next Monday, January 20th, all schools & offices will be closed for the MLK Jr federal holiday. Please note that school will be closed for students on Wednesday, January 29th for a teacher workday. It's a few weeks away, but it's a day off in the middle of the week which might catch families off guard. 

A messge from our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Date Change! Family Coffee with the Belle View Wellness Team has been moved to Tuesday, January 28 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Please join us for coffee and conversation with the School Counselor, Social Worker and Psychologist. Learn what we are doing to support student wellness at Belle View. You will leave with mental health resources, tips and strategies you can use at home. Spanish interpretation will be available.

 

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. 

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.

dit this placeholder text.

Midyear Assessments

As we near the halfway point in the school year, we will doing some assessments with students in January to see their progress. Students in Grades 1-6 will be taking the math iReady assessment in January. Our multi-lingual learners will be assessed in their listening, reading, writing and speaking skills through the WIDA test. And our primary grade students will have a midpoint assessment in language arts using the VALLSS.  

📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost for all FCPS Students K-12

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors. 

Attention: Rising 7th Grade Families What's Happening?

 

Thursday, January 16-Sandburg Middle School Electives Fair 6:00-7:30pm

Monday, January 20-School closed for MLK Jr Holiday

Tuesday, January 28-Family Coffee with our school wellness team 9:30-10:30am in the cafeteria

Tuesday, January 28-End of Quarter 2

Wednesday, January 29- Teacher Workday. No school for students

Friday, January 31-Winter Dance sponsored by the PTA

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

 

PTA Meeting, Tuesday, January 7th 6:30pm in the library 

Quick Links

• FCPS School Year Calendars
• Forms for the Start of School
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• FCPS Schoology Support
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• Educate Fairfax
• FCPS Cares 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name: Taylor Ingleton

Position: Special Education Department Chair

Years in FCPS/Education: 9 years in FCPS & Belle View

Interest/hobbies:  Spending time with family & friends, reading, walking with my dog, cooking

Favorite Children’s Book:  Where the Wild Things Are

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

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A Message from the Principal

Hello Belle View Families,

I want to wish all our bobcat families a Happy New Year! Today, we extend our winter break, as FCPS is closed due to the impending winter snowstorm. 

We are excited to welcome students back to school as we finish the last three weeks of second quarter.  The end of January/early February begins mid-year assessing for our students. More details will be communicated by classroom teachers and our school testing coordinators, Ms. Lehner and Mrs. Risko.

Many families, especially in our upper grades have expressed interest in knowing more about curriculum changes, country-wide assessments, and grading, and/or the VA Literacy Act/Benchmark Advance Language Arts basal resource. School staff will be presenting details and answering parent specific questions at the February 4th PTA meeting. If you would like to submit a question, click here!

See you all soon and thank you for your continued support and partnership. 

Proud Principal,

Katie Pluntke 

 

 

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. 

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.

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Midyear Assessments

As we near the halfway point in the school year, we will doing some assessments with students in January to see their progress. Students in Grades 1-6 will be taking the math iReady assessment in January. Our multi-lingual learners will be assessed in their listening, reading, writing and speaking skills through the WIDA test. And our primary grade students will have a midpoint assessment in language arts using the VALLSS.  

Reminder: Winter Break Bingo!

Participate in our Winter Break POG BINGO challenge to stay engaged over break with fun activities to increase Portrait of a Graduate skills. Students can complete any five activities in a row/column/diagonal and return the completed form by Wednesday, January 8 for a special shout-out.

Attention: Rising 7th Grade Families What's Happening?

Tuesday, January 14th-Family Coffee with our school wellness team 9:30-10:30am in the cafeteria

Thursday, January 16-Sandburg Middle School Electives Fair 6:00-7:30pm

Monday, January 20-School closed for MLK Jr Holiday

Tuesday, January 28-End of Quarter 2

Wednesday, January 29- Teacher Workday. No school for students

Friday, January 31-Winter Dance sponsored by the PTA

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

 

PTA Meeting, Tuesday, January 7th 6:30pm in the library 

Quick Links

• FCPS School Year Calendars
• Forms for the Start of School
• Student Rights & Responsibilities
• FCPS Schoology Support
• Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information
• Educate Fairfax

FCPS Cares 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name: Miriam Calvo

Position: FLES Spanish Teacher

Years in FCPS/Education:16 years of experience, 5 years at Belle View ES. Master's degree from the University of Granada - Spain

Interest/hobbies: Exploring new recipes and traveling.

Favorite Children’s Book: The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

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A Message from the Principal

Hello Belle View Families,

It is hard to believe that we are sailing through our last school week of December.  Ms. Lehner and I wish all of our students, families, and staff members a safe, happy and healthy holiday!

We look forward to ushering in the holiday season with students and families this week at our winter concert on Wednesday evening or at our winter sing along on Friday afternoon. 

Have a wonderful break and we will look forward to seeing all our students and staff back on Monday, January 6th, 2025.

Proud Principals, 

Katie Pluntke and Kristen Lehner

 

Calling all Bobcats! Winter Break Bingo!

Participate in our Winter Break POG BINGO challenge to stay engaged over break with fun activities to increase Portrait of a Graduate skills. Students can complete any five activities in a row/column/diagonal and return the completed form by Wednesday, January 8 for a special shout-out.

Parent Opportunity-TODAY!

Formed Families Forward is pleased to offer a new training for parents and caregivers to boost family safety and wellness as you prepare for all of the excitement and disruptions of your children’s break from school and their expectations for winter holiday celebrations. Join us for an interactive workshop and get new strategies for managing the winter break and for starting the new year strong!

December 16, 2024

11:45 am-1:00 pm (with a light lunch provided) OR 

6:45 - 8:00 pm (with a light dinner provided) 

Location: Charles Houston Recreation Center

Address: 901 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Simultaneous SPANISH interpretation is available upon request.   Register Here. 

Teachers, Staff, and Students had a blast decorating doors last week!  

 

From our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Fresh Market 

Belle View Families are invited to the Capital Area Food Bank Free Fresh Food Market on Wednesday, December 18, at Bucknell Elementary School (6925 University Drive, Alexandria, VA 22307). Distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables will begin at 10:30am and continue until the food is gone. We will be at the front of the school, Door #2. If it rains, or it is very cold, we will be at the back of the school, Door #9. Bring your own bags. Volunteers are needed to help with distribution and breaking down boxes.  Please contact Amy Garcia, Family Liaison, [email protected], (cell) 571-501-8170, if you can help or if you have any questions.

­School Age Child Care (SACC) Camp Fairfax Winter Break

The Camp Fairfax program provides fun, safe and educational care for children in kindergarten to sixth grade and during school breaks in most Fairfax County elementary schools and community centers. The Camp Fairfax Winter Program will be held at consolidated sites throughout the county during the FCPS Winter Break. Employment is not required for program eligibility. Please visit the SACC website for locations and registration information.

 

Attention: Rising 7th Grade Families PTA Hosting Cookie Table for Staff--This THURSDAY!

Please sign up for the staff cookie bar!  On December 19th, the PTA is hosting a cookie table for BV staff to make take home boxes of cookies and treats to share with their friends and family.  Not a baker, store bought is welcome!  Donations can be dropped off on the 19th in the office. 

Sign up Here!

What's Happening?

 

Dec. 16-20 SCA Spirit Week-See flyer below.

December 18th-Winter Concert 6pm in the Gym.

December 20th Belle View Winter Sing Along 2:45-3:30pm in the gym-parents/families are welcome. 

December 23-January 3-Winter Break

Spirit Days-THIS WEEK! PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

 

 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name:Tennille Pulley

Position:6th Grade Teacher 

Years in FCPS/Education: 14 in FCPS-24 years of teaching 

Interest/hobbies: Traveling, spending time with family and friends. Going to the beach!

Favorite Children’s Book: The Giving Tree

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

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A Message from the Principal

Hello Belle View Families,

Is your kiddo missing a jacket, water bottle, or hoodie?  Come check out our lost and found, located outside of the cafeteria near the doors to the blacktop.  All items that are not claimed by December 20th will be donated to a local charity.  

Another fun tradition that we are bringing back this year, is the winter sing-along.  We will be hosting that on December 20th from 2:45-3:30pm.  This is such a wonderful way to send the students on their way for winter break.  Parents and families are welcome to attend. 

This past Wednesday, SEL screener scores for grades 3-6 were sent home in Wednesday folders.  Scores are also available in SIS parent vue as well. 

Last Thursday, 4-6th grade teachers hosted a virtual Family Life Education (FLE) night. Our students in those grades in both general education and students receiving modified curriculum will have lessons provided during the week of December 16-20th.  Grade 4 has a single lesson and grades 5 and 6 have 5 lessons over 5 days. 

If you have not already seen this new addition to our website, check it out. please click this 10 Reasons Belle View Stands Out | Belle View Elementary School  

Proud Principal, 

Katie Pluntke

 

THANK YOU TO PRIMOS FAMILY RESTAURANT!!

Primos owner, Jim Nicopoulos, invited some of our students over for a holiday lunch and an opportunities to take a toy home as well.  He also provided a bag of toys for our school to distribute to families at our Winter Family Coffee on December 13th. 

School Boundary Review-TONIGHT!

As a reminder, FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This important work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is vital to this process. With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will be hosting a series of community meetings in each of FCPS’ six regions. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.

Fort Hunt is in Region 3. The meeting to learn and share input for our region will be on Monday, December 9 at 6:30pm at Mount Vernon HS. 

Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.

AAP Referral Deadline-Dec 15th.

Reminder:  Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2024

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Abby Betz, [email protected] no later than December 15, 2024. 

The window for families to submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually.  Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. 

Submitting a referral form for Full-Time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time placement.  Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Abby Betz. 

Referrals for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific AAP or Part-Time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for Full-Time AAP next fall. 

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

From our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Get Ready for Winter Break Drop In Family Coffee

Please join us on Friday, December 13, from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the cafeteria for our drop-in ‘Get Ready for Winter Break’ coffee hour. Learn about free family activities over winter break including the winter reading challenge from the Fairfax County Public Library. We also have lots of free (gently used) books, puzzles and games to give away! If your student is in need of a winter coat, we have a limited number for distribution. If you would like to donate gently used books or board games in excellent condition, please drop them off at Belle View by December 11th. Questions? Contact Family Liaison, Amy Garcia, [email protected].

Giving Tree

Thank you so much for so quickly filling up our Giving Tree Sign Up! We truly appreciate your generosity.  Please drop off wrapped and labeled gifts in the front office by Friday, December 13th.  

Fresh Market 

Belle View Families are invited to the Capital Area Food Bank Free Fresh Food Market on Wednesday, December 18 at Bucknell Elementary School (6925 University Drive, Alexandria, VA 22307). Distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables will begin at 10:30am and continue until the food is gone. We will be at the front of the school, Door #2. If it rains, or it is very cold, we will be at the back of the school, Door #9. Bring your own bags. Volunteers are needed to help with distribution and breaking down boxes.  Please contact Amy Garcia, Family Liaison, [email protected], (cell) 571-501-8170, if you can help or if you have any questions.

­School Age Child Care (SACC) Camp Fairfax Winter Break

The Camp Fairfax program provides fun, safe and educational care for children in kindergarten to sixth grade and during school breaks in most Fairfax County elementary schools and community centers. The Camp Fairfax Winter Program will be held at consolidated sites throughout the county during the FCPS Winter Break. Employment is not required for program eligibility. Please visit the SACC website for locations and registration information.

 

PTA Hosting Cookie Table for Staff

Please sign up for the staff cookie bar!  On December 19th, the PTA is hosting a cookie table for BV staff to make take home boxes of cookies and treats to share with their friends and family.  Not a baker, store bought is welcome!  Donations can be dropped off on the 19th in the office. 

Sign up Here!

What's Happening?

 

Dec. 16-20 SCA Spirit Week-See flyer below.

December 18th-Winter Concert 6pm in the Gym.

December 20th Belle View Winter Sing Along 2:45-3:30pm in the gym-parents/families are welcome. 

December 23-January 3-Winter Break

Spirit Days-Coming Soon! PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

 

 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature..Welcome Back Edition!

Name: Katie Papagjika

Position: ESOL

Years in FCPS/Education: 10 years in FCPS, 7th year at Belle View

Interest/hobbies: Spending time with family including our newest addition (Tatum) and friends, reading, golfing

Favorite Children’s Book: Creepy Carrots, The Good Egg, any of the Jory John books!

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

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A Message from the Principal

Hello Belle View Families,

It is hard to believe we are already in December and have 3 full weeks of school!  Our students will be continuing to cover their second quarter learning objectives and of course have some holiday fun.

Our staff is looking forward to a lot of fun activities and acts of service this month as well, today we are making 125 sandwiches for "Be The Good".  "Be The Good" is a local non-profit that provides sandwiches to Martha's Table in DC each week and fills food pantries, makes holiday food bags, and donates snacks to all neighboring school communities all around the Route 1 corridor and in Alexandria City.  We are so grateful for their generous donation of 25 holiday food bags for our Belle View families. 

This week also kicks off Inclusive Schools Week, please check out FCPS-Inclusive Education link and see how schools are supporting the rights of all students regardless of abilities. 

See you around the View. 

 

Proud Principal, 

Katie Pluntke

 

AAP Referral Deadline-Dec 15th.

Reminder:  Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2024

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Abby Betz, [email protected] no later than December 15, 2024. 

The window for families to submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually.  Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. 

Submitting a referral form for Full-Time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time placement.  Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Abby Betz. 

Referrals for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific AAP or Part-Time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for Full-Time AAP next fall. 

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

From our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Belle View Giving Tree

The Belle View ES co­mmunity will be providing holiday gifts and gift cards to school families in need of extra support at the holidays. If you would like to help please view this SignUp and sign up for a slot. Thank you for your generosity!­­

Get Ready for Winter Break Drop In Family Coffee

Please join us on Friday, December 13 from 9:30-10:30am in the cafeteria for a drop-in Get Ready for Winter Break coffee hour. Learn about free family activities over winter break, pick up log sheets for the Winter Reading Challenge from the Fairfax County public library and free (gently used) books, puzzles and games. If your student is in need of a winter coat, we will have a limited number for distribution as well. If you would like to donate gently used books or board games in excellent condition to giveaway, please drop them off at Belle View December 2-11. Questions? Contact Family Liaison, Amy Garcia, [email protected].

­School Age Child Care (SACC) Camp Fairfax Winter Break

The Camp Fairfax program provides fun, safe and educational care for children in kindergarten to sixth grade and during school breaks in most Fairfax County elementary schools and community centers. The Camp Fairfax Winter Program will be held at consolidated sites throughout the county during the FCPS Winter Break. Employment is not required for program eligibility. Please visit the SACC website for locations and registration information.

Boundary Review Community Meetings 

Fairfax County Public Schools is undertaking a review of school boundaries. This review is being conducted to better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs across Fairfax County. Community input is vital to the boundary review process. Our first set of Boundary Review Community Meetings includes one meeting in each of our six regions.

Our Region 3 boundary review meeting will be held on Monday, December 9 from 6:30- 8:00pm in the Mount Vernon High School Cafeteria. Please click here to register. All meetings will be in person and will follow the same format. Interpretation services will be available as needed. Registration is not required, but it will help us with planning. Please visit our Boundary Review webpage for more information.

Do you know how to help your child stay safe online? Watch or listen to Common Sense Media’s Online Safety Parent Chat in English or Spanish for some tips on how to help your child stay safe online. Check out Get Cyber Smart for even more resources.

What's Happening?

Dec. 3-PTA Meeting-6:30pm in the library

Dec. 4-Restaurant Night @ Panera 4-8pm.

Dec. 5th-Family Life Education Curriculum Night-Virtual meeting for parents of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.  Virtual Link provided next week by grade level teachers. 

Dec. 16-20 SCA Spirit Week-Flyers will be sent home in Wednesday Folders.

December 20th Belle View Winter Sing Along 2:45-3:30 in the gym-parents/families are welcome. 

December 23-January 3-Winter Break

Spirit Days-Coming Soon! PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

 

PTA Meeting--Tuesday Night, December 3rd @6:30

Restaurant Night at Panera- 12/4

Don't feel like cooking?  This Wednesday, December 4th is Belle View Night at Panera! 

 

We can earn 30% back from all purchases.  Use code FUND4U at the kiosk inside. 

 

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name:Kate McIntire

Position:Lead ESOL Teacher

Years in FCPS/Education:  21 years all at Belle View.

Interest/hobbies: yoga, reading, traveling, playing guitar, Nat’s games, spending time with family, friends, and my Westie. 

Favorite Children’s Book: Martina The Beautiful Cockroach

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

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A Message from the Principal

Hello Belle View Families,

Ms. Lehner and I want to wish our Belle View families and staff a Happy Thanksgiving! We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Monday, December 2nd.

We are so thankful for our tremendous community and staff who supports our amazing school.

Thank you all so much for attending BINGO night, it was an enormous success, and it was so fun seeing all our students and families attend our school events.

Proud Principals, 

Katie Pluntke and Kriste Lehner

 

Our "Girls on the Run" team ran their 5K on Sunday!  Great jobs girls and than you to our amazing coaches!

Weather Related Decision Making

We actually saw snowflakes on Friday which mean winter weather is HERE! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated. 

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon

One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices. 

The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create learning, experiences, and environments for students to succeed.

In early December, families will be able to view student SEL Screener results in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail.

Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your child’s results or ideas to support them at home, review the Family Guide or contact us. 

Register for ParentVUELearn how to activate your ParentVUE account, so you can easily access your child’s results and other helpful information

From our Family Liaison, Mrs. Garcia

Belle View Giving Tree

The Belle View ES co­mmunity will be providing holiday gifts and gift cards to school families in need of extra support at the holidays. If you would like to help please view this SignUp and sign up for a slot. Thank you for your generosity!­­

Get Ready for Winter Break Drop In Family Coffee

Please join us on Friday, December 13 from 9:30-10:30am in the cafeteria for a drop-in Get Ready for Winter Break coffee hour. Learn about free family activities over winter break, pick up log sheets for the Winter Reading Challenge from the Fairfax County public library and free (gently used) books, puzzles and games. If your student is in need of a winter coat, we will have a limited number of for distribution as well. If you would like to donate gently used books or board games in excellent condition to giveaway, please drop them off at Belle View December 2-11. Questions? Contact Family Liaison, Amy Garcia, [email protected].

­School Age Child Care (SACC) Camp Fairfax Winter Break

The Camp Fairfax program provides fun, safe and educational care for children in kindergarten to sixth grade and during school breaks in most Fairfax County elementary schools and community centers. The Camp Fairfax Winter Program will be held at consolidated sites throughout the county during the FCPS Winter Break. Employment is not required for program eligibility. Please visit the SACC website for locations and registration information.

Boundary Review Community Meetings 

Fairfax County Public Schools is undertaking a review of school boundaries. This review is being conducted to better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs across Fairfax County. Community input is vital to the boundary review process. Our first set of Boundary Review Community Meetings includes one meeting in each of our six regions.

Our Region 3 boundary review meeting will be held on Monday, December 9 from 6:30- 8:00pm in the Mount Vernon High School Cafeteria. Please click here to register. All meetings will be in person and will follow the same format. Interpretation services will be available as needed. Registration is not required, but it will help us with planning. Please visit our Boundary Review webpage for more information.

Do you know how to help your child stay safe online? Watch or listen to Common Sense Media’s Online Safety Parent Chat in English or Spanish for some tips on how to help your child stay safe online. Check out Get Cyber Smart for even more resources.

Author Visit with FCPS graduate and author, Shea Magale and her service dog, Pierre. 

What's Happening?

Dec. 5th-Family Life Education Curriculum Night-Virtual meeting for parents of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders.  Virtual Link provided next week by grade level teachers. 

Dec. 16-20 SCA Spirit Week-Flyers will be sent home in Wednesday Folders.

December 20th Belle View Winter Sing Along 2:45-3:30 in the gym-parents/families are welcome. 

December 23-January 3-Winter Break

PTA Updates

 Join the PTA here!  https://belleviewes.memberhub.com/store

Weekly Staff/Teacher Feature

Name: Sara Griffiths

Position: Speech Language Pathologist

Years in FCPS/Education: 7th year at BVES, Northwestern University and GW Alum  

Interest/hobbies: triathlon, traveling, going to concerts, playing with my dog Finn, watching sports (go Bears!)

Favorite Children’s Book: The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

6701 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307 | Main Office: 703-660-8300

Attendance: 703-660-8383 | Web | Facebook | Instagram