Happy Thanksgiving to our Belmont Ridge community!

Newsletter topics include:

• Upcoming Events
• What is Lexia?
• Attendance Reminders
• Retake Photos Available
• LCPS Special Programs
• Musical Interest Meeting
• No Place for Hate
• Operation Shoebox
• Yearbook Sales
• Family Liaison Update
• NJHS Update
• Department of EL FACE Updates
• FBLA Donation Drive

Upcoming Dates:

Monday, November 25th - Musical Information Meeting

Wednesday, December 4th and Thursday, December 5th - 7th Grade Hearing and VIsion Screenings

Thursday, December 5th - 8th Grade Chorus Concert

Friday, December 6th - Friday, December 13th - Book Fair

Tuesday, December 10th - 7th and 8th Grade Strings Concert

Thursday, December 12th - 8th Grade Guitar Concert

Tuesday, December 17th - 7th and 8th Grade Band Concert

Wednesday, December 18th - 6th Grade Chorus Concert

Friday, December 20th - Holiday Concerts (throughout the school day)

LCPS Student Holidays

• November 27, 2024 Thanksgiving Break Begins
• November 29, 2024 Thanksgiving Break Ends
• December 23, 2024 Winter Break Begins
• January 3, 2025 Winter Break Ends (Classes Resume January 6, 2025)

Lexia PowerUp is an adaptive literacy program designed to accelerate reading and writing skills for students in grades 6-12. It provides personalized instruction in areas like phonics, vocabulary, and comprehension, tailoring the learning experience to each student's individual needs. By using data-driven insights, Lexia PowerUp helps struggling readers improve their literacy skills and achieve academic success. Belmont Ridge Middle School is utilizing Lexia PowerUp to strengthen the reading skills of our students. Click below for more information.

As we are a few weeks into Quarter Two, we are reminding parents and guardians that regular, on-time school attendance is the key to student success. This school year, we continue to seek to partner with families to ensure that students attend school every day, on time. By making school attendance a priority, you can help your student succeed and develop good habits that last a lifetime. Below are some ways that parents/guardians can help.

Scheduling: We ask that parents/guardians not take their student out of school unnecessarily. Please schedule vacations or appointments during student holidays. See the student calendars on the LCPS website to know when your student will not be in school. For added convenience, calendars for this school year and for the next school year are posted. Please also remember that absences due to family trips or vacations are considered unexcused unless they are due to family emergencies or observation of religious holidays.

Attend Every Day: We understand that there are occasions when a student is not feeling well enough to attend school. If you have questions about when a student should go to school, we invite you to see our guide on when to keep students home or consult your healthcare provider for additional guidance. Remember that when a student is absent, parents/guardians are responsible for notifying the student’s school and providing the reason for the absence. In some circumstances, parents/guardians may be asked to provide documentation from a healthcare provider.

Social-Emotional Health: If your student has anxiety about attending school, your school’s mental health team can help support you and your student. School staff will work with your student to provide support and keep them connected to their school community.

Monitor Attendance: Monitor your student's attendance in ParentVue. If a student misses just two days each month, by the end of the school year, they may be considered chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism has been shown to negatively impact student grades and assessment scores, plus contribute to anxiety about lost class time.

We want to make sure that our students do not miss out on the exciting and engaging learning opportunities we have planned. If, at any time, you have questions or concerns regarding attendance or any other issue, please contact me or a member of my team. Additional attendance resources can be found on the LCPS website. We look forward to partnering with you to help our students succeed.

Families will have received a reminder email to view images from Victor O'Neill Studios. If you do not see your email, please check spam folder. If you need help ordering/viewing contact underclass@vosphoto.com

Dear Parents and Students,

I am excited to introduce you to the No Place for Hate program that our school is proud to implement this year. This program is designed to create and sustain a school environment where all students feel safe, respected, and included.

No Place for Hate is a self-directed program that empowers students, educators, and families to take a stand against bias and bullying. By participating in this program, our school community will engage in activities and discussions that promote inclusivity, respect, and equity. Here are some key components of the program:

1. Forming a Committee: We will establish a diverse committee of students, teachers, and parents to lead the initiative and ensure that all voices are heard.
2. Signing the Pledge: All members of our school community will be invited to sign the No Place for Hate Pledge, committing to uphold the values of respect and inclusion.
3. School-Wide Activities: Throughout the year, we will organize at least three school-wide activities that address issues of bias and bullying. These activities are designed to foster a positive school climate and encourage meaningful dialogue.

By joining the No Place for Hate movement, we are taking proactive steps to ensure that our school is a welcoming and supportive place for every student.

Thank you to all who contributed to our Stockings for the Troops project! Our NJHS students will meet this week to assemble them.

Holiday Giving Program 2024 - each year at this time, we launch our Holiday Giving Program. This initiative allows our BEMS families in need the chance to make the holidays shine a little brighter. I work closely with the Family Liaisons from each of the five schools in our Riverside cluster to provide this opportunity for our families. Please visit the signup and consider a donation to this worthwhile cause!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0848AFAF2AA1FC1-53079790-holiday

Our NJHS is sponsoring Canes for a Cause, the annual candy cane fundraiser beginning Tuesday, December 3 and continuing thru Friday, December 13. Candy canes will be offered each morning from 8:15 to 8:40am outside the cafeteria and in the BEMS lobby, as well as during all lunch periods, for $1 each. Proceeds will go toward future community service projects.

If you are an NJHS member, please check the volunteer signup on the NJHS Schoology page!

The Welcome to LCPS EL Family Workshop is designed to provide a brief orientation to new EL families about the U.S. School System and LCPS. Sessions are held at the Historic Douglas High School in Leesburg from 6:30-8pm on the following Thursdays:

• December 5th

• April 3rd

• May 1st

• June 5th

See Welcome to LCPS flyer to learn more.

From our RAM Family: This drive is being hosted in collaboration with FBLA and the Barnett-Searing National Cancer Foundation. We are creating care packages called Shine Kits and have a goal of making 300 for neighboring hospitals, like the Inova Hospital at Lansdowne and the Children's National Hospital.

We are collecting mini blankets, fuzzy socks, adult coloring books, colored pencils and pens, pop-it fidget toys, journals, and chapsticks. The items must be new since patients receiving them will be undergoing treatment. These donations will bring comfort and joy to teenagers during their treatment. By participating, Belmont students would have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others while also fostering a spirit of compassion and community service!

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to our administrative team- Katie.Johnson@lcps.org, David.McKenzie@lcps.org, or Michael.Surma@lcps.org or your grade level dean if you have further questions.

** Any messages sent from BEMS through our Blackboard account (noreply.belmontridge@lcps.org) come from an account that is not monitored. Please use our website to locate the email addresses of any staff members you need to contact. Thank you. **

Don't forget to download the LCPS App!

Website: https://www.lcps.org/o/bem

Location: 19045 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne, VA, USA
Phone: 571-252-2220