Riverhawk Reminders

Newsletter topics include:

• Upcoming Events
• Virginia Student Survey
• LCPS Events
• LCPS Special Programs
• No Place for Hate
• Family Liaison Update
• Department of EL FACE Updates
• FBLA Donation Drive

Upcoming Dates:

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

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

Our school, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Department of Education, is conducting the Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions. We will survey students in grades 6, 7, and 8, as well as classroom instructors and staff, beginning in January 2025. The purpose of the student survey is to measure student support, student engagement, school discipline, and safety conditions in each school. This information will be used to guide educational practices that produce a safe and supportive school environment.

The student survey will be completed between January 2025 and February 2025. The survey does not ask for your child’s name and all answers are anonymous. No one, including teachers and administrators, will know how your child answered the survey questions. You will not have access to your child’s survey answers. You may preview the questions asked in the student survey at this website: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurvey.

The survey will ask questions such as how students feel about their school, how students get along with one another and their teachers, how students feel about school rules, and their perceptions of their teachers’ willingness to help them. Please note that there are questions about topics that may be sensitive to some, including questions about bullying, mental health, and suicide. This is a great time to talk to your child about these important issues. For guidance and more resources on these topics, please see https://tinyurl.com/MentalHealthdcjs or https://tinyurl.com/VDOEstudentservices.

All students in your child’s grade level are eligible to participate in the survey. The survey is voluntary and you and/or your child can decide they prefer not to participate. No action will be taken against you, your child, or the school if your child does not participate. If you do not wish for your child to participate, please complete this permission click by December 20, 2024: https://permission.click/OA7XV/int

The Virginia School Survey results are provided to the school around the end of the school year. You can find survey results for your school and division here: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurvey. The results are used by the school, the division, and the state to identify strengths and to address relevant needs to improve learning environments for your child as well as students across the state.

Thank you for your cooperation in this important study of Virginia’s schools.

Thank you to all who contributed to my holiday giving program. Every donation is truly appreciated! All donations go directly into the hands of families in our BEMS community. If you'd still like to contribute, there's time! Please visit my sign-up for all the details:

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

Congratulations to our Spelling Bee winners!
Sriram Gollapudi won the schoolwide spelling bee for the second year in a row! His final correct word was retinue.

Aniketh Lokesh and Elia Alghrairi were the runners-up.

Our "Canes for a Cause" candy cane fundraiser was a huge success. Thank you to all students who supported it! Proceeds will go toward future community service projects after the new year.

Students in 7th grade (and 8th graders who are not currently in NJHS) who achieve all A's for the first and second grading periods will be eligible for NJHS membership this spring. Students who meet this academic threshold will be sent an invitation to apply in late February or early March. Students who are nominated for NJHS membership at Belmont Ridge are chosen on the basis of scholarship, leadership, citizenship (being an exemplary citizen), service, and character. Read more about our NJHS chapter on our website:

https://www.lcps.org/o/bem/page/national-junior-honor-society

Operation Shoebox has been a big success! Thanks to everyone who created a shoebox gift for a child in need at Forest Grove Elementary School in Sterling. Together we created over 100 shoebox gifts! The boxes will be delivered tomorrow.

Dear 8th Grade Students and Families,

We are excited to share a virtual video presentation of our International Baccalaureate (IB) Information Night at Loudoun Valley High School. This video provides a comprehensive overview of the IB program, which is available to all current 8th grade students seeking a globally recognized college preparatory experience.

In the video, you will learn about the steps and processes for expressing interest in the program and navigating the enrollment process. This is a fantastic opportunity to understand the benefits and requirements of the IB program and to get answers to any questions you may have.

LVH IB Community Informational Video Link

The portal to submit interest in the IB program is now open! Check out this flier for information on how 8th grade students can show interest. Students should submit interest prior to January 31st to be included in the initial lottery.

For the slide deck of the IB presentation, please refer to the linked document here. Additionally, you can visit the LCPS IB website, the Loudoun Valley High School Website, or the www.ibo.org website for further resources.

Please reach out to Michael.skvarch@lcps.org with any questions you might have.

Sincerely,

Michael Skvarch
IB Coordinator
Loudoun Valley High School

Student Success Talk

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 5:30 -7 p.m., Trailside Middle School (20325 Claiborne Pkwy, Ashburn)

Join LCPS Superintendent Aaron Spence for the next Student Success Talk at Trailside Middle. These unique opportunities for families and community members to engage in meaningful conversations about supporting student success will be held across all eight election districts between November 2024 and May 2025. Each Student Success Talk will provide practical tips on supporting students’ academic, social and emotional success. Topics will include ParentVUE and other digital tools, assessments and testing, college and career readiness, mental health and well-being and family involvement. For more information and to learn when the Student Success Talks will be held in your area, visit the Student Success Talks webpage.

English Learners in Gifted Education

Tuesday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m. Spanish and English, 7 p.m., Arabic and English, Virtual

During this virtual session, participants will explore the LCPS Gifted Education Program, including its mission, program options, evaluation process, and available family support. See the FACE website for more details.

Advisory Committee Meetings for November

• Minority Student Achievement Advisory Committee: Wednesday, Dec. 18, 6-8 p.m., LCPS Administration Building

See all LCPS meetings on the December calendar on the LCPS website.

Save the Date!

• United for Wellness: Mental Health and Wellness Conference, Saturday, Jan. 25, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Watson Mountain Middle School

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

• 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