Riverhawk Reminders

Newsletter topics include:

• Upcoming Events
• MAP Growth Assessments
• Family Liaison Update
• Course Planning Seminar
• All Pro Dads
• Varsity Tutors
• Scheduling Information for Rising 9th Graders
• Campus - Rising 9th Graders
• Chess Club
• NJHS Updates
• LCPS Events
• LCPS Special Programs
• Department of EL FACE Updates
• FBLA Donation Drive

Tuesday, January 14th - 7th Grade Guitar Concert

Monday, January 20th - MLK Day (No School)

Tuesday, January 21st- MAP Assessment (Reading)

Wednesday, January 22nd - MAP Assessment (Math)

Wednesday, January 22nd - 7th Grade Chorus Concert

Thursday, January 23rd - 6th Grade Band Concert

Friday, January 24th - End of Marking Period 2

Monday, January 27th and Tuesday, January 28th - Staff Planning Days/Student Holidays

Wednesday, January 29th - Lunar New Year (No School)

Wednesday, February 5th - All Pro Dads Kick Off Meeting - NEW DATE

Parents/Guardians,

LCPS administers NWEA’s MAP Growth tests in Reading and Math each fall, winter, and spring to students in grades 2-8 and first grade students in Math., Students enrolled in Algebra I and Geometry are assessed in the fall to determine their instructional readiness level. The MAP Growth testing schedule is: Reading (1/21/25) and Math (1/22/25). On these days, we will be following an Alternate Bell Schedule.

MAP Growth tests are adaptive, providing a detailed picture of what your student knows and is ready to learn—whether it is on, above, or below grade level expectations. MAP Growth tests also provide immediate and accurate information about your student’s learning, enabling teachers to personalize instruction to meet students’ needs.

For more information about the MAP Growth test, visit: https://www.lcps.org/o/lcps/page/measures-of-academic-progress-map

Hello and happy new year! In my role as BEMS Family Liaison, my goal is to help ensure that our students have everything they need to succeed in school. If your family needs support, please submit this mid-year assistance form. I can help with supplemental food, clothing/coats, and assistance with school fees. This is specifically for those who need help, rather than a convenience. Any questions, please contact me at Susan.Ferguson@lcps.org.

Mid-Year Assistance Form

Hello Families,

LCPS is expanding its partnership with SchooLinks, the college and career readiness platform, to utilize the Course Planner feature. The Office of School Counseling Services will offer a virtual Course Planner Learning Session for Parents/Guardians on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025.

The first session is designed for parents and guardians of 6th grade students and will start at 6 p.m. Here is the webinar link if you are able to attend.

The second session is designed for parents and guardians of 7th through 11th grade students and will start at 7pm. Here is the webinar link if you are able to attend.

What is Course Planner?
Course Planner is an interactive tool, a part of the SchooLinks platform, that easily allows students to select courses and indicate their interest in academic pathways. Students will also clearly be able to see what course requirements have been met to support short and long-term planning for graduation. Plus, Course Planner’s interactive interface makes it engaging to use.

Course Planner will be accessible to students in grades 5 through 11 in early January 2025. Middle school students will begin accessing Course Planner in January during school counseling lessons. Communication will be sent out once these lessons occur. When a student has completed their course plan with their school counselor, communication will be sent home to the parents/guardians to review the plan and provide any comments.

Course Planner will also support a public-facing course catalog and an internal component describing each course, its prerequisites and other course details. The Program of Studies for the 2025-2026 school year will be seamlessly integrated into Course Planner.

Parents/guardians will have access to review students’ course requests and multi-year plans to actively engage in academic advising with their student. During the 6th grade year, students will plan for the upcoming 7th grade year. During the 7th and 8th grade year, students will begin planning through graduation.

I hope this message finds you well and you are enjoying the holiday season. I am thrilled to announce the launch of an All Pro Dads chapter at Belmont Ridge Middle School! This optional program is designed to help fathers build strong relationships with their children and actively engage in their lives.

What is All Pro Dads? All Pro Dads is a national program that provides resources and opportunities for fathers to connect with their kids. Through monthly gatherings, dads and their children can enjoy breakfast together, participate in meaningful conversations, and engage in fun activities that strengthen their bond.

Join Us for Our First Meeting! We invite all dads to join us for our inaugural meeting on February 5th at 8:00 AM at Belmont Ridge Middle School. This will be a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the program, meet other dads, and spend quality time with your children. All meetings will be before school.

Can't Make It? No Problem! We understand that not all dads may be available to attend. If a dad cannot join, we warmly welcome moms, siblings, uncles, aunts, grandparents, or any other significant family members to participate. The goal is to foster strong family connections, and we encourage everyone to be involved.

Please RSVP by clicking here to confirm your attendance. We look forward to seeing you there and starting this exciting journey together!

Loudoun County Public Schools has partnered with Varsity Tutors for Schools to provide personalized virtual tutoring. Your child will have the opportunity to receive tutoring services at home, at no cost to students and families, as an additional layer of academic support.

Varsity Tutors for Schools has the largest live learning platform in the United States, providing personalized support. Your child can engage with an expert tutor who will provide instruction specific to your student’s unique learning goals.

If you would like your child to utilize this tutoring service, please complete the form linked below. Soon after completing the form you will receive a call and email from Varsity Tutors (from 888/703-594-4982 and ​​member.services@varsitytutors.com) to get tutoring services started. You will need to set up a parent account, sign the Terms of Use agreement, and have your student take a 30-minute diagnostic assessment. Once done, your student will meet with a regular tutor twice a week and work in the Varsity Tutors for Schools Live Learning Platform, an engaging online learning environment, to receive additional instruction on the skills and concepts they need help with.

Complete this form to schedule tutoring: Contact Information Form

Parents of Rising 9th Graders,

Is your student a first-generation college-bound student? If so, they should consider applying to CAMPUS for the 25-26 school year! While definitions vary among higher education institutions, LCPS utilizes the least restrictive definition of “first-generation”: neither household parent/guardian obtained a Bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college/university immediately upon completion of high school.

The goal of CAMPUS is to provide first-generation college bound high school students with the resources, guidance, and support they need to successfully navigate the college admissions process and enroll in post-secondary education.

CAMPUS replaces students’ Study Hall block. Students participate in a 45-minute CAMPUS lesson and have the remaining class time as Study Hall. CAMPUS lessons focus on academic and college/career preparation. Additionally, CAMPUS students utilize SchooLinks, LCPS’ College & Career Readiness platform, to engage in career exploration and college and scholarship research.

CAMPUS students also have the opportunity to participate in fully funded field trips to college campuses across Virginia including George Mason University, James Madison University, NOVA, University of Virginia, Virginia State University, and more!

Students in the CAMPUS program are supported by their CAMPUS Facilitator and CAMPUS Counselor in addition to their assigned school counselor. These teachers and counselors work collaboratively to support each CAMPUS student as they navigate their plans for post-secondary success.

The CAMPUS application is open January 6th until March 7th and can be found in Student Opportunities through LCPSGO!

To learn more about the CAMPUS program, you and your student are invited to attend any of the following information sessions:

January 27th - Virtual

January 28th - Heritage High School Library

February 3rd - Dominion High School Library

February 10th - Independence High School Auditorium

All sessions are 6:30-7:30 PM.

Contact Alix Tate, CAMPUS Coordinator, at alixandra.tate@lcps.org and/or Ms. Murphy with any questions!

Es su hijo un estudiante universitario de primera generación? Si es así, ¡deberían considerar postularse a CAMPUS para el año escolar 25-26! Si bien las definiciones varían entre las instituciones de educación superior, LCPS utiliza la definición menos restrictiva de "primera generación": ninguno de los padres/tutores del hogar obtuvo una licenciatura de un colegio o universidad de los EE. UU. inmediatamente después de completar la escuela secundaria.

El objetivo de CAMPUS es proporcionar a los estudiantes de secundaria de primera generación que van a la universidad los recursos, la orientación y el apoyo que necesitan para navegar con éxito el proceso de admisión a la universidad e inscribirse en la educación postsecundaria.

CAMPUS reemplaza el bloque de Sala de Estudio de los estudiantes. Los estudiantes participan en una lección de 45 minutos en CAMPUS y tienen el tiempo de clase restante como Sala de Estudio. Las lecciones de CAMPUS se enfocan en la preparación académica y universitaria / profesional. Además, los estudiantes de CAMPUS utilizan SchooLinks, la plataforma de preparación universitaria y profesional de LCPS, para participar en la exploración de carreras y la investigación universitaria y de becas.

Los estudiantes de CAMPUS también tienen la oportunidad de participar en excursiones totalmente financiadas a campus universitarios de Virginia, incluidas la Universidad George Mason, la Universidad James Madison, NOVA, la Universidad de Virginia, la Universidad Estatal de Virginia y más.

Los estudiantes en el programa CAMPUS cuentan con el apoyo de su facilitador y consejero de CAMPUS, además de su consejero escolar asignado. Estos maestros y consejeros trabajan en colaboración para apoyar a cada estudiante de CAMPUS mientras navegan por sus planes para el éxito postsecundario.

¡La solicitud de CAMPUS está abierta del 6 de enero al 7 de marzo y se puede encontrar en Oportunidades Estudiantiles a través de LCPSGO!

Para obtener más información sobre el programa CAMPUS, usted y su estudiante están invitados a asistir a cualquiera de las siguientes sesiones informativas:

27 de enero - Virtual

28 de enero - Biblioteca de la Escuela Secundaria Heritage

3 de febrero - Biblioteca de la Escuela Secundaria Dominion

10 de febrero - Auditorio de la Escuela Secundaria Independencia

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

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

The winter session of our Belmont Ridge Chess Club will begin on Friday, January 24 and run for six weeks, ending March 14. The club meets weekly, on Fridays after school. For details and registration information, please visit www.chessacademy.com.

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