Thank you for a great first start to the school year! Below are some important upcoming dates, reminders, and updates from our PTO. Additionally, student's MAP scores should be visible in ParentVue and StudentVue. Enjoy your weekend!
All the best,
Mrs. Johnson
Newsletter topics include:
- Bridge to the Ridge - Parent Editions
- School Pictures
- Advisory Lessons
- Be a Student Equity Ambassador
- Family Liaison Update
- EIghth Grade Baby Pictures
- EL and FACE Presentations
- Belmont Ridge Talent Showcase
- School Fundraiser Updates
- Signs of Suicide Presentation (8th Grade Only)
- Varsity Tutoring
- Academies of Loudoun Admission and Outreach Information
- Special Programs Fair
- Special Education Advisory Committee and Meeting Schedule
- Family Book Club
- National Junior Honor Society
- New LCPS App
- Food Services Fair
- Runway for a Cure
- Chess Club
- Middle School Hockey
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, September 18, Spirit Night from 5-8pm at Chick-fil-A in Lansdowne Town Center
Wednesday, September 18th - Bridge to the Ridge - Parent Edition at 6pm
Wednesday, September 25th - Midpoint of Quarter 1
Wednesday, September 25th - Eighth Grade Panoramic Picture
Thursday, September 26th - School Pictures during Health and PE
Friday, September 27th - School Pictures during Health and PE'
Wednesday, October 2nd - School Custodian Appreciation Day
Thursday, October 3rd - Rosh Hashanah (No School)
Friday, October 4th - Student Holiday
It's hard to think about winter coats when they weather has been so nice, but soon I'll begin to collect winter wear for families in our community. As we begin to transition into fall, please keep this in mind when you go through your closets. More information on this coming soon!
If your family could use some extra help with things like supplemental food, school fees, or how to apply for the free & reduced lunch program, please complete my assistance form. This information is strictly confidential and gives me an idea of the types of things that would help you. Various programs and resources are offered throughout the year in the community, and I am happy to pass along this information to those who can use it. (Examples of this are free food distribution events, dental clinics, and clothing giveaways.) Other benefits are available within the school, such as Book Fair vouchers (for our school book fair), vouchers for school pictures, and help with the holidays are also examples of ways that I can help you and your student. Here's the link to my form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdyxyn0PCp3o1p1a049rIYjAWiCT3i4tmpUbBk-Qq8HrTye8w/viewform
Dear Parent or Guardian:
As you know, life is often a roller-coaster ride of emotions, with teen years being especially susceptible to wide variations in mood. It is easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil; however, depression is among the most common disorders in youth. Suicide is directly related to mental illness, typically depression, and is one of the most serious public health problems facing our youth. Over 90% of youth who die by suicide have a mental disorder that is often undiagnosed or untreated.
To proactively address this issue, Belmont Ridge Middle School is offering the Middle School SOS Signs of Suicide Program this school year. The SOS Signs of Suicide® Suicide Prevention Program is the only universal school-based suicide prevention that has demonstrated a significant reduction in self-reported suicide attempts by 40-64%) (Aseltine et al., 2007 & Schilling et al., 2016).
Our program goals are straightforward:
- Decrease suicide and suicide attempts by increasing knowledge and adaptive attitudes about depression and mental health;
- Teach our students to recognize the signs and symptoms of depression, self-injurious behavior, and potential suicidality in themselves and others;
- Educate youth that suicide is not a normal response to problems but a preventable tragedy that often occurs as a result of untreated depression or other mental illnesses; and
- Encourage help-seeking by teaching teens to respond to the signs of suicide as a mental health emergency and to take specific action steps to help prevent a tragedy.
We intend to implement this program in the eighth-grade RESOURCE Classes at BELMONT RIDGE Middle School. The program will take place during the class period as an educational lesson including a video and will be conducted by school psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors. At the conclusion of the presentation, students will be asked to complete a brief post-test knowledge survey and indicate whether they would recommend the presentation to a peer. The presenters will be available for follow-up with students who wish to speak with them. Please note, the Signs of Suicide presentations are not part of the School Counseling Program. As such, if you completed the School Counseling Program opt-out for your child, they will still receive this presentation provided by a school psychologist or social worker. If you do not wish for your student to participate in the Signs of Suicide program, you must opt-out below.
If you would like your student to participate, no action is required at this time. If you do not wish for your student to participate, please complete this form before FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11th opting your child out of the lesson. Additionally, if you have any questions or wish to preview the educational materials prior to the classroom presentation, please contact us at 571-252-6500 or access the Screening for Mental Health SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program Parent portal.
You can find additional information on the topic of youth suicide on the LCPS webpage (Suicide Prevention).
Sincerely,
Anderea Mason, M.Ed.
School Psychologist
8th grade families,
A yearbook tradition has been to include baby pictures of our 8th grade students. It is a fun way to acknowledge their growth as a child before heading to high school. If you would like to participate, please upload one picture through eShare before Friday, October 25th. This is a hard deadline, and we will not accept pictures after this date.
Two ways to access eShare:
- Use the desktop website www.hjeshare.com and school code 13554
- Access the direct link https://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=13554
In the photo description, please include "8th grade baby picture" and use your student's full/preferred name.
If you have any difficulties with this process, you may email katrina.puccio@lcps.org with questions. We look forward to seeing all our 8th grade students as babies in the yearbook!
It's back! The Belmont Ridge Talent Showcase will take the stage on November 15! The Talent Showcase is open to all Belmont Ridge students, and we are looking for all types of acts including solo singing (karaoke-style, with a backing track), dance, cheer, gymnastics, instrumental or group musical performances, comedy, magic tricks, and more! Show us what you've got, River Hawks! Auditions will be held on October 21 and 22 after school. For more information contact Mr. Spaulding at Williams.spaulding@lcps.org.
Belmont Ridge is excited to announce a fundraiser where students can sell chocolates! The money raised will help us replace the outdoor picnic tables with sturdy metal ones, fund various school improvements and events, and provide more professional learning opportunities for our teachers.
Participation is completely voluntary and optional. We appreciate any support you can offer!
The fundraiser will run from September 4th, through September 20th. Students have the chance to win a variety of prizes based on their sales!
To participate, students need to return this signed form to their house secretary in their welcome zone tomorrow. Once the signed form is submitted, students will receive their box of chocolates.
Payment is not due until the chocolate has been sold, however you are welcome to pay ahead of time. Payments can be made online through our payment system: LCPS School Cash Online or by cash or check to the house office.
Please note, students are not allowed to sell chocolates during the school day (including to and from school) or go door-to-door selling to strangers.
We appreciate your support of our students and our school!
The Academies of Loudoun 2024 Fall Admission Cycle opened on Monday, August 19, 2024, and will remain open until Wednesday, October 16, 2024. The fall admissions cycle is for any eighth-grade student enrolled in Algebra I or higher who is interested in applying to the Academies of Loudoun for ninth-grade entry into the Academy of Engineering & Technology (AET) program and/or the Academy of Science (AOS) program for the 2025-2026 school year.
The admissions office will conduct four (4) fall admissions information sessions for Loudoun County students in eighth grade and their parents or guardians. These sessions will provide details about the Academies, its programs and how to apply.
2024 Fall Admissions Information Session Schedule
- Wednesday, September 18, at Harmony Middle School, 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 1, at River Bend Middle School, 6:30 p.m.
Here is some additional information regarding the Fall Admissions Cycle for AET and AOS.
2024 Fall Application Timeline & Requirements
Application Window Opens | August 19, 2024
Application Window Closes | October 16, 2024 - The application portal will close at 12:00 PM (NOON)
Fall Admissions Testing Sessions | October 26, 2024, and November 9th and 16th, 2024 (Register online for one session)
March 2025 - Admissions offers will be posted in the admissions portal
March-August 2025 - Applicants must accept or decline all admissions offers. Waitlisted applicants will be notified as seats become available
For more information, visit the Academies of Loudoun Admissions website, email AcademiesAdmissions@lcps.org or call 571-252-1992.
School Nutrition Services (SNS), is proud to announce its FIRST food show that will be open to the public.
When: Friday, October 4th, 2024 from 10:00am to 2:00pm
Where: Independence High School
23115 Learning Cir, Ashburn, VA 20148
K-12 approved foodservice vendors, community partners, and SNS are uniting to sample new and exciting recipe ideas for school menus and community partners will educate on available health and wellness resources in the community.
The event titled, “Fueling Futures: Taste the Change in School Nutrition”, is primarily designed to gather student feedback on comfort foods, culturally inclusive recipes, and delicious snacks so that SNS can provide meals that students love and align with current foodservice and generational trends.
In October of 2021, I (Kristin Epperson - BEMS Art Teacher) was diagnosed with Triple Negative breast cancer. Currently, doctors are searching for answers to what activates this cancer and how to better save lives. With your support, please help us fund research, help cancer patients receive care and treatment, and fund local programs.
Please join us October 6, 2024, at 1 pm for our annual fashion show at Reston Town Center Pavilion. Reston Runway to the Cure, Inc., (www.runwaytothecure.org) with founding sponsors Scout & Molly’s Boutique, Hyatt Regency Reston, and BXP, dedicates the proceeds to a national organization conducting research to end breast cancer through a direct donation, grants to 501(c), and community-based breast cancer non-profit organizations in the local Washington, DC Metropolitan areas that provide support services to breast cancer warriors.
This year we are supporting the following organizations:
1. Local - National Breast Center Foundation: www.nationalbreastcenterfoundation.org
The National Breast Center Foundation exists to improve the lives of women by removing barriers that prevent them from getting proper screening, diagnosis, and
education about breast cancer.
2. National - Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation: www.tnbcfoundation.org
The Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation is a credible source for triple negative breast cancer information, a catalyst for science and patient advocacy and a caring
community with meaningful services for patients and their families.
This exciting event brings together merchants, corporations and families from our community who share the common goals of finding a cure for breast cancer and supporting those who are fighting these battles. Local retailers provide the outfits, jewelry, and accessories that the models wear in the show; while others donate hair styling and makeup. The Hyatt Reston is providing discounted rooms for this event: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/RESTO/G-RT24.
The models are former or current breast cancer warriors. Their stories provide a very personal element to the event, and their participation celebrates inner and outer beauty. When each person walks down the runway, they aren't running from their disease, they are owning it and demonstrating the strength required to overcome it. And that is truly beautiful. Monetary donations may be submitted via this Fundraising Page or by visiting www.runwaytothecure.org.
Reminders
** 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. **
Belmont Ridge Middle School
Website: https://www.lcps.org/o/bem
Location: 19045 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne, VA, USA
Phone: 571-252-2220
