Riverhawk 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. **

¿Cómo traduzco el boletín? En el lado derecho del boletín, aparecerá una barra con las funciones ADA y Traducción. Aquí es donde los espectadores podrán traducir el boletín al idioma que deseen.

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:

• Early Dismissal Reminders
• Yearbook Sales
  
• Advisory Lessons
• Be a Student Equity Ambassador
• Family Liaison Update
• EIghth Grade Baby Pictures
• Belmont Ridge Talent Showcase
  
• Signs of Suicide Presentation (8th Grade Only)
  
• Varsity Tutoring
• Parenting Wisely Seminar
• Academies of Loudoun Admission and Outreach Information
  
• Special Programs Fair
• Family Book Club
• Tree Planting Save the Date
• New LCPS App
  
• Food Services Fair
• Runway for a Cure
• Trunk of Treat

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, October 2nd - School Custodian Appreciation Day

Thursday, October 3rd - Rosh Hashanah (No School)

Friday, October 4th - Student Holiday

Anti-Bullying lessons:

October 8th : 8th and 7th grade

October 9th : 8th and 6th grade

Signs of Suicide:

Tuesday, October 22nd and 23rd 8th grade only

Wednesday October 9th - "Peace out to drugs" (Wear tie dye)

Wednesday October 16th - "Unity day" (wear orange to show support)

Wednesday October 23rd - "Lei off drugs" (wear Hawaiian shirts)

Tuesday October 29th - "Don't be fooled by drugs" (wear a Halloween costume)

6th -How to Grow Your Brain: In this week’s lesson, your child will learn about the brain’s ability to grow and change when they practice challenging things. Having a growth mindset supports your child’s success in school and in life.

Tell your child about a time you needed to change your approach in order to learn something new. Ask your child to tell you about something they’re working hard to learn and how you can help.

7th - Creating New Pathways in Your Brain: In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that intelligence is not fixed; their brain actually makes new connections and their skills and abilities develop when they practice difficult things.

Tell your child about a mistake you made in the past and what you learned from it. Ask your child to tell you about a mistake they made and what they learned from it.

8th -My Interests and Strengths: In this week’s lesson, your child will reflect on how they have used their personal strengths to develop an interest, skill, or ability.

Tell your child about a skill, interest, or ability you have and how you developed it. Discuss the skills, attitudes, or people who helped you along the way.

As part of the ongoing inclusion and equity work across LCPS and here at Belmont Ridge Middle School, we will be selecting students to serve as Student Equity Ambassadors and to represent our school. The goal is to provide an ongoing opportunity for students who are passionate about diversity and equity and have the desire to make their school the best possible learning environment for every student.

We will select up to three student ambassadors who will meet regularly with the Division of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility and other LCPS leaders during scheduled meetings. These sessions will occur periodically throughout the school year during the school day. The student meetings are virtual, with the exception of two in-person meetings. Below is a list of the dates, times, and types of meetings.

October 10, 2024; 9:30 am to 11:00 am

November 13, 2024; 9:30 am to 11:00 am

January 9, 2025; 9:30 am to 11:00 am

February 3, 2025; 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, In-Person at the LCPS Administration Building

April 9, 2025; 9:30 am to 11:00 am

May 30, 2025; 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, In-Person at the LCPS Administration Building

This opportunity is open to all students who have a passion for equity, are willing to engage in conversation, will listen to learn, and will represent the voice of their peers. To express interest, students must fill out the Student Equity Ambassador Interest Form (form link) by Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. Students will be notified of the decision by Friday, Oct. 4.

Students who completed the form but are not selected as one of the 3 school ambassadors will be asked to serve on the BEM Unity Leadership Council. They will do the same work within the school.

Please contact Dr. Brown or Mr. Lichliter if you have any questions.

Student Equity Ambassador Interest Form 2024-2025 (English/Spanish)

Student Equity Ambassador Interest Form 2024-2025 (Arabic)

Student Equity Ambassador Interest Form 2024-2025 (Farsi)

Student Equity Ambassador Interest Form 2024-2025 (Vietnamese)

Student Equity Ambassador Interest Form 2024-2025 (Urdu)

Winter Coat Drive: I am now accepting donations of new and gently used winter coats, hats, and gloves in all women's, men's, and kids' sizes. The collection will go thru October 17. If you have items to donate, please drop them in the collection box (in our BEMS main entryway), my office (next to John Chung/ISR) or shoot me an email and I'll come get them from you. I appreciate your support, as always! All donated items will be made available to our BEMS families. Thank you! Susan.Ferguson@lcps.org

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!

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:

• October 10th

• November 7th

• December 5th

• April 3rd

• May 1st

• June 5th

See Welcome to LCPS flyer to learn more.

Youth and Family Support Services helps strengthen parental and family relationships through prevention, education, and supportive case management services. These services are offered within a strengths-based, trauma-informed and protective/promotive factors framework. These services are based on the Parenting Wisely programs from Family Works, Inc. that offer tips and tools to parent children in difficult situations.

Families that complete a Parenting Wisely program may also participate in short-term, family-focused intensive support sessions. We will assess each family’s needs/concerns, initially and continuously, to ensure appropriate, adequate, and timely access to services across the system of care that reduce the challenging behavior and address any crises that arise.

Parenting Wisely - Teen Edition

Loudoun County families with youth between the ages of 11-17 experiencing challenging peer and family relationships and life crises can get support. Youth and Family Support Services are available to Loudoun County families with a teen that has had one of more of the following problems: running away, failing grades, truancy and poor school attendance/avoidance, drug and alcohol experimentation, or concerning behaviors, to include aggression at home, school and/or in the community.

Families and youth may participate in individual sessions or multi-family group sessions that use the evidence-based curriculum – Parenting Wisely – Teen Edition. We work with families to understand the barriers and behaviors that may be impacting the family dynamic; share information on parenting styles and adolescent development; and teach coping strategies to help improve communication and create mutual respect. In addition, the curriculum can also assist families with developing family contracts and safety plans, as needed.

Parenting Wisely – Teen Edition is offered in English and Spanish.

Upcoming group sessions:

English: 5-week virtual program on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:00 p.m. | View the flyer (PDF)

· August 14 - September 11, 2024

· October 2 - October 30, 2024

· November 13 -December 18, 2024

Spanish: 10-week in-person program on Tuesdays from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Loudoun County Department of Family Services - Family Engagement and Preservation Services office located at 45201 Research Place, Suite 110, Ashburn | View the flyer (PDF)

· November 12, 2024, - January 21, 2025

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

• 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.

Exciting news! LCPS has launched a new app designed to keep families connected and informed with just a tap. The app allows users to conveniently access documents, news updates and emergency notifications in one place. It’s a must-have for students, families and staff, and is available for download from the Google Play or Apple App Store (just search for “Loudoun County Public Schools”). With this mobile-responsive tool, you can receive important updates directly from your school and stay informed on the latest features. The LCPS website and app also offer a centralized feed for all division news, events and announcements, providing a reliable way to stay updated than relying on multiple social media sites.

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.

Overview

Youth and Family Support Services helps strengthen parental and family relationships through prevention, education, and supportive case management services. These services are offered within a strengths-based, trauma-informed and protective/promotive factors framework. These services are based on the Parenting Wisely programs from Family Works, Inc. that offer tips and tools to parent children in difficult situations.

Families that complete a Parenting Wisely program may also participate in short-term, family-focused intensive support sessions. We will assess each family’s needs/concerns, initially and continuously, to ensure appropriate, adequate, and timely access to services across the system of care that reduce the challenging behavior and address any crises that arise.

Parenting Wisely - Teen Edition

Loudoun County families with youth between the ages of 11-17 experiencing challenging peer and family relationships and life crises can get support. Youth and Family Support Services are available to Loudoun County families with a teen that has had one of more of the following problems: running away, failing grades, truancy and poor school attendance/avoidance, drug and alcohol experimentation, or concerning behaviors, to include aggression at home, school and/or in the community.

Families and youth may participate in individual sessions or multi-family group sessions that use the evidence-based curriculum – Parenting Wisely – Teen Edition. We work with families to understand the barriers and behaviors that may be impacting the family dynamic; share information on parenting styles and adolescent development; and teach coping strategies to help improve communication and create mutual respect. In addition, the curriculum can also assist families with developing family contracts and safety plans, as needed.

Parenting Wisely – Teen Edition is offered in English and Spanish.

Upcoming group sessions:

English: 5-week virtual program on Wednesdays from 5:30-7:00 p.m. | View the flyer (PDF)

· October 2 - October 30, 2024

· November 13 -December 18, 2024

Spanish: 10-week in-person program on Tuesdays from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Loudoun County Department of Family Services - Family Engagement and Preservation Services office located at 45201 Research Place, Suite 110, Ashburn | View the flyer (PDF)

· November 12, 2024, - January 21, 2025

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