Happy Thanksgiving to our Belmont Ridge community!

Newsletter topics include:

• Upcoming Events
• Virginia Student Survey
• What is Lexia?
• Attendance Reminders
• Retake Photos Available
• LCPS Special Programs
• Musical Interest Meeting
• No Place for Hate
• Operation Shoebox
• Yearbook Sales
• Thank you for support of our Stocking for the Troops
• Family Liaison Update
• NJHS Update
• Suicide Prevention Event
• Department of EL FACE Updates
• FBLA Donation Drive

Upcoming Dates:

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)

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.

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 everyone who contributed to our Stockings for the Troops project! Our NJHS students created 40 stockings and loads of holiday cards that we gave to our local USO, for distribution to local military families.

My holiday giving program continues through the end of this week! This holiday gift card drive directly benefits families in our very own Belmont Ridge community. Please visit my signup to learn more about this program. I will gladly accept donations via Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle if you are not able to purchase the actual gift cards. Every contribution is greatly appreciated!

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

The NJHS Canes for a Cause candy cane fundraiser begins on Tuesday, December 3! Candy canes will be sold for $1 each in the mornings before school begins as well as during all three lunch periods thru Friday, December 13.

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