October Newsletter
A Message from the Principal
Dear Belmont Families,
Thank you so much for supporting Belmont at the Back-to-School Nights in September and at our first SOAR night held on October 9, 2018. Both were a remarkable success with over 200 attendees at each event. We are soaring to greater heights during the 2018-2019 school year.
We hope you can support our “Trunk or Treat” and “Family Book Fair Night” on October 30, 2018. We have high expectations for our students to read, read, read, and read more!! Help us to make sure your child is reading each night!!
See below for a list of upcoming events!! Please support your child and participate in our fun activities.
Remember, the cooler weather is fast approaching. Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the lower temperatures.
As always, please let me know if I can assist you in any way to ensure your child is succeeding in school!!
Thank you for all that you do to help us help you!!
~~~~Dr. G
Calendar
October 25 – November 2 – Book Fair
October 26 - 2nd Grade Field Trip
October 30 – Book Character Day - Trunk or Treat and Family Book Fair Night from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
October 31 - Kindergarten and 5th grade Field Trip
November 2 – Family Fun Night at Laser Quest
November 5 – Teacher Workday – No school for students
November 6 – Parent/Teacher Conference Day
November 7 – Girl Scout Sampler event
November 12 – No school – Veteran’s Day
November 13 – Thanksgiving Lunch
November 14 – Coffee and Conversation with the Principal. Girl Scouts Sampler event. Report Cards go home.
November 16 – Multicultural Night 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
November 21-25 – Thanksgiving Break
December 11 – Polar Express Night
From the Office
As a reminder, our start time and dismissal time have changed. Instruction now begins at 8:15 a.m. and dismissal begins at 2:55 p.m. Remember that we do not dismiss students from the office between 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. during bus dismissal. If you need to change your mode of transportation, please make sure that you call the office prior to 2:00 p.m. If you are running late, please call the office to let us know.
Coffee and Conversation with the principal
Please come to our “Coffee and Conversation with the Principal” in the Parent Resource Center. This informal meeting with the principal will be held on the second Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. The next Coffee and Conversation event is scheduled for November 14, 2018.
BoxTops
You can help our school by clipping BoxTops and sending them to the school with your student. There are two submission deadlines: November 1 and March 1.
We will have a competition between grades K-2 and 3-5.
The class with the most BoxTops will have a pizza party in April!
From the Nurse
Happy October Eagles,
Just a friendly reminder to wash your hands and cover coughs.
A few minutes killing germs can go a long way toward keeping you and those around you healthy. As adults, we know to wash our hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing, sneezing, or wiping noses. When you cough or sneeze, cough into your sleeve or arm or into a tissue. Be sure to dispose of the tissue and wash your hands. Parents and childcare providers can do their part to kill germs and also teach young children how and when to wash their hands. Please Parents keep you child home and perhaps see health provider if they have a temperature over 100 degrees or higher, coughing that won't stop or trouble breathing, Diarrhea or vomiting within the past 24 hours, Rash that is itching and/or fever, head lice without treatment, and eye infections with red and oozing yellowish/green discharge. Our goal is to prevent spreading of diseases and keeping our Eagles Healthy. Happy Hand washing. 😊
Blessings, Nurse Stephanie Myers RN,BSN
School Food and Nutrition Services Celebrates Virginia Farm to School Week
PWCS School Food and Nutrition Services celebrates Virginia Farm to School Week, October 1-5, 2018! Did you know your school cafeteria serves seasonal Virginia produce all year long? This week we will be serving apples from Crown Orchard in Batesville, Virginia, and Bibb lettuce from Portwood Gardens in Dayton, Virginia.
Incorporating local products into our menus gives students the opportunity to enjoy nutritious, fresh fruits and vegetables, while learning about the seasonality of foods and how foods are grown. These products support local farms and are a tasty way to improve the health of our children!
To celebrate Virginia Farm to School Week at elementary schools, School Food and Nutrition Services is participating in the “Crunch Heard ‘Round the Commonwealth!” on Friday, October 5th at 10:00 am. If your school or class wants to participate, let your Cafeteria Manager know how many apples you need by September 24th.
We would love to see pictures of your students participating in the “Crunch” at your school. Tag us on Twitter (@PWCSNutrition) or Instagram (@PWCSNutrition_)!
Math and Science Connection
Reading Connection
Title I
Parental Notification of Assessment Opt Out Policies under The Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015
According to the Virginia Department of Education, "All students in tested grade levels and courses are expected to participate in Virginia's assessment program, unless specifically exempted by state or federal law or by Board of Education regulations." On December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) was signed into law. Section 1112(e)(2) of ESSA states that parents of students in Title I schools have a right to know about state or division policies regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by ESSA, including any policy, procedure, or parental right to opt students out of such assessments. The Commonwealth of Virginia does not currently have an Opt Out policy for SOL assessments. However, Section 22.1-253.13:3.C of the Code of Virginia states that, “The Board of Education shall not include in its calculation of the passage rate of a Standards of Learning assessment for the purposes of state accountability any student whose parent has decided to not have his child take such Standards of Learning assessment, unless such exclusions would result in the school's not meeting any required state or federal participation rate.” Prince William County Public Schools regulations state that, if a parent or guardian decides to not have a student take a state or local assessment, then the person making the request should be informed about the academic consequences that decision could have on the student.
If you would like to receive more information about this topic, please contact the principal.