River Hawk Updates
Week of November 25th
Belmont Ridge Middle School
Email: katie.johnson@lcps.org
Website: https://www.lcps.org/Page/124256
Location: 19045 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne, VA, USA
Phone: 571-252-2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BEMRiverHawks/
Twitter: @BelmontRidge
Updates from the Admin Team
From our RiverHawk Family to yours- We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving!
- There is no school November 27th - November 29th.
- For student safety, please remind your child(ren) to exit the main office doors or the "kiss and go" doors at the end of the day. Any students meeting staff before 8:00 am must enter through the main office doors.
- Tuesdays and Fridays are spirit days. Encourage your child(ren) to wear Belmont Ridge or Riverside gear on those days!
BEMS Important Dates
November 2019
November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break (No school)
December 2019
December 2-4 - Canes for a Cause Fundraiser (2 canes for $1 or a box for $5)
December 2-6 - Inclusive Schools Week
December 3 - Band 7 & 8 Concert at RVHS at 7:00 pm
December 5 - MAP Testing (Reading)
December 5 - Art 6 Endangered Species Night for Charity
December 6 - MAP Testing (Math)
December 9-13 - BEMS Book Fair
December 10 - Chorus 6 Concert at BEMS at 7:00 pm
December 10 - Guitar 8 Concert at RVHS at 7:00 pm
December 10 - Excellent Options Inc. Club Interest Meeting at 6:00 pm (at Harper Park MS)
December 12 - Strings 7 & 8 Concert at BEMS at 7:00 pm
December 13 - Band 7 Field Trip to DC
December 17 - Chorus 7 & 8 Concert at BEMS at 7:00 pm
December 23 - January 5 - Winter Break
Belmont Ridge Minority Student Association
Belmont Ridge would like to invite you to consider joining our newest initiative, the Belmont Ridge Minority Student Association (MSA), in which students can more actively connect and have an impact on the BEMS community.
Racial identity development is based on the theory that people of all racial groups go through a series of steps in a cycle, with each step deepening an understanding of who we are racially, how racism impacts our lives, and how we view ourselves and other races. People with strong racial identities have a greater sense of comfort with relating to and working with all types of people. This awareness of others' cultures is often referred to as cultural competency. People with heightened senses of cultural competency and racial identity have a greater ability to be proactive (rather than reactive) when dealing with issues related to racism and diversity.
Affinity Groups are voluntary associations of people who share common interests or who have an identifier in common, e.g. race, gender, religion, family status, etc. Affinity groups are for individuals who identify as members of the group and can speak to the experience of being a member of the group from the “I” perspective. Affinity groups play a vital role in articulating, promoting and supporting the needs and goals of their various communities. Their primary focus should be to develop and improve the campus climate by increasing morale, providing insight into diverse areas, building bridges to the community and spotlighting the achievements and accomplishments of the school.
The mission of MSA will be “To Promote Diversity and Inclusion, Not Exclusion at Belmont Ridge Middle School.” MSA will focus of 3 core priorities which include:
· Create an environment where everyone can feel safe, welcome, respected and excited to take part in the school.
· Ensure that consistent, timely and accurate communication is occurring between families and the school including faculty, staff and school leadership.
· Provide opportunities for the families to engage with the school in ways that are meaningful and support the school’s goals.
Our goal is that the Belmont Ridge MSA will provide an opportunity for students in our community to connect around shared identities or interests and to develop a stronger sense of connection and belonging. More specifically, MSA will offer an exploration of one's own identity, the celebration of shared identity, and debriefing of the common challenges and experiences that members of that community face. Businesses, colleges, universities, high schools, middle schools and elementary schools across the country who have made a commitment to diversity, and in particular, to building strong communities, offer affinity group members a greater sense of belonging in the school community.
For additional information or to express your interest in participating, please contact Mr. Damien White at Damien.White@lcps.org. We anticipate our first meeting taking place in early December 2019.
Smile Kits
Belmont Ridge is partnering up with Riverside High School to have a Smile Kit drive for the local Barnett- Searing National Cancer Foundation. We will be collecting fuzzy blankets, fuzzy socks, lip balm, adult coloring books and colored pencils from now through December 12th. Please drop off any of these items in our designated collection bins located in the main office as well as by the Kiss n’ Go doors. The “Smile Kits” will be assembled at Riverside HS in January by the Riverside and BEM Sources of Strength peer leaders.
Notes from the PTO
The Belmont Ridge PTO and NJHS (National Junior Honor Society) are teaming up to support Bright Life Buddies this holiday season as they visit Amidon-Bowen Elementary School in Washington, DC on December 18. We've put together an Amazon Wish List of items to create goody bags for all 37 students at Amidon-Bowen ES...and our NJHS students will assemble the bags on December 16. Please take a moment when you are able and visit the wish list. We hope you'll consider supporting this important outreach project!
www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/158ZIX413JPPF
If you're a Facebooker and haven't "liked" our BEMS PTO page yet, please take a minute to do so! It's a great way to stay up to date on all the fun, educational, and most importantly, student-centered things that happen at our school. Belmont Ridge PTO!
Our Bright Life Buddies Club wants to make the holidays shine a little brighter for families in our community! BLB is working on not one, but two events to spread holiday cheer: a community event called Ignite the Love, and also a visit to a school in DC before the winter break begins. Contributions are needed for both of these events and if you'd like to help share in the spirit of the holidays with these events, please visit our signup and consider donating an item or two. All the details are in the signup so that you can learn more about BLB's outreach. Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0848afaf2aa1fc1-ignite1
Teacher and Staff Kudos
The Positivity Project
This week's topic -> Thankfulness and Gratitude
Belmont Ridge will again partner with the Positivity Project to foster character building and social-emotional learning.
The Positivity Project is thinking big. We know that powerful aspects of the civilizing process, like empathy, are in retreat. Yet, we believe that armed with a deeper understanding of character and an #OtherPeopleMatter Mindset, together, we will create citizens and leaders who will enhance our communities and country.