River Hawk Updates
Week of October 7th - October 11th
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
- Can you believe we are more than halfway through Quarter 1? Quarter 1 ends on November 1st.
- There is no school on October 14th (Columbus Day) and October 28th (Teacher Professional Learning Day).
- Please remind your child(ren) to bring their Chromebook to school fully charged.
- See below for important dates such as Stomp Out Bullying Day, Tie Dye Day, our Pink Out, the RiverHawks Bonfire, etc.
- The main page of the Belmont Ridge Website is another great resource for important dates and school information. Please be patient as we transition to our new format.
- 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!
AOS/AET Admissions
If your student is interested in applying to attend LCPS’s Academy of Science (AOS) or Academy of Engineering and Technology (AET) next year, the application and admission criteria is now available at: https://www.lcps.org/page/196339. The application is now open, and closes on October 18, 2019 at 12:00 pm.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Admissions Office at AcademiesAdmissions@lcps.org. They are also encouraging families to attend the upcoming Information Session.
- October 10, 2019, at Briar Woods High School at 6:30 pm
Unified Mental Health Team Updates
October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. To signify its importance, STOMP Out Bullying™ created this WORLD DAY OF BULLYING PREVENTION™ which is observed on the first Monday of each October.
On this first Monday of October, students and adults alike are encouraged to #BlueUp by wearing a blue shirt to ensure that the need for bullying prevention is heard around the world.
We chose blue because in many diverse cultures blue brings peace. The color conveys importance and confidence. For 11 years, this campaign has been so successful that it has gone global.
For more information on this global Initiative visit https://www.stompoutbullying.org/campaigns/world-day-bullying-prevention/
Important Counselor Calendar Updates:
October 2019
October 7 - World Blue Shirt Day (Stomp Out Bullying)
October 9 - Tie Dye Spirit Day (Say Peace Out to Bullying and Drugs)
October 15 - Counseling Advisory Council Meeting - 3:45 (BEMS Library)
October 16 - Hawaiian Shirt Spirit Day (Lei Off Drugs and Bullying)
October 17 - CAMPUS meeting
October 21- SOS Adult Advisor Training
October 22 - 6th Grade Resource Lesson (Bullying and Kindness)
October 23 - Unity Spirit Day (Wear Orange - United Against Drugs and Bullying)
7th Grade Resource Lesson (Harassment)
October 28 - Counselor Staff Development at Broad Run HS
October 29 - Substance Abuse Presentations
Sources of Strength Peer Leader Training
October 30 - Substance Abuse Presentations
October 31 - Costume Day (Don’t Be Fooled by Drugs and Bullying)
Substance Abuse Presentations
November 2019
November 1 - Substance Abuse Presentations
November 5 - Motivational Interviewing Training
November 6 - (Tentative) Peer Leader Training 2
National Stress Awareness Day
November 12 - National ODD Socks Anti-Bullying Day
Power Up Pink with Riverside
RiverHawks, it's time to Power Up Pink! in partnership with our high school. The Riverside DECA club will be selling t-shirts at lunch this week. Specific days are forthcoming. The T-shirts are $10. All proceeds go directly to Loudoun Breast Health Network. All proceeds help women and their families battling breast cancer here in Loudoun County. Plan to wear PINK this Friday, October 11th.
Substance Use Awareness Presentations
Substance Use Awareness Presentations will be offered in the 8th-grade classrooms during the last week of October. In these presentations, information about commonly abused substances (to include vaping) will be provided and the dangers of substance use will be discussed. Common myths that are associated with substance use will also be addressed. Students will receive education about the disease of addiction and the symptoms and stages that are associated with substance abuse. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of healthy coping skills/alternatives, how to obtain help and school resources that are available. Please contact your child's counselor or our student assistance specialist Kim Hager at kim.hager@lcps.org if you have any questions.
VDOE Survey for Parents of Students with Disabilities
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is asking for families who have a child with a disability and is provided special education services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to participate in the 2018-2019 Indicator 8 Parent Involvement Survey. The online survey is now open and available for completion in English and Spanish at the following websites:
• English Version: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VDOEENGLISH
• Spanish Version: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VDOEESPANOL
Families who have more than one child receiving special education services are requested to complete a survey for each of their children. It is important to note that your responses are recorded anonymously and cannot be personally linked to your child. The survey concludes on January 31, 2020.
Notes from the PTO
We are excited to announce our first RiverHawk Family Night Bonfire and Outdoor Movie Night on October 18th. Please join us for some family fun! Food trucks from Ford's Fish Shack, Chik Fil A, and Kona Ice will be on-site for dinner and treats. Students are currently voting in their English classes to select the movie for the evening. More details to follow in next week's newsletter.
The Positivity Project
Please see the document below for this week's character trait --> Open-Mindedness
Belmont Ridge will again partner with the Positivity Project to foster character building and social-emotional learning.
Positivity Project Mission and Vision
OUR MISSION
To empower America’s youth to build positive relationships and become their best selves.
OUR VISION
To partner with schools across the country and equip educators with the training, strategy, and resources to teach their students positive psychology’s 24 character strengths.
The Need
These partnerships couldn’t come at a more important time for our youth – and for our nation. In today’s rapidly changing world, character strengths – and a focus on relationships – must be intentionally cultivated from an early age. It is critical to ensure that our mental, emotional, and moral capacities grow alongside our advances in technology.
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.