RiverHawk Reminders
Week of October 11th
We hope you are enjoying your weekend. Here are a few important updates:
- Upcoming Events
- Vision and Hearing Reminders
- Battle of the Books
- The Family Room Presentations
- Second Step SEL Resources
- Parent Liaison Updates
- Yearbook Updates
- BEMS Assessment Calendar SY 21 -22
- Academies of Loudoun Application Information
- RVHS Tutoring Opportunities
- Winter Accessories Drive
- Odyssey of the Mind Opportunities
- PTO Updates
- The Little Known Secrets of Paying for College Virtual Presentation
- Step Up Loudoun
All the best,
Mrs. Johnson
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Monday, October 11th - Indigenous Peoples' Day (NO SCHOOL)
Wednesday, October 13 – “I’m Too Bright For Bullying and Drugs" -students wear sunglasses/neon.
- Wednesday, October 13th - Parents as Educational Partners Meeting (In person 6 pm)
- Wednesday, October 13th - Growth Assessment Math
- Thursday, October 14th - Growth Assessment Math
- Thursday, October 14th - Little Known Secrets of Paying for College Presentation (virtual 6 pm)
- Monday, October 18th - Breakfast Club (PJs) - Following RVHS Spirit Week
- Monday, October 18th - 7th-grade Counselor Presentations - Positive Relationships
- Monday, October 18th - 7th Grade and New to LCPS Vision and Hearing Screenings
- Tuesday, October 19th - 7th Grade and New to LCPS Vision and Hearing Screenings
- Tuesday, October, 19th - Caddyshack (Country vs Country Club) -Following RVHS Spirit Week
Wednesday, October 20th – “World Unity Day” - Students and Staff Wear Orange
- Wednesday, October 20th and Thursday, October 21st - 8th-grade Counselor Presentations- Stopping Cyberbullying
- Thursday, October 21st - Dodgeball (Jersey or any sports gear) - Following RVHS Spirit Week
- Thursday, October 21st - Schools to Watch Redesignation Site Visit
- Thursday, October 21st and Friday, October 22nd - 6th-grade Counselor Presentations- Anti-Bullying Lessons
- Friday, October 22nd - Friday Night Lights (Black out) - Following RVHS Spirit Week
- Tuesday, October 26th and Wednesday, October 27th- 8th-grade Substance Abuse Prevention Presentation
Wednesday, October 27 – “Red’y to Be Drug and Bully Free” - Students and Staff Wear Red.
- Thursday, October 28th - Last Day of Quarter 1
- Friday, October 29th - Professional Learning Day (NO SCHOOL for students)
- Monday, November 1st - Student Holiday (NO SCHOOL for students)
- Tuesday, November 2nd - Staff/Student Holiday (NO SCHOOL)
- Thursday, November 4th - Staff/Student Holiday (NO SCHOOL)
- Friday, November 12th - School Picture Make-Up Day
Vision & Hearing Screenings
All 7th graders and any student who is new to Loudoun County Schools will be screened for both Vision and Hearing. Parents are requested to make sure their child is sent to school on the screening days with their prescription glasses or contact lenses.
Screening days
Monday, October 18
Tuesday, October 19
Battle of the Books
Second Step Family Communication
The Family Room Virtual Workshops
To: All LCPS EL Families
The Division of English Learners, Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Office is pleased to invite and welcome you to our first "The Family Room" virtual workshop for the 2021-2022 school year.
Please join us and log in on Wednesday, October 20th, 2021 at 6 pm as we discuss "Teaming Up! How Families and Schools Can Partner for Student Success.” We are looking forward to sharing our commitment to fostering a collaborative culture of family engagement, preparing for parent-teacher conferences, understanding student schedules, and implementing strong homework strategies at home. We hope you'll join us as we "Team Up" for student success!
Please join via virtual link located in The Family Room Flyer.
La Division de Aprendizaje de Ingles, Officina de Participación de la Familia y la Comunidad EL (FACE) se complace en invitarla(o) al primer “Reunion Sala Familiar” workshop virtual del ano escolar 2021-2022.
Por favor acompanenos el Miercoles 20 de Octuber, 2021 a las 6 P.M. para discutir “Formacion de Equipos” o “ Ayudandonos mutuamente” Como las familias y los colegios nos asociamos en el exitio de nuestros estudiantes. Esperamos con mucha anticipacion el compartir nuestro compromiso de fomenter una cultura de familias compromentidas, en como prepararse para una conferencia de Padres con los profesores, como entender los horarios y programas de los estudiantes, implementando estrategias claras y contundentes en casa, esperamos verlo para formar un Equipo fuerte de ayuda mutual.
Únase a través del enlace virtual ubicado en la página informativa de El Salón Familiar.
PARENT LIAISON UPDATE
Now that October is here, our thoughts turn to chilly weather. If you have coats and jackets that you no longer need, please consider donating to our winter coat drive! Items donated will be offered to those in the community who are in need of cold weather wear. I am currently welcoming donations of new or gently used coats, jackets, hats, gloves, and snow pants in mens, womens, girls', boys', and babies sizes. Items should all be clean and in great condition. There is a box for donations in the Belmont Ridge lobby, and you are welcome to drop off your items during school hours. If you are unable to drop off during the school day, please contact me at Susan.Ferguson@lcps.org to make other arrangements. THANK YOU!
YEARBOOK UPDATES
The yearbook team is looking for any and all pictures related to the first few school-related events this year. This may include:
Bridge to the Ridge
Open House
First Day of School Picture
Family Night
Thank you for helping us capture our year together! If you have many pictures from the event, feel free to email sarah.w.anderson@lcps.org
CLUB UPDATES
Thank you to everyone who signed up for BASAP classes through the PTO! The deadline to register for BASAP classes has now passed, but please note that there are many clubs that your student can still join. Visit the Clubs page of our website for a complete list of current offerings and contact information for club advisers. https://www.lcps.org/Domain/133
Winter Wear Drive
BEMS ASSESSMENT CALENDAR SY 21 - 22
Riverside NHS Tutoring Available
Zoom Link: https://teachingstrategies.zoom.us/j/94485845160?pwd=aXdhNFlkZS9QYTJiVUlOTTZxcnhIdz09
The Odyssey of the Mind program at Belmont Ridge continues to grow both in numbers and success! We are proud of all that our students have accomplished, and we want to extend this opportunity to you!
If you are interested in joining/forming a team, we would like to share more information with you. We will be holding a virtual informational meeting on Wednesday, October 13th at 7pm. This meeting is for anybody wishing to learn more information about how the Odyssey of the Mind program operates.
Please join the meeting at https://teachingstrategies.zoom.us/j/94485845160?pwd=aXdhNFlkZS9QYTJiVUlOTTZxcnhIdz09
Please be aware that in order to provide students with this Odyssey experience, we need coaches. Training and support is provided to coaches.
Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Team members apply their creativity to solve problems that range from building mechanical devices to presenting their own interpretation of literary classics. They then bring their solution to competition on the local, state and World level. Thousands of teams from the U.S. and from about 25 other countries participate in the program.
What makes Odyssey different?
Odyssey of the Mind is a competitive program, but it’s nothing like your typical sporting event. The competitive element encourages kids to be the best that they can be, but it’s a friend competition. Kids learn from and even cheer on their competitors. Odyssey of the Mind is not a competition about knowledge. It’s all about creativity, an often overlooked element in the growth and development of many students. Kids are rewarded more for how they apply their knowledge, skills and talents, and not for coming up with the right answer. In fact, in Odyssey of the Mind problems, there isn’t one right answer. Ever.
How do students benefit from participation?
In Odyssey of the Minds, students learn skills that will last a lifetime. They work in teams so they learn cooperation and respect for the ideas of others. They evaluate ideas and make decisions on their own, gaining greater self-confidence and increased self-esteem along the way. They work within a budget, so they learn to manage their money. They see that there’s often more than one way to solve a problem, and that the process can be more important than the end result.
How does it work?
Each team has up to seven students and chooses one of five competitive problems to solve. The problems appeal to a wide range of interests; some are technical in nature, while others are artistic or performance-oriented. Under the guidance of adult coach, teams work on their solutions throughout the school year and present them in a regional competition in the spring. The “friendly” competitive aspect encourages students to be the best that they can be.
Odyssey at Belmont Ridge
Interested in joining Odyssey? Our teams are being formed now! Please contact Kristy Balwinski at kristy2500@gmail.com if you or your child is interested in becoming a part of this great program and you are unable to attend the meeting.
GREETING FROM THE PTO:
Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who came out to last Friday's Riverhawk Family Night! On behalf of the Belmont Ridge PTO, we were so happy to see so many families and hope you had as much fun as we did. Congratulations to all our raffle contest winners and thanks again for your support.
Belmont Ridge will observe Bus Driver Appreciation Week the week of October 18, and the PTO would like to sponsor goody bags for all our hard-working bus drivers. We've created an Amazon Wish List for this purpose and would love to have your support! There will be 24 goody bags for our 24 bus drivers. Please consider purchasing an item or two to contribute. Items purchased from this list will be shipped directly to the school. Thank you!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2C61AR77Z6NIV?ref_=wl_share
COLLEGE FUNDING COACH
STEP UP LOUDOUN
Reminders
At Belmont Ridge, we value Academic Excellence, a Culture of Equity, and a Safe, Supportive, and Positive Learning Environment. Thank you for all you do to support us as a school!
** 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. **
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: 571-252-2220
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BEMRiverHawks/
Twitter: @BelmontRidge