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| Newsletter for the Belle View Elementary School Community |
March 2012 |
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Dear Parents,
Please help spread the news to our community members that on March 22, 2012 there will be an orientation for parents/guardians of children who will enter kindergarten in September 2012. The orientation will be held in the library at 9:30 a.m. At this meeting, parents/guardians will receive packets containing all the necessary papers for enrolling their child. An overview of the Kindergarten program will be given along with general information about Belle View Elementary.
Grades 3-6 SOL testing will occur during the months of May and June (May 14th - June 1st). To assist with the testing schedule, we ask that you try to avoid taking your children out of school during these testing days. New this year, all Science and Social Studies tests will be administered online.
Proud Principals of the Belle View Bobcats,
Thomas Kuntz Eleanor Contreras
Principal Assistant Principal
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Mark Your Calendars!
March 8 Spring Picture Day
March 13/14 5th Grade SOL Field Testing Day
March 14 Parenting Workshop - Fostering Your Child's Self-Esteem (7:00-8:30 Library)
March 17 Gardening Day (8:00-12:00 p.m.)
March 22 Kindergarten Orientation (9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Library)
March 24 Gardening Day Rain Date (8:00-12:00 p.m.) |
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Staff and Teacher Breakfast
April 20th (sponsored by 1st & 2nd grades)
June 1st (sponsored by Kindergarten and Head Start)
Questions about these events can be directed to Leslie Fry, our Breakfast Coordinator for the
2011-2012 school year.
lesliefry@cox.net
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Helpful Hints:
Box Tops - Do not come with a UPC/bar code. We only need the official Box Top coupon on the product. www.btfe.com
Labels for Education - Come with a bar code on their label. Please include the entire bar code or the label will be invalid. www.labelsforeducation.com
Any questions, contact Chris Poulson at chrispoulson@verizon.net |
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Giant and Safeway Rewards Programs are back, and easier and more beneficial for your school than ever.
There are three ways to sign up:
www.giant.com/aplus (click on designate schools and enter BVES code 02260).
www.escrip.com (click on register now and enter BVES code 647-4005).
NsBrigham@hotmail.com (send your last name, Giant and or Safeway bonus numbers to the program coordinator and she will register you as well.
These generous programs will give much needed funds to our school and do not cost ANY EXTRA MONEY.
Questions? Please call Natasha Brigham at
(703) 888-3114. |
 Our Kindergarten Orientation March 22, 2012 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. in the Belle View Library. |
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Fairfax County Public Schools
Energy Zone
March is National Nutrition Month:
In partnership with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Energy Zone is celebrating National Nutrition Month.
Energy Zone's Top 3 Nutrition Facts:
- Use ChooseMyPlate as a reference for healthy eating habits. Lifestyle changes including daily exercise are more effective than "quick fixes."
- There are many diet myths. Make sure the nutrition information you are getting is from a credible source - a registered dietitian or science-based articles.
- Evaluate a food by reading nutrition labels. Basic understanding of a food label can help you make smart food choices.
Eat Whole Grains Every Day:
Eat 3 or more servings of whole grains every day. They are an important source of fiber and reduce risk of chronic heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Many Americans only eat one serving per day and over 30 percent do not eat whole grains at all. Read the label, and if the first ingredient is whole wheat, whole grain, oatmeal, brown rice, bulgur, popcorn, or wild rice, the product is most likely a whole grain food.
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Read Across America, March 2nd
Mr. Storck reading to Mrs. Pluntke's Class
Mr. Daniels reading to Ms. Schaad's Class
Mrs. Perine reading to Mrs. Mulder's Class |
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Reflections Results
The PTA Reflections Program is designed to enhance a quality arts education by providing an opportunity for students to explore their artistic talents and receive positive recognition for their efforts. Students participate in the Reflections Program by submitting entries to their schools' local PTA or PTSA. In Virginia and nationally, the program has six arts areas-dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and visual arts-and four grade divisions-primary, intermediate, middle/junior, and senior.
Belle View had 12 students submit entries this year for our schools Reflections program. Seven students went forward to be judged against other entries in our Cluster IV (19 Elementary schools) for Fairfax County. Five of those students were recognized for their creations. This is an outstanding showing for Belle View and we congratulate the following students:
Photography:
Middle: Anna Capper, Outstanding Interpretation or 1st place
Intermediate: Peter Miesczczanski, Award of Excellence or 2nd place
Primary: Leydi Cobo Cordon, Award of Merit or 3rd place
Music: Intermediate: Annabelle O'Bryan, Award of Merit or 3rd place
Literature: Intermediate: Grace Dannahey, Award of Excellence or 2nd place
Anna Capper went on to place 1st or Outstanding Interpretation for Photography for the Middle School (6-8 grades) level for the whole Northern Virginia District. The Northern Virginia District includes: Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax City, Fairfax County and Falls Church City. She will go forward and be placed into the State Reflections competition. Go Bobcats!
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Winter Concert, January 2012
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Belle View Track 2012
Welcome to the 2012 Belle View Bobcat track program! This is our 11th year in a great track and field program that culminates in two track meets at West Potomac High School. Because of the growing size of the program and meets, we have split the program into two meets and two sets of practices, depending on grade. This year, the 3-6th graders will have the first set of practices and first meet, to better avoid SOL conflicts.
Please note:
- The first practice for 3-6th graders is next Monday, March 12, from 1:10-2:15 on the blacktop.
- If rain is forecast for that day, I will send out an email by 10AM regarding practice cancellation.
- An announcement will be made at the end of school every track Monday for kids to meet on the blacktop.
- Remind your K-2 kids that these first three practices are for 3-6th grade only! The younger kids can get confused about this.
- Please send an extra water bottle with your child and have him/her dress appropriately for running.
- No bus service is available after practice. You must arrange a ride home for your child unless he/she is a walker.
SpiritWear forms are going out this Wednesday. The blue tie-dye shirt (noted on the Spirit wear form) is the shirt used for the track meets. This shirt is not mandatory, but strongly encouraged. All orders will be in by the first track meet in April.
Thanks to everyone who volunteered to help at the practices or who volunteered their children to help with special needs runners. I will send out a separate email this week with more details.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Meet dates: April 16th, 4PM at West Potomac track for 3-6th graders
May 14th, 4PM at West Potomac track for K-2nd graders
Practice dates: March 12, 19 and 26 and Sunday April 15 for 3-6th grade
April 23, April 30, May 7 and Sunday, May 13 for K-2nd grade |
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News From Belle View's Outdoor Classroom
The next project for the Outdoor Classroom at Belle View will be to complete our wetland project by constructing a vernal pool near the rain garden. This will be the final step in our attempt to control water runoff in a way that is healthy for the environment while providing a learning opportunity for our students. We are being assisted in this project by Will VanOrden as part of his Eagle Scout project. The project is scheduled for March 17 with a rain date of March 24. Please plan to come and help with this important project!
Below is a description of a vernal pool and website for more information.
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A vernal pool is a contained basin depression lacking a permanent above ground outlet. In the Northeast, it fills with water with the rising water table of fall and winter or with the meltwater and runoff of winter and spring snow and rain. Many vernal pools in the Northeast are covered with ice in the winter months. They contain water for a few months in the spring and early summer. By late summer, a vernal pool is generally (but not always) dry. | |
Wood frogs are an amphibian species of upland forests. They venture to vernal pools in early spring, lay their eggs, and return to the moist woodland for the remainder of the year. The tadpoles develop in the pool and eventually follow the adults to adjacent uplands. The presence of evidence of breeding by wood frogs (chorusing or mating adults, egg masses or tadpoles) indicates that a pool is a vernal pool.
The mole salamanders are also upland organisms. They spend most of their lives in burrows on the forest floor. Annually, on certain rainy nights, they migrate to ancestral vernal pools to mate and lay their eggs. They soon return to the upland. The eggs develop in the pool and, by the time the pool dries, the young emerge to begin their life as a terrestrial animal. Evidence that mole salamanders breed in an area make that water body a vernal pool. Breeding evidence would be a breeding congress, spermatophores, egg masses or larvae.
http://water.epa.gov/type/wetlands/vernal.cfm |
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Three of Belle View's very own are walking the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on May 5-6, 2012
We send our best wishes to Mrs. Davis our Music Teacher, Mrs. Schull, Kindergarten teacher, and Mrs. Chan, Occupational Therapist, in their efforts to support Avon's program to promote early detection and research to save lives.
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Thank You!
The Outdoor Classroom Committee would like to extend a thank you to all that participated in the Math Check Fundraiser. Your efforts made it possible for us to raise $8041.05. With the arrival of Spring, we will be able to further reach our goals for the various outdoor learning and enrichment areas at Belle View.
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Please Be Advised!
Please do not send any child experiencing symptoms of a communicable disease to school. To prevent spreading illness to others, keep ill children at home and away from others until the child has been symptom-free and without a fever for at least 24 hours.
Below is further information regarding a recent notice sent by FCPS regarding a health related matter in our schools.
Dear Parent or Guardian,
The Fairfax County Health Department would like to inform you about a recent increase of viral gastroenteritis in the community and provide you with some simple steps that you can take to prevent the spread of illness.
Viral gastroenteritis is a common cause of vomiting and diarrhea at this time of year. The viruses that cause gastroenteritis (including norovirus) are very contagious and are spread through contact with infected persons or contaminated surfaces. Individuals may also become infected by eating or drinking contaminated foods or beverages.
The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are watery diarrhea and vomiting, but may also include headache, fever, and abdominal cramps. While the symptoms can be unpleasant, viral gastroenteritis is usually not serious and the vast majority of people recover in one or two days. The very young, the elderly, and those with immune system problems are more likely to develop serious illness.
To help limit the spread of viral gastroenteritis in the community, please follow these recommendations:
- Wash Hands
It is important to wash hands often with soap and warm water, especially after using the bathroom, before preparing food, before eating, and after any episodes of vomiting or diarrhea.
- Stay Home When Sick
To avoid spreading disease, anyone who is sick with vomiting and diarrhea should stay at home and away from others until symptom-free for at least 24 hours. Adults and children should not go to work, school, school functions, sporting or extracurricular activities, or leave the home except to seek medical care. Children who are sent home from school with vomiting or diarrhea should not return to school the following day - even if they are feeling better - since they may still spread the disease.
- Clean and Disinfect Contaminated Surfaces and Clothing
After episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, immediately clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces with a bleach-based household cleaner. Immediately wash and machine dry clothing or linens that are contaminated with vomit or fecal matter.
If you have questions regarding this information, please contact your physician or the Health Room at your child's school.
Additional information about viral gastroenteritis is also available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/faq.htm. |
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Spirit Wear Deadline!
March 16th
Contact Chris Poulson with questions. chrispoulson@verizon.net
*Order forms can be downloaded from the Belle View webpage.
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balanced careers. successful lives.
mOmentum
{Hire the right people.}
Part-time. Flexible. Smart. Professional. Experienced. Cost-effective.
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The bus stops here!
A Child's Place
Hollin Hall Summer Camp at A Child's Place
1500 Shenandoah Road
Alexandria, VA22308
703-765-8811
Jill Levy, Director
Join us for our Open House February 23, 2012 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Summer fun begins here when the school year ends!
Registration opens February 1, 2012 for returning families
Forms will be online or email to have a packet mailed to you.
Junior Camp 6 to 8 1/2, Senior Camp 8 1/2 to 13
Fields trips every day! | | |
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