Special Programs

   
Band back to top

Instruction on band instruments is provided for interested students in 4th and 5th grade. Classes meet once a week for a 45 minute period during the school day with the band teacher. Classes are offered for both beginning and experienced band students. Advanced band students also have the opportunity to perform in the district solo/ensemble festival and participate in Robinson Area Band.

For more information on the FCPS Band Program.
BNN back to top

BNN is a daily news show produced by 5th grade students. Everyone gets the opportunity to work the equipment, be on air, and direct the show. Each afternoon the Belvedere day ends with the news which include lunch, birthdays, information about school events, and guests from other grades or clubs with announcements.

Continental Math back to top

Continental Math Laegue (CML) begins in November for grades 4 and 5 and in January for grade 3. According to the CML, “Experiences are designed to both maximize student opportunities to participate and to improve their problem solving capabilities.” Continental Math fosters higher order thinking skills. Students are given six multistep problems to solve in thirty minutes.

For more information on Continental Math.

ESOL back to top

The ESOL program provides the academic foundation and English literacy that ESOL students need to meet challenging state and local academic standards. ESOL students are assessed regularly in English reading, writing, and oral/listening skills to determine their level of English language proficiency.

For more information on the FCPS ESOL program.
FECEP back to top

The Family and Early Childhood Education Program (FECEP)/Head Start is a free child development program for children birth to age five from income-eligible families. 

For more information on the FECEP program.

Full Day Kindergarten back to top

Belvedere's Full Day Kindergarten classes are a ratio of 1:24 students with maximum class size of 24 or maximum allowed by state K-3 initiative. Each kindergarten teacher is provided a full-time Instructional Assistant.

For more information on the Full Day Kindergarten program.

Full Time Advanced Academic Programs back to top

Students from area elementary schools in grades 3 through 6 who have been identified as academically advanced are given the opportunity to participate in a school-based center program at Belvedere. Special direct instruction is provided by an Advanced Academic Resource Teacher to extend these students' learning.

For more information on the FCPS Advanced Academic Program.
Full Time Advanced Academic Resource Teacher back to top

The Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) provides support to additional students in specific areas of strength. Opportunities for these students may include different content assignments and/or instructional groupings.

For more information on the FCPS Advanced Academic Program.
Instructional Coach back to top

Belvedere's instructional coach assists teachers in applying the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the learning of all students, especially in reading and mathematics. They work collaboratively with teachers, both individually and in teams, to assess student needs, model effective instructional practices, and implement differentiated instruction.

For more information on Instructional Coaches.

Odyssey of the Mind back to top

Odyssey of the Mind is a national/internationally recognized extra-curricular activity for kids from kindergarten through college. It emphasizes creativity, teamwork, and most importantly, thinking "outside the box". Teams of students work to solve one of several long-term problems which are then presented at regional, state and international meets in the spring. The big difference between OM and many other activities is limited involvement of any adult. The students must conceive and carry out their solutions completely on their own. Coaches facilitate this by providing materials and asking broad-based questions designed to stimulate thinking.

For more information on Odyssey of the Mind.

Philosophers Club back to top

Philosopher's Club is open to 4th and 5th grade students and meets periodically throughout the year to discuss philosophical questions that have no right or wrong answers. The club broadens their understanding of the world and their relationship with the world and others. Students learn from each other through Socratic discussion.

PIP back to top

Partners in Print is a family literacy program for beginning readers and their parents. Parents and children come to school and participate in workshops to learn ways to share books and support the development of reading at home. Belvedere holds Partners in Print workshops four times a year.

Preschool Special Ed back to top

Belvedere's Preschool Special Education Program services children ages 2-5 who have been found eligible receive special services from Physical and Occupational Therapists, Psychologist, Speech & Language Clinician, and other providers.

For more information on the Preschool Special Ed program.

Responsive Classroom back to top

Responsive Classroom is based on the premise that children learn best when they have both academic
and social-emotional skills. The approach consists of classroom and schoolwide practices for deliberately
helping children build academic and social-emotional competencies day in and day out, year in and year out. (Northeast Foundation for Children)

For more information on Responsive Classroom.

RIF back to top

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) is a literacy program designed to give children access to a variety of interesting and exciting books in the hope of developing lifelong readers. Three times during the school year, Forest Edge conducts a book distribution for the whole school.
SACC back to top

School Age Child Care (SACC) is a Fairfax County Office for Children program located in FCPS elementary schools for Kindergarten through 6th grade children whose parents are working, attending school, or disabled. The SACC program is designed to develop independent thinking, creative expression, and cooperative relationships among children. SACC offers two separate programs at Belvedere: Before School (7:15AM until school begins) and After School (end of school day until 6:15PM). Parents can register for one or both programs by calling the Fairfax County Office for Children at 703-449-8989.

For more information on the SACC Program.
Student Council Association back to top

The Student Council Association (SCA) is Belvedere ’s Student Government. There are representatives from every 4th and 5th grade class. The SCA helps raise money for the school, collect candy for the troops, promote spirit days and sponsors canned food drives.
Strings back to top

An itinerant instrumental music teacher provides instruction on violin, viola, cello and double bass for interested students in 4th and 5th grade. Classes meet once a week for a 45 minute period during the school day. Second year students may also have the opportunity to play in an ensemble called area orchestra which meets Monday afternoons at another school location.

For more information on the FCPS Strings Program.
Title I back to top

The Title I program provides extra help to students to assist them in meeting state and local education standards. At Belvedere Elementary Title I provides extra resources for our school including:

Step Up Math (SUM)
This program is to increase the mathematics achievement of students in Title I schools. Title I SUM teachers work with classroom teachers to assess student learning and to plan instruction that enables students to understand mathematical concepts, apply problem solving strategies, and develop computational skills. SUM teachers also provide ongoing professional learning for teachers in their schools. They work in classrooms as well as with small groups of students. Instruction is based upon the FCPS Program of Studies (POS), the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL), and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards.

Step Up Language Arts (SULA)
This program is designed to strengthen students’ reading and writing skills. Title I reading specialists and classroom teachers work together to assess students’ strengths and needs and to plan appropriate literacy instruction. SULA instruction focuses on the five essential components of reading: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. SULA teachers provide ongoing professional learning for teachers in their schools. They work in classrooms as well as with small groups of students. Instruction is based on the FCPS Program of Studies (POS) and the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL).

Reading Recovery
Reading Recovery® is a short-term, early intervention program. It is designed for first grade children who are not learning to read and write as quickly as their peers. Children in Reading Recovery receive daily lessons from a specially trained teacher for approximately 12-20 weeks. The instruction is in addition to classroom reading and writing instruction.

Click here for our Family Involvement Policy (pdf) and our School-Home Compact (pdf).

For more information on Title I.

WordMasters back to top

WordMasters is a national competition for students in grades 3rd - 5th which encourages growth in vocabulary and verbal reasoning. Unlike other language-arts contests, which emphasize grammar and punctuation, this competition addresses higher-level word-comprehension and logical abilities and helps students learn to think both analytically and metaphorically.

For more information on WordMasters.
Young Scholars back to top

Young Scholars is a K-6 initiative that is designed to increase the proportion of historically underrepresented students in gifted programs.

For more information on the Young Scholars program.