Fort Belvoir Upper News
April 21: NO SCHOOL - Teacher Work Day
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Dear Dolphin Families,
We are excited to welcome students into the 4th quarter of the school year! This final stretch is an important time for continued growth, learning, and finishing the year strong.
Report cards are now available in ParentVUE, and we encourage families to review them with your child, celebrate progress, and set goals for the weeks ahead.
Throughout April, we are also recognizing and celebrating important themes within our school community. We invite students to participate in our Autism Awareness Spirit Week and Earth Week activities. Students are welcome to celebrate one or both as we promote inclusion, understanding, and responsibility for our environment.
As we prepare for upcoming SOL testing, regular attendance is more important than ever. Our students and teachers are making every instructional minute count as they review and reinforce learning from across the school year. Being present each day helps ensure students are confident, prepared, and ready to do their best.
Finally, during the Month of the Military Child, we proudly celebrate and honor our military-connected students. We recognize the strength, resilience, and unique experiences they bring to our school community, and we are grateful for the sacrifices made by their families. Thank you to all of our volunteers who came to honor our students on Purple Up Day!
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we move through this final quarter together.
Jessica Peterson
- Elementary Early Release Wednesday Update for April
- Tuesday, April 21, is now a teacher workday and staff development day because of a recently announced special election that will impact all FCPS schools.
Students will have a traditional full day of instruction and be released at the regular dismissal time on April 22 and April 29, which were previously early release Wednesdays for elementary schools.
This adjustment allows our staff to still have dedicated time for planning, collaboration, and professional learning without reducing instructional time on other school days.Read Dr. Reid’s letter to elementary parents for more details.
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New Visitor Management System We are excited to announce that our school is now using the new Raptor Visitor Management System (VMS). This upgrade is part of our school’s and FCPS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining the process for visitors at our school. The VMS ensures that no visitor is on the sex offender registry.
For most visitors, the user experience will be the same when you check-in at the front office.
But now there is also an app, which can make check-in’s even faster at school. Visitors who choose to download the RaptorSafe App and create a Raptor Passport can pre-verify their information before they get to school. The app will give you a QR code you can use when you check-in at school.
If you have questions or need assistance with the new system, please contact our front office. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe!
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th Graders
As required by the Code of VA, parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend at a Virginia public school.
In addition, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations:
- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older;
- Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older;
- A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents or guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Immunization appointments are available. Inspire Health Alliance will be providing immunizations for currently enrolled FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Visit the Inspire Immunization Events Student Registration webpage to schedule an appointment.
Additional Immunization Resources are also available.
- It’s PCS season! We want to help you prepare for your move, so your child’s transition to their next school is a little easier. FCPS Family & School Partnerships staff and Fort Belvoir School Liaison Officers (SLOs) will explain:
- How to withdraw from FCPS
- How to obtain unofficial student records from your current school
- How to connect with the SLO at your next duty station
FCPS PreK and Early Head Start is now accepting applications for School Year 2026-27!
We are High Quality Early Childhood Program for eligible families. PreK is a full day M-F program that prioritizes children 4-year-old by September 30 but also accept applications for children 3- year-old by September 30th. Spaces are limited.
Learn More and Apply
March 24 (11am-2pm) at Fort Belvoir Primary
To Apply In-person please bring:
-Child’s birth certificate
-Address Verification Letter
-Proof of Income (2025 taxes, W2 or 1-month paystubs)
For more information or to apply online scan QR code
Visit our website – www.fcps.edu/PreK
Call PreK Office-English: 703-208-7900 Spanish: 703-208-7901
Email- fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu
We are excited to share information about our Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) — a dynamic summer enrichment program serving students currently in grades K–5. Students currently in grade 6 are eligible for our secondary program, Institute for the Arts (IFTA).
Our programs offer students daily experiences in Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance in a fun, supportive environment designed to nurture creativity and confidence. To ensure access for all families, we provide:
- Tuition assistance
- Transportation
- After care options
We would greatly appreciate your help sharing this opportunity with families in your school community. Flyers for all programs — including translated versions — are available here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1qX_RLDLyI5_U81c3kF34ZbR87G98KG3O?usp=drive_link
Please feel free to print, post, include in newsletters, send home in folders, or share digitally with families.
Thank you for helping us expand access to high-quality arts experiences for our elementary students. We are grateful for your partnership!
Spark Your Future at the CTE Summer Academy!
Is your student ready to build, create, and explore this summer? Registration is now officially OPEN for the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) CTE Summer Academy!
This enrichment program is a fantastic way for students to dive into Career and Technical Education through hands-on learning. Whether they want to program a robot, cook a gourmet meal, or learn the basics of medical science, there is something for everyone.
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