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19045 Upper Belmont Place

Leesburg, VA 20176

www.loudoun.k12.va.us/schools/bmrms

A Note from Your Principal… I would like to take this opportunity to outline a new board policy. The Loudoun County School Board has enacted a policy (School Board Policy 8-10) to provide an opportunity for parents and students to offer input, comments, suggestions and complaints to school officials. Policy 8-10 governs all written complaints by parents or students that are not governed specifically under other School Board Policies. Procedures enumerated in other policies supersede those created in this policy and are articulated in the School Board Policy Manual which is available on the LCPS website and at each school. Parents or students with complaints are always encouraged to attempt to resolve their concerns first with appropriate staff at the student’s school. Building principals are always available to receive complaints and appreciate the opportunity to address such concerns as they are brought forward. Parents or students submitting a complaint under Policy 8-10 must use the LCPS Complaint Form which is accessible at all times through individual school offices, electronically upon request from individual schools or the Superintendent’s Office and via the LCPS website and the website for each individual school. Within five business days of receipt of a complaint form, the principal or their designee will acknowledge such in writing. The principal or their designee will, within thirty calendar days of the receipt of the complaint form, provide a written response to the complaint. Within thirty days of the principal’s response the complainant may file an appeal to the Superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools. The Superintendent or their designee will acknowledge the appeal in writing within five business days of receipt. Within thirty calendar days of the receipt of the appeal, the Superintendent or their designee will provide a written response. Retaliation against parents or students who file complaints or participate in the related proceedings is strictly prohibited and any alleged retaliation shall be reviewed and dealt with appropriately by the Superintendent or other appropriate administrator. Any questions regarding the complaint process should be directed to Mr. Timothy Flynn, Principal Belmont Ridge Middle School. Thank you, Mr. Flynn

Administrative Team

Timothy Flynn Principal

Yvonne Balfour

Assistant Principal

Kay Sellers Assistant Principal

8th Grade

Katherine Lowery

Dean

Patti Atkins Counselor

7th Grade

Michael Skinner

Dean

Amy Scott Counselor

6th Grade

Scott Lewis

Dean

Terry Mawyer Counselor

6, 7, & 8 Grades

Damien White Counselor

School Information

Office Hours

7:30-4:30

Phone: 571-252-2220 Fax: 703-669-1455

Absentee Line 571-252-2222

House A

571-252-2228

House B 571-252-2227

House C

571-252-2226

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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2 Daylight Savings Ends

3 Teacher Work Day

No School For Students

4 Teacher Work Day

No School For Students

Election Day

Dist. Chor. Aud. @ Blue Ridge MS

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6

Belmont Ridge Family Dinner

6:00 – 8:00

7 All County

Chorus@ Freedom High School

8 All County Chorus@

Freedom High School

9 10 Picture Retakes

11 Picture Retakes

12 Report Cards

Go Home

13 Musical

Performance

14 Musical

Performance

15 Musical

Performance

16

17 7th Orchestra

Rehearsal 3:30 -4:30 BR

18

Principal’s Coffee 9:30 a.m. PTSO Meeting

10:00 a.m.

19 7th Chorus Rehearsal

3:30 – 4:30 BR

20 Musical

Performance

21 Musical

Performance

22 Musical

Performance

23 /30

24 8th Band Rehearsal

3:30 – 4:30 BR 7th Orchestra

Rehearsal 3:30 -4:30 Stage

25

26

Thanksgiving Holiday No School

27

No School

28 Thanksgiving Holiday

No School

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November 2008

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Belmont Ridge Middle School Activity Bus Schedule 2008-2009

Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays Pick-up @ 4:30

Bus 687 Upper Belmont / Lees Mill Sq Riverside Pkwy / Kipheart Dr Riverside Pkwy / Upper Meadow Dr Riverside Pkwy / Kingsport Dr Seldens Landing Elementary School Riverside Pkwy / Heatherstone Te Lansdowne Blvd / Riverpoint Dr (front of the waterfall) Tournament Pkwy / Augusta Village Pl Tournament Pkwy / Saratoga Springs Pl Tournament Pkwy / Somerset Hills Te Alexandras Grove Dr / Kathleen Elizabeth Dr Forest Farm La / Alexandras Grove Dr Newton-Lee Elementary School Bus 628 K. Dickinson Portsmouth Blvd / Winkel Dr Chesterton ST / Charter Oak Dr Stone Bridge High School Farmingale Dr / Wintergrove Dr Sanders Corner Elementary School Clairborne Pkwy / Blair Park Sq ****Activity level bus transportation is a regional service that eliminates the need for parents to pick-up their student at the school, and is not intended to be the equivalent of regular home to school service. Take home times vary and are not guaranteed.

Health and P.E. News!

As the second quarter begins there will be new activities in Physical Education class. Students will be participating in basketball, as well as a weight training and fitness unit. Students will also be attending Health class again this quarter. The 6th Grade students will have Gang Resistance Education and Training the last two weeks before December’s Holiday Break. Students were recently given a letter explaining the requirements for the Loudoun County Fitness Log. This fitness log will be graded with separate due dates each quarter. If there are any questions/concerns about the fitness log please contact your child’s P.E. teacher.

Band Notes Congratulations to the 8th grade band for a spectacular performance with the Stone Bridge Marching Band on October 16th!! 8th grade band will be having their first after-school rehearsal on November 24th from 3:30-4:30. Musically Yours, Michelle Robbins

Picture Retake Days will be on November 10 and 11 during PE class. Here's your chance if you were absent, forgot portrait money, need a retake, want to buy portraits or want more pictures. Show up looking your best!

For retakes - be sure to return your original portraits if you were not satisfied. To purchase new portraits - pick up flyer in advance from the front of house offices.

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Technology Education Department The 7th grade students are working on their second Synergistic computer module activity. They are learning about different fields of technology that affect our lives. In doing so they will be applying what they have learned through practical activities. An example of this is Flight Technology, where the students learn about the parts of a plane and what makes it fly. They will build a wing to test how well it works and then they will measure how much lift it creates under different circumstances. Afterwards the students go on to learn how to fly and navigate a plane. Our next activity is to build water propelled bottle rockets. The students will learn the main parts of a rocket, assembly techniques, and Newton’s three laws. 8th grade students will be working on individualized wall clocks. This activity will allow the students to use a range of woodworking tools in a manufacturing environment. CO2 dragsters will be incorporated into the auto industry. Students will learn how to operate machines in the manufacturing lab.

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The Communication Committee would like to help parents with directions on how to find homework on the Belmont Ridge Website. 1. Go to the school website: http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/bmrms 2. Click on "Staff" at the top of the page. 3. Find the teacher's name and click on the name. 4. Click the calendar link, often called homework. 5. Choose a day on the calendar and click on it, or you can go to the list of calendar events.

Don't forget that your child should have his/her homework assignments written in the agenda. Students must be absent from school for 3 consecutive days before work can be collected from teachers for pick up.

Requests from the School Clinic!

1. Please feed your student something to eat before they come to school. Lunch time is at 12 noon, 12:40 PM and 1:15 PM for grades 6th, 7th and 8th respectively. 2. Please make sure that your child wears protective shoes with closed toes. Protective shoes

will reduce your child’s chance of a foot injury and/or falling at school. 3. Please do not wear strong scented or excessive perfume/cologne to school. Many of our

students and staff are very sensitive to these scents. It makes some people ill with headaches, breathing, and/or allergic reactions.

Thank you! Megan Davis, RN Belmont Ridge Middle School

All-County Chorus!!!! Congratulations to the students who made All-County Chorus for the 2008-2009 school year! We are so proud to announce the following students:

Sopranos: H. Ruhe, K. Dunn, S. Reed, C. Lewis, N. Papson, M. Curtis and A. Dean Alternate: M. Kulick

Altos: M. Clarke, J. Fadullon, K. Schindler, K. Nyo, J. Fondaco, C. Thompson and E. Morgan Alternate: E. Mayes

Tenors/Baritones: K. Buckley, C. Davis, J. Parker, Z. Hamade, H. Nyo, V. Rovis, A. Khan, D. Ahmed and S. Atapoor Alternate: R. Slatten These students will be preparing the music and attending the All-County weekend on November 7 and 8. Please congratulate them when you see them. You have all made Belmont Ridge Middle School so proud!!!

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Foreign Language Department

National Foreign Language Examinations All foreign language students are welcome to participate in the National Spanish, Latin, and French examinations offered yearly in March or April 2009. Students take a written and listening comprehension test, and scores are ranked against students with similar educational background. The exams last approximately an hour and are administered during school hours at Belmont Ridge. Registration is through the Department until December 3, and includes a fee to be paid by cash or check, made out to BEM with reference to the specific national exam. The exact fees, under $5.00, will be on the registration forms. It is highly recommended that students attend the test practice sessions, which will take place before school as the date nears. Belmont Ridge Education Week The Foreign Language Department plans a day of student presentations during National Education Week each year. Students will introduce themselves to the class in the target language, aided by creative and appealing visuals.

PALS - Performance Assessment for Foreign Language Students The high school level students were successful in recording their first in-lab speaking prompt on first quarter themes. Students have ninety seconds to prepare a recording on a familiar theme! Homework and Projects Parents may refer to individual staff websites for postings of all assignments and due dates.

LIBRARY NEWS! Our library schedule is finally set. Students come every two weeks with their Language Arts teacher. On Monday and Tuesday, we see the students in Mr. Gallelli, Mrs. Chiet and Mrs. Bryden-Miller’s classes. On Wednesday, the students in Mr. Pitts, Ms. Diehl and Mrs. Lewis visit the library. On Thursday, Mrs. Branch, Mrs. Cannon and Mrs. Stokes bring their classes. And on Friday, we see the classes from Ms. Wyatt, Mrs. Muller and Mrs. Polino. Students may also visit the library before school, at Lunch, from Resource and quickly at the end of the day. Please encourage your children to return their books in a timely fashion. There are almost 100 students with overdue items from September. We may be calling your house soon.

Thank you to our parent volunteers. We are very glad to see you every day. Without you we would be sinking beneath the returned books and piles of laminating.

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Counselor’s Corner

Classroom Guidance The 8th grade Guidance Counselors will be visiting Resource classes during the month of November to provide lessons on stress management. Students will be learning about some of the causes of stress in their lives as well as ways to cope with it.

The 7th grade Guidance Counselor will be visiting Resource classes during the month of November as well providing lessons and working with the G.R.E.A.T. program. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology The deadline to submit applications has come and gone. The next step for those who have applied will be the TJHSST admissions test held on Saturday, December 6th. The snow date is schedule for December 13th.

For more information, please contact TJHSST or access their webpage at http://information.tjhsst.edu/admissions

Academy of Science AOS is an alternative Loudoun County High School currently housed at Dominion High School, established to provide an academic environment where students are encouraged to develop scientific endeavors of their own design, while having the opportunity to pursue a rich, well-rounded high school experience. AOS students attend school four years, every other day for a total of 3 credits – Math, Science and Research.

Applications for the Class of 2013 (Freshman Class in 2009-2010) are available in Mr. White’s office – Conference Room A and also via the Academy of Science website. http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/aos/site/default.asp If you have any concerns about your child's educational, social or emotional needs this year, don't hesitate to contact the school counselor. Contact the Counselors 6th Grade Terry Mawyer: terry.mawyer@loudoun.k12.va.us 7th Grade Amy Scott: amy.scott@loudoun.k12.va.us 8th Grade Patti Atkins: patricia.atkins@loudoun.k12.va.us 6th, 7th, & 8th grades Damien White: damien.white@loudoun.k12.va.us

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Buy Your Yearbook Today!!

The only way to guarantee a 2008-09 Belmont Ridge Middle School yearbook is to order by Dec. 5th, 2008

How to order: 1. Fill out the entire form mailed to your home and return to Yearbook Order Center, P.O. Box 29, Edwardsville, KS 66113-9029

2. Place your order on the secure web site: www.yearbookordercenter.com enter order #13554

3. Place your order by calling the toll-free number: 1-866-287-3096 Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST

There are four packages available for yearbook orders. If you want the name stamp on front of your yearbook, that option is only available until Dec. 5th. After Dec 5th, orders for plain yearbooks may be placed, but on a first come, first served basis until we reach the quantity ordered. Order today to reserve your copy!

Cindy Donehoo Communications

News from our Parent Liaison!! ��

With difficult financial times, many families need additional resources to help make ends meet this holiday season. The following is a list of resources that may be helpful: LINK Inc Linkagainsthunger.org (703) 437-1776 - local churches that provide food Holiday Coalition Store Food, clothing, gifts and personal care items. Please contact me for an application. Loudoun Interfaith Relief 750 Miller Drive (off Sycolin Road), Leesburg interfaithrelief.com (703) 777-5911 Non-profit food pantry Salvation Army Family Store 10 Cardinal Park Drive Leesburg, VA (703) 777-3371 Good Shepherd Alliance Store - Hopes Treasures 20684 Ashburn Road Ashburn, VA (703) 724-1555 I have information on many other resources. Please contact me if you need additional help.

Sue Davis Parent Liaison Belmont Ridge Middle School Sue.Davis@loudoun.k12.va.us (571) 252-2220 (571) 221-9757 cell (703) 858-3555 home office �

8th Graders: Send in your Baby Photo! Submissions of 8th grader’s baby photos that will be printed in the yearbook are now being accepted. The final deadline for turning in baby photos for publication is Friday, Nov. 14th. Please submit a photo with the student's first and last name clearly printed on the back of the photo. Photos that are primarily head and shoulder shots work best. Yearbook staff reserves the right to crop any photo. Photos will not be returned. Submit your photo to Rae Comparin in the front office before 3:30 on Friday, Nov. 14.

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During the winter flu season, schools often experience an increase in the number of students and staff who are ill or absent. Having accurate information about the flu and taking steps to stay healthy can decrease the spread of flu in the schools and community.

What is influenza? Influenza is commonly referred to as "the flu." It is a viral infection of the lungs. There are two main types of influenza virus: A and B. Each type includes many different strains. When does influenza occur? Influenza occurs most often in the late fall and winter months in the United States. Who gets influenza? How is it spread? Anyone can get influenza, but it is most serious in young children, the elderly, in people with chronic illnesses (e.g., lung disease, heart disease, cancer, or diabetes) or those with weak immune systems. Influenza spreads easily in discharges from the nose or throat, usually when an infected person coughs or sneezes. How soon after exposure do symptoms appear? What are the symptoms of influenza? Symptoms usually appear 1 to 3 days after exposure. Influenza symptoms can include a sudden onset of fever, headache, chills, cough, sore throat, and body aches. Diarrhea is not common. Although most people are ill for less than a week, some people have complications and may need to be hospitalized. How is influenza diagnosed and treated? Some laboratory tests are available to diagnose influenza; however, doctors usually diagnose influenza from the person’s symptoms. Rest, liquids, and over-the-counter medicine (e.g., acetaminophen [Tylenol®]) are the usual treatments. Some prescription drugs may reduce the severity of influenza. Aspirin should not be given to children with fever-causing illnesses because of the possibility of a complication called Reye’s syndrome. How long can a person spread influenza? Influenza can spread from one person to another beginning about one day before symptoms appear through about a week after onset. Who should be vaccinated against influenza? All persons who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting it to others (and do not have a contraindication) should receive an influenza vaccination each year. Yearly vaccination is important because: 1) influenza strains change from year to year, and 2) immunity gained from the vaccine decreases over time. Particular effort should be made to immunize people at higher risk for influenza infection or complications. This includes all children aged 6 months-18 years, all persons aged >50 years, and: • Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season; • Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities; • People who have long-term heart or lung problems, including asthma; and, • People who have other serious medical conditions, such as kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, anemia, cancer, weak immune systems (including those with HIV), or a seizure disorder. To help prevent the spread of influenza to people in high risk groups, those who live with people in a high risk group and healthcare workers who provide care to high risk patients should also receive an annual influenza shot. Travelers to countries outside of the U.S. may also need to consider influenza vaccination. What are other steps that can be taken to prevent the spread of influenza? Good health habits can help prevent influenza. These include covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing; washing your hands often to help protect yourself from germs; avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth; staying home from work, school, and errands when you are sick; and avoiding close contact with people who are sick. Antiviral medications may also be used to prevent or treat influenza, but are not a substitute for vaccination. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (www.cdc.gov/flu/) or talk to a healthcare professional.

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