Belmont Ridge Middle School

“EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION”

19045 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg, VA 20176

www.loudoun.k12.va.us/bmrms

Dear Belmont Ridge families,

It has been said that the month of March enters like a lion but

leaves like a lamb. While the reference focuses on the weather, our

students experience a similar transition as they move from indoor

recreational and competitive activities to outdoor practices and events.

When the warm weather first arrives, students rush outside to take

advantage of it before settling into a pattern. In a few weeks we will set

our clocks ahead and daylight will last longer into the evening leading to

students being outside a little later. March welcomes spring.

There are a total of 17 school days during the month of March.

As middle school students become more active, there is a transition in

expectations which occurs during the month. Previous data shows March

as a time when student expectations may need to be reinforced. We are

fortunate to have a supportive community which has high expectations

for academics, behavior, and community service. March is also a good

time to re-establish those communication lines between home and school

before the push of the fourth quarter and thoughts of end-of-the school

year activities. March is the transitional month from winter to spring.

Middle school students change a lot during the winter months.

The students I saw in the fall, look a little taller and walk a little taller

too. During the winter, middle school students become more comfortable

in their surroundings. During spring, the thought of next school year

begins to enter their mind as students and parents complete course

requests. The warmer weather leads to a pattern change for our students.

Sometimes it is a brief shift but for other the adjustment may last the

entire month. On March 2nd, 68 days of instruction will remain in the

current school year. March provides the opportunity to get back on track

if the winter months slightly derailed us from our goals. I would like to

welcome everyone to spring and thank you for taking the time to read our

newsletter.

Sincerely,

Dr. Ryan P. Hitchman

March 2016

Administrative Team

Dr. Ryan Hitchman Principal

Mr. David McKenzie

Assistant Principal

Mr. Michael Surma

Assistant Principal

8th Grade

Mrs. Veronica Zimmerman

Dean

Mrs. Terry Mawyer

Counselor

Mrs. Mary Moorehead Secretary

7th Grade

Mr. F. Michael Skinner Dean

Mrs. Amy Scott

Counselor

Mrs. Marlo Newman Secretary

6th Grade

Mrs. Jasmine Carpenter Dean

Mr. Damien White

Counselor

Mrs. Tina Kamis Secretary

School Information

Office Hours

8:00-4:30

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

Absentee Line 571-252-2222

House A – 8th 571-252-2228

House B – 7th 571-252-2227

House C – 6th 571-252-2226

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Presidential Primary Election

LCPS will be closed

2 B-DAY

Spring Pictures

During P.E. classes

B.O.B. Club meeting

3

Spring Pictures

During P.E. classes

B.O.B. Club Semi-Final Competition

4 8th Grade End of

Year Celebration

Form & Money

Due to House

Secretary

5

6 7

8

8th Grade Writing

Multiple Choice

SOL

9 8th Grade Writing

Multiple Choice

SOL

B.O.B. Club meeting

10

8th Grade Writing

Short Paper

SOL

11

8th Grade Writing

Short Paper

SOL

12

13 14

PBIS Celebration

15

16

B.O.B. Club meeting

17 St. Patrick’s Day

B.O.B. Club Final Competition – Trailside MS

Hoops for Hearts during P.E.

18

Hoops for Hearts during P.E.

19

20 21

Spring Break

No School

22

Spring Break

No School

23

Spring Break

No School

24

Spring Break

No School

25

Spring Break

No School

26

27

28 29 30 31

2016

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Help Fight Cancer… Join Belmont’s Relay for Life Team!!!!

Belmont Ridge Middle School

TESTING WINDOWS 2015 – 2016 SCHOOL YEAR

TEST START OF WINDOW END OF WINDOW

ACCESS for ELLs (ELL students) January 11 March 18

SOL English: Online, P/P - Writing March 7 March 18

SOL End-of-Course (Alg 1, Geometry) May 13 May 18

SOL Non-Writing (All grades) May 13 June 10

SOL Non-Writing (All Grades) – Make-ups June 8 June 10

For more information and resources on the SOL assessments, you may go to the following websites:

Virginia Department of Education: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/index.shtml

Loudoun County Public Schools: www.loudoun.k12.va.us Go to: Academics>Testing

The opportunity for students and staff to FIGHT BACK AGAINST CANCER is here. Relay for

Life is an annual event held all over the country, where local teams raise money for the

American Cancer Society, remember and honor cancer patients, and celebrate life. Belmont's

Relay for Life team has been raising funds and awareness for the past eight years. Last year we

raised more than $16,000!

Students can join us every Monday (or when they are able) as we come up with fundraising

ideas and get ready for Loudoun County's Relay on Sat., May 21.

If students were unable to attend the first meeting, they can see Mrs. Muller and Ms. Page in 6th

grade; Ms. DiMario, Mrs. Newman and Ms. Hodges in 7th grade; or Mrs. Branch and Mrs.

Mawyer in 8th grade. We look forward to an awesome team this year!

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SOL Grade 8 Writing – Online Spring 2016

MULTIPLE CHOICE – March 8 (B) – 9 (A)

DATE BLOCK Computer

Lab 1 Computer Lab

2 Computer Lab

3 Library Library

Tuesday, March 8

1 Branch Pitts

2 Branch Stokes

3 Branch Pitts Stokes

4 Pitts Stokes

Wednesday, March 9

5 Branch Pitts Stokes

6

7 Branch Pitts Stokes

8 Branch Pitts Stokes

SHORT PAPER – March 10 (B) - 11 (A)

DATE TIME Computer

Lab 1 Computer

Lab 2 Computer

Lab 3 Library Library Library

Thursday, March 10

8:40 Branch –

1,2

Pitts – 1,2 Stokes – 3,4

Branch – 3,4

12:30 Branch –

5,6 Pitts – 7,8

Pitts – 5,6 Stokes – 5,6

Stokes – 7,8

Friday, March 11

8:40 Branch –

1,2

Pitts – 1,2 Stokes – 1,2

12:30 Pitts – 5,6 Branch –

5,6 Branch –

7,8 Pitts – 7,8 Stokes –

5,6 Stokes –

7,8

Students taking Art class second semester may purchase their art supplies from

the school store. One sketch book, a plastic eraser, and two pens is $10. The

school store is open every day before school. You may come to the main office

to purchase these items if the store is closed.

2nd Semester Art Class…

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8th Grade Science SOL Review Sessions!!!

To: Parents/Guardians of 8th grade students From: Belmont Ridge Middle School Science Department Date: Starting Tuesday, April 5th Re: Science SOL Review Sessions

Tuesday & Thursday mornings, 7:45-8:20am, in the Library (Review Sessions on the 12th, 14th, and 19th will be held in the auditorium) All 8th graders are invited to attend the Science SOL Review Sessions for this year’s Science SOL Test. The Science SOL assessment is based on all the middle school Science Standards and has questions from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science Standards of Learning’s. The science teachers at Belmont Ridge offer Science Review Sessions before school on Tuesdays and Thursday morning to help students refresh their minds from years gone by!

The purpose of these review sessions is to provide an overall review of the SOL reporting categories. We understand that Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions are not convenient for all students. Therefore, students will be given the opportunity to pick up the information that was passed out at the review- student should check with their Science teacher. There are multiple websites available for review practices as well. Please find these on the Science Department page of the Belmont Ridge website. Please contact your science teacher with any questions.

Date Review Topic Teacher

Tuesday, April 5th Water & Weather Bagnall

Thursday, April 7th Space Drow

Tuesday, April 12th

(auditorium) Resources & Watersheds Raburn

Thursday, April 14th

(auditorium) Classification & Cells Kelly

Tuesday, April 19st

(auditorium) Genetics & DNA Deimendes

Thursday, April 21rd Evolution and Adaptation Sherwood

Tuesday, April 26th Describing Matter Stoneback

Thursday, April 28th Energy & Heat Gundersen

Tuesday, May 3rd Chemical Bonding Lyle/Saenz

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Library Happenings!

March Madness-Read Across America Day, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss Day, is Wednesday, March 2nd! Take time to celebrate by picking up a book and read!!!

We are looking forward to housing the Eighth Grade World War II Museum Exhibit in the library. The

eighth grade students have been hard at work preparing for their displays!

Our Battle of the Books Club is gearing up for the Semi-Final competition on March 3rd at Trailside

Middle School! They have been preparing for this competition since October and we know they are going

to shine. The B.O.B. Club, led by Ms. Gwinn-Casey and Ms. Kessler, and our 22 well-read, prepared, and

fierce battlers wish to thank Mrs. Branch for serving as judge and Mrs. Cox for serving as emcee for the

Semi-Final Competition. Family members, friends, and faculty members are invited to be members of the

audience. We are proud of the students, and know that through literature, knowledge, communication

skills, and teamwork they are ready for The Battle! The final battle will be held on March 17th at Trailside

Middle School as well. Good Luck!

The SOL writing test for 8th grade will run March 8th through March 11th. There will be testing in the

library.

Loudoun County Schools will be out for Spring Break March 22nd through March 26th. We wish students

and their families a very relaxing Spring Break!

The library was hopping in February! We enjoyed seeing the books that students and staff shared for

“Love a Book” Month. Students had a blast with our Teen Tech Week Makerspace Reveal, including

Cubelets Robotics, 3-D Goggles, Legos, Duct Tape, Snap Circuits, Magnets, Musical Keyboard, and

more! We would like to thank those of you that donated items for our stations!

We celebrated Black History Month by placing a variety of books on display throughout the library. Our

library helpers did a fantastic job of creating “Who Am I” segments to be read on the morning

announcements.

Come visit the Book Fair during RiverCon! More to follow…

Scholastic Book Fair April 8th – 16th Belmont Ridge Library

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Math Academy!

Who: Any BEMS Math 6 Student

What: Extra support in mastering Math 6 concepts though peer tutoring

from 8th grade students

When: Wednesday mornings from 7:40-8:15 a.m.

Beginning Wednesday, February 10!!

Where: Mrs. Raffensperger’s Room-C10

Why: Because math is:

- Fundamental

- Functional

- Fun!

How: Every Wednesday, students can arrive after 7:30 am to receive extra

support from 8th grade peer tutors on concepts of their choice. We will

reinforce content covered in the LCPS Curriculum Framework and Virginia

State Standards of Learning (SOL).

Questions? Contact Mrs. Raffensperger (donna.raffensperger@lcps.org) or

Mrs. Nord (kelly.nord@lcps.org)

Belmont Ridge Middle School Presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid

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Summer 2016 Math Boot Camp Summer Math Boot Camp registration will is OPEN.

https://fs4.formsite.com/bemsptso/form28/index.html

Math Boot Camp will review necessary skills from the previous school

year, make connections to new material and key vocabulary, and

preview topics covered in the first quarter.

Current Class Boot Camp

All current 5th

graders………………………………..

Middle School Math I

All current Math 6

students………………………

Middle School Math II

All current Math 6/7 or Math 7

students…..

Algebra 1

All current Algebra 1

students……………………

Geometry

All current Geometry

students………………….

Algebra 2

No refunds or changes after June 30, 2016

Session 1: August 1-5

Session 2: August 8-12

MS Math I Algebra 1 8:30-10:30 MS Math II Geometry

MS Math I Algebra 2/trig 11:00-1:00

MS Math II

Algebra 1

MS Math II Geometry

1:30-3:30 MS Math I Algebra 1

MS Math I 4:00-6:00 Algebra 2/trig

Questions: Contact Christine Spinosa at cspinosa@lcps.org

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Free Children’s Dental Clinic Day For Very Young Children and

Children with Special Health Care Needs

When? Saturday, March 19, 2016

Where? HealthWorks for Northern Virginia

Dental Clinic, Suite 160

163 Fort Evans Road NE

Leesburg, VA 20176

Who qualifies for this free clinic?

Children three years old or under

or

Children with special health care needs under 21 years old

How do I make an appointment?

Call (703) 443-2000 and ask for the dental clinic

What about my income?

There are no income restrictions for this program.

Who can bring my child?

A legal guardian must be present to sign the consent for dental

treatment and remain at the clinic during the child’s care.

Co-sponsored by the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Dental Association Foundation

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Hoops for Heart 2016

The Belmont Ridge P.E. Department will kick off its Annual Hoops for Heart Fundraiser

to support the American Heart Association on March 2nd and 3rd.

There are 3 ways to get involved this year:

1. Collect donations though the Donations packet. Donation Packets go home on March 2nd

and 3rd though your P.E. classes.

2. Create a team and participate in the 3 on 3 Basketball tournament. You will register through

your PE class. To create a team it is $10 per person, up to 5 players and you will play during

your P.E. class on March 17th and 18th.

SHOWCASE TEAM: The teams that sign up to play in the tournament will be challenged to raise additional donations. The two top raising teams each block will be rewarded with the opportunity to play against a team of teachers, counselors, administrators, etc. for the last 10-15 minutes. Tournament spectator and raffle ticket donations will be accepted beginning March 4th-March 18th. Students can purchase as many raffle tickets as they wish. Each ticket is a $2 donation. There will be multiple raffles each block for exciting prizes. The more tickets you buy the better your chances of winning!

3. Create an online account through American Heart Association to collect donations.

SPIRIT DAYS: March 17th wear RED; March 18th wear WHITE to support Hoops for Heart.

Thank you in advance for your continued support of Hoops for Heart and the American Heart

Association.

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Counselor’s Corner… 8th Grade News: The decision letters for the Academy of Science will be sent in March. The CAMPUS application deadline is Friday, April 1, 2016. Summer News: Monroe Tech’s Career Camp is being held this summer from June 20-24 from 9:30 am – 1 pm. Register by April 27, 2016. Workshops are held in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and practical arts. Please see attached flyer. Applications can be found on the MTC website, www.lcps.org/mtc

Riverhawk Productions needs your help!

As we build and create many of the props needed for the BEMS musical, The Little

Mermaid, we could use some help! The following link will send you to a list of prop items

needed. Please allow us to borrow these items until April 11th. Items are needed ASAP.

Thank you!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0b4dadaf22a75-riverhawk

Lost & Found

Our Lost & Found tables are over flowing again! Please ask your

child/children to check the Lost & Found tables in each of the House areas for

jackets, sweatshirts, umbrellas, books, pencil pouches, agendas, lunch boxes,

water bottles, folders, and binders. Lost lunch boxes can also be found in the

café. Please check with the House Secretaries and front office as well for any

lost items that can’t be located on the tables, such as eye glasses, cell phones,

jewelry, flash drives, and iPods. Any items not picked up before March 17th

will be thrown away or donated. Thank you for your help!

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