Belmont Ridge Middle School “EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION” 19045 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg, VA 20176 www.loudoun.k12.va.us/bmrms A Message from Principal Hitchman… Dear Belmont Ridge Families, While the recent weather has not been a good indicator of spring, we are at the beginning of April and the start of the fourth marking period. Spring break is only two weeks away, and we are less than six weeks away from the beginning of SOL testing. Due to the late spring break, our students have five weeks of school until they begin the SOL testing season. While the SOL assessment is just one academic indicator of student success, the results of these assessments are analyzed, recorded, and used for future purposes. Many of our teachers have posted review materials on their website or have distributed SOL review packets to help prepare our students for the tasks ahead. Starting the fourth quarter on an academically positive note will reap benefits later in the marking period when student attention is focused on SOL assessments and end of the year activities such as concerts, dances, and field days. The first five weeks of the fourth marking period hold the key to academic success during the final quarter of the school year. While a lot of attention is focused on SOL assessments, it is important to remember half of the classes our students are enrolled in do not have an end of the year SOL assessment. These classes still have standards of learning and curriculum that will assist in building a strong base for the beginning of next year. Success in classes without an end of year SOL assessment is important for ensuring the education of the whole child, promoting a love of learning, and providing students the tools and resources necessary to be successful in a variety of fields. I once had a coach who said you perform like you practice. If you put 100% effort into your practice, you place yourself in a position to perform at 100%. I encourage students to put forth their best effort as they practice in preparation for the performances that await them at the end of the year. Putting forth our best effort will allow our students to achieve the goals they set at the beginning of the year and finish the year on a positive note. Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter, and I look forward to speaking with you at our upcoming spring events. Have a great day. Sincerely, Mr. Ryan P. Hitchman Principal Belmont Ridge Middle School April 2014 Administrative Team Mr. Ryan Hitchman Principal Mr. David McKenzie Assistant Principal Mr. Michael Surma Assistant Principal 8 th Grade Ms. Giao Dang Dean Mrs. Marlo Newman Secretary Mrs. Amy Scott Counselor 7 th Grade Mrs. Jennifer Ritenour Dean Mr. Damien White Counselor Mrs. Kelly Sovine Secretary 6 th Grade Mr. Michael Skinner Dean Mrs. Kim Walters Secretary Mrs. Patty Bagdasarian Counselor Special Services Mrs. Terry Mawyer Counselor School Information Office Hours 8:00-4:30 Phone: 571-252-2220 Fax: 703-669-1455 Absentee Line 571-252-2222 House A – 8 th 571-252-2228 House B – 7 th 571-252-2227 House C – 6 th 571-252-2226
Transcript
Belmont Ridge Middle School
“EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION”
19045 Upper Belmont Place, Leesburg, VA 20176
www.loudoun.k12.va.us/bmrms
A Message from Principal Hitchman… Dear Belmont Ridge Families,
While the recent weather has not been a good indicator of spring, we are at the
beginning of April and the start of the fourth marking period. Spring break is only
two weeks away, and we are less than six weeks away from the beginning of SOL
testing.
Due to the late spring break, our students have five weeks of school until they
begin the SOL testing season. While the SOL assessment is just one academic
indicator of student success, the results of these assessments are analyzed,
recorded, and used for future purposes. Many of our teachers have posted review
materials on their website or have distributed SOL review packets to help prepare
our students for the tasks ahead. Starting the fourth quarter on an academically
positive note will reap benefits later in the marking period when student attention
is focused on SOL assessments and end of the year activities such as concerts,
dances, and field days. The first five weeks of the fourth marking period hold the
key to academic success during the final quarter of the school year.
While a lot of attention is focused on SOL assessments, it is important to
remember half of the classes our students are enrolled in do not have an end of the
year SOL assessment. These classes still have standards of learning and
curriculum that will assist in building a strong base for the beginning of next year.
Success in classes without an end of year SOL assessment is important for
ensuring the education of the whole child, promoting a love of learning, and
providing students the tools and resources necessary to be successful in a variety
of fields.
I once had a coach who said you perform like you practice. If you put 100%
effort into your practice, you place yourself in a position to perform at 100%. I
encourage students to put forth their best effort as they practice in preparation for
the performances that await them at the end of the year. Putting forth our best
effort will allow our students to achieve the goals they set at the beginning of the
year and finish the year on a positive note. Thank you for taking the time to read
our newsletter, and I look forward to speaking with you at our upcoming spring
Standards of Learning (SOL) Assessments Spring 2014
DATE SOL Testing (Grades 6-8) - Online
May 8, 9 Geometry
May 12, 13 Reading 8
May 14, 15 Reading 7
May 16, 19 Reading 6
May 20, 21 Algebra I, Math 8
May 22, 23 Math 7 (7th graders enrolled in Math 7 and 6th
graders enrolled in Accelerated Math)
May 27, 28 Math 6 (6th graders enrolled in Math 6)
May 29, 30 Civics, History 7
June 2, 3 Science 8, History 6
For more information and resources on the SOL assessments, you may go to the following websites: SOL practice items: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/practice_items/index.shtml Virginia Department of Education: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/index.shtml Loudoun County Public Schools: www.lcps.org Go to Academics>Testing
Spectrum News!
The 8th grade Spectrum students, and others who have completed their sign language, are working on a Lateral Thinking Unit. The purpose is to expand
thinking and see ordinary situations and items in new ways. As they continue,
their creativity can be seen to expand in unique ways. The projects are individual and group oriented. You may see the results of the thinking posted on the long
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 SOL’s. The science
teachers at Belmont Ridge offer Science Review Sessions before school on Wednesdays from 7:45-8:20 a.m. The purpose of these review sessions is to provide an overall review of the SOL reporting categories. We understand that these Wednesday
sessions are not convenient for all students. Therefore, students will receive a review assignment during their Resource class a week before the scheduled topic, allowing the
students to consider revisiting that topic on their own, as necessary. Please contact your science teacher with any questions.
Review Session Schedule:
Date Review Topic Teacher
2-Apr Space Drow
9-Apr Resources and Watersheds Stockton
16-Apr No Session - Spring Break
23-Apr Ecosystems Raburn
30-Apr pH and Other 8th Grade Science Review Lyle
LIBRARY NEWS!
The Book Fair was a great success! We would like to thank the parents who volunteered
at the fair and gave us the gift of their time. Without you it would not have been possible
to have a Book Fair. We would also like to thank all of the people who purchased books at
the fair and supported our library. We took in about $2329 in profit and we plan to use the
funds to enhance our collection.
Our used book sale is going to be on June 6th
, 9th
, and 10th
. We are slowly getting
donations of used books, and are very thankful for your donations. If you are spring
cleaning and have found books that need another home, bring them in and we will store
them and recycle them for a good cause. We are seeking donations of gently used children
and young adult books. Proceeds from the sale will be used to support the Belmont Ridge
book club and it’s annual Battle of the Books. The used book sale would be a great
opportunity for students to purchase summer reading material at bargain prices. Please
think about donating your used books for others to enjoy and to support our book club!
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WORLD LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
Foreign Language Week at Belmont Ridge
Belmont Ridge celebrated National Foreign Language Week in March with morning announcements of
cultural interest by students in all foreign languages.
National Exams
Spanish students will compete in the National Spanish Exam to test their listening comprehension skills
and their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary on April 7 and 8 during class. Reviews will be held in
Computer Lab 2: Wednesday, March 26 after school; Thursday, March 27 at 7:30 AM; Tuesday, April
1st at 7:30 AM; Wednesday, April 2 at 7:30AM; and after school, Friday, April 4 at 7:30 PM.
Certamen Club goes to UVA!
The Belmont Ridge Certamen Club traveled to Charlottesville on Saturday, March 22nd
in order to
participate in Classics Day at the University of Virginia. Despite waking up very early for the drive
down, our students stayed sharp and did well. Our Latin 1 and Latin 2 teams, though they were facing
older and more experienced teams, rose to the occasion and met their own goals during the competition.
Students also enjoyed having the chance to look around the UVA campus and had lunch in one of the
gardens. Overall, it was a successful trip and a fantastic learning experience for those involved.
French Club a Great Success!
Our new French Cine Club attendance was a great success. We would like to give a big thank you to
Shruthi Srivatsan and her family for initiating and supporting the Club. Motivation and attendance was
consistently high as we viewed French family films and shared authentic French treats this year. We will
resume in September: join early to be part of this student run club!
Level II and III Requirement
Please be advised that a minimum grade of B is recommended for admission to Levels II and III in
foreign languages at the high school. Parents are encouraged to discuss placement for next year with the
student’s teacher. In some cases, the path of success is to spend an additional year reviewing the
foundational material so as to have a solid base to build a high school foreign language career. Colleges
are increasingly interested in a long sequence in one language.
Reinforcement and Enrichment
Summer in the Arts Programs offered in LCPS allow students to reinforce their language skills through
The 8th Grade Grad committee is hard at work planning the fun events for our
graduates. Parents of 8th graders, please mark the following dates on your calendar:
May 2nd: 8th Grade Panoramic Picture
May 30th: 8th Grade Dance at Belmont Ridge June 2nd: Awards Assembly at Belmont Ridge
June 4th: Field Trip/Party at Freedom Park, Leesburg June 12th: 8th Grade Promotion at Stone Bridge High School
The committee is still collecting donations to pay for these events. They are still
shy of the total needed to fund all of the fun events planned. We have a total of
503 8th graders who will be going on to high school. If you haven't already donated, please click on the link below and fill out the donation request form.
Please send in the form and at least $20 to cover the costs of the above events. We are looking forward to a great spring celebrating our graduates.
Volunteer: Volunteer in a variety of ways, including set-up, clean-up,
decorations, and chaperone. We look forward to working with as many 8th grade families as possible! We know it will be a memorable time for
our kids! Please contact Lynette Hartmann at [email protected] or 571-333-0356, if you are interested in volunteering.
8th GRADE YEAR END DONATION FORM
Please complete and return to 8th Grade House ASAP.
CHORUS STUDENTS GO TO ACDA CHOIR IN JACKSONVILLE!!! On March 5-8 there were 10 students from Belmont Ridge who went to the ACDA Honors Choir held in Jacksonville, Florida! These students auditioned back in September and
found out that they had made it in December. Students in the 11 southern states of the U.S. could try out, and Belmont Ridge had 10 students to make this high honor!!!
The boys were: Kyle Broderick, Noah Crawford, Noah Hamade’, Jakari Jefferies, and
Wyatt Rouse
The girls were: Caroline Chung, Jillian Donahue, Amanda Hampton, Sarah Katherine Lawless, and Lindsey McDonald
The students rehearsed with outstanding choral directors, and the event culminated in the fabulous performance that they gave in the beautiful Jacoby Hall in Jacksonville on
Saturday, March 8. We are so proud of not only their beautiful music but the very professional manner in which they conducted themselves.
Kyle Broderick was given the high honor of making one of the solos for that concert!!! The students had a lot of fun—enjoyed meeting students from other places, loved the
great eating places that they tried, and enjoyed hanging out in the evenings after rehearsals ended.
Way to go River Hawk Singers! Thanks for putting Belmont Ridge on the map for sending so many! Thanks to all of the fabulous chaperones for giving up 4 days out of your busy
schedules to make all of this happen!!! Way to go, Chorus!!!!
CHORUS HAS 21 TO MAKE STATE CHORUS!!! YEAH!!!!
Congratulations to the 21 students from Belmont Ridge who made VA Honors Choir for
April 24-26 in the Bridgewater, VA area. We are so proud of all of you, and cannot wait to go! I know that it will be a fabulous musical experience and you will come back so excited over this great accomplishment!!!
The students are: (6th Grade) Marissa Abdinoor and Morgan Brown
(7th Grade) Brendan Brown, Max Brotman, Noelle Foster, Tate Gardner, Bethany Shears, and Asia Yates
Donahue, Jakari Jefferies, Noah Hamade’, Kate Hardwood, Paige Krablin, Sarah Katherine Lawless, Lindsey McDonald,
Parsa Salehi, Rylee Showalter, and Kelly Videgar
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You are invited…
(Teachers and Parents Supporting Students)
Join us for a special event:
A Belmont Ridge family will share their story and the lessons they learned when their
special needs son graduated from high school and went to college.
Tuesday, April 8th
7:00 – 8:00 PM
Belmont Ridge Middle School Library
As educators, we recognize that families that have a child with a disability face unique
challenges. We would like to present you with an opportunity to connect with other
parents who face similar challenges, as well as talk with special education teachers. This
gathering is designed to allow you to share your insights and gain valuable information
from other parents to help your child be successful at Belmont Ridge MS and beyond.
*** There is no cost to attend this event; however, we ask that parents do not bring
their children to protect the confidentiality of all involved. ***
T.A.P.S.
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BELMONT RIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOL
BRIGHT LIFE BUDDIES “Autism Awareness”
On behalf of the members of Bright Life Buddies, (B.L.B.) an afterschool program dedicated to establishing a volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one
friendships and leadership development for all students. As a result of our involvement, students become inspirational leaders and make lifelong friendships. It is our pleasure to announce that we will be promoting Autism Awareness month in our school and community
during the month of April.
We have coordinated events during the month of April to bring awareness to those around us. They are listed below:
Wednesday, April 2nd National Light it Up Blue
Wednesday, April 2nd -9th Doodle for Autism
Wednesday, April 9th Twin Day
Thursday, April 10th Bingo Night
Wednesday, April 23rd 80’s Day
Wednesday, April 30th Hat Day
Saturday, May 3rd Autism Awareness Fair
Community Bowling Night * TBD*
Autism Awareness:
What is Autism? Autism is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. People with Autism handle information
in their brain differently than other people. Autism is a "spectrum disorder." That means Autism affects each person in different ways, and can range from very mild to severe.
People with Autism share some similar symptoms, such as problems with social interaction. But there are differences in when the symptoms start, how severe they are, and the exact nature of the symptoms.
Bright Life Buddies is making a positive difference in our school and community. Our goal is to make our community and school a better place in raising awareness for Autism. In
order to achieve this goal of raising awareness, we would like you to consider supporting this program that serves your child and the community. A voluntary donation would be
most grateful if you could support Bright Life Buddies in raising Autism awareness by donating to our cause. Of course, we understand that not every family has the resources to make such a donation, and we are grateful for any support you can provide.
Please contact [email protected] if you would like to be a part of this great
movement. Our goal is to raise awareness in our community and to help families who have children with Autism.
