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…
I would like to thank the parents, teachers, students, staff, and
community members for volunteering their time during the past few months to
ensure our spring events were successful. From the rising parent nights to the
spring musical to the rising 6th
grade family dinner, we appreciate your
dedication to the programs offered at Belmont Ridge.
As we prepare to move into the month of May, we begin to look
towards the end of the school year and the events which will occur over the
span of the next six weeks….yes….six weeks until the end of the school year.
In these next six weeks, we will have band, chorus, guitar, and orchestra
concerts. Our 8th
grade students will celebrate the end of their middle school
years with field day, an 8th
grade dance, awards assembly, and culminating
with a promotion ceremony to 9th
grade. Our students have accomplished a lot
this year, and we look forward to recognizing them for their achievements.
May also signals the beginning of the SOL testing season. I would like
to thank our parents and students for taking advantage of the SOL preparation
sessions offered by our teachers before and after school. We will continue to
offer these preparation sessions until the SOL assessments are complete. Our
teachers and students have been preparing all year for the SOL assessments,
and we believe our students are prepared to continue the strong academic
reputation of Belmont Ridge.
The SOL’s are just one indicator of academic success. Our Science
Olympiad and Odyssey of the Mind teams both competed at the Virginia State
Tournament. Our music and art programs continue to thrive and represent
Belmont Ridge at regional, state, and national competitions. We are proud of
our students’ accomplishments, and we look forward to celebrating their
successes throughout the entire month.
I would once again like to thank our parents, teachers, students, staff,
and community not only for what we have done, but also for what we are about
to do. Belmont Ridge does not follow; Belmont Ridge leads, and I look
forward to the journey ahead. Thank you for taking the time to read our
newsletter. Have a great day.
Sincerely,
Mr. Ryan P. Hitchman
Principal
Belmont Ridge Middle School
May 2014 Administrative Team
Mr. Ryan Hitchman
Principal
Mr. David McKenzie
Assistant Principal
Mr. Michael Surma
Assistant Principal
8th Grade
Ms. Giao Dang
Dean
Mrs. Marlo Newman
Secretary
Mrs. Amy Scott
Counselor
7th Grade
Mrs. Jennifer Ritenour
Dean
Mr. Damien White
Counselor
Mrs. Kelly Sovine
Secretary
6th 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 – 8th
571-252-2228
House B – 7th
571-252-2227
House C – 6th
571-252-2226
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
Burgundy Band 6
Rehearsal 3:30-4:30
Burgundy Chorus 6
Rehearsal 3:30-4:30
2
8th Grade
Panoramic Picture
8:45-9:15
3
4
5
Chess Club 3:30-4:30
6
Chorus 6 Concert
7:00PM - 9:00PM
7
Burgundy Band 6
Rehearsal 3:30-4:30
Chorus 7 Rehearsal
3:30-4:30
Book Club 3:30-4:30
8
Chorus 8 Rehearsal
3:30-4:30
Silver Band 6
Rehearsal 3:30-4:30
9 10
11 12
Chess Club 3:30-4:30
French Club 3:30-4:30
13
Band 6 Concert
7:00PM - 9:00PM
14
Band 7 Rehearsal
3:30-4:30
Chorus 8 Rehearsal
3:30-4:30
15
Band 8 Rehearsal
3:30-4:30
Chorus 7 & 8
Concerts
7:00PM - 9:00PM
16 17
Chorus to
Hershey Park
18 19
Chess Club 3:30-4:30
Orchestra 8 Rehearsal
3:30-4:30
20
Orchestra 7 & 8
Concerts
7:00PM - 9:00PM
Principal’s Coffee/
PTO Meeting (Café)
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
21
Band 7 Rehearsal
3:30-4:30
22
Band 8 Rehearsal
3:30-4:30
Guitar 8 Rehearsal
7:45AM – 8:30AM
23 24
25
26
Memorial Day
No School
27
Band 7 & 8 Concerts
7:00PM - 9:00PM
28
Guitar 8 Concert
7:00PM - 8:30PM
Burgundy Orchestra 6
Rehearsal 3:30-4:30
29
Silver Orchestra 6
Rehearsal 3:30-4:30
30
8
th Grade Dance
7:00PM - 9:00PM
31
2014
3
Belmont Ridge Middle School
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 Civics, History 7
May 29, 30 Math 6 (6th graders enrolled in Math 6)
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
Cafeteria News
The Loudoun County Public Schools new Secondary Lunch Menu is a three week repeating menu. This menu
may be viewed online at www.lcps.org by selecting school menu.
May Hot Meal Menu Schedule
5/5 Week 1
5/12 Week 2
5/19 Week 3
5/26 Week 1
4
LIBRARY NEWS!
Our used book sale will be held on June 6th, 9th, and 10th. Proceeds from the sale
will be used to support the library activities and the Belmont Ridge Book Club. Students can bring their donations to the library starting now until June 6th. 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 support our book club!
Beginning May 5th, the library participates in SOL testing by becoming the testing
site with over 70 laptops wired to two hubs. As a result, we are not open for regular library services including extended hours. In anticipation of the library
being closed, students were encouraged to check out as many books as they needed until the end of the school year, during their last visit.
As the end of the year approaches, we would like to remind our students about their overdue library books. All library books are due on May 30th. Although there
are no fines collected for overdue books, they all have to be accounted for before
school closes for the summer. Books that are lost have to be paid for, and this can be done with either cash or a check. If you choose to pay by check, kindly make
your checks payable to Belmont Ridge Middle School. We would like to thank you for all your cooperation in helping us get our library books returned so that we can
get them inventoried, sorted and shelved for the new school year.
5
Counselor’s Corner…
Reminder: Course Selection changes are due to your child’s counselor by Friday, June 13, 2014.
Leadership Loudoun Youth 2014
Discover your leadership potential and style. Gain insight and inspiration from business, government and cultural leaders in your
community. Increase your confidence in leadership situations. Connect with peers from throughout Loudoun and have fun!
Details are below and on the following websites:
loudounyouth.org leadershiploudounyouth.org
Select your week: July 14-18 or August 4-8
Eligibility The class is open to all Loudoun County public, private and home
school students who will be in 10th grade or above in the 2014-2015
school year. We strive to have representation from all corners of
Loudoun County and all high schools including home schools.
Class Content
Workshops on leadership, teams, public speaking and more
An overnight retreat including a guided ropes course team-
building experience
Behind the scenes tours of business, agricultural, technical and
cultural sites that make our county a thriving environment
Direct interaction with Loudoun County government, business
and community leaders
Motivational speaker to highlight the graduation ceremony
Class size is limited to 25 students per class to encourage team
building and provide genuine experiences in a small group
setting.
You will gain...
Leadership insights and communication skills
Poise and confidence
Valuable knowledge about your community and environment
Exposure to local leaders
New ideas on how you can make a difference
New friends and experiences
Loudoun Youth
Annual Partners
Quick Links
6
Tuition Tuition is $450 and includes the workshops, tours, presentations,
course materials, overnight accommodations and ropes course,
Monday dinner, Tuesday breakfast, lunch Tues-Friday.
Entry Applications must be submitted online by Saturday, May 31,
2014. Acceptance notification will take place by June 15. Space is
limited to 25 students per class.
A limited number of scholarships are available with referrals from
counselors based on merit and need. Contact us for more details.
Adult volunteers and youth internship applications are also being
accepted. Details.
For More Information... Call Mike Morgan at 703 963-4292 or Barbara Josselyn at 703 431-2303
or send an email to [email protected] or
Leadership Loudoun Youth Deadlines and Dates
Tuesday, April 1 Applications Open. APPLY HERE. May 31 Application deadline for both classes. June 15 Acceptance notices sent July 14-18 Class #1 Aug 4-8 Class #2
This year's Spotlight Sponsor for Leadership Loudoun Youth:
Leadership Loudoun Youth is a collaborative effort of Loudoun
Youth, Inc. and Leadership Loudoun. Special thanks also to LCPS,
the Loudoun County Dept. of Economic Development, the many
businesses, agencies, elected and community leaders who
participate in the program.
Application form
Sponsor information Volunteer information
Leadership Loudoun Youth
Loudoun Youth Inc.
Leadership Loudoun
Become a Sponsor
To help us continue and expand this
valuable program for Loudoun County
youth,
please contact Carol Kost at 703 362-0765
or see sponsorship details
www.loudounyouth.org
6th
Grade: Mrs. Patti Bagdasarian 7th
Grade: Mr. Damien White 8th
Grade: Mrs. Amy Scott
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Special Services: Mrs. Terry Mawyer
7
WORLD LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT
Introducing Ms. Marcia Kline-Libertz
We are pleased to announce that Ms. Marcia Kline-Libertz will be serving as the long-term substitute for
the remainder of the school year for Ms. Primeggia’s Spanish classes. Ms. Kline-Libertz has taught
Spanish I and II in Fairfax and Loudoun counties at the middle and high school levels. We are fortunate
to have someone with her credentials and experience.
Requirements for Promotion
Our goal is to support our students to go as far and as fast as they wish in the foreign language sequence
available in our county program. Colleges are increasingly interested in a long sequence in one language.
Please be advised that a minimum grade of B is recommended for admission to the next level in foreign
languages at the high school by high school counselors and our faculty. 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.
Final Review for End of Year Exams
A review packet will also be provided in mid-May to help prepare for the final. It is indispensable that
students avail themselves of these opportunities to review.
Reinforcement and Enrichment
Summer in the Arts Programs offered in LCPS allow students to reinforce their language skills through
the foreign language institute.
French Blog
French students are completing the year with a blog in Vision. Students have posted and will be
contributing interesting links, video clips, articles, songs and lyrics, movie trailers, and educational apps
for French. This completes our goal of supplementing French courses with items of cultural and
entertainment value.
RELAY FOR LIFE NEWS!!
Stop cancer! Donate to Belmont’s Relay for Life team!
Want to put an end to cancer? Support Belmont Ridge’s Relay for Life team! We’ll be walking
for 18 hours on May 31-June 1 at Heritage High School in Leesburg at the Loudoun County
Relay for Life. Belmont’s team is open to all students and frequently receives help from many
different staff members. We’ve been working hard to raise money and awareness for the
American Cancer Society. So far this year we have hosted a Faculty Celebrity Fashion Show,
sold 35 dozen donuts, and sponsored a bake sale at the Ashburn Farm Giant. Our next fundraiser
asks for parents to help. It’s called Bucket Day. We’ll be collecting change and dollars when
parents drop off kids at Kiss ‘n Go on May 15-16. If you would like to make a donation to
Belmont’s Relay for Life team, Google “Loudoun Relay for Life”; once on the site, click on
Teams and then Belmont Ridge Middle School. Thanks for your support!
8
8th
Grade Year End Celebrations!!!
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 @ 8:45 a.m. May 30th: 8th Grade Dance at Belmont Ridge @ 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
June 2nd: Awards Assembly at Belmont Ridge @ 7:00 p.m. June 4th: Field Trip/Party at Freedom Park @ 9:00 a.m.
June 12th: 8th Grade Promotion at Stone Bridge High School @ 7:00 p.m.
ON MAY 5th Permission slips for the Field Trip/Party at Freedom Park will be going out to parents via e-mail. Please complete the form
and have your child return it to Mrs. Newman by May 23rd. If you do not receive a form via e-mail, please contact Mrs. Newman for a hard copy.
The 8th Grade parent committee is hard at work planning the fun events for our 8th graders. 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.
Parent Name: _______________________________________________________
Student’s Name: ____________________________________________________
Email: ______________________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________________
__ Enclosed is my minimum $ 20.00 donation. (Make checks payable to Belmont Ridge, write "8th grade celebration" on memo line)
9
The Belmont Ridge SCA presents:
End of the Year Carnival!
Featuring: • Inflatable Obstacle Course • Teacher Dunk Tank • Relay Race • Beach Ball Volleyball • And other games with PRIZES!
WHEN: Friday, June 6th 3:30-5:30 WHERE: At BEMS on the Basketball
Courts outside of the Gym
COST: $5 admission includes all activities, raffle ticket, and water
*This event is for Belmont Ridge Middle School Students Only*
10
Bright Life Buddies
~Presents~
Saturday, May 3rd 11:00am-2pm
Belmont Ridge Middle School
FUN-GAMES-PRIZES-FOOD
$5.00 for 10 Tickets
Support Autism Awareness
SPRING CARNIVAL