1. First and foremost is student safety. In light of the safety challenges facing schools and public venues, increasing the amount of people coming down our hallways puts us in a more vulnerable position. Some families have been going to visit other students when walking their child to class which poses a safety concern
2. By state law, our certified teachers are to receive 30 minutes of unencumbered during their school day for their planning. For a portion of our staff, this is from 7:00-7:30 in the morning. When parents stop with a quick question, this violates this protected time for our teachers.
3. For many, getting the day started with routines and procedures is key to starting the day off well. When parents come in, even for just a minute, it disrupts those routines.
We consulted with district leadership, local schools (within and out of our district, private and public), and discussed as a team the best option would be to moving towards students saying goodbye to parents in the lobby. We have been encouraging this transition over the last few days.
This week is “practice and adjustment" week. We encourage everyone to go ahead and try for their students to walk to class on their own. If you want that last goodbye, you are welcome to say it in the lobby.
Beginning on Monday, October 13th- we are going to have a big Independence Day celebration! We encourage everyone to wear red, white and blue and students will walk to class on their own! Parents and families members will not be permitted to walk down the hallway beginning on Monday, October 13th. We are going to start having student leaders to help students get to class and cheer them on!
Thank you so much for supporting this initiative for student safety, compliance with unencumbered time and celebrating our students for being independent!
On Wednesday, September 24th, we will have our SIC Meeting at 3 pm in the conference room. At 3:30 pm, we have our PTO meeting in the library. We encourage anyone interested to join us. And anyone is able to a part of both the teams that both support our school!
School Improvement Council (SIC)
Purpose: Advisory group that works with the principal to guide the school’s improvement efforts and long-term goals.
Focus: Academic achievement, school climate, and overall effectiveness of the school.
Responsibilities:
Help develop and monitor the school improvement plan.
Advise on budgets (such as Title I), policies, and programs.
Provide input on how the school can better serve students.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Purpose: Volunteer-led group focused on building community and supporting the school through events, fundraising, and parent engagement.
Focus: Enhancing student experiences and supporting teachers through things like book fairs, teacher appreciation, family nights, or playground improvements.
Responsibilities:
Plan and run fundraisers.
Organize community events and family activities.
Provide extra resources for classrooms and school projects.
Remember, we will be on Fall Break and there is no school for students from September 29th through October 10th. We know it will be a great week of learning leading up to this break!
We’ve got an exciting week ahead at Belvedere! Here’s what’s happening:
✨ Book Fair All Week
Students will visit during their library time.
Students may also shop any day if they bring money.
Extended hours Monday — open until 6 PM! (Enter through the back library door off Swathmore Avenue after school.)
📸 Tuesday – Picture Day!
These photos will be used in our yearbook.
Families will receive a login after Picture Day to view and order.
⏰ Wednesday – Early Release & House Day!
Dismissal at 11:30 AM.
House Day celebrations, including our 4K House Reveal 🎉
Don’t forget to wear your House Colors!
We’re looking forward to a wonderful week at Belvedere! 💙🐻
FALL INTERSESSION CODING CAMP | GRADES 3-5
During Fall Intersession, the week of September 29–October 2, a limited number of spots are available for this year’s Coding Camp for students in grades 3–5.
Coding Camp will be held at Mossy Creek Elementary School, Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Students will get a fun, hands-on introduction to coding and problem-solving through activities such as Sphero robots, drones, 3D printing, Makey-Makey, and more.
Registration opens Wednesday, September 10, at 4 p.m. for ACPSD elementary students in grades 3-5 and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to space limitations, only the first 100 students to apply will be accepted. Once the application window opens, parents/guardians can apply by scanning the QR Code or completing the Coding Camp Registration form.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day of camp; however, families are responsible for transportation to Mossy Creek Elementary.
For questions, contact Erica Millwood, Teaching and Learning Coordinator, at emillwood@acpsd.net.
We're so excited for another great week at Belvedere Elementary! Here's a quick rundown of what's happening:
Fundraising
Our fundraising packets are due this Tuesday, September 9th!
We're so close to our $40,000 goal—less than $7,000 away! If we reach it, Ms. Long will be getting in the dunk tank.
Keep up the great work with Box Tops! We've already raised $241.60 just from scanning receipts. Every little bit helps, so please ask family and friends to scan for Belvedere!
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, September 10th at 4:00 PM: Registration opens for Coding Camp for 3rd-5th graders. This camp typically fills up fast, so be sure to sign up right away if you're interested!
Friday, September 12th: The Lions Club will be on campus for student Vision Screenings.
Tuesday, September 16th: Picture Day is coming up! We're excited to be using a new vendor, Catchlight Smile Crew, and can't wait to see how great the pictures turn out. More details will be in the newsletter.
Attendance Awareness Month
September is Attendance Awareness Month. A key focus is getting excused absence notes turned in.
If your student is absent, please email BelvedereAttendance@acpsd.net. Remember, each student is allowed 10 parent notes for illness per school year.
We're looking forward to a great week!
HAPPY LABOR DAY
All Aiken County Public School District schools, buildings, and offices will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025, in observance of Labor Day.
We hope everyone enjoys a safe and relaxing Labor Day weekend! We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
#ACPSDcelebrates #LaborDay
Do you need help with Rooms and Messaging? We have made a FAQ page just for you! Whether you're having trouble signing in, seeing your students’ classes, wondering why you are receiving a SMS notification, or updating your contact info, we've got you covered.
🔗 Visit now: Rooms FAQs for Guardians | District
📲 Stay connected with your child’s school easily, quickly, and all in one place with our new messaging experience! This two-way communication tool has been updated to make it easier than ever to stay connected and informed. Learn more about our new messaging service on the Rooms FAQs for Guardians | District .
On Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students are dismissed at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m.
Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy (ASA), as well as our schools in the Ridge Spring area. ASA early dismissal will be at noon, Ridge Spring-Monetta (RSM) Elementary is at 11:55 a.m., RSM Middle at 12:15 p.m. and RSM High at 12:20 p .m. The ASPIRE Evening Program will not be held tomorrow.
These Early Dismissal Days are part of the 2025-26 Aiken County Public School District Calendar and are necessary to support state-wide required teacher training. Please make any necessary arrangements for your child's early dismissal. Elementary school student after school care through Quest Zone is available.
On Early Dismissal Days, elementary school students are dismissed at 11:30 a.m., middle school students at 12:10 p.m., and high school students at 12:30 p.m.
Early dismissal times are slightly different for Aiken Scholars Academy (ASA), as well as our schools in the Ridge Spring area. ASA early dismissal will be at noon, Ridge Spring-Monetta (RSM) Elementary is at 11:55 a.m., RSM Middle at 12:15 p.m. and RSM High at 12:20 p .m. The ASPIRE Evening Program will not be held tomorrow.
These Early Dismissal Days are part of the 2025-26 Aiken County Public School District Calendar and are necessary to support state-wide required teacher training. Please make any necessary arrangements for your child's early dismissal. Elementary school student after school care through Quest Zone is available.
