🔔 Key Events This Week
We have two important events scheduled for the first week back:
Wednesday - Winter Picture Day: Please remember that Winter Pictures will be taken this Wednesday. Flyers with package information are coming home with students today/tomorrow. These photos are a great option for holiday cards and gifts!
Friday - Pickle Sales Fundraiser: Our popular Pickle Sales are this Friday! Pickles are $1 each, and all proceeds go directly to supporting the 2nd Grade Field Trip, helping to keep costs low for our families.
🧥 Winter Weather & Lost Items
As the weather has turned colder, please ensure your student comes to school each day with a warm winter coat.
Please Note: We strongly encourage all families to LABEL your student's coat (and other belongings) with their name and homeroom teacher. This simple step drastically helps us reduce the number of items in our lost and found.
📢 Looking Ahead
Don't forget to check the monthly bulletin for details on upcoming PTO events, including the fun Carline Parade and the Santa Shop. We will need volunteers for these festive activities—your support is greatly appreciated!
We look forward to a successful and festive December!
Please note that there will be no school for students, teachers, and most staff the week of November 24–28.
Additionally, all schools and offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday from Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28. We look forward to welcoming everyone back when we reopen on Monday, December 1.
A huge thank you to all our amazing families who joined us for the Fall Carnival! And a special shoutout to our incredible PTO for organizing such a fun and memorable event! 🎉
Get ready for an action-packed week before Thanksgiving Break (Nov 17-21):
🏗️ Tuesday, 4:30 PM: Groundbreaking Ceremony!
We're inviting everyone to celebrate the official groundbreaking for our new cafeteria and gym addition! This is a huge milestone for the school! (Anticipated opening: Fall 2026.)
🚚 Wednesday: Game Truck Reward Day!
Students who earned the reward during our fall fundraiser get to enjoy the Game Truck!
🌟 Friday: Celebration Day!
We’ll be celebrating the fantastic learning gains our students made on recent testing!
🛑 HOLIDAY BREAK REMINDER 🛑
There is NO SCHOOL from Monday, November 24th, through Friday, November 28th.
We are so thankful for our partnership with all of our families and hope you have a restful and wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Don't forget to keep scanning those receipts for Boxtops!
The next update will be sent on Monday, November 30th.
Celebrating School-Wide Excellence
What an incredible start to our month! Belvedere Elementary is bursting with Belvedere Bear Pride after receiving the official announcement that our school has been rated "Excellent" for the second consecutive time! This monumental achievement is a shared success, belonging to our exceptional students, dedicated staff, and supportive families.
The celebration continues as we honor several outstanding members of our team for their dedication and commitment:
Meg Robinson: Teacher of the Year
Anna Beth Harbeson: District Nominee for Assistant Principal of the Year
Hayden Beck: First Year Teacher of the Year
Jan Narciso: Giving Even More Award Winner
We are profoundly proud to have these deserving individuals representing Belvedere Elementary.
Key Focus: Winter Testing and Operation: Spread Kindness!
We have a crucial and exciting week ahead focused on both academics and character development.
Winter Testing Schedule
Our first through fifth graders will be demonstrating their growth during winter assessments. Please help us prepare them for success by ensuring they get a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast on testing mornings.
iReady Reading: Tuesday
iReady Math: Thursday
Operation: Spread Kindness!
Throughout the week, we are launching "Operation: Spread Kindness!" Based on feedback from our school leadership, counselors, and families, we are shifting our primary focus to promoting proactive kindness in our daily words and actions. We will also be defining bullying—a behavior involving an imbalance of power that is repeated and has the intent to harm—to ensure all students understand the difference. We encourage families to join this conversation at home!
PTO Carnival and Community Events
Our fantastic PTO has planned an amazing event!
The Annual Carnival is this Saturday! Get ready for fun and games.
Wednesday, after school: PTO and SIC meeting followed by a clean-up effort to prepare the campus for the Carnival. Volunteers are welcome!
Wednesday evening: Support our school community at Spirit Night at the Back Porch!
Carnival Challenge: Don't forget to pre-order your carnival tickets! If we reach 2000 pre-ordered tickets, Mrs. Harbeson and Ms. Long have agreed to kiss a farm animal at the event! Help us hit the goal!
Final Reminders
Yearbooks: Yearbooks are still on sale! Don't miss out on securing this year's memories. Check out the advertisement options for family shout-outs or small business promotion.
Box Tops Goal: Keep scanning those Box Tops! Our goal is to reach $500 in November!
Thank you for your continued partnership. Go Bears!
PURPLE UP FOR MILITARY FAMILIES | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14
ACPSD encourages all students, staff, and families to wear PURPLE on Friday, November 14 as we celebrate the Month of the Military Family!
This special day is our way of showing appreciation and support for the incredible military families who sacrifice and serve alongside their loved ones.
THANK YOU to our military families for your dedication, resilience, and service to our nation.
Join us in honoring our heroes—both at home and abroad—by wearing purple with pride!
Throughout November, schools across the district are recognizing Veterans Day and the Month of the Military Family with special celebrations and activities to honor the veterans and active-duty heroes in our community and across the country.
Let’s turn our schools PURPLE Friday, November 14!
The excitement is through the roof! We are ecstatic to announce that Belvedere Elementary has received an Overall Excellent Rating for the second time!
Last year, we moved to Excellent for Achievement and maintained an Excellent Climate rating. Seeing that Overall rating back at Excellent is a monumental achievement!
Highlights of our Success:
Overall Rating: Excellent (for the second time!)
Achievement: Excellent
Climate: Excellent
Student Progress: Good
We are especially proud to boast the highest Climate Score in all of Aiken County and the 35th highest in the state (out of 1,368 schools)! This incredible success reflects the positive environment we all work hard to create.
Thank you to our amazing students, our tireless team, and our devoted community! Your commitment to excellence is what makes BES shine! 🍎
#BESExcellence #ExcellentClimate #SchoolRatings #EducationMatters #TeamWork
🎉 Huge thanks to the PTO & all families for an amazing Trunk or Treat!
🗓️ THIS FRIDAY:
Veteran's Day: Wear Red/White/Blue! 🇺🇸
2nd Grade Fundraiser: $1 Pickle Sales! 🥒
More Info:
Winter Testing: Check the bulletin for prep tips.
Yearbook: Pre-orders OPEN! All grades can get "Shout Out" pages now (businesses too!).
Fundraising: Please keep scanning receipts as you shop for Thanksgiving! 💰
Thank you for your support!
Get ready for Red Ribbon Week, major events, and a long weekend! We've packed all the need-to-know info below:
🛑 Red Ribbon Week Dress-Up Days! (Next Week)
Show your pledge to be drug-free by participating in our daily themes:
Monday: Wear RED to show your pledge. 🔴
Tuesday: Say "Peace Out" to drugs! Wear tie dye, peace signs, or bright colors. ✌️
Wednesday: Team Up against drugs! Wear team gear or Belvedere spirit wear. Also Wednesday: Character & All A Honor Roll Ceremony (invitation was sent to students being recognized).
Thursday: Drugs are spooky! Wear school-appropriate costumes. 👻 (Reminder: NO masks, weapons, face paint, or scary themes.)
🗓️ Key Dates & Deadlines
THURSDAY NIGHT: PTO Trunk or Treat! 🍬 Join us 5:30 - 7:30 PM.
FRIDAY: NO SCHOOL for students. Enjoy your long weekend!
SILENT AUCTION: Last call! Get your final bids in this week! (32auctions.com/BES2025)
FIBER ARTS CAMP: Applications for our free December camp (Grades 3-5) are due Nov 7. Details available in the office. 🎨
Don't forget! Keep scanning those receipts on the Box Tops App and spread the word to neighbors and friends! Every scan helps Belvedere! 📣
Join us for Community Night at ACCTC
Tuesday, October 28 | 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Aiken County Career & Technology Center
2455 Jefferson Davis Highway, Warrenville, SC
We’re excited to welcome current students, future students, families, and community members for an evening of connection, fun, and exploration.
Don’t miss our SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT at 5:00 PM.
Highlights include:
Food trucks
Door prizes
Industry partners
Activities for all ages
For more information, visit www.acpsd.net/acctc or call (803) 593-7300.
Mark your calendar and join us!
It's going to be a busy week, Bears! Please see the key dates and ways to get involved:
📅 This Week's Schedule & Key Events
MONDAY, Oct 20: NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS! 🍎 Staff will be holding Parent-Teacher Conferences.
TUESDAY, Oct 21: 2nd Grade Testing continues. Plus, the Annual PTO Silent Auction KICKS OFF! Get ready to bid!
WEDNESDAY, Oct 22: 2nd Grade Testing continues + Evening Meetings:
3:00 PM: SIC/Title I Meeting
3:30 PM: PTO Meeting
THURSDAY, Oct 23: 📸 Makeup Picture Day (for retakes or those who missed the original date).
🐻 Support Our School!
We're raising funds and need your help:
CANDY DRIVE: Come "Feed the Bear!" Please send in candy donations this week to support our upcoming school carnival.
BOX TOPS: We've already raised nearly $400! Keep scanning those grocery receipts into the Box Tops for Education app. Every scan counts!
Please make sure your 2nd graders get a great night's sleep Monday and Tuesday! See you soon!
Mon: Independence Day Celebration! Wear red, white and blue and goodbyes in lobby/carline.
🏃♀️ RUNNING CLUB: Starts Tues, Oct 14 (T/Th 3-4pm). Bring sneakers/water. Pickup @ 4pm carline.
📝 2nd Grade: Testing T-Th. | 🥒 Fri: Pickle Sales! Send $1 for field trip.
🛑 NO SCHOOL Mon, Oct 20 for Parent/Teacher Conferences. Sign-up info soon!
🤝 Volunteer Interest: https://forms.office.com/r/ghSkz79rpM
📦 Keep scanning those Box Tops! We appreciate your support.
Community Night at ACCTC – Tuesday, October 28 | 4–7 PM
You're invited! Join us for Community Night at the Aiken County Career & Technology Center on Tuesday, October 28 from 4–7 PM.
Discover the exciting opportunities in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and learn more about the programs offered at the Career Center. Students will be showcasing their skills and projects, giving you a firsthand look at what they’re learning and creating.
This family-friendly event is open to everyone including current and future students, families, and community members!
What to expect:
✔️ Live student demonstrations
✔️ Food trucks
✔️ Door prizes
✔️ Hands-on activities
✔️ Local industry partners on site
Location: 2455 Jefferson Davis Highway, Warrenville, SC
More info: www.acpsd.net/acctc
Phone: (803) 593-7300
Don't miss this evening of learning, fun, and community connection!
Good afternoon, Belvedere families!
We hope everyone is looking forward to Fall Break! (September 29th-October 10th)
The next communication will come out on October 12th with more notes about what to expect in October; but here is our October bulletin! We have lots of great things planned!
One thing we are focusing on is being more intentional with volunteers. If you are interested in being a consistent, weekly volunteer- take a quick minute to complete this link!
We are looking forward to a great month!
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! 💙🐻
