May Promises

Yes, May is a month of promises.  It promises wonderful weather, beautiful flowers, spring sports, refreshing walks, and many more of our favorite things.

For Belmont Station Elementary, this May also promises Standards of Learning testing.  Our third, fourth, and fifth graders will be among their peers throughout the state involved in this testing process from May 7th   through June 1^st.

Our teachers have focused instruction on the standards outlined by the state and our students have been well prepared for these assessments.   Additionally, many technology based programs have been used to prepare the children for tests across the curriculum.  We have also used SOL Pass, ePATS, Study Island, Brain Pop and a number of great computerized games and visuals, such as Safari Montage to help our students learn and retain information.

Belmont Station has continuously provided teachers with staff development and benchmarking opportunities to assess the effectiveness of our instructional program.  We have taken advantage of every possibility to improve our many programs, and hopefully, as a result, retain our excellent test scores.

Belmont Station was also the beneficiary of grant funds provided through the Loudoun County Departments of Instruction and Special Education. These funds made possible our after school computer program and test strategy and remediation SOL Blitz. We are very fortunate that Mrs. Ackerman, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, Mr. Coppels, Director of Instructional Services and Technology, and Mary Kearney, Director of Special Education, continue to make these funds available.  Our results have proven that these review and test taking strategy sessions for students are very effective.

As you can see, everyone has been putting forth an immense effort to assure that Belmont Station is included among the BeST in all areas, including Standards of Learning Assessments.  The children have promised to do their very best.  This is certainly all that we ask.

Thank you in advance for assuring that your child is present, well rested, and has a very nutritious breakfast on testing days.

As always, with high expectations,

Patty

Patricia McGinly, Principal