KG News 11.17.2024

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Now is the Time - Heritage Night is Approaching - 12/7  

Heritage Night 12/7 - Sign Up by 11/22Sign up by 11/22 to represent your heritage at Heritage Night!   Families should indicate if they are contributing to a table or activity that represents their heritage and/or contributing food for the cultural food hall.  Questions? Email [email protected]

National French Week 

We thoroughly enjoyed visiting our very own Eiffel Tower - !  Thanks to Mme. Jarecke and Mme. Tchommo for supporting our French Week.  Our interns have been a wonderful addition to our school! 

Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

We enjoyed celebrating National French Week and visiting our very own Eiffel Tower!  Thanks to Mme. Jarecke and Mme. Tchommo for their work and support!

Note that the PTA has adjusted the date for the Pie Palooza to coincide with the break. Simply bring in a pie on Tuesday, November 26th (the day prior to break) by 9:30 a.m.  We will randomly pull teachers names for a pie!! It was a favorite for them last year. Thanks for your support! 

Gentle reminder that our next Three Hour Early Release is December 9th.  This date is a change from the original published dates in November. We will remit a google link for parents to adjust their mode of transportation as we near that date.

A gentle reminder regarding Heritage Night which is quickly approaching. Please sign up to participate - see the blurb above!  This evening is so wonderful as we collaborate and team to bring together a wonderfully magical evening around food and activities.  The rooms will host crafts and other activities and possibly including music.  The parade will go through the school and there will be an opportunity to highlight the participants. The food will set up in the cafeteria and the families can eat in the gym. Passports will be used to track your journey. We look forward to a wonderful evening!

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

November 18-  Cider & Bread Help deliver cider and breads to our teachers and staff! Sign Up Here

November 22 - Student Spirit Day - "Dress Like a Teacher!" 

November 26 - Pie-Palooza Pies are due to the Teacher's lounge by 9:30am on 11/26. Sign up using this linkNote the date change!  This date will coincide with the Thanksgiving break!

November 27 - 29: Thanksgiving Holiday

December 2 - Deadline for Yearbook Cover - Enter now! Read below! 

December 3:  Family Life Education (FLE) - Virtual 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Zoom link to be remitted)

December 3:  Picture Make Up Day - This if for students who are NEW to KG or for those who were absent on our last picture day

December 7:  Heritage Night - Sign up by 11/22 to represent your heritage at Heritage Night! 5 - 7 p.m. 

December 9: Three Hour Early Release - Changes only - google form to follow.

December 9:  Chorus Concert - 5th and 6th Grade 5 p.m.

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Science Olympiad - Division A Represents at Tournament!

Congratulations to our 44 KG participants in the Virginia Science Olympiad Div. A tournament at TJHSST on Nov. 9. Kent Gardens had 3 teams of third and fourth grade students participating and these teams placed 26 times with 5 first place finishes!! A total of 33 KGES students medaled during the tournament! Thanks to Mr. Shivnen and our parents for supporting! 

We look forward to our Division B (fifth and sixth graders) competition coming up in the spring.  We have 45 students on three Kent Gardens teams.

#kgpride #StrongerTogether #WeAllBelong #BeTheGold !! 

First Grade Field Trip

First Graders learned a great deal about Mt. Vernon and our presidents - AND they had a fabulous time!! 

Dear Families,

Over these next two weeks, our school community will focus on the character strength of Gratitude. Gratitude means being aware of and grateful for good things that happen. Gratitude is about feeling and showing thankfulness. It helps us see the good in others and in the world. People with gratitude are ready to appreciate and return kindness. Expert Robert Emmons says gratitude strengthens relationships because it makes us recognize how others support us.

Out of all 24 character strengths, gratitude is the single best predictor of individual well-being. It is linked to more energy, empathy, happiness, and optimism. The good news is that gratitude can be practiced and strengthened like a muscle. The more we practice it, the more benefits we get.

To practice and encourage this strength at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.

Pre-K–K

Grades 1–2

Grades 3–5

Grades 6–8

Grades 9–12

Yearbook Cover Contest!!

We are excited about the 24-25 yearbook and are offering the students the opportunity to create the cover for this school year.  Our theme is: #BeTheGold.  The reference for this theme ties in with 'kintsugi' - whereby liquid gold is used to repair broken pottery; thus, nothing is truly broken and builds resilience and strength. 

  • Theme: #BeTheGold
  • Include 'Kent Gardens Elementary 2024-25 in the design
  • Use 8.5 x 11 or 9x12 paper in a portrait orientation
  • Check your spelling!!!
  • Deadline - Monday, December 2nd!

Turn in finished work to the office.  Reminder - we choose on cover for each grade level for the back cover and one for the front cover.  Remember #kgpride can be emphasized as well with the #BeTheGold!  Thanks in advance for the creativity!!! 

Advanced Academic Referral Deadline ~ Dec 15

The deadline for all students in grades 2-6 to apply for full-time (formerly referred to as level IV) advanced academic services to begin at the start of the 25-26 school year is Sunday, December 15. This is a county provided date, there are no exceptions or extensions. Please plan ahead!

To initiate the screening process, please submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form through email to Debra Bulford at [email protected] or submit a hard copy to the front office by 4:00 pm on Friday, December 13th.

News from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison

Youth Behavioral Health Services - Mental health support for children and youth is a priority for Fairfax County, and our Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) is now offering new community-based behavioral health services for youth and families at three community centers: James Lee Community Center, Hybla Valley Community Center, and Herndon Resource Center. With new locations open throughout Fairfax County to support youth mental health, the CSB seeks to enhance accessibility to critical services by reducing barriers to receiving treatment.

The Park Authority Fall and Winter Programs - The Park Authority has various programs and opportunities available this fall and winter for all age groups, including special programs for children with disabilities, farmers markets, family events and more.  Information can be found here.  Contact Wangin Bang at [email protected] if you have additional questions or would like more details.

National Family Engagement Month -I hope your family has been having a lovely time celebrating National Family Engagement Month together.  Over 40 years of research have shown that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in their child’s education.  Here are some fun activities to do with your family during Family Engagement Month:  Invite your child to help plan meals, write a grocery list and shop; Thanksgiving Day – share around the table; Review and talk to your child about their homework assignments; Flip through old family photos and tell stories about your family’s history; Prepare a meal together as a family; On Thanksgiving Day – Shae what you are grateful for around the table; Walk, stretch, meditate or exercise with your child to prepare for the week ahead; Put a special note of encouragement into your child’s backpack or lunchbox; Talk to your child about his / her favorite subject in school.

Boundary Review Community Meeting

Community meetings regarding FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will take place in each of the division's six regions. You are encouraged to attend the meeting in our region, which will take place on Monday, November 18, 6:30-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School Cafeteria. Please register in advance by clicking on the date. Language interpretation will be available. If you are unable to attend on this date, view the full list of meetings on the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:

  • Veterans Day Recognitions
  • Resources on IEPs, Financial Aid, Literacy, Community Leadership
  • Teacher Hiring Event

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

Other Donation Opportunities

Help KGES support Pieces of Illumination, a local high school student-run organization, and provide puzzles for seniors and kids with autism.  You can donate new or lightly used jigsaw puzzles, Legos, or board games by dropping them off in the blue box near the front office between Wednesday 11/6 and Wednesday 11/20.

Share of McLean's Holiday Program kicks off on November 16! This year, Jack, a regular Share volunteer and former Kent Gardens student, is leading a toy collection drive. He has created an Amazon wish list with items for kids ages 1 to 11, ranging from $10 to $15. Please check out the Amazon wish list if you would like to contribute by November 14.

A Peak Inside STEAM, kindergarten and our cafeteria!! PTA News

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

We are still searching for a President Elect to join our PTA board.  Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information

Our Next PTA Meeting: January 17 at 9am

At this month's PTA meeting, we heard about all of the amazing things happening at KGES in the mad race to winter break! Our next general PTA meeting won't be until the new year!

We are still searching for a President Elect to join our PTA board.  Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

Our next General Meeting will be January 17 at 9am in the cafeteria!

Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year Volunteer Opportunities

11/18 Cider & Bread Help deliver cider and breads to our teachers and staff! Sign-up here!

11/26 Pie-Palooza On Tuesday, November 26, staff names will be announced throughout the day to come choose a holiday pie donated by KGES families. Homemade AND store bought pies are welcome!  Pies are due to the Teacher's lounge by 930am on 11/26. Sign up using this link!

KGES Movie Night Who doesn't love a good movie? Volunteers are needed to organize a KGES movie night for the entire school community to enjoy together!  Interested in helping with either of these new roles? Contact [email protected] if interested!

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays  The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you!

Square 1 Art - Deadline Extended! Nov. 22

A Square 1 Art personalized catalog featuring your child's masterpiece is coming home THIS WEEK! Square 1 Art makes for amazing holiday gifts with your child's creative use of vibrant colors printed on high-quality items like pot holders, tea towels, coffee mugs, and more! The deadline to order is November 22!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

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KG News 11.10.2024

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Veterans Day Celebration

We had a wonderful time celebrating and recognizing our veterans and other military friends and family. Thanks for coming and allowing us to engage with you.  We thank all of you for your service! 

Join us on Kent Gardens Facebook page - we have many pictures posted of our events! 

Parent Engagement Night - A Success!

Thanks to all who joined us for Parent Engagement Night.  We learned a great deal about Benchmark and FCPS' literacy goals. Diane Leipzig introduced the Benchmark program and shared ideas on how we can support reading - access the FCPS resources here In addition, Lynne Bursch shared the math plans for FCPS and how we support as parents around our math program. Jeff Lonnett also joined us to share how we are engaging students in Portrait of Graduate focusing on critical thinking. Here is the link to the slide decks for you to peruse as well as the recording of the evening event. 

Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

We had a busy short week. It was wonderful to welcome the French interns and have them join our school.  We have a fun week planned for French National Week. Check out the blurb and calendar below for more information. 

It is always amazing to celebrate and honor our current military as well as our veterans. The clap out is always a favorite and we thoroughly enjoy listening to our chorus regale us!  Thanks again to our parents who joined us in this important event. 

Gentle reminder that Monday school is closed for Veterans Day. We will see everyone on Tuesday, November 12th.  Note it is a spirit day - wear something French!! 

Last but not least, progress reports should be visible in ParentVue on Tuesday, November 12th. Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

November 11Veterans Day Holiday - No School 

November 12 - 15National French Week 

- Tuesday 11/12 - Wear something 'French' Take your pic with the Eiffel Tower or L'Arc de Triomphe! 

- Wednesday, 11/13 - Estimation Jar! 

- Thursday, 11/14 - French Reading

- Friday, 11/15 - Winner Announcements to French Contest and Estimation

November 18 -  Cider & Bread Help deliver cider and breads to our teachers and staff! Sign Up Here!

November 21 - Pie-Palooza Pies are due to the Teacher's lounge by 9:30am on 11/21. Sign up using this link

November 27 - 29: Thanksgiving Holiday

December 2 - Deadline for Yearbook Cover - Enter now! Read below! 

December 3:  Family Life Education (FLE) - Virtual 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Zoom link to be remitted)

December 7:  Heritage Night - Sign up by 11/22 to represent your heritage at Heritage Night! Note the date on your calendar.

December 9: Three Hour Early Release - Changes only - google form to follow.

December 9:  Chorus Concert - 5th and 6th Grade 5 p.m.

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Impact Aid Form - Forms Due Now

We have a few families left that need to complete the electronic Federal Impact Aid Survey form.  It is accessible through your ParentVUE account. We hope the following instructions will help you resolve any possible issues.

  • If you see Online Registration, please delete it or click “Remind me later”. You don’t have to do it as the student is registered already.
  • If you see Online Verification packet, click it to access the Impact Aid form. If you have any changes to make, you can update through the online verification. Then Save and Continue until you see the Impact Aid form.

Any further issues, please reply to Sonia Shi, refer to the email below or contact the Parent Tech Help line at 833-921-3277. We must have 100% completion for our school.  If you need an activation code to create a ParentVUE account, please contact our registrar Annie Joseph .

Fourth Grade Field Trip and Art Inspirations Heritage Night is Approaching - 12/7  

Heritage Night 12/7 - Sign Up by 11/22Sign up by 11/22 to represent your heritage at Heritage Night!   Families should indicate if they are contributing to a table or activity that represents their heritage and/or contributing food for the cultural food hall.  Questions? Email [email protected]

Do You Know A Kent Gardens Teacher/Staff Member Who Is OUTSTANDING?

Please consider submitting a nomination for a Kent Gardens Elementary Outstanding Employee, by completing this Google form. You may nominate an employee in any of the following categories: Outstanding Teacher Outstanding New Teacher Outstanding Principal Outstanding Leader Outstanding Support Employee Outstanding Hourly Employee 

Details about each category can be found on the nomination form. All nominations must be entered by Wednesday, November 13th!

We will focus on past character traits for this week.    

Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates

Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.

This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reports and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.

We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!

Yearbook Cover Contest!!

We are excited about the 24-25 yearbook and are offering the students the opportunity to create the cover for this school year.  Our theme is: #BeTheGold.  The reference for this theme ties in with 'kintsugi' - whereby liquid gold is used to repair broken pottery; thus, nothing is truly broken and builds resilience and strength. 

  • Theme: #BeTheGold
  • Include 'Kent Gardens Elementary 2024-25 in the design
  • Use 8.5 x 11 or 9x12 paper in a portrait orientation
  • Check your spelling!!!
  • Deadline - Monday, December 2nd!

Turn in finished work to the office.  Reminder - we choose on cover for each grade level for the back cover and one for the front cover.  Remember #kgpride can be emphasized as well with the #BeTheGold!  Thanks in advance for the creativity!!! 

News from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison
  • Tutoring Resources for Families - Is your family looking for resources to help support your child’s academic success? FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of district employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to be hired as a tutor by parents. FRC maintains this list, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with tutors. This list is not “approved” by FCPS and is only meant as a resource. FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
  • IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair  Parents/caregivers, school staff, and students over the age of 14 are invited to attend an interactive event celebrating the individualized education program (IEP) process. The IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, November 16, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Jackson Middle School.
  • FCPS Family Resource Center is sponsoring a webinar for families titled My Kid is Having a Meltdown.  What Do I Do?  5 Ways to De-Escalate a Nuclear Meltdown & Stop the Shame Cycle.  Plans go awry, your child gets disappointed or doesn’t get their way. They begin getting upset. Rational talk doesn’t work. Nothing does. Now your child is in full meltdown mode and doesn’t hold back. What do you do?  Calm Parenting Podcast founder, Kirk Martin will present on Monday, November 11th from 10-11:30 am. Register online here
Other Donation Opportunities

Help KGES support Pieces of Illumination, a local high school student-run organization, and provide puzzles for seniors and kids with autism.  You can donate new or lightly used jigsaw puzzles, Legos, or board games by dropping them off in the blue box near the front office between Wednesday 11/6 and Wednesday 11/20.

Share of McLean's Holiday Program kicks off on November 16! This year, Jack, a regular Share volunteer and former Kent Gardens student, is leading a toy collection drive. He has created an Amazon wish list with items for kids ages 1 to 11, ranging from $10 to $15. Please check out the Amazon wish list if you would like to contribute by November 14.

Kindergarten and First Graders Enjoy the Weather!  PTA News

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

We are still searching for a President Elect to join our PTA board.  Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information

Our Next PTA Meeting: January 17 at 9am

At this month's PTA meeting, we heard about all of the amazing things happening at KGES in the mad race to winter break! Our next general PTA meeting won't be until the new year!

We are still searching for a President Elect to join our PTA board.  Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

Our next General Meeting will be January 17 at 9am in the cafeteria!

Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year Volunteer Opportunities

11/18 Cider & Bread Help deliver cider and breads to our teachers and staff! Sign-up here!

11/21 Pie-Palooza On Thursday, November 21, staff names will be announced throughout the day to come choose a holiday pie donated by KGES families. Homemade AND store bought pies are welcome!  Pies are due to the Teacher's lounge by 930am on 11/21. Sign up using this link!

KGES Movie Night Who doesn't love a good movie? Volunteers are needed to organize a KGES movie night for the entire school community to enjoy together!  Interested in helping with either of these new roles? Contact [email protected] if interested!

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays  The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you!

Square 1 Art - Deadline Coming! Nov. 15

A Square 1 Art personalized catalog featuring your child's masterpiece is coming home THIS WEEK! Square 1 Art makes for amazing holiday gifts with your child's creative use of vibrant colors printed on high-quality items like pot holders, tea towels, coffee mugs, and more! The deadline to order is November 15!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

Web | Twitter

Veterans Day Celebration - Friday, Nov. 8

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  Veterans Day Celebration ~ Friday, Nov 8th

We look forward to honoring our veterans and those that currently serve in the military on November 8th. We are meeting in the cafeteria 8:20 - 8:30 a.m. and will have activities planned after that time. We will have our usual clap out throughout the school for ALL of the students to enjoy and participate in. Please RSVP  if you are able to attend our celebration/ceremony on November 8th in the cafeteria at Kent Gardens. We are here to celebrate all! 

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

Web | Twitter

KG News 11.3.2024

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Veterans Day Celebration

We look forward to celebrating Veterans Day on November 8th. We have planned a small event in the cafeteria for our veterans or current military families with your children.  Here is the google form to indicate your interest as well as capture information if you wish to speak to your child's homeroom class. Thanks in advance! 

Festive Fall Festival

We had a wonderful day on Thursday- a HUGE thanks to all of the parents and teachers who helped volunteer and plan fun activities and food for the students.

Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

Thanks for supporting our Fall Festivities! It was a great day - we appreciate your support. As we are ending the first quarter, we have included information with respect to our language arts in the blurb below.  Note that ParentVue will soon upload all of the fall testing which will include iReady and the primary VALLS testing. The testing data will be uploaded fully by mid November. Check in with your teachers or administrators if you have questions.

We have included all upcoming calendar dates for the month of November. We are very appreciative of the support from the PTA and parents as we enter the second quarter.  We look forward to seeing you at the Parent Engagement Night on November 7th.  We will record it and will share the link after the event if you are unable to attend. It will be an informative meeting regarding language arts, math and Portrait of a Graduate.

Reminders for ALL visitors/parents/guardians whether you are picking up your child(ren), volunteering or otherwise, for security, we ask that you carry a valid drivers license or some sort of identification to verify.  It is a safety request that we must enforce.  Thanks in advance for supporting! 

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Treats for Troops

We are collecting candy to send to the troops!  Bring your unopened candy to the box or office between November 6th and 8th or to the office on November 4th and 5th (There are professional workdays for teachers - no students). We will donate the weekend of the 9th of November! 

 

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

November 4 and 5: Teacher Workdays (Parent Conferences)

November 4 - 8:  Donate Halloween Candy 

November 7: Parent Engagement Night - 6- 7 p.m.

November 7: Deadline to Donate a Winter Coat - See Below

November 8:  Veterans Day Celebration - Inviting ALL veterans to celebrate with your children -please complete this google form

November 11Veterans Day Holiday - No School 

November 12 - 15National French Week - French Interns are joining us in November!  We look forward to working with them!

November 18 -  Cider & Bread Help deliver cider and breads to our teachers and staff! Sign-up coming soon!

November 21 - Pie-Palooza Pies are due to the Teacher's lounge by 9:30am on 11/21. Sign up using this link

November 27 - 29: Thanksgiving Holiday

December 2 - Deadline for Yearbook Cover - Enter now! Read below! 

December 3:  Family Life Education (FLE) - Virtual 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Zoom link to be remitted)

December 7:  Heritage Night - More information to come! 

December 9: Three Hour Early Release - Changes only - google form to follow.

December 9:  Chorus Concert - 5th and 6th Grade 5 p.m.

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Impact Aid Form - Forms Due Date 11/8!

We have a few families left that need to complete the electronic Federal Impact Aid Survey form.  It is accessible through your ParentVUE account. We hope the following instructions will help you resolve any possible issues.

  • If you see Online Registration, please delete it or click “Remind me later”. You don’t have to do it as the student is registered already.
  • If you see Online Verification packet, click it to access the Impact Aid form. If you have any changes to make, you can update through the online verification. Then Save and Continue until you see the Impact Aid form.

Any further issues, please reply to Sonia Shi, refer to the email below or contact the Parent Tech Help line at 833-921-3277. We must have 100% completion for our school.  If you need an activation code to create a ParentVUE account, please contact our registrar Annie Joseph .

Teacher Teams Represented! 

They planned and collaborated - some teams represented emotions (can you tell which ones??)  as well as many book characters! 

Do You Know A Kent Gardens Teacher/Staff Member Who Is OUTSTANDING?

Please consider submitting a nomination for a Kent Gardens Elementary Outstanding Employee, by completing this Google form. You may nominate an employee in any of the following categories: Outstanding Teacher Outstanding New Teacher Outstanding Principal Outstanding Leader Outstanding Support Employee Outstanding Hourly Employee 

Details about each category can be found on the nomination form. All nominations must be entered by Wednesday, November 13th!

Focus on Bravery

This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Bravery. Bravery means you act with mental, moral, or physical strength, even when you know things are difficult or scary.

Bravery refers to voluntary (not coerced) action in the face of a dangerous circumstance. This strength involves judgment; the brave person must have an understanding of the risks and consequences involved in acting. Bravery isn’t simply fearlessness but instead the overcoming of fear.

Overcoming fears is critically important in individual development, as it allows the person to do more and become more. A person can be brave every single day. For example, some people with social anxiety are brave just by leaving their houses and talking with people. On a physical level, bravery allows us to overcome fears, such as swimming or playing a sport. And, on a moral level, doing what we know to be right, despite the risks, gives us the sense that we are acting on behalf of a larger purpose.

To practice and encourage the character strength of bravery at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.

Pre-K–K

Grades 1–2

Grades 3–5

Grades 6–8

Grades 9–12

Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates

Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.

This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reports and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.

We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!

Yearbook Cover Contest!!

We are excited about the 24-25 yearbook and are offering the students the opportunity to create the cover for this school year.  Our theme is: #BeTheGold.  The reference for this theme ties in with 'kintsugi' - whereby liquid gold is used to repair broken pottery; thus, nothing is truly broken and builds resilience and strength. 

  • Theme: #BeTheGold
  • Include 'Kent Gardens Elementary 2024-25 in the design
  • Use 8.5 x 11 or 9x12 paper in a portrait orientation
  • Check your spelling!!!
  • Deadline - Monday, December 2nd!

Turn in finished work to the office.  Reminder - we choose on cover for each grade level for the back cover and one for the front cover.  Remember #kgpride can be emphasized as well with the #BeTheGold!  Thanks in advance for the creativity!!! 

News from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison

Free COVID-19 Tests - With cold and flu season picking up, families can order free at-home COVID-19 tests.  You can use this LINK for more information and to order tests.

November is Family Engagement in Education Month - I want to share with you some rewarding activities you can do with your families to encourage quality family time: 

Read a book, magazine or newspaper with your child; Listen to and discuss different types of music with your child; Take time to participate in an activity at your child’s school; Join KGES PTA and join all our family fun activities; As a family, learn more about recycling efforts and pledge to reduce, reuse and recycle; Teach your child a new skill or introduce them to a new hobby; Praise your child for their effort, rather than their abilities; Pick a home improvement project and work together on it; Talk to your child about why we honor those who courageously serve our country; Flip through old family photos and tell stories about your family’s history

November is Military Family Month - Women Giving Back is opening their doors to military families to shop for women’s and children’s clothing at no cost.  Customers must have Military ID to shop. Questions  Event timing is November 8 - 10:00 – 1:00 p.m. at  20 Export Drive, Sterling, VA

Winter Break Camps - It’s never too early to start thinking about camp, winter camp that is! Fairfax County Park Authority offers a wide variety of winter camps for children To check out offerings and register, click HERE.

Support the Winter Coat Drive!

Support our winter coat drive and give the gift of warmth to others in need.  Please donate new and gently used coats.  They can be placed in the box near the front office between now and Thursday, November 7th at 4 p.m.  It's a short window for donating - thanks for your support!

Other Donation Opportunities

Help KGES support Pieces of Illumination, a local high school student-run organization, and provide puzzles for seniors and kids with autism.

You can donate new or lightly used jigsaw puzzles, Legos, or board games by dropping them off in the blue box near the front office between Wednesday 11/6 and Wednesday 11/20.

Third Grade Pumpkin Characters & Art Class Fun PTA News

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

We are still searching for a President Elect to join our PTA board.  Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information

Ways to Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year Volunteer Opportunities

Heritage Night Planning Committee

11/18 Cider & Bread Help deliver cider and breads to our teachers and staff! Sign-up coming soon!

11/21 Pie-Palooza On Thursday, November 21, staff names will be announced throughout the day to come choose a holiday pie donated by KGES families. Homemade AND store bought pies are welcome!  Pies are due to the Teacher's lounge by 930am on 11/21. Sign up using this link!

KGES Movie Night Who doesn't love a good movie? Volunteers are needed to organize a KGES movie night for the entire school community to enjoy together!  Interested in helping with either of these new roles? Contact [email protected] if interested!

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays  The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you!

Square 1 Art - Deadline Coming! Nov. 15

A Square 1 Art personalized catalog featuring your child's masterpiece is coming home THIS WEEK! Square 1 Art makes for amazing holiday gifts with your child's creative use of vibrant colors printed on high-quality items like pot holders, tea towels, coffee mugs, and more! The deadline to order is November 15!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

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Reminder: Two Hour Early Dismissal and November 1 School Holiday

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Two Hour Early Dismissal - October 31

Gentle reminder to all parents and guardians - We have a two hour early release today for the end of the quarter.  Our school dismissal is 1:35 p.m.  All students will go home his/her regular dismissal route.

 

Calendar Reminders
  • November 1 - School Holiday -  Diwali and All Saints Day
  • November 4 and 5 - Student Holidays/Teacher Workdays/Parent Conferences
  • November 7: Parent Engagement Night - 6 pm.  Come learn about the new Reading Platform ~ Benchmark, the FCPS Math focus as well as Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Presentations of Learning.  (Parents Only ~) (We will host Math/STEAM Night and Literacy Night later in 2025.)

    November 8:  Veterans Day Celebration - Inviting ALL veterans to celebrate with your children -please complete this google form

    November 11:  Veterans Day Holiday - No School 

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

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Three Hour Early Release Update

We have finalized our rosters for the early release.  Note that there are NO after school activities on this day - i.e. Baroody is cancelled. Note that SACC is participating as well. We are closed to change but will give one last opportunity by using this google form. Please DO speak to your child regarding the plan for the dismissal so that we are on the same page. Note we have a regular two hour early release on Oct 31st.  Dismissal will take place as usual. There will be no child care option.

The dates for the Three Hour Early Release are as follows: 10/28, 12/9 (change from 11/25), 2/24, 3/17, 4/28 and 5/19.  Note the change in the November 25th date - it is now December 9th.  We will use the current spreadsheet from 9/23 and parents should notify us with changes for 10/28.  

Book Fair Fun!!  

We had a wonderful book fair - a HUGE thanks to all of the parents and teachers who helped volunteer and support the event! 

Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

This week, we released the Impact Aid Form for parents to sign digitally in ParentVue. We have only around 100 students who have not completed the forms.  Please take the time to complete on behalf of your child. We are required to have 100% completion and have left it open until October 30th. Thanks in  advance. 

The three hour early release is Monday, October 28th. Please chat with your child(ren) regarding their dismissal plans.

We have posted information regarding Veterans Day.  We look forward to seeing and celebrating with our active military as well as the veterans.  We have included a google form to indicate your interest. 

Reminders for ALL visitors/parents/guardians whether you are picking up your child(ren), volunteering or otherwise, for security, we ask that you carry a valid drivers license or some sort of identification to verify.  It is a safety request that we must enforce.  Thanks in advance for supporting! 

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

October 28: Three Hour Early Release - If you have changes from the last early release in September, please complete this google form.

October 31: Fall Class Celebration - Kindergarten Parade 9:15 a.m.  - TWO HOUR Early Release 1:35 p.m. - End of Quarter

November 1:  School Holiday - Diwali and All Saints Day

November 4 and 5: Teacher Workdays (Parent Conferences)

November 7: Parent Engagement Night - 6 pm.  Come learn about the new Reading Platform ~ Benchmark, the FCPS Math focus as well as Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Presentations of Learning.  (Parents Only ~) (We will host Math/STEAM Night and Literacy Night later in 2025.)

November 8:  Veterans Day Celebration - Inviting ALL veterans to celebrate with your children -please complete this google form

November 11:  Veterans Day Holiday - No School 

November 12 - 15:  National French Week - French Interns are joining us in November!  We look forward to working with them!

November 27 - 29: Thanksgiving Holiday

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Impact Aid Form - Forms Due Date 10/30!

The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify, military families ,federally connected families, families living on a military base.

We have extended the due date to October 30th for the electronic Federal Impact Aid Survey form.  It is accessible through your ParentVUE account.We must have 100% completion for our school.  If you need an activation code to create a ParentVUE account, please contact our registrar Annie Joseph [email protected]

Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the ENROLLING parent can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form.  Your information will be kept strictly confidential.  Your support will ensure that we receive the resources for which we are eligible.  For questions, please do not contact your teachers or school office.  Please contact the Impact Aid office at [email protected] or the support hotline at 703-329-7750.

Field Trips Are Happening!

Kindergarten and Sixth Grade enjoyed field trips this week!  They had a great time - thanks to our parent volunteers for supporting. 

Veterans Day Celebration

We look forward to celebrating Veterans Day on November 8th. We have planned a small event in the cafeteria for our veterans or current military families with your children.  Here is the google form to indicate your interest as well as capture information if you wish to speak to your child's homeroom class. Thanks in advance! 

Do You Know A Kent Gardens Teacher/Staff Member Who Is OUTSTANDING?

Please consider submitting a nomination for a Kent Gardens Elementary Outstanding Employee, by completing this Google form. You may nominate an employee in any of the following categories: Outstanding Teacher Outstanding New Teacher Outstanding Principal Outstanding Leader Outstanding Support Employee Outstanding Hourly Employee 

Details about each category can be found on the nomination form. All nominations must be entered by Wednesday, November 13th!

Focus on Words and Actions

This week, our school community will focus on the Other People Mindset of Knowing That My Words and Actions Affect Others, which means having an awareness that everything that we say and do can affect others — and our relationships with them.

Whether we speak, email, text, or post, our words and actions can have a positive or negative effect. The words and actions we choose can lift others up or bring them down, and they also impact us. When we all think carefully about our words and actions and show respect and care for those around us, we create a happier and healthier community.

To practice and encourage this Other People Mindset at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.  

Pre-K–K

Grades 1–2

Grades 3–5

Grades 6–8

Grades 9–12

 

Individual Pictures Available Online

The team at Victor O’Neill Studios would like to thank your school for a great picture day!

We are reaching out to inform you that student images are now online. Any student who has not had a chance to order, it’s not too late!  Please visit: vosphoto.com/underclass and use your student ID when prompted for the online code. For questions regarding school pictures please email: [email protected]

Treats for Troops

We are collecting candy to send to the troops!  Bring your unopened candy to the box or office between November 6th and 8th or to the office on November 4th and 5th (There are professional workdays for teachers - no students). We will donate the weekend of the 9th of November! 

 

Yearbook Cover Contest!!

We are excited about the 24-25 yearbook and are offering the students the opportunity to create the cover for this school year.  Our theme is: #BeTheGold.  The reference for this theme ties in with 'kintsugi' - whereby liquid gold is used to repair broken pottery; thus, nothing is truly broken and builds resilience and strength. 

  • Theme: #BeTheGold
  • Include 'Kent Gardens Elementary 2024-25 in the design
  • Use 8.5 x 11 or 9x12 paper in a portrait orientation
  • Check your spelling!!!
  • Deadline - Monday, December 2nd!

Turn in finished work to the office.  Reminder - we choose on cover for each grade level for the back cover and one for the front cover.  Remember #kgpride can be emphasized as well with the #BeTheGold!  Thanks in advance for the creativity!!! 

A Note from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison

My name is Shelley Lowinger, and I am the Family Liaison at KGES.   I am happy to assist and facilitate family and school communications, encourage participation in school-wide events and support families by providing information to parents which will support their child(ren) at home and school. Below are some upcoming events and information for your family. 

November is Family Engagement month. This month reminds us that families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates and nurturers.  Research shows that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in their children’s education.  Family Engagement is a partnership and shared responsibility between home school and the community.  

Need Assistance with Heating or Cooling Services? See if you might be eligible by visiting this link. Applications for help with your heating and cooling bills or equipment needs are accepted online  or by calling the Enterprise Customer Service Center at (855) 635 – 4370, and at your local department of social services.  Fuel assistance helps with home heating costs; but can also be used for furnace re-starts, late charges, delivery charges, installation charges, and connection or re-connection fees.

November Free Webinars/Events at Family Resource Center The Family Resource Center has a several upcoming free November webinars and events for FCPS families.  1. SIBSHOPS:  An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs:The Sibshop workshops are for children in grade 2 – 6 enrolled in FCPS who have siblings with special needs.  This hands-on workshop will be held on November 5 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  Register Online.   2. 5 Ways to De-Escalate a Nuclear Meltdown & Stop the Shame Cycle:  A Webinar for Families.  This webinar will be held on November 8 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  Register Online.

Support the Winter Coat Drive!

Support our winter coat drive and give the gift of warmth to others in need.  Please donate new and gently used coats.  They can be placed in the box near the front office between now and Thursday, November 7th at 4 p.m.  It's a short window for donating - thanks for your support!

FCPS CARES Program

The FCPS CARES Program allows parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees who go above and beyond to help others and show they care about their students, colleagues, and the community. We invite you to submit a story below to acknowledge the great work of an FCPS employee or group of employees who should receive FCPS CARES recognition. Please take note of the following before submitting an FCPS CARES:

  • A notification email, with the submission text included, will be sent to the recipient(s) and copied to the recipient's supervisor(s). 
  • All submissions will be posted to our FCPS CARES webpage and shared via other FCPS news outlets.
  • Submissions containing personal or sensitive information may be edited to protect individuals' privacy.
  • Feel free to compose your submission using a text editor such as Microsoft Word, and then paste it into the text box provided.
PTA News

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

We are still searching for a President Elect to join our PTA board.  Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information

Ways to Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year Volunteer Opportunities

Heritage Night Planning Committee

Directory Chair Many people have asked us if KGES has a student directory and right now, we don't! Help us bring back this awesome resource as we launch it ONLINE!

KGES Movie Night Who doesn't love a good movie? Volunteers are needed to organize a KGES movie night for the entire school community to enjoy together!  Interested in helping with either of these new roles? Contact [email protected] if interested!

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays  The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

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KG News 10.20.2024

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Three Hour Early Release Update

As we plan forward for October 28th, we remitted an email indicating what we have on file for your child(ren) based on the September three hour early release. If you have a change, please indicate by using this google form. Note we have a regular two hour early release on Oct 31st.  Dismissal will take place as usual. There will be no child care option.

The dates for the Three Hour Early Release are as follows: 10/28, 12/9 (change from 11/25), 2/24, 3/17, 4/28 and 5/19.  Note the change in the November 25th date - it is now December 9th.  We will use the current spreadsheet from 9/23 and parents should notify us with changes for 10/28.  

Jersey Spirit Wear! - Digital Citizenship Week Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

We celebrated Digital Citizenship Week and wore spirit wear. Students represented and supported positive use of technology. 

This week, we are releasing the Impact Aid Form for parents to sign digitally in ParentVue. Teachers will request the students to sign the homework sheet indicating that parents have signed the Impact Aid Form digitally.  It opens on October 21st.  Our school goal is for 100% completion by October 25th. 

We also have the Book Fair this week.  Always a favorite, we have wonderful activities planned throughout the week. We look forward to seeing you! 

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

October 21 - 25:  School Book Fair

  • October 18 - 21 - Set Up and Class Previews
  • Tuesday, Oct 22: Parents and Pastries (8:00 AM- 8:45 AM)

  • Wednesday, Oct 23: Class Buying (During the Day) and Family Night (4:00 PM-7:00 PM)

  • Thursday, Oct 24: Class Buying

  • Friday, Oct 25: Open Buy and Pack up

October 25:  Next PTA Meeting 8:45 a.m.

October 28: Three Hour Early Release - If you have changes from the last early release in September, please complete this google form.

October 31: Fall Class Celebration - Kindergarten Parade 9:15 a.m.  - TWO HOUR Early Release 1:35 p.m. - End of Quarter

November 1:  School Holiday - Diwali and All Saints Day

November 4 and 5: Teacher Workdays (Parent Conferences)

November 7: Parent Engagement Night - 6 pm.  Come learn about the new Reading Platform ~ Benchmark, the FCPS Math focus as well as Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Presentations of Learning.  (Parents Only ~) (We will host Math/STEAM Night and Literacy Night later in 2025.)

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Impact Aid Form - Forms Due This Week!

The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify: 

  • Military families.
  • Federally connected families.
  • Families living on a military base.

Starting Monday October 21, the electronic Federal Impact Aid Survey form will be accessible through your ParentVUE account. In an effort to save valuable resources, we ask all parents to submit forms online by Friday October 25th. We have set a goal of 100% completion for our school.  Please help your child’s homeroom meet the goal for a class prize and recognition by completing on October 21st as homework!  If you need an activation code to create a ParentVUE account, please contact our registrar Annie Joseph [email protected]

Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the ENROLLING parent can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form.  Your information will be kept strictly confidential.  Your support will ensure that we receive the resources for which we are eligible.  For questions, please do not contact your teachers or school office.  Please contact the Impact Aid office at [email protected] or the support hotline at 703-329-7750.

Crazy Socks - Digital Citizenship Week  Focus on Creativity

This week, our school will focus on the character strength of Creativity. Creativity means coming up with new and original ways to think about and do things. Creative people see the world differently. They are open to new experiences and think independently. They come up with many ideas and pursue them with energy and enthusiasm. Creativity takes courage because sharing original ideas can sometimes lead to criticism.

Creativity is vital to our world! Creative solutions can help resolve conflicts and find compromises that satisfy everyone involved, strengthening relationships. It helps us solve tough problems, create new things, and see the world in fresh ways. Examples include treatments for deadly illnesses, such as cancer, the invention of the cell phone, and the development of solar panels. Imagine life without Impressionist paintings or the creation of airplanes and rocket ships.

To encourage creativity with your child at home, visit the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you can watch a video, read a quote, and discuss three questions together.

National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. To help develop a common understanding of Bullying, below is the FCPS definition. Bullying in Students Rights and Responsibilities is defined as: “Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyberbullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.”

For more information on how FCPS handles a bullying situation please visit the FCPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention webpage. Our goal is to ensure all students feel safe and welcome at school. If you have questions and/or concerns about something that is going on at school, please contact the front office so that they can support you and most importantly your student. 

Disability History and Awareness Month

In Virginia during October, Disability History and Awareness activities provide an opportunity to create greater public awareness for individuals with disabilities, with the goal of full inclusion in our community.

Our Fall Book Fair will run October 18-25 and we're SO excited! Did you know that Mrs. Hershey uses funds that we raise from our book fairs to bring in amazing authors like Stuart Gibbs last year and Joanna Ho this year! When you buy books from our book fair you not only support our developing readers and our amazing library, you make learning exciting! But we can't host these fairs without volunteers. Please consider picking up a shift or two! It's really LOADS of fun!

Things to do before the Fair kicks off:

1) Check out the book fair website here! You can ALWAYS order books online and you can order them before the book fair even kicks off! 

2) Fund your child's e-wallet to make book fair shopping easy! Click the picture below to go directly to the site!  Teachers e-Wallet is here

3) Sign-up to help out at the fair!

4) Check out when your class is previewing and shopping!

A Note from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison

Fairfax Connector’s Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) provides 50% off fares for low-income residents ages 18-65. Learn more about the TRIP program and how to apply

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning (no longer Tutor.com). Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services, at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more HERE.

The Medical Care for Children Partnership Foundation is a public/private nonprofit that connects children to medical and dental resources. MCCP empowers uninsured children in Fairfax County to improve their health and well-being and realize their potential to learn, grow and thrive.

Getting to Know FCPS:  Family Orientation

This interactive orientation provides information about the school system, links between family engagement and student achievement, and programs & technology considerations for families.  The orientation also includes a discussion that is helpful for families who are new to the United States.

Sessions in English are held online on:  Tuesday, October 22nd at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, November 12th at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, December 10th at 6:00 p.m.; Thursday, December 19th at 6:00 p.m.  Register in advance.  Visit the Family Academy catalog page to see the dates this orientation will be offered in Arabic, Korean and Spanish.

FCPS CARES Program

The FCPS CARES Program allows parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees who go above and beyond to help others and show they care about their students, colleagues, and the community. We invite you to submit a story below to acknowledge the great work of an FCPS employee or group of employees who should receive FCPS CARES recognition. Please take note of the following before submitting an FCPS CARES:

  • A notification email, with the submission text included, will be sent to the recipient(s) and copied to the recipient's supervisor(s). 
  • All submissions will be posted to our FCPS CARES webpage and shared via other FCPS news outlets.
  • Submissions containing personal or sensitive information may be edited to protect individuals' privacy.
  • Feel free to compose your submission using a text editor such as Microsoft Word, and then paste it into the text box provided.
PTA Highlights

Join the PTA for SY 24-25

We met our goal for the One & Done!!  A HUGE thanks to all!! In addition, to donating to One & Done - we need you and your voice to count - please join the PTA!

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

Next PTA Meeting: Friday 10/25 @ 8:45 am 

We currently have open positions! Do you feel called to take a leadership role? Consider serving as: President Elect VP of Events  Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

Ways to Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year

Directory Chair Many people have asked us if KGES has a student directory and right now, we don't! Help us bring back this awesome resource as we launch it ONLINE!

KGES Movie Night Who doesn't love a good movie? Volunteers are needed to organize a KGES movie night for the entire school community to enjoy together!

Interested in helping with either of these new roles? Contact [email protected] if interested!

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays

The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed

 

 

Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you.

 

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

Web | Twitter

KG News 10.13.2024

GovDelivery1 month 1 week ago

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Three Hour Early Release Update

As we plan forward for October 28th, we will remit an email indicating what we have on file for your child(ren) based on the September three hour early release. If you have a change, please indicate by using this google form. Note we have a regular two hour early release on Oct 31st.  Dismissal will take place as usual. There will be no child care option.

The dates for the Three Hour Early Release are as follows: 10/28, 12/9 (change from 11/25), 2/24, 3/17, 4/28 and 5/19.  Note the change in the November 25th date - it is now December 9th.  We will use the current spreadsheet from 9/23 and parents should notify us with changes for 10/28.  

Picture Day:)

We wore out best with a smile! 

Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

We are looking forward to Book Fair next week. We have Parents and Pastries as well as Family Night. We do apologize for the issues with links in the News You Choose and are working to ensure the integrity of the links.  For this mailing, we have updated all links. We will continue to work on this end! 

Note that we have amended the Fall Celebration date to October 31st. Students will be permitted to wear costumes (book character emphasis) but remember, no weapons nor masks and students should be prepared to learn that day. The kindergarteners will parade for us and their parents that morning. 

Please check out the dates below. We have Monday, October 14th as a student holiday as it is reserved for Staff Professional Learning.  In addition, we have also committed to holding November 4th open for parent conferences. 

Last but note least, we are celebrating Digital Citizenship Week - we have included the opportunity to wear Spirit Wear in honor of the week.  There are also resources available to parents in the blurb below. 

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

October 14: Holiday - No School for Students

October 15 - 18:  Digital Citizenship Week - see the Spirit Days below! 

October 20:  KG Opp to Buy Commander Tickets! Playing the Carolina Panthers! See below! 

October 21 - 25:  School Book Fair

  • October 18 - 21 - Set Up and Class Previews
  • Tuesday, Oct 21: Parents and Pastries (8:00 AM- 8:45 AM)

  • Wednesday, Oct 22: Class Buying (During the Day) and Family Night (4:00 PM-7:00 PM)

  • Thursday, Oct 23: Class Buying

  • Friday, Oct 24: Open Buy and Pack up

October 25:  Next PTA Meeting 8:45 a.m.

October 28: Three Hour Early Release - If you have changes from the last early release in September, please complete this google form.

October 31: Fall Class Celebration - Kindergarten Parade 9:15 a.m.  - TWO HOUR Early Release 1:35 p.m. - End of Quarter

November 7: Parent Engagement Night - 6 pm.  Come learn about the new Reading Platform ~ Benchmark, the FCPS Math focus as well as Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Presentations of Learning.  (Parents Only ~) (We will host Math/STEAM Night and Literacy Night later in 2025.)

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Third Graders - They Love a Photo Opp! Second Grade Cognitive Ability Testing Notification

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered the mornings of October 15, 16 and 17.  The CogAT measures students’ reasoning abilities in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal areas. Note that this assessment is not a test that requires any preparation, as it is designed to assess a child’s natural thinking and problem-solving skills. Please ensure your child is well-rested and arrives on time to school. 

Focus on Integrity

This week, our school will focus on the character strength of Integrity. Integrity means being honest, truthful, and genuine.  Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. People with integrity tell the truth and align their thoughts, feelings, and actions. They have the courage to stick to their beliefs, even if it means not following the crowd. Integrity is closely related to honesty and authenticity. 

Integrity is essential for personal growth and well-being. When your thoughts, feelings, and actions are in harmony, you can grow and achieve your goals. Being authentic and genuine makes you more likable and trusted by others, improving your relationships.

To practice and encourage the character strength of integrity at home, please visit the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you can watch a video, read a quote, and discuss three questions together.  Thank you for your continued support!

Digital Citizenship Week

While it coincides with Book Fair Week - it offers an opportunity to come together around the technology that surrounds us daily.  Join us by wearing Spirit Wear for the week!  There are also opportunities for families to explore digital connectivity and digital literacy learning. On the Digital Equity and Inclusion website, families can learn how to:

  1. Find Free WiFi
  2. Borrow a Computer
  3. Visit Fairfax Access Locations
  4. Take Free Tech Classes
  5. Sign up for an ACP Internet Discount

As a reminder, families can access the Media Balance and Wellbeing Toolkit to support the healthy use of technology. FCPS will continue leading efforts to promote a positive culture of media and technology use, supporting both students and their families.

Heritage Planning Night

Heritage Night will be held on December 7th this year and we need your help to make this event a night to remember! The Heritage Night Planning Meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct 16th at 8:45am in the cafeteria. Unable to join the meeting but still want to help? Email Jenny at [email protected]

Our Fall Book Fair will run October 18-25 and we're SO excited! Did you know that Mrs. Hershey uses funds that we raise from our book fairs to bring in amazing authors like Stuart Gibbs last year and Joanna Ho this year! When you buy books from our book fair you not only support our developing readers and our amazing library, you make learning exciting! But we can't host these fairs without volunteers. Please consider picking up a shift or two! It's really LOADS of fun!

Things to do before the Fair kicks off:

1) Check out the book fair website here! You can ALWAYS order books online and you can order them before the book fair even kicks off! 

2) Fund your child's e-wallet to make book fair shopping easy! Click the picture below to go directly to the site!  Teachers e-Wallet is here

3) Sign-up to help out at the fair!

4) Check out when your class is previewing and shopping!

A Note from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison

Did you know that FCPS phone lines are available in many different languages to help families?  For parents who do not speak English as their first language, support is available through our Parent Information Phone Lines.    If you would like assistance navigating FCPS and need support, I encourage you to contact the Family Information Phone Line.  A school system employee will respond to your call in your preferred language, answer any questions, help you speak with the appropriate school employee, and / or connect you with the appropriate referral. 

Would you like to read FCPS messages in a language other than English?  There are several ways you can receive or view communications in a different language.  FCPS This Week is distributed in other languages to parents / guardians who have filled out the Home Language Survey form and selected a language supported by FCPS as their preferred language for communication.  Home Language Survey forms are available in the following languages:    Amharic | Arabic (العربية) | Chinese (中文) | Farsi (فارسی) | Korean (한국어) | Spanish (español) | Urdu (اردو) | Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) You can learn more about other translated communications here.   

FCPS CARES Program

The FCPS CARES Program allows parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees who go above and beyond to help others and show they care about their students, colleagues, and the community. We invite you to submit a story below to acknowledge the great work of an FCPS employee or group of employees who should receive FCPS CARES recognition. Please take note of the following before submitting an FCPS CARES:

  • A notification email, with the submission text included, will be sent to the recipient(s) and copied to the recipient's supervisor(s). 
  • All submissions will be posted to our FCPS CARES webpage and shared via other FCPS news outlets.
  • Submissions containing personal or sensitive information may be edited to protect individuals' privacy.
  • Feel free to compose your submission using a text editor such as Microsoft Word, and then paste it into the text box provided.
PTA Highlights

Join the PTA for SY 24-25

We met our goal for the One & Done!!  A HUGE thanks to all!! In addition, to donating to One & Done - we need you and your voice to count - please join the PTA!

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

Next PTA Meeting: Friday 10/25 @ 8:45 am 

We currently have open positions! Do you feel called to take a leadership role? Consider serving as: President Elect VP of Events

Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

Thanks for attending the meeting on September 27th! 

Washington Commanders - KG Tickets! October 20th

On Sunday, October 20th at 4pm the Washington Commanders will play the Carolina Panthers, and the Commanders have invited KG to cheer them on! At the end of the game, our school is invited to take a picture ON THE FIELD! CLICK HERE for discounted tickets/group seating. This is a fundraiser where KGES will receive $5 of every ticket sold through this link!

Run or pass or score — We want a lot more! Beat ’em, swamp ’em Touchdown! — Let the points soar!

Ways to Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year

Directory Chair Many people have asked us if KGES has a student directory and right now, we don't! Help us bring back this awesome resource as we launch it ONLINE!

KGES Movie Night Who doesn't love a good movie? Volunteers are needed to organize a KGES movie night for the entire school community to enjoy together!

Interested in helping with either of these new roles? Contact [email protected] if interested!

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays

The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed

 

 

Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you.

  Science Olympiad

Grades 3-4 has ONE SPOT!

Grades 5-6 have just a few spots remaining! Don't get relegated to the waitlist, join now! Register for Grades 5-6 ($150)

We can't wait to celebrate our students' successes!

Math Counts Sign Up

3rd Grade has started, but you can still join! The 3rd grade MC2 will meet once a week at Kent Gardens 7:45 – 8:35 AM. Students will attend one of two sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. The program will run from September 18th through April 10th. Instruction will be provided by long-time MC2 coach Jeff Shivnen. 3rd grade Math Club will use Virginia Math League and MATH COUNTS Competition level resources. Students who are interested in extending their math appreciation are invited to sign up. Cost: $295 for the year. Register your 3rd grader for Math Competition Club!

4th-6th Grade starts October 7th! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from an incredible teacher how to apply advanced math concept while competing against other schools AND having fun! MC2 is for 4th-6th Graders. Classes run from the fall into March (exact dates will be sent out). We offer a hybrid program, with one class in person from 4-5pm, and the second class online from 445-545pm. The Intermediate Class will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Advanced Class will be held on Tuesday/Thursday. See our website for more information! Program price is $850 for the year. Register 4th-6th graders for MC2!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

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KG News 10.6.2024

GovDelivery1 month 2 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Three Hour Early Release Update

Thanks for the successful three hour early release.  We truly appreciate your support. It definitely helped our teachers complete the professional development (30 hours of coursework) required by the Virginia Department of Education. Ultimately, it will strengthen our classroom instruction in the new framework for literacy, impacting reading and writing lessons your children receive.

As we plan forward, we are happy to share that SACC will provide coverage for our next early release date of October 28th. We will remit a separate email to our SACC families to confirm their plans.  Otherwise, we will assume that your child(ren) will depart the same way as it occurred on 9/23.  If you have a change, please indicate by using this google form. Thanks in advance. 

The dates for the Three Hour Early Release are as follows: 10/28, 12/9 (change from 11/25), 2/24, 3/17, 4/28 and 5/19.  Note the change in the November 25th date - it is now December 9th.  We will use the current spreadsheet from 9/23 and parents should notify us with changes for 10/28.  

Bike/Walk/Roll to School!   Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

It was a rainy but quick three day week!  We had wonderful participation in the Bike/Walk/Roll to school despite the weather. 

Student Picture Day will be here soon on the 11th of October.  Use this link to pre-order online.  In addition, our school Book Fair will be here soon! The links are included below for you to browse with your child(ren). 

Note that we have amended the Fall Celebration date to October 31st. Students will be permitted to wear costumes (book character emphasis) but remember, no weapons nor masks and students should be prepared to learn that day. The kindergarteners will parade for us and their parents that morning. 

Many parent conferences have and are taking place. We are sharing data that will be available to you on ParentVue which will include iReady assessments and VAALLs (reading data for grades 1-3)  We will keep you updated on the timing.  Note that during our Parent Engagement Night on the 7th of November, we will have central office staff share an overview of the Benchmark Reading Program, Math Progression and Portrait of a Graduate focus.  We will also share resources for parents to work with your child(ren).  Mark your calendars to attend on November 7th at 6 p.m.       

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

October 11: Student Picture Day! Pre-order Online  Images will be available two-three weeks after picture day. Volunteers needed and receive a $25 credit from our vendor for their support! Sign up for a shift! Volunteers are requested to stay for the duration of the slot. Questions email [email protected]

October 14: Holiday - No School for Students

October 20:  KG Opp to Buy Commander Tickets! Playing the Carolina Panthers! See below! 

October 21 - 25:  School Book Fair

  • October 18 - 21 - Set Up and Class Previews
  • Tuesday, Oct 21: Parents and Pastries (8:00 AM- 8:45 AM)

  • Wednesday, Oct 22: Class Buying (During the Day) and Family Night (4:00 PM-7:00 PM)

  • Thursday, Oct 23: Class Buying

  • Friday, Oct 24: Open Buy and Pack up

October 25:  Next PTA Meeting 8:45 a.m.

October 28: Three Hour Early Release

October 31: Fall Class Celebration - Room Parents/Homeroom Teachers  - TWO HOUR Early Release  - End of Quarter

November 7: Parent Engagement Night - 6 pm.  Come learn about the new Reading Platform ~ Benchmark, the FCPS Math focus as well as Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Presentations of Learning.  (Parents Only ~) (We will host Math/STEAM Night and Literacy Night later in 2025.)

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

We Appreciate our Custodians!! Second Grade Cognitive Ability Testing Notification

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered the mornings of October 15, 16 and 17.  The CogAT measures students’ reasoning abilities in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal areas. Note that this assessment is not a test that requires any preparation, as it is designed to assess a child’s natural thinking and problem-solving skills. Please ensure your child is well-rested and arrives on time to school. 

Focus on Past Character Strengths

This week, our school community will review our past character strengths!  You can review by visiting the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you can watch a video, read a quote, and discuss three questions together.

Heritage Planning Night

Heritage Night will be held on December 7th this year and we need your help to make this event a night to remember! The Heritage Night Planning Meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct 16th at 845am in the cafeteria. Unable to join the meeting but still want to help? Email Jenny at [email protected]

Our Fall Book Fair will run October 18-25 and we're SO excited! Did you know that Mrs. Hershey uses funds that we raise from our book fairs to bring in amazing authors like Stuart Gibbs last year and Joanna Ho this year! When you buy books from our book fair you not only support our developing readers and our amazing library, you make learning exciting! But we can't host these fairs without volunteers. Please consider picking up a shift or two! It's really LOADS of fun!

Things to do before the Fair kicks off:

1) Check out the book fair website here! You can ALWAYS order books online and you can order them before the book fair even kicks off! 

2) Fund your child's e-wallet to make book fair shopping easy! Click the picture below to go directly to the site!

3) Sign-up to help out at the fair!

4) Check out when your class is previewing and shopping!

A Note from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison

Did you know that FCPS Office of Family and School Partnerships offers “Tips and Ideas of the Day” for Families?  I hope you find this information useful in preparing for teacher meetings and how parents can partner with your child’s teachers to make conferences a successful and rewarding experience.

Make the Most of Your Parent-Teacher Conference

When families and teachers work together, they are an unbeatable team. But successful conferences don't just happen. To prepare for your next conference:

  • Think about what you want to learn from the teacher. Write down some questions. For example, you might ask:
    • How is my child doing in class? What should we work on together?
    • Does my child use time well? Have good work habits?
    • Does my child turn in schoolwork on time?
    • Does my child have friends? Get along well with others?
    • What can I do at home to support what you are teaching?
  • Don't be afraid to ask the teacher to explain any terms you don’t understand. 
  • Tell the teacher what you see at home. Talk about your child's interests. Discuss any concerns. Share your goals for your child.
  • Listen to what the teacher has to say about your child.
  • Follow up. Stay in touch with the teacher. When you try some activities at home, let the teacher know how they worked. If you think of a question you didn't ask, write a note or email.
TJHSST - Investigative Science Opportunity Grades 5 - 8 

We are TJ Investigative Science Outreach, a student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. We will be hosting our 12th annual invitational science fair on April 5th, 2025.  Students in grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 are free to participate. 

Participants who sign up will complete a research project of their choice and present at the fair in-person on April 5th, 2025. TJ students help the elementary and middle school students prepare for this fair by holding multiple sessions to teach them important skills in STEM like brainstorming, collecting data, presenting, writing an experiment summary, using statistics, creating an experimental diagram, etc.

The October 11th, 2024 date has been adjusted.  It is now ALL virtual opportunity on October 18th from 6 - 7 pm. During this session we will go over the goals and guidelines of this fair and introduce students to a multitude of project ideas. All interested students should sign up using the form at the link.

Family Resource Center - Webinars

In October, the Family Resource Center (FRC) will host webinars for families on:

  • Supporting siblings of children with disabilities.
  • Helping students organize their schoolwork.
  • Benchmark Advance, the new K-6 language arts curriculum.
  • Ways to engage with your children in mathematics.
  • Transitions from school to work and adult life for students with disabilities. 

Sign up for the FRC newsletter to learn about their latest offerings or visit their webinar webpage.

PTA Highlights

Join the PTA for SY 24-25

We met our goal for the One & Done!!  A HUGE thanks to all!! In addition, to donating to One & Done - we need you and your voice to count - please join the PTA!

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

Next PTA Meeting: Friday 10/25 @ 8:45 am 

We currently have open positions! Do you feel called to take a leadership role? Consider serving as: President Elect VP of Events

Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

Thanks for attending the meeting on September 27th! 

One and Done! WE DID IT...All Thanks to YOU!!!

THANK YOU!!! We have officially reached our One & Done goal thanks to all our AMAZING families! Our class competition finished up on Monday and we are currently tabulating the results! Your donations truly make a difference for our Kent Gardens school community! This year, we were especially grateful for workplace matching funds! Did you know that your work may have programs to help you increase your impact in your school community by leveraging more resources? Want to learn more? Let us know!

Principal McGuigan has agreed to be duct taped to the wall by the winning class! (Exact time and place to be announced)

Washington Commanders - KG Tickets! October 20th

On Sunday, October 20th at 4pm the Washington Commanders will play the Carolina Panthers, and the Commanders have invited KG to cheer them on! At the end of the game, our school is invited to take a picture ON THE FIELD! CLICK HERE for discounted tickets/group seating. This is a fundraiser where KGES will receive $5 of every ticket sold through this link!

Run or pass or score — We want a lot more! Beat ’em, swamp ’em Touchdown! — Let the points soar!

Ways to Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year

Directory Chair Many people have asked us if KGES has a student directory and right now, we don't! Help us bring back this awesome resource as we launch it ONLINE!

KGES Movie Night Who doesn't love a good movie? Volunteers are needed to organize a KGES movie night for the entire school community to enjoy together!

Interested in helping with either of these new roles? Contact [email protected] if interested!

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays

The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed

 

 

Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you.

  Science Olympiad

Grades 3-4 has ONE SPOT!

Grades 5-6 have just a few spots remaining! Don't get relegated to the waitlist, join now! Register for Grades 5-6 ($150)

We can't wait to celebrate our students' successes!

Math Counts Sign Up

3rd Grade has started, but you can still join! The 3rd grade MC2 will meet once a week at Kent Gardens 7:45 – 8:35 AM. Students will attend one of two sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. The program will run from September 18th through April 10th. Instruction will be provided by long-time MC2 coach Jeff Shivnen. 3rd grade Math Club will use Virginia Math League and MATH COUNTS Competition level resources. Students who are interested in extending their math appreciation are invited to sign up. Cost: $295 for the year. Register your 3rd grader for Math Competition Club!

4th-6th Grade starts October 7th! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from an incredible teacher how to apply advanced math concept while competing against other schools AND having fun! MC2 is for 4th-6th Graders. Classes run from the fall into March (exact dates will be sent out). We offer a hybrid program, with one class in person from 4-5pm, and the second class online from 445-545pm. The Intermediate Class will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Advanced Class will be held on Tuesday/Thursday. See our website for more information! Program price is $850 for the year. Register 4th-6th graders for MC2!

Extra Spots Opened for Chess Club! Don't Wait on the Waitlist! Join Now!

We are excited to announce that we have opened more spots for Chess Club! Chess Club meets in the cafeteria every Wednesday from 345-515pm from now until Jan 22nd, and any student in grades 2-6 are welcome

CLICK HERE TO JOIN

 

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

Web | Twitter

KG News 9.29.2024

GovDelivery1 month 3 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Three Hour Early Release Update

Thanks for the successful three hour early release.  We truly appreciate your support. It definitely helped our teachers complete the professional development (30 hours of coursework) required by the Virginia Department of Education. Ultimately, it will strengthen our classroom instruction in the new framework for literacy, impacting reading and writing lessons your children receive.

As we plan forward, we are happy to share that SACC will provide coverage for our next early release date of October 28th. We will remit a separate email to our SACC families to confirm their plans.  Otherwise, we will assume that your child(ren) will depart the same way as it occurred on 9/23.  If you have a change, please indicate by using this google form. Thanks in advance. 

The dates for the Three Hour Early Release are as follows: 10/28, 12/9 (change from 11/25), 2/24, 3/17, 4/28 and 5/19.  Note the change in the November 25th date - it is now December 9th.  We will use the current spreadsheet from 9/23 and parents should notify us with changes for 10/28.  

Rainy Days Still Bring Smiles!  Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

The PTA announced today that we met the One and Done Goal!  A HUGE thanks to all of you who donated.  Class winner will be announced this week and the taping to the wall date to be announced! 

We had a great week and enjoyed ending our week by celebrating our military and wearing red, white and blue for the Blue Star Welcome Week!  We also shared cards for our families made by our students.  

This next week, we have Bike/Walk/Roll to school and also have Thursday off as a holiday for Rosh Hashanah and Friday will be a teacher planning day - students do not attend. 

We do need current families to support the Family Buddy Program.  See the blurb below and sign up!         

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

September 30:  All Students Immunization Records Up to Date and Submitted to School ~ Required for School Attendance

October 2:  Bike/Walk/Roll to School

October 3: Rosh Hashanah Holiday for Staff and Students

October 4: Teacher Planning Day - Student Holiday

October 11: Student Picture Day! Pre-order Online  Images will be available two-three weeks after picture day. Volunteers needed and receive a $25 credit from our vendor for their support! Sign up for a shift! Volunteers are requested to stay for the duration of the slot. Questions email [email protected]

October 14: Holiday - No School for Students

October 21 - 25:  School Book Fair

October 25:  Next PTA Meeting 8:45 a.m.

October 30: Fall Class Celebration - Room Parents/Homeroom Teachers

November 7: Parent Engagement Night - 6 pm.  Come learn about the new Reading Platform ~ Benchmark, the FCPS Math focus as well as Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Presentations of Learning.  (Parents Only ~) (We will host Math/STEAM Night and Literacy Night later in 2025.)

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Red, White and Blue + Hat Spirit Day! Immunization Updates - 9/30 Deadline

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school

You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office to Annie Joseph.  Please contact Ms. Joseph with questions. Find more information on immunizations

Our Character Strength of the Week - Forgiveness

This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Forgiveness. Forgiveness means letting go of anger toward those who have done wrong and accepting that people make mistakes.

When we forgive, we can move past being hurt and make peace with what happened. Forgiveness heals and strengthens our relationships. It doesn’t erase what happened, but it helps us let go of the hurt and move forward.

Seeking forgiveness shows that a person values relationships and understands the impact of their actions. It shows humility, accountability, and a willingness to make amends. By seeking forgiveness, a person shows they care about resolving conflicts and restoring trust. It also shows emotional maturity and a commitment to personal growth.

To practice and encourage forgiveness at home, please visit the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you can watch a video, read a quote, and discuss three questions together.

Author Visit - Joanna Ho!! Introducing Family Buddy Program

Are you a new family that just moved to the Kent Gardens Elementary School?   Are you new to KGES and seeking to connect with others in our school community?   Do you have questions about school or would like to meet other KGES families?  Or, are you a current Kent Gardens family and are interested in hosting a new family in town?  Good news!  We have just the program for you! 

Our Family Buddy Program is an effort to build community and help welcome new families to Kent Gardens.  It matches existing school families with new families to ensure a smooth transition to school. We are in need of a existing families who are interested in being a Buddy Family to a new family.  Please complete the form by October 2nd and we will partner families by early October. Please note: by participating in this program, you are giving permission to share your contact information with the new or returning Buddy Family.  Depending on participation, effort will be made to match families up with same grade level or age of KGES students. Questions about our Family Buddy Program?  Contact Shelley Lowinger, our Family Liaison at [email protected].

Blue Star Cards for Our Military Families and Spirit Wear!  Social-Emotional Learning Screener

FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.

The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students. 

After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.  Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office. Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.

TJHSST - Investigative Science Opportunity Grades 5 - 8 

We are TJ Investigative Science Outreach, a student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. We will be hosting our 12th annual invitational science fair on April 5th, 2025.  Students in grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 are free to participate. 

Participants who sign up will complete a research project of their choice and present at the fair in-person on April 5th, 2025. TJ students help the elementary and middle school students prepare for this fair by holding multiple sessions to teach them important skills in STEM like brainstorming, collecting data, presenting, writing an experiment summary, using statistics, creating an experimental diagram, etc.

Join us for our first interest/brainstorming session on October 11th, 2024 at 6:00 pm. We will be holding this session both in-person at TJHSST and virtually through zoom. During this session we will go over the goals and guidelines of this fair and introduce students to a multitude of project ideas. All interested students should sign up using the form at the link.

Second Grade Cognitive Ability Testing Notification

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered the mornings of October 15, 16 and 17.  The CogAT measures students’ reasoning abilities in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal areas. Note that this assessment is not a test that requires any preparation, as it is designed to assess a child’s natural thinking and problem-solving skills. Please ensure your child is well-rested and arrives on time to school. 

Family Resource Center - Webinars

In October, the Family Resource Center (FRC) will host webinars for families on:

  • Supporting siblings of children with disabilities.
  • Helping students organize their schoolwork.
  • Benchmark Advance, the new K-6 language arts curriculum.
  • Ways to engage with your children in mathematics.
  • Transitions from school to work and adult life for students with disabilities. 

Sign up for the FRC newsletter to learn about their latest offerings or visit their webinar webpage.

PTA Highlights

Join the PTA for SY 24-25

We met our goal for the One & Done!!  A HUGE thanks to all!! In addition, to donating to One & Done - we need you and your voice to count - please join the PTA!

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

Next PTA Meeting: Friday 10/25 @ 8:45 am 

We currently have open positions! Do you feel called to take a leadership role? Consider serving as: President Elect VP of Events

Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

Thanks for attending the meeting on September 27th! 

One and Done Competition GOAL Met! 

A HUGE thank you to all of our families who have generously donated to this year's One & Done campaign! We have met the goal!  Thanks to all who donated!!!  You can still DONATE.

The homeroom class in each grade with the highest participation will win a popsicle party and lunch for their teacher! Stay tuned for the winner! Here are the current leaders:

K: Schuetz & Gilani

1st: Allen, Le Moigne & Monell

2nd: Krafchick, Joisten & Vance

3rd: Hinton, Johnson & Smouse

4th: Boles, Esparcel, Firebaugh & Hinton

5th: Alame, Biggs, Caron & Dente

6th: Lim, Kyaw, Hansrote & Peeters

Principal McGuigan has agreed to be duct taped to the wall by the winning class! (Exact time and place to be announced)

Ways to Make a Difference This Year!

Join a Committee

Be on the lookout for an upcoming SignUp Genius with dates for events and programs for this year!  Please consider signing up as a Chair/Co-Chair or Committee Member! Remember - we cannot offer the great events and programs without our volunteer support! Look for sign-ups at the next PTA meeting.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed

 

 

Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you.

Science Olympiad

Grades 3-4 is completely FULL! 

Grades 5-6 have just a few spots remaining! Don't get relegated to the waitlist, join now! Register for Grades 5-6 ($150)

We can't wait to celebrate our students' successes!

Math Counts Sign Up

3rd Grade has started, but you can still join! The 3rd grade MC2 will meet once a week at Kent Gardens 7:45 – 8:35 AM. Students will attend one of two sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. The program will run from September 18th through April 10th. Instruction will be provided by long-time MC2 coach Jeff Shivnen. 3rd grade Math Club will use Virginia Math League and MATH COUNTS Competition level resources. Students who are interested in extending their math appreciation are invited to sign up. Cost: $295 for the year. Register your 3rd grader for Math Competition Club!

4th-6th Grade will be starting soon. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from an incredible teacher how to apply advanced math concept while competing against other schools AND having fun! MC2 is for 4th-6th Graders. Classes run from the fall into March (exact dates will be sent out). We offer a hybrid program, with one class in person from 4-5pm, and the second class online from 445-545pm. The Intermediate Class will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Advanced Class will be held on Tuesday/Thursday. See our website for more information! Program price is $850 for the year. Register 4th-6th graders for MC2!

Extra Spots Opened for Chess Club! Don't Wait on the Waitlist! Join Now!

 

 

We are excited to announce that we have opened more spots for Chess Club! Chess Club meets in the cafeteria every Wednesday from 345-515pm from now until Jan 22nd, and any student in grades 2-6 are welcome. Fall Session has the special bonus of getting a t-shirt specially designed by a chess club student! Bring your t-shirt design this Wednesday! CLICK HERE TO JOIN

 

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

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KG News 9.22.2024

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Three Hour Early Release

Please note that the first Three Hour Early Release is tomorrow 9/23 at 12:35 p.m.  Please DO talk with your child regarding their dismissal plans to ensure that we are all on the same page.  At this time, SACC, Redeemer, and Brooksfield are the after school vendors that are unable to support the early release. All other vendors (Karate, Tea Center, ELA, Old Firehouse, Westgate) are able to support and students will be released as usual at the early dismissal time of 12:35 p.m. 

We will provide childcare/supervision for those students that need to remain at school. All students who are planning on staying on campus until the regular 3:35 p.m. dismissal will begin with a snack - please ensure your child(ren) have a snack.  

The majority of our students will release at 12:35 p.m. The dismissal will mirror our current dismissal if you are planning on picking up your child.  All students will have a lunch period but it will begin earlier in the morning. Our 3:35 p.m. dismissal will also mirror the earlier dismissal but will be much smaller and it is likely that some buses will be combined.

The dates for the Three Hour Early Release are as follows: 9/23, 10/28, 12/9 (change from 11/25), 2/24, 3/17, 4/28 and 5/19.  Note the change in the November 25th date - it is now December 9th.  We will use the current spreadsheet from 9/23 and parents should notify us with changes for 10/28.  

A Peak Inside the Classrooms!  Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

This week was busy - we had a successful practice lockdown as well as an afternoon fire drill.

We are prepared for our first 3 hour early release.  Please DO talk to your child about their dismissal plans. Also, IF your child is staying until 3:35 p.m., please ensure that they have a snack - our lunches start early in the morning due to the 12:35 pm. release. Note that the playground will be closed from 12:35 - 3:45 p.m. as we will be providing outside time for the students who remain in our supervision/care. Thanks in advance for your support! 

We are thrilled to host 4 French student interns in November of this school year. We are looking for 4 host families for these students for the month of November. The students may not be fully fluent and will need transportation to/from school for the month of November. If interested, please complete this google form which includes additional information. 

Note that Friday, September 27, we are supporting Blue Star Welcome Week - it is a spirit day - wear Red, White and Blue!        

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Music and PE ~ Fun Times!  Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

September 23: Three Hour Early Release 

September 26:  Author Visit Joanna Ho for Kinder - Third Grade 

September 27:  First PTA Meeting 9 a.m. Cafeteria

September 27:  Wear Red, White and Blue Day! Blue Star Welcome!!  

September 30:  All Students Immunization Records Up to Date and Submitted to School ~ Required for School Attendance

October 4: Teacher Planning Day - Student Holiday

October 11: Student Picture Day! Pre-order Online  Images will be available two-three weeks after picture day. Questions email [email protected]

October 30: Fall Class Celebration - Coordinated by Homeroom teachers

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Spirit Day - 9/27 - Wear Red, White and Blue!

Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices.  Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 23 - September 27, 2024, and throughout the year!

Kent Gardens will celebrate by wearing red, white and blue on September 27th! We will also share notecards for all of our military families on Friday 9/27.  We look forward to your support! 

Immunization Updates - 9/30 Deadline

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school

You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office to Annie Joseph.  Please contact Ms. Joseph with questions. Find more information on immunizations

Our Character Strength of the Week - Perspective

Next week, our school will focus on the character strength of Perspective. This means understanding and appreciating different points of view. Perspective, often seen as wisdom, goes beyond intelligence. People with this strength are valued for their advice because they see the big picture and understand complex issues.

Those with perspective can get to the heart of difficult matters and bring clarity. They are honest, ethical, and good at seeing what truly matters. This helps them stay calm and learn from mistakes. By reflecting on their own feelings and thoughts, they can empathize with others and offer strong listening and questioning skills. They help their groups navigate challenges and find opportunities for success.

To practice and encourage the character strength of perspective at home, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families. There, you can watch a video, read a quote, and discuss three questions together.

Author Visit - Joanna Ho!!

We are SO excited to welcome author Joanna Ho to KGES on 9/26 for students in grades K-3!  Students can order books for Ms. Ho to personalize. Child’s Play is discounting the books by 20% and she will personalize them when she is here. Orders MUST BE RECEIVED by MONDAY, September 16!  Use this order form and return to Mrs. Hershey in the library!

Introducing Family Buddy Program

Are you a new family that just moved to the Kent Gardens Elementary School?   Are you new to KGES and seeking to connect with others in our school community?   Do you have questions about school or would like to meet other KGES families?  Or, are you a current Kent Gardens family and are interested in hosting a new family in town?  Good news!  We have just the program for you! form

To welcome new families to our school and help them get acclimated more quickly, we are thrilled to announce our new Family Buddy Program.  This program partners new families with returning families to be a useful resource with school information and a new connection to the community.  Our Family Buddy Program is an effort to build community and help welcome new families to Kent Gardens.  It matches existing school families with new families to ensure a smooth transition to school. 

Who can be a Buddy Family?  A Buddy Family is any KGES family enrolled in the 2024-2025 school year and willing to be a resource for questions that a new family may have throughout the school year.

If you are a new family and interested in participating in our Family Buddy Program or are a returning family wanting to help, please complete this form  by September 27th and we will partner families by early October. Please note: by participating in this program, you are giving permission to share your contact information with the new or returning Buddy Family.  Depending on participation, effort will be made to match families up with same grade level or age of KGES students. Questions about our Family Buddy Program?  Contact Shelley Lowinger, our Family Liaison at [email protected].

Equity Team in Action #kgpride #WeAllBelong Social-Emotional Learning Screener

FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.

The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students. 

After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.

Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office. 

Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.

TJHSST - Investigative Science Opportunity Grades 5 - 8 

We are TJ Investigative Science Outreach, a student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. We will be hosting our 12th annual invitational science fair on April 5th, 2025.  Students in grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 are free to participate. 

Participants who sign up will complete a research project of their choice and present at the fair in-person on April 5th, 2025. TJ students help the elementary and middle school students prepare for this fair by holding multiple sessions to teach them important skills in STEM like brainstorming, collecting data, presenting, writing an experiment summary, using statistics, creating an experimental diagram, etc.

Join us for our first interest/brainstorming session on October 11th, 2024 at 6:00 pm. We will be holding this session both in-person at TJHSST and virtually through zoom. During this session we will go over the goals and guidelines of this fair and introduce students to a multitude of project ideas. All interested students should sign up using the form at the link.

Second Grade Cognitive Ability Testing Notification

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered the mornings of October 15, 16 and 17.  The CogAT measures students’ reasoning abilities in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal areas. Note that his assessment is not a test that requires any preparation, as it is designed to assess a child’s natural thinking and problem-solving skills. Please ensure your child is well-rested and arrives on time to school. 

Family Literacy Program

The Family Literacy Program is part of the Office for ESOL Services in Fairfax County Public Schools. It is designed to empower and connect English Learner (EL) families to their community and with their children’s school. Adult learners acquire basic English language skills while learning how to understand, participate, and support in their children’s education in Fairfax County Public Schools. Access more information at this link

PTA Highlights

Join the PTA for SY 24-25

We are so close on One & Done!!  Please donate now!  The competition is on! Check out the competition below and support your child's homeroom class! 

In addition, to donating to One & Done - we need you and your voice to count - please join the PTA!

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

PTA Meeting: Friday 9/27 @9am 

At our FIRST PTA meeting of the year, we approved the new board, accepted the PTA summer audit, and heard from Principal McGuigan about a need to think creatively about funding the yearbook!

Our Board for the 24-24 School Year is:

President – Jenny Gregory President Elect – open Treasurer – Hilary Mossberg Financial Secretary – Cozie Sawyer Secretary – Bethany Nguyen VP Communications – Adrienne Denk VP Enrichment – Kelly Pidgeon VP Special Programs/Room Parent Coordinator – Rebecca Neumann VP Events & Fundraising – open Past President – Andrea Hager

We currently have open positions! Do you feel called to take a leadership role? Consider serving as:

President Elect VP of Events

Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

We look forward to seeing you at the PTA meeting on Friday 9/27 at 9am!

One and Done Competition ! 

A HUGE thank you to all of our families who have generously donated to this year's One & Done campaign! We are currently at more than $39,000, inching close to our goal of $45,000! There's still time to DONATE.

The homeroom class in each grade with the highest participation will win a popsicle party and lunch for their teacher! Here are the current leaders:

K: Schuetz & Gilani

1st: Allen, Le Moigne & Monell

2nd: Krafchick, Joisten & Vance

3rd: Hinton, Johnson & Smouse

4th: Boles, Esparcel, Firebaugh & Hinton

5th: Alame, Biggs, Caron & Dente

6th: Lim, Kyaw, Hansrote & Peeters

As you can see, there are some close contests - and your donation could take your child's class over the top. While our donation site will remain open, the class competition closes on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH. Click here to donate today!

In addition, we've got a special prize for the 6th grade. Principal McGuigan has agreed to be duct taped to the wall by the winning class! (Exact time and place to be announced)

Ways to Make a Difference This Year!

Join a Committee

Be on the lookout for an upcoming SignUp Genius with dates for events and programs for this year!  Please consider signing up as a Chair/Co-Chair or Committee Member! Remember - we cannot offer the great events and programs without our volunteer support! Look for sign-ups at the next PTA meeting.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed

 

 

Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you.

Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad will be gearing up for another successful year with Mr. Shivnen! Grades 3-4 and 5-6th will compete against other schools in Virginia Science Olympiad (VASO). Sign up quickly as Parent Meetings will start soon! Fifth and sixth grades meeting will be held on Friday, Sept 13th at 8am,  Room 116. Consider signing up to be a Parent Science Olympiad Chair! If interested, email Mr. Shivnen.

Register for Grades 3-4 ($100)

Register for Grades 5-6 ($150)

Math Counts Sign Up

3rd Grade: Math Club will include 3rd graders again this year! This is an investment in our future MC2 teams. The 3rd grade MC2 will meet once a week at Kent Gardens 7:45 – 8:35 AM. Students will attend one of two sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. The program will run from September 18th through April 10th. Instruction will be provided by long-time MC2 coach Jeff Shivnen. 3rd grade Math Club will use Virginia Math League and MATH COUNTS Competition level resources. Students who are interested in extending their math appreciation are invited to sign up. Cost: $295 for the year. Register your 3rd grader for Math Competition Club!

4th-6th Grade: Calling all Mathletes! Does your student have a strong interest in math? Math Competition Club may be for you! This is for 4th-6th Graders who are eager to learn advanced math concepts and apply them to compete against other schools and students. Classes will begin in September and the program wraps up in March (exact dates will be sent out). We will have a hybrid program, with one class in person from 4-5pm, and the second class online from 445-545pm. Intermediate Class will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Advanced Class will be held on Tuesday/Thursday. See our website for more information! Program price is $850 for the year. Register 4th-6th graders for MC2!

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays

The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

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KG News 9.15.2024

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Three Hour Early Release

Please note that the first Three Hour Early Release is upcoming on 9/23.  We have reached out to all families and will continue to contact families who have NOT responded. Look for personal emails or we will be contacting the enrolling parent directly by phone.  We must have information on dismissal for every child. It is for your child's safety. If you have questions, feel free to contact the office with updated information by emailing or calling Sonia Shi 

The dates for the Three Hour Early Release are as follows: 9/23, 10/28, 12/9 (change from 11/25), 2/24, 3/17, 4/28 and 5/19.  Note the change in the November 25th date - it is now December 9th.

We will be remitting confirmation emails.  This week, enrolling parents should look for an email.  If there is a change, please email or call Sonia Shi. 

A Peak Inside the Classrooms!  Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

We had a busy week at school.  Students are truly settling in and getting used to the structures and routines. 

Please do note that immunization records must be up to date for all children and we do require evidence of the records by 9/30.  Without these records, students will NOT be able to attend school. See the section below for additional information. 

Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. We have a crisis management and emergency preparedness plan for our school that is reviewed and updated regularly. Our plan includes procedures on how to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Students and staff regularly practice these drills every school year. We also practice lockdown drills and will practice a lockdown this week.

A new Virginia Law (22.1-137.2) requires schools to notify parents at least 24 hours before a school practices a lockdown drill. However, we are not required to share the exact date and time of the drill. We are required to practice lockdown drills two times a year. FCPS lockdown drills do not include any type of active shooter scenario training, they are instruction and classroom based.

Additional information on our lockdown drill program to include parent tips and FAQs can be found on the Emergency Planning and Crisis Response web page. After reviewing this content, you should discuss the value of these safety drills with your child.

Keeping our school safe and secure for all students and staff involves the participation of the entire school community, and we thank you for your help to keep our school safe. 

Finally we are thrilled to host 4 French student interns in November of this school year. We are looking for 4 host families for these students for the month of November. The students may not be fully fluent and will need transportation to/from school for the month of November. If interested, please complete this google form which includes additional information. 

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Band and Strings Have Begun! 

Thanks to our fabulous teachers - the students are beginning to learn how to play their instruments and learn new music! 

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

September 18: Advanced Academic Program meeting with Ms. Bulford - come learn about the referral process to support your child. 9 a.m. Cafeteria

September 23: Three Hour Early Release - Confirmation emails will be remitted - please do contact office with questions.

September 26:  Author Visit Joanna Ho for Kinder - Third Grade 

September 27:  First PTA Meeting 9 a.m. Cafeteria

September 27:  Wear Red, White and Blue Day! Blue Star Welcome!!  

September 30:  All Students Immunization Records Up to Date and Submitted to School ~ Required for School Attendance

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Immunization Updates - 9/30 Deadline

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school

You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office to Annie Joseph.  Please contact Ms. Joseph with questions.

Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:  

  • A health care provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
  • A health care provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
  • A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with their religious tenets or practices.

Find more information on immunizations

Blue Star Welcome Week! 9/23 - 9/27

Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices.  Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 23 - September 27, 2024, and throughout the year!

Kent Gardens will celebrate by wearing red, white and blue on September 27th! We will also share notecards for all of our military families on Friday 9/27.  We look forward to your support! 

Our Character Strength of the Week - Being Present....

This week, our school community will focus on the Other People Mindset of Being present and giving others my attention. This means when we are with other people, we are present and give them our full attention.

In today's world, it's easy to get distracted by phone calls, messages, and social media. These distractions can pull us away from what's most important — our relationships with other people.

Just as plants need sunlight to grow, our relationships need attention. If we don’t give our full attention when we are with our family, friends, and even colleagues, we can't build strong relationships. It’s crucial to put down our phones and tablets and really listen when others are talking. Positive relationships are the foundation of a positive culture, and we can’t build positive relationships without attention.

To practice and encourage the Other People Mindset of being present and giving others our attention, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families. There, you will watch a video clip together and discuss a quote and three questions.

Author Visit - Joanna Ho!!

We are SO excited to welcome author Joanna Ho to KGES on 9/26 for students in grades K-3!  Students can order books for Ms. Ho to personalize. Child’s Play is discounting the books by 20% and she will personalize them when she is here. Orders MUST BE RECEIVED by MONDAY, September 16!  Use this order form and return to Mrs. Hershey in the library!

Introducing Family Buddy Program

Are you a new family that just moved to the Kent Gardens Elementary School?   Are you new to KGES and seeking to connect with others in our school community?   Do you have questions about school or would like to meet other KGES families?  Or, are you a current Kent Gardens family and are interested in hosting a new family in town?  Good news!  We have just the program for you! form

To welcome new families to our school and help them get acclimated more quickly, we are thrilled to announce our new Family Buddy Program.  This program partners new families with returning families to be a useful resource with school information and a new connection to the community.  Our Family Buddy Program is an effort to build community and help welcome new families to Kent Gardens.  It matches existing school families with new families to ensure a smooth transition to school. 

Who can be a Buddy Family?  A Buddy Family is any KGES family enrolled in the 2024-2025 school year and willing to be a resource for questions that a new family may have throughout the school year.

How does the Family Buddy Program work?  Participating KGES families will be paired with another family that best matches their child(ren)’s grade level (depending on participation).  We asked that Buddy Families reach out to their new families within 1 week of being matched and meet in person at KGES events or own their own. 

What makes the Family Buddy Program so awesome?  As a Family Buddy, you will help a new family feel comfortable and become accustomed to KGES and provide seasoned and friendly advice on school happenings.  And as a new family, you will benefit from an established KGES family’s knowledge and experiences helping to make a smooth transition.

If you are a new family and interested in participating in our Family Buddy Program or are a returning family wanting to help, please complete this form  by September 27th and we will partner families by early October. Please note: by participating in this program, you are giving permission to share your contact information with the new or returning Buddy Family.  Depending on participation, effort will be made to match families up with same grade level or age of KGES students. Questions about our Family Buddy Program?  Contact Shelley Lowinger, our Family Liaison at [email protected].

Inside or Outside - We Love to Share Our Happiness! #kgpride #BeTheGold Family Literacy Program

The Family Literacy Program is part of the Office for ESOL Services in Fairfax County Public Schools. It is designed to empower and connect English Learner (EL) families to their community and with their children’s school. Adult learners acquire basic English language skills while learning how to understand, participate, and support in their children’s education in Fairfax County Public Schools. Access more information at this link

PTA Highlights

Join the PTA for SY 24-25

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

One & Done Campaign

Thanks to our generous donors we have raised over $30,000!!

Let’s make our lion roar!! Our class competition has begun!! The class with the highest participation per grade will win a popsicle party and lunch for their teacher!! Competition ends September 30.  The early classroom leaders are:

Kindergarten - Schuetz, Gilani;  First - Allen, Le Moigne;  Second - Krafchick, Vance;  Third - Hinton, Johnson; Fourth - Esparcel, Firebaugh Fifth - Caron, Biggs; Sixth - Lim, Kyaw

Reminder - The first 200 donors will receive KGES PTA supporter car magnets which will be distributed to students in September.  The suggested contribution is $175 per family, but any amount helps us make Kent Gardens a GREAT place to be!  Donate here and consider covering your fees to make sure your full donation goes to supporting our school!

Our Next PTA Meeting: Friday 9/27 @9am 

At our FIRST PTA meeting of the year, we approved the new board, accepted the PTA summer audit, and heard from Principal McGuigan about a need to think creatively about funding the yearbook!

Our Board for the 24-24 School Year is:

President – Jenny Gregory President Elect – open Treasurer – Hilary Mossberg Financial Secretary – Cozie Sawyer Secretary – Bethany Nguyen VP Communications – Adrienne Denk VP Enrichment – Kelly Pidgeon VP Special Programs/Room Parent Coordinator – Rebecca Neumann VP Events & Fundraising – open Past President – Andrea Hager

We currently have open positions! Do you feel called to take a leadership role? Consider serving as:

President Elect VP of Events

Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

We look forward to seeing you at the PTA meeting on Friday 9/27 at 9am!

After School Academies - Sign Up Opens 9/10!

Your KGES PTA is so excited to offer the Afterschool Academies for the Fall 2024! Registration opens Tuesday 9/10 at 9am and will close through Tuesday 9/17 at 1159pm, but don't wait around! Popular classes will fill up fast!

This fall, we're thrilled to see classes with Ms. Altman, Mr. Avery, Mr. Biggs, Mr. Blake, Ms. Deemer, Ms. Elpant, Ms. Klader, Ms. Fernandez and Ms. Nabaki. Our teachers are AMAZING so register early to avoid being waitlisted! 

Ways to Make a Difference This Year!

Join a Committee

Be on the lookout for an upcoming SignUp Genius with dates for events and programs for this year!  Please consider signing up as a Chair/Co-Chair or Committee Member! Remember - we cannot offer the great events and programs without our volunteer support! Look for sign-ups at the next PTA meeting.

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays

The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed

 

 

Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you.

Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad will be gearing up for another successful year with Mr. Shivnen! Grades 3-4 and 5-6th will compete against other schools in Virginia Science Olympiad (VASO). Sign up quickly as Parent Meetings will start soon! Fifth and sixth grades meeting will be held on Friday, Sept 13th at 8am,  Room 116. Consider signing up to be a Parent Science Olympiad Chair! If interested, email Mr. Shivnen.

Register for Grades 3-4 ($100)

Register for Grades 5-6 ($150)

Math Counts Sign Up

3rd Grade: Math Club will include 3rd graders again this year! This is an investment in our future MC2 teams. The 3rd grade MC2 will meet once a week at Kent Gardens 7:45 – 8:35 AM. Students will attend one of two sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. The program will run from September 18th through April 10th. Instruction will be provided by long-time MC2 coach Jeff Shivnen. 3rd grade Math Club will use Virginia Math League and MATH COUNTS Competition level resources. Students who are interested in extending their math appreciation are invited to sign up. Cost: $295 for the year. Register your 3rd grader for Math Competition Club!

4th-6th Grade: Calling all Mathletes! Does your student have a strong interest in math? Math Competition Club may be for you! This is for 4th-6th Graders who are eager to learn advanced math concepts and apply them to compete against other schools and students. Classes will begin in September and the program wraps up in March (exact dates will be sent out). We will have a hybrid program, with one class in person from 4-5pm, and the second class online from 445-545pm. Intermediate Class will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Advanced Class will be held on Tuesday/Thursday. See our website for more information! Program price is $850 for the year. Register 4th-6th graders for MC2!

Register for Chess Club

Want to have fun and learn new strategic skills? Join Chess Club! Any Kent Gardens student in 2nd through 6th grade may sign up. Chess Club will meet on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 5:15pm in the cafeteria at Kent Gardens Elementary.  The Fall session will start in September and continue through January, exact dates will be announced soon. $185 for the session. The club will run Sept 18th through January 22nd. Deadline to register is Friday Sept 13th, or until full. 

Register for Chess Club!

Girls On The Run! Looking for Coaches! 

Registration for Girls on the Run is now open through Sept. 17 at gotrnova.org. We only have enough coaches to field one team and could use at least one more adult coach who can volunteer either M/W or Tu/Th between 3:45-5 p.m. The kids of parent volunteers are guaranteed a spot in the program and coaches' kids get a registration discount. Please contact Danielle Newman if you're interested in volunteering.

STEAM Classes are FUN!!

We have embraced Ms. Cantanucci and her fun classes! 

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

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KG News 9.8.2024

GovDelivery2 months 1 week ago

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Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

We had a busy week at school.  Students are truly settling in and getting used to the structures and routines. 

Please note that the first Three Hour Early Release is upcoming on 9/23.  We have reached out to all families and will continue to contact families who have NOT responded. Look for personal emails or we will be contacting the enrolling parent directly by phone.  We must have information on dismissal for every child. It is for your child's safety. If you have questions, feel free to contact the office with updated information by emailing Sonia Shi or by calling. 

The dates for the Three Hour Early Release are as follows: 9/23, 10/28, 12/9 (change from 11/25), 2/24, 3/17, 4/28 and 5/19.  Note the change in the November 25th date - it is now December 9th.

Please do note that immunization records must be up to date for all children and we do require evidence of the records by 9/30.  Without these records, students will NOT be able to attend school. See the blurb below for additional information. 

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

September 11: Advanced Academic Program Overview meeting with Ms. Bulford, our Adv Academic Resource Teacher.  Learn about the AAP continuum. 9  a.m. Cafeteria

September 18: Advanced Academic Program meeting with Ms. Bulford - come learn about the referral process to support your child. 9 a.m. Cafeteria

September 23: Three Hour Early Release - Emails remitted to enrolling parents who have not responded or were undecided on dismissal.

September 26:  Author Visit Joanna Ho for Kinder - Third Grade 

September 27:  First PTA Meeting 9 a.m. Cafeteria

September 27:  Wear Red, White and Blue Day! Blue Star Welcome!!  

September 30:  All Students Immunization Records Up to Date and Submitted to School ~ Required for School Attendance

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Immunization Updates - 9/30 Deadline

Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school

You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office to Annie Joseph.  Please contact Ms. Joseph with questions.

Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:  

  • A health care provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
  • A health care provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
  • A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with their religious tenets or practices.

Find more information on immunizations

Positivity Project - Our Character Strength of the Week

Kent Gardens will focus on the character strength of Open-Mindedness. This means being willing to consider new ideas and try new things. It involves looking at situations from all sides and not jumping to conclusions.

Open-mindedness is about seeking out and fairly weighing evidence, even if it goes against our own opinions or goals. Open-minded people listen to different viewpoints, including those that are less popular. They are often good listeners and provide balanced advice, which makes them great friends and confidants. This strength helps individuals form meaningful and lasting relationships.

To practice and encourage the character strength of open-mindedness at home, please visit the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you will watch a video clip together and discuss a quote and three questions related to open-mindedness.

Author Visit - Joanna Ho!!

We are SO excited to welcome author Joanna Ho to KGES on 9/26 for students in grades K-3!  Students can order books for Ms. Ho to personalize. Child’s Play is discounting the books by 20% and she will personalize them when she is here. Orders MUST BE RECEIVED by MONDAY, September 16!  Use this order form and return to Mrs. Hershey in the library!

A Note from our Parent Liaison - Shelley Lowinger

Our school year is off to a fabulous start.  Our classrooms are full of happy and enthusiastic children.  Throughout the school year, I will be sharing with you some important resources for your family.   I hope you will find this information helpful.

We hope you will explore all the resources available to you at FCPS and the many ways you can stay involved and connected.  We encourage you to review this website for parents and caregivers to learn more about the different services and communications offered at FCPS.   I hope you enjoy this terrific resource for enriching your child’s educational journey.   The Family Academy is another useful tool which offers classes, webinars, workshops and programs to help support your child’s needs and learning at home.

I am looking forward to celebrating a year full of growth, curiosity and exploration together.  As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or need further assistance.  You can reach me via email at [email protected].

Blue Star Welcome Week! 9/23 - 9/27

Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices.  Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 23 - September 27, 2024, and throughout the year!

Kent Gardens will celebrate by wearing red, white and blue on September 27th! We will also share notecards for all of our military families on Friday 9/27.  We look forward to your support! 

Volunteers Needed  - Library

The Kent Gardens Library is a magical place where students' imaginations bring whole new worlds to life, but it's hard to guide young minds to new (and old!) books without the help of adult volunteers who help shelve returned books and keep the library in tip-top (and alphabetical) order! You don't need to be a Ph.D to volunteer, just knowing your ABCs and 123s and 800.002s will make you a literary rockstar at KGES! Interested in volunteering? Email Ms. Nabaki!

PTA Highlights

Join the PTA for SY 24-25

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

Our Next PTA Meeting: Friday 9/27 @9am 

At our FIRST PTA meeting of the year, we approved the new board, accepted the PTA summer audit, and heard from Principal McGuigan about a need to think creatively about funding the yearbook!

Our Board for the 24-24 School Year is:

President – Jenny Gregory President Elect – open Treasurer – Hilary Mossberg Financial Secretary – Cozie Sawyer Secretary – Bethany Nguyen VP Communications – Adrienne Denk VP Enrichment – Kelly Pidgeon VP Special Programs/Room Parent Coordinator – Rebecca Neumann VP Events & Fundraising – open Past President – Andrea Hager

We currently have open positions! Do you feel called to take a leadership role? Consider serving as:

President Elect VP of Events

Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

We look forward to seeing you at the PTA meeting on Friday 9/27 at 9am!

After School Academies - Sign Up Opens 9/10!

Your KGES PTA is so excited to offer the Afterschool Academies for the Fall 2024! Registration opens Tuesday 9/10 at 9am and will close through Tuesday 9/17 at 1159pm, but don't wait around! Popular classes will fill up fast!

This fall, we're thrilled to see classes with Ms. Altman, Mr. Avery, Mr. Biggs, Mr. Blake, Ms. Deemer, Ms. Elpant, Ms. Klader, Ms. Fernandez and Ms. Nabaki. Our teachers are AMAZING so register early to avoid being waitlisted! 

Update Regarding After School Academies

Kent Gardens PTA prides itself on making the safety and well-being of our students our number one priority. For several years, we have partnered with Baroody Camps to provide after-school enrichment opportunities for our students.

However, as you may have seen in the news, or learned about from the district-wide email, an employee of an outside organization that partners with Baroody was arrested for the unauthorized filming of students at two Fairfax County schools. While Kent Gardens was not one of those schools, and this suspect has never been involved in any program at Kent Gardens, this unfortunate event has highlighted the need for reviewing our safety protocols.

In response to this incident, our PTA, in collaboration with Baroody, is taking immediate steps to reinforce safety measures:

DESIGNATED ADULT-ONLY RESTROOMS: All adult after school providers will be instructed by Baroody to use the teachers’ lounge restroom while on campus.

BUDDY SYSTEM REMINDER: Providers will be reminded of the current mandatory buddy system that is in place for all students attending after-school enrichment programs who need to use the restroom.

ON-SITE COORDINATOR: Kent Gardens PTA ensures that Baroody places an on-site coordinator on campus during after-school enrichment programs, enhancing campus safety. The on-site coordinator checks attendance rosters, waits with students during late pickup, and is responsible for reporting to Baroody any behavior or other incidents that arise during after-school enrichment.

As always, we encourage you to remain vigilant and report any concerns or suspicious behavior immediately to the after-school enrichment on-site coordinator. You and your student(s) can identify the on-site coordinator by the orange Baroody lanyard the on-site coordinator will be wearing while on-site.

Baroody is also ensuring they are in compliance with FCPS practices and is committed to keeping communication channels open to address any issues or questions you may have. You can read the full statement from Baroody here.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we work together to ensure a safe and secure environment for all Kent Gardens students to enjoy after-school enrichment activities this school year. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the PTA.

Sincerely,

Kent Gardens PTA Board

Science Olympiad

Science Olympiad will be gearing up for another successful year with Mr. Shivnen! Grades 3-4 and 5-6th will compete against other schools in Virginia Science Olympiad (VASO). Sign up quickly as Parent Meetings will start soon! Fifth and sixth grades meeting will be held on Friday, Sept 13th at 8am,  Room 116. Consider signing up to be a Parent Science Olympiad Chair! If interested, email Mr. Shivnen.

Register for Grades 3-4 ($100)

Register for Grades 5-6 ($150)

Math Counts Sign Up

3rd Grade: Math Club will include 3rd graders again this year! This is an investment in our future MC2 teams. The 3rd grade MC2 will meet once a week at Kent Gardens 7:45 – 8:35 AM. Students will attend one of two sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. The program will run from September 18th through April 10th. Instruction will be provided by long-time MC2 coach Jeff Shivnen. 3rd grade Math Club will use Virginia Math League and MATH COUNTS Competition level resources. Students who are interested in extending their math appreciation are invited to sign up. Cost: $295 for the year. Register your 3rd grader for Math Competition Club!

4th-6th Grade: Calling all Mathletes! Does your student have a strong interest in math? Math Competition Club may be for you! This is for 4th-6th Graders who are eager to learn advanced math concepts and apply them to compete against other schools and students. Classes will begin in September and the program wraps up in March (exact dates will be sent out). We will have a hybrid program, with one class in person from 4-5pm, and the second class online from 445-545pm. Intermediate Class will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Advanced Class will be held on Tuesday/Thursday. See our website for more information! Program price is $850 for the year. Register 4th-6th graders for MC2!

Register for Chess Club

Want to have fun and learn new strategic skills? Join Chess Club! Any Kent Gardens student in 2nd through 6th grade may sign up. Chess Club will meet on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 5:15pm in the cafeteria at Kent Gardens Elementary.  The Fall session will start in September and continue through January, exact dates will be announced soon. $185 for the session. The club will run Sept 18th through January 22nd. Deadline to register is Friday Sept 13th, or until full. 

Register for Chess Club!

Girls On The Run! Looking for Coaches! 

Registration for Girls on the Run is now open through Sept. 17 at gotrnova.org. We only have enough coaches to field one team and could use at least one more adult coach who can volunteer either M/W or Tu/Th between 3:45-5 p.m. The kids of parent volunteers are guaranteed a spot in the program and coaches' kids get a registration discount. Please contact Danielle Newman if you're interested in volunteering.

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

Web | Twitter

KG News 9.1.2024

GovDelivery2 months 2 weeks ago

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Lunch ~ Smiles All Around!  Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

September 2: School Holiday

September 23: Three Hour Early Release - Emails remitted to enrolling parents who have not responded or were undecided on dismissal.

September 27:  First PTA Meeting 9 a.m.

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Positivity Project - Our Platform For Character Building for the School Year 2024-25

We have adopted the Positivity Project for this school year. This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Teamwork. Teamwork means you work well as a member of a group or team. You are loyal, reliable, and dedicated to helping your team achieve its goals. 

Teamwork involves prioritizing group success. Those strong in teamwork help all group members succeed, committing time and resources to the group's goals. They often delay personal accomplishments to ensure the group's overall success, which fosters positive feelings and counters selfishness and egotism.

For individuals, teamwork often means deferring or delaying individual accomplishments in order to ensure that the group maintains a high level of success. Their commitment to the larger group effort makes them good teammates. The positive feelings associated with being part of a larger whole — can be highly beneficial and combat selfishness and egotism.

To practice and encourage the character strength of teamwork at home, please visit the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you will watch a video clip together and discuss a quote and three questions related to teamwork. Thank you for your continued support!

Administration Highlights

Dear Parents,

We hope all are enjoying this four day holiday. We had a packed week with Back to School Night on August 28th.  We enjoyed having Dr. Michelle Reid, our Superintendent join us.  She was very impressed with our teachers and your support! 

Students are definitely settling into a routine. We had our first fire drill and it was successful.  We will have another in a week or so to get us organized.  Other future safety practices that will occur in month of September include Bus Evacuation Practice and Lockdown Practice (more to follow on this topic). 

We have shared highlights for the week that include:

  • Positivity Project Highlights (see details above)
  • Technology Updates: The students received their laptops this week.  Please sign the Digital Consent Release. (Information below). Note that parents can also track their child(ren)s internet usage.  Here is the link to sign up for Lightspeed.  It is a great tool to ensure your child's safety when browsing. Teachers use it during the school day routinely. 
  • If you haven't signed up for ParentVue, please do so.  It is important to be able to access progress reports and more through this platform! 

We are thrilled to host 4 French student interns in November of this school year. We are looking for 4 host families for these students for the month of November. The students may not be fully fluent and will need transportation to/from school for the month of November. If interested, please complete this google form which includes additional information. 

We will continue to keep you updated with upcoming events.  Have a wonderful extended weekend. 

Warmly, 

Holly McGuigan           Tia Hawkins                    Sarah Talley

Principal                       Assistant Principal          Assistant Principal

Introducing Our New Family Liaison ~ Shelley Lowinger

My name is Shelley Lowinger, and I am the Family Liaison for Kent Gardens Elementary School this year.   I am a school support staff that connects parents to resources needed between home and school to further students’ success.  My role is to support and facilitate communication between families and our wonderful school community.   I encourage you to reach out to me to learn more about community and school events and can help you navigate any questions you may have regarding resources that you may need.  As we begin this new school year, I encourage you to be an active participant in our school community.  Your involvement and support are important to the success of our students.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need assistance or have any questions.   I will regularly be at KGES on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  Kindly note that my schedule will be adjusted and flexible depending on school events, meetings, and school holidays.   My email address is [email protected].

I look forward to partnering and supporting your family and sharing successes.   We are going to have a terrific school year growing and learning together!

Band, Strings, and Chorus Begin This Week! 

We are excited to begin band, strings and chorus this week.  The students should store their instruments in the front racks. The band, strings and chorus teachers are excited to start!  

KG Ted Talks Begin This Week 

If your child signed up for the KG Ted Talks with Lisa Waters and Peggy Tuma, they are planning on beginning this week.  Please contact them with questions.

#kgpride #BeTheGold #StrongerTogether #YouBelong

Our vision for the 2024-25 school year will incorporate 'kintsugi' practice.  Collectively, we will 'BeTheGold' - being resilient and supportive. We introduced to the students this week!  

KG Important Apps and Links

Click on the image below to go to the website with the links and QR codes or clidk this link to support the QR codes below for parents.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the KG Important Apps and Links. These links include lunch information through MySchoolBucks, Here Come the Bus App, Digital Consent Form, Schoology, etc. 

Parent Reminders for the 2024-25 School Year

Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE - Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents/caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child. Contact the school registrar [add contact info] if you need a code. 

Need help creating an account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE

Parental Digital Consent Updates

We also want to inform you that the new Parent Digital Consent site is live!  Student consent forms previously available on ParentVue have been moved to the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC). Families can log into the PDC using their ParentVue credentials to complete consent forms assigned to their child.  If you have a new ParentVue account, you must wait 24 hours after it is created to use the PDC.

Forms available include: School Counseling Opt-out, Digital Resources Consent, SEL Screener Opt-Out, Family Life Education Opt-out, SOL Retest Permission, Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public, Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations

Inside the School~ ! PTA Updates ! Next Meeting: 9/27 9 a.m.

At our FIRST PTA meeting of the year, we approved the new board, accepted the PTA summer audit, and heard from Principal McGuigan about a need to think creatively about funding the yearbook!

Our Board for the 24-24 School Year is:

President – Jenny Gregory; President Elect – open; Treasurer – Hilary Mossberg; Financial Secretary – Cozie Sawyer; Secretary – Bethany Nguyen; VP Communications – Adrienne Denk; VP Enrichment – Kelly Pidgeon; VP Special Programs/Room Parent Coordinator – Rebecca Neumann; VP Events & Fundraising – open; Past President – Andrea Hager

We currently have open positions! Do you feel called to take a leadership role? Consider serving as:

President Elect or VP of Events

Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

Our next General Meeting will be Friday 9/27 at 9am!

Kent Gardens  “One & Done”

Our 2025 Goal: Raise $45,000 by September 30th. Thanks to our generous donors we have raised $20,000 before school even started!

This campaign is a one-time donation to the school. Your donations provide the majority of our operating revenue and help enable us to give funds back to the school, programming, and the teachers. Through the generosity of our families, in the 2023-2024 school year, we were able to provide the following:

- Heritage, STEM and Literacy nights - teacher supply grants and appreciation week - replacement of all the cafeteria tables - purchase of new picnic tables and additional classroom wardrobes - solar eclipse glasses

The first 200 donors will receive KGES PTA supporter car magnets. Stay tuned for our class competition in September. The suggested contribution is $175 per family, but any amount helps us make Kent Gardens a GREAT place to be! Donate here and consider covering your fees to make sure your full donation goes to supporting our school.

Join the PTA now! 

We are looking forward to having a strong year and supporting the school. Get connected, access great resources, affect change, be a role model and, most importantly, benefit your child. How? By joining the PTA!

Join a Committee - Be on the lookout for an upcoming SignUp Genius with dates for events and programs for this year!  Please consider signing up as a Chair/Co-Chair or Committee Member! 

Be a Room Parent - Room Parents help support teachers by organizing class t-shirts, connecting parents with each other, and taking the burden of class parties off of teachers so they can focus on teaching our kids! Consider stepping up for 2024-25. There'll be a meeting in early September for all Room Parents! 

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays - The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

Parent Coordinator for Chess Club

We are in need a parent coordinator for Chess Club to run smoothly. If you would like to volunteer, please email either Mr. David Mehler, our Chess Club instructor, or our PTA President at [email protected]

Girls on the Run Volunteer Coaches- Practices would take place either M/W or Tu/Th between 3:45-5 p.m. The kids of any parent volunteers are guaranteed a spot in the program and coaches' kids get a registration discount. Please contact Danielle Newman if you're interested in volunteering. Registration site is here.https://www.gotrnova.org/

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed

 

 

Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email [email protected] or [email protected] with questions. Service hours available for middle/high school students! Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you.

Lost and Found Updates

Join our virtual Lost and Found using our new FB group, The Things You Lose. Join the group to make sure you can see what's been lost so that hopefully it can be found.

Last year, our Lost & Found regularly had hundreds of items in it, requiring 4 hanging racks, 200 hangers, and so much staff and volunteer time. This year, your PTA is working hard to help keep this area much more manageable. We currently have over 20 items in the KGES lost and found! Let's reunite these items with their owners! Items with a Red Tag (items found in August) will be donated to housing insecure families on 10/18!

After School Academies - Sign Up Opens 9/10!

Your KGES PTA is so excited to offer the Afterschool Academies for the Fall 2024! Registration opens Tuesday 9/10 at 9am and will close through Tuesday 9/17 at 1159pm, but don't wait around! Popular classes will fill up fast!

This fall, we're thrilled to see classes with Ms. Altman, Mr. Avery, Mr. Biggs, Mr. Blake, Ms. Deemer, Ms. Elpant, Ms. Klader, Ms. Fernandez and Ms. Nabaki. Our teachers are AMAZING so register early to avoid being waitlisted! 

Science Olympiad 

Science Olympiad will be gearing up for another successful year with Mr. Shivnen! Grades 3-4 and 5-6th will compete against other schools in Virginia Science Olympiad (VASO). Sign up quickly as Parent Meetings will start soon! 3-4th grades' meeting will be Friday, Sept 6th at  8am, and 5-6th grades' meeting will be held on Friday, Sept 13th at 8am, room number to be announced. Consider signing up to be a Parent Science Olympiad Chair! If interested, email Mr. Shivnen at   [email protected]

 Click Here  to register for Grades 3-4 ($100)

Click Here  to register for Grades 5-6 ($150)

Math Competition Clubs (MC2)

3rd Grade: Math Club will include 3rd graders again this year! This is an investment in our future MC2 teams. The 3rd grade MC2 will meet once a week at Kent Gardens 7:45 – 8:35 AM. Students will attend one of two sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. The program will run from September 18th through April 10th. Instruction will be provided by long-time MC2 coach Jeff Shivnen. 3rd grade Math Club will use Virginia Math League and MATH COUNTS Competition level resources. Students who are interested in extending their math appreciation are invited to sign up. Cost: $295 for the year. Click here to register your 3rd grader for Math Competition Club!

4th-6th Grade: Calling all Mathletes! Does your student have a strong interest in math? Math Competition Club may be for you! This is for 4th-6th Graders who are eager to learn advanced math concepts and apply them to compete against other schools and students. Classes will begin in September and the program wraps up in March (exact dates will be sent out). We will have a hybrid program, with one class in person from 4-5pm, and the second class online from 4:45-5:45pm. Intermediate Class will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Advanced Class will be held on Tuesday/Thursday. See our website for more information! Program price is $850 for the year. To register, CLICK HERE! 

Chess Club

Want to have fun and learn new strategic skills? Join Chess Club! Any Kent Gardens student in 2nd through 6th grade may sign up. Chess Club will meet on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 5:15pm in the cafeteria at Kent Gardens Elementary.  The Fall session will start in September and continue through January, exact dates will be announced soon. $185 for the session.

IMPORTANT! We are in need of a parent coordinator for Chess Club to run smoothly. If you would like to volunteer, please email either Mr. David Mehler, our Chess Club instructor, or our PTA President at [email protected].  Click here to register for Chess Club!

School Supplies Drive 

All school supplies go to SHARE of McLean. Donations may be dropped off at Kent Gardens in the front lobby. Items needed include, crayola markers, colored pencils, #2 pencils, sticky notes, highlighters, eraser, white board markers, index, cards, composition notebooks, spiral notebooks, small scissors, plastic pencil cases, backpacks, TI-84plus or other graphing calculators (new or gently used).  Thanks for your generosity! Deadline is September 6th - ! 

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

Web | Twitter

KG News 8.25.2024

GovDelivery2 months 3 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It has come to our attention that some of the PTA links did not work.  While we check the links prior to remitting, we are troubleshooting why they do not work at times when remitted in the News You Choose.  

We are hopeful that all of the links will work below.  Thanks for your patience.

Holly McGuigan

Back to School Night!  August 28th 

We look forward to seeing all of you on Wednesday, August 28th for Back to School Night. This evening is for parents and is not intended for children to attend. Below is the schedule for the evening:

Grades K-3 Information

  • 5:00 pm - 5:40 pm- Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Grade Meetings with non-Immersion Homeroom Teachers
  • 5:30 – 5:55 p.m. – Teacher Switch for p.m. for Immersion (1st/2nd) and 3rd Grade Teachers
    • Special Education teachers will be available with grade level classrooms

Parents in Kinder, First and Second may depart or visit the specialists in the times below beginning at 5:45 p.m. or 6 p.m.  The sessions will begin at 5:45 pm and at 6:00 p.m. See the information below. 

Specialists Meetings – Open to K-6 Parents 

  • 5:45 pm- 6:15 pm- Art, P.E., Music, FLES, STEAM, Band and Strings in the Cafeteria 
  • 5:45 pm- 6:15 pm- AART, ESOL teachers, Counselors, Librarian, Reading Specialist, Special Educ. Lead in the Library 
  • 5:45 pm- 6:15 pm- Special Education teachers available in their respective rooms
  • Sessions are open to all parents. Teachers will introduce themselves at 5:45 p.m. and another session at 6 p.m.

Grades 4-6 Information

  • 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm- 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Meetings with Teachers
    • Special Education teachers will be available with grade level classrooms
  • 6:45 p.m. Teacher Switch for the afternoon class for all students
Early Release Mondays - Complete the Survey! 50% Response rate to date! We Need 100% Response Rate to Ensure your Child's Safety 

*New* Monday Early Release Schedule We require 100% response for ALL students for safety purposes. Currently, we have a 50% response rate. To plan for childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/8WwWE8cVHpd7ft3j6 for each of your children who are enrolled at Kent Gardens. 

Note that the early release is 12:35 p.m. on the following days: September 23, October 28, November 25, February 24, March 17, April 28, and May 19.  This time will be utilized for teacher plan time to support students and complete required teacher professional development connected to the new Virginia Literacy Act.  There are new reading and math standards and other initiatives. Additional information can be found on the FCPS  Early Release Mondays webpage. If you have immediate questions, please email [email protected]

PTA News ~ First PTA Meeting - Monday, August 26 9 a.m.

At our FIRST PTA meeting of the year, we'll be holding a special election. While everyone is welcome, ONLY those who have joined the PTA for the SY 24-25 will be eligible to vote. Join today!  We'll also be sharing the myriad ways you can volunteer! Whether as a room parent, member of a committee, or supporting our awesome events through your time and in-kind donations, you make our community better! Consider taking on an open board position:

1.President Elect 2. Financial Treasurer and 3. VP of Events

Make plans to attend and learn more about how your PTA is ROARing into this new school year at Kent Gardens! Our next General Meeting will be Friday 9/27 at 9am!

Join the PTA now! 

We are looking forward to having a strong year and supporting the school. Get connected, access great resources, affect change, be a role model and, most importantly, benefit your child. How? By joining the PTA!

Join the Kent Gardens Parent Teacher Association (PTA) ~Make a Difference This Year!

Join a Committee - Be on the lookout for an upcoming SignUp Genius with dates for events and programs for this year!  Please consider signing up as a Chair/Co-Chair or Committee Member! Sign-ups at Back to School Night on 8/28!

Be a Room Parent - Room Parents help support teachers by organizing class t-shirts, connecting parents with each other, and taking the burden of class parties off of teachers so they can focus on teaching our kids! Being a room parent can feel daunting, but you CAN do it! Consider stepping up for 2024-25. There'll be a meeting in early September for all Room Parents! 

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays - The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

Parent Coordinator for Chess Club

We are in need a parent coordinator for Chess Club to run smoothly. If you would like to volunteer, please email either Mr. David Mehler, our Chess Club instructor, or our PTA President at [email protected]

Girls on the Run Volunteer Coaches- The KGES Girls on the Run currently does not have any coaches confirmed for the fall and cannot run the program if we don't find one or two adults to volunteer. Practices would take place either M/W or Tu/Th between 3:45-5 p.m. The kids of any parent volunteers are guaranteed a spot in the program and coaches' kids get a registration discount. Please contact Danielle Newman if you're interested in volunteering. Registration for girls opens Aug. 19.

Kent Gardens  “One & Done”

Our 2025 Goal: Raise $45,000 by September 30th. Thanks to our generous donors we have raised $10,000 before school even started!

This campaign is a one-time donation to the school. Your donations provide the majority of our operating revenue and help enable us to give funds back to the school, programming, and the teachers. Through the generosity of our families, in the 2023-2024 school year, we were able to provide the following:

- Heritage, STEM and Literacy nights - teacher supply grants and appreciation week - replacement of all the cafeteria tables - purchase of new picnic tables and additional classroom wardrobes - solar eclipse glasses

The first 200 donors will receive KGES PTA supporter car magnets. Stay tuned for our class competition in September. The suggested contribution is $175 per family, but any amount helps us make Kent Gardens a GREAT place to be! Donate here and consider covering your fees to make sure your full donation goes to supporting our school.

After School Academies - Sign Up Now!

Your KGES PTA is so excited to offer the Afterschool Academies for the Fall 2024! Registration opens Tuesday 9/10 at 9am and will close through Tuesday 9/17 at 1159pm, but don't wait around! Popular classes will fill up fast!

This fall, we're thrilled to see classes with Ms. Altman, Mr. Avery, Mr. Biggs, Mr. Blake, Ms. Deemer, Ms. Elpant, Ms. Klader, Ms. MacDonald, and Ms. Nabaki. Our teachers are AMAZING so register early to avoid being waitlisted! 

Science Olympiad 

Science Olympiad will be gearing up for another successful year with Mr. Shivnen! Grades 3-4 and 5-6th will compete against other schools in Virginia Science Olympiad (VASO). Sign up quickly as Parent Meetings will start soon! 3-4th grades' meeting will be Friday, Sept 6th at  8am, and 5-6th grades' meeting will be held on Friday, Sept 13th at 8am, room number to be announced. Consider signing up to be a Parent Science Olympiad Chair! If interested, email Mr. Shivnen at   [email protected]

 Click Here  to register for Grades 3-4 ($100)

Click Here  to register for Grades 5-6 ($150)

Math Competition Clubs (MC2)

3rd Grade: Math Club will include 3rd graders again this year! This is an investment in our future MC2 teams. The 3rd grade MC2 will meet once a week at Kent Gardens 7:45 – 8:35 AM. Students will attend one of two sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. The program will run from September 18th through April 10th. Instruction will be provided by long-time MC2 coach Jeff Shivnen. 3rd grade Math Club will use Virginia Math League and MATH COUNTS Competition level resources. Students who are interested in extending their math appreciation are invited to sign up. Cost: $295 for the year. Click here to register your 3rd grader for Math Competition Club!

4th-6th Grade: Calling all Mathletes! Does your student have a strong interest in math? Math Competition Club may be for you! This is for 4th-6th Graders who are eager to learn advanced math concepts and apply them to compete against other schools and students. Classes will begin in September and the program wraps up in March (exact dates will be sent out). We will have a hybrid program, with one class in person from 4-5pm, and the second class online from 445-545pm. Intermediate Class will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Advanced Class will be held on Tuesday/Thursday. See our website for more information! Program price is $850 for the year. To register, CLICK HERE! 

Chess Club

Want to have fun and learn new strategic skills? Join Chess Club! Any Kent Gardens student in 2nd through 6th grade may sign up. Chess Club will meet on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 5:15pm in the cafeteria at Kent Gardens Elementary.  The Fall session will start in September and continue through January, exact dates will be announced soon. $185 for the session.

IMPORTANT! We are in need of a parent coordinator for Chess Club to run smoothly. If you would like to volunteer, please email either Mr. David Mehler, our Chess Club instructor, or our PTA President at [email protected].  Click here to register for Chess Club!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

Web | Twitter

KG News 8.25.2024

GovDelivery2 months 3 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Back to School Night!  August 28th 

We look forward to seeing all of you on Wednesday, August 28th for Back to School Night. This evening is for parents and is not intended for children to attend. Below is the schedule for the evening:

Grades K-3 Information

  • 5:00 pm - 5:40 pm- Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd Grade Meetings with non-Immersion Homeroom Teachers
  • 5:30 – 5:55 p.m. – Teacher Switch for p.m. for Immersion (1st/2nd) and 3rd Grade Teachers
    • Special Education teachers will be available with grade level classrooms

Parents in Kinder, First and Second may depart or visit the specialists in the times below beginning at 5:45 p.m. or 6 p.m.  The sessions will begin at 5:45 pm and at 6:00 p.m. See the information below. 

Specialists Meetings – Open to K-6 Parents 

  • 5:45 pm- 6:15 pm- Art, P.E., Music, FLES, STEAM, Band and Strings in the Cafeteria 
  • 5:45 pm- 6:15 pm- AART, ESOL teachers, Counselors, Librarian, Reading Specialist, Special Educ. Lead in the Library 
  • 5:45 pm- 6:15 pm- Special Education teachers available in their respective rooms
  • Sessions are open to all parents. Teachers will introduce themselves at 5:45 p.m. and another session at 6 p.m.

Grades 4-6 Information

  • 6:15 pm - 7:15 pm- 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade Meetings with Teachers
    • Special Education teachers will be available with grade level classrooms
  • 6:45 p.m. Teacher Switch for the afternoon class for all students

 

Patrols Supporting our Arrival and Dismissal!!  Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

August 26:  First PTA Meeting - Special Officer Election and "Get to Know Volunteer Opportunities" on August 26th, 9 a.m.

August 28: Back-to-School Night (Parents/Caregivers Only) 

Grades K-3: 5 - 6:00 p.m.; Grades 4 - 6:  6:15 - 7:15 p.m.

August 30 and Sept. 2: School Holidays

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Back to School Picnic! 

Thanks to our PTA for a wonderful event. We had an amazing turnout and all enjoyed socializing and getting to know our new and returning families.  Join us at the PTA meeting on Monday, August 26th at 9 a.m. in the cafeteria.  There will be an officer election and other discussions regarding volunteer opportunities.

Administration Highlights

Dear Parents,

We had a wonderful time at the Back to School Picnic hosted by the PTA. The food trucks were a 'hit' and we had beautiful weather.  Check out the pictures above which tell the story.  Note that we also post on Facebook @KentGardensES to check out the individual pictures. 

On Monday August 26th, the PTA has it's first meeting at 9 a.m. in the cafeteria ~ Please do join the meeting and learning about volunteer opportunities and new information regarding  for officer information and other important announcements for the start of the year. 

Most importantly, we have Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 28th. See additional details below.  Kindergarten through third grade begins at 5 pm. Specialists will be available from 5:45 - 6:15 p.m. Grades 4 - 6 will begin at 6:15 p.m.  All parents should go directly to your child's homeroom for the initial meeting. 

For safety purposes, we have included a form for parents to complete to ensure that we understand your child's transportation for both arrival and dismissal. Please do begin the school year with the usual mode of transportation to ensure routines are being established. 

Finally, note the sign up below for band, strings and chorus.  We have a vibrant and wonderful music program at Kent Gardens!  This week the students have been meeting the teachers!  We look forward to having all of our fourth graders participate in strings and fifth and sixth graders may choose band or strings and can also choose to participate in chorus. 

See you all tomorrow morning! 

Warmly, 

Holly McGuigan           Tia Hawkins                    Sarah Talley

Principal                       Assistant Principal          Assistant Principal

Early Release Mondays - Complete the Survey! 50% Response rate to date! We Need 100% Response Rate to Ensure your Child's Safety 

*New* Monday Early Release Schedule We require 100% response for ALL students for safety purposes. Currently, we have a 50% response rate. To plan for childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/8WwWE8cVHpd7ft3j6 for each of your children who are enrolled at Kent Gardens. 

Note that the early release is 12:35 p.m. on the following days: September 23, October 28, November 25, February 24, March 17, April 28, and May 19.  This time will be utilized for teacher plan time to support students and complete required teacher professional development connected to the new Virginia Literacy Act.  There are new reading and math standards and other initiatives. Additional information can be found on the FCPS  Early Release Mondays webpage. If you have immediate questions, please email [email protected]

Band and Strings Sign Up for 2024-25 School Year - 4th, 5th and 6th Grade Students

We are excited about another fabulous year of band and strings! We will introduce students to the instruments during the first weeks of school. Most students play an instrument in grades 4 - 6. 

Strings is offered to students in grades 4 - 6. As 4th grade is the initial entry, we typically have over 95% participation. Mr. David Funderburk [email protected] and Ms. Tzu-Ching Tai, [email protected]  are amazing instructors and available with questions. They will be introducing the various string instruments – viola, violin, cello, and bass to the 4th graders.  Playing a string instrument is a wonderful start to beginning or continuing a musical experience! Note that we do differentiate!   Sign up here! 

Band is offered to students in grades five and six. Students who participated in strings in the fourth grade either stay with the strings instruction or explore a new instrument in band. Our amazing, experienced FCPS band instructors, Mr. Brad Zimmerman, an amazing, experienced FCPS band instructor, [email protected], and Ms. Allison Parrell, [email protected] will introduce the various wind, brass, and percussion instruments in the next few weeks. Here is the link to sign up now. You are welcome to reach out to the instructors or the school administration team with questions. .

Chorus 2024-25 Sign-up for Rising 5th and 6th Graders

Are you interested in joining the chorus? Please sign up in the google form here. Chorus class will be held once a week. Some requirements to join:

  • Students should attend 2 after school (evening) concert performances (dates TBD). Possible additional performances may arise.
  • Attend weekly before school rehearsals regularly.

If you have questions please contact Ms. Kaylie Paik, [email protected] (6th grade chorus) or Ms. Angela Lee, [email protected] (5th grade chorus)

#kgpride #BeTheGold #StrongerTogether #YouBelong

Our vision for the 2024-25 school year will incorporate 'kintsugi' practice.  Collectively, we will 'BeTheGold' - being resilient and supportive. 

KG Important Apps and Links

Click on the image below to go to the website with the links and QR codes or clidk this link to support the QR codes below for parents.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the KG Important Apps and Links. These links include lunch information through MySchoolBucks, Here Come the Bus App, Digital Consent Form, Schoology, etc. 

Parent Reminders for the 2024-25 School Year

Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE - Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents/caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child. Contact the school registrar [add contact info] if you need a code. 

Need help creating an account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE

Update Your Contact Information - To be sure you receive important information from your schools, update your phone numbers and/or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section of SIS ParentVUE.

Update Immunizations and Records

Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. Please log in to SIS ParentVUE to see what immunizations your child has recorded. 

Parental Digital Consent Updates

We also want to inform you that the new Parent Digital Consent site is live!  Student consent forms previously available on ParentVue have been moved to the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC). Families can log into the PDC using their ParentVue credentials to complete consent forms assigned to their child.  If you have a new ParentVue account, you must wait 24 hours after it is created to use the PDC.

Forms available include: School Counseling Opt-out, Digital Resources Consent, SEL Screener Opt-Out, Family Life Education Opt-out, SOL Retest Permission, Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public, Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations

Recess ~ Wonderful Weather Week! Free and Reduced-Priced Meals

The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2024-25 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price lunch last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.

PTA News ~ First PTA Meeting - Monday, August 26 9 a.m.

At our FIRST PTA meeting of the year, we'll be holding a special election. While everyone is welcome, ONLY those who have joined the PTA for the SY 24-25 will be eligible to vote. Join today!  We'll also be sharing the myriad ways you can volunteer! Whether as a room parent, member of a committee, or supporting our awesome events through your time and in-kind donations, you make our community better! Consider taking on an open board position:

1.President Elect 2. Financial Treasurer and 3. VP of Events

Make plans to attend and learn more about how your PTA is ROARing into this new school year at Kent Gardens! Our next General Meeting will be Friday 9/27 at 9am!

Join the PTA now! 

We are looking forward to having a strong year and supporting the school. Get connected, access great resources, affect change, be a role model and, most importantly, benefit your child. How? By joining the PTA!

Join the Kent Gardens Parent Teacher Association (PTA) ~Make a Difference This Year!

Join a Committee - Be on the lookout for an upcoming SignUp Genius with dates for events and programs for this year!  Please consider signing up as a Chair/Co-Chair or Committee Member! Sign-ups at Back to School Night on 8/28!

Be a Room Parent - Room Parents help support teachers by organizing class t-shirts, connecting parents with each other, and taking the burden of class parties off of teachers so they can focus on teaching our kids! Being a room parent can feel daunting, but you CAN do it! Consider stepping up for 2024-25. There'll be a meeting in early September for all Room Parents! 

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays - The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

Parent Coordinator for Chess Club

We are in need a parent coordinator for Chess Club to run smoothly. If you would like to volunteer, please email either Mr. David Mehler, our Chess Club instructor, or our PTA President at [email protected]

Girls on the Run Volunteer Coaches- The KGES Girls on the Run currently does not have any coaches confirmed for the fall and cannot run the program if we don't find one or two adults to volunteer. Practices would take place either M/W or Tu/Th between 3:45-5 p.m. The kids of any parent volunteers are guaranteed a spot in the program and coaches' kids get a registration discount. Please contact Danielle Newman if you're interested in volunteering. Registration for girls opens Aug. 19.

______________________________________________________________

Kent Gardens  “One & Done”

Our 2025 Goal: Raise $45,000 by September 30th. Thanks to our generous donors we have raised $10,000 before school even started!

This campaign is a one-time donation to the school. Your donations provide the majority of our operating revenue and help enable us to give funds back to the school, programming, and the teachers. Through the generosity of our families, in the 2023-2024 school year, we were able to provide the following:

- Heritage, STEM and Literacy nights - teacher supply grants and appreciation week - replacement of all the cafeteria tables - purchase of new picnic tables and additional classroom wardrobes - solar eclipse glasses

The first 200 donors will receive KGES PTA supporter car magnets. Stay tuned for our class competition in September. The suggested contribution is $175 per family, but any amount helps us make Kent Gardens a GREAT place to be! Donate here and consider covering your fees to make sure your full donation goes to supporting our school.

After School Academies - Sign Up Now!

Your KGES PTA is so excited to offer the Afterschool Academies for the Fall 2024! Registration opens Tuesday 9/10 at 9am and will close through Tuesday 9/17 at 1159pm, but don't wait around! Popular classes will fill up fast!

This fall, we're thrilled to see classes with Ms. Altman, Mr. Avery, Mr. Biggs, Mr. Blake, Ms. Deemer, Ms. Elpant, Ms. Klader, Ms. MacDonald, and Ms. Nabaki. Our teachers are AMAZING so register early to avoid being waitlisted! 

Science Olympiad 

Science Olympiad will be gearing up for another successful year with Mr. Shivnen! Grades 3-4 and 5-6th will compete against other schools in Virginia Science Olympiad (VASO). Sign up quickly as Parent Meetings will start soon! 3-4th grades' meeting will be Friday, Sept 6th at  8am, and 5-6th grades' meeting will be held on Friday, Sept 13th at 8am, room number to be announced. Consider signing up to be a Parent Science Olympiad Chair! If interested, email Mr. Shivnen at   [email protected]

 Click Here  to register for Grades 3-4 ($100)

Click Here  to register for Grades 5-6 ($150)

Math Competition Clubs (MC2)

3rd Grade: Math Club will include 3rd graders again this year! This is an investment in our future MC2 teams. The 3rd grade MC2 will meet once a week at Kent Gardens 7:45 – 8:35 AM. Students will attend one of two sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. The program will run from September 18th through April 10th. Instruction will be provided by long-time MC2 coach Jeff Shivnen. 3rd grade Math Club will use Virginia Math League and MATH COUNTS Competition level resources. Students who are interested in extending their math appreciation are invited to sign up. Cost: $295 for the year. Click here to register your 3rd grader for Math Competition Club!

4th-6th Grade: Calling all Mathletes! Does your student have a strong interest in math? Math Competition Club may be for you! This is for 4th-6th Graders who are eager to learn advanced math concepts and apply them to compete against other schools and students. Classes will begin in September and the program wraps up in March (exact dates will be sent out). We will have a hybrid program, with one class in person from 4-5pm, and the second class online from 445-545pm. Intermediate Class will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Advanced Class will be held on Tuesday/Thursday. See our website for more information! Program price is $850 for the year. To register, CLICK HERE! 

Chess Club

Want to have fun and learn new strategic skills? Join Chess Club! Any Kent Gardens student in 2nd through 6th grade may sign up. Chess Club will meet on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 5:15pm in the cafeteria at Kent Gardens Elementary.  The Fall session will start in September and continue through January, exact dates will be announced soon. $185 for the session.

IMPORTANT! We are in need of a parent coordinator for Chess Club to run smoothly. If you would like to volunteer, please email either Mr. David Mehler, our Chess Club instructor, or our PTA President at [email protected].  Click here to register for Chess Club!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

Web | Twitter

KG News 8.18.2024

GovDelivery3 months ago

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Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

August 19: First Day of School  - Bell Schedule 8:50 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.

August 23:  PTA Welcome Back Picnic! - Come for Dinner, Dessert & Fun - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  Supervision Required - Informal Gathering to Mingle

August 26:  First PTA Meeting - Special Officer Election and "Get to Know Volunteer Opportunities" on August 26th, 9 a.m.

August 28: Back-to-School Night (Parents/Caregivers Only) 

Grades K-3: 5 - 6:00 p.m.; Grades 4 - 6:  6:15 - 7:15 p.m.

August 30 and Sept. 2: School Holidays

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Administration Summer Updates

Dear Parents,

We thoroughly enjoyed seeing many of our families on Thursday for the Open House.  On Monday, please note that students may enter the building at 8:40 a.m. If you are dropping off at Kiss and Ride, we do accept students in the cafeteria at 8:30 a.m.  The cafeteria door #8 will be open to those students only.  Walkers should wait outside until 8:40 a.m. when we open the front doors for the buses riders as well. 

Note the bus information below embedded in the link below with the various QR codes.  Lunch information and updating ParentVue is also included which is essential for all parents. 

We also want to inform you that the new Parent Digital Consent site is live!  Student consent forms previously available on ParentVue have been moved to the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC). Families can log into the PDC using their ParentVue credentials to complete consent forms assigned to their child.  If you have a new ParentVue account, you must wait 24 hours after it is created to use the PDC.

Forms available include:

  • School Counseling Opt-out
  • Digital Resources Consent
  • SEL Screener Opt-Out
  • Family Life Education Opt-out
  • SOL Retest Permission
  • Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public
  • Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations

To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form for each of your children who are enrolled at Kent Gardens Elementary. All parents MUST complete the form for safety purposes.  Please see the blurb below for additional information. 

For safety purposes, we have included a form for parents to complete to ensure that we understand your child's transportation for both arrival and dismissal. Please do begin the school year with the usual mode of transportation to ensure routines are being established. 

Finally, note the sign up below for band, strings and chorus.  We have a vibrant and wonderful music program at Kent Gardens!  Students will meet the teachers and try out instruments - we look forward to having all of our fourth graders participate in strings and fifth and sixth graders may choose band or strings and can also choose to participate in chorus. 

See you all tomorrow morning! 

Warmly, 

Holly McGuigan           Tia Hawkins                    Sarah Talley

Principal                       Assistant Principal          Assistant Principal

Band and Strings Sign Up for 2024-25 School Year - 4th, 5th and 6th Grade Students

We are excited about another fabulous year of band and strings! We will introduce students to the instruments during the first weeks of school. Most students play an instrument in grades 4 - 6. 

Strings is offered to students in grades 4 - 6. As 4th grade is the initial entry, we typically have over 95% participation. Mr. David Funderburk [email protected] and Ms. Tzu-Ching Tai, [email protected]  are amazing instructors and available with questions. They will be introducing the various string instruments – viola, violin, cello, and bass to the 4th graders.  Playing a string instrument is a wonderful start to beginning or continuing a musical experience! Note that we do differentiate!   Sign up here! 

Band is offered to students in grades five and six. Students who participated in strings in the fourth grade either stay with the strings instruction or explore a new instrument in band. Our amazing, experienced FCPS band instructors, Mr. Brad Zimmerman, an amazing, experienced FCPS band instructor, [email protected], and Ms. Allison Parrell, [email protected] will introduce the various wind, brass, and percussion instruments in the next few weeks. Here is the link to sign up now. You are welcome to reach out to the instructors or the school administration team with questions. .

Chorus 2024-25 Sign-up for Rising 5th and 6th Graders

Are you interested in joining the chorus? Please sign up in the google form here. Chorus class will be held once a week. Some requirements to join:

  • Students should attend 2 after school (evening) concert performances (dates TBD). Possible additional performances may arise.
  • Attend weekly before school rehearsals regularly.

If you have questions please contact Ms. Kaylie Paik, [email protected] (6th grade chorus) or Ms. Angela Lee, [email protected] (5th grade chorus)

#kgpride #BeTheGold #StrongerTogether #YouBelong

Our vision for the 2024-25 school year will incorporate 'kintsugi' practice.  Collectively, we will 'BeTheGold' - being resilient and supportive. 

KG Important Apps and Links

Click on the image below to go to the website with the links and QR codes or clidk this link to support the QR codes below for parents.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the KG Important Apps and Links. These links include lunch information through MySchoolBucks, Here Come the Bus App, Digital Consent Form, Schoology, etc. 

Parent Reminders for the 2024-25 School Year

Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE - Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents/caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child. Contact the school registrar [add contact info] if you need a code. 

Need help creating an account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE

Update Your Contact Information - To be sure you receive important information from your schools, update your phone numbers and/or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section of SIS ParentVUE.

Update Immunizations and Records

Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. Please log in to SIS ParentVUE to see what immunizations your child has recorded. 

Early Release Mondays - Mark Your Calendars and Plan Forward - Complete the Survey

*New* Monday Early Release Schedule To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/8WwWE8cVHpd7ft3j6 for each of your children who are enrolled at Kent Gardens. Note that the early release is 12:35 p.m. on the following days: September 23, October 28, November 25, February 24, March 17, April 28, and May 19.  This time will be utilized for teacher plan time to support students and complete required teacher professional development connected to the new Virginia Literacy Act.  There are new reading and math standards and other initiatives. Additional information can be found on the FCPS  Early Release Mondays webpage. If you have immediate questions, please email [email protected]

Free and Reduced-Priced Meals

The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2024-25 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price lunch last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.

Dining Room Assistant - Join the KG Team!

We are looking for assistance in the cafeteria until the end of the year and in 2024-25 - if you know someone or would like to work as a dining room assistant, please contact Holly McGuigan. The timeframe is about 3.5 hours per day and involves assisting students during lunch time as well as supervising student clean-up, keeps order, and dismisses students to their teachers.  We are looking for an individual who is friendly, energetic, and assertive in maintaining expectations of cafeteria behavior, and loves working with children.

PTA News Join the PTA now! 

We are looking forward to having a strong year and supporting the school. Get connected, access great resources, affect change, be a role model and, most importantly, benefit your child. How? By joining the PTA!

Why Join the Kent Gardens Parent Teacher Association (PTA)?

By getting involved at Kent Gardens, you can help make our school a better place! Our PTA plays important roles in curriculum-based and after-school programs, staff support, and social events — all vital to our school’s success. The PTA is a great place to connect with other parents, volunteer your time for a noble cause, and make positive changes at Kent Gardens. In light of recent Fairfax County budget cuts to education, our PTA’s voice is more important than ever, and your participation is critical!

______________________________________________________________

Kent Gardens  “One & Done” Fundraiser  — Our 2024 Goal: Raise $45,000 by September 30th

“One & Done” is the main fundraiser at Kent Gardens and it’s just like it sounds… You make one contribution and you’re done for the year! When you contribute to “One & Done,” you help Kent Gardens Elementary remain an exciting, vibrant, and thriving school. This year, we donated wonderful new cafeteria tables as well as many other areas in the school.  

Over the past few years, an average of 35% of Kent Gardens families have contributed. Please help us achieve at least 50% family participation!  

The suggested contribution is $175 per family but any amount is greatly appreciated. Select one of the existing payment options on the right or click on the large green ‘Give’ button to enter your own donation amount. When you use PayPal you will be able to pay directly by Credit Card*.  Donate Now!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

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Summer Update #4 8.11.2024

GovDelivery3 months 1 week ago

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Administration Summer Updates

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to school if you are returning and a warm welcome to our school if you are new! We would like to thank our sixth graders for welcoming our new families to KG on Wednesday of this week.

To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form for each of your children who are enrolled at Kent Gardens Elementary. All parents MUST complete the form for safety purposes.  Please see the blurb below for additional information. 

As noted in the section below, parents should update their information in ParentVue and/or sign up.  ParentVue is essential for parents to access their child's academic information. 

For safety purposes, we have included a form for parents to complete to ensure that we understand your child's transportation for both arrival and dismissal. Please do begin the school year with the usual mode of transportation to ensure routines are being established. 

Our teachers return to school on Monday and we thrilled to have them return.  We have new teachers on board! They will share their past educational experiences by team.  Please give them a warm welcome when you see them on Thursday! As shared above, you will receive an email on Thursday morning with your child's homeroom. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Open House! 

Warmly, 

Holly McGuigan           Tia Hawkins                    Sarah Talley

Principal                       Assistant Principal          Assistant Principal

Open House News - August 15

We look forward to seeing all of our students and families on August 15.  Please note that parents will receive an email in the morning of August 15 from your child's homeroom teacher.

Students may bring in school supplies that day. Please do try to come during the assigned window with your family.  The office, clinic and bus support will be here to answer questions and the clinic will accept health forms and medications. Ms. Townsend, our technology specialist will be in the office should you have any tech questions. 

  • A- H from 2:00 - 2:30 p.m.
  • I - P from 2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
  • Q - Z from 3:15 - 4:00 pm.

Here is a link to support the QR codes below for parents.  You can use the link to access electronically or the QR code.  Scroll down in the website to find the KG Important Apps and Links. We are working to streamline your access to important information. 

KG Important Apps and Links

Click on the image below to go to the website with the links and QR codes.

Parent Reminders for the 2024-25 School Year

Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE - Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents/caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child. Contact the school registrar [add contact info] if you need a code. 

Once you have activated a SIS ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same SIS ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. 

Need help creating an account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE

Update Your Contact Information - To be sure you receive important information from your schools, update your phone numbers and/or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section of SIS ParentVUE.

Update Immunizations and Records

Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. Please log in to SIS ParentVUE to see what immunizations your child has recorded. 

Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia as soon as possible. If your child needs a vaccine, please make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services.

Remember to request your child’s immunization record and bring that to the school’s front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website

#kgpride #BeTheGold #StrongerTogether

Our vision for the 2024-25 school year will incorporate 'kintsugi' practice.  Collectively, we will 'BeTheGold' - being resilient and supportive. 

#kgpride #BeTheGold #StrongerTogether

We look forward to sharing our vision for the 2024-25 school year! 

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

August 14 - Final Kinder/First Grade Playdate  6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

August 15- Open House 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 

A-H:  2-00 - 2:30 p.m.; I - P:  2:45 - 3:15 p.m.; Q-Z: 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

August 19: First Day of School  - Bell Schedule 8:50 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.

August 23:  Welcome Back Picnic! - Come for Dinner, Dessert & Fun - 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.  Supervision Required - Informal Gathering to Mingle

August 26:  First PTA Meeting - Special Officer Election and "Get to Know Volunteer Opportunities" on August 26th, 9 a.m.

August 28: Back-to-School Night (Parents/Caregivers Only) 

Grades K-3: 5 - 6:00 p.m.; Grades 4 - 6:  6:15 - 7:15 p.m.

August 30 and Sept. 2: School Holidays

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Free and Reduced-Priced Meals

The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2024-25 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price lunch last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.

Dining Room Assistant - Join the KG Team!

We are looking for assistance in the cafeteria until the end of the year and in 2024-25 - if you know someone or would like to work as a dining room assistant, please contact Holly McGuigan. The timeframe is about 3.5 hours per day and involves assisting students during lunch time as well as supervising student clean-up, keeps order, and dismisses students to their teachers.  We are looking for an individual who is friendly, energetic, and assertive in maintaining expectations of cafeteria behavior, and loves working with children.

Early Release Mondays - Mark Your Calendars and Plan Forward - Complete the Survey

*New* Monday Early Release Schedule To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/8WwWE8cVHpd7ft3j6 for each of your children who are enrolled at Kent Gardens. Note that the early release is 12:35 p.m. on the following days: September 23, October 28, November 25, February 24, March 17, April 28, and May 19.  This time will be utilized for teacher plan time to support students and complete required teacher professional development connected to the new Virginia Literacy Act.  There are new reading and math standards and other initiatives. Additional information can be found on the FCPS  Early Release Mondays webpage. If you have immediate questions, please email [email protected]

PTA News - School Supplies

It's almost time to head back to school! We are excited to see everyone again on August 19th! We are also excited to once again offer the School Tool Box as your one-stop school supply shopping option.

Simply visit https://schooltoolbox.com/ - and type in KENT GARDENS. You'll then be given the option to choose your child's new grade. Click "order", and all of the supplies your child's teacher has requested will show up in a box on your doorstep. It's that easy!

Ordering this list of supplies through School Tool Box is not required, but it will make shopping for these items much easier. You can also be sure that the items you're getting are the exact ones your child's teacher is asking for.

Order by August 1st to ensure delivery before our open house event on August 15th! Many families find it easiest to bring their box of supplies with them to the open house, to avoid having to carry everything on the first day.

Again, visit https://schooltoolbox.com/, and follow the simple instructions. The first day of school will be here before you know it, so don't delay!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

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Summer Update #3 8.4.2024

GovDelivery3 months 2 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Administration Summer Updates

Dear Parents,

We are truly excited and working hard to prepare for the start of the school year.  To achieve that goal, we celebrate our past work but also reflect to move forward in a positive manner.  Kent Gardens ranked #9 out of Virginia's 1,037 elementary schools on U.S. News and World Report's 2024 Best Virginia Elementary School list. Schools are ranked on their performance on state required tests and how well they prepared their students for high school.  Amazing work by our teachers with the support of our families!  

We would also like to share an overview of our Family Engagement Survey. 

  • 97% of parents reported that their child feels respected at Kent Gardens  and 95% of parents reported feeling respected. N=182
  • 97% reported feeling welcome at Kent Gardens  N=181
  • 96% reported that there is at least one caring adult at the school that my child trusts N=191
  • 96% reported that the Kent Gardens welcomes families of different backgrounds and cultures N=181
  • 92% reported that they felt comfortable communicating with the teacher or other staff regarding problems, concerns, or issues regarding their child. N=181
  • 87% reported that we kept parents informed regarding your child's progress. N=181

Based on the above feedback, our goal for this next school year is to ensure that we better partner and collaborate with families regarding your child's progress and partner with you with respect to our technology usage.  Stay tuned as we work to prepare activities and opportunities! 

We are thrilled to share that we have NEW cafeteria tables thanks to our fabulous PTA and parental support!  We are also collaborating with the PTA on new opportunities to improve our grounds for the students to enjoy and learn - both inside the building and outside of the building. 

We look forward to seeing our new families this Wednesday at the New Family Tours!  Check out the information in the section above with important dates. 

Warmly, 

Holly McGuigan           Tia Hawkins                    Sarah Talley

Principal                       Assistant Principal          Assistant Principal

#kgpride #BeTheGold #StrongerTogether

We look forward to sharing our vision for the 2024-25 school year! 

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

August 7 - New Family School Tours 5:00 p.m. 

August 14 - Final Kinder/First Grade Playdate  6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

August 15- Open House 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 

A-H:  2-00 - 2:30 p.m.; I - P:  2:45 - 3:15 p.m.; Q-Z: 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

August 19: First Day of School  - Bell Schedule 8:50 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.

August 28: Back-to-School Night (Parents/Caregivers Only) 

Grades K-3: 5 - 6:00 p.m.; Grades 4 - 6:  6:15 - 7:15 p.m.

August 30 and Sept. 2: School Holidays

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

New Family School Tours - August 7th 

We look forward to seeing all of our new families on August 7th at 5 p.m.to 6 pm.   It is an informal session and we will meet outside the school. You do not need to arrive at 5 p.m. as we will have tours as parents arrive through 6 p.m. Our rising sixth graders will take all of our parents and new students through the building. Administration will be available to answer questions.

We would love to have our rising sixth graders lead the school tours for our new kindergarteners and new rising first grade immersion students. Please sign up here to join with a friend or individually! The tours will take place on August 7th at 5:00 p.m.  Students may join us at 4:45 p.m.  We look forward to having your rising sixth grader join us! 

Dining Room Assistant - Join the KG Team!

We are looking for assistance in the cafeteria until the end of the year and in 2024-25 - if you know someone or would like to work as a dining room assistant, please contact Holly McGuigan. The timeframe is about 3.5 hours per day and involves assisting students during lunch time as well as supervising student clean-up, keeps order, and dismisses students to their teachers.  We are looking for an individual who is friendly, energetic, and assertive in maintaining expectations of cafeteria behavior, and loves working with children.

Multilingual Learner Summit

All multilingual learners and their families are invited to attend a special summit on Thursday, August 8th from 5-8:30 PM at Annandale High School. Explore pathways to graduation and beyond while connecting with other families and learning from inspiring speakers. Childcare and language support will be provided. Register today!

Download the flyer with all the details! 

Early Release Mondays - Mark Your Calendars and Plan Forward

*New* Monday Early Release Schedule We will be remitting a survey regarding the early release Mondays below.  The survey will collect parents' ability to support the pick up of your child.  Stay tuned for additional information. Note that the early release is 12:35 p.m. on the following days: September 23, October 28, November 25, February 24, March 17, April 28, and May 19.  This time will be utilized for teacher planning time to support students and complete required teacher professional development connected to the new Virginia Literacy Act.  There are new reading and math standards and other initiatives. Additional information can be found on the FCPS  Early Release Mondays webpage. If you have immediate questions, please email [email protected]

PTA News - School Supplies

It's almost time to head back to school! We are excited to see everyone again on August 19th! We are also excited to once again offer the School Tool Box as your one-stop school supply shopping option.

Simply visit https://schooltoolbox.com/ - and type in KENT GARDENS. You'll then be given the option to choose your child's new grade. Click "order", and all of the supplies your child's teacher has requested will show up in a box on your doorstep. It's that easy!

Ordering this list of supplies through School Tool Box is not required, but it will make shopping for these items much easier. You can also be sure that the items you're getting are the exact ones your child's teacher is asking for.

Order by August 1st to ensure delivery before our open house event on August 15th! Many families find it easiest to bring their box of supplies with them to the open house, to avoid having to carry everything on the first day.

Again, visit https://schooltoolbox.com/, and follow the simple instructions. The first day of school will be here before you know it, so don't delay!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or [email protected]

Web | Twitter

48 minutes 7 seconds ago
Kent Gardens Elementary School News and announcements
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