 Second Grade enjoyed researching and learning about butterflies! #crit - Thanks Mr. Semonsen!
School News
Maintaining School Security: As we continue to strive to maintain a high level of security, we are working to ensure that our school follows proper protocols regarding ingress. To enter the building, the new protocols are as follows:
- Ring the bell to request entry and state the reason for entry. Example: “I am Jane Smith and I am here to pick up my son, Joe Smith.”
- The office and/or SACC staff will release the lock to the middle door upon acknowledging and verifying your request to gain entry into the building.
- All visitors must proceed to the office during the school day to obtain a visitors badge. You will need a driver’s license. If you are picking up a child from SACC, you should proceed to SACC to pick up your child.
Mindful May: As we embark into the month of May, as a school we will embrace mindfulness by combining with Positivity Project. Our goal is to support very simple mindful behaviors such that the students will maintain a level of calm. We have chosen May as it is the beginning of our testing month and we do want to students to feel calm and relaxed. We will share our daily words of encouragement with you such that you can discuss with your children at home. These quotes are based on a combination of mindfulness and growth mindset thinking.
- May 1: “You Create Your Own Calm”
- May 2: “ Be Here Now”
- May 3: “ Do Less with More Focus”
- The positivity lesson for the week of April 29 – May 3 is connection/purpose. This strength gives students the sense that they are put on this earth for a reason and that they are connected. It could be in many ways – art, music, or the love of living. It allows them to live for a reason and find courage in trying circumstances or live through kindness and love even when it is not always reciprocated.
Positivity Character Strength – www.posproject.com The positivity lesson for the week of April 29 – May 3 is connection/purpose. This strength gives students the sense that they are put on this earth for a reason and that they are connected. It could be in many ways – art, music, or the love of living. It allows them to live for a reason and find courage in trying circumstances or live through kindness and love even when it is not always reciprocated.
FCPS2019-20 Calendar Updates: The Fairfax County School Board approved revisions to the 2019-20 calendar. A condition for that flexibility in most school divisions was the required provision of a four-day weekend for Labor Day, from Friday through Monday. To meet that requirement, one revision to the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) 2019-2020 calendar now designates Friday, August 30, 2019 as a student holiday. The Board also voted to move the March school planning day to Tuesday, March 3, 2020, to accommodate the 2020 presidential primary. March 3, 2020 is now a student holiday. Additionally, the Board moved the October 4, 2019 teacher workday to Friday, August 16, 2019. October 4, 2019 is now an instructional day. The revised 2019-20 school year calendar is available online here.
Kent Gardens Electronic Device Policy for SOL Testing
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Cell phones and other electronic devices: While in the testing room, students may not have access to cell phones or other electronic devices that can transmit, receive, photograph, or record information while any students are testing. This includes cell phones, Apple watches, Fitbits or similar devices.
- Students who refuse to remove their cell phones or other electronic devices from their work area (such as from pockets, desktops, purses and backpacks stored within reach, etc.), will not be permitted to test until the device is secured (as local policy permits).
Consequences of having a cell phone/mobile device in the test environment
- The cell phone/electronic device should be confiscated by testing personnel and turned over to school administration
- School administration has the authority to ensure that no evidence of cheating is stored on the phone. Such as photos of the test questions, or text messages asking for answers
- School administration must stop searching if it becomes clear that no such evidence exists
SOL Calendar: Mark your calendars! Kent Gardens’ students in Grades 3-6 will be taking the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests from May 7 through May 30, 2019. Testing will begin at 8:50 a.m. on each of these days. If your student will be absent on a scheduled testing date, please notify his or her classroom teacher. Make-up tests will be scheduled upon the student’s return, through the end of the testing window. We will also hold make- up sessions for those who need another opportunity to pass. The Virginia SOL tests measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills specified in content areas such as writing, reading, mathematics, history/social studies and science.
- It will be very helpful if you can avoid appointments which may take your child out of school during this time period. Also, it will help your child perform his or her best if he or she has had a good night’s rest, a healthy breakfast, and comes to school with a positive attitude. Dates for each grade level test are shown below or at this link: https://kentgardenses.fcps.edu/announcements/sol-schedule-spring-2019
- Grade 3 – Reading: Tuesday, May 7 and Math:Wednesday, May 15
- Grade 4 – Reading:Wednesday, May 8, Math: Monday, May 13, and VA History: Thursday, May 16
- Grade 5 – Reading:Thursday, May 9; Math: Tuesday, May 14, and Science: Friday, May 17
- Grade 6 – Reading:Friday, May 10 and Math: Monday, May 20
Technology Updates:
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Dreambox Access: All students (K-6) now have access to Dreambox (math) Learning at home. To access go to the Learning Links page on the Kent Gardens website: https://kentgardenses.fcps.edu/learning-links Click the Dreambox icon and have your child login using your child’s FCPS user name and password.
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SOL PASS: Students in grade 3-6 have access to SOL pass to practice for the upcoming tests. From the Learning Links page on the KGES website, select SOL Pass Select Kent Gardens and then enter the password: kgpride.
Kindergarten Registration for 2019-20 school year: Do you have a rising kindergarten? Please register by completing the FCPS registration forms and making an appointment with Tracy Dean tadean@fcps.edu https://www.fcps.edu/index.php/registration/kindergarten-registration In order to collect additional information regarding your child, we request that you complete the following: https://goo.gl/forms/gpVdDTmUBu7vtI592
Upcoming Longfellow Activities: The Jumpstart to Success registration will open on April 1, through the My School Bucks website. The contact for that program is Riley Barrows (rtbarrows1@fcps.edu).
Lost and Found: We have many, many coats and jackets in lost and found. Please do check it!
 We appreciated our hardworking office staff last week and also welcomed our talent show candidates!
School Dates to Note:
April Autism Awareness Month
April 29 – Beginner Band Rehearsal
April 30 - Second Grade Field Trip Museum of Natural History (Boehm, Kennedy, Valley)
April 30 – Advanced Band Rehearsal
May 1/2 – MTC Performance K/1 and May 2 Grades 2-6 during school day
May 3 – MTC Performance Evening
May 3 – Sixth Grade Panoramic Photo and Fourth Grade Make Up for Class Photos
May 6 – Advanced Band Rehearsal
May 7 – SOL Grade 3 Reading
May 7 - Second Grade Field Trip (Vance, Cronin, Viernes)
May 8 – Bike/Ride to School Day
May 8 – First Grade Field Trip National Zoo
May 8 – Fourth Grade Reading SOL
May 9 – Fifth Grade Reading SOL
May 9 – Beginner Band Rehearsal
May 10 – Sixth Grade Reading SOL
May 10 – Third Grade Field Trip
May 10 – Principal’s Coffee and PTA Meeting
PTA News
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Our spring Bike/Walk to School Day will be Wednesday May 8th. Click here and help spread the word through our Facebook Event!
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SHAKE SHACK FUNDRAISER
After you walk/bike home, head to our KG Fundraiser at Shake Shack in Tysons on Wednesday May 8th!
BIKES FOR THE WORLD - May 18th!
If you or your children have a bike that you have outgrown or no longer use, please consider donating it at Kent Gardens on May 18, 2019 from 12-2pm. Kent Gardens will be working with Bikes for the World to collect used bikes that will be sent overseas.
Click here to help spread the word via Facebook!
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