KG October Update #1

Notes from Administration

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Our first PTA meeting and Principals Coffee was held on Friday, September 27th.  The PTA shared their current One and Done status and needs your support!! Please do join the PTA and also support One and Done!  Our school benefits significantly from the support of our families through the PTA.  There is a class contest to get the most participation in the One and Done!  Thanks for ALL of your support!

Many parents have brought up the issue of unsafe practices around arrival and dismissal.  Students should not be dropped off in the neighborhood as it creates a dangerous situation for students crossing the street between cars.  In addition, please note that all traffic should enter the school from Melbourne Drive, NOT Lumsden Street. Additional information is noted below.

Kiss and Ride Procedures: Once you enter the line, please do not exit your vehicle for any reason or use your cell phone. Student Safety Patrols and Staff Members assist in opening car doors until 8:40. Please pay attention to Faculty and Staff members providing traffic direction throughout the traffic flow. You may wait in the kiss and ride line to drop off rather than park in the lot as parking is tight for teachers.

  • ALL traffic should enter the school from Melbourne Drive, not Lumsden Street. Do not proceed on Lumsden St. towards Melbourne Drive past Macon Street during morning drop off or afternoon dismissal. Left hand turns at the 4-way stop on Lumsden St. onto Melbourne Dr. are not permitted in the morning drop off or afternoon dismissal times. To enter the traffic flow, proceed down Van Fleet and Dean Streets then turn left on Melbourne to enter the Kiss and Ride.
  • ALL traffic should exit the school parking lot, turn right at the 4-way stop, and then proceed on Lumsden. Kent Gardens website has a diagram and additional information. https://kentgardenses.fcps.edu/resources/transportation

After the police officer directs you through the 4-way stop at Lumsden St. and Melbourne Dr., proceed through the parking lot in a single lane. Do not pass any other vehicles for any reason.  Please adhere to traffic laws, be mindful of walkers and do not use your cell phones. Pull forward towards the marked area to discharge your child.  Staff will be posted as indicated by the markers on the attachment and should follow their directions. 

  1. Load and unload students from passenger side of vehicle. Children should NOT cross in front of or between vehicles. 
  2. Drivers must remain in vehicles during Kiss and Ride drop off and loading zone at all times. Safety patrols will assist with car doors. Parents should not exit their car to assist students with seat belts etc. Please instruct your children on how to work the safety belt or have them sit on the right hand side (passenger side) of the car so that the staff may safely assist them and ensure a quick arrival and departure.
  3. In the afternoon, if your child is not present, you will need to repeat the final loop of the parking lot.
  4. Cars parked in the Kiss and Ride area must wait until the Kiss and Ride area has cleared.
  5. Do not drop your child in the neighborhood, only walkers should use the crosswalk.
  6. Remember that our school day begins at 8:40 a.m. with morning work. We will receive children no earlier than 8:25 a.m.

Kiss and Ride Volume and Timing: It is important to allocate 10+ minutes for morning Kiss and Ride drop off due to high volume. In inclement weather, drop off times may be longer.  We do track tardies, please do ensure that your child arrives on a timely basis.

To support the goal of posting information to help your child learn, here is a Year at a Glance link for your review! https://drive.google.com/file/d/12X2CfFQZDxpV8odd4l7pn5eFtOZ4ZyfP/view?usp=sharing

Thanks for your support! 

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan   Pier McGrath               Tia Hawkins

Principal               Assistant Principal       Assistant Principal

 


Testing and Advanced Academic Updates:

Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Information Night A second meeting will be held on December 5th for families who desire to better understand the referral process. The meeting is open to all parents interested in writing a referral and clarifying the process. If you have questions, please reach out to Stephanie Will at sdwill@fcps.edu.

New to FCPS AAP Referrals: Due October 10, 2019. Families new to FCPS as of January, 2019 have the option to refer their children for Level IV services.  As an option, families new to the school may also refer their children by the January 9, 2020 deadline.  The following link has more information: Advanced Academic Program Website


News and Notes:

Picture Day was Wednesday, October 2!  You can order online using the code:  FM330667   www.scherlingschoolpics.com  Teachers and office cannot accept any payments at this time. 

Positivity Project Focus!   Our character strength for this week, 9/30- Oct 4 is Open Mindedness.  Next week, our focus is on #OtherPeopleMatter – Being present and giving others my attention - This speaks for itself as it does have a positive impact on others!

Submit all absences/late arrivals, early dismissal, and transportation changes (including bus pass) online! The office and the teachers will receive your notification automatically. Click here ( KGES homepage àFull Menu) for easy access. For any other office-related questions, please email the office here.

Forgotten items can only be dropped off in the Drop-off Station (in the front lobby).  Unfortunately, we cannot notify or deliver items to classrooms as this tends to interrupt classroom instruction and cause confusion. Please email your child’s teacher if an item needs to be picked up from the cubby. Please establish a routine with your child to prepare their school materials. These include lunch, homework, project, musical instruments, forms, dues, water bottle, snack, clothes, backpacks, etc.

Family Life Education FCPS Website More information to follow soon!

FCPS Career Switcher Information Session – October 14, 2019 The Office of Talent Acquisition & Management (TAM) will host a Career Switcher Information Session at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center on Monday, October 14, 2019. This event will give military veterans, community members and anyone interested an opportunity to learn how to become a licensed Virginia teacher.

The information session will begin with presentations from the five approved Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) career switcher programs, Educate Virginia, Old Dominion University, Regent University, Shenandoah University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Troops to Teachers will also present their program offerings to our military veteran attendees. A panel of FCPS educators will share valuable information with attendees, followed by an opportunity to network with the six presenters, the FCPS licensure team and the substitute office.

Parent and Student Conferences – Wellness and Resources

Mental Health and Wellness Conference,  Tools for Fostering Success at Home, in School, and Throughout Life to be held October 5, 2019, at Fairfax High School from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Please join us for FCPS' 6th Annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference!  We are proud to partner with Inova and Kaiser Permanente on this year’s conference. The morning will focus on social and emotional learning, with a keynote address given by Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. A special session for high school students, the Our Minds Matter Teen Summit, will take place in the morning as well. Attendees are encouraged to stay for Inova’s Act on Addiction Summit, which will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Lunch will also be provided, courtesy of Inova. For more information and registration visit the conference website.

Dyslexia Open House to be held on October 24, 2019, at the Parent Resource Center from 10 a.m. to noon. Browse exhibit tables and learn about next steps for FCPS students with dyslexia.  Exhibitors include: Decoding Dyslexia of Virginia, FCPS Office of Special Education Instruction, FCPS Assistive Technology Services, and FCPS School Psychology Services.  Register here for the event.


Dates to Note:

October 14 – No School – Teacher Workday

October 22 – Book Fair Parents and Pastries 8:00 a.m.

October 23 – Book Fair Family Evening Event 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

October 25 – Principals Coffee 8 a.m. and PTA meeting 8:45

November 4 – No School – Teacher Workday

November 5 – No School Teacher Workday

November 6 – School Picture Retakes!

 

Teacher Celebrations to Note!

 

Elizabeth MacDonald 10/4

Darrow White 10/7

Kim Hargett 10/12

David Mattoon 10/15

Alex Ptasienski 10/15

Heather Ortiz 10/25

Holly McGuigan 10/26

Brittany Oakley 10/27

Gail Barnett 10/28