 One and Done Celebration: PJ Day Tomorrow!
Thanks to all of our parents who supported our school!! With your support, the PTA raised $50,000 in 50 days. The PTA would like the whole school to celebrate. All students can wear PJ's tomorrow, Thursday, November 7th. This is an optional opportunity if your child chooses to wear the pajamas.
Congrats to Ms. Kendall's class, Mr. Gordon's class and Ms. Loughran's classes with the most participation in the fundraiser! They will all enjoy pizza lunch! Stay tuned for more pictures with the One and Done from the administration.
School Notes:
Lost and Found: Please check the Lost and Found - it is overflowing and the items will donated on Monday, November 11th.
Extra Halloween Candy? Our sixth grade community service leadership team would like candy donations for Soldiers Angels. Please drop off your donations to the office by November 17th.
Updating Emergency Information: FCPS provides weCare @ school (weCare), an emergency care information system, available to FCPS parents and guardians who have registered for their own Parent account. WeCare helps manage emergency medical information by enabling parents to enter and update their children’s medical data at their convenience online. Contact information provided automatically enrolls parents to receive e-Notify communications from the district and their child’s school. e-Notify is the communications tool for FCPS emergency, attendance, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent via e-mail, telephone, and SMS.
Veteran’s Day - November 11, 2019– Veterans are welcome to join us in the library for a light breakfast snack with your children. We will gather with the students as they arrive in the gym to celebrate all of our veterans with some music led by our chorus. It will be a wonderful celebration showing respect for our veterans and their children. We will end at the beginning of the school day 8:50 a.m. Teachers may coordinate specific visits in the classroom individually.
NNAT – November 11th - 15th Testing Update: The online version of the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test Third Edition (NNAT3) will be administered to all 1st grade students and some 2nd – 6th grades students between November 11th and November 15th, 2019. Your child does not need to prepare for this testing other than to come to school on time, be rested and ready to start the school day. Note that letters will go home to all students in the Friday folders. Any questions, please email Tia Hawkins, Student Test Coordinator at tnhawkins@fcps.edu
Celebrating 20 years of hosting French Interns! For the twentieth year in a row, Kent Gardens is proud to welcome French interns for four weeks of student teaching this winter. Arriving on January 18, the interns, usually in their mid-twenties, are students from French graduate schools of education. This year, seven interns will come from ESPE Clermont-Auvergne, France. (For more information about our partner university, please go to: http://www.espe-auvergne.fr/) The program’s wonderful success depends upon the generosity of the Kent Gardens families who host the French interns. Please consider letting some French culture into your home this winter and offer to host an intern. It is a life-changing experience for our students, our teachers, the interns, and our families! The deadline for application is December 6. Here is the link to apply to host a French intern: https://forms.gle/PNfXUoNBByGpRQeW9 Don't miss out on a little bit of French in your house this winter!”
Transportation/Busing Update: Due to the severe driver shortage, parents can expect late arrivals both morning and afternoon. Transportation is pulling from available resources, such as supervisors and reaching out to sub-drivers to help with the shortage. Combining routes and doubling back to the school, will be a normal practice due to the driver shortage. Transportation and Leadership appreciate your patience and understanding while we work through finding creative solutions to the difficult position we are faced with. As always our goal is the safe transportation of all students we service.
Outstanding Employee Awards: Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Kent Gardens Elementary Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link : https://forms.gle/bnNfMgxwJGE9Xo21A You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. Note: The deadline to submit a nomination is November 22, 2019. If you have any questions, please contact Pier McGrath, Assistant Principal at psmcgrath@fcps.edu.
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Outstanding Teacher: Must have 3 years of experience as a teacher – note that librarians are included in this category.
- Outstanding New Teacher
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Outstanding Principal, Outstanding Leader – administrators including APs
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Outstanding Professional Employee Includes School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher and School Counselor
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Outstanding Operational Employee Office Staff, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA
FLE Information Night - You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons. Ms. Hawkins and Mrs. McGrath, Assistant Principals, and teachers from various grade levels, will be available to answer questions about the lessons. The meeting will be held on Thursday November 7th at 5:00 PM in the Kent Gardens library. All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time. More information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, including detailed grade-level program descriptions, is available at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle. To preview Family Life Education (FLE) materials, each parent will have to have access to SIS and FCPS 24-7 Learning (Blackboard). Once you gain access to your Parent FCPS 24-7 Learning (Blackboard) account, click on the “Curriculum” tab at the top of the page. All FLE Lessons are arranged by grade-level.
Do you want to be a Substitute? We are looking for substitutes to support our classrooms when there is a teacher absence due to illness or other need. Here is the link for additional information: https://www.fcps.edu/careers/career-opportunities/substitute-teaching-opportunities If you have specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact any administrator or Iveliz Charles icharles@fcps.edu in the office.
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.
Parent Workshops Available through FCPS: All workshops are held at the Dunn Loring Center for Parent Services, 2334 Gallows Road, Entrance 1 - Room 100, Dunn Loring, VA, unless otherwise noted. You may view additional information on upcoming workshops and register for workshops online at https://www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/parent-resource-center/workshops-parents-educators-and-community.
Sibshops An exciting workshop for brothers and sisters of children with special needs! *Registration must be completed separately for each session on these dates: Tuesday, January 28, 2020 and Saturday, March 21, 2020.
Raising a Screen Smart Kid: Embrace the Good and Avoid the Bad in the Digital Age For parents who didn't grow up with smartphones but can't let go of them now, expert advice on raising kids in our constantly connected world. This presentation will focus on how to help kids navigate friendships, bullying, dating, self-esteem, and more online. Thursday, November 7, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Register for Raising a Screen Smart Kid
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder: Beginning Your Journey Attend this important workshop, presented by Julia Calhoun and Katie Boxer, FCPS Behavior Intervention Teachers, to understand characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Friday, November 8, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon. Register for Understanding Autism
Special Education: Understanding the Process and Collaborating with Your School Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Register for Special Education: Understanding the Process and Collaborating with Your School
Building Success in Physical Education Learn fun activities for the whole family to get your child moving, while reinforcing a wide range of skills needed to participate in physical education. Presented by Phyllis Orner, FCPS Adapted PE Specialist, Manda Tirado and Christy Stone, FCPS Adapted PE Teachers. Friday, November 15, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon. Register for Building Success in Physical Education
Parenting Through Challenging Times: Supporting Your Child Through Life’s Ups and Downs Transform feelings of being overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed to calm, confident, and compassionate. Learn tools and techniques to navigate turbulent waters and times of change within your home and family life. Presented by Corinne Coppola, M.A., a Well-Being Professional. Friday, November 22, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon. Register for Parenting Through Challenging Times: Supporting Your Child Through Life’s Ups and Downs
Dates to Note:
November 7 – FLE Night 5 p.m. (see above)
November 24 – Girls on the Run 5k
November 27 – 29 School closed
December 5th – AAP Information Evening 6 p.m.
December 7th – International Night
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