KG 6.7.20 Updates

A Note from School Administrators! 

Dear Kent Gardens Parents,

As we close the year, we would love to thank our parents and volunteers for ALL that you have done!  It is without question, that we cannot achieve all that we do without your support!  We would like to personally thank Bethany Nguyen and the rest of the PTA Board for the many hours that you have given to support the school, teachers and parents😊  A fond farewell to Bethany Nguyen as our PTA President as we welcome Elise Moss to this role.  Bethany, we thank you for all your work and support and know that we will still be working with you!

As we aren’t able thank all you in person, Brittany Oakley, on behalf of our Social Committee, produced a short video from the teachers and staff to express our gratitude.  Once again, thanking you for your time and support at the school!  We also would like to thank Lida Saeedian for painting plaques for our KG PTA.  They were delivered personally to them this week - a few pictures are highlighted below. As many of you know, Lida retired during the school year – but we still miss her and appreciate her!

We would also like to update all of you with respect to staffing changes and we will also welcome our new staff members.

  • Goodbye to Susan Bennett Spellman, who has spent many years at Kent Gardens. She is retiring and will spent time at home with her husband.  We wish her well and are sad to see her go!
  • Jillian Bowden will transition to a middle school. She will be closer to home and will also fulfill a dream of instructing at a middle school.
  • Ashlee Sisson, recently married, will transition to teaching at an international school in Germany. She will instruct sixth and seventh graders in reading and writing. 
  • Christina Cronin has accepted a position at an elementary school that is walking distance from her house. She will have more flexibility in her schedule and will have more time with her son.
  • Anna Goldstein has accepted an elementary position that will also position her closer to her new residence.
  • Megan Kendall has accepted a second-grade position that will also place her closer to her home that will help her have flexibility in her schedule and care for her parents.
  • Laura Stephenson is moving back to Texas with her husband and family yet one more time.
  • Catherine De Lucien will depart to Utah to instruct first grade immersion there. She will be closer to her grandchildren!
  • Lisa Caplis will transition to another art position. We are grateful for her stepping in mid-year!
  • Kelly McKee Palko will transition back to middle school. She is excited to be 5 minutes from her house.

We are fully staffed for the next school year. We are excited that we have hired experienced teachers.  We will be sharing additional information with you soon.

We hope you and your families have a wonderful summer and stay healthy.  We will be in touch as we plan for the start of the 2020-21 school year!  Thanks again for your support and a great school year.

Holly McGuigan               Pier McGrath                   Tia Hawkins

Principal                           Assistant Principal           Assistant Principal

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Summer Continuity of Learning June 29th – July 31st

  • All elementary and middle school students will have the opportunity to participate in summer Continuity of Learning. Students/parents may OPT out (link to be provided).  If you have opted out and wish to receive the packets, we will provide a link in our next mailing.  FCPS webpage also includes resources, click the link here.
    • Students in grades K-6 will receive two Essentials Summer Practice Books (one math and one language arts) that will review key content from this school year. The book will include a letter to families, learning outcomes, Inquiry based “Learning Quest” activities.  Answer guides will be posted electronically, and math answers will be in booklets.
    • Virtual resources will be available on Blackboard 24-7.  In addition, students will have access to skill practice through the iReady digital lessons through the FCPS public Universal Screener website. Students will need to enter their FCPS login credentials to access these resources. These digital activities will be available until Friday, July 31st. Teachers will share log in information during upcoming virtual sessions.
    • A Kent Gardens teacher will be available to meet virtually with students to do check-ins and support student learning from Monday, June 29 - Friday, July 31 To register your student for office hours and receive a secure link, please complete this google form. Once registered, your child will receive log-in information via their FCPS Google email address prior to the first session. Office hours are intended to be a time where interested students can ask questions or receive support with that week’s Essentials Summer Practice Book content. We will release the office hours to parents who complete the google form for privacy purposes.
    • Staffing will include a grade level teacher for K-6, ESOL, and one special education teacher. 
    • Lexia and Dreambox will be available for student use during the summer.  At this point, your child’s current Blackboard 24/7 curriculum will not be available due to maintenance. The summer Continuity of Learning (COL) will have a 24/7 curriculum available to you with inquiry-based lessons.

 


School News

Parent Coffees:  We will have our last Parent Coffee of the 2019-2020 School Year, this Tuesday, June 9th at 8 am to continue to share information available regarding school updates. We will advertise parent coffees during the summer via News You Choose and social media. You can participate by accessing the link here.

For Rising 4th, 5th and 6th Graders: 2020-2021 Strings and Band Program Registration Form:  We are very proud of our Strings and Band programs at Kent Gardens. Students learn how to play an instrument and experience the joy of performing with others.  Fourth grade students are given the option of joining Strings (almost all students participate), while Fifth and Sixth grade students are given the option of joining/continuing Strings OR joining Band (almost all students participate in one or the other). Since the school building and music stores are currently closed, to help your child choose an instrument, the teachers have prepared a video to introduce the various instrument choices. The videos and registration form are found at https://forms.gle/5nyDJYqua4Frj7no9 

For Rising 5th and 6th Graders:  Kent Gardens Patrol Application 2020-21 Due June 15, 2020: Patrols play an integral part in ensuring the safety of our students at Kent Gardens.  They serve as models of good behavior and examples of what it means to be a good citizen and to look out for others.  Patrols are selected based upon progress reports and teacher recommendations. They help on the buses, in the kiss n' ride, with younger students, and at dismissal.   If you have a child who is a rising 5th or 6th grader at Kent Gardens and interested in becoming a patrol, please fill out the form at this link: https://forms.gle/GbU6w5n58a7VRv7k6

Registration for Kindergarten If you have a rising kindergartener please register by completing the FCPS registration forms and registering with Tracy Dean by emailing  tadean@fcps.edu. In order to collect additional information regarding your child, we request that you complete the following form

 

New Students to Kent Gardens – Registration:  We welcome all new students to Kent Gardens.  You may register by emailing Tracy Dean tadean@fcps.edu.  The registration forms are here.  Please complete the Home Language survey if you speak another language at home. We have also created a google document that will collect academic and other social/emotional behavior information to assist us in placing your child.  You should complete the form for each child.  Note that the kindergarten registration has a separate google form and can be found in our announcements.

 

Enrollment Intentions for 2020-2021:  Are you leaving Kent Gardens?  We have reached out to many families who indicated that their family would be departing.  Due to COVID-19, many families have decided to stay and will remain enrolled until their plans are confirmed/adjusted.  Please email Iveliz Charles at icharles@fcps.edu to let us know of your status.  We only need parents to email if your child(ren) will not be enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year.


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Online Summer Arts Enrichment Program Opportunity