Dates and School Hours
School Hours as follows:
- 8:30 a.m. Kiss & Ride Accepted into Cafeteria
- 8:40 a.m. Walkers and all students released to classrooms. Walkers may post outside on a paw print.
- 8:55 a.m. Students will be considered tardy if not seated by 9:00 a.m.
September 1st - Virtual Back to School Night for Grades K-3 - See below
September 2nd - Virtual Back to School Night for Grades 4-6 - See below
September 3rd - 6th - Labor Day Break - no school
September 23rd - First PTA Meeting - more information to follow from PTA
School Calendar: 2021-22
A Note from Administration
Dear KG Families,
We had an amazing week with the students. We worked hard to build structures and also follow safety protocols. We continue to adjust our lunchroom/cafeteria schedule. Our plexiglass did come in and we are installing this on the tables. We are also working to hire monitors in order to better spread the students out in other spaces. We have reached out to our parent volunteers to create a consistent structure and also train them in our routines and safety measures. If you desire to support on a consistent basis, you may complete this form here.
Dismissal and weather has definitely been a challenge for us. The facts are as follows:
- Our kiss and ride has grown exponentially as many students are not taking the bus. We worked to reroute the buses (down Lumsden) in order to expedite their arrival/dismissal.
- Kiss and ride cannot be staged in the front loop (even with inclement weather) until our buses are dismissed. It is a safety hazard when loading and unloading large groups of students.
- As a school, we can and have shared our concerns around safety and creating one way streets with VDOT. At this point, we are unable to enforce that request and continue to ask that ALL parents driving abide by our request to follow the directions the traffic guidelines below.
- Possible kiss and ride awning? We will work with PTA to support this needed addition.
- Please place a paper on the right side of your dashboard with your student's name and grade level in LARGE LETTERING. If your child has not arrived, you will be asked to circle back to the short loop. PLEASE practice having your child enter and exit the car right hand side independently. Parents should not get out of the car to support their child.
- Next week, we will have weather. Please plan accordingly and have your child pack a rain jacket in their backpack. If there is severe/dangerous weather, students will remain in classrooms and we will dismiss when it is safe. As noted above, do NOT drive into the school loop with the hope of picking up your child. It will be closed for the buses to arrive and depart.
- Due to the driver shortage, we have two bus routes that might be delayed as the drivers double back to take another group of students. We are working with transportation and experimenting with the routes.
We will continue to consider work arounds and support the most expeditious but safe dismissal.
A HUGE thanks to Leigh Avery for coordinating and training our patrols. They are ALL doing an amazing job to support student safety both to and from school. Thanks to the parents for supporting with early drop off or a later pick up.
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
hsmcguigan@fcps.edu tnhawkins@fcps.edu sjtalley@fcps.edu
Attendance Updates
Immersion Families and Transportation: If you desire to possibly car pool, we have created a voluntary google form whereby you can input your names and transportation need. We will share with those families only in order for you to coordinate your needs.
Attendance Links
If your child will be absent or late, please do use this link to notify the school. If your child has an early dismissal, please do notify the school utilizing this link.
Kiss and Ride Information
Reminder to train your child on entering and exiting the car without adult support. Parents/guardians should not be leaving the car to buckle them in. Please practice at home! Your child can do it!
Please place your child's last name and first name in the car window - we will be calling names!
Consider carpooling as much as possible!
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How to Enter/Exit Kent Gardens
- To enter Kent Gardens please enter via Dean Drive or Van Fleet Drive to Melbourne Drive.
- To exit turn right on Lumsden Street.
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Kiss and Ride Pattern
- Students must be able to independently enter and exit your car from the right hand side.
- Staff will help with backpack. Parents remain in the car. Child exits and enters unassisted.
- Students will meet you at your car following the flow of traffic in the line.
- To enter Kent Gardens, please use Dean Drive or Van Fleet to Melbourne Drive.
- To exit, turn right on Lumsden
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Student Ambassadors
Thanks to Elizabeth MacDonald and Katie Altman our wonderful counselors for initiating our Student Ambassador program. We had many student volunteers!
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Work Opportunity! Hourly or as a Monitor
We are looking for monitors or other hourly help to support student learning and also support the students during lunch and other transitions. Please contact Rederica Whitfield rcwhitfield@fcps.edu
Schoology ~ How Do I Access
We are excited for Schoology, FCPS' new learning management system. Schoology is a learning space that enhances communication, collaboration, and personalized learning for students, teachers, and families.
How do I create an account?
- First, register for a SIS/ParentVUE account.
How do I log in?
- Login to Schoology at lms.fcps.edu. Use your ParentVUE account log in and password
Have the students started using Schoology yet?
We are not quite there yet, but will be soon! When it is fully active, your teachers will let you know. However, you can start viewing information on the “All Parents: Kent Gardens Elementary School” course.
1. When you log in you will see the following image. |
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- Once you click in it, you will see that KGES has started to populate some information and will look like the image to the left. More information will be coming, as well as a parent technology night, in the next few weeks. Please contact Eva Townsend, if you have any specific questions.
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Back to School Night - Virtual/Synchronous:
September 1 and 2 - Virtual sessions for you to attend at home or work. We will post recordings in Schoology. Teachers will remit Zoom links to you for your grade level. We will also share information in an e-Notify which is directed at our enrolling parents.
9/1- Grades K-3
Kindergarten 4:30 – 5:15 p.m.
First Grade 5:15 – 6:00 p.m.
Second Grade 6:00 – 6:45 p.m.
Third Grade 6:45 – 7:30 p.m.
9/2 - Grades 4-6
Fourth Grade 4:30 – 5:15 p.m.
Fifth Grade 5:15 – 6:00 p.m.
Sixth Grade 6:00 – 6:45 p.m.
Daily Symptom Check
Parents are asked to screen their children every morning before sending them to school. If you have any questions about whether your child is able to come to school based on symptoms or exposure, please call the office. Please review this link as you make decisions for school attendance. https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/HealthScreeningQuestionnaire.pdf
Advanced Academic Program Parent Information Nights
AAP Information Session - September 28th - You only need one session:
8:00 a.m. Virtual Session - Zoom link to follow and the link is available in Kent Gardens Schoology.
6:00 p.m. In Person Session - Cafeteria
For students NEW to FCPS (since January 2021), fall referrals are due on October 7th. More information here. Questions, email Deb Bulford drbulford@fcps.edu
Beginning of Year Forms
All forms will remain electronic this school year as noted in the Open House section. There will be no large parent packet of forms.
Digital Consent Form Kent Gardens uses a variety of resources to support student learning. To provide your parental consent for each student in your family, please follow this link and follow the provided directions.
Emergency Care Form Complete Emergency Care Card now Electronically in weCare.
ParentVUE Access for New Families: FCPS video walks you through the process step-by-step: Creating a SIS ParentVUE Account. For tips on how to use your new account, FCPS has produced this short video to help you out: Navigating SIS ParentVUE. Please contact our registrar, Tracy Dean, tadean@fcps.edu if you need assistance obtaining a ParentVUE account.
Other Beginning of the Year Forms
If completing opt out forms, remit by email to Iveliz Charles at icharles@fcps.edu or drop off by the end of August to the school office.
Safety Drills During the School Year
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill but are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Our first lockdown drill will be on September 15, 2021.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Here are some helpful tips for families to use to support their students before and after school lockdown drills.
Working together, we create a safe, secure environment for students to learn and grow in our schools.
Parent Resource Center Webinars for FCPS Families and Staff
How to Improve Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills Without All the Arguments This School Year
September 9, 2021 6:30-8 p.m. and September 10, 2021 10-11:30 a.m.
Register for How to Improve Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills Without All the Arguments This School Year
Military-Connected Students and School Transition: A Family Webinar
September 17, 2021 10-11:30 a.m.
Register for Military-Connected Students and School Transition: A Family Webinar
5 Ways to Stop Anxiety, Power Struggles, & Behavior Issues: A Webinar for Families
September 23, 2021 6:30-8 p.m. and September 24, 2021 10-11:30 a.m.
Register for 5 Ways to Stop Anxiety, Power Struggles, & Behavior Issues: A Webinar for Families
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