Gator Bytes: News and General Information for Kings Glen ES
Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has new tools to help parents and guardians know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided by Lightspeed, our internet content filtering service, at no cost to families. You may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. If you want more detailed information, sign up for the Internet Use Parent portal and log-in anytime to see more detail about your child’s browsing and “pause” access to the internet during non-school hours. Find out more and sign up for these services on our website.
FCPS School Board Approves SY 22-23 Calendar
The 2022-23 school year calendar was approved at the January 27th School Board Meeting. This calendar focuses on instruction, and student and operational needs. The calendar is aligned with neighboring school districts and adds additional key observance days.
Most importantly, this calendar was developed with significant input from the FCPS community. Thank you to everyone who participated in the process through surveys, webinars, and participation in the feedback committee. This effort reflects the best effort of everyone the school calendar touches.
To find out more about next year’s school calendar, visit the FCPS website.
Community Review of Elementary English Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources
Elementary English Language Arts basal instructional resources may be accessed in person and online January 31 through February 28, 2022. Digital materials for public review and comment will be available at the following link: https://www.fcps.edu/node/36853. Those reviewing instructional materials may complete an electronic comment sheet available at the following link: https://forms.gle/NyDax8N3NXQBp1mh8. Hard copies of instructional materials will also be available in the lobby of Willow Oaks Administrative Center.
Willow Oaks is open each business day from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and extended hours will be provided until 7:00 p.m. on the following days: February 3, February 10, February 17, and February 24, 2022. All community feedback will be shared with the review committee and with School Board members before the vote at the School Board regular meeting
Pop Tabs!
Kings Glen is collecting pop tabs again this year to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Northern Virginia. Collect pop tabs from aluminum cans (ex. soda, fizzy water, soup cans) and turn them into the bin by Mrs. Rode’s room or in your classroom. Even though one pop tab is not worth much, they can add up quickly! By “pulling” together we can help support families with sick or injured children.
Kings Glen just donated over 60 pounds of pop tabs that were collected the past two years. Our challenge this year is to collect at least 50 pounds!
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Kings Glen Wants Your Plastic Bags!
Please continue sending in plastic bags for our Trex recycling program! We are over half way to meeting our 500-pound goal and getting a Trex bench. Our bench will be a “Buddy Bench.” What is a Buddy Bench? It’s a place for a child to go if they feel lonely. When other kids see someone on the bench, they know that child needs a friend! All About Plastic Recycling | NexTrex
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Cold Weather and Outdoor Options
Winter temperatures have settled in our region which may give some cause for concern when we bring students outdoors for lunch, recess, mask breaks, or other activities. Please refer to the Cold Weather Safety guidance. At Kings Glen Elementary School we will continue to offer outdoor options to students as we are able. Outdoor seating is always optional and never required by the staff at Kings Glen. Please feel free to email KGNotes@fcps.edu with any questions.
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Health and Safety Reminders
Updated FCPS Health and Safety Guidance
The Health and Safety Guidance Document on the FCPS website is now updated. Please take some time to review the updated guidance on FCPS Covid protocols as they relate to your child.
Kings Park Kindergarten Registration for 2022-2023
If you have a child who will be age 5 on or before September 30, 2022, then it is time to register your child for kindergarten at Kings Park ES for the 2022-2023 school year! NOTE: Children born after September 30, 2017 are ineligible to attend kindergarten. The Code of Virginia does not allow exceptions for children born after this date.
To help Kings Park ES start registering for next year, please call the Kings Park registrar, Nancy Sawicki, at 703-426-7000 to add your child’s information to their incoming kindergarten list.
Please begin the registration process as soon as possible. Registration information and forms are available online at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration.
FCPS Cares
The FCPS Cares Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can acknowledge our Kings Glen staff members.
KGES Character Strengths: The Positivity Project
Kings Glen ES is a Partner School in the Positivity Project (P2), where one "character strength" is featured each week.
P2 for Families 1-1-3 is an easy and effective way for families to discuss the importance of character strengths and positive relationships. Click on any character strength to learn more. You’ll find 1 quote, 1 video, and 3 questions to help you and your children discuss The Positivity Project’s character strength of the week. Please see below to access P2 resources:
Enjoy discussing this week's Character Strength with your children at home!
Jan 31 - Feb 4 ~ "Prudence" Character Strength
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KP/KG PTA News
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Black History Month Virtual Speaker
In honor of Black History Month, please join us for a conversation with Michelle Cottrell-Williams, FCPS Educational Specialist for Equity and Cultural Responsiveness, regarding race, diversity, and inclusion, and how to talk with our children about these topics Wednesday, February 23rd at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Mrs. Cottrell-Williams was the 2018 Virginia Teacher of the Year and the 2017 Arlington Public Schools Teacher of the Year. She taught high school Social Studies in Arlington Public Schools for 14 years, and joined FCPS as the Educational Specialist for Equity and Cultural Responsiveness last year.
Here is the call-in/Zoom information: Go to join.zoom.us in your internet browser Meeting ID: 258 233 8875 Passcode: KPKG2020!
Volunteers Needed for Care To Share
Care to Share has been going strong, and we're collecting a good amount of extra food from school lunches to be donated to Food for Others. We could use more volunteers to help pick up and drop off the food on Tuesdays. It's easy to do if you have the time. Sign up here if interested.
Next PTA Meeting (Virtual Only)
February 3, 7 p.m.
The PTA plans to host this meeting VIRTUALLY ONLY via Zoom. Here is the call-in/Zoom information: Go to join.zoom.us in your internet browser Meeting ID: 258 233 8875 Passcode: KPKG2020! In addition to our normal PTA business, the PTA plans to hold two important votes:
- Update our 2021-2022 budget
- Elect the 2022 Nominating Committee
PTA After School Activities
The PTA is excited to bring after-school activities back to our schools this Spring! While definite plans are still being established, we are tentatively bringing back some old favorites and new faces. Look for more information on options, sign ups, costs, and more in mid-January in our newsletter, on our Facebook group, via Kings Park and Kings Glen News You Choose emails.
Free STEM Activities in February
The PTA is excited to host a variety of FREE STEM activities in February!
Baskets Bonanza - Coming March 3-17!
Baskets Bonanza will be here March 3-17! Our annual spring fundraiser has a new name and will again be a virtual event, but the essence of the event remains, -- specifically, the fabulous classroom baskets. If you are looking for a way to volunteer, this is a great chance. Sign up now to be a classroom basket parent.
More information on Baskets Bonanza and the role of the classroom basket parent is available here and a full list of this year's classroom basket themes is available here.
Stay tuned for more information about the event throughout February. Questions about the classroom baskets or the event can be sent to baskets4kpkgpta@gmail.com.
February 3: Virtual-Only PTA Meeting (7 p.m., See Above)
February 8: PTA-Sponsored Safer Internet Program (See Above)
February 11: PTA-Sponsored Code Ninjas Event (See Above)
February 21: Presidents Day (No School)
February 23: PTA Black History Month Virtual Speaker (7 p.m., See Above)
March 3: 2-Hour Early Release (Students Dismiss at 1:25 p.m.)
March 4: Staff Development Day (No School for Students)
March 3-17: PTA Baskets Bonanza (See Above)
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