Dates to Note
February 14 - 17 - Spirit Week - Kindness
February 16 - Immersion Registration for Lottery Closes
February 21- President's Day Holiday - School Closed
February 25 - In Person Parent Coffee - 8:30 a.m. Outside in the Tent
March 1 - Spring Pictures - Online link will be provided in order to order directly from the vendor.
March 3 - 2 hour Early Release
March 16 - Virtual Family Engagement Night - more info to follow!
March 31 - Kindergarten Parent Tour and Student Meet and Greet 2:15 - 3:00 p.m. (SIGN UP is required - see the info below)
March 4 - Student Holiday (Professional Development Day)
March 25 - Kindergarten Virtual Parent Orientation 8:00 - 8:30
March 31 - End of Third Quarter - 2 hour Early Release
April 23 - Tentative Date for KG Fun Run ~ Spring Celebration
School Calendar: 2021-22
The 2022-23 school calendar was approved by the school board recently. To find out more about next year’s school calendar, visit the FCPS website.
Dear Kent Gardens' Families,
We look forward to our 'Kindness' Spirit Week. It should be a great week to enjoy the students and individually share 'kindness' as a school community. Please join us outside of school to spread some 'kindness'.
Some highlights to note for the upcoming week:
- Immersion Lottery registration closes on 2/16
- Note the addition of the kindergarten virtual orientation for parents on 3/25 and the in person parent tour and student 'Meet and Greet' on 3/31. Parents must sign up your rising kindergarten student.
- February 21st is a student holiday.
- Parent Coffee - In person - in the tent - February 25th - 8:30 - 9:15 a.m.
Last fall, FCPS received $188.8 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding. These funds have helped us safely reopen our schools and keep them open. We have also been able to address the impacts of COVID -19 on students and their learning. Some of the ways that Kent Gardens is utilizing the ESSER III funding are included below:
- Purchased Reflex – a math fact fluency program that includes fraction practice
- Providing before and after school support with identified Tier 2 and 3 intervention supports for reading and math
- Supporting professional development for identified teachers to be trained in Orton Gillingham reading instruction program focused on phonics.
- Training identified staff members in Ad+Vantage Math Recovery (AVMR)
- Providing parents with a Virtual Parent Engagement Night – more information to come later in February.
- Purchased additional instructional supplies – Reading Success, Decoding Instructional Books, Do the Math kits etc.
- After school groups supported by our school psychologist and counselor(s).
- Contracted with Playworks to support recess play.
Please make sure you health screen your child before sending them to school on February 14th. If your child does not feel well or presents with any COVID-like symptoms, please keep them at home and seek medical advice. We appreciate your support in keeping our Kent Gardens community healthy! For parent convenience, click here for the Daily Health Questionnaire.
Thanks for your continued support!
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Strings Virtual Winter Concert
A HUGE shout out to our strings students and teachers, Ms. Anita Su and Ms. Ahnika Emery! They have worked hard this year to produce a virtual concert for you all to enjoy. We have posted the link in Schoology for all to enjoy. The teachers will send the You Tube link directly to strings' parents for you to enjoy at your leisure. This link will be available for 30 days. Once again, thanks to our hardworking students who are performing in a challenging time!
Dr. Brabrand ~ Opportunity to Meet with Students
On March 9th, there is an opportunity for students to meet with Dr. Scott Brabrand and engage with him on questions/concerns that are relevant to students in our area. This event will take place at McLean Community Center 1234 Ingleside Ave. McLean, VA 22101 from 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
For more information, please contact Mr. Jim Beggs directly at: jimbeggs@icloud.com
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We Appreciate our Counselors!
A shout out to our wonderful counselors, Ms. MacDonald and Ms. Altman - they are the best! We had a great week celebrating and appreciating their hard work! ♥
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Positivity Project: Love
The character strength of love represents the way we think, feel, and behave towards the people with whom we have close relationships. When one person loves another person, that person: comforts and makes the other feel safe; sacrifices on the other’s behalf; supports the other during struggles; and places the others’ needs ahead of his/her own. If you love a person, that person makes you feel safe and secure. You can be yourself with that person. You miss that person when he/she is not around.
“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get – only what you are expecting to give – which is everything.” ~Katharine Hepburn
Kindness Week ~ February 14 - 18
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Monday, Feb. 14th - Peace, Love and Kindness ~ Wear Tie- Dye! "Give a warm hello to any and all that you see" Note we can 'smile' with our eyes!
Tuesday, Feb. 15th - Crazy For Kindness ~ Wear your Crazy Socks! "Write a kind note to a classmate who might need a boost"
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Wednesday, Feb. 16th - Workout Problems with Kindness ~ Wear your Workout Gear! "Help someone BEFORE they ask!"
Thursday, February 17th - Show Kindness through Teamwork ~ Wear your favorite jersey "Play with someone new"
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Friday, Feb. 18th - Dream about Kindness ~ Wear your PJ's! "Share a nice note with your counselor ~ It's their week!"
** Bonus Day!! Tuesday, 2/22/2022 - It's a 'Twosday! Students and staff can wear tiaras, tu-tus, ties, and tye-dye!
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Attendance Updates
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.
Arrival time is 8:50 a.m. at the latest for our kiss and ride and walkers. Note that staff is not available at kiss and ride beyond that time. Please have your child arrive on time! It is essential for them to start the day in a calm manner.
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Kindergarten Registration and Interest 2022-23
We are excited to begin our thinking about 2022-23! Do you have a child at home who will be five by September 30th? Please start your registration now by filling out this google form. If you have any neighbors with little ones, please send this information to them as well. This form simply collects information in order to help us plan for staffing for the next school year.
If you are ready to register, please email Tracy Dean, tadean@fcps.edu to set up a convenient time to come into the office.
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Kindergarten Orientation and Tour!
Thanks for completing the google form above! We will host a Zoom Parent Orientation meeting on March 25th from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. We will post the Zoom link as we approach the date.
On March 31st, we will hold parent tours and a student 'meet and greet' with the teachers from 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. Note that March 31st is a student early release day. It is REQUIRED to sign up for one of the two sessions. Please sign up here for one of the two sessions. Parents will drop off your child(ren) in a designated kindergarten classroom and our School Student Ambassadors will conduct the parent tours. Students will meet their parents on the playground after the tour. We look forward to seeing you!
Technology Support - ParentVue
If you or your child is experiencing issues with technology, a Student Portal is available for parents, guardians, or students to submit a request directly for technology help. For parent support with SIS or Schoology, submit a request for help through the Parent Portal. Progress reports will be available in ParentVue. Note that you can also seek additional information regarding ParentVue in this link. As noted above, progress reports are available online on January 29th.
Immersion Registration Closes 2/16
We had a successful immersion information evening. If you would like to view the slide deck as reference or if you missed the meeting, it is available here. Note the Immersion Registration Site provides additional information regarding the programs etc.
Here is the link for more information regarding the immersion programs within FCPS. The window to apply for the first grade French Immersion program is January 24, 2022 to February 16, 2022 at 4 p.m. (it will close promptly)
The link to apply is here. If you are out of boundary, you will need to obtain a SIS code from your base school. More information is available on the website.
Parents, students, and community members have a unique opportunity to help FCPS select important learning resources. These reviews do not happen frequently, so selected resources will be in classrooms for years and are a significant financial investment.
Resources for elementary language arts are being reviewed through February 28. Interested individuals can review and provide feedback on digital resources online. Physical texts can be reviewed at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center in the lobby. Please ask about the books at the reception desk from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday-Friday. In-person review hours will be extended to 7 p.m. on February 3, 10, 17, and 24. You are encouraged to review both sets of resources for the full catalog of resources under review. Learn more about the elementary language arts resource review here.
Student Screening Testing
FCPS will move to a dynamic testing plan. Screening testing will be available during moderate, substantial and high community transmission to the greatest extent practicable in alignment with CDC guidance. Screening testing for students will not be offered during low transmission.
At this time, we will still have student testing until notified that transmission rates are consistently lower. On Monday, February 14th, students may obtain COVID-19 diagnostic testing at Kent Gardens from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. FCPS is partnering with LongView International Technology Solutions, Inc. (LTS) to provide testing services for students. We will have approximately 75 students tested. Currently, we have 150 in the consented portal.
One-time parent/legal guardian consent is required to begin COVID screening testing for a student to be tested at school. You may withdraw your consent for testing at any time. If you want your child to begin participating in COVID-19 screening testing, you must pre-register your child(ren) and provide consent using the LTS secure online portal. If you do not want your child to participate in COVID-19 screening testing, no action is required. You will have the option each week to update your child’s vaccination and consent for testing.
For all the details about optional COVID-19 screening testing, visit the FCPS website and review the FCPS COVID-19 Screening Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. Screening testing is a recommended layered prevention strategy that keeps Kent Gardens safe for in-person learning. Thank you for considering enrolling your child.
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Order Your Yearbook Now!
Yearbooks are sold ONLY online; Purchase one by scanning the QR code - the cost is $20. Yearbooks and order options will be delivered to the school at the end of the school year. We will close yearbook sales in February! Buy one now!
We are working on selection of the cover! We have many, many fabulous entries with over 85 entries. We have shown a few of the entries below. Amazing artwork! The back cover of the yearbook will have other entries - one per grade level. Stay tuned! THANKS to ALL! #kgpride #strongertogether #WeAllBelong
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Special Education Conference on March 26
FCPS’s 17th Annual Special Education Conference will be held virtually on Saturday, March 26, with a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) sessions. Registration for this free conference will begin in March. More information on the Special Education Conference is available online.
Summer Enrichment Camps
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) office has an engaging summer planned for your student! We are offering two enrichment camps this summer - Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy.
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Tech Adventure Camp is a weekly exploratory camp designed to give students in grades 2 – 6 the opportunity to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and computer science areas.
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CTE Summer Academy is a weekly enrichment program that allows students in grades 7 - 11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas and encourages skill development and career exploration.
Register soon! Space is limited and registration is on a first-come basis until seats are filled. Scholarships are available for Free and Reduced Meal students.
PTA News and Updates
SPIRIT WEAR & CLASS SHIRTS: While we offer many styles in our current in-stock shop Spirit Wear, we have also launched an on-demand spirit wear store: kgpride.itemorder.com Families can find a wide range of items for both kids & adults with merchandise options previously not offered. All items ship directly from the manufacturer to the customer, and new styles and colors will be added shortly. Class Shirts for each grade level are still available to buy - Click here!
DONATION DRIVE FOR REFUGEES:As a KG Family, we have been supporting the Fresh Start Refugee Assistance Center, a 501(c)3 organization that provides resettlement services to newly arrived refugees. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated so far. You can drop off items at Mariam Afzal's home - please email mmasheeb@gmail.com for the address. If you would like to make a monetary donation, click here. Thank you so much for your support!
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