Dates to Note
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 4 - Student Holiday (Professional Development Day)
March 9 - Dr. Brabrand Meets with Students (info. below)
March 16 - Virtual Family Engagement Night - more info to follow!
March 25 - Kindergarten Virtual Parent Orientation 8:00 - 8:30
March 26 - Special Education Conference
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 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 had a wonderful kindness week - so much fun for all students to participate including our staff. It was great to have student participation. Our pictures depict some of the fun that we enjoyed! We also celebrated 100 days of school - it's been a journey!
Last week, we shared some of the ways that we are spending our ESSER III funding. We have included the information below for your reference. As we look forward, all FCPS families are encouraged to participate in a public engagement opportunity related to how FCPS is meeting ESSER III requirements for ensuring a safe return to in-person instruction and providing continuity of learning. As a reminder, last fall, FCPS received $188.8 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding to address the impacts of COVID-19 on students. For more information on the ESSER III grant, please watch this video and visit the FCPS website.
Some highlights to note for the upcoming week:
- Note 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.
- "Twosday" 2/22/2022 - Students and staff can wear tiaras, tu-tus, ties, and tye-dye!
Please make sure you health screen your child before sending them to school on February 20th. 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
Twosday!!, 2/22/2022
It's a 'Twosday! Students and staff can wear tiaras, tu-tus, ties, and tye-dye!
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
ESSER - Cares Act
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.
Positivity Project: Cheering Others Success
Positivity Project: Cheering Others Success
This week, we are working on ONE of the FIVE overarching pillars of the Positivity Project. Cheering others’ success is an important test of our character every single day.
“Friends don’t get jealous of each other or begrudge the other for finding success. They celebrate every victory together.” ~Karen Kingsbury
Questions you might enjoy talking about:
- Be grateful. The root of jealousy is cut off when you focus on the things you DO have, not that you don’t have.
- Be inspired instead of discouraged by their success.
- Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone is different.
- Know that your value does not come from external things.
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.
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.
Elementary Magnet School Lottery
The Magnet Lottery registration window will open Tuesday, March 1, 2022. No late applications will be accepted. Families wanting to apply for the Magnet Lottery must have a SIS account. If a student is not currently enrolled in FCPS, registration at the base school for the upcoming school year will be required. A separate application must be completed for each sibling applying. Legacies also must apply to be eligible. Acceptances into one of the magnet programs is not transferable into another program or school.
Registration for the elementary magnet school lottery closes on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. No late applications will be accepted.
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. There will be no testing on Monday, February 21st as we are not in school - it is a student holiday.
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.
SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-Person and Virtual Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!
The Sibshop workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with special needs to:
- Meet other siblings in a relaxed, virtual setting.
- Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
- Share sibling experiences and receive peer support.
- Play games and have fun!
Presented by FCPS School Social Work Services Registration is free, however, donations are accepted to support the cost of future Sibshops: Donate Here Friday, March 4, 2022. *School Planning Day – students are not attending school.
Register for SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-person, and Virtual Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs!
PTA News and Updates
GIRLS ON THE RUN - GOTR has the following options for Spring 2022!
Mon/Wed (3:45PM - 5:00PM) -Grades 3-5
Tues/Thur (3:45pm - 5:00pm) -Grades 3-5
Heart & Sole (Mon/Wed 3:45PM - 5:00PM) - Grade 6 Only
We are looking for additional coaches/substitute coaches for Tuesday/Thursday. Please help if you can! Check out the Returning Coach Form, New Coach Application or Substitute Coach Form.
Click here to register!
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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