Dates to Note
March 17 - 28 - McLean Youth Art Show (see the note below)
March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day - ROCK YOUR SOCKS!!!
March 24 - PTA Meeting ~ In Person at the Tent 8:45 a.m. (Inclement weather in the cafeteria)
March 25 - Kindergarten Virtual Parent Orientation 8:00 - 8:30 a.m.(link below)
March 26 - Special Education Conference
March 30 - PTA Sponsored Restaurant Night - Union Restaurant in McLean
March 31 - Kindergarten Parent Tour and Student Meet and Greet 2:15 - 3:00 p.m. (SIGN UP is required for the student meet and greet- see the info below)
March 31 - End of Third Quarter - 2 hour Early Release
April 1 - Student Holiday - Teacher Professional Development/Workday
April 4 - 8 - Spring Break
April 8 - 15 - April is the Month of the Military Child - Celebrate ALL Week! (see below)
April 23 - Spring Spectacular - Fun Run and more activities! (see below)
June 8 - Sixth Grade Promotion 6:00 p.m. (save the date!)
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 are excited to share a new resource that will soon be available to all Kent Gardens' students to support learning. All FCPS students will have unlimited access to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost. With this service, students can connect online any time, and in most subjects for as long as they need. Tutoring is focused instruction provided to students in a one-on-one format through voice or text chat. Tutors will focus on developing students’ strengths and capabilities in reading, mathematics, or other specified subjects. Tutoring services may be accessed before, during, or after school hours and/or on weekends through a link in Schoology. For more information, see the FCPS website.
Order your yearbook now! See the information below - we are shutting down next week for orders!
FCPS is looking for some artwork from students to fill the big blue field on the Schoology login page. Please consider sharing this challenge with your child. This Calling all Artists and Designers: Schoology Design Challenge document contains details that can help support you with communicating the challenge. You can also find information on the public web.
Please do check out our students' art work from March 17th through March 28th . Ms. Devlin and Ms. Kladler have worked hard to display some of our students' work at the McLean Community Center and will be present on March 26th from 1 - 3 p.m.. See the note below with additional information!
Some highlights to note for the upcoming weeks:
- Monday, March 21 - World Down Syndrome Day! Wear your Socks!
- Thursday, March 24 - Join us for an in person PTA meeting at 8:45 a.m. (Tent or if inclement weather - cafeteria)
- Friday, March 25 - Virtual Kinder Orientation (link below)
- March 31 - In person Kindergarten Parent Tour and Student Meet and Greet (Sign up required - see info below)
- March 31 - Two Hour Early Release
Please make sure you health screen your child before sending them to school on March 21st. 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
World Down Syndrome Day! March 21st
 |
|
Spring Pictures NOW Available Online!
Spring Portraits are now available to view and order online! All orders will include free shipping for the next week. This is the link for you to access
https://vando.imagequix.com/g1000911785
Please remember, the online code is your child's Student ID number. Please direct parent questions/concerns regarding picture day to underclass@vosphoto.com
|
Virtual Family Engagement Night
Thanks to all of you for joining us for our first Family Engagement Night last week. We shared information regarding the short videos prepared by our teachers for parents to support learning at home in reading and math as well as other content areas. We have uploaded 37 teacher videos available for parents to access by grade level and topic. Please access the videos at this link here. The slide deck will be shared as well. Some insight to our offerings are shown below:
- Place Value - Building Models and Playing Games to Solidify Understanding of Place Value
- Fluency in Math - Using Calendar Math to Practice Skills
- High Frequency Works - Games to Play to Reinforce
- Phonological Awareness - Spelling Strategies
- Reading Comprehension - Supporting Focus on Main Idea or Theme
- Fractions - Supporting Understanding of Fractions and Decimals
- Specialists - Resources and fun activities at home (P.E., Art, Music, FLES, STEAM and Counselor)
|
Join us in celebrating our KGES students with their accomplishments in art this year. Works have been collected throughout the school year and will be displayed at the McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) in the Emerson Gallery, located at the McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, VA 22101.
The exhibit will be held March 17 - March 28. Ms. Devlin and Ms. Klader will greet artists and their families on March 26 from 1-3pm.
|
|
 |
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.
Student Intentions....2022-23
We are already planning for the next school year! Let us know if your child(ren) might not return the next school year. This feedback is not binding but for planning purposes. Please use this link to indicate IF you are considering or planning to move.
Positivity Project: Identifying and Appreciating the Good in Other People
Identifying and appreciating the good in other people helps you see the world through a more positive – and less threatening – lens. If you’re constantly seeing the negative traits of people, you’re going to think the world is comprised of bad people – and you’re going to operate from a defensive posture.
“To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you.” ~RALPH MARSTON
 |
|
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.
|
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. There is no need to sign up for this request. Zoom link:
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/92186333345?pwd=dEtpVHhucnlad2I0V1NVRStmRldxdz09
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!
April is the Month of the Military Child
Our counselors are busy supporting the upcoming Month of the Military Child (April). They have been conducting student interviews for the morning news show. In addition, they will have certificates for military students and will have military student lunch bunches. We will place purple ribbons on trees. It will be a great week. We look forward to celebrating all of our military children and families. Stay tuned for our Spirit Week information to support our military children!
Family Engagement Survey Open Now!
FCPS is partnering with independent firm K12 Insight to administer the Family Engagement Survey to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our school community. The survey will be open March 13 - April 3. It will be available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Farsi, Chinese, Korean, Farsi, Urdu, and Vietnamese. All responses will be confidential. With parent/caregiver input, the school division will be better suited to develop policies and practices that incorporate their ideas, and help focus everyone on their role in improving student achievement.
Survey results will be used to develop a plan to improve family and school partnerships throughout the division. For more information, please check out the survey webpage. On March 13, the link will be sent to your email and will also go live here: Family Engagement Survey Link. If you need a paper copy of the survey, please reach out to our front office and we can provide one for you. Please find translated information below.
English - Spanish - Arabic - Chinese - Korean - Vietnamese
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.
SOL Dates for 3rd- 6th Grade Students
State assessments measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills reflected in state standards. The format for state assessments vary by grade level and content area. These include:
- Standards of Learning (SOL) standardized tests in reading, mathematics, and science; More information can be found on the SOL assessments webpage;
- Local alternative assessments (LAAs) including performance-based assessments (PBAs) completed as part of classroom instruction throughout the school year for science, writing, and social studies; More information can be found on the LAA and PBA webpage.
- Calendar dates are detailed below. Please plan around these scheduled dates so that your child is available during testing time:
- Grade 3
- Reading - Thursday, May 12
- Math - Thursday, May 19
- Grade 4
- Reading - Wednesday, May 11
- Math - Wednesday, May 18
- Grade 5
- Science -Thursday, May 5
- Reading - Tuesday, May 10
- Math - Tuesday, May 17
- Grade 6
- Reading - Monday, May 9
- Math - Monday, May 16
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. Despite low transmission, there will be testing on Monday, March 21st. Please note it is a random selection. We will continue to test until we receive further guidance.
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.
 |
|
Last Call for Ordering a 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 very soon! 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
|
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.
Longfellow Trivia Night-March 25 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Come join Longfellow in their Trivia Night competition! It will take place in the Lecture Hall. Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Student, parents, and teachers are all invited to attend. Maximum of 5 people per team. Sign up at this link to attend. Note that the cost is $5 per person. There is a maximum of 5 people per team. Sponsors: NJHS and Quiz Bowl. Proceeds benefit the Shelter House Inc. Contact for Questions: Bindhu Zachariah at bezachariah@fcps.edu
KG PTA Book Fair Fun!
While the in-person Book Fair has ended, our Virtual Fair continues through March 24th. If you would like to shop the Virtual Fair, you can do so through our site at: Come to Our Book Fair! A BIG thank you to the volunteers who made our Spring Book Fair a success! We could not do it without you, and your help was much appreciated. If you enjoyed volunteering in the library (or would like to start), please contact Mrs. Troncoso at retroncoso@fcps.edu to learn more.
PTA News and Updates
SPRING SPECTACULAR!
Our Spring Spectacular 5k and 1K is back!!!! Join us on Saturday, April 23 for a run or walk with your Kent Gardens friends. Stay for a while after the race to enjoy treats from the Kona Ice Food truck and Cafe Kindred coffee & pastries. The 5K will kick off at 9:00 am and the 1K fun run at 9:45.
Registration Fees: 5K: $30 through April 11, $35 April 12 – Race Day Fun Run $20 through April 11, $35 April 12 – Race Day
Online Registration will close on Thursday, April 21 at 8pm. *Please note: Any runner registered after April 8 will not be guaranteed a Spring Spectacular T-shirt. We hope to see you at the finish line!!!
INTERNATIONAL FLAG PARADE
Celebrate Kent Gardens' diverse community and military families during our International Flag Parade! The parade will follow the Spring Spectacular race on April 23rd. Click here and sign up to represent a country or where your military family has lived. Stay tuned for more details!
PTA BOARD POSITIONS
We have several PTA Board positions available next year as our current Officers are completing their terms: VP Enrichment, VP Special Programs, Secretary, Financial Secretary, and President-Elect.
If anyone is interested in being a part of the Board or learning more, please contact Andrea at KGPTAPresidentElect@gmail.com
|
