Recess Fun!
Friday's weather was simply perfect! This week is forecasted to be very warm. We will ensure all are safe.
A Note from Administration
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We enjoyed seeing many of you at the Back to School Night event. We had Elaine Tholen and Dr. Geovanny Ponce join us that evening. The teachers provided a great deal of information regarding the curriculum and guidelines for the remainder of the year. A gentle reminder that we do not celebrate birthdays with food, but you are welcome to share a book with the class or other small item (non edible) as we work to accommodate all students.
Please note the Opt Out information below - information is available at this link. There is no required action for parents. We do need your Digital Consent and electronic approval of the SR&R. See more information below.
A final reminder to sign up your students for band or strings! Please use this google form! #kgpride #StrongerTogether #WeAllBelong
Lastly, we will start with beginning of the year assessments this week. Please ensure your student has headphones as several assessments in Grades 1-6 require them.
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Sarah Talley Tia Hawkins
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
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Dates, Attendance and Office Reminders
Monday September 4 - School is closed for the Labor Day Observance.
Friday, September 8 - Celebrate McLean! (see flyer below)
Tuesday, September 19 - Boundary Study Community Meeting, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. McLean HS Cafeteria ~ Door #9 (no registration required)
Friday, September 22 - First PTA Meeting - 8:45 a.m. Cafeteria
Monday, September 25 - Yom Kippur - School Closed
Wednesday, September 27 - 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Virtual Via Zoom (pre-registration required)
Monday October 9 - Student Holiday - Teacher Workday
FCPS annual calendar is here.
Attendance link is here. Please do use our links at the Kent Gardens website to notify of tardy, early pick up or absence. Office Reminders are here for your review.
Kent Gardens also posts pictures weekly on Facebook. Like our site to see pictures of our daily work and activities!
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Advanced Academic Updates
We will host a virtual information session on Thursday, October 5th at 8:30 a.m. via Zoom. (Link to follow as well as a google form to complete) We will provide an overview of the Advanced Academic program within FCPS. In addition, we will discuss the Referral and Screening process. Learn about the levels of service and curriculum in grades K-6 as well as the referral process for Full-time service. Here is a link to the AAP Fall Newsletter 2023.
Advanced Academic Program (AAP) One-Time Retake Request Deadlines
Parents in 1st – 6th grade can request a one-time retake of either the CogAT or NNAT if you feel your child’s score does not reflect their ability. If you would like to request a retake, please email our School Test Coordinator, Tia Hawkins by September 15th for the CogAT and October 15th for the NNAT.
Emergency Care Card Updates
Emergency Care Card Forms are important in helping us contact you in case of an emergency. Parents can help by assuring that the school has the most up-to-date information. Please update any information by using the ParentVue/Online Verification Update system. To read more about the OVU, visit the OVU page on the FCPS site. To access your ParentVue to update/verify, visit the ParentVue Login page.
Digital Resource Consent
Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Parent Consent webpage. This page also includes directions for providing permission. Information about the educational technology tools approved for use within FCPS can be found in the online Digital Ecosystem Library. Parents can find more information about FCPS-approved digital resources on the Digital Resources in FCPS webpage.
Opt-Out Annual Notice
FCPS Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Information can be found in this booklet at this link. Access the link to review detailed information about your opt-out choices which are due no later than Thursday, August 31st. Opt-outs can be completed online. If you have no objection to the activities described in this booklet, do NOT sign or submit any of the forms.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Updates include a revision of dress code expectations, bystander expectations for students witnessing harmful or unsafe behaviors, bullying, and substance abuse responses. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Friday, September 29.
We Love our Patrols!!
SIS ParentVUE - How to Access/Update
Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from FCPS and our school by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE. Make sure you complete the Emergency Care Form for your child every year and update when necessary.
To update your contact information in ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then select the “Online Verification/Update” form in the drop down menu. Click “Begin Packet.”
Newly enrolled families should have received an activation key for your account. If you have not yet activated your account, please reach out to Annie Joseph or Eva Townsend.
Support Your Child’s Success
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child.
Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Final Reminder to Sign Up for Band/Strings or Chorus
A gentle reminder to sign up your child(ren) who are in 4th, 5th or 6th Grade for Band or Strings. We have a vibrant program with AMAZING teachers. It is a great way to experience and learn how to read music. If you know that your child will continue in band or strings or is planning on participating, please do complete the google form now. Most students play an instrument in grades 4 - 6. You MUST complete the google form for your child to participate.
Strings is offered to students in grades 4 - 6. As 4th grade is the initial entry, we typically have over 95% participation. Sign up here!
Band is offered to students in grades five and six. Band instruction begins in 5th grade. Students who participated in strings in the fourth grade either stay with the strings instruction or explore a new instrument in band. Here is the link to sign up now.
Do you have a fifth or sixth interested in joining the chorus? Please sign up in the google form here. Chorus class will be held once a week in the morning prior to school. Students can do band or strings and also participate in chorus.
A Great Week!
We love our specials - art, music, library, FLES, STEAM, band and strings!
LightSpeed News!
FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.
Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours. Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
PTA News
We welcome everyone to join our first PTA meeting on September 22nd at 8:45am in the Cafeteria. In the meantime, if you have questions or would like to further get involved, please email kgptapresident@gmail.com
One and Done is Here! Our 2023 goal is $45,000 in 40 days. Thank you to the families who donated this week! Our campaign is off to a great start. We are almost 30% of the way to our goal of $45,000!!!
Join the PTA now! We have so much to support at the school and look forward to all families joining!
Come volunteer this year! Fill out the PTA's volunteer interest form and let us know if you'd like to be matched with an opportunity to give back to this amazing community! Find the form here!
Afterschool Academies Return this Fall
Registration for the Fall Afterschool Academies will open on September 12 at 9am and runs through September 19! By popular demand, after school enrichment is back and we're offering more classes than ever for the fall session! Check out the schedule here!
Click here to register beginning at 9am on September 12.
Fresh Baguette Fundraiser | September 11-17
Fresh Baguette's McLean location (6707 Old Dominion Dr. #115, McLean, VA) will donate 15% of specified sales to Kent Gardens September 11-17. To participate, you MUST mention Kent Gardens with your order!
1) In-person: mention "Kent Gardens."
2) Online: type "Kent Gardens" in the "instructions" field.
3) Via the Fresh Baguette app: Download the “Fresh Baguette Bakery” app and get $5 off your first order. Available on Google Play and the Apple Store.
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