A Note from Administration
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Happy New Year! We trust you had a wonderful winter break full of family memories and relaxation! This week we jumped right back into engaging learning opportunities! Everyone worked really hard to get back into our structures and routines.
Our January is full of activities as noted below. The Math Virginia Growth Assessment is on Wednesday, January 10th. Charging the laptop prior is essential! Also students should return with plug in headphones. We will also have some students take the iReady assessment so headphones are very important! Thanks for your support!
We do have an upcoming Band Concert as well as the Dual Language Immersion Information session. There is additional information shared in the detailed blocks below.
Thanks for the yearbook covers - so much creativity! Stay tuned and buy your yearbook now at this link. The code is 21772. Thanks for supporting #kgpride!
The PTA has posted the information for the next session of After School Programs. In addition, we have included the information for volunteers for Math/STEAM Night.
We wish there had been snow but keeping our fingers crossed for more opportunities!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Sarah Talley Tia Hawkins
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Dates, Attendance and Office Reminders
January 10 - Longfellow Curriculum Info Night - Rising 7 Graders (see below)
January 11 - KG Beginners and Advanced Band Concert (details below)
January 15 - MLK Jr. Birthday Holiday - School Closed
January 18 - McLean Pyramid Chorus Concert - McLean HS
January 18 - Immersion Information Session - 5:30 p.m. KG Cafe (see below)
January 19 - Parent Coffee 8:15 a.m. followed by PTA Meeting
January 25 - End of Quarter and 2 Hour Early Release
January 25 - Open Houses at various schools for new boundary (see below)
January 26 - Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
February 6 - Fourth Grade Strings Concert
February 15 - Math/STEAM Night
February 19 - President's Day - No School
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, absence or change in dismissal (temporary transportation change). Office Reminders are here for your review.
Early Check Out: If you must check out your student early, submit online request preferably before 9:30 am. Your notification helps your teachers and office to coordinate, prepare and locate your child. Sign out on the Office Sign out clipboard and wait in the lobby/office. We will call the student upon your arrival. Students will only be released to parents, guardians, and authorized emergency contacts. Please be prepared and have your drivers license or other identification ready. The latest checkout is 2:45pm.
Kent Gardens also posts pictures weekly on Facebook. Many new pictures are uploaded this week! Like our site to see pictures of our daily work and activities!
Upcoming Band Concert Information
Our beginner's band and advanced band will be rehearsing for the band concert as shown below. Note that students should bring their instruments on specified days below.
- Beginner's Band Rehearsals - January 9
- Advanced Band Rehearsals - January 10
The concert is on January 11th at 5:30 p.m. (Students report at 5:00 p.m.) We look forward to seeing you all at Kent Gardens!
Dual Language Immersion Registration
All rising kindergarten and first grade students who live in Fairfax County may enter a lottery to participate in Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs. In DLI programs, students are learning elementary content in two languages with students spending half of the day learning in either language. English Language Arts and Social Studies are taught in English. Math, Science, Health, and Target Language Arts are taught in another language. FCPS offers DLI programs in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Online lottery application begins on January 22nd at 9 a.m. A SIS account is required to complete the application. If a student is not currently enrolled in FCPS, registration at the base school is required. FCPS does not provide transportation for students who live outside the attendance area of the DLI school. A one-time fee of $100 must be paid upon acceptance of an out-of-boundary placement (see Notice 5922).
Kent Gardens will host an information session led by Beatrix Preusse from the World Languages Department on January 18th at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.
For more information including program sites and information sessions, please visit: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/dual-language-immersion-programs-registration
Science Olympiad 'A' Competition Celebration
Our third and fourth graders celebrated their work on Friday with Mr. Shivnen! Thanks to him for supporting and for the parents for acting as mentors. It takes a team - the students performed well!
Kent Gardens Boundary Update - Open Houses
As previously communicated, FCPS made its recommendation for a boundary adjustment to address the overcrowding issue at Kent Gardens and recommended "Scenario B". Scenario B reassigns an estimated 380 students among five elementary schools. A map can be found here (scroll to Scenario B).
- Rising Kindergarten and 1st-grade students will be reassigned to attend the newly assigned school for the 2024-25 school year.
- Rising 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade students have the option to attend the newly assigned school or remain at their prior assigned school for the 2024-25 school year and until they matriculate to middle school.
The adopted phasing plan allows students/caregivers the option to remain at their current school or change schools the next school year. The phasing plan allows continuity for students enrolled in the French Immersion program at Kent Garden, which starts at first grade.
Students that are involved in phasing over the next several years will be provided bus transportation to their elementary school. We need those that are involved in the affected neighborhoods to fill out the form indicating which school your child will attend by the February deadline so our transportation staff has maximum planning time.
The McLean Elementary Boundary Webpage will continue to be updated with important news going forward. All schools who will be receiving students from KG are hosting an Open House for new families on Thursday, January 25th at 3PM.
Chesterbrook ES- 1753 Kirby Rd, McLean, VA 22101
Churchill Road ES- 7100 Churchill Rd, McLean, VA 22101
Haycock ES- 6616 Haycock Rd, Falls Church, VA 22043
Franklin Sherman ES- 6633 Brawner St, McLean, VA 22101
Save the Date - Math/Steam Night - Feb. 15
We look forward to enjoying Math/STEAM Night. If you have a middle school or high school student who would like to support, here is a google link! The students can get credit for the hours! It will be a FUN night!
Order your KG Yearbook Now!
Use the QR code and order today! The code is 21772 accessible at Yearbookorddercenter.com
We had an amazing number of entries - stay tuned for the yearbook finalists!! Thanks to ALL who participated - we appreciate your participation and hard work! #kgpride
|
|
 |
Virginia Growth Assessment Testing Update
This past week we completed the Grades 3-6 in reading VGA. This next week, we will complete the math VGA. For more information, please reference the parent notification link here: Elementary and Middle School State Assessments - Parent Notification.
Snow Days This Winter
For the current school year, FCPS will be returning to its previous procedure for snow days — there will be no virtual learning days when school is closed due to bad weather. During snow days, students may still access Tutor.com, complete any supplemental learning opportunities recommended by their teachers, and view educational programming (available virtually and on public access television channels):
Eleven snow days are built into the existing FCPS calendar. Eliminating virtual learning days will allow us to maximize students’ in-person learning and provide equitable access to instruction and student services.
 |
|
Note to All Rising 7th Graders!
Longfellow Middle School is excited to invite you to the Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. This night will be full of information about Longfellow and the transition to middle school. Our core and elective teachers will highlight their exciting classes. There will be students and staff members to answer any questions you might have. The inclement weather date is Wednesday, January 17, 2024, from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.
|
 |
|
Help FCPS Reach 1 Million Minutes
FCPS Family Math Week starts on Monday, January 8! Participate in games and stories online. FCPS is working toward a total of 1 million minutes logged by families. The event is free, with activities from ST Math geared toward students in grades K-6 and their families.
Math Week offers families an opportunity to experience math, literacy, history, and geography in a fun and positive way. All content will be available for families in English and Spanish beginning Monday, January 8. Visit the Math Week website.
|
PTA News
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!
Ways to Get Involved at Kent Gardens
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed on FRIDAYS
Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up here and/or email lanavu@gmail.com or beccadw@gmail.com with questions.
Service hours available for middle/high school students!
Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you.
 |
|
Teacher Love Days on Wednesdays
Sign-up to provide treats for our KG staff on Wednesday! Are you a blue-ribbon award winning baker? No. That's okay. Our teachers appreciate ALL treats that we deliver to the teacher's lounge every Wednesday. You can create little bags of candy, stop by your favorite bakery, or whip up great-grandma's kugel or simply bring some coffee to share. The only limit is your imagination. Sign-up to provide treats here!
|
After School Programs
Registration for our Spring Academies will open at 9am on January 11 and run through January 19. Spots fill quickly so don't wait to register!
KG Supports Healthy Rewards!
Beginning January 10th, order smoothies and KG reaps some proceeds and supports this family owned business!
|
