Equity is the Forefront of our Work!
Thanks to Ms. Alany, who is leading our Equity team. At KG, we ALL belong! #kgpride #StrongerTogether #WeAllBelong
A Note from Administration
Dear Parents/Guardians,
We have had a busy return to school in January. Note that we have the Dual Language Immersion Information session this Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. There is additional information shared in the detailed block below.
We also have the PTA meeting this Friday in the morning with a parent coffee preceding it at 8:15 a.m. Note that there will be google form coming very soon for the boundary decisions. At this time, all parents who are in the designated area should respond to the Facilities google form with your intentions. It will ensure that you have busing at the designated school. If you have questions/concern, you may email Holly McGuigan. Note that I do not make decisions around exceptions. The region will make determinations after the google form completion and numbers are evaluated.
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!
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!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Sarah Talley Tia Hawkins
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Dates, Attendance and Office Reminders
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. in Library followed by PTA Meeting at 8:45 a.m. in cafeteria.
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!
Amazing Band Concert
We thoroughly enjoyed the band concert! Thanks to Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Gurian and our parent support!
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 Christina Andros, World Languages Coordinater 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
Sixth Grade Moments
Our sixth graders are amazing at KG! Reading buddies and also keeping lunch real! They are prepping for middle school :) #kgpride
Kent Gardens Boundary Update - Open Houses
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. Note that the Facilities office will release a google form in the next week or so. This form should be completed by all of our affected families with your intentions.
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
Second Grade Habitats - Done!
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
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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.
PTA News
NEXT PTA Meeting is set for 1/19
What happens at a PTA meeting? And why should you attend? Not only do you get to hear about ALL the ways that you can support our school through your time, talents, and financial gifts, but you get to hear about timely information from Mrs. McGuigan, the PTA, and other parents about what's happening in the life of our school. At our 10/26 meeting, we learned more about FCPS plans for KGES' capacity challenges, upcoming events, and ways to help out KGES.
Join us on January 19 at 8:45am in the Cafeteria for our next meeting! Principal McGuigan is going to be hosting a Parent's Coffee prior to the meeting on 1/19.
Come for coffee & conversation with Principal McGuigan at 8:15am in the library and stay for the PTA meeting at 8:45am - we will transition to the cafeteria!
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
Girls on the Run needs volunteers!
The KGES Girls on the Run program is seeking coaches and practice partners for its spring season. Practices will take place either M/W or Tu/Th between 3:45-5 p.m. Coaches complete program training in February to prepare for the spring season, which runs from March-May. We also need parent practice partners, who help at practices but do not have to complete the February training. The kids of any parent volunteers are guaranteed a spot in the program. The KGES program is very popular but we had a coaching shortage last fall and had to limit the number of participants. We need more volunteers to run the program this spring! Contact Danielle Newman for more info at kges.gotr@gmail.com.
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.
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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!
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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!
Chess Club Open for Spring Enrollment
Any Kent Gardens student in 2nd through 6th grade may join the Chess Club. All are welcome: Girls! Boys! New and experienced players!
Chess Club meets on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 5:15pm in the cafeteria at Kent Gardens Elementary.
The Spring session will start on Wednesday, February 7th, and end May 29th. Registration deadline is Friday, February 2nd, or until we hit max capacity of 100 students, whichever comes first.
Our Chess Club instructor is Mr. David Mehler, from the U.S. Chess Center. He organizes games and provides small group instruction. He has taught Chess since 1972, and has been teaching Chess Club to our students since 1990. He is one of the first nationally certified Professional Chess Coaches in the USA (the highest level)!
Sign up for Chess Club at: https://kentgardenspta.com/product/chess-club/
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