A Note from Administration
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Hope all enjoyed the three day weekend, as we look forward to the second half of the school year. This weekend brought a huge shift in the weather from freezing temperatures to truly warm temps! We look forward to being outside again and enjoying the outdoor space!
Thanks to all who attended the PTA meeting this past Friday. We had a great discussion regarding upcoming events that would be supported by the PTA and school. We will be sharing the dates for our International Night, Fun Run and other important dates!
Recently, FCPS remitted the google form for those who are in the designated area for the boundary change. All families 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/concerns, 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. See the information below with additional information on the boundary change.
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
February 2 - Spelling Bee Vocabulary Test (see below)
February 5 - 9 School Counseling Week - Celebrate our counselors!
February 6 - Fourth Grade Strings Concert
February 12 - 16 Math/STEAM Spirit Week
February 15 - Math/STEAM Night 5 - 6:30 p.m. Google form for volunteer students!
February 19 - President's Day - No School
February 22 - Bus Driver Appreciation
February 22 - Yearbook Club Pictures and New Students
March 5 - School Closed - Virginia Presidential Primary
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!
Spelling Bee - KG Registration Is Open
Would your child (in grades 3 - 6) like to participate in the Kent Gardens Spelling Bee? To enroll, please complete this registration form. The enrollment deadline is Wednesday, January 31st.
A vocabulary assessment is a prerequisite/component of the Spelling Bee.
The Spelling Bee will be organized as follows:
1. The paper/pencil Vocabulary Test will be conducted during school on Friday, February 2nd at 9:15 a.m. (Snow date: Friday, February 9th at 9:15 a.m.) Students will answer 25 multiple-choice vocabulary questions. The top fifteen (15) participants with the highest scores on the Vocabulary Test will be invited to compete in the Oral Spelling Bee.
All students in Grades 3 through 6 will be tested on the same words.
2. The Oral Spelling Bee will be conducted on Wednesday, February 21st at 3:45 p.m. in the Library. (Snow date: TBD.)
3. The winner of the Oral Spelling Bee will represent Kent Gardens at the 2024 Fairfax County Spelling Bee on SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024, 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM, at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Burke, VA. (The competition will be in-person, local health regulations permitting.)
4. The speller who wins the title of Fairfax County Spelling Bee Champion earns the right to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, to be held during Bee Week, May 26-31, 2024, at the Gaylord Hotel and Resort in National Harbor, MD.
Please contact Sheri Emory, Reading Specialist, at saemory@fcps.edu if you have any questions or concerns.
Dismissal in Warm Weather!
Thanks to our patrols and all of those that support our dismissal! It takes a village!
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).
If you missed the immersion meeting, you can access at this link. There is also a virtual meeting on February 1st. For more information including program sites and information sessions, please visit this link.
Sixth Grade Moments
Our sixth graders enjoyed socratic seminar and the opportunity to present their ideas!
Kent Gardens Boundary Update ~ Google Form
This resource is ONLY for families for those affected by the boundary change. Note the link below to check if you are affected. Families NOT affected do not need to respond.
To prepare for the 2024-25 school year and provide a smooth transition to the new elementary school boundaries in the McLean area, Fairfax County Public Schools requests impacted families to complete a brief information form by February 29, 2024.
Complete the McLean Area Elementary Boundary Adjustment Information Form.
The form asks the current school your child attends, the school your child will be attending next school year (2024-25), and your transportation needs. Additional information will be collected regarding AAP, special education, and immersion program participation.
All affected families should complete the form, even if you are choosing to attend your newly assigned school. Please understand that families who do NOT respond to the form by the February 29 deadline will NOT be able to access school bus transportation to or from school for school year 2024-25.
The following resources are available to assist you:
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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Longfellow Information for Future 7th Graders
It was so nice meeting many of our rising 7th graders, parents, & guardians during curriculum night! We hope that you were able to learn about the curriculum, course offerings, and connect with staff & students. If you were unable to attend, no worries! You can access all our presentations on the LMS Academic Advising website! Please be on the lookout for future programs and activities to ensure a smooth transition for all rising 7th grade students! Thank you and we look forward to fostering healthy partnerships with every one of you. LMS Academic Advising 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
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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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/
 Visit District Taco (1334 Chain Bridge Rd, Mclean, VA 22101) on 2/6 from 4pm to 8pm, mention Kent Gardens and a portion of your purchase will benefit our school! Taco 'bout how your Taco Tuesday can REALLY make a difference for our school community!
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