Eclipse Viewing ~ Enjoyed by All!
Thanks to our PTA for providing the whole school eclipse glasses. We are collecting the glasses to share with a Latin American country to view in October 2024. A wonderful learning experience!
A Note From Administration
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are excited to be back at school and we have been busy! April is an action packed month of activities and learning.
This month is the Month of the Military Child! Kent Gardens is a Purple Star School. The designation is awarded to schools that have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families. We will enjoy celebrating our military through various activities. See the Spirit Week information for next week below and join us!
We look forward to seeing everyone at Cultural Heritage Night is April 20 - Sign up here to participate! The event will be from 4 - 6 p.m. The PTA is looking for volunteers - see the blurb below.
Note that you can expect 3rd quarter progress reports to be available in ParentVue on April 15.
Last but not least, please order your yearbook now! The deadline is 4/22/2024 - there are no extra paper copies! Thanks for ordering! The QR code is below - the code is 21772 accessible at Yearbookorddercenter.com
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Purple Up! Day - April 17, 2024
Throughout the month of April, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will be honoring the invaluable contributions of military-connected youth with the Month of the Military Child and Purple Up! Day.
FCPS would like to express its gratitude to these unsung heroes. With approximately 14,000 military-connected students, FCPS recognizes the extraordinary strength military-connected students possess in order to navigate the military lifestyle. The resilience and courage of our military-connected youth does not go unnoticed, and their commitment to supporting their service member parents and guardians deserves the utmost admiration and respect.
As part of this month-long recognition, FCPS will celebrate Purple Up! Day on April 17, 2024. Schools and community members are encouraged to wear purple as a visible gesture of their appreciation and support for military-connected youth. In addition to Purple Up! Day, FCPS school communities are coming together to honor their military-connected students in meaningful and creative ways. To connect with more FCPS resources, please email militaryfamilies@fcps.edu.
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Volunteers/Support for the Cultural Heritage Night ~ April 20
We are excited about the upcoming Cultural Heritage Night which will take place on April 20 from 4 - 6 p.m. We have many parents who have signed up to participate with food etc. Here is the link to sign up for food and/or a table to share an activity or craft or simply items that depict your culture. We will culminate with the wonderful parade!
Calling All Volunteers!
The PTA is looking for additional support for volunteers for the evening. Here is a link through Sign Up genius. Note that they would love middle and high school students who need to earn hours and other parents/adults to help support. Please use this link to sign up to support either with items needed or volunteer.
Deadline for a Yearbook is April 22, 2024 - Order Now!
Use the QR code and order today! The code is 21772 accessible at Yearbookorddercenter.com
Deadline is April 22, 2024 - Order NOW! There are no extra copies available in June.
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Dining Room Assistant
We are looking for assistance in the cafeteria - if you know someone or would like to work as a dining room assistant, please contact Holly McGuigan at hsmcguigan@fcps.edu. The timeframe is about 3.5 hours per day and involves assisting students during lunch time as well as supervising student clean-up, keeps order, and dismisses students to their teachers. We are looking for an individual who is friendly, energetic, and assertive in maintaining expectations of cafeteria behavior, and loves working with children.
Dates, Attendance and Office Reminders
April - Month of the Military Child - See the Spirit Wear for week below!
April 15- Quarter 3 grades available in SIS ParentVUE
April 17 - Purple Up Day - Let's Celebrate our Military and wear purple!!
April 19 - PTA Meeting 8:45 a.m.
April 20 - Cultural Heritage Night 4 - 6 p.m.
May 3- Teacher Workday/Student Holiday
May 9th and 10th - Second Grade CRIT
May 6 - 10 - Teacher Appreciation
May 8 - Bike & Walk to School Day
May 20th and 21st - Sixth Grade CRIT
SAVE THE DATES
Sixth Grade Farewell - June 10
Sixth Grade Celebration - June 11
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!
Student Intentions If Moving
If you plan on moving or attend a different school for the 2024-25 school year, please complete this form. Note that students who are affected by the boundary change do not need to remit this form. It is to capture students who are moving out of state or otherwise.
Courtyard Clean Up - Thanks to ALL!
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Spring Photos Are Online!
Hello Kent Gardens Elementary School Families! Victor O'Neill Studios recently held Spring Portrait Day at our schools and Spring pictures are available online at the link below. We've become aware that the recently shared link may not have worked for everyone, so please follow the instructions below to access the photos if you're having any trouble.
If this link does not direct you to the Victor O'Neill Studios website, please copy the text and paste it into your browser search bar to visit the page.
Please remember, the online code is the Student ID Number. For questions about orders, please email underclass@vosphoto.com
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Save the Date - Longfellow MS Jump Start 2024
Jump Start is an opportunity for rising 7th grade students to learn more about middle school and meet other students before the school year begins. Jump Start dates are August 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th. Students choose to attend during Session 1 (Monday & Tuesday) or Session 2 (Wednesday & Thursday) from 8:30 - 12:00 each day. Further details forthcoming regarding the registration process! If you have any questions feel free to contact our After-School Specialist, Lavina Gangwani-Colaco - lkgangwanico@fcps.edu.
Standards of Learning Dates
Parents please mark your calendars for these dates to plan ahead!
- May 7- Fourth and Fifth Grade Reading SOL
- May 8 - Third and Sixth Grade Reading SOL
- May 14 - Fourth and Fifth Grade Math SOL
- May 15 - Third and Sixth Grade Math SOL
- May 17- Fifth Grade Science SOL
Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month. One in 44 children is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder in the United States, according to the CDC. Our schools and staff play a vital role in creating and ensuring inclusive environments that accommodate and affirm autistic students.
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Science Olympiad - Success!
Thanks to Mr. Shivnen and our other parent volunteers, our KG team truly shone at the finals. Well done team!
Kindergarten Updates 2024-25
We look forward to meeting our rising kindergarten students. Our virtual parent information session is Available here. To register your child, use this link. Please share information about your rising kindergartener here. It will help us ensure that we have staffing and also support placement needs.
Thanks to our sixth graders for supporting the parent tours - they are the best!
Shout Out to our fabulous Library Team!
We appreciate them for all that they do to support reading!
School Health Aide and PHN Survey
The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) employs school health aides and public health nurses who provide school health services to the students in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). To determine the quality of these services, a survey has been developed by the FCHD to be shared with all parents or guardians of FCPS students. Parents/guardians will be asked for feedback on the level of satisfaction with School Health services provided to the school community. The survey will be distributed electronically via FCPS This Week. The survey window is April 15 - April 26, 2024. Survey link: www.redcap.link/FCHDSchoolHealthSurvey.
Survey results will provide a basis for quality improvement of School Health services. The data-driven process is in alignment with the FCPS Strategic planning process, and the survey results will contribute positively to the FCPS Strategic Plan that reflects a shared consensus among stakeholders.
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
Volunteer to Host a Kinder Playdate
Kinder Playdates are informal gatherings on the KGES playground so our rising kindergarteners and their families can meet each other. We are looking for hosts, preferably current kinder or 1st grade families who can help answer questions. We need hosts for:
Saturday, May 18, 10:00am - 12:00noon Saturday, June 23, 9:00am – 11:00am Wednesday, July 17, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
It's an easy and fun volunteer opportunity. If you're interested, email Andrea!
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
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. The only limit is your imagination. Sign-up to provide treats here!
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 Appreciation Week Coming May 6-10
The KGES PTA will be celebrating Teacher Appreciating Week May 6-10. Look out for more information and our sign-up genius links for grade level themes after Spring Break! We can't wait to show our staff how much we LOVE them!!!
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