Gator Bytes: News and General Information for Kings Glen ES
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Para leer este boletin en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
A Message from Principal Ritter
Dear Kings Glen Families,
Monday, September 16th will be the first of seven 3-hour early releases for elementary schools. Time is one of the most valuable resources we can give educators, the dedicated time for staff to participate in professional development and plan engaging lessons will have a direct impact on your children, and we thank you for your assistance in allowing this gift to our dedicated staff. For those families who have a childcare hardship, your children will be supervised and participate in activities to include Lexia, ST Math, and a movement break. All families will receive an email today confirming their response to the family survey indicating if your child will be staying at Kings Glen or dismissing via their typical route at 12:20 p.m..
Wednesday, September 18th will be “Moveable Monday”. All staff will follow the typical Monday schedule. Throughout the school year, we have school more Wednesdays than any other day. Moveable Mondays will occur on the following dates, October 23rd, November 20th, and March 12th and will mitigate the potential impact of early dismissal for students in music, band, strings, art, and other programs which occur on Mondays.
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REMINDER: 3-Hour Early Dismissal on Monday, September 16th at 12:20 PM
As a reminder, Kings Glen will dismiss at 12:20 PM on Monday, September 16th. 100% of our families have responded to the survey, thank you!
For families who indicated undecided, it is essential to let us know your decision; please do so by emailing KGNotes@fcps.edu.
Save the Date and Volunteer for Gator Games!
Monday, September 16th, 9-11:30 AM
Our Fall Gator Games is coming up! Mark your calendars to come and volunteer for our first school-wide event of the year on Monday, September 16th! Gator Games will occur from 9:00–11:30 AM and is a day filled with collaborative games and activities that promote building a strong, positive school community. As was did last school year for Gator Games, students will be with multi-grade level groups for the duration of the event. Keep your eye out for more information and volunteer opportunities coming soon!
Volunteers Needed for Gator Games!
Volunteers are needed for set up, clean up, and during the games they will be assisting the KGES staff member leading the station by resetting equipment and supporting students as they participate in the games. If you are interested in helping, please visit our Gator Games Volunteer Sign Up Sheet today!
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September 11th National Day of Service
With the upcoming 23rd anniversary of September 11, FCPS acknowledges the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and act in service to others to honor those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks.
Advanced Academic Program Meetings at Kings Glen
I will be hosting parent information meetings this fall at Kings Glen. These sessions will give an overview of the different ways FCPS students can access AAP curriculum.
• AAP Services Overview Meeting: Monday, Sept. 23rd (4:00-4:45pm).
• Full-Time AAP Screening & Identification Meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 1st (4:00-4:45pm).
Please email Lisa Rode at LMRode@fcps.edu with questions.
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Parent Orchestra Program
Parents and caregivers of KGES Strings students: Would you like to learn how to play your child’s String instrument? Sign up quickly for the Fairfax County Parent Orchestra program, established by last year’s Grammy award winner, Annie Ray (Orchestra Director at Annandale High School)! You can be a beginner or a returner to Strings – we have an orchestra for you!! Hope to see you there! (View Flyer)
Pixel Can Art Food Drive
Now through October 2nd
What: We are collecting 14-16 oz. sized cans of vegetables and beans. Cans that “lock together” when stacked are best for the project.
When: Collection of cans starts NOW until October 2nd.
Where: Drop of your cans and other dry food goods in the boxes by the front office.
Why: We will donate the food to ECHO in Springfield. Before it is donated, students will create a pixel can art sculpture to be displayed for the school.
September is Attendance Awareness Month
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Visit FCPS’ Attendance web page for tips and strategies.
Family Life Education Instructional Program Information
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms are available in Parent Digital Consent. Paper opt-out forms are available from your child’s school. Students receiving special education services and accessing modified curriculum will receive a printed opt-out form for modified FLE lessons.
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) , Middle School (7-8) , and High School (9-12). FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology. Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account. Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media). Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.
Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by email to fle@fcps.edu.
SEL Screener in Guidance
Over the next few weeks, Mrs. Stottlemyer, School Counselor at Kings Glen, will be administering the SEL Screener during your child's class' Guidance lesson. Students use the SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) Screener to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. More information about the SEL Screener is available here: FCPS.SELScreener
2024 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. 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 Monday, September 30.
You can submit questions online regarding the SR&R.
Safety Drills During the School Year
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.
⚠️ Know Our Security Terms
FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.
Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned.
If students, staff, or community members have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights
Fairfax County Public Schools wants all parents and caregivers to understand its policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights.
In its Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms (Annual Notice), FCPS provides explanations of the rights listed above as well as forms that may be used to exercise opt-out choices. Two versions of the Annual Notice are available: a grades K-8 version and a grades 9-12 version. Parents/caregivers with children at different grade levels should read each applicable version of the Annual Notice, because the notices and opt-out rights vary depending on the student’s grade level.
Get more information and view the 2024-25 Opt-Out Booklets.
KP/KG PTA News
Our popular FREE PTA Ice Cream Social and Resource Fair will be held at Kings Glen THIS FRIDAY September 13th at 6:30 pm. More information can be found here!
Boosterthon Fun Run. The Boosterthon Fun Run is the PTA's largest fundraiser of each school year. We are excited to kick off this year's event with a pep rally on September 11 and the actual Fun Run on Friday, September 20. The PTA is looking forward to a fun event that supports our wonderful schools! Our school goal is to raise $40,000 for field trips, outdoor benches and picnic tables, color copiers, and classroom furniture at both schools, as well as for other school and PTA projects. We need your help - register today at mybooster.com! A quick info sheet on Booster can be found here.
After School activities are open for registration! Check out our website for more information. We have a full line-up both at Kings Park and at Kings Glen. Scholarships are available (please reach out to your school counselor).
Keep in Touch with the PTA. A great way to keep in touch with the PTA is to subscribe to our emails and/or join our Facebook group. An updated PTA events calendar can also be found here. Join the PTA. We hope all members of the KP/KG community will consider joining the PTA this school year. Join on our website! Our 2024-25 PTA budget was approved at our PTA meeting last week. You can check it out here.
Papa John's is back every Thursday this school year! Enter code KPKG4010 every Thursday from 11am-11pm on your delivery or carry out order from the Burke location and you receive 40% off while the PTA receives 10% of sales donated back.
Sept. 13: PTA Ice Cream Social and Community Resource Night (6:30 p.m.)
Sept. 16: Gator Games (9-11:30 AM; See Above)
Sept. 16: 3-Hour Early Release (Students Dismiss at 12:25 p.m.)
Sept. 20: PTA Booster Fun Run
Sept. 23: AAP Services Overview Meeting (4-4:45 p.m.)
Oct. 1: Full-Time AAP Screening & Identification Meeting (4-4:45 p.m.)
Oct. 2: Deadline for Pixel Art Canned Food Drive (See Above)
Oct. 3: Rosh Hashanah Holiday (Schools Closed)
Oct. 4: Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
Oct. 14: Indigenous Peoples Day (No School for Students)
Oct. 15: AAP Referral Deadline (See Above)
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