Three Hour Early Release Update
Thanks for the successful three hour early release. We truly appreciate your support. It definitely helped our teachers complete the professional development (30 hours of coursework) required by the Virginia Department of Education. Ultimately, it will strengthen our classroom instruction in the new framework for literacy, impacting reading and writing lessons your children receive.
As we plan forward, we are happy to share that SACC will provide coverage for our next early release date of October 28th. We will remit a separate email to our SACC families to confirm their plans. Otherwise, we will assume that your child(ren) will depart the same way as it occurred on 9/23. If you have a change, please indicate by using this google form. Thanks in advance.
The dates for the Three Hour Early Release are as follows: 10/28, 12/9 (change from 11/25), 2/24, 3/17, 4/28 and 5/19. Note the change in the November 25th date - it is now December 9th. We will use the current spreadsheet from 9/23 and parents should notify us with changes for 10/28.
Bike/Walk/Roll to School!
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
It was a rainy but quick three day week! We had wonderful participation in the Bike/Walk/Roll to school despite the weather.
Student Picture Day will be here soon on the 11th of October. Use this link to pre-order online. In addition, our school Book Fair will be here soon! The links are included below for you to browse with your child(ren).
Note that we have amended the Fall Celebration date to October 31st. Students will be permitted to wear costumes (book character emphasis) but remember, no weapons nor masks and students should be prepared to learn that day. The kindergarteners will parade for us and their parents that morning.
Many parent conferences have and are taking place. We are sharing data that will be available to you on ParentVue which will include iReady assessments and VAALLs (reading data for grades 1-3) We will keep you updated on the timing. Note that during our Parent Engagement Night on the 7th of November, we will have central office staff share an overview of the Benchmark Reading Program, Math Progression and Portrait of a Graduate focus. We will also share resources for parents to work with your child(ren). Mark your calendars to attend on November 7th at 6 p.m.
Thanks as always for your support!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
October 11: Student Picture Day! Pre-order Online Images will be available two-three weeks after picture day. Volunteers needed and receive a $25 credit from our vendor for their support! Sign up for a shift! Volunteers are requested to stay for the duration of the slot. Questions email underclass@vosphoto.com
October 14: Holiday - No School for Students
October 20: KG Opp to Buy Commander Tickets! Playing the Carolina Panthers! See below!
October 21 - 25: School Book Fair
- October 18 - 21 - Set Up and Class Previews
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Tuesday, Oct 21: Parents and Pastries (8:00 AM- 8:45 AM)
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Wednesday, Oct 22: Class Buying (During the Day) and Family Night (4:00 PM-7:00 PM)
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Thursday, Oct 23: Class Buying
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Friday, Oct 24: Open Buy and Pack up
October 25: Next PTA Meeting 8:45 a.m.
October 28: Three Hour Early Release
October 31: Fall Class Celebration - Room Parents/Homeroom Teachers - TWO HOUR Early Release - End of Quarter
November 7: Parent Engagement Night - 6 pm. Come learn about the new Reading Platform ~ Benchmark, the FCPS Math focus as well as Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Presentations of Learning. (Parents Only ~) (We will host Math/STEAM Night and Literacy Night later in 2025.)
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
We Appreciate our Custodians!!
Second Grade Cognitive Ability Testing Notification
The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered the mornings of October 15, 16 and 17. The CogAT measures students’ reasoning abilities in verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal areas. Note that this assessment is not a test that requires any preparation, as it is designed to assess a child’s natural thinking and problem-solving skills. Please ensure your child is well-rested and arrives on time to school.
Focus on Past Character Strengths
This week, our school community will review our past character strengths! You can review by visiting the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you can watch a video, read a quote, and discuss three questions together.
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Heritage Planning Night
Heritage Night will be held on December 7th this year and we need your help to make this event a night to remember! The Heritage Night Planning Meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct 16th at 845am in the cafeteria. Unable to join the meeting but still want to help? Email Jenny at kgptapresident@gmail.com
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Our Fall Book Fair will run October 18-25 and we're SO excited! Did you know that Mrs. Hershey uses funds that we raise from our book fairs to bring in amazing authors like Stuart Gibbs last year and Joanna Ho this year! When you buy books from our book fair you not only support our developing readers and our amazing library, you make learning exciting! But we can't host these fairs without volunteers. Please consider picking up a shift or two! It's really LOADS of fun!
Things to do before the Fair kicks off:
1) Check out the book fair website here! You can ALWAYS order books online and you can order them before the book fair even kicks off!
2) Fund your child's e-wallet to make book fair shopping easy! Click the picture below to go directly to the site!
3) Sign-up to help out at the fair!
4) Check out when your class is previewing and shopping!
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A Note from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison
Did you know that FCPS Office of Family and School Partnerships offers “Tips and Ideas of the Day” for Families? I hope you find this information useful in preparing for teacher meetings and how parents can partner with your child’s teachers to make conferences a successful and rewarding experience.
Make the Most of Your Parent-Teacher Conference
When families and teachers work together, they are an unbeatable team. But successful conferences don't just happen. To prepare for your next conference:
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Think about what you want to learn from the teacher. Write down some questions. For example, you might ask:
- How is my child doing in class? What should we work on together?
- Does my child use time well? Have good work habits?
- Does my child turn in schoolwork on time?
- Does my child have friends? Get along well with others?
- What can I do at home to support what you are teaching?
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Don't be afraid to ask the teacher to explain any terms you don’t understand.
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Tell the teacher what you see at home. Talk about your child's interests. Discuss any concerns. Share your goals for your child.
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Listen to what the teacher has to say about your child.
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Follow up. Stay in touch with the teacher. When you try some activities at home, let the teacher know how they worked. If you think of a question you didn't ask, write a note or email.
TJHSST - Investigative Science Opportunity Grades 5 - 8
We are TJ Investigative Science Outreach, a student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. We will be hosting our 12th annual invitational science fair on April 5th, 2025. Students in grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 are free to participate.
Participants who sign up will complete a research project of their choice and present at the fair in-person on April 5th, 2025. TJ students help the elementary and middle school students prepare for this fair by holding multiple sessions to teach them important skills in STEM like brainstorming, collecting data, presenting, writing an experiment summary, using statistics, creating an experimental diagram, etc.
The October 11th, 2024 date has been adjusted. It is now ALL virtual opportunity on October 18th from 6 - 7 pm. During this session we will go over the goals and guidelines of this fair and introduce students to a multitude of project ideas. All interested students should sign up using the form at the link.
Family Resource Center - Webinars
In October, the Family Resource Center (FRC) will host webinars for families on:
- Supporting siblings of children with disabilities.
- Helping students organize their schoolwork.
- Benchmark Advance, the new K-6 language arts curriculum.
- Ways to engage with your children in mathematics.
- Transitions from school to work and adult life for students with disabilities.
Sign up for the FRC newsletter to learn about their latest offerings or visit their webinar webpage.
PTA Highlights
Join the PTA for SY 24-25
We met our goal for the One & Done!! A HUGE thanks to all!! In addition, to donating to One & Done - we need you and your voice to count - please join the PTA!
PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!
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Next PTA Meeting: Friday 10/25 @ 8:45 am
We currently have open positions! Do you feel called to take a leadership role? Consider serving as: President Elect VP of Events
Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!
Thanks for attending the meeting on September 27th!
One and Done! WE DID IT...All Thanks to YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!! We have officially reached our One & Done goal thanks to all our AMAZING families! Our class competition finished up on Monday and we are currently tabulating the results! Your donations truly make a difference for our Kent Gardens school community! This year, we were especially grateful for workplace matching funds! Did you know that your work may have programs to help you increase your impact in your school community by leveraging more resources? Want to learn more? Let us know!
Principal McGuigan has agreed to be duct taped to the wall by the winning class! (Exact time and place to be announced)
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Washington Commanders - KG Tickets! October 20th
On Sunday, October 20th at 4pm the Washington Commanders will play the Carolina Panthers, and the Commanders have invited KG to cheer them on! At the end of the game, our school is invited to take a picture ON THE FIELD! CLICK HERE for discounted tickets/group seating. This is a fundraiser where KGES will receive $5 of every ticket sold through this link!
Run or pass or score — We want a lot more! Beat ’em, swamp ’em Touchdown! — Let the points soar!
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Ways to Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year
Directory Chair Many people have asked us if KGES has a student directory and right now, we don't! Help us bring back this awesome resource as we launch it ONLINE!
KGES Movie Night Who doesn't love a good movie? Volunteers are needed to organize a KGES movie night for the entire school community to enjoy together!
Interested in helping with either of these new roles? Contact kgptapresident@gmail.com if interested!
Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays
The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day. You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.
KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed
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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 beccadw@gmail.com or lanavu@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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Science Olympiad
Grades 3-4 has ONE SPOT!
Grades 5-6 have just a few spots remaining! Don't get relegated to the waitlist, join now! Register for Grades 5-6 ($150)
We can't wait to celebrate our students' successes!
Math Counts Sign Up
3rd Grade has started, but you can still join! The 3rd grade MC2 will meet once a week at Kent Gardens 7:45 – 8:35 AM. Students will attend one of two sessions on Wednesday or Thursday. The program will run from September 18th through April 10th. Instruction will be provided by long-time MC2 coach Jeff Shivnen. 3rd grade Math Club will use Virginia Math League and MATH COUNTS Competition level resources. Students who are interested in extending their math appreciation are invited to sign up. Cost: $295 for the year. Register your 3rd grader for Math Competition Club!
4th-6th Grade starts October 7th! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from an incredible teacher how to apply advanced math concept while competing against other schools AND having fun! MC2 is for 4th-6th Graders. Classes run from the fall into March (exact dates will be sent out). We offer a hybrid program, with one class in person from 4-5pm, and the second class online from 445-545pm. The Intermediate Class will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Advanced Class will be held on Tuesday/Thursday. See our website for more information! Program price is $850 for the year. Register 4th-6th graders for MC2!
Extra Spots Opened for Chess Club! Don't Wait on the Waitlist! Join Now!
We are excited to announce that we have opened more spots for Chess Club! Chess Club meets in the cafeteria every Wednesday from 345-515pm from now until Jan 22nd, and any student in grades 2-6 are welcome
CLICK HERE TO JOIN
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