Three Hour Early Release Update
We have finalized our rosters for the early release. Note that there are NO after school activities on this day - i.e. Baroody is cancelled. Note that SACC is participating as well. We are closed to change but will give one last opportunity by using this google form. Please DO speak to your child regarding the plan for the dismissal so that we are on the same page. Note we have a regular two hour early release on Oct 31st. Dismissal will take place as usual. There will be no child care option.
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.
Book Fair Fun!!
We had a wonderful book fair - a HUGE thanks to all of the parents and teachers who helped volunteer and support the event!
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
This week, we released the Impact Aid Form for parents to sign digitally in ParentVue. We have only around 100 students who have not completed the forms. Please take the time to complete on behalf of your child. We are required to have 100% completion and have left it open until October 30th. Thanks in advance.
The three hour early release is Monday, October 28th. Please chat with your child(ren) regarding their dismissal plans.
We have posted information regarding Veterans Day. We look forward to seeing and celebrating with our active military as well as the veterans. We have included a google form to indicate your interest.
Reminders for ALL visitors/parents/guardians whether you are picking up your child(ren), volunteering or otherwise, for security, we ask that you carry a valid drivers license or some sort of identification to verify. It is a safety request that we must enforce. Thanks in advance for supporting!
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 28: Three Hour Early Release - If you have changes from the last early release in September, please complete this google form.
October 31: Fall Class Celebration - Kindergarten Parade 9:15 a.m. - TWO HOUR Early Release 1:35 p.m. - End of Quarter
November 1: School Holiday - Diwali and All Saints Day
November 4 and 5: Teacher Workdays (Parent Conferences)
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.)
November 8: Veterans Day Celebration - Inviting ALL veterans to celebrate with your children -please complete this google form.
November 11: Veterans Day Holiday - No School
November 12 - 15: National French Week - French Interns are joining us in November! We look forward to working with them!
November 27 - 29: Thanksgiving Holiday
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
Impact Aid Form - Forms Due Date 10/30!
The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify, military families ,federally connected families, families living on a military base.
We have extended the due date to October 30th for the electronic Federal Impact Aid Survey form. It is accessible through your ParentVUE account.We must have 100% completion for our school. If you need an activation code to create a ParentVUE account, please contact our registrar Annie Joseph ajoseph@fcps.edu.
Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the ENROLLING parent can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form. Your information will be kept strictly confidential. Your support will ensure that we receive the resources for which we are eligible. For questions, please do not contact your teachers or school office. Please contact the Impact Aid office at lmpactAid@fcps.edu or the support hotline at 703-329-7750.
Field Trips Are Happening!
Kindergarten and Sixth Grade enjoyed field trips this week! They had a great time - thanks to our parent volunteers for supporting.
Veterans Day Celebration
We look forward to celebrating Veterans Day on November 8th. We have planned a small event in the cafeteria for our veterans or current military families with your children. Here is the google form to indicate your interest as well as capture information if you wish to speak to your child's homeroom class. Thanks in advance!
Do You Know A Kent Gardens Teacher/Staff Member Who Is OUTSTANDING?
Please consider submitting a nomination for a Kent Gardens Elementary Outstanding Employee, by completing this Google form. You may nominate an employee in any of the following categories: Outstanding Teacher Outstanding New Teacher Outstanding Principal Outstanding Leader Outstanding Support Employee Outstanding Hourly Employee
Details about each category can be found on the nomination form. All nominations must be entered by Wednesday, November 13th!
Focus on Words and Actions
This week, our school community will focus on the Other People Mindset of Knowing That My Words and Actions Affect Others, which means having an awareness that everything that we say and do can affect others — and our relationships with them.
Whether we speak, email, text, or post, our words and actions can have a positive or negative effect. The words and actions we choose can lift others up or bring them down, and they also impact us. When we all think carefully about our words and actions and show respect and care for those around us, we create a happier and healthier community.
To practice and encourage this Other People Mindset at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.
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Individual Pictures Available Online
The team at Victor O’Neill Studios would like to thank your school for a great picture day!
We are reaching out to inform you that student images are now online. Any student who has not had a chance to order, it’s not too late! Please visit: vosphoto.com/underclass and use your student ID when prompted for the online code. For questions regarding school pictures please email: underclass@vosphoto.co
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Treats for Troops
We are collecting candy to send to the troops! Bring your unopened candy to the box or office between November 6th and 8th or to the office on November 4th and 5th (There are professional workdays for teachers - no students). We will donate the weekend of the 9th of November!
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Yearbook Cover Contest!!
We are excited about the 24-25 yearbook and are offering the students the opportunity to create the cover for this school year. Our theme is: #BeTheGold. The reference for this theme ties in with 'kintsugi' - whereby liquid gold is used to repair broken pottery; thus, nothing is truly broken and builds resilience and strength.
- Theme: #BeTheGold
- Include 'Kent Gardens Elementary 2024-25 in the design
- Use 8.5 x 11 or 9x12 paper in a portrait orientation
- Check your spelling!!!
- Deadline - Monday, December 2nd!
Turn in finished work to the office. Reminder - we choose on cover for each grade level for the back cover and one for the front cover. Remember #kgpride can be emphasized as well with the #BeTheGold! Thanks in advance for the creativity!!!
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A Note from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison
My name is Shelley Lowinger, and I am the Family Liaison at KGES. I am happy to assist and facilitate family and school communications, encourage participation in school-wide events and support families by providing information to parents which will support their child(ren) at home and school. Below are some upcoming events and information for your family.
November is Family Engagement month. This month reminds us that families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates and nurturers. Research shows that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in their children’s education. Family Engagement is a partnership and shared responsibility between home school and the community.
Need Assistance with Heating or Cooling Services? See if you might be eligible by visiting this link. Applications for help with your heating and cooling bills or equipment needs are accepted online or by calling the Enterprise Customer Service Center at (855) 635 – 4370, and at your local department of social services. Fuel assistance helps with home heating costs; but can also be used for furnace re-starts, late charges, delivery charges, installation charges, and connection or re-connection fees.
November Free Webinars/Events at Family Resource Center The Family Resource Center has a several upcoming free November webinars and events for FCPS families. 1. SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs:The Sibshop workshops are for children in grade 2 – 6 enrolled in FCPS who have siblings with special needs. This hands-on workshop will be held on November 5 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Register Online. 2. 5 Ways to De-Escalate a Nuclear Meltdown & Stop the Shame Cycle: A Webinar for Families. This webinar will be held on November 8 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Register Online.
Support the Winter Coat Drive!
Support our winter coat drive and give the gift of warmth to others in need. Please donate new and gently used coats. They can be placed in the box near the front office between now and Thursday, November 7th at 4 p.m. It's a short window for donating - thanks for your support!
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FCPS CARES Program
The FCPS CARES Program allows parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees who go above and beyond to help others and show they care about their students, colleagues, and the community. We invite you to submit a story below to acknowledge the great work of an FCPS employee or group of employees who should receive FCPS CARES recognition. Please take note of the following before submitting an FCPS CARES:
- A notification email, with the submission text included, will be sent to the recipient(s) and copied to the recipient's supervisor(s).
- All submissions will be posted to our FCPS CARES webpage and shared via other FCPS news outlets.
- Submissions containing personal or sensitive information may be edited to protect individuals' privacy.
- Feel free to compose your submission using a text editor such as Microsoft Word, and then paste it into the text box provided.
PTA News
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!
We are still searching for a President Elect to join our PTA board. Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information
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Ways to Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year
Volunteer Opportunities
Heritage Night Planning Committee
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 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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