Veterans Day Celebration
We had a wonderful time celebrating and recognizing our veterans and other military friends and family. Thanks for coming and allowing us to engage with you. We thank all of you for your service!
Join us on Kent Gardens Facebook page - we have many pictures posted of our events!
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Parent Engagement Night - A Success!
Thanks to all who joined us for Parent Engagement Night. We learned a great deal about Benchmark and FCPS' literacy goals. Diane Leipzig introduced the Benchmark program and shared ideas on how we can support reading - access the FCPS resources here In addition, Lynne Bursch shared the math plans for FCPS and how we support as parents around our math program. Jeff Lonnett also joined us to share how we are engaging students in Portrait of Graduate focusing on critical thinking. Here is the link to the slide decks for you to peruse as well as the recording of the evening event.
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Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
We had a busy short week. It was wonderful to welcome the French interns and have them join our school. We have a fun week planned for French National Week. Check out the blurb and calendar below for more information.
It is always amazing to celebrate and honor our current military as well as our veterans. The clap out is always a favorite and we thoroughly enjoy listening to our chorus regale us! Thanks again to our parents who joined us in this important event.
Gentle reminder that Monday school is closed for Veterans Day. We will see everyone on Tuesday, November 12th. Note it is a spirit day - wear something French!!
Last but not least, progress reports should be visible in ParentVue on Tuesday, November 12th. 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
November 11: Veterans Day Holiday - No School
November 12 - 15: National French Week
- Tuesday 11/12 - Wear something 'French' Take your pic with the Eiffel Tower or L'Arc de Triomphe!
- Wednesday, 11/13 - Estimation Jar!
- Thursday, 11/14 - French Reading
- Friday, 11/15 - Winner Announcements to French Contest and Estimation
November 18 - Cider & Bread Help deliver cider and breads to our teachers and staff! Sign Up Here!
November 21 - Pie-Palooza Pies are due to the Teacher's lounge by 9:30am on 11/21. Sign up using this link
November 27 - 29: Thanksgiving Holiday
December 2 - Deadline for Yearbook Cover - Enter now! Read below!
December 3: Family Life Education (FLE) - Virtual 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Zoom link to be remitted)
December 7: Heritage Night - Sign up by 11/22 to represent your heritage at Heritage Night! Note the date on your calendar.
December 9: Three Hour Early Release - Changes only - google form to follow.
December 9: Chorus Concert - 5th and 6th Grade 5 p.m.
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
Impact Aid Form - Forms Due Now
We have a few families left that need to complete the electronic Federal Impact Aid Survey form. It is accessible through your ParentVUE account. We hope the following instructions will help you resolve any possible issues.
- If you see Online Registration, please delete it or click “Remind me later”. You don’t have to do it as the student is registered already.
- If you see Online Verification packet, click it to access the Impact Aid form. If you have any changes to make, you can update through the online verification. Then Save and Continue until you see the Impact Aid form.
Any further issues, please reply to Sonia Shi, refer to the email below or contact the Parent Tech Help line at 833-921-3277. 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 .
Fourth Grade Field Trip and Art Inspirations
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Heritage Night is Approaching - 12/7
Heritage Night 12/7 - Sign Up by 11/22: Sign up by 11/22 to represent your heritage at Heritage Night! Families should indicate if they are contributing to a table or activity that represents their heritage and/or contributing food for the cultural food hall. Questions? Email KGESHeritageNight@gmail.com.
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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!
We will focus on past character traits for this week.
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Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates
Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).
Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.
This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reports and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.
We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!
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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News from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison
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Tutoring Resources for Families - Is your family looking for resources to help support your child’s academic success? FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of district employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to be hired as a tutor by parents. FRC maintains this list, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with tutors. This list is not “approved” by FCPS and is only meant as a resource. FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
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IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair Parents/caregivers, school staff, and students over the age of 14 are invited to attend an interactive event celebrating the individualized education program (IEP) process. The IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, November 16, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Jackson Middle School.
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FCPS Family Resource Center is sponsoring a webinar for families titled My Kid is Having a Meltdown. What Do I Do? 5 Ways to De-Escalate a Nuclear Meltdown & Stop the Shame Cycle. Plans go awry, your child gets disappointed or doesn’t get their way. They begin getting upset. Rational talk doesn’t work. Nothing does. Now your child is in full meltdown mode and doesn’t hold back. What do you do? Calm Parenting Podcast founder, Kirk Martin will present on Monday, November 11th from 10-11:30 am. Register online here
Other Donation Opportunities
Help KGES support Pieces of Illumination, a local high school student-run organization, and provide puzzles for seniors and kids with autism. You can donate new or lightly used jigsaw puzzles, Legos, or board games by dropping them off in the blue box near the front office between Wednesday 11/6 and Wednesday 11/20.
Share of McLean's Holiday Program kicks off on November 16! This year, Jack, a regular Share volunteer and former Kent Gardens student, is leading a toy collection drive. He has created an Amazon wish list with items for kids ages 1 to 11, ranging from $10 to $15. Please check out the Amazon wish list if you would like to contribute by November 14.
Kindergarten and First Graders Enjoy the Weather!
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
Our Next PTA Meeting: January 17 at 9am
At this month's PTA meeting, we heard about all of the amazing things happening at KGES in the mad race to winter break! Our next general PTA meeting won't be until the new year!
We are still searching for a President Elect to join our PTA board. Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!
Our next General Meeting will be January 17 at 9am in the cafeteria!
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Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year
Volunteer Opportunities
11/18 Cider & Bread Help deliver cider and breads to our teachers and staff! Sign-up here!
11/21 Pie-Palooza On Thursday, November 21, staff names will be announced throughout the day to come choose a holiday pie donated by KGES families. Homemade AND store bought pies are welcome! Pies are due to the Teacher's lounge by 930am on 11/21. Sign up using this link!
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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Square 1 Art - Deadline Coming! Nov. 15
A Square 1 Art personalized catalog featuring your child's masterpiece is coming home THIS WEEK! Square 1 Art makes for amazing holiday gifts with your child's creative use of vibrant colors printed on high-quality items like pot holders, tea towels, coffee mugs, and more! The deadline to order is November 15!
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