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Heritage Night is 12/7 - Volunteer Sign Up
HERITAGE NIGHT is set for December 7th for Saturday, from 5:00-7:00 PM. This annual KGES tradition is a wonderful way to experience all the great cultures that make up our school community! There's a parade, activities, music - and the incredibly popular World Cafe set up in the Kent Gardens cafeteria! Kids can also visit all the countries and get their "passport books" stamped. It's one of our most loved events at KGES!
Volunteers (high school and middle school welcome) are needed to make this event a success. Sign up here!
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Balloons on Broadway!
We enjoyed observing the 3rd graders with their balloon creations as they paraded through the hallways. "Balloons Over Broadway" Project is a creative and critical thinking activity inspired by the book Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet. This book tells the story of Tony Sarg, the puppeteer who created the iconic balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Students are tasked with brainstorming ideas for their own unique parade balloon. This project blends literature, art, and engineering, making it a favorite for encouraging cross-curricular learning and hands-on creativity.
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
We hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving and are ready to come back renewed for the month of December. We are looking forward to Heritage Night on December 7th. If you have a high school or middle school student, please have them come help and volunteer. The rooms will host crafts and other activities and possibly including music. The parade will go through the school and there will be an opportunity to highlight the participants. The food will set up in the cafeteria and the families can eat in the gym. Passports will be used to track your journey. We look forward to a wonderful evening.
Gentle reminder that our next Three Hour Early Release is December 9th. We will remit an email for parents to affirm your past dismissal plans. If you have a change, you should call the office.
We also have Family Life Education coming up on December 3rd. We will remit a zoom link prior to the evening as it will be virtual.
Picture Day for students who are NEW to KG or for those who were absent on our last picture day is December 3rd. Parents may place a preorder for the students photos using this link.
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
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 3: Picture Make Up Day - This if for students who are NEW to KG or for those who were absent on our last picture day. Parents may place a preorder for the students photos using this link. https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001133358#login
December 7: Heritage Night - 5 - 7 p.m.
December 9: Three Hour Early Release - Email will be remitted to affirm your past decision - calls to change must be called into the office.
December 9: Chorus Concert - 5th and 6th Grade 5 p.m.
December 16: Staff Cookie Exchange - More Info to come!
December 20: Homeroom Class Holiday Celebrations
December 23 - January 3 - Holiday Break - No School
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
Sad to Say Farewell to our French Interns...
We thoroughly enjoyed our French interns - they helped support our classrooms and learned a great deal about teaching in the U.S. We appreciate our families for supporting and our teachers as well!
#kgpride #StrongerTogether #WeAllBelong #BeTheGold !!
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Pie Palooza!
Thanks to all of our families and PTA for supporting the pie donations. We had over 40 pies donated....we called out the winners hourly....students cheered, staff smiled...setting everyone up for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
Dear Families,
This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Kindness. Kindness means being generous to others, never being too busy to help out, and you enjoy doing good deeds for other people.
Kindness is based on the belief that everyone deserves care, attention, and compassion. Kind people think about others' needs and feelings and take action to help. They are selfless, helping others because it's the right thing to do, not for any personal gain. People who are kind have a strong sense of duty to care for others. Their acts of kindness inspire more kindness in return.
To practice and encourage the character strength of kindness 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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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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Advanced Academic Referral Deadline ~ Dec 15
The deadline for all students in grades 2-6 to apply for full-time (formerly referred to as level IV) advanced academic services to begin at the start of the 25-26 school year is Sunday, December 15. This is a county provided date, there are no exceptions or extensions. Please plan ahead!
To initiate the screening process, please submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form through email to Debra Bulford at drbulford@fcps.edu or submit a hard copy to the front office by 4:00 pm on Friday, December 13th.
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Ten Days of Holiday Cheer Coming Soon!
We look forward to spirit days and simply enjoy festivities that celebrate ALL! More to be shared!!
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News from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison
Stress less, Enjoy More. Reducing Stress and Increasing Happiness: A Webinar for Families
Kids and families are under stress from so many sources, and they are suffering as a result. Achievement pressure, time pressure, social pressure, and uncertainty about a rapidly changing world are eroding the health of our youth. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Well-known parenting expert, psychologist and author (and FCPS parent) Dr. Heather Tedesco will show you:
- The surprising ways stress shows up in kids
- The power parents have to reduce stress (in our kids and ourselves)
- How we can nurture happiness and build psychological strength in our kids long-term
- Specific strategies to stress less and enjoy more
December 6, 2024 10-11:30 a.m. Register here
McLean Winterfest Parade - Who doesn’t love a parade? Friends and families are invited to the McLean Winterfest Parade on December 8 starting at 3:30 p.m. Learn more about this fun day here!
Cold Weather Clothing Assistance - If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.
Learning through Hands on Experiences!
Our students made butter while learning new vocabulary - it was not only tasty but #funtimes #kgpride
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! - Volunteer Opportunities
12/16 Staff Cookie Exchange Bring in fav cookies to share with teachers and staff members as they ready for the upcoming holiday! Sign up here!
12/20 Class Holiday Celebrations - Your room parent will be reaching out to coordinate!
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!
Cookie Exchange - We Need Your Help!
We need your help to make a FANTASTIC Cookie Exchange happen for the hard-working staff at Kent Gardens on Monday, December 16, 2024, 8 AM to 3:30 PM. The creativity in the KGES community is outstanding! We have treated our teachers and staff to Harry Potter themed cookies, gingerbread-dressed cookies, and delectable family recipes that have been handed down over the years. We are so excited to treat our staff to the most creative and tasty Staff Cookie Exchange yet!!!!
Of course we need cookies, but we also need volunteers to collect donations at kiss and ride, to help keep the staff lounge tidy, the tables laden with delicious treats, and carafes flowing with hot chocolate!
Click here to sign up
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