Spirit Week PJ Day!
Hope all are enjoying the winter break! We had a great time with all of the parent support! PJ's was our culminating day!
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
We hope that all are enjoying the holiday break and would like to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support and partnership throughout the year. This is a special time to create lasting memories with your family and friends, and we hope you enjoy every moment of it.
We encourage you to cherish this well-deserved break with your children, filled with joy, laughter, and togetherness. May your holidays be safe, relaxing, and full of love.
We look forward to welcoming all of our students back in the new year on January 6 ~ refreshed and ready for new learning in January. We have a great deal taking place in January. Note the Immersion Information Session on the 15th in addition to Curriculum Night at Longfellow. We have band and strings concerts as well as Heritage Night at the end of the month. Also buy your yearbook now - see the link below!
Warm wishes for a happy holiday season and a fantastic New Year - see you in 2025! Cheers to a great break!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
December 23 - January 3 - Holiday Break - No School
January 6: Students Return to School
January 15: Immersion Information Meeting 5:45 p.m.
January 15: Curriculum Night - Longfellow MS (Rising 7th Graders)
January 16: Band Concert 5:30 p.m.
January 25: Heritage Night 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
January 27: Strings Concert: 5:30PM 4th Grade, 6:15PM 5th & 6th Grades
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
We had over 150 submissions for the yearbook cover. The entries were simply amazing! We would love to formally recognize ALL students as their work was such a tribute to their creativity! Congratulations to these students and once again a HUGE shoutout to all who put forth a submission!
We have officially opened the window to purchase a yearbook. We have included the QR code above and the link is here. Use code 21772. We will close the purchase window April 1, 2025. Buy now to ensure you will have a yearbook for your child(ren)!
Winter White Out and Sing a Long!
Heritage Night 1/25
HERITAGE NIGHT has been adjusted and is now on 1/25. After receiving a great deal of feedback and listening to our community, the PTA decided to move Heritage Night to SATURDAY, JANUARY 25TH (original date this Saturday, December 7th).
We recognize this time of year is busy for many of our families. In the hustle and bustle, we have found it's hard to give this much loved event the proper showcase. By moving it to January, we hope to increase the participation in this event.
If you had previously signed up, we still look forward to your participation! We will be reaching out to confirm your interest. Please also help spread the word so we can fill our food hall and interactive displays. You can sign up for the event on 1/25 HERE!
We are proud of the rich diversity found within our families and community of Kent Gardens. We look forward to celebrating with everyone after the New Year!
If you have any questions, please contact KGHeritageNight@gmail.com.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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Immersion Information Night
FCPS offers DLI programs in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Online lottery application begins on January 13 (8:30 a.m.) for rising kindergarten and first graders dependent upon the school. A SIS account is required to complete the application. If a student is not currently enrolled in FCPS, registration at the base school is required. Please contact Annie Joseph, ajoseph@fcps.edu if you need a create an account and live in our boundary. FCPS does not provide transportation for students who live outside the attendance area of the DLI school. A one-time fee of $100 must be paid upon acceptance of an out-of-boundary placement (see Notice 5922).
Program Sites and Informational Meetings - The dates for various schools are in this link. These schools offer county-wide DLI program enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year. Parents are encouraged to attend one of the informational meetings. Meetings will be held at the elementary school listed except for the virtual event.
Kent Gardens will have the immersion program interest session on January 15 at 5:45 p.m. in the cafeteria. We will be joined by Beatrix Preusse from the World Languages office. For additional registration information, please visit: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/dual-language-immersionprograms-registration . For general program information: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary/worldlanguages-immersion-programs
Dear Families,
The first week we return (Jan 6), our school community will focus on the character strength of Optimism. Optimism means that you expect the best from the future and work to achieve it. Optimistic people have hope and confidence about the future. They believe good things will come and stay positive even when faced with challenges. They turn obstacles into steps toward their goals.
Optimism isn't just seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. It's about focusing on the good in any situation, staying open to opportunities, and managing emotions. Optimistic people make great leaders and can inspire others with their positive outlook and ability to find meaning in difficult times.
To practice and encourage the character strength of optimism 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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Parents and PE!
We thoroughly enjoyed having our parents join the students for PE. They stretched and moved! It was great fun! More pics below!
❄️ Be Among the First to Hear About School Delays/Closings
Watch this video to see how FCPS makes weather closing decisions.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be among the first to hear about weather delays and closings! Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE. Emails and text messages are sent to parents and caregivers based on the addresses and cell phone numbers entered on this platform.
News from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison
FCPS has put together a list of Snow Day and Winter Break Activities for all ages. A complete list can be found here. Other ideas for free family winter activities include:
- visit our local Fairfax County public parks and nature centers such as Huntley Meadows in Alexandria.
- participate in the Fairfax County Public Library Winter Reading Program
- take a hike – all Virginia State Parks such as Mason Neck State Park celebrate the new year with free park entry and special programs on January 1st.
- the Smithsonian Museum and the National Zoo are free (four locations required free timed tickets or passes) and open every day except December 25th.
- the US Botanical Garden is free and has an annual holiday exhibit.
More Pics!
Going on a vaca? PE anyone? Building new creations in STEAM? Lots of fun and participation - such a wonderful week!
Rising 7th Graders - Curriculum Night
Longfellow Middle School is excited to invite you to our Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This event will provide valuable information about Longfellow Middle School and the transition to middle school. Families will have the opportunity to hear from core and elective teachers as they highlight their engaging classes. Students and staff will also be available to answer any questions.
If inclement weather occurs, the event will be rescheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. We look forward to welcoming you to Longfellow!
⛄School’s Closed, Learning Can Continue!
FCPS encourages students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during winter break and snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play for your students during winter break or weather-related school closures.
📚 Bundle Up With Books Over Break
Fairfax County Public Library’s (FCPL) winter reading adventure has begun and will continue through Friday, January 31, 2025. Visit your local FCPL library branch or visit their website to register and get a sneak peek at the prizes being offered. Check out their Winter Reading Events webpage to learn about laser tag, movie nights, crafting sessions, Noon-Year Eve celebrations, and book discussions.
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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Cookie Exchange - :)
We simply LOVED the cookie exchange - always the best and simply yummy!
Thanks again to the volunteers and to the PTA for coordinating!
A wonderful way to start the week! Thanks again!
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Make a Difference This Year! - Volunteer Opportunities
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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