Heritage Night 1/25
HERITAGE NIGHT is right around the corner! We are looking for KG parent volunteers to help support the evening! Here is a link to sign up as a parent volunteer for set up and coordination. We also need volunteers from high school and middle school please Sign up 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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Snow Much Fun!
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
January 13-17- FCPS Family Math Week (see information below)
January 15: Immersion Information Meeting 5:45 p.m.
January 15: Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night at Longfellow MS 6:00-8:00 PM (for parents and rising 7th grade students) see information below
January 16: Band Concert 5:30 p.m.
January 17: Parent Coffee 8:15 a.m. in Library and PTA Meeting 9:00 a.m. in Cafeteria
January 20- Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday- no school
January 25: Heritage Night 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
January 27: Strings Concert: 5:30PM 4th Grade, 6:15PM 5th & 6th Grades
January 29- End of 2nd quarter Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
February 13 - Save the Date! Math/STEAM Night! 5 - 6:30 p.m. A wonderful evening to enjoy using our critical thinking skills!
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
It was a long winter break! We are expecting to hear back from transportation with respect to busing issues from Friday. Safety of our students is of utmost importance - stay tuned! If you want to be notified via text and emails, 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.
Since we have been out this past week, we have updated the timing of the mid year assessments for January. These will include the iReady in both math and reading for grades 3 - 6. Students in grades 1 and 2 will take the math iReady and the teachers in K-3 will give the Virginia Language and Literacy Assessments. Parents will be notified if additional supports will be needed based on the outcomes. Parents please ensure that your child(ren) have headphones - these are essential for the iReady assessments. Below is the schedule:
- January 13 - Grade 5 Math
- January 14 - Grade 2 Math and Grade 3 Reading
- January 15 - Grade 1 Math and Grade 6 Reading
- January 16 - Grade 5 Reading
- January 17 - Grade 4 Math
- January 22 - Grade 4 Reading
- January 23 - Grade 6 Math
- February 4 - Grade 3 Math
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!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
The QR code above and the link is here to purchase the yearbook. 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)!
FCPS Math Week- January13-17
MIND Research is hosting family math week January 13 - January 17. During that time, students are encouraged to log onto the FCPS Family Math website to engage in math activities with their families at home that include stories with mathematical concepts connected to a variety of different math games from around the world. All activities are available in English and Spanish. To learn more about Family Math Nights check out this video.
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,
This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Prudence. Prudence means you plan for the future and achieve your goals by making careful everyday choices. Prudence is about doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons. It's a way of thinking ahead, setting goals, making plans, and having the discipline to follow through. It’s more about using your head than your heart.
Prudence helps with managing yourself effectively. Whether aiming for a sports record, getting good grades, or saving for something special, you need to plan ahead and stay focused. Even with a plan, you must resist temptations that might distract you. Prudence gives you the wisdom to use the right strengths at the right time to achieve your goals.
To practice and encourage the character strength of prudence 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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News from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison
🖥️ Free Webinars and Events for Families
In January, the Family Resource Center (FRC) will host webinars for families on:
Sign up for the FRC newsletter or visit their webinar webpage.
Upcoming Family Academy Events
You are an important part of your child's education! The FCPS Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by FCPS to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. Browse Family Academy offerings.
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!
Gradebook Available Until End-of-Quarter
Based on community feedback from the first quarter closure, FCPS revisited the scheduled dates for closing the Gradebook and Report Card modules in the SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE apps. Moving forward, the app will close in alignment with the actual quarter-end dates. This change will allow students and families to view their assignments and grades until the last day of the quarter. Gradebook will be closed for the second quarter from Tuesday, January 28, 4 p.m. to Tuesday, February 4, 6 a.m.
Access Your Child’s Grades Through SIS ParentVue - Learn how your ParentVUE account allows you to easily access grade reports and other helpful information about your child.
📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
FCPS is partnering 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; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.
January is National Mentoring Month!
Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are.Learn more about Mentoring Month. Research has shown that young people with at least one trusted mentor are less likely to skip school, less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol, and more prepared to enter college or the workforce. Yet one in three children lack a mentor.
All it takes is one person to serve as a trusted adult to help change a young person’s path in life. Mentors provide attention, support, and enrichment, and help connect their mentees to resources that may help them on their journey in life. The FCPS MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student. Contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at mmacdonald@fcps.edu.
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! There will be a Principal's Coffee prior to the meeting - join Mrs. McGuigan in the library at 8:15 a.m.
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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Baroody Sign Up!
We are excited to once again offer a variety of after-school enrichment programs for your children this winter! Registration is NOW OPEN and will close this Tuesday! REGISTER HERE!
Programs run from late January until early March. All programs require a minimum number of students to run, and all programs are subject to change. After-school enrichment programs are a great way to meet new friends and try new things. We hope many of our students take advantage of these great opportunities!
Make a Difference This Year! - Volunteer Opportunities
Bingo Night Volunteers and Lead Support! - We are hoping to host a Bingo Night on February 7th. Email KGPTAPresident@gmail.com if you are 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!
Chess Club Registration is Open!
Want to have fun and learn new strategic skills? Join Chess Club! Any Kent Gardens student in 2nd through 6th grade may sign up. Chess Club will meet on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 5:15pm in the cafeteria at Kent Gardens Elementary. The Spring session will start February 5th, and end May 28th. Registration deadline is Friday, January 31st, or until the class is full. Cost for the season is $185.
Register here! https://kentgardenspta.com/product/chess-club/
If you need a password reset, please email kgptapresident@gmail.com
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