Snow in our Forecast?
Students start the predictions! We will see what the weather brings! Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down :) #kgpride #StrongerTogether #WeAllBelong
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
February 11 - Spelling Bee KG Library 2 p.m.
February 12 - 6th Grade Promotion Party Planning Meeting 9 a.m
February 13 - Math/STEAM Night! 5 - 6:30 p.m. Middle or high schooler volunteer? Here is a link - thanks for spreading the word!
February 13 - Immersion Registration Link Closed
February 17 - President's Day Holiday
February 19 - Book Fair Planning Meeting - Cafeteria (PTA info below)
February 20 - School Club Pictures
February 24 - Three Hour Early Release Monday
February 28 - PTA Meeting 9 a.m.
March 10 - 14 - Spring Book Fair
March 12 - Literacy Night 5 - 6:30 p.m. Middle or high schooler volunteer? Here is a link - thanks for spreading the word!
March 21 - Yearbook Order Deadline
March 21 - Kent Gardens' Washington Wizards game - come watch with your friends - link below!
March 27 - PTA Meeting with Guest Speaker - Mary Smith 7 p.m. (See info. below!)
May 3 - Spring Spectacular Fun Run and 5K
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
We have gotten some additional feedback from our police officer who supports our dismissal. If you are a parent who utilizes the small cul de sac to pick up your child(ren), the police officer has shared that ALL must respect our neighbors' driveways. You must be a minimum of 3 feet from the driveway. This distance will permit the owner of the house to have ingress/egress. In addition, it is state law that cell phones are not used while driving.
This past week, we shared that after school, while custodians cleaned, some rooms were vandalized and some school/teacher items were removed. We did report to school security and the police department. We have placed new procedures while cleaning the school to ensure all rooms are kept safe when the school is used for after school activities from the community etc. Students and parents have been very thoughtful in sending their kind words and offering to help. We will continue to investigate with the support of security and are all fine at this time.
On a lighter note, students weighed in on our possible snow event...they felt very positive about predicting snow! We will see!
We are very excited about Math/STEAM Night that is coming up on 2/13! We have some fabulous vendors and great activities. Do you know a middle/high school student that needs volunteer hours? Here is a link! Thursday will also a spirit day ~ dress in STEAM theme - arts, engineering, technology - get creative!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
STEAM Night! February 13th 5 - 6:30 p.m.
We are looking forward to STEAM Night on February 13th. We have the Mad Scientist, Robotics and more! Come enjoy the evening - our teachers will be there as well with fun activities!
Thursday will also a spirit day ~ dress in STEAM theme - arts, engineering, technology - get creative!
Do you know a middle or high schooler that would like to volunteer? Here is a link - thanks for spreading the word!
The 6th Grade will be hosting a fundraising booth during this year's STEAM night that will feature baked goods and creative items for sale, all contributed by our amazing community. Proceeds go towards the 6th grade promotion ceremony and party. The 6th graders need our community's help with donations of baked goods and small items to make this a success. Stay tuned for a sign-up genius and more information!
Student Intentions - 2025-26 School Year
Please indicate your child(ren)'s intention for the next school year if you are moving or will attend another school. One form should be completed for each child ONLY if you are moving or will attend another school. This input will support our staffing and planning for the next school year. This information is non binding but will simply be used to plan. If you are returning, you do NOT need to complete this form. The link to the form is here.
Rising Kindergarten Student Intention 2025-26
Please complete this form if you have a rising kindergartner and plan on attending Kent Gardens. If you are hopeful to attend, you may complete but please note your status in the form below. We are not using this data for evaluative purposes nor for placement purposes but merely to collect information for the beginning of the school year. All students come in at various levels academically and socially. We are excited for our 2025-26 kindergarten students!
Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting will be through Zoom (link to follow) on March 21st at 8 a.m. Sign up here to receive the link.
The Parent Tour and Kindergarten Student Orientation is on Tuesday, April at 1st 2:00 p.m. (Parents and students attend together) Link is here to reserve your tour time.
Kindergarten Registration
If you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 30, they are eligible to attend Kindergarten for the upcoming year. Registration paperwork can be downloaded at this link. Once you have completed the paperwork and gathered the required documents, please come into the front office to meet with our registrar, Annie Joseph.
Alternatively, you can now choose to use online registration tool. If you choose the online option, you will then have to come into the office with the child’s original birth certificate, your proof of residence (deed/lease) and your ID. You can contact Annie Joseph to coordinate a convenient time.
Immersion Registration
FCPS offers DLI programs in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Online lottery application closed on February 13 at 4 pm 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. For 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
More Snow Forecasts!
Dear Families,
This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Love. Love means you value close relationships with others and being close to people. Love is shown through our thoughts, feelings, and actions toward those we care about. When we love someone, we comfort them, make them feel safe, support them during tough times, and often put their needs before our own. When someone loves us, we feel safe and secure and can be ourselves around them. We miss them when they are not around.
Love is important for our community and society. We all depend on each other for happiness and well-being. Love creates positive feelings, helping to reduce loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Without love, we can't form strong bonds with our families, friends, or communities. A world without love would be a lonely and unsafe place.
To practice and encourage the character strength of love 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
Virtual Parent Café….You Are Not Alone! All are invited to participate via Zoom in PEATC (Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center’s presentation titled Understanding the Dynamics of Cyberbullying, Technology and our Youth on Tuesday, February 11th from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. For more information, please contact BuildingStrongerFamilies@FairfaxCounty.gov or call (703) 324-7720. Join online via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89036657824.
Fairfax County Park Authority Looking for different Spring Break and Summer Camp options? Check out the links below as well as the attached summer camp guide to learn more about program offerings.
Spring/Summer Camps – Registration opens this week!
Parktakes Spring Classes start registration on February 11, 2025
Virginia Department of Education Kindness Week Did you know Kindness Week is celebrated the second week of February each year? This special week recognizes simple day-to-day acts of kindness enabling our schools, community, and state to be a kinder, safer, healthier and more inclusive place to live, work, learn and play. Below are just a few ideas to celebrate Kindness Week together at home and school:
*Smile and say good morning to 3 people you pass in the hallways at school or taking a walk in your neighborhood
*Help with a chore or two and with clean up at home
*Write a thank you note or draw a picture for someone special to show how much you care for them
*Thank someone at home, at school or in your community that keeps you safe or takes care of you
*Write a message in chalk on the sidewalk to brighten someone’s day
*Give a compliment or encourage someone
Proposed Budget
The Fairfax County School Board discussed the FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget at their work session on February 4. They discussed details regarding student enrollment and investments in students requiring additional support, market comparison data for surrounding school divisions, and an update on progress toward achieving the Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence. Baldrige is a framework used to assess and improve organizational performance across various sectors, including education. The School Board also held a public hearing on February 4, where they invited the community to share their feedback on the proposed budget.
On Tuesday, February 18, the Fairfax County executive will present the county’s Advertised Budget, and the School Board will hold a work session on FCPS’ FY 2026 Proposed Budget. View the Budget Development Calendar.
 The QR code above and the link is here to purchase the yearbook. Use code 21772. We will close the purchase window March 21, 2025. Buy now to ensure you will have a yearbook for your child(ren)!
Immunization Reminder
Please make sure your child has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy!
Starting Monday, May 19, students who have not provided proof of immunization may not be allowed to attend school. You can check your child’s immunization status and submit updated immunization information by accessing SIS ParentVUE.
Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources. Be wise and immunize!
Students Invitation ~ Share Your Voice at the 2025 Family Summit
The 2025 FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, March 15, at South Lakes High School. Visit the Family Summit webpage for more information. At the event, FCPS students will be invited to showcase projects and advocacy efforts around inclusivity in schools. This is a great resume-building opportunity, and students can earn service hours as well. Students may share their work in a share-fair environment using posters, essays, videos, songs, or art. They will interact with attendees through conversations about their work, ideas, and efforts to foster inclusivity in school communities.
Students must use this Google Form to participate by Monday, February 17. A list of possible projects is also on the form. More information will be provided after the student’s submission is received. Please contact Manuel Gomez Portillo with any questions. ✨ Centering student voice is part of FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
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: February 28 at 9am
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 February 28 at 9am in the cafeteria!
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This year, our evening PTA Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 27th at 7pm. We will have a quick meeting, followed by our guest of honor, Mary Willcox Smith. Ms. Smith is a Parent Coach, Speaker, and Author of the book Small Moments, The MicroStep Method® for the Overwhelmed Parent. Join us while she speaks on The Power of Small: How simple shifts can turn overwhelm into connection and resilience.In this engaging presentation, filled with humor, real-life stories, and transformative insights, you’ll discover how to turn daily struggles into small shifts that spark lasting change—helping you parent with confidence and ease. Parents may submit questions prior to the evening here.
Make a Difference This Year! - Volunteer Opportunities
Sixth Grade Promotion Party Planning Meeting! Join us on February 12 at 845am in the cafeteria for the 6th grade Promotion Party Planning Meeting. Volunteers will plan activities, fundraising, decorations, and food for this epic party in June to send off this year's 6th graders in true KG style (over the top awesome goodness, of course)! If you’re interested in helping and missed the very first email, email kgptapresident@gmail.com to be included.
Book Fair Planning - The Spring Book Fair is run by the PTA (with a massive assist from Mrs. Hershey and Ms. Nabaki) and helps us raise money to support Kent Gardens. For a successful book fair, we need YOUR help! Join us for our book fair planning meeting on Wednesday, February 19 at 9am in the Cafeteria.
Book Fair Co-Chair If you love the book fair as much as we do, consider becoming a co-chair this year with Andrea Hagar. The Spring Book Fair is run by the PTA with support from our library staff. You'll learn alongside our seasoned book fair volunteers this spring! Contact Andrea at af_hager@yahoo.com to learn more!
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!
Come Watch the Wizards!
Please join us for Kent Gardens Elementary Night at the Wizards on Friday, March 21st! All purchasers through this special link will receive a discounted ticket price, with a portion of each ticket sold will go back to Kent Gardens Elementary PTA! After the game, join us for a concert by DJ Diesel AKA Shaquille O'Neal! https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Kent25
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Girls on the Run Starts March 3
Registration for Girls on the Run is now open through Feb. 23 at gotrnova.org. Practices begin March 3 and will take place either M/W or Tu/Th between 3:45-5 p.m. We are still looking for one adult coach or practice partner for the Tu/Th team. The kids of parent volunteers are guaranteed a spot in the program and coaches' kids get a registration discount. Please contact Danielle Newman at kges.gotr@gmail.com if you're interested in volunteering.
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