Literacy Night Fun!
Thanks to our teachers for hosting fun activities and engaging in literacy!
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
March 3 - 4/6 ~ March Picture Book Madness - Read and vote each week!
March 17 - Three Hour Early Release
March 21 - Yearbook Order Deadline 3/21 - code 21772 -Have you ordered
March 21 - Kent Gardens' Washington Wizards game - link here!
March 21 - Kindergarten Parent Virtual Orientation - 8 am. (Sign Up Here)
March 25 - Author Candace Fleming will join us! Order here!
March 27 - PTA Meeting ~Guest Speaker - Mary Smith 7 p.m.
April 1 - Rising Parent and Student Kindergarten Tours - 2 p.m. (Sign up here)
April 4 - Class Group Picture Day!
April 7 - Quarter 3 Progress Reports Available in ParentVue
April 9 - Purple Up Day! Order a t shirt here from FCPS.
April 25 - Bingo Night Save the Date ! More to Follow!
May 3 - Spring Spectacular Fun Run and 5K
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
Families and Pastries ~ Book Fair
A fun way to visit the Book Fair and enjoy a small pastry! Thanks to our fabulous PTA and Karen Hershey/Shahrzad Nabaki as well as other volunteers! It takes a village!
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
We have had a whirlwind start to March! Our events have included Literacy Night, Book Fair, Spring Pictures, March Book Madness (ongoing), McLean Youth Art exhibits, and more!
Note that the student spring pictures are available for your review/purchase. Parents should have received an email with a proof image link. Check out the additional information below.
In addition, we would like to thank ALL of our volunteers and coordinator, Andrea Hager, for the wonderful book fair. It was a great success and paired nicely with our Literacy Night. The teachers planned wonderful reading and writing opportunities for the students. A shout out to all who supported and to the parents who attended and participated alongside your child(ren).
Class placement discussions will be taking place soon. Below is a link for parents to provide your input. We will close this opportunity on April 11th. Thanks in advance for your partnership with us! We cannot guarantee requests but will do our best.
We have a three hour early release on Monday. We have worked to ensure that we have accurate departures for all students. Note that last minute changes are very challenging and we work to ensure safety for ALL. If you have to make a change, please ensure that you designate whether it is at 12:35 or 3:35 p.m.
Thanks as always for your support!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Spring Individual Pictures
Victor O'Neill Studios recently held Spring portrait day at our schools and Spring pictures are now online. Families will receive a proof image link via email. Please remember to check your spam. We are pleased to offer free shipping on orders placed for the next two weeks until March 24, 2025. For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: underclass@vosphoto.com
March Picture Book Madness
This challenge will last the month of March! Join us in reading and enjoying the books. Click on this link to have access to the books and vote! We will vote every week for the month of march! Get ready to dive into the First Annual Kent Gardens March Madness Reading Challenge Book Tournament Bracket! Each round, books will face off, and your votes will determine which book moves forward until only two finalists remain.
Link here!
🔹 Round 2: Vote by 3/19
🔹 Round 3: Vote by 3/26
🔹 Round 4 (Finals!): Vote by 4/21
📢 How to Vote: Links for each new round will be shared via News You Choose and Schoology after votes from the previous round are tallied. 📖🎉 Join us in the reading madness and help crown this year’s champion book! Let the tournament begin! Click here to have access. #kgpride #StrongerTogether #WeAllBelong
Student Class Placement 2025-26 ~ Parent Input Opportunity
Here is the link to provide input on your child(ren)'s class placement. Note that we will do our best to use your input but cannot make guarantees. We appreciate your continued partnership! Here is the link to provide input - it will be open until April 11th. Thanks!
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.
Kindergarten Student/Parent Tours - Sixth Grade Students Needed
On April 1st (School Planning Day), we will host our new kindergarten families and students. We would love to have our sixth grade students support in giving the tours. Sign up with a friend(s) and we will place you in groups of 2 - 4 for the tours. Sign up here!
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.
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.
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Author Visit ~ Candace Fleming - 3/25
We are thrilled to have author, Candace Fleming, come to KG on March 25! She has written over 50 books with flair for creating stories that capture the hearts of readers of all ages! Ms. Fleming will sign copies of her books for KGES students. To order books in time for signing, use THIS order form and return it to Mrs. Hershey in the library by MARCH 11! Forms received AFTER March 11 cannot be ordered. So many wonderful books!
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Dear Families,
This week, our school community will focus on the Other People Mindset of Identifying and appreciating the good in others. It’s important to deliberately work to identify and appreciate others’ character strengths. It’s not always easy to notice people’s strengths, but it’s something we should all practice. Often, it’s easier to blame others or focus on their mistakes, which can lead to negative feelings like jealousy or frustration. This negativity can create problems, not just for us but also for our relationships with others.
When we make an effort to see the good in people, we start to see the world in a more positive way. If we always focus on the bad, it feels like we’re surrounded by negativity, which makes us defensive and stressed. This doesn’t mean we should ignore reality or pretend everything is perfect, but we should try to understand others and recognize their good intentions. When we see the good in others, they are more likely to see the good in us.
To practice and encourage the Other People Mindset 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
March Workshops from the Family Resource Center - Supporting Mental Health: Recognizing and Addressing Anxiety and Depression in Teens - Part 3 of our Teen Series with Dr. Unnatti Jain, a Certified Behavior Change Expert / TEDx speaker / Author / Keynote speaker who studies behavioral patterns. Dr. Jain will help caretakers and families identify mental health symptoms, enhance communication skills, and explore professional and self-care strategies. Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 10 - 11:30 a.m. Register here
Calming the Chaos: Teaching Emotional Regulation to Twice-Exceptional (2e) Students - Join Dr. Oladimeji as she supports families to understand the unique emotional regulation challenges of Twice Exceptional (2e) students, including the interaction between giftedness and disabilities, identify proactive strategies to help 2e students recognize, express, and manage emotions effectively, Implement practical tools and techniques at home to foster emotional self-regulation and resilience and collaborate with schools and professionals to support emotional growth in their child’s academic and social environments. Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 10 - 11:30 a.m. Register here
Fairfax County Park Authority Spring Classes - Fairfax County Park Authority offers a variety of spring and summer classes. Registration for 2025 spring and summer camps is open! Here is the link for the Fairfax County Park Authority’s Guide for Spring classes. Summer camps and classes offered by the Park Authority can be found here.
The English Empowerment Center: English and Workforce Readiness Class - The English Empowerment Center is hosting an Intensive English and Workforce Readiness Class. Spring semester sign-up will be on Tuesday, March 18, and the course will begin in April. Flyer HERE
Crisis Energy Assistance - The application period for the Crisis Assistance component of Energy Assistance ends this Monday, March 17th at 11:59 pm. Crisis Assistance can help eligible households with equipment related repairs, primary heat utility security deposits and payment of the primary heat source utility bill. The maximum benefit for Crisis Assistance bill pay 2025 is $450.00. Applications ONLINE at www.commonhelp.virginia.gov
Applications for Energy Assistance are accepted Online: www.commonhelp.virginia.gov phone: Enterprise Customer Service Center (855) 635-4370 By email: Completed applications can be sent to DFSMycase@fairfaxcounty.gov
Buy the Yearbook Now!
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)!
We will be remitting you a confirmation email to families that HAVE purchased. Our goal is to ensure that we are able to confirm purchases prior to the end of the year. Thanks!
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🚀 Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun
Registration will be available soon for summer camps offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students. Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration begins for these programs on Monday, March 10, and ends Friday, June 6.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to allow current K-5 students to explore activities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary arts, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps.
E-IFTAis a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes. For more information, see the Summer Learning page.
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STEAM Fun!
Thanks to a generous grant from Educate Fairfax, our students have enjoyed building and working with KEVA Plans! So much fun!!
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Women's History Month
Join us in celebrating Women's History Month! We recognized Women in Music and Art this past Friday on March 7th. We have the following dates whereby students can wear Spirit Wear!
March 21 - Women in Science
March 28 - Empowered Women
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FCPS Budget — Our Students Deserve the Best More than $240 million of FCPS’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget is dedicated to increasing compensation for our teachers and staff to stay competitive and reduce turnover. Currently, FCPS ranks fifth out of eight neighboring districts in regards to starting salary for teachers with a master’s degree. Our families expect — and our students deserve — the best teachers.
Next Steps in the Budget Process - The next steps in the FCPS FY 2026 Budget process include the School Board presenting the budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 22, and then the Board of Supervisors will conduct public hearings Tuesday, April 22, through Thursday, April 24. Community members can submit testimony or sign up to speak. Visit the county government website to view the Fairfax County FY 2026 Advertised Budget. The community is also invited to complete an online survey to provide feedback on the county’s FY 2026 Advertised Budget. Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Budget process.
Chess Club Represents at Tournament!
Kent Gardens represented and achieved first place in the K-5 State Champions and placed second in the K-8 Championship! There were individual winners as well! #kgpride #StrongerTogether
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An Opportunity to Support!
Some of our past KG students have created this opportunity to 'give back'! We will have box in the lobby. Some ideas include the following: coloring books, crayons, markers, colored pencils, stickers and any crafts to keep the children occupied with some creativity mind!
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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
Spring Fun Fair! Interested in helping plan our 2025 5k and fun run? Want to design the t-shirt? Choose the medals? File the permits (you know you want to!)? Coordinate the Volunteers? Maybe you want to find the food trucks? Or DJ the event? Join our planning call via ZOOM on Thursday 2/27 at 7pm. Need the link? Email Event Coordinator Alyssa.
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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