Last Chance to Buy A Yearbook Now! Closing Date 4/6/2025
The QR code above and the link is here to purchase the yearbook. Use code 21772. We will close the purchase window on April 6. Buy now to ensure you will have a yearbook for your child(ren)!
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KG Week at a Glance!
Fifth Grade Counseling Lessons, Picture Day, Kindergarten Tours and more!
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
March 3 - 4/6 ~ March Picture Book Madness - Vote today for the final winner!
April 7 - Quarter 3 Progress Reports Available in ParentVue
April 7 - Jennifer Nielson - Author Presentation Grades 4 - 6
April 8 - Silver Diner Fundraiser - 4 - 8 p.m. 20% comes back to KGES!
April 9 - Purple Up Day! Wear Purple!
April 14 - 18 - Spring Break - No School
April 22 - Bus Driver Appreciation Day
April 22 - McLean Pyramid Talk - Learn Like A Pro! 6 - 7 p.m. See notes below - come join!
April 25 - Bingo Night - Registration Closed
April 28 - Three Hour Early Release
April 29 - Sixth Grade Pano Picture
April 29 - Longfellow Spring Open House 6 - 7 p.m.
May 3 - Spring Spectacular Fun Run and 5K
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
2025-26 FCPS School Calendar
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Month of the Military Child - Wear Purple 4.9.2025!
April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to honor and celebrate the resilience, courage, and contributions of FCPS military-connected children.
To show our support, FCPS will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Please note that this date has been adjusted to align with our spring break schedule. On this day, school staff and students are encouraged to wear purple, symbolizing unity and support for military families across all service branches.
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McLean Pyramid Book Talk: Learn Like A Pro
The McLean Pyramid Principals invite parents and students to a book talk at Longfellow Middle School on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, from 6:00-7:00pm. We will be discussing Learn Like a Pro, by Barbara Oakley. The goal of the book talk will be to provide strategies that both parents and students can use at home to support learning, growth, and independence. We invite all parents to join us in reading this text, but reading the text is not a prerequisite for attending our book talk.
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Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
We had a busy but short week of school. It has been a full one of learning and activities. Some of our fifth graders shared counseling lessons with our younger students, sixth graders toured our new kindergarten parents while we met with our new kindergarteners, and our fifth graders took their first SOL assessment in writing. We are proud of their efforts! Please do note the upcoming SOL dates below on your calendar.
For this summer, we have been advised that based on available funds, FCPS is not able to provide all of the centrally-operated opportunities that were available in the past years. Specifically, we are unable to offer Bridge to Kindergarten and Young Scholars programs this summer. SOAR will be available for Title 1 schools.
The purchase date to obtain a yearbook closes on Monday, 4/6 of this week - email Holly McGuigan or Sarah Talley with questions!
April is Military Week - we have been hosting military lunch bunches and other small celebrations. Wear PURPLE on April 9th to commemorate the military!
Thanks as always for your support!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Librarian Appreciation Day!
We love our librarian staff! We are thankful and appreciate Ms. Hershey and Ms. Nabaki for ALL that they do!
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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 Registration and Intention
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.
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 took place on March 21st. Here is the link to review the slide deck.
Kindergarten Field Trip to the Zoo!
Dear Families,
This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Fairness. Fairness means treating everyone with respect and recognizing that all people have value. It also means being open-minded and fair in how we approach situations. By teaching fairness, we help students develop into responsible, trustworthy, and kind individuals who care about others. Fairness builds the foundation for strong friendships and a positive community.
To practice and encourage the character strength of fairness 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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Longfellow ~ Rising 7th Grader Updates
We invite all Rising 7th Grade and new FCPS families to join us for Longfellow Middle School’s Spring Open House on Tuesday, April 29th, from 6:00–7:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to tour the school, meet staff, and ask any questions as you prepare for the 2025–26 school year. We look forward to welcoming you!
Save the Date! Jump Start is an opportunity for students to learn more about middle school and meet other students before the school year begins. Jump Start dates are August 4-7. Students choose to attend during Session 1 (Monday & Tuesday) or Session 2 (Wednesday & Thursday) from 8:30 - 12:00 each day. Further details forthcoming regarding the registration process! If you have any questions feel free to contact our After-School Specialist, Lavina Gangwani-Colaco - lkgangwanico@fcps.edu.
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News from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison
Upcoming Family Resource Center Presentations - Math Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities - In this session participants will learn about evidence-based practices in teaching students with significant cognitive disabilities and how they apply to math instruction. Specific early numeracy objectives will be discussed, along with related activities to support these objectives using items easily found within the home. April 11, 10- 11:30 A.M. Register here
Empowering Twice-exceptional Students to Understand the Role of Accommodations in Accessing Learning - Supporting families to understand what accommodations are and how they support twice exceptional (2e) students in accessing learning, learn strategies to empower their 2e child to understand and request to use their 504/IEP accommodations, April 22, 10- 11:30 A.M. Register here
The Role of Boundaries in Teen Development - Join Dr. Jain, as she supporting families to understand the importance of Boundaries, model healthy boundaries, and navigate social and digital boundaries on April 25, 10 - 11:30 A.M. Register here
Legal Services of Northern Virginia - Low-Income Tax Clinic- See links below for more info: Tax Tips 2025 Webinars
List of Free Tax Preparation Providers
Northern Virginia Tax Aide providers
Fairfax County Government Presentation - Virtual Parent Café will discuss “The Power of Play in Parenting” on Tuesday, April 8. Children of all ages experience greater confidence, fewer behavioral issues, and improved mental health when caregivers use the power of play in their daily interactions with them. This presentation by Greater Richmond SCAN helps parents learn more about the importance of play and how to incorporate it into interactions with children. Any Fairfax County parents or guardians with children ages 0-18 years old can join through MS Teams at https://bit.ly/4bzJYpP. For more information or to preregister, email or call 703-324-7720.
Bingo Night is Sold Out!
Bingo Night is Sold Out - Support the event by donating prizes - We are looking for new or gently used toys/games/puzzles for Bingo Night prizes which can be dropped off in the designated box located in the office! Want to donate, but need ideas? Visit this Amazon link for inspiration! Questions? Email KGPTABingo@gmail.com.
There are no tickets left at this time for purchase - we look forward to the event!
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⏰ School Start Times Survey
FCPS would like to hear from all families on the possibility of adjusting school start times across the division. Please check your email for a survey link from Fairfax County Public Schools. It was also sent to staff as well as to students in grades 5-12. The confidential survey will be open through Saturday, April 12.
Save the Date! SOL Testing Calendar Below!
Military-Connected Family Support
FCPS welcomes all of our new and returning military-connected families throughout the year! Whether your family is moving permanently to the school district or living here for a short time, our schools and support staff welcome you and will be able to assist with your transition into and/or out of our district.
Visit the FCPS Military Families webpage and sign up to receive the Military Families newsletter. Follow FCPS Military Families accounts on Facebook and Instagram for support and resources throughout the year. If you have any questions, please email the FCPS Family and School Partnerships team.
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Excellence Is at a Crossroads
Fairfax County residents believe in the value of a strong public school system. Residents live here because of the excellence of Fairfax County Public Schools, even our community members with grown children. Excellence in FCPS comes from its people — dedicated teachers and support staff who make sure that our students are ready to learn. Today, that excellence is at a crossroads.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will finalize the budget on Tuesday, May 6, and the current advertised budget underfunds FCPS by $150 million. Now is the time. Do we want continued excellence, or are we ready to consider cuts to important programs that we have come to expect from FCPS? Do you believe in the power and promise of public education? Go to fcps.edu/crossroads.
March Picture Book Madness
📚🏀 First Annual Kent Gardens March Madness Reading Challenge! 🏀📚
Are you ready for it? We have the final two books! Vote to help choose the winner of the First KG March Madness Reading Challenge!
🔹 Final Round: Vote by Wednesday, April 2.
The winner will be announced next week!
Click here to have access. #kgpride #StrongerTogether #WeAllBelong
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Silver Diner Opportunity!
Join the KG community at Silver Diner on April 8th. 20% of incremental sales will go to our school when you 'dine in' or order to go! Come between 4 - 8 pm. on April 8th at the Tysons location -
8101 Fletcher St. McLean, VA 22101
We look forward to seeing you and your families there!
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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
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Teacher Appreciation Week Is Coming Soon!
Teacher Appreciation Week will be May 5-9th this year. Help us spoil our teachers with a different themed lunch each day! For families who prefer to bring something in, we will send a signup genius out soon, but for now we are collecting donations so we can cater a large part of the week for our 118 staff members. Here is the link to support the catering for the staff. Thanks in advance for supporting!
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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!
Science Olympiad Success!
Our students participated in the Virginia Science Olympiad Division B State Finals at the University of Virginia. This event culminates seven months of rewarding hard work in this middle school-level competition. Congratulations to all 45 participants across our three teams. Special thanks to our parent mentors, regional tournament event supervisors, and volunteers for the regional and finals tournaments and Mr. Shivnen - award Top Coach for VSO!
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