Girls on the Run!
Our girls' coaches, families and some teachers represented - a beautiful day! Well done everyone! #kgpride #strongertogether
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar
May 19 - Three Hour Early Release - Last One!
May 21 - Strings Concert 5:30 p.m.
May 26 - School Closed - Memorial Day
May 30 - McLean HS Clap Out (our returning students from any high school can join us at 2:45 - we will have the clap out at 3 p.m.)
June 3 - Chorus Concert 5:30 p.m.
June 5 - Field Day Grades K-5 (sign up here)
June 6 - Volunteer Breakfast (8:00 a.m. More info to follow)
June 6 - Last PTA Meeting 9 a.m.
June 9 - Kindergarten Performance 9:15 a.m.
June 10 - 6th Grade Field Day 9:15 - 11:00 and Celebration 1:00 p.m.
June 11 - Last Day of School - 2 Hour Early Release
2024-25 FCPS School Calendar
2025-26 FCPS School Calendar
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
Students in grades 3 - 7 have now taken two SOLs. The Reading results are available in ParentVue. The Math results should be there in the next week as it takes time to upload. A heartfelt thank you to all our parents for the support you have provided throughout the testing process. Your encouragement and understanding play a big role in helping our students succeed. We are so proud of the students and teachers!
We are winding up the school year! Our last three hour early release is tomorrow, Monday, May 19th. Please ensure that you notify the office of any change in dismissal - if you adjust the pick up - note that you should designate the dismissal time of 12:35 p.m. or 3:35 p.m.
As we end the school year, note that we have the following events: Strings Concert this Wednesday, as well as the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast and last PTA meeting on June 9th. No need to sign up for the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, room parents and our many other volunteers should join us!! Check out the Field Day link and information in the blurb below.
Thanks again for a wonderful week and your continued support!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
SOL and Other End of Year Testing Reminders
We have the Science SOL remaining for the fifth graders. It will take place on Tuesday, May 20th in the morning. Please ensure your child(ren) have a good night's rest and has a fully charged laptop.
If you child is retaking an SOL, the schedule is as follows: Reading, May 28th, Science May 29th and Math May 30th. Parents have been notified for these retakes with the exception of the Science.
Overall, our results have been strong. Note that the state will give a final accountability based on our pass scores, pass advanced and those that did not pass or when there is a needed opt out. We will disclose our numbers soon. We are very proud of our students and teachers for their hard work this school year!
Budget Update - Excellence at a Crossroads
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has begun finalizing the budget. The current advertised budget underfunds FCPS by $150 million. Without new revenue, such as the meals tax (adding just $2-3 to an average dining bill for a family of four), FCPS will face significant cuts..
Dismissal Schedule and Attendance ~ June 11
On the last day of school, Wednesday, June 11, school will be dismissed at 1:35 pm. Please note that on the last day of school, June 11, 2025, morning attendance calls, texts, and e-mails will not be suspended. All schools must follow standard attendance procedures and record student attendance to ensure all students are accounted for and enable timely communication with families regarding any absences.
Field Day - Volunteers Needed!
Come join us and support Field Day! Volunteers are needed to help with Field Day. Parents/Guardians, please consider helping us by leading a station with Field Day to make it fun and successful! If you would like to volunteer, please complete this google form by Friday, May 30th.
Field Day: June 5, 2024 (Thursday) Grades K-5
Rain Date: June 6, 2024 (Friday) Grades K-5
Schedule - June 5th (June 6th rain date)
Grades 2-3: 9:05 - 10:30 a.m.
Grades K-1: 10:45 - 12:15 p.m.
Grades 4-5: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Grade 6: June 10 - 9:15 - 10:45 a.m. (Note that 6th grade celebration is after - The PTA will possibly need additional help and support for the Sixth Grade Celebration)
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.
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Speech Pathologist Recognition!
We want to recognize our fabulous speech pathologist, Emily Vayo! She has done amazing work with our students and is so supportive! Please recognize her hard work this week!
New Additions to our Staff
Ms. Fernandez and Ms. Leavitt are expecting! They will leave before the end of the year as their little one will arrive soon. Give them some love!
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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.
Band Concert Fun!
We thoroughly enjoyed the band concert. A special shout out to Mr. Zimmerman and Ms. Parrell - the students showed great growth and it was wonderful to see them enjoying themselves and the music they played. Well done!
We will have a band sign up coming out for the next school year. Rising fourth graders will be able to choose between strings or band - stay tuned!
6th Grader Updates
THINGS ALL 6th Grade Families NEED TO DO THIS WEEK!
1) Sign the waiver for laser tag! ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE A SIGNED WAIVER
2) Contribute toward the fun! A $40 suggested contribution will go toward food and fun! If you are unable to contribute for any reason, please email your students preferred name for the t-shirt and t-shirt size (youth or adult s/m/l) to kg6thgraders@gmail.com
3) Upload photos (8 max per student) before May 11th for our slide show that will be played during the party!
4) Yard signs are here! If you ordered, please email Jenny to arrange pick up
And Don't Forget to Join the Longfellow Middle School PTA - The Longfellow Middle School PTA invites and encourages rising 7th grade parents to get involved in the LMS PTA. It’s a great way to get to know the faculty and staff of the school in the two short (and formative) years your student will be at LMS. You can learn more on the Longfellow PTA website. If you're interested in serving or would like more information, email Beth Coyne.
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
Fairfax County Public Library Summer Reading Program Reading and participating in engaging reading activities throughout the summer are two effective ways to combat summer learning loss. Fairfax County Public Library Youth Summer Reading Adventure can help children retain reading skills and foster a love for the library! Learn more about their Summer Reading Adventure here.
Viva! Vienna! - Rides, games, food & fun! Welcome to the Annual ViVa! Vienna! Charity Event Saturday, May 24th, Sunday, May 25th and Monday May 26th. Here’s more information about this family fun celebration!
Family Resource Center Webinar - Using Strength-based Approach When Communicating with Twice-Exceptional Students presentation on May 20th from 10:00 -11:30 a.m. Register here
Speech and Hearing Clinic - Speech and Hearing Clinic Services are available for adults and children living in Fairfax County. This service provides free speech and hearing screenings to the community preschools in Fairfax County and refers them to Child Find for further eligibility for services and intervention as well as Summer Speech and Language therapy services for school-going children who have IEPs and do not have ESY during summer when school is out. Call (703) 246-7120 for more information.
Family Resource Center Magical Moments Together Storytime! - Mark your calendars! The Family Resource Center, located at 2334 Gallows Road in Dunn Loring, will be hosting Magical Moments Together: It’s Storytime! this summer. Join the on July 16 and July 23 and July 30 from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. for engaging stories and imaginative activities. All are welcome but recommended for children ages 2 – 5 years of age. Contact the Family Resource Center directly to register. Contact (703) 204-3941 or email at frc@fcps.edu for additional details.
Third Grade Recess and PE Fun
🎨 Support The Crayon Initiative – Recycle for a Cause! 🖍️
Do you have old, broken, or unwanted crayons lying around? Don’t toss them—donate them!
Our school is collecting used crayons to support The Crayon Initiative, a nonprofit that recycles crayons into new ones and donates them to children’s hospitals across the country. This program not only helps reduce landfill waste but also brings color, creativity, and joy to kids in need.
📦 Collection Dates: May19 - June 12 📍 Drop-Off Location: Outside of the office in the designated box.
Let’s work together to make a big impact with something as small as a crayon! For more information, visit www.thecrayoninitiative.org
Pre-K Program Accepting Applications for Fall
The FCPS PreK Program serves 3 and 4 year old students with a high quality, full-day preschool program with no cost to families at 78 Fairfax County elementary schools. Students may qualify with a variety of economic or educational risk factors. Learn more about the Pre-K and Early Head Start Program by watching this video (English) or video (Spanish). Spaces fill quickly, so complete an application online now or call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish) for more information.
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 last meeting is June 6 at 9 am. in the cafeteria. We look forward to seeing you there! The Parent Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast will be held prior to our meeting! Come join us!
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Rising Kinder Playdates
We are looking for parents of current kindergarteners to help host our Kinder Playdates this Spring and Summer! Bring your kinder to the KG playground and help answer questions and meet new families. If interested, please email kgptapresident@gmail.com
Kinder Playdates will be held on: Saturday June 21st 9-11am Wednesday, August 13th 6-7pm
Check out our first playdate pictures below!
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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