Kindergarten/First Grade Playdate Delayed
We will reschedule the playdate arranged for today due to storms in the area. The playdate will be rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon after the Open House from 4:00 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
We are looking forward to a wonderful 2025-26 school year. We hope you are enjoying your summer.
Below, we have detailed arrival and dismissal information. Please complete this transportation form to ensure that we have your child's arrival and dismissal information. Note that building routines are important! Please consider having your child arrive the same way that he/she will arrive for the rest of the school year on the first day.
We look forward to seeing everyone at our Open House. Students can come with their supplies. We will remit the teacher homerooms on Thursday morning by email to our enrolling parents. We do stagger the timing by last names:
- A - H: 2 - 2:30 p.m.
- I - P: 2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
- Q - Z: 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.
If you are new to KGES and have not ordered through School Tool Box, our school supply lists are on our webpage.
We will be remitting additional updates and the school plans and vision in upcoming communications!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on your Calendar
August 13 - Kindergarten and First Grade Playdate 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Cancelled and Rescheduled for August 14th (after the Open House) to 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
August 14 - Open House/Meet the Teacher 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. See the times listed above. Kinder/First Grade Playdate Rescheduled to 4 - 5 p.m.
August 18 - First Day of School
August 27 - Back to School Night 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
August 29 and September 1- Labor Day holidays- No School
September 9 - Special Election- Student Holiday
September 10 - Student 3 Hour Early Release at 12:35 p.m.
September 23 - Rosh Hashanah holiday- No School
2025-26 FCPS School Calendar
Patrols Are Back!
#kgpride #StayingStrong #WeAllBelong
We're Eager to Welcome You Back to School!
As summer winds down, we are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Please review this checklist to make sure your child is ready! Complete the following tasks to prepare for the first day of school:
☑️ Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE - Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our registrar, Mandy Belcher, at (703) 916-6800 if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Update Your Contact Information - Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) in the Parent/Guardian section of SIS ParentVUE.
☑️ Update Immunizations and Records - Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. When your child is immunized, remember to request a copy of their immunization record and bring that to our front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.
☑️ Bookmark the School Year Calendar - Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances. Days marked with a blue “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days. Days marked with an orange “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings, if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days. Days marked in pink are holidays for students but working days for teachers and staff. Please note that some holidays and observances, such as Eid al Fitr, may shift, and the calendar may be adjusted.
📄Important Back to School Forms!
Student consent forms are available on the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC). Families can log into the PDC using their ParentVue credentials to complete consent forms assigned to their child. If you have a new ParentVue account, you must wait 24 hours after it is created to use the PDC.
Available forms include:
- Early Release Wednesday Afterschool Opt-in
- The directions are here. Note that we will follow up to determine your transportation in a separate google form. If a parent selects “Consent to All,” the default is that the student will stay and require childcare. This is for safety reasons. Please note if your child does not need to remain at KG.
- Must be completed by August 25th
- Digital Resource Consent
- SOL Retest Permission
- School Counseling Opt-out
- SEL Screener Opt-out
- Family Life Education Opt-out
- Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public
- Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations
KG Arrival/Dismissal Information
Arrival Procedures
Students are able to enter the building at 8:40 a.m.. Our bell to start the day is at 8:50 a.m.. Students whose parents are dropping off in kiss and ride may come in Door #8 to the cafeteria at 8:30 a.m. and await the bell to release to the classroom at 8:40 a.m.
The Kiss and Ride circle moves quickly as long as parents follow the directions of the staff members assisting. If you are dropping your student off after 8:50 a.m., you must bring them to the front office and check them in.
We do ask that ALL parents follow the routine that their child will follow for the rest of the school year. It supports the children so that they know 'what' to do and expect.
We ask that parents not accompany students into the building on the first day of school. Talk with your child about where and when you will say good bye to them and send them off for a great first day of school.
We are here to support all of the students and will have many staff members at arrival and dismissal to ensure safety.
Dismissal Procedures
Our dismissal begins at 3:35 p.m. For safety reasons, we are requesting that ALL parents complete the google form for your child's transportation mode to ensure that all students get home safely.
Walkers (Grades 1 - 6) exit through Door #7 and parents of kindergarten students should wait by Door #8 to greet their child(ren) and staff members will ensure that kindergarten students are released to the guardian/parent. Bus information is provided below in order to track the bus.
Kiss and Ride moves quickly IF you ensure that your child can enter the car unassisted and can fasten his/her seatbelt. Please work with your child(ren) to establish independence. Kindergarten students will have an assistant teacher with them to ensure safety.
Bus riders will be called separately. Patrols and other adults will walk students down to ensure proper transportation. To track the bus, see the blurb below. Kindergarteners MUST be met by an adult - parent or guardian. We do not accept playdates that involve riding home with a friend on the bus. Parents should have received an email from transportation regarding the bus and timing.
🚌Here Comes the Bus Mobile App
Know when your bus is approaching your stop. Here Comes the Bus® app is a school bus tracking app that provides real-time bus location. This helps parents and students get to the bus stop on time. Here Comes the Bus® utilizes our GPS data and available on multiple devices.
Using the app is EASY! You will need the FCPS school district code 28982 and a SIS ParentVUE Account. Learn more about How to Get Started.
School Lunch Information
☑️ Learn About School Meals -Parents/caregivers need to provide their students with money to purchase meals at school, send them with a packed lunch, or apply (and be approved) for free and reduced-price meal benefits.
Starting this school year, students will enter their student ID number — not their current cafeteria PIN — at the cash register to receive school meals. Please remind your child of their student ID number, which you can find in SIS ParentVUE. View more updates and reminders for school meals this year.
Apply Today for Free and Reduced Price Meals!
Eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals receive breakfast and lunch at school at no cost.
Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. Access the application and view criteria on the Free and Reduced-Price Meals webpage
Students who were approved for free and reduced-price meals last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
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.
KG PTA News and Updates
TAG You're It- Donate to The Annual Giving Campaign!
The Annual Giving Campaign is the main fundraiser at Kent Gardens. When you contribute to our KG Pride Fund, you help Kent Gardens Elementary remain an exciting, vibrant, and thriving school.
Our goal is to raise $45,000 by September 30th with at least 50% of our families giving! A suggested donation of $175 per family will help us kick-off the 2025-26 school year strong! Make your donation here!
Join the PTA Now!
The PTA at KGES is SUPER BUSY! We do SO much...if you like the afterschool academies, chess club, Math Counts, Bingo Night, 5k, Bread and Cider, Christmas Cookie Exchange, Book Fairs, Heritage Night, Teacher Appreciation Week and just so, so, so MUCH MORE, that's because your KGES PTA has been working hard to bring enriching experiences to our community. When you join the PTA, you help support the work we do at our school AND the advocacy work that the PTA does at all levels of the government! Membership in the KGES PTA needs to be renewed every year and you don't have to wait for the school year to start. You can join the PTA NOW!
Lost and Found - Name Tags!
The Lost and Found is always overflowing at KGES! The BEST way to keep things out of the lost and found? LABEL THEM! If you order name labels from Mabel's Labels, Kent Gardens earns 20% of the sales! Order your labels for the 25-26 school year NOW! Shop here! Type in Kent gardens and click on our school, then click away to find the products that work best for YOU!
Welcome Pack Picnic -(Let us know you're coming by RSVPing on Facebook)
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