News You Choose 8.31.2025

Recess FUN!

#kgpride #WeAllBelong #AnchoredInExcellence 

Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

We are pleased to share that we had a wonderful week at school. Our students have been highly engaged in their learning, and it has been inspiring to see their focus, curiosity, and excitement across all grade levels. Classrooms have been full of meaningful discussions, hands-on activities, and collaborative learning.

This week, students in grades 3 - 6 will receive their laptops. These laptops will go home with the students.  Students should NOT use the laptops except for FCPS related work. Note that we will begin assessments in the next week or two utilizing the laptops.  Students should have headphones to access the audio. These assessments help us better understand each student’s individual strengths and areas for growth, allowing us to tailor instruction to support every learner effectively.

Although we love our pets, FCPS prohibits having dogs and any other pets on our school grounds. Thank you for not walking your dogs on our property. Please be mindful of this policy for arrival and dismissal. 

As we head into the long weekend, we hope everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable Labor Day. We look forward to welcoming students back to school on Tuesday, ready for another great week of learning.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Warmly, 

Holly McGuigan               Tia Hawkins                       Sarah Talley

Principal                           Assistant Principal             Assistant Principal

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on your Calendar

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. See Below - complete the Digital Consent and the Google Transportation Form.

September 12 - Principal Coffee 8 a.m. Library

September 23 - Rosh Hashanah holiday- No School

September  24 - Advanced Academic Information Meeting 5 - 6 p.m.

September 26 - First PTA Meeting  - Cafeteria 8:45 a.m.

2025-26 FCPS School Calendar

Enjoying the Second Week of School! 

#kgpride #WeAllBelong #AnchoredInExcellence

Student Smart Watches and Cell Phones

Please remind your child that FCPS is phone-free! For elementary school students, this means:

• Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.
• Cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).

If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office at 703-394-5600. Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone and personal device policy.

Advanced Academics Program (AAP) Elementary Continuum of Services Parent Information Night

Join us on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the KGES Cafeteria to learn more about the Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Continuum of Services. Here is a link to the FCPS AAP site for additional information. 

New Families who are newly registered as of January 01, 2025 may complete an AAP referral. Fall referrals due October 15 to drbulford@fcps.edu. Spring referrals due December 15 to drbulford@fcps.edu.

Office Reminders

We pledge that if you read our FAQs and Important Office Reminders, and use our online forms, you and your students will not only survive—you’ll thrive in KG Lion Territory! 🏆

For your child's safety, in the event that you have to make a dismissal change or establish a new routine, you must use our online forms to submit your Transportation Change request on the day of your needed adjustment - please remind your child in the morning of the change.. Add additional information after your child’s name or in note section. 

📄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. 
  • OPT IN if you require childcare on our limited early release Wednesdays.
  • OPT OUT if your child will go home (or to childcare arranged with SACC or another provider) at the early release time. 
  • Must be completed as soon as possible - we are following up by direct email.

📄✅ Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School Resources

Families can easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. Opt your child in or out of a variety of online educational tools and choose how student information is managed. Parents/caregivers of elementary students should opt in/out of after-school care on early release Wednesdays. 

Please visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage today to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool

Important Volunteer Information

FCPS has a new volunteer management system, ‘Volunteer FCPS’.  This new system is designed to ensure the safety of your children within FCPS.  Effective immediately, if you are considering volunteering more than twice this year or chaperoning a field trip (even once), you will need to sign up to be a volunteer. We would encourage you to start this process as soon as possible; there are multiple steps that may take some time.  It cannot be completed at the last minute.

Please follow these steps to register as a volunteer:

1. Click this link to take you the Kent Gardens Volunteer Site
2. Click Sign Up and follow the onboard instructions where you will set up an account.  Please select General Volunteering – level 3.  This will allow you to volunteer in all opportunities (including field trips) going forward.
3. Check your inbox regularly and follow the steps to process your application speedily.  You will be notified each time there is a step to complete.

All volunteers (new or returning) will register in Volunteer FCPS, complete a volunteer orientation, and be required to sign in as usual using the visitor kiosk. Some volunteers will also be required to undergo a background check. Visit the Volunteer FCPS website for details. Thanks for your support! 

New Math Screening and Growth Assessment for Elementary Students

Starting in September, FCPS elementary schools will use the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Math assessment to assess grade level mathematics skills in grades 1-6. The MAP Math test along with the iReady Reading test fulfill a state requirement to measure academic growth in grades 3-6 throughout the school year.  

MAP Math tests are administered in the fall, winter, and spring. They help teachers identify students' strengths and areas where they may need more support.  Families can learn more about MAP Growth assessments by visiting the MAP Test Information webpage. 

SEL Screener Parent Notification and Updates

The Fall Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. 

Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit FCPS’ Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.

Note from Parent Liaison, Shelley Lowinger

I am the Family Liaison at KGES and I am here for your family and happy to support school communications, encourage participation in school-wide events and help families by providing information and assistance which will help your child(ren) at home and school.  I can help serve as a resource between our families and our school and help create a rewarding and successful school year.   I look forward to working in partnership with you and helping enrich your child’s educational journey.   My email address is rlowinger@fcps.edu.

Parent Translation Support - Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.

FCPS Family Academy - Building a Brighter Future, Together - The FCPS Family Academy promotes connections and collaborations between families, educators, and the community. Its work is aimed at strengthening partnerships in support of each and every student’s success.  Explore a wide range of resources; tools; and virtual and in-person webinars, workshops, and programs.   FCPS Family Academy helps you become a key part of your child’s education! Learn more about the FCPS Family Academy.

Kent Gardens Family Buddy Program - Are you a new family that just moved to the Kent Gardens Elementary School?   Are you new to KGES and seeking to connect with others in our school community?   Do you have questions about school or would like to meet other KGES families?  Or, are you a current Kent Gardens family and are interested in hosting a new family in town?  Good news!  We have just the program for you! To welcome new families to our school and help them get acclimated more quickly, we are thrilled to announce our new Family Buddy Program.  This program partners new families with returning families to be a useful resource with school information and a new connection to the community.  Our Family Buddy Program is an effort to build community and help welcome new families to Kent Gardens.  It matches existing school families with new families to ensure a smooth transition to school. 

Who can be a Buddy Family?  A Buddy Family is any KGES family enrolled in the 2025-2026 school year and willing to be a resource for questions that a new family may have throughout the school year.

How does the Family Buddy Program work?  Participating KGES families will be paired with another family that best matches their child(ren)’s grade level (depending on participation).  We asked that Buddy Families reach out to their new families within 1 week of being matched and meet in person at KGES events or own their own. 

What makes the Family Buddy Program so awesome?  As a Family Buddy, you will help a new family feel comfortable and become accustomed to KGES and provide seasoned and friendly advice on school happenings.  And as a new family, you will benefit from an established KGES family’s knowledge and experiences helping to make a smooth transition.

If you are a new family and interested in participating in our Family Buddy Program or are a returning family wanting to help, please email Shelley Lowinger the following information posted below.  Depending on participation, effort will be made to match families up with same grade level or age of KGES students. Please respond with your interest by completing this google form to participate.

*Please note in your emailed response that you give permission to share your contact information (email address) with your buddy family.

Questions about our Family Buddy Program?  Contact Shelley Lowinger, our Family Liaison at rlowinger@fcps.edu.

Strings Sign Up 2025-26! Calling all fourth graders - strings sign up is available here.  Note that the majority of our 4th graders sign up for strings - it is a great experience! Dr Tai and Mr. Hodge will be introducing and letting the students try out instruments this week!  Our 5th and 6th graders can also sign up here.  Dr. Tai and Mr. Hodge are available for questions as well!  The students can start as new students to the strings program.  No prior experience is necessary. We look forward to your child's participation. Almost all students in 5th and 6th graders sign up for band or strings!

Bang Sign Up 2025-26! Fifth and sixth graders may sign up for band! Mr. Zimmerman and Ms. Parrell will be introducing instruments this next week. Students may try out and play the instruments.  There is no prior experience necessary for 5th nor 6th grade - all are welcome!  The students will have a wonderful time!   Mr. Zimmerman and Ms. Parrell are looking forward to an amazing year!   We look forward to your child's participation. Almost all fifth graders sign up for band or strings!

💻 Check Your Child’s Classwork in Schoology

Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a secure forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized, and it keeps the class connected. A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to: Your child’s classes, your child’s upcoming assignments and school, class, and group announcements.

Parent accounts will be available after Monday, August 18. To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Get more information on how to login and use Schoology.

Author Visit September 4: James Ponti Mrs. Hershey is starting our school year off with a bang! Kent Gardens is SUPER excited to welcome author of the City Spies series, James Ponti, on September 4. We're one of only THREE schools in the area to snag this amazing author! Grades 4-6 will have the opportunity to hear from Mr. Ponti as he promotes his newest series, The Sherlock Society. Students have the opportunity to purchase the books in this series, and he will be signing them day of visit, but orders are due Thursday, August 28. LATE ORDERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Print this form and return it to Mrs. Hershey in the library NO LATER THAN Thursday, August 28!

KG PTA News and Updates

TAG You're It- Donate to The Annual Giving Campaign!

In the VERY FIRST WEEK of The Annual Giving Campaign, you helped us raise $15,000! We are just so grateful for all the ways that our community helps support our 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!

The first 250 donors will receive KGES PTA supporter reusable shopping bags. Stay tuned for our class competition in September. 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.  Make your donation here!

Join the PTA Now!

The PTA at KGES is SUPER BUSY! We do SO much...i 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!  

Volunteers

Do you love creating order? Does your spirit soar when you are alphabetizing books on shelves? Do you LOVE the Dewey Decimal System? Or maybe spending time around books just fills your cup? Mrs. Hershey needs volunteers who can share a few hours of their time to help make the library run well.  BONUS: volunteers get to check out books! Please do complete the FCPS volunteer process as detailed above. If this opportunity interests you, email Karen Hershey!

Sign Up Now for Our Favorite KG Activities

Science Olympiad

Math COUNTS

Chess Club

Sign Up and Register Now for After School Academies

Your KGES PTA is so excited to offer the Afterschool Academies for the Fall 2025! Registration opens Tuesday 9/9 at 9am and will close Sunday 9/28 at 1159pm, but don't wait around! Popular classes will fill up fast!

This fall, we're thrilled to see classes with Mr. Avery, Ms. D'Amico, Ms. Deemer, Ms. Elpant, Ms. Klader, and Ms. Nabaki. Our teachers are AMAZING so register early to avoid being waitlisted!

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or KentGardensES.Attendance@fcps.edu

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