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Your Story Starts Here

Kings Park Families,

It’s hard to believe the first quarter is already coming to a close. Our students have learned, grown and accomplished so much in just a few short months. We’re proud of all they’ve achieved and grateful for your ongoing support throughout this successful start to the year.

As we close out this chapter of our school year story, please take note of a few important schedule changes for the coming days. Wednesday, October 29th, is a 3-hour early release for grades K-3. Please review your confirmed dismissal plan with your student(s). Friday, October 31st, is a 2-hour early release for all students, as well as Storybook Character Day. Monday, November 3rd, and Tuesday, November 4th, are student holidays. We look forward to finishing the quarter strong and celebrating all that our students have achieved so far. 

Mrs. Dotty Lin, Mrs. Jenn Burke and Mrs. Anna Kaplan

In this edition:

• 10/28 Attendance Update
• 3-hour Early Release Wednesday - October 29th (K-3)
• 2-hour Early Release - October 31st (Preschool - 3)
• Storybook Character Day - October 31st
• Student Holidays - November 3rd and 4th
• Veterans Day Celebration and Honor Walk - November 10th
• Preschool Morning Meeting and Work Time/Learning Centers
• Picture Day Details - Wednesday, November 5th
• Specialist Open House: Art - November 17th-21st
• Meet Me At the Library - November 18th
• Outstanding Employee Awards
• Benchmark Unit 2 Continues
• Federal Impact Aid Survey
• Bond Referendum
• PTA News and Updates
• Important Dates

3-hour Early Release Wednesday - October 29th (Grades K-3)

Kings Park’s next 3-hour Early Release Wednesday is tomorrow, Wednesday, October 29th, for students in grades K-3. Preschool follows a normal schedule. Please review your confirmed dismissal plan with your child.

2-Hour Early Release - Friday, October 31st (Preschool - 3rd Grade)

There is a two-hour early release marking the end of the first quarter on Friday, October 31st. All students will dismiss at 1:25pm, including PreK and PAC. AM Preschool reports on time and releases at 11:00am. PM preschool is cancelled.

Storybook Character Day - Friday, October 31st Help Kings Park ES celebrate our love for literacy. Dress up as your favorite storybook character! If you like, bring your favorite book along. Be creative, but no masks or weapons.

Student Holidays - November 3rd and 4th

Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 3, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 4, for a teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.

Veterans Day Celebration and Honor Walk - Monday, November 10th, 8:30am-9:00am

Veterans and military-connected family members in the Kings Park community are invited to attend a Veterans Day Celebration and participate in an Honor Walk with their KP student(s) on Monday, November 10th, 8:30am-9:00am. Other ways to participate:

1. Email photos for a Veterans Day slideshows to mlcrabill@fcps.edu
2. Send in Veterans Day Honor Wall Submissions (paper will be sent home in Friday folders)

Veterans Day RSVPs and photo submissions are requested by Friday, October 31st: https://tinyurl.com/VDayKPES

Preschool Morning Meeting and Work Time/Learning Centers

Come experience two essential parts of your preschooler’s day: Morning Meeting and Work Time. You’ll also hear a brief presentation from Kings Park’s administration about school routines and ways to support your child’s literacy. 

Picture Day Details - Wednesday, November 5th 

All students will be photographed for school records on Wednesday, November 5th.  Package options from Strawbridge Studios can be found electronically at Strawbridge.net.  Additionally, paper copies will be sent home in your student’s Take Home Envelope.  Parents can choose to purchase photos with a portion of the proceeds benefitting our school. If you decide to order a photo package, please return the envelope to school by photo day. Photos should arrive in a few weeks. Make-up photos and re-takes will occur on Monday, December 8th. 

For questions or to order on-line, you can go to Strawbridge.net and enter the on-line code FM486435.  

🎨 Specialist Open House - Art 🎨

This year, our specialists will have open house weeks throughout the year. In November, we kick off our specialist open house with ART!

Come join us in the art studio during your child's regularly scheduled art class Nov 17th-Nov 21st and enjoy an art class with your young artist. Guests will join in with our creative process and learn more about the art making process. We hope to see you there! Parents should please check in with the office before coming to the art rooms.

Reminders will come from your teacher regarding your regularly scheduled art time. Reach out to your classroom teacher or our art teachers, Mrs. Vasudevan (Ms. Vidya) and Mrs. Hagan, if you have questions.

Meet Me at the Library - Tuesday, Nov 18th

We are excited to once again be partnering with WETA to host a Meet Me at the Library event at the Kings Park Public Library!  This event is a great opportunity for families to listen to stories, play some games and participate in activities to promote literacy, math, problem solving skills and, this month, Health and Nutrition! This event will showcase fun ways to promote healthy eating habits and exercise.

On Tuesday, Nov. 18th, families are invited to the Kings Park Public Library (9000 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015) at 5:00 PM for an hour-long session with some amazing Kings Park teachers and staff. This is a free event for Kings Park students.  Every student that attends will receive a free book from WETA.  We hope to see you in the Community Meeting Room at the Kings Park Public Library on Tuesday, Nov. 18th, at 5:00pm!

Outstanding Employee Awards    

 Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Kings Park Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please click on the title and you will be taken to the appropriate form. You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in two or more criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.

The deadline to submit a nomination is Wednesday, October 29th. If you have any questions, please contact Beth Beavers at EKBeavers@fcps.edu. 

 Outstanding Teacher: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); Specialists (Librarians, music, art, and PE teachers) are included in this category.

 Outstanding New Teacher: Within their first three years of being a teacher (in any school/school district); Specialists (Librarians, music, art, and PE teachers) are included in this category.

 Outstanding Principal: Has at least three years experience as a building principal (in any school/school district).

 Outstanding Leader:  At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal). 

Common positions in this category: Assistant Principal, Associate Principal, Director of Student Services, Director of Student Activities.

 Outstanding Operational Employee: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee.

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, Parent Liaisons, and hourly employees with at least 20 hours/week.

 Outstanding Professional Employee: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership. 

Common positions in this category: School-based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Advanced Academic Resource Teachers, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, and Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school.

📚 Working Through Uncovering Characters in Language Arts 📚

Our students are about halfway through Benchmark Unit 2 in Language Arts. Students have explored how we learn about people and how our actions influence our lives. 

Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:

• Question: Have any of the characters in your reading this unit reminded you of someone you know in real life? How are they similar and how are they different?
• Activity: Choose two different book characters and imagine what would happen if they switched places in their stories.

At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website. 

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.  

Register for ParentVUE

Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child. 

Technical support for using ParentVUE or submitting the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type “Federal Impact Aid Survey” in the Issue Description section. You may also call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

Bond Referendum - How Bond Projects Are Selected 

Each year, the School Board and FCPS staff members work with the community to develop an updated, five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for school building and renovation projects. To develop the CIP, the school system assesses changes in expected enrollments, academic programs, and facility conditions to determine priorities for new construction, renovations, and other capital facility projects. The School Board then evaluates the affordability of these school needs against other countywide requirements to determine the bond proposal. 

Because of this, while FCPS and the School Board generally try to follow the CIP, changes can be made year-over-year depending on the evolving needs of the school division.

The School Board is committed to protecting the community’s investment in schools and other buildings, which have a combined present value approaching $9 billion. Not only do these facilities wear out over time, but they also become outdated, both technologically and instructionally. FCPS renovates its schools to ensure that students, countywide, have effective and efficient learning environments to thrive and grow.

Read more about the FCPS 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a voting plan and vote on Tuesday, November 4.

KP/KG PTA News and Events

PTA News and Updates

Our Spirit Wear Store is now open! Shop the store from now until November 5th for free shipping to the school. After November 5th, the store will remain open and orders will be shipped directly to your home for a fee. 

Our annual Family Photo Shoots with Susan Johnson are coming soon!  Pictures will take place inside at the Burke Station Community Room on November 15 & 16, from 2:00-3:30pm.  The cost is $40 per 2 digital images and 20% of the proceeds will go to the PTA. Sign up for a time slot today!

Our popular Treats for Troops initiative is coming back the week of November 10th through 16th!  More information will be coming soon. 

Join the PTA.  We hope all members of the KP/KG community will consider joining the PTA this school year.  Join on our website!

Keep in Touch with the PTA.  A great way to keep in touch with the PTA is to subscribe to our emails and/or join our Facebook group. Our website also features an updated PTA events calendar. 

Important Dates: October 29th: 3-hour Early Release Wednesday (K-3 only) October 30th: Preschool Morning Meeting and Learning Centers (Cord and Teraoka) - 1:00pm-2:15pm October 31st: Book Character Day; End of Quarter 2-hour Early Release for all students October 31st: Preschool Morning Meeting and Learning Centers (Ames/Catalano/Pulisic/Pfannenbecker/Rowland) - 8:45am-10:00am November 3rd and 4th: No School for Students November 5th: Picture Day November 10th: Veterans Day Celebration and Honor Walk, 8:30am-9:00am November 11th: Veterans Day Holiday (No school for students or staff) November 12th: 3-hour Early Release Wednesday (K-3 only) November 17th-21st: Specialist Open House - Art November 18th: Meet Me at the Library, 4:30pm-6:00pm November 21st: Thanksgiving Luncheon

5400 Harrow Way Springfield, VA 22151 | Main Office: 703-426-7000
Attendance: 703-426-7070 | Web | Twitter