Veterans Day Celebration - November 10
Spirit Day - Wear your Red, White and Blue!
We are also looking forward to celebrating Veterans Day with our military-connected families on November 10th. We have many fun activities planned beginning at 8:20 with a light breakfast that you can enjoy with your child(ren).
Here is a link to indicate your participation on the 10th in the breakfast and activities as well as the popular Clap Out. Students will line the hallways - Students can wear red, white and blue!!
Please RSVP if you are able to attend our celebration/ceremony on November 10th in the cafeteria at Kent Gardens. If you miss signing up, we still welcome you for the celebration! We are here to celebrate all!
We are thrilled to have our Purple Star Designation renewed by the VDOE for the next school year. We are committed to supporting our military - connected students and families.
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on your Calendar
November 10 - Veterans Day Recognition - Link to RSVP - and Third Grade Field Trip - Elpant's Class
November 11 - Veterans Day - School Holiday
November 12 - Three Hour Early Release see below!
November 17 - 21 French National Week (adjusted to give us time to celebrate) More to Come - Spirit Wear and more fun!
November 17 - Third Grade Field Trip Switzer and Smouse
November 20 - Third Grade Field Trip Hinton and Soudee
November 26, 27, and 28 - Thanksgiving Break
2025-26 FCPS School Calendar
Three Hour Early Release - November 12
We do have another 3 hour early release on November 12th. Please utilize this google form to adjust your child's dismissal from the last date. We will accept changes and close the form on Monday, November 10th at 4 p.m.
Note Chess Club participants must be picked up at 2:15 p.m. Thanks for your support!
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
We are looking forward to Veterans Day Celebration on Monday, November 10th. All military related families are welcome. We will meet in the cafeteria at 8:20 a.m. Students can dress in red, white and blue! We will have an all school clap out!
Thanks for supporting with our Impact Aid - we are at 98% response rate. See information below if you are receiving reminders.
On Wednesday November 5th, we hosted a Parent Coffee that that shared information regarding the beginning of the year assessments and how you as parents can support your child. The slide deck is here for your review.
Note that we have a three hour early dismissal on Wednesday, November 12. We will accept changes up to Monday at 4 p.m. Here is the link to change your child's dismissal. Note that chess students MUST be picked up at 2:15 p.m.
Thanks as always for your support.
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Kennedy Center - Fourth Grade Rocks It!
Fourth grade students portrayed their #kgpride this past week during their visit to the Kennedy Center. We are proud of their engagement and wonderuf behavior! #kgpride #StrongerTogether #AnchoredInExcellence
Impact Aid Forms
All enrolling parents need to complete the Impact Aid form for each child. As a reminder, the form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in.
If you believe you have submitted the form but are receiving messages from the office, it could be that you either completed the Online Verification update but not the Impact Aid form or you completed the Federal Impact Aid survey but didn't actually submit the form. Note that 'Completed' can be misleading, please scroll down to click 'Next or Save and Continue' until you see the 'Submit' button. For questions, please contact the Impact Aid office at lmpactAid@fcps.edu or 703-329-7750.Thanks in advance for your support!
SIS ParentVUE End-of-Quarter Closure
The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the first quarter from Friday, October 31, at 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, at 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
Office Corner
Visiting/Volunteer in School: For students’ safety, all visitors and volunteers must bring your official ID to check in through our Visitor Management System each time, even if you are approved for volunteer level 3. Note that FCPS will adjust the volunteer requirements to level 2 due to the huge volume of applicants for level 3.
Parent FAQs and Important Office Reminders. We are proud that almost all of our KGES parents are using KGES online forms to submit early checkout, dismissal change and late arrival requests. (KGES Website-Full Menu-Attendance Reporting). Why is it important? KGES online forms include critical info such as special class code, announcement #, room #, parent/guardian contact info & authorization, AM/PM teacher, grade, and request type, etc. It assists school to ensure student safety, and efficiently process your requests, locate and coordinate with teachers, students, and communicate with you if needed. Tips for online requests:
- Submit online forms ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT preferably before 9:30 am to avoid delay or mistake in processing, and unnecessary interruption to test/instruction.
- Add extra note AFTER your child’s name or note section.
- Once you submit online request, no need to email/call teachers/office.
- Use ParentVue to report absence.
Dismissal Change: Consistency is the key to safety! In the event that you have to make a dismissal change or establish a new routine, you must use KGES 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. Write additional information AFTER your child’s name or in note section.
McLean Pyramid Chorus Concert!
Thanks to our fabulous music teachers, Ms. Lee and Ms. Paik - we had a simply wonderful chorus concert at McLean HS with the other schools in our pyramid. It was a lot of last minute coordination - but they performed wonderfully!
Updates Regarding Trails in Back of School
Impact to Walking Trails along Pimmit Run - Starting this month, Fairfax County will begin sewer upgrade work at two sites along Pimmit Run. This work will require the Park Authority to close several trails, including the pedestrian bridge that connects to our school. We anticipate that the work could disrupt the path some of our walkers take to and from school, and we want families to be aware of these changes.
The impacts will last through the rest of this school year and into early September of 2026. Please make sure to follow all posted signage once construction has started. We will share additional updates in coordination with Fairfax County when we can. To learn more about the two impacted sites, you can look at Site Map 1 and Site Map 2 from the county. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Parent Coffee 11/5 Link Below
Thanks for the many parents who attended the coffee where we shared information about the school assessments. The link is here if you would like to review the slide deck. Please feel free to reach out to Gail Barnett, Sheri Emory or Holly McGuigan with questions.
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Volunteer Registration Update
Due to the overwhelming response from our community, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers. If you are scheduled for an upcoming fingerprinting appointment, please cancel your appointment unless you are a mentor, host parent, or non-parent volunteer having frequent, direct, and unsupervised contact with students, which will still require fingerprinting. FCPS will be charged if individuals miss a fingerprinting appointment without canceling in advance.
Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities. Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a background check).
To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal attestation confirming you have no history of violent felonies, physical/sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude. Want to volunteer? Visit Volunteer FCPS to find and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Contact Volunteers@fcps.edu with any questions.
🎤 Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life. A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. These events are also a chance for you to share your thoughts and ask questions about FCPS. Events are planned for the following dates from 6 to 8 p.m. - Friday, December 5; Tuesday, December 9; Thursday, December 11
Positivity Project Weekly Focus - Review
This week, our school community will review past character strengths.
Note from Parent Liaison, Shelley Lowinger
Fairfax County Park Authority - Winter Class & Camp Registration – for more information please View Parktakes. NCS Camp Fairfax Winter and Spring Program (Camp Fairfax Flyer English) (Camp Fairfax Flyer Spanish) Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Twin Lakes Golf Course. Registration required. (Flyer)
Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community - Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. The county’s Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future challenges for residents, government employees, active military or veterans, contractors, nonprofits, and businesses that may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment.
Community Resources for Families in Need - Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides information, referrals, and advocacy to help individuals connect with services, including: basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), financial assistance, health care services, and referrals to other services and resources. Visit the CSP website or call 703-222-0880.
How to Access or Donate Food to Those in Need - Use the Emergency Food Access Providers website to find out where to access food or donate to your local food bank. Our community is strongest when we support each other!
Capitol Area Food Bank - Capital Area Food Bank is committed to providing food for our neighbors in need. These new food distributions will offer boxes of shelf-stable pantry items and fresh produce for the duration of the shutdown. To receive food, visitors will need to show a government work ID.
Family & School Partnerships - FSP is launching our Family Café series this month. This is an opportunity for families to come together to learn about important topics to support their child’s growth and learning. Upcoming Family Café Sessions - The Digital World – November 13th at Herndon Middle School - Join us for a hands-on workshop on how to stay safe online. Families will learn about popular social media apps, how to start meaningful conversations about internet safety, and the seven key topics that matter from kindergarten through adulthood. Register here . Flyers are available in (English) (Spanish) (Arabic) (Korean).
Career Pathways – November 18th at Key Middle School - Discover the many Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses available for middle and high school students in FCPS. Register here.
November is Family Engagement Month - This month reminds us that families are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Calendar of Activities for November - Some Ideas - Start a family tradition to bond and keep the family connected; Flip through old family photos and tell stories about your family’s history; Review and talk to your child about today’s homework; Talk to your child about his/her favorite subject in school; Prepare a meal together as a family; Praise your child for their efforts rather than their abilities.
Resources for Individuals with Disabilities, Mental Health Concerns, and Medical Conditions - FCPS Community Guide for Special Needs Families; Fairfax County Disability Rights and Resources; Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) is committed to providing services, education and resources to meet the needs of participants and assist them on the road toward lifelong participation and enjoyment in recreation and leisure activities.
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Puzzle Drive 11/5 - 11/21
Help out kids with autism and seniors in our community by donating new or lightly used jigsaw puzzles, Legos, or board games! Drop them off in the red box near the front office between Wednesday, November 5th and Friday, November 21st. Thank you for your support!
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Download the New FCPS Mobile App!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed, directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.”
With the app you can: Stay up-to-date: Get the latest news from our school and FCPS; View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals; Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week; Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff; Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed. Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes.
Tutoring Resources for Families
Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as tutors. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant to be a resource to families. FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. 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.
KG PTA News and Updates
PTA Fundraiser
It's NOT too late to participate. We know that the costs of many things are rising and any extra help you can provide will help ensure that we can provide the same AWESOME school year! You can still make your donation here!
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Join the PTA Now!
The PTA at KGES is SUPER BUSY! 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!
OUR NEXT PTA MEETING WILL BE: January 23 at 8:45 am in the cafe. Mary Wilcox Smith, author, parenting coach, and speaker will join us at the end of the meeting for an opportunity to dig into what it means to be a parent right now.
Pie Palooza 11/24 - Volunteers Needed
Bring in a homemade or store bought pie before school on Monday, Nov 24th, and we will randomly draw staff and teacher names to pick one out to take home! Sign up to bring in a pie so we can keep track! We are also need volunteers to bring in pies from the kiss 'n' ride line and to organize them in the staff lounge.
Share of McLean Toy Drive
Share of McLean's Holiday Program kicks off in November! This year, Jack, a regular Share volunteer and McLean High School student, is leading a toy collection drive. He has created an Amazon wish list with items for kids ages 1 to 11, ranging from approximately $10 to $15. Please check out the Amazon wish list If you would like to contribute, preferably by mid-November.
Lost and Found - Mark Your Child's Names!
Be sure to label all clothing items and please consider purchasing from Mabel's Labels to ensure that your items makes it home again!
First Grade Field Trip!
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