Warm Up FCPS – Divisionwide Spirit Day 2/19
Tired of all the cold weather? Let’s warm up with a little school spirit across the division! Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid is encouraging all FCPS students, teachers, and staff to shake the wrinkles out of their their winter doldrums by wearing their brightest outfits and/or tropical wear to help brighten everyone’s moods on Thursday, February 19. Plan now!!
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on your Calendar
February 16 - Presidents Day - School Closed
February 17 - Teacher Workday - No School for Students
February 18 - Three Hour Early Release
February 19 - FCPS Spirit Day - Warm It Up - Wear Tropical or Your Brightest Outfits!
February 26 - STEAM and Literacy Night - 5:15 - 6:45 p.m. Student volunteer sign up here.
February 27 - PTA Meeting 8:45 a.m. Cafeteria
March 3 - Author Visit
March 5 - Student Spring Pictures - Photos will be available approximately 10 days after the picture day. Parents will have the option to purchase at that time.
March 6 - 13 - Spring Book Fair
March 18 - Three Hour Early Release
March 20 - Eid al-Fitr School Holiday
March 25 - Parent Coffee 8:45 a.m.
March 26 - Virtual Kindergarten Orientation Meeting by Zoom (8 - 8:45 a.m. link to follow to those signed up in google form below)
March 27 - Two Hour Early Release and End of Quarter
March 30 - April 3 - Spring Break and April 6 - Teacher Workday
April 10 - Kindergarten Tours/Orientation 9 - 10 a.m. and Teacher Workday
April 14 - Class Group Pictures
April 18 - Heritage Night (rescheduled)
April 22 - Three Hour Early Release
April 24 - Bingo Night!
2025-26 FCPS School Calendar
Spirit Day - Wearing Red, Pink or Hearts - Anything to Represent Kindness/Love!
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
We had full week of school. We are working on the blacktop and hoping for warmer temperatures to clear our blacktop and other outside areas.
We celebrated the 100th day of school as well as Valentine's Day with spirit wear! Students came prepared with lovely valentine notes as well as dressing in red, pink or hearts or anything that represented kindness and love.
We are looking forward to STEAM/Math/Literacy Night on Thursday, February 26th. All teachers are participating in the event. We have The Mad Scientist signed up as well as Wheats and other vendors who are preparing fun and engaging activities for students. We are looking for student volunteers (middle/high school). Here is the sign up form- please share!
Please remember that tomorrow, Monday, February16th is Presidents Day and Tuesday is a teacher workday. Wednesday, the students will enjoy House activities. Note that is also a 3 hour early release day. You should have received an email regarding your plans. Please call the office if there is a change.
Thanks for your continued partnership and support.
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Rooted in Resilience: Echoes of Excellence
Families and community members are invited to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and uplift the voices shaping our future at FCPS’ Second Annual Black History Month Celebration. Rooted in Resilience: Echoes of Excellence will take place on Wednesday, February 25, at 6 p.m., at Carter G. Woodson High School.
The event will honor the rich history, strength, and contributions of the Black community through inspiring student performances and a powerful keynote address by Rev. Vernon C. Walton, pastor of First Baptist Church of Vienna. Light refreshments will be available.
Who is Counting? 100 Days of School!!
Our kindergarteners had a wonderful day of counting and exploring 100 with various activities. Always a fun and favorite activity and benchmark to make it 100 days!
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STEAM/Math/Literacy Night 2/26 5:15 - 6:45 p.m.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone on Thursday, February 26 for a combined event - STEAM/Math and Literacy Night. All of our teachers will be participating. We also have other vendors coming to support the event that include Mad Scientist, Experimental Geo Lab (GMU), Wheats and other vendors. We have the wonderful estimation table with some very cool items to take home for the closest guess! If you know of a middle or high school student who wants to participate and volunteer, here is the sign up!
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Yearbook Order Now Available!
Order your yearbook now! www.yearbookordercenter.com with code 21772
Or scan the QR code !
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🍌🥪Student Fasting Meal Kits
From February 18 to March 19, students who are fasting during the day can take school meals home. These kits include one breakfast and one lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.
Families must fill out a request form each week for every student who wants a kit. The first deadline is Wednesday, February 11, for the week of February 16. Please note other important details below:
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Cost: Meals are charged just like a normal school day.
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Pickup: Students must grab their kits at the end of the school day.
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Menu: Kits include school meals that are easy to heat at home.
Visit the Food and Nutrition webpage for forms, deadlines, and other information. Please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services with any questions at FCPSFNS@fcps.edu or 703-813-4800.
Kindergarten Registration
If you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 30, they are eligible to attend Kindergarten for the upcoming year. You can now choose to use online registration tool. With 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.
Rising Kindergarten Student Intention 2026-27
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. Here is the link for online registration. We are excited for our 2026-27 kindergarten students!
Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting will be through Zoom (link to follow) on March 26th at 8 a.m. Sign up here to receive the link.
The Parent Tour and Kindergarten Student Orientation is on Friday, April 10 at 9 a.m. (Parents and students attend together) Link is here to reserve your tour time.
Positivity Project Focus - Cheering Others' Successes
This week, our school community will focus on the Other People Mindset of Cheering Others’ Successes. This means when someone else does well, we are happy for them and show our support.
It's normal to sometimes feel jealous or envious when others succeed, but learning to genuinely celebrate their accomplishments can improve our own happiness and relationships. Supporting others not only helps them feel good but also strengthens our community and creates a positive environment.
Encouraging your child to be happy for others can start with simple actions, such as congratulating a friend, noticing feelings of envy and asking why, or learning from others’ successes. These steps build a supportive culture in families, teams, schools, and communities.
To practice and encourage this Other People Mindset at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.
Recess Is Fun - Indoors or Outdoors!
Middle School Transition Fair - Special Education Focus
Families are invited to FCPS' Middle School Transition Fair, an evening for families of elementary and middle school students receiving special education services to learn about planning for the future. At this event, families can meet Career and Transition Services (CTS) representatives and other support staff, learn about postsecondary education, employment, and community supports, and hear from a student and parent panel sharing real transition experiences.
The fair will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, from 6:30–8:30 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School. Language support will be available. This is a great opportunity to ask questions, connect with resources, and feel more confident about your child’s next steps. We hope to see you there! Event Flyer and Translations; Event registration link
McLean Pyramid Strings Concert
Some of our talented KG students participated in the McLean Pyramid concert! Thanks Mr. Hodge for sharing the picture and supporting the students!
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Author Visit - March 3rd - Carole Weatherford and Son Jeffery Boston Weatherford
EVERY grade will have the opportunity to meet author Carole Weatherford and her son, illustrator Jeffery Boston Weatherford! The Weatherfords have written and illustrated such incredible books like Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom and How Do You Spell “Unfair”?: MacNolia Cox and the National Spelling Bee. And now YOUR FAMILY can bring home these amazing books signed by this award-winning duo. Use this order form, print it out, and return it to Mrs. Hershey by February 13. Late orders cannot be accepted!
2026 Special Education Family Conference - Date Change - Now 4/18
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, date has been rescheduled to April 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Marshall High School. Update information is available on the FCPS Conference webpage.
Note from Parent Liaison, Shelley Lowinger
Family Academy February Webinars and Workshops Opportunities for parents and guardians include: Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (English & Spanish); Lexia Family Information Night; Family Resource Center webinars on Early Childhood Identification, flexibility, twice-exceptional (2E) students, school communication, and caregiver self-care Link: Family Academy Catalog
FCPS Summer Programs Registration now open (Summer 2026) Includes Tech Adventure Camp, Career Technical Education Summer Academy, Elementary Institute for the Arts, Institute for the Arts, and Production Camp at Robinson Secondary School. Link: Registration link
FCPS Unite, Uplift, and Celebrate – Black History Month Community Event (Friday, Feb. 20, 2026) Time: 5–8 p.m. Location: Fairfax County Government Center Link: Learn more
Therapeutic Recreation Services Virtual Summer Camp Info Session (Thursday, Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m.) Learn about TRS summer camp programs. Session Flyer Contact: NCSTRS@fairfaxcounty.gov | 703-324-5532
Camp Fairfax (Summer SACC) Registration (Summer 2026.) Registration opens March 17, 2026 Link: Camp Fairfax Summer Registration
Food Assistance and Resource Guide - Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. Learn how to help and discover the many resources available to support those who need food assistance or shelter. View the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
Survey on SR&R
On Monday, all FCPS parents/caregivers and middle and high school students received an email to participate in a voluntary and confidential survey. (Please check your spam folder if you have not received it.) Questions refer to proposed changes to FCPS’ SR&R document for next year. This document outlines the rules that students are expected to follow, and guidelines for consequences if those expectations are not met. Possible changes include:
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Universal Discipline: Charts will list consequences and supports for students. They will help ensure that two students of the same grade will be treated fairly and receive the same level of support.
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Standards for In-School Suspensions of Students with Disabilities: Creating standards for how in-school suspensions are handled for students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan.
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Accommodations for Multilingual Learner Student Statements: Providing translation accommodations when Multilingual Learner students provide statements about disciplinary incidents.
The survey will be open until Friday, February 20. Survey materials are available online.
Summer Learning
Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students - Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp that allows current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open through Friday, June 5.
Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) is a weekly fine and performing arts camp for students in grades K-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students attend four daily classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts and work with experienced educators who create engaging, fun classes.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
KG PTA News and Updates
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: February 27 8:45 - Cafeteria
Spring Chess Registration
Winter Chess ends on 1/21, but that just means that Spring Chess Registration is open NOW through January 31 for the session that will start 2/4 and run through 6/3. Chess club is an afterschool activity on Wednesdays from 345-515pm in the KG cafeteria taught by renowned chess experts. Registration is $185 for the entire semester. Spots fill quickly so register today so you don't end up waitlisted for this beloved KGES program!
Girls On The Run Spring Session!
Sign up now for the spring session. Registration for Girls on the Run will take place Feb. 2-Feb. 23 at gotrnova.org. The program is open to girls in grades 3-6. Practices begin March 2 on Mondays and Wednesdays between 3:45-5 p.m. We, unfortunately, are not planning a Tuesday/Thursday team this spring because our usual enrollment numbers aren't large enough to support two teams. Please contact Danielle Newman at kges.gotr@gmail.com with any questions.
Book Fair is Coming March 6 - 13! Shop the Online Fair beginning February 5!
Our Spring Book Fair will be held March 6-13, but our ONLINE FAIR opens February 5. That gives you a WHOLE MONTH to look over the online fair and find those books that get us through the grey, wintry days and celebrate the month of February!
This Spring, the PTA is excited to offer Kent Gardens A NEW way to chase that book fair joy! We'll be setting sail for to find Treasured Tales with Literati!
Literati offers us MORE of what we love at Kent Gardens! More books for advanced readers, more curated titles, more ways to shop, and REALLY EXCITING Book Clubs! In addition to single titles, you can join Literati's book club and receive a personalized monthly box of books that deliver a choice of beautiful books, curated for YOUR reader. We're incredibly excited about all of these opportunities and we'll be sharing more about the fair in upcoming ROARs! You don't have to wait until March 6 to join a book club or check out our online store! You can access our online shop beginning February 5 here!
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!
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