Gator Bytes: News and General Information for Kings Glen ES
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A Message from Principal Ritter
Dear Kings Glen Families,
We are in the final stretch of preparing our building for the return of students and staff. Our amazing custodians have managed to keep our building clean and beautiful despite working around summer-long programs. Teaching staff will be back soon to begin preparing their classrooms for Open House. It's exciting to begin a new year!
Other exciting news... we are getting a new electronic sign in front of Kings Glen, thanks to our wonderful PTA! We will be able to advertise events and dates to remember much more easily. We are grateful for the PTA's generous purchase to assist our schools!
Please be sure to read this Gator Bytes in its entirety - there is a lot of important information to know!
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Kings Glen Open House & Back to School Night 2026-2027 School Year
Please mark your calendar with these dates for the 2026-2027 school year:
Friday, August 21 – Open House (9:30-10:15 a.m.)
- Should you child require a smaller group opportunity from 9:15-9:30 a.m., please email KGNotes@fcps.edu.
Thursday, September 3 – Back To School Night (5:30-7 p.m.)
School Supply Lists School Year 2026-27
Supply lists for the 2026-27 School Year can be found here.
If you prefer not to shop for school supplies on your own, the KP/KG PTA has partnered again with Campus Survival Kits, and the kits will be delivered - in a drawstring bag - to your student(s) classroom(s) by Open House. Visit the website to check out the kits and order! Remember to order for the grade your student(s) will be in next year.
New Student ID Cards Coming for Bus Riders This Fall
As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.
The implementation of the student IDs is designed as an additional safety measure for our 130,000 FCPS students who ride the bus each day, ensuring they are on the right bus and that they get on and off at the correct bus stop, as well as making sure only authorized students are on our buses.
The IDs will be provided to students who ride the bus. Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus.
It is possible that the ID program will expand in the future to include uses such as library cards and meal payment. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
Back-to-School Checklist
As summer winds down, we are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Use the following list to help make sure your child is ready!
Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE: Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact Chris Kamerow, our registrar, at 703-239-4002 if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE. Also, download the new ParentVUE mobile app so you can access your child’s records easily from anywhere!
Update Your Contact Information: Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts.
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.
Learn About School Meals: Families need to provide their children with money to purchase meals at school or send them with a packed lunch. Alternatively, families may apply to receive free and reduced-price meal benefits, pending approval.
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 blue with an “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
- Days marked orange with an “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 as TW, SD, and SP and 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.
Back-to-School Immunization Requirements
Make sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing:
- Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
- If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
- Request records from your healthcare provider. Some may charge for copies.
Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date.
Where to Receive Immunizations:
If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your family’s healthcare provider or one of the following immunization events.
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents/guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit a Health Department clinic. Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) clinics offer immunizations to all Fairfax County students, as well as those who are behind on their scheduled immunizations or need a booster.
Summer back-to-school immunization clinics are also available. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. FCHD offers limited walk-in hours for immunization services on a first-come, first-served basis. Immunizations are also available by appointment.
Inova Cares Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs provide children ages 5 and up with free school physicals and immunizations. Weekend clinics are available in August. These health fairs are for VA Medicaid or Uninsured Inova registered patients only. Appointments are required. Call 703-698-2550 to make an appointment. Bring vaccine records to the appointment.
Local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD.
Early Release Wednesdays for 2026-27
FCPS will continue with limited early release Wednesdays for elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year. The number of days has been reduced from eight to four. Please view the dates for our school’s early release Wednesdays below:
Visit the FCPS website for more information about early release Wednesdays.
Volunteering at Kings Glen
If you are looking to volunteer for the 2026-2027 school year and have not already done so, complete your Volunteer FCPS registration this summer. This helps ensure a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment here at Kings Park. We thank you for your support! All volunteers must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Complete a volunteer orientation and register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk.
Back-to-School Immunization Requirements
Make sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing. You can:
- Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
- If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
- Request records from your health care provider. Some may charge for copies.
Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date.
Looking for Jigsaw Puzzles
We are seeking jigsaw puzzle donations for our students to enjoy and engage with classmates. Puzzles must be complete with all pieces and in new or gently used condition. Donations may be dropped off at the school during the hours of 9am-1pm.
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Explore School Meals in the Mealviewer Platform
Experience an easier way to view your child’s school menus using Kings Glen MealViewer:
- View what is being served each day.
- View the nutritional information for each meal.
- See if any specific allergens are being served.
- Get notified when your student’s favorite meal is being served.
Printable menus are always available on the Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
Apply Today for Free and Reduced-Price Meals!
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
Meals for Students Available Through August 21
No-cost meals will be provided to students on a first-come, first-served basis through Friday, August 21, at the sites and times listed on the FCPS Summer Food Service Program webpage. Students must remain on site while eating their meals.
Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates: New Universal Grade Matrices for Families
Families are encouraged to review the updated FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document, which explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses in order to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Updates for the 2026-27 school year include new Universal Grade Matrices (UGMs). UGMs are charts that show behavior expectations and school responses by grade level (K-3, 4-8, and 9-12). These at-a-glance resources (in Appendix D of the SR&R) are designed to make it easier for parents and caregivers to understand how schools respond to different types of behavior concerns.
Visit the SR&R webpage for more information and to review additional updates to the SR&R for the 2026-27 school year.
New Requirement for Student Device Use During the School Day
Starting this school year, students must use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. This is in accordance with a new School Board requirement, approved on July 16, which states that students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices, including personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices.
Students may only use their personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device.
Families can help support this requirement by reminding students to bring their FCPS-issued device each day and use it for all school-related digital activities unless an approved exception applies.
Cellphone Policy
Senate Bill 108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1. It requires that all schools in the state follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy and prohibit cellphone possession and use for the entire school day. The updated FCPS Cellphone Policy aligns with this law, which means high school students are no longer able to use cellphones, cellphone accessories, or smart devices (like smart glasses, earbuds, headsets, and other items connected to the phone) during lunchtime.
Across all grade levels, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and all smart devices must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (like a smartwatch) must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day, too. Personal devices that connect to a cellphone or cellphone accessory or operate as a smart device must also follow the FCPS Cellphone Policy.
This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. However, school-issued devices must be used in accordance with FCPS Regulation 6410, Acceptable Use Policy, which allows the use of school-issued devices for educational purposes. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.
Get Ready for the New School Year with the FCPS App!
Simplify your back-to-school prep! Download the FCPS mobile app to check school calendars, breakfast/lunch menus, and school contacts all in one place with no login required. Plus, get quick access to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the bus app.Download the FCPS mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play, and make sure to subscribe to our school in the app settings.
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KP/KG PTA News |
Join the PTA. We hope all members of the KP/KG community will consider joining the PTA this school year. Being a PTA member has numerous benefits -- it's a great way to meet new friends and become more involved in your child's school and community. Join on our website!
Kings Park and Kings Glen are looking for volunteers to help stuff folders before school starts. There is a LOT that goes into that first week’s folder, so while it’s a pretty easy process, many hands make light work! Folder stuffing will take place on Tuesday, August 18th from 9:30-11:30am at Kings Glen and on Wednesday, August 19th from 10am-12pm at Kings Park. Please sign up here! (Adults, teens and older children aged 10+ are welcome).
Sweet Frog Spirit Day (9564 Old Keene Mill Rd). Grab a sweet treat after Open House on Friday, August 21st anytime from 12-10pm and support the PTA. No flier necessary. Twenty-five percent of all sales during this time will be donated back to the PTA.
Popsicles on the Playground - Sunday, August 23rd. Come enjoy a cool treat the afternoon before the first day of school! We have scheduled times for each grade to come reunite with old friends and meet new ones. Kindergarteners are invited to come from 2-2:30pm; 1st-3rd graders from 2:30-3pm and then we will move down to Kings Glen for the 4th-6th graders from 3:30-4pm.
Want to help with KP/KG PTA’s biggest fundraiser of the year? It’ll be coming up quick and we are looking for sponsors - reach out if you have connections or are interested! The Booster program starts on September 9th and finishes on September 18, 2026 with the Fun Run. Mark your calendars and reach out to Sarah Maccubbin-Tremper at vpfund@kpkgpta.org if you want to be involved!
Volunteer with the PTA. Volunteering is certainly not a requirement of joining the PTA, but we are always looking for more help! We are looking for some volunteer leads for various positions throughout the year. Check out our openings here.
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. An updated PTA events calendar can also be found here. We will be starting our monthly newsletter in September, which is a great resource to find out more about the PTA. Reach out to board@kpkgpta.org if you have any questions.
Aug 21: Open House 9:30-10:15 a.m.
Aug 21: PTA Sweet Frog Spirit Day (See Above)
Aug 23: PTA Popsicles on the Playground (See Above)
Aug 24: First Day of School (Tardy Bell Rings at 8:40 a.m.)
Sept 3: Back to School Night (5:30-7 p.m.)
Sept 4-7: Labor Day Holiday (School Closed)
Sept 21: Yom Kippur (Schools Closed)
Sept 30: 3-Hr. Early Release Wednesday (Students Dismiss at 12:25 p.m.)
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