Dear Kent Gardens Community,

Even though we are only in our fourth week of school, it feels like we have been together for months! Students are reading, writing, talking about their learning, developing new skills, and having fun while doing it. We hope your children are enjoying each day at Kent Gardens!

Next week, the PTA will host a movie night on the KG lawn. Please see the information below—we hope to see you there!

Thank you to all the volunteers who are serving as room parents. We appreciate everything you do for our school and look forward to working alongside you this year. Our school is better because of you!

As a reminder, there is no school on Monday. We hope you enjoy the long weekend with your families!

Warmly, 

Kelly Cabezas, Tia Hawkins and Sarah Talley

Upcoming Dates

• Monday, September 21- No School-Yom Kippur

• Friday, September 25 - Movie Night on the KG lawn

• Wednesday, September 30-3 hour Early Release 

FCPS School Year Calendar 2026-27

LAST WEEK FOR ANNUAL GIVING!

Annual Giving ends THIS FRIDAY, September 25!

Annual Giving is the KG PTA’s big fundraiser for the year, with a goal of $48,000 to help fund the programs, resources, and experiences the PTA provides throughout the school year.

Rather than selling wrapping paper or popcorn, holding an auction or gala, or using a fundraising company that keeps a portion of the money raised, Annual Giving asks families to make a direct donation to the KG PTA — and that money stays right here at KG.

Annual Giving helps provide direct classroom support for teachers, beloved events like Heritage Night, the Welcome Back Picnic, and STEAM Night, Teacher Appreciation Week, and major projects that directly benefit our students. Past support has helped fund the courtyard renovation, new cafeteria and picnic tables, ukuleles for music class, an outdoor weather center, and more. The PTA is also currently working toward a new playground shade structure!

Thank you to every family who has already contributed! If you haven’t had a chance to participate, there’s still time. Every donation helps the PTA get closer to its $48,000 goal.

Annual Giving closes Friday, September 25. Thank you for supporting KG! Click here to donate or learn more.

Library and Book Fair Volunteers Needed! 

Do you love creating order? Does alphabetizing and working with decimals make you happy?  Then the library is the place for you!  We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to shelve and/or help students look for books each week or every other week.  We are also hoping to recruit volunteers for our book fair which runs from October 15-23.  You may respond by filling out this google form https://forms.gle/eV93z2XyXi1dNGBZ9 or by emailing Ms. Hershey at kehershey@fcps.edu.  Thank you so much! We look forward to working with you. 

Washington Capitals-Nominate an Educator!

Submit an entry below to honor a deserving educator who makes a difference at your school and represents #ALLCAPS!

The grand prize winner will receive a Caps prize pack that includes tickets to the game, recognition on the big screen, and signed Capitals memorabilia. If you'd like to honor a deserving educator (ex: teacher, administrator, principal, assistant, etc.) who also loves the Washington Capitals, please complete the nomination form below.

NOMINATE AN EDUCATOR

Twice Exceptional Students

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners are students who are gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities. 

Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage, which also includes a link to the Special Education Handbook.

New information, including printable flyers, has been added under the heading Supporting 2e Learners in FCPS. 

Reporting Discrimination or Harassment

FCPS is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities. Individuals experiencing harassment or discrimination should report the incident as soon as possible. 

Superintendent Community Conversations

Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:

• Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Riverside Elementary School
• Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
• Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
• Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
• Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School

AAP Continuum of Services 

The FCPS AAP program offers multiple entry points for students, providing deeper learning opportunities tailored to their evolving academic needs. Students are organized into academic clusters to foster continuous growth.

Upcoming AAP Parent Information Meetings

• FCPS Referral Process: Thursday, October 1, at 9:00 a.m. in the cafeteria.

Referral Deadlines and Procedures

• For New FCPS Families: Families new to FCPS as of January 1, 2026, may apply for Fall screening. Referrals are due by October 15, 2026. Please inform your classroom teacher if you are submitting a referral, including the specific level of service requested.
• For KGES Families: Spring referrals are due by December 15, 2026. Please notify your classroom teacher of your intent to submit a referral, along with the requested level of service.

Elementary Levels of Service (Grades K-8)

• Access to Rigor (Grades K-6)
• Description: All students participate in opportunities to think critically, reason, and problem-solve. Instruction incorporates the AAP Curriculum Framework.
• Referral Required: No, all students receive access to rigor
• Subject-Specific Services (Grades K-6)
• Description: Students are evaluated for specific subjects and receive differentiated instruction using the AAP Curriculum Framework. Annual re-evaluation is required.
• Referral Required: Yes
• Part-Time Service (Grades 3-6)
• Description: Identified in multiple subject areas, students engage with the AAP Curriculum Framework through Grade 6.
• Referral Required: Yes
• Full-Time Service (Grades 3-8)
• Description: Students identified for differentiation across all four content areas. Instruction is cluster-based and utilizes the AAP Curriculum Framework to provide acceleration, depth, and complexity.
• Referral Required: Yes

Help Keep Our School Distraction-Free

Please remind your student that personal electronic communication or computing devices should be off and personally stored (i.e. backpacks) for the duration of the school day — bell to bell. This includes:

• Personal laptops and tablets.
• Smartphones and smartwatches.
• Other personal electronic communication or computing devices.

If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call our main office at [main office number]. Learn more about the FCPS Cellphone Policy and Device Policy.

Early Release Wednesdays

Kent Gardens Elementary School will release students at 12:35 pm on early release days. As we continue to focus on attendance at KGES, we hope you will consider making doctor and other appointments on these afternoons when possible.  If you do not update your child's information, we will assume that your child will be leaving at the early release on these days. 

• September 30
• November 18
• January 13
• April 7

FCPS has created this webpage to provide detailed information about the early release Wednesdays. 

Student ID Cards for Kent Gardens Bus Riders

We will begin distributing student ID cards to all our students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services.

ID cards should be worn or attached to your child’s backpack and brought to the bus each day. 

Students who have student ID cards should begin tapping as they board and exit the bus. Only students who use FCPS transportation services will be provided with a student ID card at this time.

We ask for your patience! Bus drivers are checking in students and may need some extra time at each bus stop while they do this. The transportation team is working hard to minimize any potential delays. 

If you need support, please call the Kent Gardens main office. 

Learn more about the bus navigation and student ID cards.

From Our Family Liaison

Kent Gardens Family Buddy Program

Are you a new family that just moved to 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 welcoming a new KGES family?  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 offer our Family Buddy Program.  This program partners new families with returning families to be a useful resource with school information and a new connection to our 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 2026-2027 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 new KGES families will be paired with a returning family.  We asked that Buddy Families reach out to their new families and meet in person at KGES events, community events or arranged play dates.

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.  Please note: by participating in this program, you are giving permission to share your contact information with the new or returning Buddy Family.  Depending on participation, effort will be made to match families up with a similar (or as close as we can) grade level or age of KGES students. 

Email Shelley the following information by September 25^th.   Buddies will be partnered in early October. 

*Child’s Name

*Child’s Teacher

*Child’s Grade

*Parents’ Name, email addresses and phone numbers

*Please note in email 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.

School Supplies Available

We have a very limited number of school supplies to share with our families. These supplies include crayons, glue, scissors and more.  If your family needs assistance accessing school supplies, please contact our Family Liaison, Shelley Lowinger at rlowinger@fcps.edu.

Blue Star Welcome Week

Blue Star Welcome Week is a national initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging in our school community.   This year, this special recognition will be held from September 26^th through October 4^th.  Our school will be participating in several all-school events to honor our military connected families.

Navigating the Digital Age: Creating Digital Balance as a Family

Friday, Sep 25, 2026| 10 - 11:30 AM

This session offers caregivers practical strategies for establishing healthy relationships with technology at home. We will explore how to model balanced digital habits, foster open communication, and work as a family to find a healthy balance. You will leave this session with steps on how to create healthy technology habits for the whole family, and how to keep kids connected without technology. Register here

Harvest Happenings

Saturday, Sep 26, 2026| 10 a.m. - Noon

McLean Community Center

Enjoy family-friendly activities and entertainment, interactive games, and visits with friendly animals in the petting zoo.

Event details here.

Navigating Section 504 – Essential Knowledge for Families

Friday, October 2, 2026 10 - 11:30 AM

This webinar will guide participants through the essentials of Section 504:

• Who qualifies
• What to expect during the evaluation process
• How accommodations are determined
• The difference between a 504 Plan and an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Register here

How to Get Kids to Open Up to You, Now and for Years to Come

Friday, October 9, 2026 10 - 11:30 AM

We want to know what's going on in our children's lives -- about school, their friends, their successes, and their struggles. But what should you do when your kids won't tell you what's going on in their lives? What if you ask questions and all they do is shrug and mumble "It was fine" or "I don't know"? In this workshop, you'll learn specific strategies for getting your children to open and come to you when they need support.

Register here

The Nuts and Bolts of the Special Education Process

Friday, October 16, 2026 10 - 11:30 AM

This webinar will guide participants through the special education identification process, including:

• An overview of the local screening process and the initial consideration of eligibility for special education
• An overview of the essential components of an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Register here