Three Hour Early Release Update

As we plan forward for October 28th, we remitted an email indicating what we have on file for your child(ren) based on the September three hour early release. If you have a change, please indicate by using this google form. Note we have a regular two hour early release on Oct 31st.  Dismissal will take place as usual. There will be no child care option.

The dates for the Three Hour Early Release are as follows: 10/28, 12/9 (change from 11/25), 2/24, 3/17, 4/28 and 5/19.  Note the change in the November 25th date - it is now December 9th.  We will use the current spreadsheet from 9/23 and parents should notify us with changes for 10/28.  

Jersey Spirit Wear! - Digital Citizenship Week

Administration Notes

Dear Parents, 

We celebrated Digital Citizenship Week and wore spirit wear. Students represented and supported positive use of technology. 

This week, we are releasing the Impact Aid Form for parents to sign digitally in ParentVue. Teachers will request the students to sign the homework sheet indicating that parents have signed the Impact Aid Form digitally.  It opens on October 21st.  Our school goal is for 100% completion by October 25th. 

We also have the Book Fair this week.  Always a favorite, we have wonderful activities planned throughout the week. We look forward to seeing you! 

Thanks as always for your support!  

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan       Tia Hawkins                Sarah Talley

Principal                   Assistant Principal      Assistant Principal

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on Your Calendar

October 21 - 25:  School Book Fair

• October 18 - 21 - Set Up and Class Previews

• Tuesday, Oct 22: Parents and Pastries (8:00 AM- 8:45 AM)

• Wednesday, Oct 23: Class Buying (During the Day) and Family Night (4:00 PM-7:00 PM)

• Thursday, Oct 24: Class Buying

• Friday, Oct 25: Open Buy and Pack up

October 25:  Next PTA Meeting 8:45 a.m.

October 28: Three Hour Early Release - If you have changes from the last early release in September, please complete this google form.

October 31: Fall Class Celebration - Kindergarten Parade 9:15 a.m.  - TWO HOUR Early Release 1:35 p.m. - End of Quarter

November 1:  School Holiday - Diwali and All Saints Day

November 4 and 5: Teacher Workdays (Parent Conferences)

November 7: Parent Engagement Night - 6 pm.  Come learn about the new Reading Platform ~ Benchmark, the FCPS Math focus as well as Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Presentations of Learning.  (Parents Only ~) (We will host Math/STEAM Night and Literacy Night later in 2025.)

2024-25 FCPS School Calendar

Impact Aid Form - Forms Due This Week!

The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify: 

• Military families.
• Federally connected families.
• Families living on a military base.

Starting Monday October 21, the electronic Federal Impact Aid Survey form will be accessible through your ParentVUE account. In an effort to save valuable resources, we ask all parents to submit forms online by Friday October 25th. We have set a goal of 100% completion for our school.  Please help your child’s homeroom meet the goal for a class prize and recognition by completing on October 21st as homework!  If you need an activation code to create a ParentVUE account, please contact our registrar Annie Joseph ajoseph@fcps.edu. 

Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the ENROLLING parent can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form.  Your information will be kept strictly confidential.  Your support will ensure that we receive the resources for which we are eligible.  For questions, please do not contact your teachers or school office.  Please contact the Impact Aid office at lmpactAid@fcps.edu or the support hotline at 703-329-7750.

Crazy Socks - Digital Citizenship Week 

Focus on Creativity This week, our school will focus on the character strength of Creativity. Creativity means coming up with new and original ways to think about and do things. Creative people see the world differently. They are open to new experiences and think independently. They come up with many ideas and pursue them with energy and enthusiasm. Creativity takes courage because sharing original ideas can sometimes lead to criticism. Creativity is vital to our world! Creative solutions can help resolve conflicts and find compromises that satisfy everyone involved, strengthening relationships. It helps us solve tough problems, create new things, and see the world in fresh ways. Examples include treatments for deadly illnesses, such as cancer, the invention of the cell phone, and the development of solar panels. Imagine life without Impressionist paintings or the creation of airplanes and rocket ships. To encourage creativity with your child at home, visit the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you can watch a video, read a quote, and discuss three questions together.

National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. To help develop a common understanding of Bullying, below is the FCPS definition. Bullying in Students Rights and Responsibilities is defined as: “Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyberbullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.”

For more information on how FCPS handles a bullying situation please visit the FCPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention webpage. Our goal is to ensure all students feel safe and welcome at school. If you have questions and/or concerns about something that is going on at school, please contact the front office so that they can support you and most importantly your student. 

Disability History and Awareness Month In Virginia during October, Disability History and Awareness activities provide an opportunity to create greater public awareness for individuals with disabilities, with the goal of full inclusion in our community.

Our Fall Book Fair will run October 18-25 and we're SO excited! Did you know that Mrs. Hershey uses funds that we raise from our book fairs to bring in amazing authors like Stuart Gibbs last year and Joanna Ho this year! When you buy books from our book fair you not only support our developing readers and our amazing library, you make learning exciting! But we can't host these fairs without volunteers. Please consider picking up a shift or two! It's really LOADS of fun! Things to do before the Fair kicks off: 1) Check out the book fair website here! You can ALWAYS order books online and you can order them before the book fair even kicks off!  2) Fund your child's e-wallet to make book fair shopping easy! Click the picture below to go directly to the site!  Teachers e-Wallet is here 3) Sign-up to help out at the fair! 4) Check out when your class is previewing and shopping!

A Note from Shelley Lowinger - Parent Liaison

Fairfax Connector’s Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) provides 50% off fares for low-income residents ages 18-65. Learn more about the TRIP program and how to apply. 

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning (no longer Tutor.com). 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, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more HERE.

The Medical Care for Children Partnership Foundation is a public/private nonprofit that connects children to medical and dental resources. MCCP empowers uninsured children in Fairfax County to improve their health and well-being and realize their potential to learn, grow and thrive.

Getting to Know FCPS:  Family Orientation

This interactive orientation provides information about the school system, links between family engagement and student achievement, and programs & technology considerations for families.  The orientation also includes a discussion that is helpful for families who are new to the United States.

Sessions in English are held online on:  Tuesday, October 22^nd at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, November 12^th at 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, December 10^th at 6:00 p.m.; Thursday, December 19^th at 6:00 p.m.  Register in advance.  Visit the Family Academy catalog page to see the dates this orientation will be offered in Arabic, Korean and Spanish.

FCPS CARES Program

The FCPS CARES Program allows parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees who go above and beyond to help others and show they care about their students, colleagues, and the community. We invite you to submit a story below to acknowledge the great work of an FCPS employee or group of employees who should receive FCPS CARES recognition. Please take note of the following before submitting an FCPS CARES:

• A notification email, with the submission text included, will be sent to the recipient(s) and copied to the recipient's supervisor(s). 
• All submissions will be posted to our FCPS CARES webpage and shared via other FCPS news outlets.
• Submissions containing personal or sensitive information may be edited to protect individuals' privacy.
• Feel free to compose your submission using a text editor such as Microsoft Word, and then paste it into the text box provided.

PTA Highlights Join the PTA for SY 24-25 We met our goal for the One & Done!!  A HUGE thanks to all!! In addition, to donating to One & Done - we need you and your voice to count - please join the PTA! PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

Next PTA Meeting: Friday 10/25 @ 8:45 am 

We currently have open positions! Do you feel called to take a leadership role? Consider serving as: President Elect VP of Events  Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

Ways to Make a Difference This Year! - New Volunteer Opportunities This Year

Directory Chair Many people have asked us if KGES has a student directory and right now, we don't! Help us bring back this awesome resource as we launch it ONLINE!

KGES Movie Night Who doesn't love a good movie? Volunteers are needed to organize a KGES movie night for the entire school community to enjoy together!

Interested in helping with either of these new roles? Contact kgptapresident@gmail.com if interested!

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays

The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day.  You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed

1717 Melbourne Drive, McLean, VA 22101 |  Phone: 703.394.5600  

 Attendance: 703.394.5656 or KentGardensES.Attendance@fcps.edu

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