KGES News and Announcements: September 13
#united in kindness #strong in kgpride

Dear Kent Gardens Community,

We had a wonderful third week of school! Our students are excited to learn and are continuing to establish routines that help get their brains ready for a successful day of learning.

We are grateful for your partnership and support. A smooth school opening reflects the commitment of our dedicated teachers, staff, and families. Thank you for helping make Kent Gardens such a welcoming and supportive community.

Each year, the PTA hosts its Annual Giving fundraiser, the PTA’s largest fundraiser of the year. Annual Giving helps support many of the programs and experiences that make KG special, including STEAM Night, author visits and assemblies, classroom and teacher resources, student enrichment, and improvements to our school and outdoor spaces. This fundraiser allows families to support all of these efforts with one donation—there is no selling or purchasing products throughout the year.

If you would like to contribute, please give what works for your family. Every donation makes a difference! Learn more or donate to Annual Giving.

Thank you for all you do for Kent Gardens!

Warmly, 

Kelly Cabezas, Tia Hawkins and Sarah Talley

Upcoming Dates

  • Monday, September 14 – AAP Parent Information Meeting: Continuum of Services (9 a.m.)

  • Tuesday, September 15 – Afterschool Academies registration opens at 9 a.m.

  • Monday, September 21- No School-Yom Kippur

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

FCPS School Year Calendar 2026-27

Dismissal Reminders

Kiss and Ride Reminders:

  • Cars should line up along Melbourne Dr. To get in to the line, please drive down Dean Dr. off of Westmoreland St.  During Kiss and Ride, we will use Lumsden St. as the exit. There is no parking on Melbourne St during dismissal. 
  • When there is a bus behind you, please be aware that this bus may pass you to get to the school.
  • Please adhere to all the directions of the police officer who has been directing traffic.

Other Dismissal Reminders:

  • If your child rides a bike or electric scooter, please remind your child to walk the bike in the front of the school.  There are many buses coming in and out of the bus loop and we want to make sure the students are safe. 
  • Walkers will exit the doors through the cafeteria (doors 7 & 8)
  • Students are not permitted to play on the playground after school unless they have an adult with them. 

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

Parent Documentation (ParentVue)

If you haven't already, please take a moment to update your child's information in ParetnVue. Each year, parents are asked to update this information. We collect important information through ParentVue, including your needs for the Early Release Wednesdays. 

In ParentVue:

  • Sign the digital SR&R form found on ParentVUE upon login.
  • Complete the Online Verification/Update (OVU) packet in SIS ParentVUE. Within this packet, you will need to confirm whether or not child care on the four early release Wednesdays will be needed. It will be under the “Student” section. If your plans change during the school year, please notify your child’s school directly.

 

In the Parent Digital Consent System:

  • Log in to the Parent Digital Consent System to complete digital consent forms. These also include optional forms that include FLE Opt Out and  SEL, school counseling, etc.

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. 

Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent 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. You are invited to share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Events are planned for the following dates at 6:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted):

Registration links will be shared soon. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are one-hour long and open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid. 

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

  • Continuum of Services: Monday, September 14, at 9:00 a.m. in the cafeteria.
  • 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. 

SEL Screener Parent/Guardian Notification

The Fall Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. 

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.

Learn more about the bus navigation and student ID cards.

The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 1: Strong Start, Pre-K-12

The FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts. 

The first goal of the strategic plan focuses on each and every student having a strong start in FCPS. Whether they’re joining us in preschool or in high school, we want our students to be set up for success.See how Goal 1 is being put into practice. Learn more about or enroll in FCPS Pre-K or Early Head Start.

Safety Drills During the School Year

Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and extreme weather. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance. 

The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill. 

Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your child before and after school lockdown drills.

⚠️ Know Our Security Terms

FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.

Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned. 

If students, staff, or families have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.  

From Our Family Liaison

Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: A Military Family Orientation

Military families who are new to FCPS or moving to Fairfax County soon are invited to this virtual presentation. Families will learn about FCPS programs, digital resources, early enrollment for military families, strategies to support student success, and the Military Interstate Compact.

  • Date:Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and Thursday, September 17, 2026
  • Time:6:00–7:00 p.m. on September 15; 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. on September 17
  • Location:Virtual via Zoom
  • Registration:Register for the Military Family Orientation

A Zoom link will be provided after registration.

Navigating the Digital Age: Creating Digital Balance as a Family

Friday, September 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

Early Literacy and HIPPY (Registration Open) 

Family and School Partnerships offers two free programs for families with young children. The programs have different formats, but both help families support their children’s early learning and school readiness. Both begin in October, and eligible families are encouraged to participate in both.

Early Literacy is an interactive program for parents or caregivers and children ages 2 to 5 to attend together. Families meet twice a week for two hours to enjoy stories, songs, crafts, and discussions about supporting children’s learning. Programs are organized around four cultural/linguistic affinity groups: African Heritage, Arabic, Hispanic, and Korean and families of all backgrounds are welcome.

HIPPY, or Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters, uses a parent coaching model that provides parents/caregivers the tools to work with their child at home.  It is a curriculum designed for parents of 2 to 4-year-olds.  Parents meet with their instructor in small groups at several locations across FCPS for 1 hour per week.

Fairfax County Department of Family Services Parenting Programs 

Free virtual and in-person parenting classes are available for Fairfax County parents and caregivers of children ages 0–18. Classes cover positive and effective parenting strategies for every age and stage. Dinner and child care are provided.

  • Eligibility:Fa