Spirit Wear - Looking Forward to STEAM and Literacy Night!  2/26

Wednesday, 2/25 - Hats Off to Reading - Wear your favorite hat!

Thursday, 2/26 - Dress like a mad scientist - wear your crazy hair ! 

Friday, 2/27 - Pajama Day with a stuffie! Relax at the end of the week! 

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! 

Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on your Calendar

February  25, 26, 27 -  Spirit Wear Days - Fav Hat, Crazy Hair, PJ Day!

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

Administration Note

Dear Parents, 

Thanks for supporting the traffic flow by utilizing Dean Drive or Van Fleet Drive to enter into Kent Gardens and departing on Lumsden.  If we do have inclement weather, let's continue to follow this pattern.  It definitely reduced congestion and promoted safety.  Thanks in advance! 

The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is seeking nominations for the First-Class Awards and as parents you can nominate teachers through March 13th. The First-Class Awards is an annual celebration of individuals in Fairfax County who implement, or design programs and activities which include students with disabilities that result in improving outcomes. Award winners will be recognized at the Special Ed Family Conference on April 18, 2026. Do you know an FCPS employee who: models excellence in special education, positively impacts both disabled and non-disabled students and champions inclusive practices and mindsets. Nominate them for a First Class Award!

Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. Students and staff regularly practice these all types of drills every school year including lockdowns. Virginia Law (22.1-137.2) requires schools to notify parents at least 24 hours before a school practices a lockdown drill. However, we are not required to share the exact date and time of the drill. FCPS lockdown drills are instruction and classroom based. We will conduct a lockdown drill at our school soon. Additional information on our lockdown drill program to include parent tips and FAQs can be found on the Emergency Planning and Crisis Response web page. 

We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday night for STEAM/Math/Literacy Night. All of our teachers are supporting with activities and we have outside vendors!  The estimation table is ready to go as well! Check out the spirit wear for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday! 

Warmly,

Holly McGuigan          Tia Hawkins                     Sarah Talley

Principal                      Assistant Principal           Assistant Principal

Student Intentions for Next School Year 2026-27

As we plan forward for the next school year, please complete this google form if your child(ren) are NOT returning.  It does not need to be completed if your child(ren) are returning to Kent Gardens.  It is not binding, we are merely using this information to guide our thinking on numbers as we plan forward!  Thanks in advance! 

House Day !!

Our Houses met together as a group - our Blue Team celebrated the most tickets.  The classes also met with their Buddies and enjoyed various activities while building connections.  So fun!  

Visit with the Fire Department  Our kindergarteners thoroughly enjoyed visiting with the fire department.  They learned a great deal about safety and also had fun experiencing their fire trucks!

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.

Yearbook Cover Winners!

Thanks to all students who participated in the yearbook cover contest.  We had so many entries. We will display one from every grade level and will have a front page and an inside cover page with two winners.  Their entries were so wonderful and we wanted to support the students and their hard work! So simply amazing!!  Order your yearbook now - www.yearbookordercenter.com with code 21772 Or scan the QR code below! 

Yearbook Order Now Available! Order your yearbook now!  www.yearbookordercenter.com with code 21772 Or scan the QR code !

New Raptor Visitor Check In - Download App Now! We are excited to announce that our school is now using the new Raptor Visitor Management System (VMS). This upgrade is part of our school’s and FCPS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining the process for visitors at our school. The VMS ensures that no visitor is on the sex offender registry. Please download the RaptorSafe App to your mobile phone so that you can quickly sign in as a visitor or volunteer at Kent Gardens. For most visitors, the user experience will be the same when you check-in at the front office. We are excited to begin using the New RaptorSafe system to keep our building safe and to know who is visiting.