Book Fair - Success and Fun!

The students thoroughly enjoyed the books from Literati who was a new vendor for our spring book fair supported and hosted by our PTA!  Donuts and Grown Ups - always fun! 

Planning Ahead - Calendar Dates!

March 18 - Three Hour Early Release

March 20 - Eid al-Fitr School Holiday

March 23 - Yearbook Ordering Opportunity Closes - Code 21772 Order Now! 

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 15 - Purple Up Day -FCPS will recognize our military families on this day!

April 18 - Heritage Night (rescheduled)

April 22 - Three Hour Early Release

April 24 - Bingo Night!  

2025-26 FCPS School Calendar

Chess Club - Success!

Congrats to our Chess Club - take a look at the trophies which tell the story regarding their success and 1st place team placement in the 2025-26 Virginia Scholastic & College Chess Championship event! #kgpride #StrongerTogether 

Yearbook Orders Close 3/23! Order your yearbook now! We will close yearbook orders on March 23rd! Order NOW! www.yearbookordercenter.com with code 21772 Or scan the QR code !

Administration Note

Dear Parents, 

It was a busy week - filled with sunshine and then finishing with snow!   We are planning forward to the spring and planning forward to the next school year.  Check out the student intentions form for those students who will NOT be returning next school year.  In addition, we are looking for parental input if desired on class placements.  Both items are captured below for your response if desired. 

We also have a French fundraiser with Fresh Baguette and a Kindness Gram opportunity. Once again these options are captured below! 

Also note that we will be closing our Yearbook purchase option on the 23rd of March.  Buy your yearbook now! Use code 21772 - more information below.

The Spring Pictures are also available. All parents should have received an email.  Free shipping is available for the next two weeks.

Reminder that we have a 3 hour early release on Wednesday.  Please plan accordingly.  In addition, Happy St. Patrick's Day - students can wear green if desired :)

Please do check the weather for tomorrow and dress your child appropriately - there may be heavy rains.  

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! 

Parent Input Opportunity for Class Placement for 2026-27 School Year

Every year, we work collectively to determine class placements for the next school year for each student.   A variety of factors such as student personalities, friendships, and academic abilities are also considered as we create our new classes.  Other factors impacting the decision-making process of student class assignments are new student enrollment and teachers moving to a new assignment. Please provide your input if desired through this google formif you feel the need.  Thanks for partnering with us! 

Spring Picture Day - Photos Available Online!

Check your emails for e-proofs - check your spam if you cannot find the email.  All orders for spring pictures completed prior to March 27th will have free shipping. If you have any questions prior to that date, please email Victor O'Neill Studios.

Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9

FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Your feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools. Survey topics include: welcoming environment; communication; student success; advocacy, family and school partnerships, community partnerships. The survey will be available in multiple languages. Parents/caregivers will receive a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. 

Kindergarten Registration

If you have a child who will be 5 years old by September 30, they are eligible to attend Kindergarten for the upcoming year. You can now choose to use online registration tool.  With the online option, you will then have to come into the office with the child’s original birth certificate, your proof of residence (deed/lease) and your ID.  You can contact Annie Joseph to coordinate a convenient time.

Rising Kindergarten Student Intention 2026-27

Please complete this form if you have a rising kindergartner and plan on attending Kent Gardens. If you are hopeful to attend, you may complete but please note your status in the form below. We are not using this data for evaluative purposes nor for placement purposes but merely to collect information for the beginning of the school year. All students come in at various levels academically and socially. Here is the link for online registration. We are excited for our 2026-27 kindergarten students! 

Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting will be through Zoom (link to follow) on March 26th at 8 a.m.  Sign up here to receive the link.

The Parent Tour and Kindergarten Student Orientation is on Friday, April 10 at 9 a.m. (Parents and students attend together) Link is here to reserve your tour time.  

Fresh Baguette - Fundraiser! Join us for a delicious way to give back! We’re hosting a school fundraiser at Fresh Baguette in McLean, and we’d love for our entire school community to participate. From Monday, March 16 to Monday, March 23 at the Fresh Baguette – McLean location. You can order online or in-person and use the code BonjourKG26 and a portion of the proceeds will go directly toward supporting our French program. Bring your friends, family, and neighbors, enjoy amazing pastries, bread, and coffee, and help make a difference for our students. Every croissant counts! Thank you for support. Merci!

Kindness Grams Available to Support Best Buddies Partnership Walk!  Send someone a kindness gram - bring $1 for each gram in an envelope to the Best Buddies table in the lobby at arrival March 16-10 and fill out your message.  You can also use the QR code to complete the Google form. Purchase as many as you want!  Each gram will include a surprise! Grams will be delivered to the classrooms before Spring Break!  All proceeds will benefit the Best Buddies Partnership Walk!

Positivity Project Focus 

This week, our school community will focus on the Other People Mindset of Identifying and appreciating the good in others. It’s important to deliberately work to identify and appreciate others’ character strengths. It’s not always easy to notice people’s strengths, but it’s something we should all practice.

Often, it’s easier to blame others or focus on their mistakes, which can lead to negative feelings like jealousy or frustration. This negativity can create problems, not just for us but also for our relationships with others.

When we make an effort to see the good in people, we start to see the world in a more positive way. If we always focus on the bad, it feels like we’re surrounded by negativity, which makes us defensive and stressed. This doesn’t mean we should ignore reality or pretend everything is perfect, but we should try to understand others and recognize their good intentions. When we see the good in others, they are more likely to see the good in us.

2026 Special Education Family Conference - 4/18

The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, date has been rescheduled to April 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Marshall High School. Update information is available on the FCPS Conference webpage.

Note from Parent Liaison, Shelley Lowinger

Learn to Ride a Bicycle at Dolley Madison Library - Fairfax County Department of Transportation and Dolley Madison Library offer a children's bike education class to teach the beginner skills to incorporate bicycling into your daily routine–whether that’s for fitness, fun, or transportation.  Adult participation is expected and required  - April 1 at 10 am. registration is required and opens on March 11th at 10 a.m.  Bring the bicycle and helmet for your child. If you are in need of a helmet or bicycle, please reach out to Andrew Sheldon the Active Transportation Planner. Intended for ages 4 - 12. 

Get to Know FCPS: A Family Orientation (Ongoing Sessions) This interactive presentation introduces families to FCPS. Topics include understanding school staff roles, ways families can support student success, programs available to students, technology tips, and supports for families who are new to FCPS. Updated flyer with QR codes for registration. Sessions are offered in Arabic, English, Korean, Spanish, and for Military Families.

CTE Summer Enrichment Programs - (The Fairfax County Public Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) office is offering two summer enrichment opportunities for students. Tech Adventure Camp is available for current kindergarten through 5th grade students. CTE Summer Academy is available for current 6th through 11th grade students.

Flyers are attached: Tech Adventure Camp, CTE Summer Academy 

Month of Military Child Field Day - FCPS is excited to celebrate the Month of the Military Child with a good, old-fashioned field day! We invite all military-connected families with FCPS students to a special field day to honor our military-connected children.   Join us for an afternoon of fun and community at Annandale High School (4700 Medford Dr, Annandale, VA 22003) on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. Enjoy field day games and crafts at the football and track stadium. Food and beverages will be available for purchase to support various FCPS school clubs and organizations. This is a great opportunity to connect with other military families across the division! To RSVP, please complete this Google form by Friday, March 27, 2026 

Purple Up! Store Now Open - Fairfax County Public Schools will celebrate Purple Up! Day on April 15, 2026 in honor of the Month of the Military Child.  Purple Up! spirit wear is now available through our Custom Ink pop-up store. Items include T-shirts, hoodies, pajama pants, key chains, and yard signs. Spirit Wear Store (families): https://www.customink.com/s/fcps-purple-up-spirit-wear-store

Pop Tab Collecting - 6th Grade Community Service Group

The 6th grade community service group is participating in a Pop Tab Collection to benefit The Ronald McDonald House in Northern Virginia.  We would love the entire KGES community help by collecting the little tabs you pull to open soda, soup, or other aluminum cans.  Although the Pop Tabs are small and easily discarded, when our entire community works together to collect them, they add up and do great things.  These Pop Tabs will be recycled and a check for the tabs will be sent to the Ronald McDonald House.  This collection will support the programs by easing the hardship of childhood illness on children and their families.  The collection runs through March 18 (Global Recycling Day).  Look for the labeled donation boxes by our KGES House ticket boxes.  Make sure your child places their tabs in their appropriate colored boxes.

Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid

As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on: March 3, at Waples Mill Elementary School; March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School; March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School ; April 13, at Belle View Elementary School; April 20, at Westgate Elementary School ; April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.

Prepare for Summer Learning ~ Fun for Students

Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students. Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts CampsCareer and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.

Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp that allows current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open through Friday, June 5.

Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) is a weekly fine and performing arts camp for students in grades K-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students attend four daily classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts and work with experienced educators who create engaging, fun classes. 

New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.

KG PTA News and Updates

Join the PTA Now!

The PTA at KGES is SUPER BUSY! When you join the PTA, you help support the work we do at our school AND the advocacy work that the PTA does at all levels of the government! Membership in the KGES PTA needs to be renewed every year and you don't have to wait for the school year to start. You can join the PTA NOW!  

OUR NEXT PTA MEETING WILL BE: March 27 8:45 - Cafeteria