Calendar Updates
April 6 - Teacher Workday - No School
April 8 - Sixth Graders Visit Longfellow
April 9 - Sixth Grade Field Trip - D'Amico, Weiss, Hansrote
April 10 - No School for Students - School Planning Day
April 10 - Kindergarten Tours/Orientation 9 - 10 a.m.
April 14 - Class Group Pictures
April 14- Parent access to 3rd quarter grades in SIS ParentVUE
April 15 - Purple Up Day - Wear Purple!!! This a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and theiries. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military. We have plans for the day to recognize our military students!
April 17 - Sixth Grade Field Trip to Calleva Challenge Course
April 18 - Heritage Night (rescheduled) -Sign Up below
April 20 - 24 - Get 2 Green Week - See Spirit Wear Below!
April 21 - No School - (Election) - Teacher Planning Day
April 22 - Full Day of School (3 Hour Early Release cancelled)
April 24 - Bingo Night! Sign Up Below!
April 29 - Sixth Grade Pano Picture
2025-26 FCPS School Calendar
Early Release Wednesday Update for April
Tuesday, April 21, is now a teacher workday and staff development day because of a recently announced special election that will impact all FCPS schools.
Students will have a traditional full day of instruction and be released at the regular dismissal time on April 22 and April 29, which were previously early release Wednesdays for elementary schools.
This adjustment allows our staff to still have dedicated time for planning, collaboration, and professional learning without reducing instructional time on other school days.Read Dr. Reid’s letter to elementary parents for more details.
Administration Note
Dear Parents,
We hope all are enjoying spring break. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Tuesday, April 7th. This week, we have Teacher Planning Days on Monday, April 6th and on Friday, April 10th. Note that there is no school for students on these two days.
On April 10th, we are hosting the kindergarten orientation with the tours. We will confirm times by emailing the parents as well as our sixth grade tour guides. Parents of rising kindergarteners should bring your kindergartener with you. You will drop them off in the classroom and then go on a tour to see the school with our 'expert' sixth grade student tour guides.
Due to the shifting weather, we have a HUGE amount of items in our lost and found. We will place a table outside on Thursday morning and in the afternoon weather permitting. We have winter coats and sooooo many sweatshirts. Drop by and take a look - we will be donating in the next week.
Happy Easter ~ See you soon!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
End of Year Updates
Thursday, June 11 - Field Day - Kinder - 5th Grade - (We will post for volunteers soon)
Friday, June 12 - Field Day Rain Date K-5
Monday, June 15 - Sixth Grade Promotion - McLean HS
Tuesday, June 16 - Sixth Grade Field Day 9:30 - 11 a.m. and Sixth Grade Celebration 1 - 3 p.m. (More info to follow - we will need volunteers)
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! We will close this google form April 5.
SOL Testing Dates
- Third Grade SOL
- May 6th Reading
- May 14th Math
- 4th Grade SOL
- May 5th Reading
- May 12th Math
- 5th Grade SOL
- May 5th Reading
- May 12th Math
- May 19th Science
- 6th Grade SOL
- May 6th Reading
- May 14th Math
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 was through Zoom - Here is the link to view the slide deck.
The Parent Tour and Kindergarten Student Orientation is on Friday, April 10 - Here is the link to sign up - we will be notifying parents of times.
 Get 2 Green Week!
- Monday, April 20 – Wildlife Day – Dress up as your favorite animal
- Tuesday, April 21 – Zero Waste Day - School is CLOSED (Election Day)
- Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day - Wear blue for our watershed
- Thursday, April 23 – Climate Change Day - wear something green or with a green message
- Friday, April 24 Wear spring colors or flowers - A SHOUT Out to Spring
Positivity Project Focus - Fairness
This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Fairness. Fairness means treating everyone with respect and recognizing that all people have value. It also means being open-minded and fair in how we approach situations.
By teaching fairness, we help students develop into responsible, trustworthy, and kind individuals who care about others. Fairness builds the foundation for strong friendships and a positive community.
To practice and encourage the character strength of fairness at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.
2026 Special Education Family Conference - 4/18
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Marshall High School. Dr. Shelley Moore will deliver the keynote address on The Evolution of Inclusion. It will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information, including breakout session offerings and a list of vendors that will be on site. Confirm your attendance for this year’s conference.
Note from Parent Liaison, Shelley Lowinger
Commonwealth Listening Tour: Speak Up for Virginia’s Future - The Virginia Department of Education and the Secretary of Education are hosting a series of listening sessions across the Commonwealth to hear from Virginians about how we can highlight successes and work together to strengthen public education by supporting educators and students. Learn more about the listening tour. If you can’t make it to an in-person event, complete this survey to share your feedback with the governor. The survey will close on April 10.
Fairfax County Government Programs & Services - Department of Family Services (Upcoming: April Parenting Workshops) Parents and caregivers can join the April “Stronger Foundations for Parenting” workshop series focused on building strong parent-child relationships, resilience, and overall child well-being. Sessions are offered both virtually and in person throughout April. Featured: Virtual Parent Café – “The Power of Play in Parenting” on April 14, 2026 (6:30–8 p.m.) More information and registration: Stronger Foundations for Parenting Workshop Series & Power of Play in Parenting
FCPS CTE Summer Learning Opportunity -The summer week-long programs will introduce students to the wonderful world of Career and Technical Education, and help them develop new skills, and make new friends. Students will have the opportunity to learn coding, problem solving, cooking, and more! Their experienced and enthusiastic teachers are dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and fun environment.
We are able to offer a limited number of students currently in grades 2-11 at a Code UP! grant school with a one-week registration at no cost! If you are interested in this opportunity, please fill out the interest form linked below by April 15th. CTE Summer Enrichment Interest Form. Families will be notified by the end of April to confirm whether they will receive one of the sponsored seats—students will be chosen by a lottery if there are more interested families than seats available. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Beth Mehr, CTE Educational Specialist at bgmehr@fcps.edu. They would be happy to chat with you and your family.
Provide the County Government With Feedback on Its Budget
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is reviewing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Advertised Budget and considering possible adjustments before adoption in May. Opportunities to provide feedback to the county include Budget Town Hall Meetings airing on Channel 16 on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m., (Springfield District) and Friday, April 10, at 6 p.m., (Franconia District).
You can also provide your input during the county’s Budget public hearings on Tuesday, April 14, at 4 p.m., and Wednesday, April 15, and Thursday, April 16, at 3 p.m. at the Government Center Board Auditorium. Register in advance to speak. Visit the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors website to learn more about the county’s FY 2027 Budget.
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 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.
Discover What’s New on the Menu - Cafeteria
FCPS is excited to bring new and flavorful menu items to students while continuing to meet the high nutrition standards you trust. The school division’s registered dietitian team has developed standards to make school meals healthier while still tasting great.
Here’s what students can look forward to: New globally inspired dishes that offer exciting flavors from around the world; Fresh ingredients like whole grains, lean proteins, and plant-based options; Scratch-made items like homemade granola; Vegetarian options, like the meatless Philly melt, which are available alongside classic favorites.
Our goal is to provide balanced, safe, and flavorful meals that support students’ learning, growth, and overall health. Want to know what’s on the menu? Food and Nutrition Services has menus available.
Educate Fairfa | 