First Spirit Week of Ten Days Before Holiday Break:)
So much enthusiasm for Spirit Week! We also collected so many cans of food for SHARE of McLean. We sincerely appreciate your support!
Plan Forward - Dates to Mark on your Calendar
December 15 - Staff Cookie Exchange (Thanks Parents and PTA)
December 18 - In School Chorus Concert for students
December 19 - Winter Holiday Class Parties
December 22 - January 2 - Winter Break Holiday - No School
January 15 - Band Concert
January 16 - Principals Coffee
January 23 - PTA Meeting
January 27 - Strings Concert
February 7 - Heritage Night
2025-26 FCPS School Calendar
House Meetings!
Each 'House' met together as a group to celebrate and get to know each other. We will continue to meet and develop our goal and mission to connect and show our #kgpride.
Administration Notes
Dear Parents,
As shared earlier this week, we are proud to announce that Kent Gardens has been recognized by the Virginia Department of Education as a Distinguished School. This designation reflects that our school is meeting or exceeding state expectations for student performance, and it is a testament to the partnership between our staff, students, and families.
We had five days of learning this week with five days of spirit fun and will continue through our next five days. See the details below to join in the fun. We will continue to focus on our reading and math goals through the end of December.
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics- FCPS Showcases Success; Be Among the First to Hear About School Delays/Closings; Winter Resources for Families. Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
We look forward to seeing all on Monday!
Warmly,
Holly McGuigan Tia Hawkins Sarah Talley
Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal
Five Days Before Holiday Break Fun!
We are bringing closure to 2025 - we have 5 days left with activities!
Dec 15 - Celebrate Winter Sports - Monday- Represent a winter sport with jersey or winter themed sports outfit
Dec 16 - Dreaming of Snow Days! Wear snowy colors (silver, sparkle, blues and white)....!
Dec 17 - Warming Hearts Kindness Day - Wear something with a kind message on it or something 'heart' themed/colored.
Dec 18 - Highlight the Holidays - Find clothes that represent your favorite holiday from any time of the year!
Dec 19 - Wear your School Spirit Wear ~ all because it is the last day before winter break!
Chorus Concert Rocked!
We had an amazing chorus concert with our fifth and sixth grade students led by Ms. Paik and Ms. Lee. We look forward to hearing them sing at school this week!
Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night Jan. 14, 2026
Longfellow Middle School will be hosting a Curriculum Night for rising 7th grade families (current 6th grade students) at Longfellow MS on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This evening session aims to provide parents with information that will help their incoming 7th grade student with the transition to middle school. Families will have the opportunity to explore elective course offerings and hear from a variety of Longfellow staff about the courses and programs offered to 7th grade students. Students and staff will also be available to answer questions. If inclement weather occurs, the event will be rescheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. We look forward to welcoming you to Longfellow!
Office Corner
Unexcused Tardies affect your child’s school day and disrupts office duties and classroom instruction for teachers and other students. You must park and walk the tardy student to the office to complete check-in process. Please DO NOT drop off your child(ren) and leave. Note all students must arrive by 8:50 a.m. and be in classrooms.
Absences count - regardless if your child's absence is excused or unexcused. VDOE has set guidelines for chronic absenteeism at 11 absences - regardless of excused or unexcused.
Brrrr!!! – Prepare you kids for outdoor recess! Bring coats, gloves, hats, and scarfs! Mark your child's name on them - we have many items in lost and found!
Visiting/Volunteer in School: For students’ safety, all visitors and volunteers must bring your official ID to check in through our Visitor Management System each time, even if you are approved for volunteer level 3. Note that FCPS will adjust the volunteer requirements to level 2 due to the huge volume of applicants for level 3.
Parent FAQs and Important Office Reminders. We are proud that almost all of our KGES parents are using KGES online forms to submit early checkout, dismissal change and late arrival requests. (KGES Website-Full Menu-Attendance Reporting). Why is it important? KGES online forms include critical info such as special class code, announcement #, room #, parent/guardian contact info & authorization, AM/PM teacher, grade, and request type, etc. It assists school to ensure student safety, and efficiently process your requests, locate and coordinate with teachers, students, and communicate with you if needed. Tips for online requests:
- Submit online forms ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT preferably before 9:30 am to avoid delay or mistake in processing, and unnecessary interruption to test/instruction.
- Add extra note AFTER your child’s name or note section.
- Once you submit online request, no need to email/call teachers/office.
- Use ParentVue to report absence.
Dismissal Change: Consistency is the key to safety! In the event that you have to make a dismissal change or establish a new routine, you must use KGES online forms to submit your Transportation Change request on the day of your needed adjustment - please remind your child in the morning of the change. Write additional information AFTER your child’s name or in note section.
Updates Regarding Trails in Back of School
Impact to Walking Trails along Pimmit Run - We understand that there has been closures in the trails behind the school due to the sewer upgrade work at two sites along Pimmit Run. If you have a child who has not normally ridden the bus but qualifies for transportation via a bus and now might need to ride the bus, please do reach out to our front office.
The impacts will last through the rest of this school year and into early September of 2026. Please make sure to follow all posted signage once construction has started. To learn more about the two impacted sites, you can look at Site Map 1 and Site Map 2 from the county. If you have questions, please email General Contractor W.B. Hopke & Co. or Fairfax County Land Development Services(703)324-7470.
Attendance Is Important Every Day!
Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after winter break. Give your child the gift of education and help build a habit of attendance. Visit the FCPS website for more attendance resources. Note that if your child is absent for 10% of the school year regardless of excused or unexcused, your child(ren) will be considered chronically absent through VDOE. You can make up school absences by attending the afternoon of the 3 hour early release days.
Reporting Student Absences - We are committed to partnering with families to promote positive attendance habits. Any day that your child is unable to attend school, parents should report the absence. By reporting absences, families are partnering with our staff so that everyone can make sure students are supported and have access to resources.
Full-day absences can be reported in SIS ParentVUE. Parents can also report absences by calling our school attendance line at 703-916-6868 or emailing BelvedereElem.Attendance@fcps.edu. School staff will call parents if students are absent, and our school has not been notified in advance. Parents can monitor their child’s attendance records in SIS ParentVUE.
Attendance Codes in SIS ParentVUE Explained - Attendance codes in SIS ParentVUE are assigned by school staff to better identify the reasons behind student absences. This allows us to respond thoughtfully and provide appropriate support. Visit the FCPS Attendance Policy webpage to learn more about the codes.
When Your Child Is Sick - It is also important to keep your child home when they are sick. The Can My Child Go to School? webpage provides helpful recommendations on when to keep your child home. For instance, as long as they are feeling like they can participate in school activities, a child should attend school if they have cold symptoms. However, if they have severe, uncontrolled, or rapid coughing; wheezing; or difficulty breathing, definitely keep them home and contact your health care provider.
Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15
Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Debra Bulford, no later than December 15, 2025. Each year, families can submit a referral for full-time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for full-time AAP services will be accepted.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of six trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of their child’s materials after February 20, 2026, by Deb Bulford.
At the elementary level, referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened by the school. If you miss the full-time referral deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific or part-time AAP services for the remainder of the year. Please visit the AAP webpage for more information.
⛄ Winter Resources for Families
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue! - We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during the upcoming winter break and on snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
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