In This Week's ROAR
#1 January Events- Save the Date Because the Calendar Is Full!
#2 Heritage Night 2/7. Sign-up to Represent Your Culture by 1/23!
#3 Afterschool Activities for the New Year
Afterschool Academies- registration closes SOON!
Spring Chess
#4 Fun at KGES!
Fall Chess Party on 1/21!
Basketball Clinic with Mr. Avery on 1/30
#5 Support our School
Thank you to Mrs. McGuigan
Attend a PTA Meeting: January 23 at 845am
Join the PTA
Volunteer with the PTA
Library Volunteers
Food Bus Food Rescue Volunteers
Buy Your Yearbook Now
Spirit Wear for a New Year!
Extra Credit: Community Events
#1 January is in Full Swing!
Sign up to represent your culture by 1/23!
Want to represent your culture in our World Café or Heritage Room or volunteer in another way? Sign up here by 1/23!
Heritage Night is coming on Saturday, February 7th from 5-7pm so get ready to grab a KG Passport and travel the world! Show your #KGPride and join us for an evening that celebrates the many cultures that make up our vibrant school community1
Heritage Night is an evening of food, learning, and fun! Plus every child who attends can participate in our Parade of Nations. Children can dress in in traditional clothing that represents their heritage or just join in the parade on the night!
Please note, this is not a drop off event, but one for the WHOLE family to enjoy!
For more information, please email kgesheritagenight@gmail.com
#3 Afterschool Activities
Afterschool Academies- Registration Open Now
Your KGES PTA is so excited to offer Afterschool Academies for Winter 2026! Registration opened Tuesday 1/6 and will continue through Sunday 1/25 but don't wait around! Popular classes will fill up fast! Register now!
This winter, we're thrilled to offer classes with Mr. Avery, Ms. D'Amico, Ms. Klader, and Ms. Nabaki. Our teachers are AMAZING so register early and avoid being waitlisted!
Spring Chess Registration
Winter Chess ends on 1/21, but that just means that Spring Chess Registration is open NOW through January 31 for the session that will start 2/4 and run through 6/3. Chess club is an afterschool activity on Wednesdays from 345-515pm in the KG cafeteria taught by renowned chess experts. Registration is $185 for the entire semester. Spots fill quickly so register today so you don't end up waitlisted for this beloved KGES program!
#4 Fun at KGES
Fall Chess Party and we STILL Need Parent Volunteers
TODAY is the last day of Fall Chess and we're having a pizza party! We need your help to make sure our party is a success. Sign-up here!
As a reminder there is no chess on 1/28!
Basketball Clinic 1/30 with Mr. Avery
Date: January 30th
Time: 9-11
Grades: 3-6 boys and girls
This clinic is designed for boys and girls in grades 3–6 who currently play basketball and want to sharpen their skills in a fun, fast-paced, and challenging environment. Sessions will build on existing fundamentals while helping players improve confidence, basketball IQ, and game performance.
What Players Will Work On:
-
Ball-handling and control (both hands, change of pace/direction)
-
Shooting fundamentals, footwork, and finishing at the rim
-
Passing, spacing, and smart offensive decision-making
-
Defensive stance,, and on-ball/team defense
-
Competitive drills and game-like situations (1v1, 2v2, 3v3/scrimmage play)
Players will receive focused instruction, high repetitions, and opportunities to apply skills in live play. I will emphasize effort, teamwork, and learning habits that translate directly to games.
Who Should Attend:
This clinic is for players with current basketball experience (rec league, school team, travel/club, etc.) who are comfortable with basic rules and are ready for a higher level of instruction and competition.
Come ready to work hard, compete, and level up your game!
#5 Support Our School
Thank You to Mrs. McGuigan for the Informative Parent Coffee
The KGES PTA is so grateful to Mrs. McGuigan for all of the time she spent with parents at the Principal Coffee last week. We learned about testing, testing, and more testing, but also how KGES compares to other schools around our region (that includes SO many OTHER counties) and the state. If you haven't yet attended a parent coffee, add the next one to your schedule. Our principal answers all of our questions with authenticity, transparency, and a lot of humor. We are so grateful!
Attend a PTA Meeting
OUR NEXT PTA MEETING WILL BE January 23 at 845am in the Cafeteria.
Join us to learn more about how you can help make 2026 an AMAZING year for Kent Gardens and hear important updates from Principal McGuigan!
Join the PTA
 The PTA at KGES is SUPER BUSY! We do SO much...if you like the afterschool academies, chess club, Math Counts, Bingo Night, 5k, Bread and Cider, Christmas Cookie Exchange, Book Fairs, Heritage Night, Teacher Appreciation Week and just so, so, so MUCH MORE, that's because your KGES PTA has been working hard to bring enriching experiences to our community. 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 Join the PTA NOW!
Volunteer with the PTA
 Volunteers are the glue that helps keep Kent Gardens going and, at the beginning of the school year, have we got some opportunities for YOU!
Library Volunteers
Do you love creating order? Does your spirit soar when you are alphabetizing books on shelves? Do you LOVE the Dewey Decimal System? Or maybe spending time around books just fills your cup? Mrs. Hershey needs volunteers who can share a few hours of their time to help make the library run well. BONUS: volunteers get to check out books! If this interests you, email Karen Hershey!
Food Bus Volunteers- KGES's Food Rescue Program
 |
|
Do you have 30 minutes to spare on a Friday afternoon? Help us make a difference by delivering rescued food to the SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church.
The KG PTA proudly supports the Food Bus program, which encourages students to place unopened, packaged food and whole fruits in a designated fridge instead of throwing them away after lunch. Each week, we collect 15–25 pounds of fresh, healthy food—saved by our students—that parent volunteers deliver to SHARE for weekend distribution to local families in need.
It’s a simple act with a big impact—and we need your help to keep it going!
Sign up HERE or email Rebecca (beccadw@gmail.com) or Lana (lanavu@gmail.com)
Middle and high school students can earn service hours too!
|
Order Your Yearbooks Now
The weather outside is frightfully cold, but the warmer months are coming and your child will definitely want a yearbook at the end of the year, especially if you don't order one! So go ahead and knock this off your to-do list. Your June self will definitely thank your January self for thinking ahead!
Order your yearbook using code 21772 or searching for "Kent Gardens" on the website!
Sprit Wear for a New Year!
Extra Credit: Community Events
BRYC Girls Flag Football
McLean Little League
 Join our community of 1,200 boys and girls learning the games of Baseball and Softball and making friends from all over McLean and surrounding towns! Season is from late March to early June. All children attending KGES are eligible to play! Send questions to registration@mcleanll.com, and registration ends on January 15!
Find out more!
Youth Rugby
 Join Our Rugby Family!
Looking for a fun, active way to get your kids involved in the community? Our local rugby club welcomes players of all ages and skill levels! Build confidence, make new friends, and be part of a supportive team environment. Come down, give it a try, and see why so many families love being part of our club!
NON-CONTACT Coed 4-10yrs
Tackle COED 10-14 yrs
Boys & Girls Tackle 14-18yrs
Find out more!
Franklin Sherman Hosts Screenagers 3/9
Franklin Sherman Elementary is hosting a film presentation and facilitated discussion of Screenagers: Elementary Edition on Monday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Franklin Sherman and are opening the event up to the entire McLean High School Pyramid. This event is free to attend and open to all parents at our schools (no children, please).
|
