This online directory will allow Kent Gardens families to connect with each other more easily for play dates, school projects, birthday parties, and more. It is searchable by name, grade, and homeroom teacher. The system is secure, easy to use, and free to families.

To register and access the Kent Gardens AtoZ Connect site, visit https://kentgardenspta.membershiptoolkit.com/.

Once there, you can update your family’s information and decide what information to share. You can also download the Membership Toolkit app in the Apple or Google Play app stores to have the Kent Gardens Family Directory at your fingertips on the go! Questions?

Reach out to KGPTAdirectory@gmail.com.

Donate Prizes for Bingo!

Bingo's coming April 25, but we need YOUR help to make it amazing by donating prizes. We are accepting new and gently used toys/games/puzzles for Bingo Night. Purchase from our Amazon Wish List or drop off items in our collection box in front of the office! The number of donations we receive determines how many winners we'll have on April 25! Help our community WIN BIG by donating the things you will want to take home that night!!!

Questions? Email KGPTABingo@gmail.com.

Bingo Night 4/25

It's baaaack! Join us Friday, April 25th for a night of prizes, raffles, food, and BINGO!

TICKETS ARE REQUIRED

Tickets which include your bingo cards are required for entry so register NOW as this event WILL SELL OUT! Add a pizza bundle (2 slices of pizza and 1 bottle of water) for $16/person! Pizza is available as a pre-order ONLY! But bring cash for other concessions and our 50/50 raffle!

THIS IS NOT A DROP-OFF EVENT! All students must be accompanied by a responsible adult!

DONATE PRIZES

We are looking for new or gently used toys/games/puzzles for Bingo Night prizes which can be dropped off in the designated box located in the office!

Questions? Email KGPTABingo@gmail.com.

Do you need a password reset on our online platform? PTA President Jenny Gregory can help! Email her!

Author Visit 4/7: Jennifer Nielsen

Mrs. Hershey has done it again by getting KGES-beloved author Jennifer Nielsen to visit our school on April 7. Ms. Nielsen, author of favorite books like Words on Fire and Iceberg, will visit with grades 4-6.

6th Grade Countdown Corner

The tulips are starting to push through the ground and our thoughts are turning toward warmer weather which means that NOW is the time when our 6th grade promotion planning really kicks into gear!

Planning Meeting

Join us for the next Party Planning Meeting on Thursday, April 24th at 9am in the cafeteria!

T-Shirts
Does your 6th grader have an artsy flair? Submit a 1-2 color t-shirt design by April 21st via email or drop in the main office by April 21st.

6th Grade Promotion Party 6/10
Our 6th Grade is moving on up, but not before a Big Beach Bash! We will have food, games, t-shirts, and more! We are asking for $40 per student. Make sure to include your student's T-shirt size (youth or adult), and how your student would like their name typed on the back of the t-shirt (does your student go by William or Will?).

Contribute toward the fun!

More information to come regarding 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony. If you have any questions, please contact kg6thgraders@gmail.com

...And Don't Forget to Join the Longfellow Middle School PTA

The Longfellow Middle School PTA invites and encourages rising 7th grade parents to get involved in the LMS PTA. It’s a great way to get to know the faculty and staff of the school in the two short (and formative) years your student will be at LMS. Plus, the school relies on PTA support to keep Longfellow a great place to learn and work. Because 8^th grade parents are rolling off the Board, there are opportunities to serve. It's not time intensive, and it’s fun! Please consider volunteering for one of these positions:

President
Treasurer
Communications
Fundraising
Hospitality

You can learn about these positions and more on the Longfellow PTA website. If you're interested in serving or would like more information, email Beth Coyne.

Rising Kinder Playdates

We are looking for parents of current kindergarteners to help host our Kinder Playdates this Spring and Summer! Bring your kinder to the KG playground and help answer questions and meet new families. If interested, please email kgptapresident@gmail.com

Kinder Playdates will be held on:
Saturday, May 17th 9am-11am
Saturday June 21st 9-11am
Wednesday, August 13th 6-7pm

Community Aid

Field Trip Scholarship Fund

Did you know that the Kent Gardens PTA has a Field Trip Scholarship Fund that is available to our families? If you need assistance paying for field trips, please reach out to Ms. Whitfield in the front office at rcwhitfield@fcps.edu All requests remain anonymous (the PTA never sees the request)! We look forward to assisting wherever we can help make things a little bit easier!

Fundraising at Kent Gardens

Silver Diner Restaurant Night 4/8

Mabel's Labels

Do you know the BEST way to keep things out of the lost and found? LABEL THEM! If you order name labels from Mabel's Labels, Kent Gardens earns 20% of the sales!

Shop here!

Type in Kent gardens and click on our school, then shop away!

Get your Spring Spirit Wear Now!

Update you KGES Spirit Wear for 2025! We have new items in the Spirit Wear Shop including pajamas for those well-loved pajama days! Order now to have orders shipped to your home!

Your KGES PTA Info

Join the PTA for SY 24-25

PTA membership for the school year costs $20 and is about more than monthly meetings and the odd event here and there. The PTA supports schools and that means staff, teachers, students and their families in ways that go beyond what any one group would be capable of on their own. Make joining the PTA at Kent Gardens a priority. We can't be the PTA we are without parents and other caring adults like YOU!

Our Next PTA Meeting: April 25 at 9am

Our next General Meeting will be April 25

We SO enjoyed our March meeting featuring parenting expert Mary Wilcox Smith and we hope you did too. Our next meeting will be April 25!

We are still searching for a President Elect to join our PTA board.
Contact Jenny Gregory, PTA President for more information!

Lost & Found Corner

Can't make it in to look through the racks yourself? You can join our virtual Lost and Found using our new FB group, The Things You Lose, to make it easier to see what's been lost so that hopefully it can be found.

HIGH-VALUE ITEMS ARE HELD IN THE OFFICE! If you've lost rings, watches, or other items of value, please visit the KGES office to claim them!

ALL ITEMS IN THE LOST & FOUND WILL BE DONATED ON April 30.

Volunteers Matter! Help us LOVE our School!

"If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito."
-Old Proverb

Ways to Get Involved at KGES

Ways to Make a Difference This Year!

Volunteer Opportunities

Book Fair Co-Chair
If you love the book fair as much as we do, consider becoming a co-chair this year with Andrea Hagar. The Spring Book Fair is run by the PTA with support from our library staff. You'll learn alongside our seasoned book fair volunteers this spring! Contact Andrea at af_hager@yahoo.com to learn more!

Teacher and Staff Love Wednesdays

The KGES Wellness Committee has shared that teachers and staff LOVE when there is coffee/tea available for them in the lounge...and they REALLY love treats! Help us shower our teachers and staff with love every Wednesday this year by bringing in coffee/tea, snacks, bags of mini candies, or whatever goodies you think might help sweeten their day. You can also help stack the staff lounge with paper plates/cups/napkins...etc. Please choose a slot to volunteer and drop off in the Staff Lounge by 8am on Wednesdays to show some love and support for our fabulous teachers and staff.

KGES Food Bus Food Rescue Program Volunteers Needed

Do you have a half-hour to spare on Friday afternoons to deliver food to SHARE of McLean Food Pantry at McLean Baptist Church? Interested in getting involved in this program? Please sign up HERE and/or email beccadw@gmail.com or lanavu@gmail.com with questions.

Service hours available for middle/high school students!

Thank you for your ongoing support. We could not do this amazing program without you.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Chesterbrook UMC Community Easter Egg Hunt 4/20

Join Chesterbrook UMC on an outdoor Easter egg hunt on April 20 from 12:30 to 1:30 PM at 6817 Dean Drive on the front lawn.

Lunch will be provided & fun activities for both adults and children

Don't miss out!

Registration link: bit.ly/KITCUMC

McLean Swim and Tennis Association

Spring is in the air, and that means it's time to lock in your pool plans for the summer before it's too late! McLean Swim and Tennis Association (MSTA), a family-friendly pool/tennis club located next to McLean High School, is currently accepting membership applications. We offer swim lessons, a competitive swim team (The Marlins! The most spirited swim team in the NVSL!), summer tennis camps and classes, and competitive tennis league play for all ages. Facilities include three pools (25-meter, medium, and baby pool); a poolside snack bar with game room; gas grills and picnic tables; tennis courts and pavilion; a playground; soccer goals and field, basketball goal and volleyball area; and wide open green space. Several areas of the club are available for reservation for private parties and MSTA hosts several social gatherings for adults and children year-round.

For membership opportunities and additional information, please visit the MSTA website.

Dance Academy of Virginia Summer Camps

Looking for fun and engaging Summer Camps in Mclean? Get ready for your child's Dancer Era at the Dance Academy of Virginia, McLean location, only a few minutes away from Kent Gardens.

DAV themed Summer Camps are the perfect way for your dancer to experience the joy of dance with a familiar theme. From Taylor Swift Eras Tour to Bluey to Barbie to Broadway, there is a theme for everyone! Our camps are designed to spark creativity and build confidence. Secure your spot today and let the adventure begin. With a blend of dance, games, and arts and crafts, your child will explore the world of movement in a supportive and fun environment. Click here to register for a summer camp or class.

We offer full day and half day camps weekly from 9-12pm and 1-4pm beginning June 16th and running through the week of August 18th. Dancers will explore movement, make crafts, learn choreography, and even perform for friends and family on Fridays!

Summer dance classes are also available