KGCS Chronicle
October 2026
A Message from the Superintendent
Dear KGCS Families,
As we welcome October, I want to thank you for your continued partnership and support as we begin an important month in the school year. The first quarter is quickly coming to a close, making this a wonderful time to reflect on our students’ progress and look ahead to the months to come.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on October 12 at all schools. These conferences provide a valuable opportunity for families and teachers to connect, celebrate student growth, discuss progress, and work together to support each child’s success. Your child’s teacher(s) will send an email with information about scheduling a conference time.
October 9 marks the end of the first quarter, and report cards will be issued on October 16. We encourage families to review report cards with their children and use them as an opportunity to recognize accomplishments, identify areas for growth, and set goals for the remainder of the school year.
I also invite families to join me for Coffee with the Superintendent on October 12 from 8:00–10:00 a.m. at the School Board Office on St. Anthony’s Road. I hope families will stop by, connect, share feedback, and ask any questions you may have. This will be a great opportunity for us to continue building open communication and strong partnerships between our schools and families.
Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. When families and schools work together, our students are better positioned to learn, grow, and thrive. I look forward to a successful October and to continuing our partnership throughout the school year.
Jesse Boyd
Superintendent
King George County Schools
KGES News for Families and the Community
We had a great first month of school and a lot of fun during Attendance Spirit Week! It was great to see everyone getting involved and making attendance a priority. As we wrap up September and Attendance Awareness Month, let’s keep the positive energy going and finish the month strong. Let’s keep showing up, keep pushing forward, and make every school day count. Together, we can make this a great year!
Preschool - The cutest little pumpkins in preschool are exploring all things community helpers, fire safety, pumpkins, and halloween! We are exploring fall songs, learning what responsibility is and how to show it at school. All our classes are continuing to learn the letters of the alphabet and shape properties. Preschool classes also have two fun activities planned this month with the fire department visiting and a pumpkin patch coming to school!
Kindergarten - Kindergarten is in full swing! We have been learning and practicing all of our rules, and how to be good friends. We work hard to learn our letters, sounds, and numbers.
1st Grade - First grade has been busy learning and growing! In math, we have been identifying, describing, extending, creating, and transferring patterns. We are now learning strategies to help us add fluently, including counting on, using a number line, doubles, and near doubles. In phonics, we have been learning about the sounds the short vowels make, the whiny sound short a makes when followed by an m or n, and the FLSZ Rule. In reading, we are working on identifying the main idea and supporting details.
2nd Grade - Second grade has had Roy the Attendasaurus twice in the last month! Go 2nd graders! We are learning about different habitats around the world, improving our reading and writing skills, and working hard on perfecting our word problem solving skills in Math. Last but not least, we will take our first field trip to Millwood Farm and also begin our swimming lessons at the YMCA in October.
3rd Grade - Third Grade is hard at work becoming Marvelous Multiplication Mathematicians! In reading, we are putting our comprehension skills to the test as we learn strategies for tackling nonfiction passages. We have our passports ready to be stamped as we go on an adventure around the world, learning about geographic features in our new unit, Our Amazing Planet! There is no shortage of fun and learning in Third Grade at KGES!
4th Grade - Over the past month, students have explored nature through observation and descriptive writing, strengthened their math skills with multi-digit addition and subtraction with regrouping and word problems, and learned about Virginia’s geographic features and plant life cycles. Moving forward, students will continue building their writing and problem-solving skills while applying what they have learned to more complex texts, math concepts, and hands-on investigations across content areas.
5th Grade - Fifth grade is gearing up for an exciting field trip to the Virginia State Fair in early October! We are looking forward to a fun day of learning and exploration as students make connections between our current reading unit and the important role agriculture plays in the state we call home. We can't wait to see our learning come to life beyond the classroom!
KGES Science Club - KGES Science Club will be starting this month, and we are so excited! Students will have the opportunity to investigate a variety of scientific concepts and participate in hands-on activities that build upon what they are learning in the classroom. We can't wait to explore, experiment, and discover together!
KGES Art and Counseling Department - The KGES Counselors joined Art this month to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Eagle artists explored collage and murals through the art of Joan Miro, and they learned how to respect other artists and themselves while making a mural together.
PES News for Families and the Community
We are off to a fantastic start at Potomac Elementary! Our Hawks have been busy learning, growing, making new friends, and settling into the routines of the school year. It has been wonderful to see our students becoming more confident and independent. Our teachers and staff have also been working diligently to learn more about each student through beginning-of-year assessments so we can provide the right support and opportunities for every learner. We are truly putting our Dream, Believe, Achieve theme into action each day!
Our second graders have also been making a splash through the Second Grade Learn to Swim Program, made possible through our partnership with the King George County YMCA. This free program provides students with basic swimming instruction and important water-safety skills that can help keep them safe in and around the water. We are so grateful for community partners who see the value in investing in our students and helping them build skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
The best way to celebrate being a Hawk is with our Hawk Hustle Fun Run! On September 18th, our students had an amazing time running, cheering, and celebrating together. We are incredibly thankful for the support of our PTA, staff, families, and generous community sponsors. Because of their support, the Hawk Hustle will provide valuable resources and opportunities for our students throughout the school year. Most importantly, it was a wonderful day of fun, school spirit, and community!
Our students also celebrated School Attendance Spirit Week and we loved seeing our Hawks team up for attendance, show their school spirit, and have fun while learning an important lesson—every school day counts! When students are here, they have more opportunities to learn, make friends, try new things, and grow. Thank you, families, for being our partners in making attendance a priority. Getting your Hawk to school each day is one of the most important steps you can take to help them soar toward success!
Our Hawks and staff are so excited about an opportunity to build an even stronger sense of community at PES! This week, our students participated in a special House Ceremony where they discovered which “House” they will call home for the 2026–27 school year. There was plenty of excitement as students found out whether they would be part of the House of Honor, House of Wisdom, House of Courage, or House of Harmony!
Each House represents important qualities we hope to see in our Hawks every day. We talked with our students about what it means to show honor, wisdom, courage, and harmony and how each of us has an important role to play in making PES a special place to learn and grow. We are so excited to watch our Houses come together throughout the year, build new friendships, encourage one another, and celebrate the many ways our Hawks make a difference.
As we look ahead, Parent-Teacher Conferences are right around the corner! Please be on the lookout for information coming home about how to schedule a time to meet with your child’s teacher. These conferences are a wonderful opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher, celebrate their progress, and discuss any academic questions or concerns you may have. We value the partnership between home and school and look forward to working together to help each of our students continue to grow and succeed.
There is so much happening at PES, and we are just getting started. Thank you for being such an important part of our school family as we continue to Dream, Believe, and Achieve together!
Hawk Hustle
Hawk Hustle
House Ceremony
SES News for Families and the Community
September was a busy and exciting month at Sealston Elementary, filled with new traditions, special events, and lots of opportunities for our Wildcats to connect with one another and our school community!
This month, we kicked off Wildcat Wednesdays, a new weekly tradition where students and staff are encouraged to show their Sealston pride by wearing our school colors, orange and black, or their favorite Sealston shirt. We also held our first PTA Spirit Night of the school year at El Charro, and we were thrilled with the wonderful turnout! Be on the lookout for information about our next Spirit Night.
We had our Fall Picture Day on September 2nd. A huge thank you goes to our wonderful parent volunteers who helped make picture day run smoothly. We truly could not have done it without you! Picture retakes are scheduled for October 20th.
The final two weeks of September were packed with fun and opportunities to build our school community. During Attendance Matters Week, September 21st–25th, Wildcats participated in themed spirit days while learning about the importance of coming to school each day and being ready to learn. On September 25th, we welcomed more than 650 grandparents and special guests for our largest Grandparents’ Lunch ever! It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces filling our cafeteria and spending special time with our students.
Our Fall Book Fair also began during the final week of September and will run through September 30th. While we do not have our official sales total yet, the Book Fair was packed during Grandparents’ Lunch, so we are hopeful this will be our biggest Fall Book Fair yet! One of the highlights of the week was watching our 4th and 5th Grade Book Buddies volunteer during part of their lunch and recess to help our PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade students explore the Book Fair, choose books, and create wish lists. It was a wonderful experience for both our big and little Wildcats!
September also marked the launch of our 4th and 5th Grade Sealston Clubs. Students had the opportunity to choose from six clubs this year: Wildcat Chorus, Crochet Club, Cheer Club, Soccer Club, Book Club, and Cards & Board Games Club. We are excited to see our students explore new interests, build friendships, and enjoy time together outside of the classroom!
As we head into October, there is no slowing down at Sealston! We have another fun-filled month ahead with plenty of opportunities for learning, connection, and school spirit.
Here are just a few of the exciting things happening in October:
October 9th: BMX Assembly
October 12th: Parent Teacher Conferences
October 20th: Picture Retake Day
October 29th: Title I Event
October 30th: Wacky Wildcat Day
Grandparents Day
Book Buddies
Book Buddies
KGMS News for Families and the Community
7th Grade Civics Classes
On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, 7th-grade students paid tribute to the 2,977 victims. After watching a 9/11 tribute, students took time to write out the names and locations of those who lost their lives 25 years ago onto leaves for a bulletin board display. Teachers and students both learned that even though not one student in the class was alive during the tragic event, they could still pay tribute to those who never went home that dreadful day. Thank you to Mr. Limbrick, Mr. Thompson, and Ms. Freed for the meaningful lesson!
Drama Department
The KGMS Theater Department is busy preparing for its fall musical, Shrek Jr.! 75 students signed up to participate in the production. Directors Mrs. Fulton, Mrs. Niepraschk, and Mrs. Nunez are excited to share their amazing talent with the community. Art director Mrs. Wahlquist is leading the set crew in creating larger-than-life props and painting the amazing set, constructed by the Schriner family. The cast and crew will perform on November 10th, 12th, and 13th at 6PM. Tickets can be purchased on gofan.co closer to the performance dates! We hope to see you there.
Library
This semester’s library aides have added some autumnal excitement to the décor with fall-themed book stacks! Library aides also continually create seasonal book displays and helped judge the annual bookmark design contest. They’re looking forward to assisting with the book fair next month! Library aides are instrumental in keeping the library circulation desk running smoothly and re-shelving the many books that are borrowed from the library.
Upcoming Events:
October 12 entries due for “Cutest Pets of Fall, Y’all!” Photo Contest (Library) for staff and students.
October 16: Pickleball Tournament, after school, 4:30 PM
October 16: PTA-Sponsored Fall Field Day
October 29: Staff vs. Students Volleyball Game, 6 PM
9/11 Remembrance Board
KGMS Library Autumnal Decor
KGHS News for Families and the Community
Graduation Information
Commencement exercises will be held on Tuesday, May 25, 2027. We look forward to celebrating this wonderful milestone at 7:00 p.m. at Fredericksburg National Stadium located at 42 Jackie Robinson Way, Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the same time and location on Wednesday, May 26, 2027.
Homecoming Game
Date: October 16 | Time: 7:00 PM
This game is a blackout theme. Come wearing black with BLUE AND GOLD!
Tickets are available on GoFan. The theme is blackout, so wear your darkest gear and cheer on the Foxes!
Homecoming Dance
Step into a world where magic blooms and secrets whisper through the trees.
Presenting the 2026 Homecoming Theme: ENCHANTED FOREST
Get ready for an unforgettable night under the canopy of stars. Grab your friends, dress to impress, and prepare for a magical evening!
Save the Date:
Date: October 17
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Location: KGHS
Ticket Info:
$15 from Sept 5–25
$20 from Sept 26– October 2
$25 from October 2-12
No tickets will be sold after October 12
Tickets are available online via GoFan or in person in room 254 before and after school.
Science Fair Judges
The KGHS Science Department is seeking volunteer judges for the KGHS Science Fair that will be held on November 2, 2026. If you have the time, we have the projects! Judging is simple and is done electronically on your phone.
If you are interested in serving as a judge, please contact Biology Teacher Kelley Gaske at kgaske@kgcs.k12.va.us.
KGHS Theatre
Ms. Katrina Wynes' Technical Theatre class has been busy this marking period! They have learned scenic painting techniques and are finishing their scenic design and construction unit. Here they are building two different styles of flats (broadway flats and hollywood flats). Both are standard for movies/film and theatre.
Technical Theatre Class
Technical Theatre Class
Technical Theatre Class
Parent-Teacher Conferences: October 12
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on October 12, and there will be no school for students that day.
Your child’s teacher(s) will reach out to families with information about scheduling a conference. We encourage families to take advantage of this opportunity to connect with teachers, celebrate student progress, discuss areas for growth, and work together to support your child’s success.
Special Services
Celebrating Disability Awareness, Inclusion & Belonging
October is an opportunity for our school community to recognize the many strengths, talents, experiences, and contributions of people with disabilities.
This year’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) theme is “Celebrating Value and Talent.” While NDEAM focuses nationally on the contributions of people with disabilities in the workplace, schools play an important role in helping young people develop confidence, self-advocacy skills, independence, relationships, and pathways toward their future goals.
At King George County Schools, we believe every student belongs, every student has strengths to share, and every student deserves opportunities to learn, participate, and contribute.
What Is Disability Awareness?
Disability awareness means learning about disabilities, recognizing barriers, promoting accessibility, and understanding that people may experience the world in different ways.
Disabilities may be visible or non-visible and can affect learning, communication, mobility, sensory experiences, attention, social interaction, mental health, or other aspects of daily life.
Most importantly, a disability does not define a person. Students are individuals first—with interests, personalities, talents, goals, and dreams.
Building a Culture of Inclusion
During October, we encourage students, staff, and families to think about what inclusion looks like in everyday life.
Inclusion can mean:
Making sure everyone has an opportunity to participate.
Providing information in ways that are accessible to different learners.
Asking someone what support they need rather than making assumptions.
Respecting different ways of communicating, learning, moving, and interacting.
Recognizing and celebrating individual strengths.
Speaking up when someone is being excluded or treated unfairly.
Creating classrooms and activities where students feel safe, respected, and valued.
A Note for Families
Families are important partners in helping children and young adults develop self-advocacy and independence.
At home, consider talking with your child about questions such as:
“What are you really good at?”
“What helps you learn best?”
“What makes you feel included?”
“How can you ask for help when you need it?”
“What are some goals you have for your future?”
For older students, these conversations can also include employment, college or technical education, independent living, community participation, and the accommodations or supports that may help them reach their goals.
Disability Awareness: Words Matter
There is no single “correct” way that every person with a disability prefers to be described. Some people prefer person-first language, such as “student with autism,” while others prefer identity-first language, such as “autistic student.”
When possible, respect an individual's stated preference.
We can also choose language that focuses on the person rather than stereotypes or assumptions. Instead of assuming that someone cannot do something, we can ask:
“What support would help you participate?”
For Our Younger Learners: Grades 3–5
Families can help elementary-age students build understanding through simple conversations:
Everyone learns and communicates differently.
Some people use wheelchairs, communication devices, hearing aids, glasses, or other tools.
Accessibility tools help people participate and be independent.
Being different is not a reason to exclude someone.
A good friend asks, listens, includes, and respects boundaries.
Family conversation starter:
“What is something you can do really well? What is something that is challenging for you? How do other people help you when you need support?”
For Middle School Students: Grades 6–8
Middle school is an important time for students to develop self-awareness and advocacy skills.
Encourage students to think about:
Their personal strengths and interests.
How they learn best.
How they communicate their needs.
How to respectfully interact with people who have different experiences.
How accommodations can remove barriers to participation.
How their interests might connect to future careers.
Family conversation starter:
“What helps you be successful at school, and how could you explain those needs to someone who doesn't know you well?”
For High School Students: Grades 9–12
For high school students, disability awareness can connect directly to life after graduation.
Students can begin thinking about:
Career interests and employment goals.
College, trade school, or other training opportunities.
Work-based learning, internships, and mentoring.
Self-advocacy and communicating support needs.
Workplace accommodations.
Independent living and community participation.
Identifying personal strengths and transferable skills.
Accessibility Benefits Everyone
Accessibility is not only about disability.
Captions can help someone who is deaf or hard of hearing—and also someone watching a video in a noisy environment.
Clear directions can help students with learning differences—and also students learning a new concept.
Accessible digital materials can support students with disabilities—and make information easier for everyone to use.
When we remove unnecessary barriers, more people can participate.
Possible activities include:
Classroom discussions about inclusion and accessibility.
Student-created artwork, writing, or presentations celebrating individual strengths.
Disability awareness and accessibility activities.
Recognition of contributions made by people with disabilities.
Career and transition activities for secondary students.
Opportunities for students to practice self-advocacy.
School-wide messages promoting kindness, respect, and belonging.
A Message to Our Students
Your strengths matter.
Your voice matters.
Your ideas matter.
Asking for help is a strength. Using accommodations is a strength. Learning in a different way is not a limitation on your potential.
Our goal is not for every student to be the same. Our goal is for every student to have meaningful opportunities to learn, participate, grow, and contribute.
Resources for Families
Families can learn more about National Disability Employment Awareness Month and find educational and community resources through the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy.
Math Instruction in KGCS
Math Is Everywhere: Celebrate October with Math and Books!
October is full of opportunities to explore math in fun and unexpected ways! As the leaves change, pumpkins appear, and Halloween approaches, children can discover that math is not just something we do at school—it is something we use to make sense of the world around us.
One of our favorite ways to bring math to life is through children's literature. A great math book can spark curiosity, encourage problem-solving, and give families a chance to talk about mathematical ideas together.
This October, curl up with one of these fun books and see where the math takes you!
10 Trick-or-Treaters by Janet Shulman
What happens when 10 trick-or-treaters head out for Halloween? This playful counting story provides opportunities to practice counting, addition, subtraction, and one-to-one correspondence.
Try this at home:
Ask your child:
How many trick-or-treaters are left after ___?
How could we figure that out without counting each one?
Can you make up your own Halloween story using addition or subtraction?
2 × 2 = Boo! by Loreen Leedy
This spooky book is a great introduction to multiplication and arrays. Children can explore how groups of equal size can help us think about multiplication.
Try this at home:
Use Halloween treats, toys, buttons, or other small objects to make equal groups. Ask, "How many groups do you have? How many are in each group? How many altogether?" Then challenge your child to draw an array to match.
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara and G. Brian Karas
Pumpkins and math make a wonderful pair! This story gives children an opportunity to explore estimation, counting, grouping, and data as students think about how many seeds might be inside a pumpkin.
Try this at home:
Before counting a collection of objects, make an estimate. Then count to find the actual amount. Talk about:
Was your estimate close?
How did you make your estimate?
What strategy could make counting a large collection easier?
Remember—an estimate doesn't have to be exact to be useful!
Pick a Circle, Gather Squares: A Fall Harvest of Shapes by Felicia Chermesky
Fall is full of shapes! This book invites children to notice circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and other geometric shapes in a harvest setting.
Try this at home:
Take a shape scavenger hunt around your house or neighborhood. How many different shapes can you find? Can your child describe a shape without naming it? For example, "I found a shape with four equal sides and four corners."
Mystery Math: A First Book of Algebra by David A. Adler
Algebra may sound like something reserved for older students, but young mathematicians are already capable of thinking algebraically! This book introduces children to ideas such as patterns, relationships, unknowns, and mathematical reasoning.
Try this at home:
Create a mystery number. Give clues such as:
"My number is greater than 10."
"My number is even."
"My number is less than 20."
How quickly can your child figure it out? Then switch roles and let your child create the mystery!
Math Man by Teri Daniels
Who says superheroes can't love math? Math Man encourages children to see themselves as mathematical thinkers and problem-solvers.
Try this at home:
Ask your child to become a "Math Man" or "Math Hero" for the day! Give them a real-life problem to solve:
"We need 24 napkins for our family gathering. Napkins come in packages of 6. How many packages do we need?"
Encourage your child to draw a picture, use objects, make a list, write an equation, or explain their thinking. There is often more than one way to solve a math problem!
Make Math Conversations Part of Your October
You don't need a worksheet or a special activity to practice math at home. A book, a question, and a little curiosity can be enough!
As you read together this month, try asking questions such as:
"What do you notice?"
"What do you wonder?"
"How do you know?"
"Can you find another way?"
"What would happen if...?"
Most importantly, give your child time to think, explore, make mistakes, and explain their reasoning. When children talk about their mathematical thinking, they are doing much more than finding an answer—they are developing confidence and seeing themselves as mathematicians.
So grab a book, snuggle up, and let the math adventures begin!
