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Upcoming Important Dates
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All FCPS Schools are closed until further notice. For more information regarding building closures, please go to fcps.edu.
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October 19-23
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Digital Citizenship Spirit Week - see below for how to dress up each day and show your school spirit on camera throughout the week.
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Thursday, October 22
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PTA Spirit Night - at 4-8 pm at Panera (6230 Rolling Rd)
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Friday, October 30
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End of the 1st Quarter
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November 2 & 3
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Teacher Workdays - Student Holidays - no work assigned either day.
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November 3
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Election Day - Show the importance of civic duty and vote!
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Digital Citizenship Week is October 19-23!
Try some of these ideas as a family:
- Have a device-free dinner and focus on connecting as a family. The #DeviceFreeDinner campaign by Common Sense Media comes with a 3-page Family Starter Kit that includes tips for getting started, a printable Family Commitment Pledge, and even a printable sign for designating the place (e.g., basket, box) families will place their devices during dinner. The Family Dinner Project also has a wealth of great conversation starters geared towards children of different ages.
- Have a family board game night instead of playing video games or watching TV.
- Make a phone call or write a letter to a family member or friend instead of sending a text or email.
- Spend time outside as a family and leave the phone behind.
FCPS has also developed a Digital Citizenship Online Course for Families with Teens. This four-module online course has been developed for parents/guardians and their teen(s) in grades 7 and up. After viewing the Introduction, parents should start with Module 1: Parents Only and then use Modules 2 - 4 with their teen(s). Modules 2 - 4 are designed to support family conversations about the topics related to digital citizenship. Families are encouraged to work through the course at their own pace and complete any module or activity of interest. While these modules won’t teach you everything you need to know, they provide a solid foundation upon which your family can build.
For more resources on digital citizenship click on the link below.
FCPS Digital Citizenship: Families
Join Irving MS in recognizing Digital Citizenship Week!
Technology Support
Visit Irving’s Virtual Learning page for Schoology and SIS support, as well as troubleshooting tips for common device issues. Parents and students can also submit a ticket in the FCPS IT Support Portal.
Tech Tips for Students
- Maintain school-issued devices by shutting down each night. By doing this, important updates are able to install upon restarting, and background processes that can slow the device performance are forced to end.
- On Tuesday nights, leave the device on, but plugged in, and restart the device on Wednesday mornings. Microsoft uses Tuesdays to push out updates, and this will ensure that they are installed in a timely manner.
- Chrome is the preferred browser for Schoology. If logon issues occur, restart the device.
- For Google Drive issues, ensure students are logged into their FCPS Google Account (student ID number@fcpsschools.net).
- For issues accessing Horizon or other sites/links for class, close extra programs, windows and/or tabs. Clearing the Chrome Cache helps with many access issues, as well as restarting the device. Try accessing the site/link on another device to help determine if the issue is the site itself, or an account issue. Submit a RequestIT Ticket if issues persist.
Irving MS Enrollment Forms Section Updated
Please take a look at our Enrollment Forms website! If you have not completed and submitted the required and applicable optional forms, please do so as soon as possible so we can make sure we have the most up-to-date information regarding your child.
Want a way to support families in our community this holiday season?
Since 2016, Food For Neighbors (FFN) has been providing holiday meals to families in middle and high schools throughout Fairfax and Loudoun counties. Please consider making a donation that would allow a family in the Springfield area to enjoy Thanksgiving as well. Holiday meals are a special time when families come together. With your generosity, students throughout our community will experience this joy during what has been a difficult year. Thank you for your generosity. https://www.foodforneighbors.org/home/holiday-meals/
Free and Reduced-Price Meals
If you submitted an application for Free or Reduced-Price Meals last school year for your child(ren), please remember to submit a new application for this school year. The current eligibility status will expire on October 20, 2020. Apply for free and reduced-price meals by visiting www.MySchoolApps.com. Eligibility may also provide your child(ren) other important benefits. Be sure your child(ren) are approved for the 20-21 school year.
The online application is available in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, Tagalog, French, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean. Paper applications are available to complete and submit in English upon request at FCPS food distribution sites.
Virtual Class For Parents
African American Culturally Focused Virtual Parent Café, Are you parenting a child 0-18 years old? Thursdays 6-7:30 p.m.
Library News
Curbside pickup service of Library Books began last week! We had a good turnout and were so happy to start providing our students with the books that they’ve requested.
Curbside pick up will be held on Mondays from noon until 3 pm. (We’ll be there this Monday too, even though it is a student holiday). It is already too late to reserve books for pick up this Monday, October 12th. The deadline for placing books on hold is Wednesday at 11:59 pm, prior to the Monday pick-up times.
Things went very smoothly last week, but we have decided to make one change. PLEASE DRIVE TO DOOR 2, near the band room, to pick up library books from now on. That’s where you will find us with the books you’ve placed on hold!
The first step is for students to place books on hold, using the library catalog. Here is a short video that explains how to put books on hold: https://youtu.be/pugYVMyu7Ow. Looking forward to waving to many of you “at the curb!”
Readers Unite Book Club began on Wednesday, October 7th. We now have had two meetings and have chosen our first book of the school year. Students should join “Readers Unite” through the “Groups” link in Schoology. V34J-RN2R-VVR84 is the code to join. The club meets from 2:30-3:30 on Wednesdays through the Blackboard Collaborate link available in the Readers Unite Group page.
--Ms. Monk & Mrs. Gawalt
After School Program
For more information about these clubs and to join, please have your student visit the After School Program Student Website.
Garden Entrepreneurship Club
Students will work with representatives from Arcadia Farms and FCPS staff to create a small business plan, prepare a budget, maintain good fiscal records, and create promotional marketing materials for their plant or business idea. The program will include special guest speakers, virtual visits to farms/gardens, cooking classes and more! The club will meet weekly on Wednesday from 3:00-3:45 pm. It begins on October 14th and runs for 12 weeks, and is open to students from Irving MS, Key MS, Sandburg MS, and Whitman MS. Space is limited, so sign up is required. If your child is interested in participating, please complete this sign-up form: Garden Entrepreneur Club Sign Up Form
Club Sign Ups & Schedule
Interested in having your child participate in the After School Program but not sure how to help them get involved? Watch this video tutorial of the After School Program Student Website so you can assist your child in getting signed up for clubs! Tutorial for Accessing the Irving After School Program Student Website
To view the weekly club schedule, click here.
Questions about After School? Please email Emily Geary (emgeary@fcps.edu)
News from your PTA
Don’t forget to join the PTA! You can do that here.
Thank you for your support for the Learning Legends: Love a Teacher! campaign.
It's looking like teacher burrito and T-shirt distribution will be at the beginning of November.
October 22nd is our next Spirit night - at 4-8 pm at Panera (6230 Rolling Rd)!!
Be on the lookout for that information on our Facebook page and through the MemberHub distribution.
Stay tuned – the PTA is looking for your input about virtual learning. In the next few weeks, look out for a survey link about “Wins and Wishes.” Be thinking about “Wins” – what’s going well in virtual learning, and “Wishes” – what you wish could happen or be implemented.
And we look forward to seeing you at our next PTA meeting on November 10th via Zoom!
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