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Upcoming Important Dates
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Jan. 28 - Feb 5
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Rising 8th Grade - Elective Course Selection
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January 29
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Last day to complete the Optional Safe and Caring Schools Training for all Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers
To open an account and begin the course:
- Go to http://kognitocampus.com
- Select “Don’t have an account? Click here”
- Use the following Enrollment Key: fcpsparentcaregiver2020
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February 1
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TJHSS&T Application Window Opens 8:00AM
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February 3
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PTA Meeting - Ms. Conley will share updates regarding Return to School. Please be sure to join us at 7:00 pm. Link will be sent on Wednesday morning.
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February 9-11
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Lifetouch Picture Days from 3:00 pm-7:00pm for all Irving MS students who would like to have a school picture taken. Pictures will be by appointment - sign up for a time slot HERE and use the Access Code: irving4500.
Access the order form via this link.
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Picture Days are coming!
Picture Days!
Please join us February 9, 10, or 11, from 3:00 -7:00 pm for Irving Staff and Student Picture Days. We will be following strict safety precautions during our picture days with Lifetouch. Each student will have a 2 minute appointment to walk in, sit down, have their picture taken and exit the building. Quick and easy! Masks must be worn until it is time to take the picture and then put back on prior to leaving the studio area. Specific directions will be provided next week. If you have more than one child attending Irving, please schedule your children back to back to avoid having to come back at a second time.
To sign up for a timeslot, please click on this LINK and use the access code: irving4500.
Help Recognize Outstanding Employees
Each year, school staff nominates individuals to represent their school for the FCPS “Outstanding Employee Awards,” (see above article about Mr. Spero success in last year’s competition). This year we have already submitted Irving’s nomination packets for Outstanding Principal (Ms. Conley), Outstanding Teacher (Ms. Jenny Hay), and Outstanding Professional Employee (Ms. Emily Geary). We have three more Irving staff members that represent different categories in the county-wide competition. Their nomination applications are not due until the first of February.
If you have been impressed with your interactions with the following employees, please click on the corresponding links to provide your comments and compliments about them. Your comments will be used to complete their nomination packet for the Award. Thank you in advance for letting the rest of the county know what good people we have working at Irving MS!
Thank you for your input!
Mary Ann Monk, Irving Awards Liaison Volunteer
Coming Soon: Elective Course Selection for Rising 8th grade
Starting January 28th- February 5th our current 7th grade students will learn about the elective choices for 8th grade via their math class period. Their school counselor will review with them elective choices for next year as well as show students how to enter their (requests) choices into SIS student Vue during the classroom lesson. Students will make informed decisions based on self-reflection and choose electives that support their interests and help them grow. We will encourage students to review their requests/choices with their parents and make adjustments directly into SIS Student Vue as needed. Our focus is on elective course selection at this time. Later in April students will work on Core class selection as well with their school counselor.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology Admissions
The application window for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will open on February 1, 2021 at 8:00AM and close on February 26, 2021 at 4:00PM.
Please visit http://www.fcps.edu/tjadmissions to submit your application and view the updated calendar. TJHSST parent virtual information session coming soon!
Library News
Curbside Pickup: Irving’s curbside library service will continue Monday, February 1st, from noon until 3 pm, at Door #2. If we happen to get an abundance of snow, we’ll reschedule for later in the week.
Please return any FCPS Library Book to its “Home School:” We are still missing many books that were borrowed last school year and never returned; this is true for our feeder elementary schools as well. If you have FCPS library books in your home, under beds, in the backs of mini-vans, etc., please return them to their home schools. Books may be dropped off at Irving MS any weekday from the hours of 8 until 2, by coming to the school’s main entrance. We would like to know which books are really LOST so that we can order replacements. We don’t want to waste money buying a new copy of a book that is simply sitting in a home, gathering dust. We need your help with this! Thank you!
Readers Unite Book Club just began its third book on Wednesday. We’re elated to say that the new book drew readers in so effectively that over half of the club members finished it in a matter of days! We’ll finish discussion of I am Princess X on February 3rd and choose a new novel. The club is always open for new students to join. Students who are interested in joining can find the join link for “Readers Unite” in the After School Program’s website. 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
Technology News
Digital Resource Parent Permission: Action Item
Thanks to all parents/guardians who have given permission for their child to use digital resources that require parent consent. If you have not yet provided consent for your child to use these digital resources, please use the links to read more and to give your consent today. Thank you!
Link to the Parent Permission Form ｜ Link to Irving MS Digital Resources
Student Laptop Health
Parents, we can use your help reminding students that they should shut down their laptop at the end of each day, plug it in, and then use the power button to turn on each morning prior to the start of school. On Tuesdays, it is recommended that students leave their laptop on but in sleep-mode and plugged in overnight. Then, restart on Wednesday morning to ensure it receives Microsoft updates.
If your student’s laptop runs slow or experiences network issues, it might be a good idea for you to drive to any FCPS school parking lot with the school laptop, connect to the FCPS WiFi (“Fairfax”) and restart/login two times while accessing the FCPS network. You do not need to enter the building to do this. You can stay in your car for this entire process, which will allow FCPS updates to push to the school laptop. Please contact tech support with any school laptop or account issues. https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/
After School Program
If your child is interested in joining one of our clubs, please have them visit the After School Program Student Website in the All Students Course in Schoology. If your child needs help signing up for a club, check out this video tutorial! Tutorial for Accessing the Irving After School Program Student Website
Club Schedule
To view the weekly club schedule, click here.
Questions about After School? Please email Emily Geary (emgeary@fcps.edu)
News from your PTA
The PTA is working with the SCA leaders to determine an upcoming family activity - think Trivia Night, virtual game night, or virtual bingo - and maybe a talent show - so stay tuned!
Amazon Smiles: Please consider signing up to support the Washington Irving PTA through AmazonSmile with your purchases year round at no additional cost to you! Just go to https://smile.amazon.com/ and choose "Washington Irving Middle PTA".
For any questions, comments or ideas, please contact us at IrvingMSPTA@gmail.com.
If you haven't joined the PTA yet, you can do that on our MemberHub site here.
We hope to see you online at the next PTA meeting on February 3rd!
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