Weekly Update from Irving MS


Please Read Our Newsletter

Help us increase our open/reading rate! Did you know we have 1228 students enrolled at Irving Middle School. Our News You Choose newsletter is the main way we communicate everything coming up at school. Our newsletter open rate averages around 19%. We have so many great things happening at Irving we want to share. Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter!


 

Upcoming Important Dates

October 16

Music Booster Car Wash is TOMORROW - Saturday, October 16! 

Stop by Irving Middle School beginning at 9:00 am for the Annual Fall Music Booster Car Wash

October 18-22

Digital Citizenship Spirit Week

October 21

Red Ribbon Week - SCA Spirit Week

October 25-29

Red Ribbon Week - SCA Spirit Week

October 29, 2021

End of 1st Quarter

2-hour Early Dismissal - students dismissed at 12:15 pm.

Monday, November 1 & 

Tuesday November 2, 2021

School Planning Day & Teacher Workday - student holidays - both days

Irving Middle School Offices will be closed both days.

Tuesday, October 19 - Impact Aid Distributed via Rock Block

Friday, November 5, 2021 - Impact Aid DUE in ROCk Block

Impact Aid is a federal formula grant program designed to assist local school districts that enroll federally-connected students. Federally-connected students are children of active duty uniformed services personnel, children who live on federal property or in subsidized federal housing, and children whose parents are employed on eligible federal properties. Forms will be disseminated during your student’s 3rd period Rock Block, and returned to the same teacher.

Please be sure to completely fill out and sign the form before sending it back with your child. 


nyc

Congratulations Ms.Miciak (8th grade English) and Ms. Schuler (8th grade Civics)! Ms. Miciak is an FCPS Excellence Award recipient for her Impact on Others and Ms. Schuler is an FCPS Excellence Award recipient for Growth. We are grateful both of these excellent teachers chose to work at Irving Middle School.


Dear Families! 

The start of this school year has been unique and we are thrilled to have all of our students and staff back in the building. As with any change, it takes time to adjust - given that all of our students were last in school full time in elementary school, it has taken some time to settle back into being at school this year. 

During our morning announcements and in our Advisory, we have spent a lot of time talking about R.O.C.K. - We have shared the importance of being Respectful to our classmates and staff, Own our behaviors, Communicating when we need something - a break, support, help, etc… and above all to be Kind. We love that our students are back in school learning and socializing with their peers and celebrate the demonstrations of these traits. Admin will begin giving Team Points when students demonstrate one or more of the ROCK traits. 

As we continue through this year, we ask for your support on three things that will help us have an even better school experience. 

  • Away for the Day - we are seeing that our students are really enjoying being able to talk to their peers. To further these in person social connections, we do not allow cell phones, earbuds, or headphones to be out or on from 7:24-2:15. (Only plug in headphones are permitted in class  with teacher permission). To help curb the fear of missing out, please do not text your child during the school day. We have phones in every classroom and multiple phones available in our offices.  If you need to get a message to your child, please call the school. 
  • One of our most common phrases is “keep your hands to yourself. Unfortunately, “just playing around” has led to some unintended consequences including time away from class and minor injuries. Please help us by reminding your child that with 1200+ students, there isn’t room for horseplay and we do not want anyone getting hurt. 
  • Finally, we could really use help with students cleaning up after themselves during breakfast and lunch. We make very quick changes between our meal times and having to take extra time to clean up trash makes that difficult. Also, if your child uses the back stairs to walk home, please ask them not to toss their disposable masks on the ground - our neighbors thank you. There is a trash can at the Door 2 exit for them. 

We will continue to work with all of our students to ensure we have a safe, healthy, and productive school year. We thank you for the partnership in ensuring this can happen each day.

Sincerely, 

Cindy Conley

Principal


red ribbon

What better way to close out the 1st quarter than with two weeks of School Spirit! 

October 18-22 is FCPS Digital Citizenship Week and October 25-29 is Red Ribbon Week! 


Digital Citizenship Spirit Week: October 18-22

It’s important to engage in healthy habits both in-person and online. Digital citizenship is about acting appropriately with digital tools, interacting safely and responsibly online, and using technology resources responsibly. Please check the Schoology Parent and Student Courses throughout the week of October 18-22 for ways that students and families can model Digital Citizenship in everyday life. Please also encourage your child to join us for Digital Citizenship Spirit Week! Each day’s theme is presented below.


reflections

The deadline for Reflections submissions has been extended! Click here for the online application. More information can be found on Schoology.


Share the Joy of Thanksgiving with a Neighbor!

What does Thanksgiving look like for you? Visiting with loved ones? Watching parades and football? Enjoying the sights, smells, and flavors of some favorite foods? Help create these memories for one or more school families who struggle with food security. Our school is partnering with Food For Neighbors to provide some of our students and families with a $50 gift card to a local grocery store. Your gift will help your neighbors to put food on their tables this Thanksgiving. The goal is to raise enough money for Food For Neighbors to provide a total of nearly 700 of the $50 grocery store gift cards to 24 participating schools, which includes ours!

Donate: https://www.foodforneighbors.org/home/holiday-meals/

Thank you for anything you can do. Every donation counts. Together, we can make a big difference!

If your family needs assistance, please contact Traci Jamison, Irving’s Social Worker, at tdjamison@fcps.edu or 703-912-4547.


After School Program Information

Current and up to date information is available on the Schoology platform, in the All Student and All Parent Course tabs, respectively. After school announcements are shared during all lunch periods, the Irving Stays After board and during Rock Block. To reach the After School Specialist, please email Ms. Natalie at naduncan@fcps.edu

COMING SOON

  • Basketball Club (8th Grade, 7th Grade TBD) - Begins Monday, October 18, 2021; club will be held on alternating Mondays and Thursdays during 1st block
  • MARVELous Mondays - Begins Monday, October 18, 2021; club will be held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month during 1st block
  • Play Sports! - Begins Tuesday, October 19, 2021, during 1st block
  • Open Gym - Begins Wednesday, October 20, 2021, during 1st block; prearranged transportation is REQUIRED because Wednesdays are not late bus days.
  • Anime Club - Begins Tuesday, November 9, 2021; club will be held on alternating Tuesdays during 1st block
  • Lego Masters Competition - TBD

Military and Family Life Counselor (MFLC)

My name is Richard A. Villa, and I am the new Military and Family Life Counselor at Washington Irving Middle School.  I look forward to working with military students, their families, and the school staff. My role is to provide non-medical counseling to enhance the social, academic, and emotional skills that empower military students to reach their goals.  I am available to military families and school staff members Monday-Friday.  Please feel free to contact me to request a session. I look forward to this opportunity to support the WIMS community.

PHONE: (703)966-0471; EMAIL:  villar@magellanhealth.com


Irving’s NEW Family Liaison

David Rolls started this week as Irving’s new Family Liaison (a role formerly known as Parent Liaison). Family Liaisons work in the schools and community to help families get the information and assistance they need to support their children and to ensure their academic success. The family liaisons represent a variety of cultures, languages, and races. Family Liaisons will welcome and orient families who are new to the school and community, and help them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can also help connect families to resources in the community. Family Liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family involvement to help ensure their student's success.To reach Mr. Rolls, you can email him at djrolls@fcps.edu or call 703-912-4691.


Hydration Stations

All water fountains in FCPS are for water bottle filling/refilling only. We HIGHLY encourage your child to bring a water bottle (LABELED with your child’s name on it) to school daily. As many water bottles do look alike, it is very important that the bottle is labeled with the student’s name as we have several bottles left behind on a daily basis. 


Library News

Our Readers Unite Book Club began meeting September 27th.  The group meets in the library after school on Mondays.  For our second club meeting we discussed a short graphic novel that we read quickly.  We have now just selected our first novel for the new year.  Any students who are avid readers are encouraged to join.  Students can express interest by asking in the library or by emailing either of the librarians.

Reading for pleasure is trending!!!  We’re happy to report that circulation rates are UP!  Irving students are borrowing and returning library books at a record pace.  We’re happy that students are finding plenty of good books to read.

Mary Ann Monk & Diane Gawalt, Librarians ( mamonk1@fcps.edu and dlgawalt@fcps.edu )


News from Your PTA

Thank you for providing snacks and helping to coordinate last week’s Teacher Appreciation Breakfast! The teachers and staff were very thankful!

Our next Teacher Appreciation Day is November 1. The PTA will be creating a popcorn bar for our Irving staff. Please see the link below for further information and to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4AAFAF29ABFB6-popping

Spirit-wear is on the way! There has been a delay in the delivery of spirit-wear masks. The remaining spirit-wear and PTA car magnets will be distributed once the masks arrive. All orders will be handed out to students during Advisory/ROCK Block. Thank you for your patience.

The PTA will be discussing the option of a year-round spirit-wear store at the next PTA meeting on November 9. We invite you to join us and share your thoughts.

November’s Spirit Night at Coal Fire has been moved to October 21. Take a break from making dinner and help support Irving MS and our local restaurants. See the attached flyer for details.

For questions or comments, you can always email us directly IrvingMSPTA@gmail.com.

Find us on Facebook! Washington Irving Middle School PTA

 Thank you for your support of your PTA - Every child, One voice!