Weekly Update from Irving MS


Upcoming Important Dates

March 25 & 26 @ 7:00 pm

Washington Irving Theater Production of the play The Westing Game

March 31

Last Day of the 3rd Quarter

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

  • If your child is permitted to go to the Plaza after school, please remind them to make good choices and behave in a manner that represents

April 1

Teacher Work Day - Student Holiday

April 4-8

Spring Break - No School - Irving MS Building will be closed


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Congratulations to students in Mrs. Wells class. These cupcakes are just a few of the winners of the Semester 2 Cupcake Wars. Judges had a tough time selecting 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for each period. The students' designs were all fantastic!


Social Media

We wanted to make you aware that SnapChat is being used more and more by Irving students. This app allows students to post things and then theoretically it disappears. However, screenshots are being made by students of inappropriate and hurtful comments and then continuing to distribute them via the messaging service or other means. Our School Counselors and Assistant Principals have had an increase in issues involving inappropriate use of social media. 

As a part of our conversation and in lessons regarding social media, we remind students what it means to be a good digital citizen and to stop and think before posting anything that would be considered hurtful, mean, and/or inappropriate. 

We are grateful for the partnerships we have developed with our Irving parents/guardians. As you speak to your child this weekend, please include a conversation about appropriate use of social media. We are a community who needs to ensure we are lifting each other up. What students post about and to others matters. 

We will continue to work at school to help encourage them to make good choices here at school and online. FCPS has a website with tips for teens and social media, we encourage you to view with your child. 

Thank you for partnering with us to share this message at home.


Intentions for Next Year

If your child will NOT be attending Irving or his/her base high school next year, please complete the Intention Form linked below and return it to hbnguyen@fcps.edu to let us know where your child will be enrolled. If your child is going to Irving or his/her base high school, you don’t need to complete this form. If you find out later you will be moving, please contact Irving so we can update our database.    https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/it110.pdf


Family Engagement Survey

Our Family Engagement Survey 2021-22 should have been emailed to you on Sunday, March 13. So please participate! Your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve FCPS’ practices to best support our students. Taking this survey will also help strengthen the partnership between your family and your school. When that partnership is strong, students can experience a range of benefits including improved school readiness, higher student achievement, and better social skills and behavior.

You have the ability to take the survey electronically or by paper copy and submit it by the deadline of April 3, 2022. Nine language translations of the survey are available, including Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese. You are able to complete the survey on most electronic devices, including smartphones. We encourage you to use the link sent to your email account first, where able. If you do not have an email address you may access the survey and directly select the desired language at:

Family Engagement Survey

Or paper copies are available to you if needed, and can be requested from the Family Liaison: djrolls@fcps.edu

Remember – your voice matters!


Special Education Conference (March 26)

Register Now for the FCPS Virtual Special Education Conference on March 26

FCPS’s 17th Annual Special Education Conference will be held virtually on Saturday, March 26, with a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) sessions supporting the conference's theme: Bringing our Inclusive Community Together: Affirming, Assessing, Advancing. Welcoming ceremonies, guest speakers, FCPS presentations, and an exhibit hall are included. Registration for this free conference is now open online.

  • Parents and community members will be able to register online.
  • FCPS educators, administrators, and preservice teachers will be able to register online and earn recertification points for attending the conference.
  • Individuals needing foreign language interpretation (Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, and Korean), American Sign Language (ASL), or Cued Language Transliterator (CLT) interpreters for the live sessions may request this on the registration form. 

For questions please contact specialedconf@fcps.edu

Visit the Special Education Conference webpage for more information and to register


Lady Spartan Summer Camp

2022 Spartan Basketball Summer Camps for girls and COED camps.  For more information and flyer with information contact Coach Gibson at:  WRGibson@fcps.edu  or to register here is the link.

2022 Lady Spartan Summer Basketball Camp


Cyber Safety Part 4

Each week during the month of March in ROCK Block, we are taking a few minutes to look at different ways we can stay safe in the cyber world. This week we looked at creating strong passwords. Check out the tip card for Passwords for important tips you can discuss as a family, including:

  • Avoiding the use of numeric patterns or common words as passwords.
  • Using a combination of varying character types.
  • Using passphrases instead of passwords. 

FCPS-Issued Student Laptops

We are asking that ALL students bring their FCPS-issued laptop and charger to school on Wednesday, March 30. On that day in ROCK Block, teachers will check for laptops and chargers. Teachers will also assist students with completing a few maintenance tasks on the FCPS laptop, including installing important updates and running a laptop Health Check. These updates and the Health Check are important for ensuring laptops are ready for upcoming SOL testing. Please note: students may not use personal devices on SOL tests, so it is important that ALL students bring FCPS-issued laptops to school on this day. 

For students who need to purchase a replacement charger, the cost is $23. Chargers can be purchased two ways:

  1. Go to MySchoolBucks and pay for one online and then pick it up from the Tech Office the next day.
  2. Send a check made out to Irving MS with your student to school. They will take it to the Tech Office in the morning and pick up a replacement at the same time. 

laptop

News from Irving’s Family Liaison

Are any of these 3 tentative programs applicable to you and your family?

If so, please email your interest, and indicate which program interests you to djrolls@fcps.edu

The greater the interest, the greater the chance of getting these programs up and running!


Irving Stays After

After School Programs and Clubs

Surfing Club interest meeting Tuesday, March 29, during the 1st block in Gym 8.

Intramurals will be going on pause until after Spring Break.  

Volleyball Club is open to all and meets on Tuesdays during the 2nd block. Tuesday, March 29, is the last day this club will meet.

NEW CLUBS

Football Club, meets on Tuesdays during the 1st block.

Lego Masters, meets on Mondays during the 1st block. (April 11 & April 25)

Meme Club, meets on Tuesdays during the 1st block.

Minecraft Club, meets on alternating Thursdays during the 1st block.

NASA Sparx, meets on Thursdays during the 1st block. *6-week program

Smash Bros Club, meets on Thursdays during the 2nd block.

Star Wars Club, meets on the 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month during the 1st block.

Ping Pong Club, meets on Tuesdays during the 1st block.

T.R.I.B.E., meets on Mondays during the 1st block.

Weight Training, meets Mondays and Tuesdays during the 1st block.

Coming Soon

Debate Club, meets on Mondays during the 1st block. Will begin after Spring Break.

*Description and schedule information can be found in Schoology. All Parents > After School Program Folder

V.I.P. SAVE THE DATE - SOUTH COUNTY LOCATION

VIP

Registration for VIP Summer Camp is now open

What is your middle school child doing this summer? Like you, we believe your child is a very important person and deserves a summer experience that is safe and full of fitness, friends, fun and enrichment.  FCPS and the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a 5 week camp for rising 7th & 8th graders attending Frost, Irving, Lake Braddock, Robinson, and South County Middle Schools. There is a $50 camp supply fee.  Students will need to bring a bag lunch to camp each day.  We will provide a snack each afternoon.  Campers will have a great time playing sports, games, doing arts and crafts and cooking. We will have field trips activities on Fridays to water parks, movies etc.  The staff is comprised of FCPS teachers and support staff, After School Program Specialists, and trained DNCS staff. Transportation will be provided from Frost MS school to South County Middle School in the mornings and back to Frost each afternoon.

Camp Details 

Dates: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 - Thursday, July 28, 2022 (students are encouraged to attend all 5 weeks)

Hours: 9:00am-4:00pm (8-9 is drop off, camp begins at 9am)

Location: South County Middle School 8700 Laurel Crest Drive, Lorton, VA 22079

Transportation:  FCPS bus pick-up and drop-off available at Frost Middle School

Registration Procedure:  Use the registration link provided here: https://forms.gle/gSJJV9HfUxtz2rFP8  

Registration Fee:  $50 – pay information will be sent when you receive an email confirmation that your child has been accepted into camp – Payment is due no later than May 6th to secure your child’s spot in camp!

Refund Policy:  To request a refund of the Camp Supply Fee, contact Natalie Duncan, After-School Specialist at Irving MS, by emailing naduncan@fcps.edu prior to the cutoff date of Friday, June 10, 2022.  Refund requests submitted after the cutoff date will not be considered. Refunds will be in the form of a check. Please allow 3-4 weeks for processing 

Questions? Please contact Natalie Duncan at naduncan@fcps.edu


Library News

While setting aside time for reading on a daily basis is a worthy goal, we don’t always have time in our busy lives to make that happen.  But we can ensure that reading fills those times when we have to wait: at the doctor’s or dentist’s office, in the car, at a sibling’s practice session, or waiting in line.  Just be sure to pack a book wherever you go or have a digital book ready to play whenever and wherever you are. MackinVIA is FCPS’s digital library of eBooks and audiobooks. Ask your student about it.

Recently several English classes visited the library to borrow additional books for the quarter. Checkouts are up.  Keep on reading!

Readers Unite Book Club has completed eight books this school year.  We continue to meet on Mondays after school.  Any students with an interest in reading should drop by the library to express interest and stay after for the first-hour meeting time on Mondays. This week we are reading the first half of Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiaasen.

Mary Ann Monk & Diane Gawalt, Librarians


News from the PTA

PTA Nominations

Do you know someone that you think would make a great impact on next year’s PTA Board? Nominate them. Nominees can be parents or guardians of in-coming 7th graders and can also be you! Send your nominations to irvingptanomcommittee@gmail.com.

Spirit-Wear

The free shipping event is over. However, you can always order items at at your convenience at https://www.irvingmiddlespiritwear.com/ and receive free shipping with an order of $50 or more.

PTA Meetings

Thank you for your participation at last week’s Information Night for rising 7th grade families. There was a wealth of knowledge shared and families were very appreciative.

Movie Night

The PTA will host a Movie Night on Friday, April 22. While students are watching a movie, parents/guardians will be attending “Hidden in Plain Sight,” an interactive program provided by the FCPD.

We are still looking for one or two volunteers to help organize the April Movie Night. Please contact us at IrvingMSPTA@gmail.com if you’re interested. 

Spirit Night

Our April Spirit Night will be at Panera.

Get Connected

Have you discovered these pages on Facebook yet? Search for them: Washington Irving Middle School PTA and Irving Middle School Parents. The second one is not sponsored by the PTA, but is much more active. There are teachers who are on the page and it has great information and is a fantastic place to ask questions when you need immediate answers. Be sure to answer the security questions, so you can be approved to join!

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

Find us on Facebook! Washington Irving Middle School