Island Creek, Weekly Words; Volume 1; 8-12-22

Dear Island Creek Families:

We are so excited preparing for the return of our students on Monday, August 22.  Our staff has been collaborating throughout the summer to ensure a wonderful school year for each child where they are embraced in warm, caring environment in which they belong. Our first priority is ensuring that all children feel welcome and secure at Island Creek!

Throughout the summer, we’ve had many well-attended Popsicle on the Playground events (New Families, Meet the Principals, and Kindergarten Play Dates). On Thursday, we had a fun-filled hour learning from our 6th Graders while they shared the glows and grows for our school and this morning our staff held tours for families new to Island Creek!

We look forward to welcoming ALL families at our Back to School Extravaganza on Thursday, August 18. This event will be an opportunity to learn all things related to learning from your child's grade level in the cafeteria and then you will walk to your child's classroom to meet their teacher, see old and new friends, and drop off school supplies. Please use Door 1 to enter the cafeteria at your the grade-level designated time.

Our school hours are 8:35 am - 3:20 pm, with the doors opening at 8:20 am.  Because of our concern for safety, along with our desire to begin establishing important routines on the first day of school, we do not allow parents to walk children to classrooms on the first day of school, with the exception of our kindergarten students and new to Island Creek students. Families with Kindergarten students may walk students directly to the classroom the first week of school; however, typically students find greater success with starting routines the first day of school.

Please reach out should you have any questions. We can't wait to welcome everyone back to school! 

Take Good Care,

Jen Fallert, Proud Principal                

Karen Baxter, Proud Assistant Principal

 
A

School Security and Safety

safety

We take the security of our students and our staff very seriously. Every visitor/adult who enters the building is monitored. As per the recommendation from FCPS’ Office of Safety and Security, after ringing the doorbell, office staff will kindly ask visitors, “Welcome to Island Creek, how may I help you?” and obtain the purpose of the guest’s visit. All visitors walking into Island Creek ES must ring the doorbell, state their name and purpose of the visit, and come to the office with a valid driver’s license to sign in using the Visitor Management System (VMS). The VMS will issue each visitor a sticker that should always be worn when in the building.


Class Assignments

better together

Students’ individual classroom teacher assignments will be emailed directly to families on Wednesday, August 17th .  We are still registering students; therefore, are unable to finalize class rosters.  As Island Creek is a dedicated Professional Learning Community, teachers at every grade level collaborate interdependently throughout the school year to support the academic and social-emotional achievement of all students.  All teachers are highly qualified and were selected as members of this staff because they meet the high standards and expectations we have in our community.  We appreciate your support of all of our talented teachers!  


Island Creek Back To School Extravaganza for School-age Students - Thursday, August 18

Save the Date

Please meet us in the cafeteria for you child/children's welcome to their new grade level! Staff will host an information session and then there will be time in the classroom to meet the teacher and connect with new and former classmates!

Thursday, August 18

Kindergarten: 8:25-9:25

1st Grade: 9:30-10:30

2nd Grade:  10:35-11:35

3rd Grade:  11:40-12:40

4th Grade:  12:45-1:45

5th Grade:  1:50-2:50

6th Grade:  2:55-3:55


Kiss and Ride

ICES uses a hang tag Kiss & Ride system. Each family will receive 2 numbered hang tags, along with corresponding backpack tags for each student. These will be sent home with the oldest student in the Back to School packet.

Families should attach the backpack tags to their student’s backpack and place the hang tags in their vehicles. Families utilizing Kiss & Ride will be required to display the hang tag on their rearview mirror anytime they use Kiss & Ride. The hang tag, along with the corresponding backpack tag(s), will support a safe system of getting all students to their cars in an efficient manner. Even if you don’t use Kiss & Ride regularly, we ask that you set this up for your family as this will be required anytime you use Kiss & Ride.

 Please review the Kiss & Ride procedures for drop off times and safety measures included in your Back to School packet.


2022 Student Rights & Responsibilities Includes Cell Phone Usage Update

The Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Read the Letter from the Superintendent on the 2022-23 Student Rights and Responsibilities: A Guide for Families.Key changes to the document for the 2022-23 school year include: 

  • Adding rights to protect citizenship and immigration status from unauthorized sharing.
  • Changes to FCPS’ Acceptable Use Policy Regulation for Technology.
  • A new section on cell phones.

The new section on cell phones prohibits cell phone use in classrooms. We recognize that this new policy will be a shift for many students and families this year, but research shows that managing phone use during class time will support students’ attention and ability to fully engage in their learning. Schools are partnering with parents to have students understand the importance of putting their phones away to minimize distractions during class.

  • Students in K-8 must keep phones silenced and in backpacks for the duration of the school day unless there is a medical need or emergency, or teachers have allowed the usage of cell phones for instructional activities where they are the most appropriate tool. Cell phones may only be used on campus before and after school. (Except in secondary schools where students in grades 7 and 8 may use phones during passing periods)

If a parent or guardian believes their child requires access to a personally owned device(s) as an accommodation, they should contact child’s school team—i.e., 504 Committee, Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team, English Language Committee, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Team—to schedule a meeting to have their request considered. 

Parents should talk to their child(ren) before the start of the school year about these expectations for this upcoming school year. Families may also review the parental controls available for all iPhone and Android users. More information about the SR&R is available online.


Parental Permission to Use Digital Resources

At Island Creek, our teachers will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used. You can find our school’s list of the resources that require parental consent here: https://islandcreekes.fcps.edu/digitalresources

Additionally, you can find more information about approved digital resources in FCPS here: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/digital-resources. Included on this page is also a link to a form where the enrolling parent or guardian will need to indicate whether or not their student is allowed to use the list of digital resources this year. This page also provides more information about how FCPS carefully reviews digital resources for approval and why we must request your consent before using certain tools. We encourage you to complete the parental consent for digital resources form as soon as possible, as your child will not be able to use the digital resources until we have received your permission.

Please reach out to Mark Moran, our School-Based Technology Specialist at mjmoran@fcps.edu if you have questions or concerns about the digital resources we’ve chosen to use this year.


Update Emergency Care Contacts in SIS ParentVUE

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring that the climate in all FCPS facilities is safe and secure. In support of this goal, FCPS provides weCare@school (weCare), an emergency care information system, available to FCPS parents and guardians who have registered for their own Parent account. 

WeCare helps manage emergency medical information by enabling parents to go online to enter and update their children’s medical data at their convenience. Contact information provided automatically enrolls parents to receive eNotify communications from the district and their child’s school. eNotify is the communications tool for FCPS emergency, transportation, attendance, weather closings and delays, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent via email and text messages. Occasional phone messages are sent as well

Get more information about updating your emergency care information.


Three ways to purchase meals

FNS

Put money on your child's account online using www.MyschoolBucks.com. Once the account is open, parents can check the fund account at anytime.

Check - Make checks payable to "Island Creek Food Services" and give to the attention of the Food Service Manager in the Cafeteria.

Cash - Cash may be brought to the Food Service Manager's office for deposit on your student's account.

Find out more here:

 food-and-nutrition-programs/prices-lunch-account-prepayments


Dining Room Assistant

Looking for a way to support our school for a few hours each day?  We are in need of a dining attendant to help out during lunch.  Our dining attendant (a paid position) supports students during lunch, with working hours from 10:30 AM-1:45 PM.  Please contact our Assistant Principal, Karen Baxter, at  kpbaxter@fcps.edu if you are interested


Seeking Outstanding Substitutes

Are you or somebody you know interested in working as a substitute with FCPS?  FCPS is seeking individuals to serve as substitute teachers, instructional assistants, public health training assistants, and public health attendants! You will find information about the application process here.  You can also attend one of our Wednesday information sessions to learn more about the application and hiring process. To sign up for an information session, please visit our substitute information page here.  Please feel free to share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested.

Upcoming Sessions:

August 17, 24 and 31


Boo-Hoo and Yahoo Breakfast

Join the PTA as we celebrate the first day of kindergarten and new students' first day at Island Creek Elementary! Stop by the outside tent between 7:50 - 8:20 a.m. Learn about the Island Creek PTA, enjoy a morning snack, and it is an opportunity to meet other parents and students on the first day of school. We'll provide tissues for those who need them! Questions? Please contact the PTA at islandcreekptapresident@gmail.com


upcoming events

Click to view the 2022-2023 FCPS School Calendar

  • August 17 - Class assignments sent via email to families
  • August 18, Back to School Extravaganza (Door 1) - Times shown above
  • Monday, August 22 - First day of 2022-2023 School Year!!; PTA Boo-Hoo and Yahoo Breakfast (outside at Door 1), 7:50-8:20
  • Labor Day School Holiday - September 2 & 5