Weekly Update from Irving MS

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 09/30/2022 06:00 PM EDT

Tutor.com

Families, did you know that your child has access to expert help in a variety of subject-areas right in their Schoology courses? Learn about Tutor.com and how it specifically works in Middle School.

Upcoming Important Dates

Wednesday, October 5

No School - Student Holiday

Friday, October 7

SCA Elections

Team Color Spirit Day - Students & Staff are encouraged to wear their Team Color!

Saturday, October 15

Music Booster Car Wash - Note New Date

November 3

Picture Day Retakes

 

Principal’s Message

Today, we had our first Team Activity time during Rock Block. Each team had different activities that provided opportunities for students to be together as a full team: students cheered each other on as they participated in different games, learned about each other and the things they have in common through a team scavenger hunt, or tested their skills at basketball. This is the first of several opportunities for our students to build community as a team. Our next Team Challenge is Friday, October 7  - students and staff are encouraged to wear their team's color for a Spirit Day Friday! The team with the most participants will win 30 points for their team in our annual year-long, Team Challenge!

Speaking of teams… we are very excited to recognize our outstanding Custodian Team! Next week - October 3-7 is Custodian Appreciation Week. Our Custodians are dedicated to ensuring our building not only looks great, but is also safe and ready for teaching and learning every day! Please join us in thanking Ms. Maria Argueta, Mr. Guadalupe Avila, Mr. Luis Barreto, Ms. Maria Cespedes,  Ms. Kim Doan, Ms. Adjoa Ekoue, and Ms. Jae Youn for their dedication and service to our school and community! It is an honor to work with them daily. 

Cindy Conley, Principal

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology Admissions

Interested Irving students and families please join us on Monday October 17th from 6-7PM at Irving – Barker Hall Auditorium for a TJHSST information session brought to you by a Thomas Jefferson Representative. Come learn about the programs, classes, student life and the admission application.

What is TJHSST?

A FCPS regional Governor’s high school (9-12th grades) for students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Please view this YouTube video with lots of important TJ information prior to attending this meeting https://youtu.be/3JyLgzAoaqg 

 Eligibility to Apply:

(1)    Residency requirement-FCPS is included

(2)  Completed a full-year course of Algebra 1, OR be currently enrolled in a full-year course of honors-level Algebra 1 or higher

(3)  Be enrolled in honors science

(4)  Be enrolled in honors social studies OR English OR be identified as a “Young Scholar”

(5)  Have a 3.5 or higher GPA in all cores academic courses (math, science, social studies, English, and if taken for high school credit, world language) at the time of application. 

TJHSST Admissions: Contact Information

Admissions Office (general inquiries): Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone:571-423-3770         Email: tjadmissions@fcps.edu Website: www.tjadmissions.org

Red Ribbon Week

Enrique (Kiki) Camarena was a Mexican-American man working for the DEA after serving in the Marine Corps, being a fireman, police officer, and deputy sheriff in California. While on assignment in Mexico for four years, he was on the trail of the country’s biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers. He was getting close to exposing a multi-billion dollar drug pipeline in 1985, until he was kidnapped that February. He was headed to lunch with his wife when he was last seen being thrown into a van by masked men, his body wasn’t discovered until a month later.

After his death, “Camarena Clubs” were launched in his hometown of Calexico, California. Hundreds wore red ribbons and pledged to lead a drug-free life in his honor. Then President Ronald Reagan was in office, so club members presented a proclamation to First Lady Nancy Reagan which brought it national attention. The campaign became official in 1988 by the National Family Partnership with President Reagan and “Just Say No” creator Mrs. Reagan as honorary chairpersons. Red Ribbon Week is celebrated annually from October 23-31st.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact The Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270 and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS.

For support: Kenneth Johnson, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, kwjohnson@fcps.edu 

A Google Earth: special preview on “ The Life of DEA Special Agent Kiki Camarena”

Sources & Resources:  DEA

Fairfax CSB Opioid Info

REVIVE Training for Opioid Overdoses  Medication Disposal

Teen Substance Use

FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program  DEA Drug Take Back Day

Upcoming Finance Park Field Trip

In the next two weeks, 8th grade students will be learning about personal finance in their upcoming Civics classes. Their studies will culminate with a field trip to Junior Achievement’s Finance Park in Fairfax, VA from 8:30am-1pm. The student schedule is as follows:

  • Friday, 10/7: Red Team
    • Civics Teacher: Shuhler
    • Class Periods: All
  • Tuesday, 10/11: White Team 1
    • Civics Teacher: Dachille
    • Class Periods: 2, 4, 6 (with Sommers), 8 (with Toothaker)
  • Wednesday, 10/12: White Team 2
    • Civics Teachers: Dachille, Toothaker, Simpson
    • Class Periods: Dachille 1 and 5 (with Toothaker), Toothaker 1, 2, 4, Simpson
  • Thursday, 10/13: Black Team
    • Civics Teacher: Brambila
    • Class Periods: All
  • Friday, 10/14: Purple Team
    • Civics Teacher: Poelstra
    • Class Periods: All

Students will be receiving a permission slip in their Civics classes. Students will be eating lunch at Finance Park, so please plan on packing a lunch or having your student pre-order a lunch in their Civics class. If you are interested in volunteering to help support our students during their Finance Park experience please register HERE. To register, create an account and then click on the magnifying glass in the top right corner of the page. Enter “Irving MS” and then identify which date your student will be visiting Finance Park. Please email your student’s Civics teacher with any questions.

World Language Credit Exam

Can your child read and write proficiently in another language? If the answer is YES than you may want to register them for the World Language Credit Exam

What is the World Language Credit Exam?

A free, optional test offered by FCPS to provide students the opportunity to EARN HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT for their ability to read and write in another language. This is a rigorous test that assesses language experience (example, student can read entire newspaper in another language and write an essay using complete sentences).

Why take the World Language Credit Exam?

If students pass the exam, they can earn up to three (3) high school credits towards the advanced diploma language graduation requirements.

When is the World Language Credit Exam?

The 2022 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on November 3, 9, and 10, 2022. You will only be registered for one date. Registration opens on Tuesday, September 6, at 8 a.m. and closes on Thursday, October 6, at 4 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted.

If you are interested in registering your child for this test, please email your child’s assigned school counselor:

7th Grade:

Mrs. Pareja – cspareja@fcps.edu, Mr. Frenck – djfrenck@fcps.edu

8th Grade:

Ms. Nelson – anelson@fcps.edu, Ms. Kiefaber – smkiefaber@fcps.edu

Food For Neighbors

Thank you for an amazing Red Bag Collection on September 11; all of our volunteers were amazing! The Springfield area collected over 3500 lbs of food that will be sent right back out to our students in need. 

Food for Neighbors is an all-volunteer organization committed to helping local teens struggling with hunger. The food donated goes straight to students and families in Springfield and neighboring communities.

With your support, we can reach even more students in need. Participation is as simple as filling a Food For Neighbors Red Bag once every other month and putting it on your porch on our pick up days. We provide the bags, a desired food list, and pick-up date reminder texts. Our next collection day is October 29th. If you would like to donate food, please register as a Red Bag Donor here. If you would like to volunteer as a driver to pick up food or to help sort the food once it is delivered to Irving on our collection days, please sign up here.

If your student needs extra food for the weekend (soup/pasta, crackers, granola bars, oatmeal, fruit snack or milk/juice), please email Meg Gollinger at magollinger@fcps.edu. 

Parent Resource Center Webinars

The FCPS Parent Resource Center offers a welcoming and engaging environment for families, educators, and community members. It provides access to information and resources to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.

Throughout the year it offers family and educator webinars. Upcoming sessions include: 

To join the PRC email list and receive notices of upcoming webinars, sign up for their News You Choose newsletter. 

Library News

Our “Readers Unite” after-school book club begins on Monday, October 3rd.  It is open to students who like to read and discuss books.  It happens during the first block, from 2:30 until 3:25, and meets in the library.

Students who participated in the Summer READ! Program have not been forgotten.  All students who read any books and reported on their reading through our Google form will be invited to the library for a special celebration on October 7th.  At that gathering, the four winners of our Barnes & Noble gift cards will be announced.

There are a lot of school holidays in October.  If you’d like to see your student spending some time reading on those days at home, encourage them to visit the library and to always have “their next book” ready to read!

Mary Ann Monk & Diane Gawalt, Librarians

After School Information

Philosophy

The After School program at Irving Middle School provides students access to high-quality activities in a safe environment for all students. The Program strives to improve academic performance, foster social, emotional, and physical well-being, all while reducing the potential for risk-taking behaviors.

Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

We will offer late buses on Mondays, Tuesdays, SOME Wednesdays, and Thursdays, buses depart from Irving between 4:35pm and 5:00pm. The weekly sign-up regenerates weekly, the link will be available Fridays by 10am. Updates and changes will be shared via Schoology, lunch (cafeteria), Rock Block and the after school program board.

Student Council Association (SCA)

The SCA Election will be held Friday, October 7.

T.R.I.B.E. - 8th Grade Boys

Begins Monday, October 3, during the 1st Block. 

News from the PTA & Music Boosters

PTA

If you missed the first PTA meeting and want to volunteer for anything (see the list in the "Volunteer Form" on the MemberHub site), don't hesitate to contact IrvingMSPTA@gmail.com to ensure we’re in touch. 

"All things PTA" are available on the PTA's page https://irvingms.memberhub.com/ (please copy and paste as the links don’t work from this email).

Restaurant Spirit "Nights" are here!! Get food! Support Irving! Win-Win!!

- Sep 21-25: Jersey Mike's Spirit Week! (coupons required)

- Oct 17-21: Chik-Fil-A Spirit Week! (just mention "Irving Middle School" - no mobile orders)

- Nov 16, 5-9 pm: Chipotle Spirit Night! (online orders possible)

Flyers and details are available on the PTA homepage and will be on the PTA Facebook page!

Mark your calendars for the next PTA meeting November 15th - 6:30-7:30pm.

Please be on the lookout for a SignUp Genius for upcoming Teacher Appreciation events. If you have any questions about the PTA, you can always contact us at irvingmspta@gmail.com. Thanks for your support!

Music Boosters Car Wash

Music Boosters Car wash has been postponed due to the rain forecast; new date is 15 October, 9 am - 12 pm