Weekly Words
October 7, 2022
We are Better Together!
Dear Island Creek Community,
This week we recognized our amazing custodial team, Ana Gonzalez, Albert Gyamfi, Cecilia Asante, Mary Frimpong, and Regina Frimpong! We are thankful for their work and tireless efforts with keeping our building clean and safe!
We are excited to sponsor the Spread the Warmth Winter Apparel Collection for new or lovingly pre-owned children’s clothing, shoes, boots, gloves, and hats from Thursday, 10/6 through Friday, 10/28. Students may bring donated items to school and place in the box outside of their classroom. Mrs. Fallert will bring the Spread the Warmth donations directly to another Region 3 elementary school. The principal and family liaison at the receiving school are very grateful for support provided from the Island Creek students and families. On Friday, October 21, the PTO is sponsoring “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” and families can decorate their cars and hand out candy. Additionally, we will have a collection box at the event for the Spread the Warmth Winter Apparel Collection.
In the coming weeks parents/guardians will have the opportunity to connect with their child's teacher for conferences. This is an opportunity for teachers to continue to work with families as partners in their child's education and to discuss student progress during the first 2 months of school.
Monday is a student holiday in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Island Creek Staff spend the day collaborating to continue to strengthen our skillset with Culturally Responsive Learning Environments to ensure that every child and family feels affirmed, welcomed, and a sense of belonging at Island Creek.
We look forward to welcoming our Island Creek Crocs back to school on Tuesday! Please reach out should you have any questions or suggestions.
Your Proud Administrative Team,
Jen Fallert Karen Baxter
JRFallert@fcps.edu KPBaxter@fcps.edu
Principal Assistant Principal
School Innovation and Improvement Plan (SIIP)
The 2022-2023 Island Creek School Innovation and Improvement Plan has been approved by FCPS and uploaded here on our school website. We are focusing on ensuring all students meet or surpass their reading growth targets, strengthen their mathematical problem solving skills, build relationships and self-management skills, and increase their skillsets with Portrait of a Graduate attributes. The SIIP drives the work of the instructional staff at Island Creek. Thank you to the entire Island Creek Staff for their thinking and input! An extra thank you to members of the SIIP Team for their ongoing work: Annie Nagaoka, Mike McCann, Maura Keaney, Stephanie Reininger, Daphne Callender, Regina Green, Meg Morrison, Meghan Smith, Rachel Blumenthal, Amy Ivey, Tonia Parker, Mark Moran, Crystal Savanick, Karen Baxter, and Jen Fallert.
September: 64 Croc Stars!
During the month of September, the students and staff at Island Creek focused on the character trait of Safe! At the end of September, Island Creek recognized 64 students who had been exemplars of safety in our school. In our revamped and streamlined recognition ceremony, these students were honored with a certificate during Morning Meeting in their classrooms and their names were displayed on the ICNN News Show. Congratulations, Croc Stars!
October Character Trait: Respect
During the month of October, Island Creek will be focusing on the character trait of RESPECT. Within our Island Creek community, students and staff will focus on being respectful to themselves, to others, and to property. October will bring opportunities for members of the Island Creek community to live by “the golden rule” and to recognize the inherent dignity of the people they interact with on a daily basis.
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Principal Chats
I would like to gauge interest from parents/guardians with monthly Principal Chats. When time permits, please fill out this short survey regarding times and suggested topics. Thank you!
Hispanic Heritage Month at Island Creek (September 15 - October 15)
Our Counselors - Ms. Shelesky and Ms. Liverpool
Spread the Warmth Winter Apparel Collection
Learning Fun During Specials
Please read about what is happening in Specials in the Specialists Corner: https://islandcreekes.fcps.edu/SpecialistsCorner
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Meeting
Daphne Callender (ESOL Teacher), Jane Horowitz (Family Liaison), and Jen Fallert (Principal) will be hosting an ESOL Information Meeting on Monday, October 17th at 3:45 pm in the school cafeteria. This meeting is for all families of students in kindergarten through sixth grade who have children receiving ESOL support. You will be able to learn more about Fairfax County Public Schools’ ESOL program and get answers to your questions. The information will be recorded. Please contact Jane Horowitz at jrhorowitz@fcps.edu if you would like an interpreter or have any questions.
Community Conversation for Military-Connected Families with Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS Superintendent
Please join us for a Superintendent Community Conversation for Military-Connected Families October 13, 2022, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Learn more about Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS superintendent, and help her get to know our school community and the unique perspective of military-connected families. This hybrid event will be held in the 1st floor cafe at the FCPS Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church VA 22042. Free parking is available in the underground garage. Language interpretation will be provided, as available, as well as childcare and light refreshments. If you can attend, either in-person or virtually, please register to attend
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Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) Support Resources & Upcoming Events
SEPTA continues to provide great resources, events, and general links to support the FCPS community. All these opportunities are FREE unless noted. Check out our PTA website here for links or go directly to the SEPTA webpage here.
 STEAMFEST with George Mason University
George Mason University, in partnership with Supervisory Rodney L. Lusk and the Workforce Innovation Skills Hub presents STEAM FEST with over 40 free STEAM activities for students in grades K-12! STEAM is short for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics.
Audience: K-12 students and families
Date: Saturday, October 15, 2022
Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location: Hybla Valley Community Center; 7950 Audubon Ave., Alexandria, VA 22306
Deadline: Registration closes October 10, 2022
More information and registration: 2022STEAMFEST
Literacy News
FCPS’ Equitable Access to Literacy Plan supports the Virginia Literacy Act which requires that all students receive instruction aligned with the Science of Reading.
What this means for Island Creek Students
Island Creek staff are committed to providing the best instruction in reading and writing for all students. We are embracing the Science of Reading by exposing students to each instructional component resulting in proficient readers and writers.
Word Reading x Language Comprehension = Reading Comprehension
The visual model of reading above has been confirmed by many research studies included in the Science of Reading. Both factors of word recognition (WC) and language comprehension (LC) must be present for reading comprehension (RC) to occur. Students will participate in instruction focused on this model in our daily literacy blocks K-6.
What Families can do at Home
Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
- Read or recite nursery rhymes together in your home language.
- Play sound games by taking turns making words that rhyme or start with the same sound.
- Practice sounding out words in books by looking at letters and moving their finger across the word from left to right.
3rd – 6th Grade
- Read poetry and notice the way the authors use the sounds of words (assonance, alliteration, rhyme).
- Have fun with word play and puns.
- Notice together when words have the same parts (prefixes, suffixes, and roots) and how they are related in meaning.
Kindergarten – 6th Grade
- Narrate your child’s experiences in your home language with specific vocabulary that stretches beyond the words they already use in their own speech. (Wow! You constructed a Lego skyscraper! How can you stabilize it?)
- Read rich, engaging literature that stretches them beyond what they can read themselves and nonfiction texts on a variety of interesting topics.
- Take your child on everyday adventures and talk about a variety of topics. Talk to community members about what they do and how they do it.
Promoting Digital Wellness
Access to technology provides limitless opportunities to connect with others, explore diverse perspectives, share and build upon ideas, get involved in the community, and find opportunities. However, many kids are online almost constantly, which poses a number of challenges that impact youth wellness.
Highlights will include:
- How the attention economy makes technology irresistible
- How adolescent development impacts youth technology use
- How schools and families can build the skills needed to navigate the complexity of online life
Presented by Tammi Sisk, FCPS Educational Specialist, Educational Technology, and Bethany Demers, FCPS Educational Specialist, Mental Wellness. Click here to register.
October 14, 2022 / 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Click to view the 2022-2023 FCPS School Calendar
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October 6- October 28 - Spread the Warmth Winter Apparel Collection (new or lovingly used winter clothing, shoes, boots, gloves, hats for school-age children)
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Monday, October 10 (No School) - Indigenous Peoples’ Day
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Wednesday, October 12 – National Walk to School Day
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Wednesday, October 12 - Friday, October 14 – Cognitive Abilities Testing (2nd Grade and select 3rd-6th Graders)
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Monday, October 17 – ESOL Information Meeting, 3:45, Cafeteria
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Friday, October 21 – PTA Event, “Oh the Places You’ll Go” (6:00-7:30 PM)
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Monday, October 24 (No School) – Diwali, Student Holiday
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Friday, October 28 - First Quarter Ends, 2-hour Early Dismissal at 1:20 PM
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Monday, October 31 (No School) - Teacher Workday, Student Holiday
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