Weekly Words
December 2, 2022
We are Better Together!
Dear Island Creek Community,
What a wonderful week of learning at Island Creek! It was great seeing so many smiling faces on Monday morning after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Thank you for your generous donations to support our special treats for a December to Remember with 12 Days of Cheer for our amazing Island Creek Staff!
The Book Fair is here and the students are very excited! Our librarian Maura Keaney; librarian assistant Massiel Valenzuela, and many volunteers have put forth countless hours to make the Book Fair absolutely gorgeous and fun this year! The Book Fair will be open for shopping tomorrow, Saturday, December 3rd from 10:00-1:00, and once you stop by the Book Fair, you are welcome to “Snuggle Up and Read” in the cafeteria with hot chocolate provided by the PTA. Additionally, there are still slots available for the Book Fair Volunteer Sign-Up.
We are looking forward to the upcoming spirit days! We have our SCA Spirit Week (December 12-16) and our bonus Spirit Day on Friday, December 9th with Festive Wear Friday. Please read below for more details.
Have a wonderful weekend and we hope all of our students spend some time with a good book!
Warmly,
Jen Fallert Karen Baxter
JRFallert@fcps.edu KPBaxter@fcps.edu
Principal Assistant Principal
Message from Ms. Fallert: Seeking SEPTA (FCPS Special Education PTA) Liaison(s)
I would like to collaborate with a parent/guardian who is a member of SEPTA (FCPS Special Education PTA) and is interested in becoming the Island Creek SEPTA Liaison. SEPTA was established to address the unique needs of special education, special needs, and children with disabilities and their families. We would like to start a Special Education Support Group at Island Creek for families this year. I am more than happy to support the group in any capacity; however, the group will most likely be most successful if initiated by a parent/guardian. As a former special education teacher and parent of a child with dyslexia, I understand how the special education process can seem overwhelming and would like to offer support, resources, and camaraderie for parents/guardians. If interested, please email me at jrfallert@fcps.edu and we can schedule a time to touch base.
Sites Around School: KDG Students with Prepositions
1st Grade Students Collaborating
Our Winter Book Fair is Beautiful
4th Grade Field Trip to Jamestown
Learning Fun in Art and P.E.
Learning Fun During Specials!
Please read the monthly updates from our Specialists where they share about the learning taking place during Specials as well as some great photos! You may access the Specialists Corner on this link.
Fall Book Fair
Excitement is building, as the Island Creek Book Fair is nearly here! Our Fall Book Fair will run from Wednesday, November 30 – Wednesday, December 7.
Students will be able to preview the Book Fair and shop during the school day. We also encourage families to come shop during our fun Family Shopping Events.
Family Shopping Dates:
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Saturday, Dec 3, from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Holiday Shopping & Snuggle Up and Read
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Tuesday, Dec 6, from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Evening Shopping
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Wednesday, Dec 7, from 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM - Last Chance Shopping
Volunteers are gratefully appreciated and needed to make Book Fair both fun and successful. Daytime, evening, and Saturday shifts are available: Book Fair Volunteer Sign Up After you select Book Fair volunteer shifts, if you have not yet volunteered at Island Creek this year, please review the Island Creek Elementary Volunteer Procedures and Logistics presentation and complete and submit the volunteer registration form found near the end of the presentation. For Book Fair volunteers, you would select “One-time school or classroom events.” We also welcome regular volunteers in the library after Book Fair!
Please feel free to email Maura Keaney, Librarian, at mkeaney@fcps.edu with any questions about Book Fair. For questions about volunteer registration at Island Creek, please contact Jane Horowitz, Island Creek Family Liaison, at jrhorowitz@fcps.edu.
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December Character Trait: Kindness
During the month of December, Island Creek students will focus on the character trait of “kindness”. December will bring many opportunities for Island Creek students to show kindness to one another in our school and neighborhood community. Spreading kindness becomes a habit and can make a huge impact on someone’s day.
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Island Creek Festive Wear Friday: December 9
We will have Festive Wear Friday on Friday, December 9 and invite students and staff to wear their favorite fun or silly festive shirt/sweatshirt/sweater!
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Island Creek SCA Winter Spirit Week:
December 12-16
National Inclusive Schools Week
Celebrating Inclusive Schools Week – December 5-9, 2022
Fairfax County Public Schools will be celebrating Inclusive Schools Week during the week of December 5-9, 2022. This year’s theme is “Unity Within Our Community.” The 2022 theme for Inclusive Schools Week recognizes that united we are stronger and to focus on our common need: inclusive practices in our schools, in our communities, and around the world! At Island Creek, classes will make a Wordle with each student contributing an adjective to describe what makes them unique and all class wordles will be displayed together in a giant wordle!
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Island Creek Celebrates Diversity!
We want to empower our Island Creek students to have a strong voice, share their experiences, and learn from, and celebrate, each other! We would love to hear from our Crocs about the various traditions, holidays, observances, and cultural experiences families celebrate or recognize.
During the month of December, we would like our students to learn about the following observances:
- Bodhi Day
- Chanukah
- Christmas
- Kwanzaa
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Additional December observances or celebrations that your child would like to share
If your child is interested in recording a 1-2 minute segment for our Morning News Show please use this link: https://flip.com/2ec3a9bc as we would love to learn from them! Should you need additional information with recording, please contact Ms. Keaney, Librarian (mkeaney@fcps.edu). Alternatively, if your child would prefer to make a poster to display in the hallways at Island Creek, please have them bring their poster to Ms. Fallert, Principal (jrfallert@fcps.edu).
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Reminder: Window for AAP Full-Time (level IV) Referrals Ends December 15, 2022
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-6 who would like their student to be considered for full-time advanced academic programs (level IV AAP services) may submit the AAP Level IV Referral Form to Amy Ivey (amivey@fcps.edu) no later than December 15.
The window to submit an AAP Level IV Referral Form is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for full-time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Level IV services can be accepted.
Submitting a referral form for AAP Level IV will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of professionals from various schools review materials to determine eligibility for level IV placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Amy Ivey at amivey@fcps.edu.
Referrals for AAP Levels II-III (part-time services) are screened at the local school.
For more information, there are parent presentations available on the FCPS AAP website (under “Presentations”) that contain information similar to our fall parent information meetings at Island Creek ES.
Winter Window: Virginia Growth Assessment
Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) is a test required for students in grades 3-8. The state legislature introduced this requirement to measure student growth and progress within the school year in reading and mathematics.
The VGA will address content that was taught in the previous school year. The purpose of this fall’s VGA is to identify potential learning gaps resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no “passing” or “failing” outcome for the VGA. Results will provide a starting point to measure growth and will offer information about areas of strength and areas for growth in reading and mathematics.
Students enrolled in grades 3-8 will generally take an assessment in both reading and mathematics. Here are the dates for the VGA assessments in Grades 3-6.
- Reading, December 6
- Math, December 7
Military Families
Operation Homefront
December 3, 2022 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Event Details
The added expense of the holiday season can be challenging for military families. We at Operation Homefront recognize that many military families are separated during this time due to deployments and others travel long distances to be together. Holiday Meals for Military is Operation Homefront’s way of saying thank you for your service and sacrifices that you have made for our country!
ELIGIBILITY
- Post 9/11 wounded, ill, or injured service member of any rank, both currently serving and those no longer serving in the military or
- E1-E6 Active Duty
Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) – Parent Resources
MCEC has large list of parent resources which were created to ease the stress of school transitions. These tools contain links to useful resources and strategies, along with example forms and letters, to support parent/school communications. MCEC
Have you heard of School Quest from MCEC? School Quest is a free, easy-to-use solution will save hours of time and can help eliminate the academic challenges transferring records that many military-connected families face.
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Click to view the 2022-2023 FCPS School Calendar
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November 30 - December 7: Fall Book Fair at Island Creek
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Saturday, December 3 (10:00 AM-1:00 PM): Book Fair at Island Creek
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Tuesday, December 6 & Wednesday, December 7: VGA for Grades 3-6
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Friday, December 9: Festive Wear Friday (fun or silly festive shirt/sweatshirt/sweater)
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Monday, December 12: Fancy Dress-Up Day
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Tuesday, December 13: Twin Day
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Wednesday, December 14: Mismatch Day
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Thursday, December 15: Favorite Team Day; Referrals for Level IV AAP (Full-time) due
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Friday, December 16: Pajama Day
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December 19- January 2 (No School; Office Closed):Winter Break
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Monday, January 16 (No School; Office Closed): Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
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Wednesday, January 25 (1:20 PM dismissal) - Second Quarter ends, 2-hour Early Dismissal
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Thursday, January 26 (No School) - Teacher Workday, Student Holiday
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Friday, January 27 (No School) - Teacher Workday, Student Holiday
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Monday, February 20 (No School; Office Closed) -Presidents’ Day
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