Upcoming Important Dates
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Tuesday, May 16
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Rising 7th & 8th Grade Principal’s coffee
Session 1 - 8:30 am & Session 2 - 6:30 pm
(same info shared in both sessions)
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May 25
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Last Day for Late Buses
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May 29
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Memorial Day - no school
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June 9
6:00-8:00
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8th Grade Celebration - 8th grade WIMS students only - no date, formal wear, or dress shoes required. See below for more information
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June 13
Save the Date
5:30-7:30
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Let’s Glow Read A Book - Irving Literacy Night for students in grades K-8 and families
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Greetings, Irving Families!
THANK YOU! to our amazing staff! We had a lot of fun celebrating our staff this week. We are so grateful to the PTA for decorating the staff lounge and providing breakfast and a create your own popcorn/trail mix!
Today, we officially completed our last SOL test! We will be working with students who need to make-up tests and/or retake a test, however we have finished with whole school testing. As we continue on into May and June, we have a little over 20 days left of the 2022-2023 school year and still have work to do! Please remind your child that we will be working all the way through to the end of the year (of course we sprinkle in fun too!)
Speaking of fun; 8th grade parents, be on the lookout for an email from me next week about the 8th grade dance and how you can help!
Take Care!
Cindy Conley
Principal
WSHS Basketball Camps
West Springfield will be hosting summer basketball camps for elementary and middle schoolers. We will also be hosting our all girls camp (3rd-9th) in July. Any questions contact Coach Gibson at wrgibson@fcps.edu or the link below for registration.
WS COED and Girls Basketball Camp
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Middle School Technology Institute (MSTI)
Registration has opened for the 2023 Summer Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s Middle School Technology Institute (MSTI). The program will take place at Thomas Jefferson and is open to all FCPS middle school students. Participation in MSTI does not mean one is accepted into Thomas Jefferson.
The Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time (VPOST)
Virginia Partnership for Out-of-School Time (VPOST) is excited to open our recruitment for our second cohort of Youth STEM Ambassadors! Virginia youth ages 13-18 are encouraged to apply to represent teens across the Commonwealth who love participating in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities during afterschool. Ambassadors are coached on crafting their unique STEM stories and how to talk to policymakers about their experiences. The Ambassador program will follow a cycle of the Virginia General Assembly season from election campaigns in the summer, through elections, and into the start of the Virginia General Assembly session. It will culminate with an advocacy day at the Virginia General Assembly in Richmond, VA in early 2024 where Ambassadors will bring their love of STEM to change-making!
- Ambassadors will participate in one monthly session, virtually, (times to be determined) between June and November 2023 and January-February 2024. Attend an advocacy day in Richmond, VA in early 2024. Successful completion of the program will be rewarded with a gift certificate for $100
Questions can be directed to Christine Jones Monaccio at christine.jones-monaccio@v-post.org. Full program info including the application is available here.
SEL Screener Reports
Students in grades 3-12 took the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener in March. The SEL Screener reports will be mailed directly to families in the next week. This website includes both the Parent Report as well as a Family Guide to support you in understanding results and ideas for talking with your student about their results. Both are available in multiple languages. To learn more about SEL and how we support students at school and at home please see the FCPS SEL website. Please reach out to our school counselors, school psychologist or school social worker with any questions.
Mental Health Awareness Month
The month of May is a time to pause and raise awareness of the fact that many people live everyday with mental and behavioral health issues and there is a need to reduce the stigma attached with the experience. Post-COVID the reality is that millions of Americans are dealing with an increase in mental, behavioral, and substance misuse illnesses in their families (NAMI). Additional mental health challenges by the COVID-19 pandemic have also increased youth related substance use, mental health struggles, and suicide (HHS). According to HHS, suicide is still the second highest cause of death in youth ages 10 to 14 and adults from ages 24 to 35. This prompted the July 2022 launch of 988 the new three-digit code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 call, text, and chat access to crisis counselors. It is for anyone experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crises or emotional distress. Concerns about loved ones may also be addressed using the 988 dialing code. SAMHSA has described the new 988 dialing code as an important step in transforming how crisis and trauma situations are handled in the United States. Please note that the 800-273-8255 number still works, 988 is just built off of the 10-digit number.
Resources:
Substance Use Prevention and Encouraging Healthy Brain Development
Together for Mental Health
Fact Sheet: Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month 2022
988 Frequently Asked Questions
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @FCPSSAPS.
For further Information & support:Ken Johnson, M.Ed.
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
Kwjohnson@fcps.edu
Library News
I have begun emphasizing that students need to return library items for the end of the year. All books borrowed now are due on June 2nd.
Many students have borrowed books in early September that have not been returned. As always, any help that you can give in aiding your child in locating and returning overdue library books is appreciated.
–Mary Ann Monk, Irving MS Librarian
After School Information
Program Structure & Club Sign Ups
We will offer late buses on Mondays, Tuesdays, SOME Wednesdays, and Thursdays, buses depart from Irving between 4:35 pm and 5:00 pm. The weekly sign-up regenerates weekly, the link will be available Fridays by 10am. Also, activities and clubs that are labeled both blocks, it is a commitment for the entire 2 hours. Updates and changes will be shared via Schoology, lunch (cafeteria), Rock Block and the after school program board.
End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm
End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm
Back to Basics: Strategies for Success - Leadership Coaching, is a 6-week course that incorporates Portrait of a Graduate goals and enhances their communication skills. This free course is offered on Wednesdays after school, both blocks.
Basketball Club is moving back to 1st block on Wednesdays, meeting on 5/17 and 5/24
After School Program will meet Monday through Thursday until Thursday, May 25
Last Day of the After School Program - Thursday, May 25
PTA News
THANK YOU for supporting the Teacher Appreciation Days. We had two great days of teacher appreciation - decorations, food, volunteers, & fun!
PTA Board Elections -THANK YOU to the awesome parents who stepped up to be the PTA Exec Team nominating committee. In case you missed it, your 2023-2024 PTA Board was elected at our 5/9 meeting! Next year's Board is: President - Rob Johnson Vice President - Jennifer Johnson Treasurer - Christy Whiteaker Secretary - Cathy Wray
Thank you to current board members - Rob, Jen, & Christy - for being willing to return next year, and many thanks to Cathy for being willing to be Secretary! (and so we're in compliance!)
Be on the lookout for Back-to-School volunteer requests! We're not done yet - The annual PTA Car Wash is June 7th! - 745am - 1 pm - PTA & volunteers (& maybe the Principal!) show teacher & staff appreciation by washing their cars during the school day! We can only do this with volunteers. Please sign up on the Sign Up Genius here (copy & paste, links don't work) - www. tinyurl.com/PTACarWash2023
Finally, as we wrap-up the year, THANK YOU to all the volunteers that helped behind the scenes to keep the PTA running - Spiritwear, Restaurant Nights, Movie Night, etc!. If you're interested in the PTA doing something new next year, don't hesitate to suggest it...and help!...send it to irvingmspta@gmail.com
Spring Car Wash
You have another chance to get your car washed and support the Music Program!
Please join us NEXT Saturday May 20th for a Music Boosters Car Wash! Come by and get your car washed between 9 am-12 pm to support your Irving MS band, orchestra, and chorus! Cash or PayPal accepted.
If you can't make it you can also get your car "washed" virtually and donate by scanning our QR code. Thanks for your support!
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