Weekly Words
June 9, 2023
We are Better Together!
Dear Island Creek Community,
It’s hard to believe that there’s only one more week of the 2022-23 School Year. It’s amazing how much our Crocs have learned and developed this year. Despite having indoor recess most of this week due to Air Quality, our students have enjoyed much excitement and fun, collaborative learning.
This evening I have the honor of attending Hayfield Secondary’s Graduation Ceremony at George Mason University. Congratulations to the Hayfield Hawks’ Class of 2023! We look forward to celebrating our 6th Grade Crocs next Friday for their promotion to middle school and though they will be missed dearly, we know they are meant for greatness.
Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for sharing your amazing children with us!
Warm Regards,
Jen Fallert
jrfallert@fcps.edu
Well Wishes to Departing Staff
Please join me in wishing these outstanding staff members happiness and success in their future endeavors!
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Mr. Brad Stillions, 2nd Grade Teacher, will be retiring! We are appreciative of his work for the past 25 years with students in FCPS
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Ms. Tia Washington-Davis, Technology Support Specialist, will be retiring! We are appreciative of her technology support.
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Ms. Lisa Pilger, Preschool Teacher, will take a leave of absence next year to be home with her new baby boy.
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Mr. Mike McCann, 5th Grade Teacher, will leave FCPS and join his wife in North Carolina.
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Ms. Rebecca Liechty, Kindergarten Instructional Assistant, will leave FCPS and support Island Creek next year as a substitute! Additionally, she will be preparing to welcome her first grandchild!
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Ms. Caroline Beunier, 1st Grade Teacher, will leave FCPS and be teaching with Alexandria City Public Schools.
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Ms. Shannon Query, 2nd Grade Teacher, will be leaving FCPS to teach at a Catholic School.
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Ms. Omefa Liverpool, Counselor, will be leaving FCPS and moving out of state.
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Ms. Maura Keaney, Librarian, will take a leave of absence next year; however, she looks forward to returning to Island Creek in 2024!
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Ms. Tracy Bank, Art Teacher, will be leaving Island Creek, moving, and joining another FCPS Staff as an Art Teacher.
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Ms. Julie Mosher, Instructional Assistant, has been promoted to Special Education Teacher at another school in FCPS.
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SCA Spirit Week
June 12-16
Monday: Beach/ Beach Read Day, Bring a beach towel and book so you can read or dress up like you are going to the beach.
Tuesday: Tourist/Travel Day, dress up like a tourist or in an outfit related to a place you would like to travel to someday
Wednesday: June 14 is Flag Day! Show your Red, White, and Blue!
Thursday: Summer Sporty Day: Wear your favorite summer sports outfit!
Friday: Croc Day: Show your school spirit in Island Creek spirit wear! - 6th Graders dress up for Promotion!
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 Flower Bed Beautification
Thank you to Ms. Eichel, Ms. Dion, Ms. Callender, and their students for planting a beautiful flower bed near Door 1! They purchased and planted: Milkweed, Black-eyed Susan, Lavender, Big Blue Liriope, and Moonbeam.
5th and 6th Grade Chorus Performance
On Monday afternoon and evening, Ms. Laird led our very talented 5th and 6th Grade Chorus with an amazing performance. Additionally, thank you to Mr. Laird for composing a version of Wheels on the Bus.
5th Grade Medieval Day
Thank you to Mr. Escobar, Mr. McCann, Ms. Mehrtash, Ms. Nagaoka, Ms. Tragakis, 5th Grade families, and 5th Grade students for an amazing Medieval Day on Thursday! Students were “in-character” for the wax museum and participated in arts, crafts, and activities throughout the school day.
Preschool Fun!
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Student Laptop Collection
All ICES student laptops and chargers should be returned on Monday, June 12. The only exceptions are for students enrolled in a summer school program who need their laptop to participate. Our ICES plan is to ensure we are in compliance with FCPS while respecting the last week of academic instruction. Please read the information below carefully and work with your teachers to help us make this process as efficient as possible.
Students will return their laptops and chargers to the classroom on Monday, June 12. They may continue to use their laptops at school for the rest of the week at the teacher’s discretion, but they are not to go home after Friday, June 9.
Any students using their FCPS laptop for a summer program must return it to Island Creek on the last day of the program.
Please direct any questions you have about the laptop return process to your child’s classroom teacher, including inquiries about financial replacement for missing laptops or chargers.
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Sixth Grade Promotion Information
The sixth-grade promotion ceremony will take place on Friday, June 16 at 9:00 am in the gymnasium. Attendees may gain access to the school gymnasium starting at 8:30 am. At the conclusion of the ceremony, 6th Grade students will process out of the gymnasium, and report directly to their respective homeroom classrooms. FCPS Progress Reports will be handed out, along with any remaining student belongings. Parents/Guardians may take their son/daughter home immediately following the conclusion of the ceremony. Any remaining students will be asked to participate in the remainder of the school day ending at 1:20 pm. Parents/Guardians must sign-out all students with their homeroom teachers, not the front office.
Students should "dress their best" in appropriate attire for this special day.
Health Room Medication Pick Up by June 16th
The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up by a parent or guardian no later than student dismissal time on the last day of school (1:20). Medication left in the health room after that time will be destroyed per policy. Mediation cannot be sent home with your student. If your student will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by FCPS, the existing medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program, but you will need to pick-up the medication before student dismissal time on the last day of school and deliver the medication and completed forms to the summer learning site on the first day of the summer program. If you have any questions, please contact the Health Room at 571-642-6310.
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Summer Fun for All! Summer Camps and Adapted Recreation
The Family Resource Center has recently published a list with dozens of summer camps including general camps, camps for students with a variety of needs, and camps for children of military personnel. They’ve also prepared a list of adapted resources, sorted by activity, that are inclusive for children and adults of various physical abilities.
The Family Resource Center (FRC) provides resources and support for all families and school staff. They offer a free library, confidential consultations, and informational webinars. For more information, call 703-204-3941, email frc@fcps.edu or visit their website.
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Take Tutor.com on the Road!
Tutor.com continues to be available to all students, at no cost, to continue summer learning. Visit the Summer Access Tutor.com webpage for more information on how to access the online service throughout the summer.
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PTA News
Thank You for an Amazing Year!
As the President of the PTA, I want to thank those who joined the PTA or who volunteered, attended an event, or donated to the PTA this year. It was my first year as PTA President, though I have been a member of the PTA Board for three years. The 2022-2023 PTA Board wanted to provide our families ways to unite as a community through opportunities to explore (STEAM Night), play (Bingo), learn (This is Us Multicultural Night), and celebrate (Croc Rock-N-Run) with each other.
The PTA does play a vital role in our school. First and foremost, we are a volunteer organization hoping to make an impression on our children's, and families' lives.
Like all parents, the PTA supports our children's educational journey at Island Creek Elementary School. As a PTA, we work collaboratively to support our school through many volunteer opportunities and events.
The PTA provides extra resources for our teachers, such as securing volunteers, teacher reimbursements/grants, curriculum support, and staff appreciation events like early release treats and Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week.
Remember, this is your PTA, and you are encouraged to join and attend any of our events - even our bi-monthly meetings. Becoming a member of our PTA is very easy and can be purchased online. Membership for the 2023-2024 school year will open on July 1.
You can also make a difference by volunteering for any of our PTA events, helping in the library, or volunteering in the classroom when available.
We'd love to hear from you as we wrap up the 2022-2023 school year. Please complete a survey to help us evaluate our 2022-2023 programs and activities and to help us begin preparing for the 2023-2034 school year.
One of our major initiatives for the 2023-2024 school year is raising funds to purchase a digital sign outside the school. Through the Croc Rock-N-Run and events this year, you've made this goal possible! We'll provide more information on how we hope to achieve this goal next fall. If you own a business that would like to support this initiative, please contact me to discuss this opportunity in more detail.
The PTA Executive Board will work hard this summer fundraising for the digital sign, putting together a calendar of events, and reaching out to those who have expressed interest in chairing or joining a PTA committee.
If you haven't already, please complete the survey mentioned above and include our information and committee interest so we can reach out to you! We want to involve as many parents and community members as possible in the PTA and help make our events successful.
Again, thank you for your continued support, and please get in touch with me at islandcreekptapresident@gmail.com if you have questions, concerns, or ideas on how the PTA could best support Island Creek Elementary.
Jodi VanWoerkom, PTA President
PTA Accomplishments in the 2022-2023 School Year
Please take a moment to review the image below our signature line. We have compiled a document highlighting what we've accomplished this year.
Interested in serving on the PTA Financial Review Team?
As a part of our annual procedures with the Virginia PTA, each year's financials must be reviewed. We have two veteran members and need one more member to complete the team. The time commitment is minimal and will kick off in July and be complete before the school year. If interested, please send an email to treasurer.ices.pta@gmail.com.
Order Your School Supplies for the 2023-2024 School Year
Get a head start on the 2023-24 school year by pre-purchasing your child's school supplies! Your child's teacher has identified the personal and community school supplies needed for a successful year. In cooperation with the Island Creek PTA, Campus Survival Kits has assembled a kit of all necessary supplies for one low price!
Who do I Contact if I Have Questions for the PTA?
Please direct all questions to islandcreekptaevents@gmail.com.
Thanks,
ICES PTA BOARD
Click to view the 2022-2023 FCPS School Calendar
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Monday, June 12: All laptops and chargers returned
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Friday, June 16: 2-Hour Early Release (Dismissal at 1:20 pm) - Last Day of School; Sixth Grade Promotion Ceremony (9:00, Gym)
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