Weekly Words
September 22, 2023
Dear Island Creek Families,
What an amazing day at Island Creek with our second Croc Rock-N-Run! We loved having over 600 family members cheer on our Crocs! Thank you to the PTA for hosting this event for our Crocs as it was wonderful and there were smiles everywhere! The Island Creek PTA also purchased a Croc Run shirt for every student and staff member. Hosting the run during the school day is intentional so that EVERY student is able to attend and participate in the memorable race. An extra thank you to Jodi VanWoerkom (PTA), Corinne Kunkel (PTA), Courtney Walker (PTA), Christine Mehrtash (5th Grade Teacher), and Lindsey Barber (PE Teacher).
As a reminder, school will be closed on Monday.
To those who observe Yom Kippur, G’mar chatima tovah.
All our best,
Jen Fallert
Principal
Karen Baxter
Assistant Principal
Every Child, Every Day
  
Yom Kippur — Schools and Offices Closed September 25
All FCPS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, September 25, for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. See the complete school year calendar and employee calendar. Learn more about Yom Kippur on Brittanica.com.
Did you know that military children change schools six to nine times, on average? Moving means military kids not only have to adjust to living in a new neighborhood, but also to attending a new school. At Island Creek Elementary, we know that when children feel welcome and have a sense of belonging at their school, they’re more likely to thrive inside and outside the classroom.
Blue Star Welcome Week, held from September 23 - October 1, is a nationwide campaign to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service. Island Creek Elementary is celebrating Blue Star Welcome Week by recognizing our new military-connected students on the Daily News Show. The staff at Island Creek Elementary wants our military-connected students to feel welcome and for them to know they’re an important part of our school community.
Specials: Music Classes!
It is great to be back making music with our students at Island Creek. In the months of August and September, we have been reviewing literacy skills from last year, doing some "ensemble building" through games and fun music activities, and focusing on a singing unit across the grade levels. Starting with echo songs and going all the way up to complicated rounds and partner songs, our students are finding their singing voices and developing independence and interdependence when singing with an ensemble. Speaking of singing, the Island Creek 5th and 6th grade chorus has about 60 registered members! The chorus is looking forward to singing the Star-Spangled Banner at the Hayfield football game on Friday, November 3rd.
Hispanic Heritage Month: Student Voice At Island Creek
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by acknowledging and celebrating the unique histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The celebration started on September 15th and runs through October 15th. This year's theme, Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America highlights the contributions of Hispanics to America’s economic, political, and social growth. It’s a wonderful time to pass on the beauty of Latino culture to children of Latino descent or expose any child to learning about a diverse group of people and new cultures
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If your child is interested in recording a 1-2 minute segment for our Morning News Show please use this link: https://flip.com/95550918 as we would love to learn from our Crocs! 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 the front office to be displayed
Bonus: The first 50 students to share about Hispanic Heritage (poster and/or recording for ICNN News Show) will receive a Friendship Bracelet that was handmade in Peru.
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 National Walk to School Day - October 4
National Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 4th! We are excited to celebrate as a school on Wednesday morning with students, staff, and families. We encourage all families that can participate to join in on the fun by making the healthy and safe choice of walking to school! We will have music and stickers to hand out as students and families arrive at school. If students are unable to participate and go on a walk outside of school hours, they are welcome to pick up a sticker during their PE class. We look forward to celebrating a safe and healthy route to school!
Math Connections at Home
Substitutes Needed at Island Creek
We are always looking for kind and caring substitute teachers and substitute instructional assistants to ensure our students continue to thrive when teachers and instructional assistants need to be out of the classroom. Substitute instructional assistant pay will be $17.08 per hour and substitute teacher pay will be $19.05 per hour for the 2023-24 school year. You may apply online and you can sign up for a virtual, one-hour substitute information session here. Register for an upcoming session on Wednesday, September 27, and Wednesday, October 4.
Substitutes to Receive High-Volume Pay on High-Volume Days
The School Board has approved a list of 18 days for substitutes to receive high-volume pay. All teacher substitutes will receive their hourly pay plus an additional $80 for each high-volume day they work. See the list of high-volume days and more information.
A bonus program for substitutes who accept more than the 10 required days has also been approved. Substitutes working 50 days within a school year, will earn a $200 bonus. Substitutes working 100 days within a school year, will earn a $300 bonus. Substitutes working 150 days within a school year, will earn a $400 bonus. Get more information on this sub bonus program.
TJHSST Invitational Science Fair
TJ Investigative Science Outreach, a student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, will be hosting their 11th annual science fair on March 16, 2024 and would like to invite 5th-8th grade students to participate. Admission to the science fair is completely free.
Participants will complete a research project of their choice and present at the fair in-person on March 16, 2024. The first interest/brainstorming session is Friday October 6th, 2023 at 6:00 pm., in-person at TJHSST. All interested students should sign up using this Google form.
For questions, check out tjsciencefair.wordpress.com or email tjhsstsciencefair@gmail.com.
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 Click to view the 2023-2024 FCPS School Calendar
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Monday, September 25: Yom Kippur (Student and Staff holiday)
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October 1-31: Share the Warmth Clothing Drive
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Wednesday, October 4: National Walk to School Day
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Monday, October 9: Indigenous Peoples' Day; Staff Development Day (no school for students)
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Wednesday, October 18: Social-Emotional Supports at Island Creek Information Session (9:00 and 5:30)
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Friday, October 20: PTA: “Walk of Fame” Treat or Toss (6:00-7:30)
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Thursday, October 26: Local Level IV Information Session, Interested Families in Grades K-2 (5:45, will be recorded)
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Tuesday, October 31: Storybook Character Day
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Friday, November 3: End of First Quarter, 2-Hour Early Release for students (1:20)
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Monday, November 6: School Planning Day (no school for students)
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Tuesday, November 7: Teacher Workday (no school for students)
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Thursday, November 9: Family Math Night (4:30-6:00, information forthcoming)
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Wednesday, November 15: Thanksgiving Lunch (information forthcoming)
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November 22-November 24: Thanksgiving Break (Student and Staff holiday)
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