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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
이 소식지를 다른 언어로 읽으려면, 우리 웹사이트를 방문하시기 바랍니다.
يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى.
Yearbook pre-orders are open!
Pre-order your yearbook today! https://yearbookforever.com/schools/washington_irving_middle_school_320438/cLwxkvJ2bUUdlsILz2gm52Zx
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Upcoming Important Dates
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October 16-20
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Digital Citizenship Spirit Week (see below)
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October 16
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Impact Aid Forms available on ParentVUE
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October 21
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Music Boosters Car Wash - 9:00 am-12:00 pm at Irving Middle School
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October 23-27
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Red Ribbon Spirit Week
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November 2 (8:30-10:30)
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Fall picture retakes in the weight room
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November 16
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High School and Beyond (see below for more information)
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Greetings, Irving Families!
Mentoring is a great way to support our local community and can have a lasting positive impact on adolescents. At Irving Middle School, we are in need of caring adults who can support and uplift our students. Already this year we have almost 30 students who are in need of a mentor to act as an additional positive role model and encouraging adult in their life. We want to offer this opportunity to our parents/guardians as a way to partner with our school.
We will help with logistics of the program, including providing training for you and obtaining parent permission for you to work with the student. Mentoring takes place for one hour per week during our after school block, from 2:30-3:30 PM. You can pick a day (Monday-Thursday) that works best with your schedule, and we will arrange for you to meet with your student . You can play games, help with homework, walk and talk–whatever works to help you connect with your student! We will provide you with tools and resources to get started…all you have to do is commit to working with a student once a week for the remainder of the school year!
Our mentoring coordinator, Suzy Kiefaber, will be happy to meet with you personally to go over some of the details. Another option is a brief 30-minute presentation that she can deliver to you. This presentation outlines the power of mentoring as well as the logistics involved, and would provide you with the opportunity to ask questions.
Here are some links with further information.
*FCPS Mentoring Program https://www.fcps.edu/get-involved/be-mentor*FCPS Business and Community Partnerships https://www.fcps.edu/get-involved/business-and-community-partnerships/ignite-partnerships
If you are interested in serving the Irving Community as a mentor, please email Suzy Kiefaber at smkiefaber@fcps.edu.
Take Care!
Cindy Conley
Principal
Digital Citizenship Week Spirit Days
We will kick off Digital Citizenship Week with Monday’s School Spirit day and team challenge! Students and staff are invited to wear school gear or colors (blue and white) to support a safe and responsible online Irving community. See the rest of our Spirit Days below.
Food for Neighbors
This holiday season, let's come together to make a difference in the lives of food-insecure students in our community. Food For Neighbors plans to provide local families with Holiday Meals at Thanksgiving. Visit the FFN website today and learn how you can help students and their families experience the joy of gathering for a holiday meal. Every $50 donation provides a meal for a family. Your generosity can make a world of difference for local students!
High School and Beyond
Families with a current 8th grade student currently attending Irving are invited to attend High School and Beyond at Irving (in Barker Hall) on November 16th from 6:30-8:00pm. We are excited to kick off the High School Academic Advising Season with a special Presentation and Curriculum Fair specific for our rising 9th grade families. Come hear Graduation Experts discuss what to expect as your child enters high school, various options for them following high school graduation as well as have the opportunity to speak to West Springfield Department Chairs and teachers. You will have the chance to ask all your questions about high school, graduation requirements, pathways etc. You will also get a preview of all the classes available next year. We look forward to you joining us for our first ever offering of this program.
How to Prevent Substance Misuse
It’s true, teens are more likely to listen to peers rather than their parents, it is part of this stage in development. When a baby is born, the brain’s sole responsibility is focused on keeping them alive. As they grow into adolescence, finding their tribe becomes important. Think about your top three happiest memories up to this point in life. What were you doing? How did you feel? Who was there? Each of these memories was likely a shared experience with others. Likely you were laughing and smiling with loved ones, maybe food was involved. Now shift to think about your three worst memories. What was going on? How did you feel? Who was there? In each of these memories, you likely were alone or felt alone.
Substance use becomes a problem for some because they either are or feel alone. Connection is an important aspect in our everyday lives. Fairfax County’s “Three to Succeed” describes protective factors to help youth achieve their higher selves. If a child has at least three of these protective factors, they are more likely to succeed in life. They include: having high personal integrity, trusted adults to talk to, performing community service, participating in extracurricular activities, teacher recognition of effort and good work, and parents availability for help. What is noticed is that five of the six protective factors involve connection with someone else, and the first protective factor describes connection with self.
Helpful Resources:
Knowing the Signs: Substance Abuse & Today’s Youth
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Substance Use Prevention & Encouraging Healthy Brain Development
REVIVE Training for Opioid Overdoses
FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270 and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS.
For further information & support
Ken Johnson
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
Kwjohnson@fcps.edu
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology
***The TJ application will become available on Monday, October 23 at 4:00 pm via the TJ website.
What is TJHSST?
A FCPS regional Governor’s high school (9-12th grades) for students interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). You can now find the new TJ Admissions Video for 2023 as well as the presentation schedule that is available to the public on their website, www.fcps.edu/tjadmissions. We strongly encourage you to view their YouTube admissions video prior to attending this meeting.
TJHSST Admissions: Contact Information
Admissions Office (general inquiries): Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Phone:571-423-3770 Email: tjadmissions@fcps.edu Website:www.fcps.edu/tjadmissions
TJ Science Fair
Do you love science and research? The TJ Investigative Science Outreach student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will be hosting the 11th annual science fair on March 16, 2024 at TJ and they are inviting all 5th-8th grade students from FCPS to participate (Admission to the science fair is completely free). Participants will complete a research project of their choice and present at this fair. This organization will help students prepare for this project-fair by holding multiple sessions to teach students important skills in STEM like brainstorming, collecting data, presenting, writing an experiment summary, using statistics, creating an experimental diagram, and so much more!. The first interest/brainstorming session is Friday October 6th, 2023 at 6:00 pm at TJHSST. All interested students sign up here: https://forms.gle/RMfQYuvACK3YajRw8
Irving Stays After - After School Program Registration
The After School program at Irving Middle School provides students access to high-quality activities in a safe environment for all students. The Program strives to improve academic performance, foster social, emotional, and physical well-being, all while reducing the potential for risk-taking behaviors.
https://forms.gle/jj9RXegR3C85tJ6u6
Information about Cross Country will be shared by Coach Sommers. Please remember students cannot leave school and return for the after school program and/or practice.
Clubs starting next week:
FCCLA - Monday, October 16, both blocks; only available to FACS students (1st and/or 2nd Semester students)
Cheer/Dance - TUESDAY, October 17, first block
Whisk Takers - Tuesday, October 17, both blocks; students must see Mrs. Wilson if they did not attend the organizational meeting prior to 10/17. It is a requirement, Ms. Wilson reviews expectations, safety rules/protocols and allergies.
Back to Basics Leadership - Wednesday, October 18, both blocks. This is a 6-week course, students are expected to attend all sessions, if there are multiple conflicts with your student's schedule - please consider the Spring session (1/17 - 3/6)
*The After School Schedule, shows what is coming soon for October (only on All Students)*
Library News
Given our healthy circulation statistics, we see that our Irving students are reading! We enjoy seeing students visiting the library each day during break time, where they return and check out books, read, play board or card games with friends, or work on a puzzle. Slow progress has been made in the completion of our 1000 piece puzzle this week, but have several very dedicated students who come in each day eager to work on it. In last week's "Irving Says" poll revealed that 76% of our students would rather "Be right all of the time, but not listened to," than "Be wrong all of the time, but be influential."
Around fifty students registered to attend a special event in the library on Thursday. On our "Friday the 13th Eve Read-Aloud" event, Theatre teacher Tim King shared his talents with a dramatic reading of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," the most famous short story by author Washington Irving. Students enjoyed the slightly spooky atmosphere and listened intently while munching some popcorn. Stay tuned for more special events to come. Students interested in reading activities may want to sign up for "Battle of the Books," an ongoing club sponsored by Mr. Brizek, or Ms. Monk's after-school book club, "Readers Unite."
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PTA News
SPIRIT NIGHT - Our next Spirit Night will be 4-8pm Tuesday, October 17th at Chipotle in West Springfield. Order online for pickup using promo code VZWNKXR or present flyer in restaurant.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M6BZDjtk9ZazO73-wRSNfCDg6pQOtV-Z/view?usp=sharing (COPY & PASTE SINCE THE LINKS ARE NOT LIVE)
SPIRIT DAY EVERY THURSDAY - All Day at Papa John's in Springfield. Order online using promo code IMS4010. You'll get 40% off all menu prices!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uvMIqPZsfaUqefNk619KuQ4sGYes7hWz/view?usp=sharing (COPY & PASTE SINCE THE LINKS ARE NOT LIVE)
UPCOMING: Our next PTA Meeting will be in November. TBD - "Kids in Today's Society" presentation (formerly Hidden in Plain Sight) from our local Fairfax County Police in West Springfield. This presentation provides insight into a range of teen behavior, from risky to illegal, that the local police are currently dealing with. It is an adult only presentation. More details to follow.
We'd love for you to join the PTA! $10 Parents/Guardians; $9 additional family members; $5 Staff/Faculty
https://irvingms.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true (COPY & PASTE SINCE THE LINKS ARE NOT LIVE)
From this link you can also donate to our Headless Heroes Fund. It is a direct donation and our largest fundraiser. You will also see remaining pieces of Spirit Wear in that section. Grab it while it's there. We'll do an online sale with more items this Fall.
Feel free to reach out to learn more about the Irving PTA, or with questions you might have.
Website: https://irvingms.memberhub.com (copy & paste link)
Email: irvingmspta@gmail.com
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