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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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Impact Aid Forms available on ParentVUE
Please be sure to fill out your form online today!
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October 21 TOMORROW!
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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 3
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End of the 1st quarter and 2-hour early dismissal
Students will be dismissed at 12:15 pm.
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November 6 & 7
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No school for students
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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!
Our first spirit week was a lot of fun! It was nice to see so many students and staff dressed up each day. I think my favorite day was hat day - there were so many unique hats. This coming week is Red Ribbon Week! We are reinforcing the messages to our students to stay drug free. We are kicking off Red Ribbon Spirit week with Pajama Day to Celebrate Our Dreams! Students and staff may wear school appropriate pajamas to school. We do ask that students wear shoes to school and not slippers -we have over 1,300 people walking our halls daily - we do not want students’ slippers getting dirty and then brought back home.
The end of October means we are quickly approaching the end of the 1st quarter! Time has flown by this first quarter and we are impressed by the academic growth students have shown in these first 9 weeks. A reminder that November 3, students will dismiss at 12:15 pm. If you give your child permission to go to “The Plaza” after school, please remind them about appropriate behavior. We are again receiving calls from businesses and patrons reporting unruly and disrespectful behavior from children who are going to the Plaza. We stress every Friday that students need to represent the ROCK attributes in and outside of school (Respect, Ownership, Communication, Kindness). We appreciate you reinforcing those attributes at home as well.
Lastly, we would like to wish our Cross Country runners good luck tomorrow! The team will be heading to Liberty Middle School for the races. We are excited to share that we will host the last race of the season on Saturday, October 28! If you would like to volunteer (7:00am-1:00pm) to help make the meet a success, please complete this Google Form. No need to have a child in Cross Country to volunteer - we will need a lot of help on this day. We appreciate your consideration.
Take Care!
Cindy Conley
Principal
Virginia’s Sales Tax Holiday
Virginia’s three-day sales tax holiday starts Friday, October 20, and ends Sunday, October 22. During the sales tax holiday, you can buy qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, emergency preparedness items, and Energy Star™ and WaterSense™ products without paying sales tax. View the Sales Tax Holiday Guidelines for more information.
Federal Impact Aid Survey: Now Online
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. To make it easier, the form is now available online in SIS ParentVUE.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
Once logged in to SIS ParentVUE, click “Online Packets” in the top right corner. Then, select “Federal Impact Aid Survey.” Get more information.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. Find out how to get technical support for ParentVUE.
Baskets of Food for Families in Need for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time for family, food and gratitude. Many local households this year struggle to enjoy the holiday. In 2022, Alicia Strickland and Ania Cress, Realtors in our area, coordinated the donation of 38 beautiful baskets for families in need in Springfield. With your help, they will reach their goal of 100 baskets this year. Ms. Strickland and Ms. Cress along with Hunt Valley ES, Cardinal Forest ES, Irving MS and West Springfield HS social workers and school counselors will be gifting the baskets to families in need. If you would like to donate a basket, please sign up here. Drop-off for the #BlessingBaskets will be November 15th, 2023 4:30-7pm at Ledo's Pizza and Robeks Patio at Cardinal Forest Plaza, 8324 Old Keene Mill Road, Springfield, 22152. If you would like to help organize the collections as they are received on Nov. 15th, please sign up here. Feel free to stay for happy hour at Ledo's as they will be offering special discounts.
If your family has a need for food, please reach out to Irving’s Social Worker, Traci Jamison, at tdjamison@fcps.edu.
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
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.
Back to Basics Leadership - 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)
Clubs starting next week:
Whisk Takers Organizational Meeting - Tuesday, October 24, 1st block. This is a requirement, Ms. Wilson reviews expectations, safety rules/protocols and allergies. This is for students that did NOT attend the previous organizational meeting.
Sewing Club - Wednesday, October 25, 1st block
Harry Potter Club is postponed until Thursday, February 22
*The After School Schedule, shows what is coming soon for October (only on All Students)*
PTA News
SPIRIT NIGHT - Our next Spirit Night will be PANERA on November 15th. Watch this space for more information.
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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