Weekly Words
December 15, 2023
Dear Island Creek Community,
We hope our students, families, and staff have a joyous Winter Break (December 18-January 1) and a happy and healthy holiday season. Our school office will be closed for Winter Break. For staff to rejuvenate and spend quality time with their families, I am asking them to disconnect from email over Winter Break. Should you have an immediate concern, please reach out directly to me at jrfallert@fcps.edu. Island Creek Staff will return to school and be back online on Tuesday, January 2.
Thank you to the Island Creek community for your donations to celebrate our amazing staff!
We look forward to welcoming our Crocs back to school on Tuesday, January 4, 2024!
Warmly,
Jen Fallert
JRFallert@fcps.edu
Karen Baxter
KPBaxter@fcps.edu
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Outstanding Island Creek Employees
Thank you to the many families who recognized our amazing Croc Staff. We are thrilled to congratulate our Outstanding Island Creek Employees!
Outstanding New Teacher: Julia Gillett, Kindergarten Teacher
Outstanding Teacher: Meg Morrison, Kindergarten Teacher
Outstanding Professional Employee: Nikki Bohnert, School Counselor
Outstanding Operational Employee: Megan Dion, Special Education Instructional Assistant
Outstanding New Principal: Jen Fallert, Principal
Sites around School!
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Island Creek Celebrates Diversity (fun Winter Break activity)
We want to empower our Island Creek students to have a strong voice, share their experiences, and learn from, and celebrate, each other! We would love to hear from our Crocs about the various traditions, holidays, observances, and cultural experiences families celebrate or recognize.
During January we would like our students to learn about the following observances:
- New Year’s Day
- Three Kings Day/Epiphany
- Kwanzaa
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Additional January observances or celebrations that your child would like to share
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.
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Island Creek is seeking Classroom Monitors!
Island Creek is seeking candidates to serve as student monitors for the remainder of this school year. If interested please follow the application guidance below. Please share this opportunity with others who may be interested! We are interviewing until all positions are filled.
RESPONSIBILITIES - Provide supervision of students throughout the school day including but not limited to the classroom, hallways, lunch, recess, specials and arrival/dismissal.
QUALIFICATIONS - Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school. Must be comfortable supervising students in large and small groups.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS - Pay: $16.85/hour (no benefits) Hours: 8:10-3:40, 7-hour paid day with a 30-minute unpaid lunch
TO APPLY:
Island Creek Winter Break Reading Challenge!
Specials: Library
The library has been filled with excitement as we head into Winter Break! The Book Fair was a huge success. The children were excited to independently make their wish lists and shop during school and at our after-school sessions. Thank you, families, for your support from home. All students continue to practice being Respectful and Resilient Crocs while in the library. All students listened to Thankful by Elaine Vickers and reflected on things they are thankful for. Many students added a link to our Thankful chain, which is hanging in the library, brightening our space. Students in grades K-2 listened to a variety of Gingerbread stories to compare and contrast the characters, setting, events, and outcome. Fourth grade students explored with Keva Planks to build a house for the Gingerbread Baby. Fifth graders practiced finding call numbers to locate books in different sections of the library on a scavenger hunt. Sixth graders browsed books that their peers selected and actively contributed to group discussions by sharing a summary of the book. I hope everyone enjoys the winter break with family and friends. Don’t forget to read lots of books! -Mrs. Chapman
Save the Date: Authors and Artists
⛄Student and Family Resources
Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit our winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
School’s Closed, Learning Can Continue!
FCPS encourages students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during winter break and snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play for your students during winter break or weather-related school closures.
Promoting Mental Wellness During Winter Break Although mental health indicators have improved over the past year, Fairfax County Youth Survey (FCYS) data suggest that more than 25% of students in 8th to 12th grade feel sad or hopeless every day for two weeks or more in a row. The holidays can be a time to reduce stress, but they can also contribute to it. Here are some tips for making winter break a positive time for the young people in your life.
🔢 Virtual Math Week: Save the Date
Get ready for Virtual Math Week from Monday, January 8, through Friday, January 12. Save the date for a week filled with stories, games, and math activities, in English and Spanish, for families with students in kindergarten through eighth grade. This is a free experience designed to make math fun for the whole family. Learn more about FCPS Math Week.
😷 Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests
Residential households are eligible to receive free at-home COVID-19 test kits. If an order has not been placed for your address since the program reopened on September 25, you may place two orders now.
Yearbooks Available for Purchase Now
Order your yearbook at Barksdale Photo (https://barksdalephoto.com/onlineorders.php)
School Access code: 0037455YB (case sensitive)
$22.00 early bird price (after March 15, $25.00)
 
 Click to view the 2023-2024 FCPS School Calendar
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December 18-January 1: Winter Break (no school for students)
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Tuesday, January 2: Welcome Back to School, Island Creek Crocs!
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Thursday, January 4: Island Creek Winter Break Reading Challenge forms due to classroom teachers
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Monday, January 15: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday (school holiday)
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Wednesday, January 24: Art and Literacy Night (4:30-6:00)
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Thursday, January 25: last day of 2nd Quarter, 2-hour early release for students (1:20)
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Friday, January 26: Teacher Work Day (no school for students)
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