Weekly Words
January 5, 2024
Dear Island Creek Families,
We hope each of you is enjoying a great start to 2024! We missed our Crocs over Winter Break and we are thrilled with how many students participated in the Winter Break Reading Challenge.
Staff have spent time this week revisiting the Crocs Creed (shown below), schoolwide expectations, and classroom routines and procedures. Next week, we will be recognizing our Croc Stars that exemplify “Respectful and Resilient”. Additionally, starting in February, Staff will have the opportunity to make a Positive Office Referral for students who go above and beyond with the Crocs Creed character traits, and Ms. Baxter and I are looking forward to making the positive phone calls.
We hope our Croc students and families enjoy a cozy weekend and spend time with a good book.
Warmly,
Jen Fallert
jrfallert@fcps.edu
Zoom-In with Principal Fallert
Thursday, January 11th, 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Do you have questions, wonderings, and/or thoughts that you would like to share with Mrs. Fallert? Ideas on how to make Island Creek an even better school community? I realize that not every family can attend in-person chats, so I cordially invite families to join me on Thursday, January 11 from 11:30-12:00 via Zoom using this link.
Family Input: Island Creek's Vision and Mission
Starting in August 2023, Island Creek Staff have been working on a new Mission and Vision for Island Creek Elementary that reflects the work we do each day, and the outcomes we desire to have our students, your children, achieve. The effort is being led by Island Creek's Compass Team and all Island Creek Staff have engaged in dialogue and opportunities to share their thoughts.
The best Vision Statements are inspirational, clear, memorable, concise, and focus on ends, not means. Mission Statements should encompass values and actions to achieve the vision.
The Compass Team values your opinion and trusts you will provide us with honest feedback that we can use to edit our working document. After reading through the draft Mission and Vision, please complete this form by Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
Supporting Beginning Readers Information Session: January 31
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Island Creek Celebrates Diversity
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: $17.19/hour (no benefits) Hours: 8:10-3:40, 7-hour paid day with a 30-minute unpaid lunch
TO APPLY:
Rising 7th Graders Curriculum Night
Hayfield Secondary, Thursday, Jan 11 at 6:00 PM
FCPS Math Week
FCPS Family Math Week will be next week, January 8th-12th for students K-8. Through rich, story-based math experiences, Math Week offers families an opportunity to experience math, literacy, history, and geography in a positive way. All content will be available for free directly to all families in English and Spanish on this website and linked through your student’s Schoology page. Help us to reach our goal of 1 million minutes of math county-wide! Families can play for as little as 15 minutes or replay over and over!
Save the Date: 2nd Annual This is Us Multicultural Night!
Snow Days This Winter
For the current school year, FCPS will be returning to its previous procedure for snow days — there will be no virtual learning days when school is closed due to bad weather.
During snow days, students may still access Tutor.com, complete any supplemental learning opportunities recommended by their teachers, and view educational programming (available virtually and on public access television channels):
Dual Language Immersion Program Registration
Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 22.
Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program*, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion programs for the 2024-25 school year. Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
*Parents who are interested in applying for the kindergarten immersion program should contact our registrar, Theresa Painter at 571-642-6302 to submit registration documents at this time so your student can be assigned a student ID number.
Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Check the FCPS events calendar for the most current information. Meetings will begin on Tuesday, January 16.
A virtual meeting hosted by the World Languages Office will include general program information. Access to this virtual meeting will be made available on the FCPS events calendar and the Dual Language Immersion registration site on the day of the meeting.
Get more information on the immersion program webpage and registration page.
Conversation to Raise Awareness of Fentanyl and Other Drugs
In this video, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid interviews the Fosters, a family who tragically lost their son Cayden to a half pill of fentanyl mistaken for Percocet. This heart-wrenching yet eye-opening video of their experience is essential to raise awareness among parents/caregivers and students about the dangers of fake painkillers.
Please join Dr. Reid on Wednesday, January 10, at 6:30 p.m., at Edison High School for a community conversation about opioid awareness. You may register to attend. However, registration is not required; it is simply for space considerations.
The evening’s program is appropriate for parents/caregivers and students in grades 6-12. All attendees will receive free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services currently available within FCPS and Fairfax County.
FCPS’ website also has resources to help you to start the conversation and additional support for families struggling with substance misuse.
Food Insecurity Resources for Families
Food insecurity impacts more than 60,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Find out how to receive or offer support on the Fairfax County website, or view their Human Services Resource Guide for assistance with food, clothing, housing, and other services.
Safe Students, Safe Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools believes that academic success is built on the foundation of a safe learning environment. This includes physical safety, and mental health and wellness.
FCPS has a comprehensive approach to safety that involves physical security measures, online monitoring by security staff, and crisis intervention support. The division has created the Safe Students, Safe Schools Brochure (PDF) to enhance your awareness of potential hazards and to equip you with practical tips for how you can help. Visit the FCPS website for more information.
 Kindergarten Orientation
April 8, 2024 - 4:00 - 5:00 PM
We're excited to welcome our newest Crocs to Island Creek Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year!
This event is intended for the parent and the rising kindergarten student. Parents will hear a brief presentation by administration and rising kindergarteners will have an opportunity to visit a kindergarten classroom.
Due to limited space, we ask that other grade level students not attend.
Hayfield Little Hawks Cheer Clinic
Who: All children in grades K-6
Where: Hayfield Secondary School (7630 Telegraph Road)
When:
- Practices are Wednesday, January 10 & Thursday, January 11 (4:30-6:30 PM)
- Final performance on Friday, January 12, during halftime at the Hayfield VS. Mount Vernon Varsity Boys Basketball Game
Price: $75.00 - includes a Hawks t-shirt, hair bow, snacks & one basketball game ticket
Checks made payable to: Hawks Athletic Booster Club Inc.
Cash/checks can be dropped off at Hayfield Secondary to the Student Activities Office - Cheerleading Clinic or brought-in on the first day of practice (January 10).
Registration: Complete this Google Form http://tinyurl.com/HVCWinterHawks24
Questions: Please contact Coach Brittany Reigelsperger at breigelsperg@fcps.edu
 School Year Calendar 23-24
January 8 - Winter Chorus Concert (6:00 PM, Cafeteria)
January 11 - Zoom-in with Principal Fallert (11:30 AM - 12:00 PM)
January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (No School)
January 16 - Island Creek's Vision and Mission family input due
January 18 - Band & Strings Winter Concert (6:30 PM, Gym)
January 24 - Author & Artists (4:30 - 6:00 PM)
January 25 - End of Quarter (2 Hour Early Release; Dismissal at 1:20 PM)
January 26 - Teacher Workday (No Classes for Students)
January 29 - 3rd Quarter Begins
January 31 - Supporting Beginning Readers Info Session (9:15 AM, Theater)
Session will be recorded
February 19 - Presidents' Day Holiday (No School)
March 5 - School Planning Day (No Classes for Students)
March 25 through 29 - Spring Break (Students return to school April 3)
April 1 - Teacher Workday (No Classes)
April 2 - School Development (No Classes)
April 10 - Eid al Fitr Holiday (No School)
PTA News
Welcome back, everyone! We hope you enjoyed winter break and are excited for the spring!
We've been working with the ICES front office to finalize the remaining promises we made to you during the Croc Rock-N-Run!
Here's what we've completed so far:
- We provided students and staff with a Croc Rock-N-Run spiritwear T-shirt and students with a prize on the day of the event.
- The top three classrooms received a PTA-sponsored party in October (pizza, DIY snack bags, and a popcorn party).
- We celebrated with a superhero and hat day and recess/DJ party for all students in October.
- We slimed our principal, vice principal, and several teacher volunteers.
- We provided lunch for ICES faculty and staff during their staff development day in November.
- We had a school-wide assembly featuring laser magic in December.
- We held an assembly led by MyGym Alexandria for our afternoon PAC students in December. Shout out to MyGym for donating their time and expertise to Island Creek.
- We provided a fund for Island Creek administration to help support new programs and initiatives.
- We purchased flexible seating for classrooms that will be distributed in January.
- We purchased picnic tables for the garden that will be installed by the end of February (if not earlier).
I know, impressive, right? We've done a lot in a short time. But that's not all. We wanted to share some exciting news!
We're thisclose to purchasing the new digital sign outside the school. We've taken the first steps with the company and hope we'll be all set for installation by the end of the year.
Your continued event participation will help us raise the remaining funds needed.
PTA General Membership Meeting
Please join us virtually from 7 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, for the PTA's General Membership meeting.
Join Link
Meeting ID: 950 8560 1250
Passcode: 036438
Registration is Open for Bingo
The PTA's Family Bingo registration is open. Bingo runs from 6 - 8:30 p.m. on Friday, February 9. We will play ten games, and every game will have at least one winner! Tickets are $10. We recommend registering early as this event sells out every year.
The virtual silent auction will open on February 2 and close at 7:30 p.m. on February 9. Items will be available for pick up from 8 - 8:30 p.m. during Bingo.
Please sign up here to donate Bingo prizes and items for our silent auction or to volunteer at the event.
Orange You Glad It's the End of the Quarter
Sign up to donate an item to our end-of-the-quarter teacher appreciation event, and lounge restock. We've created a fun, sunny theme of orange items to brighten our ICES Faculty and Staff's day.
Sign up here and drop your items at the main office between Monday, January 22 and Wednesday, January 24.
Don't Miss Your Chance for a Parents Night Out on March 15
Join us at iCode in Burke for a Croc Flock Parent Night from 6 - 8 p.m. on March 15.
Drop the kids off at iCode Burke for game night fun, and all the proceeds will go back to Island Creek's PTA!
Kids will get to play in our eSports gaming lounge, play Roblox with friends in our Mac room, go to a virtual world using our VR Oculus Headsets, get creative with Lego, color, watch movies, and have fun!
Pizza and Drinks are included! Open to kids ages 5 - 14 .
Registration is open here.
Registration is Open for STEAM Night
The PTA's STEAM Night registration is open. STEAM Night runs from 6 - 8:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19. Tickets are $10 per student, and parent registration is free.
Save the Date
Family fitness night will be held on Friday, May 10. Event details will be released soon!
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