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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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Jan 9 - 6:00 pm
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In PERSON - PTA meeting - "Kids in Today's Society" presentation (formerly "Hidden in Plain Sight") from our local Fairfax County Police in West Springfield. This is an adult only presentation
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Jan 10
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No After School or Late Buses
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Jan 10
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Irving Curriculum Night for current 6th and 7th grade families from 6-8pm
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Jan 15
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No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Jan 16
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Irving Invasion at West Springfield High School - during the school day
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Greetings, Irving Families!
Happy New Year! The excitement of a new year and being back together made this a great week at Irving MS. While we are only half way through this school year, this week begins the official start of planning for the 2024-2025 school year. Yesterday, our 8th graders received their course selection sheets and had their first look at the wide variety of classes West Springfield High School offers. Please be sure to ask your child to see the WSHS course selection sheet if you have a rising 9th grader so you can discuss their course interests.
Over the next couple of weeks we will welcome the next class of 7th graders through Irving during our elementary tours. On Wednesday, January 10, we will host our annual Curriculum Night for our rising 7th and 8th grade. During Curriculum Night, families will have an opportunity to hear about our core class offerings from our outstanding teachers and tour all of our elective classes. We look forward to welcoming our current 7th grade and rising 7th grade new families.
On January 16, our current 8th graders will head over to West Springfield High School for our annual Irving Invasion! The Irving Invasion is a morning filled with performances, tours, and information for the rising 9th graders - it is a fun trip and we are excited to be able to provide this opportunity for our students again this year.
Please stay safe this weekend - if there are any weather closings over the weekend that you need to be aware of, please be sure to check the FCPS website.
Take Care!
Cindy Conley
Principal
New Attendance Office Assistant and Attendance Reminders
We thank you for your patience the last few months as we have hired a new Office Assistant to support Attendance . Please help us to welcome Janelle Fontaine, who started with us this week. A few attendance reminders:
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Please make sure your child arrives to school on time each day. You can report an absence by calling 703-912-4545 or online here.
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If your student needs to leave early, please send a note with them the day of with the time they are leaving and have them stop by Student Services before school to get a pass. Please remember your ID when you come to pick up your child. If someone other than a parent or guardian is picking up your child, please explain this in your note.
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Please plan trips during times when school is not in session. Excused absences include: illness, death in the family, medical appointments, observances of a religious holiday. Unexcused absences include: vacations, child care situations, nonschool-related activities, missed school bus. Just because an absence is pre-arranged does not mean it is excused.
Rising 9th grade course selection
Rising 9th grade course selection for current 8th graders started yesterday via rockblock class. Students will have until January 12th to return their completed course selection sheets to their English teachers. All 8th graders will go to West Springfield for a tour on January 16 - please make sure to return the permission slip as soon as possible.
Student Laptop Damage Fees
There are fees associated with repairing or replacing damaged or lost student laptops, as well as lost power cords. Those fees are in the MySchoolBucks school store:
- Screen Replacement: $85
- Laptop Replacement: $472
- Power Cord Replacement: $23
Lightspeed Classroom Management
As part of our commitment to creating a safe and focused learning environment for our students, our school is using a classroom management tool that will help teachers better connect with student devices during classes. We are continuing to expand our use over the coming weeks. This tool will provide teachers with a number of helpful features:
- Easily view student screens in real time from the teacher console to see which students may need guidance or support.
- Focus student attention on a particular website on their device to minimize distractions.
- Pause student access to the internet to focus on other classroom tasks.
We believe this classroom management tool will allow us to maximize class time to support your student’s learning while at school. Please note that student devices will not be monitored outside of school hours. The regular filters remain in place on school devices, but once they are home, teachers cannot monitor students. As parents, we would like to encourage you to sign up for your own Lightspeed reports, which will allow you to see how your child is spending time on the computer during and after school hours.
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
Volleyball Clinic will require your student to be dressed in athletic attire (including their shoes) and use the weekly sign-up. Volleyball is extremely popular, please encourage your student to use the weekly sign-up when they plan to stay after school.
Updates on the following clubs:
- Art Club, postponed until further notice.
- Back to Basics Leadership, will return on Wednesday, January 17.
- Soccer Club, postponed until Monday, February 5.
- Whisk Takers, will restart on Tuesday, January 16.
- Cheer/Dance, is moving to Thursdays.
- Futsol Club, will start on Wednesday, January 17.
- MakerSpace/Robotics, added Thursdays first block until the end of February.
- Open Gym, will be offered Mondays (2nd block), Wednesdays (both blocks) and Thursdays (2nd block).
- Scrabble Club, will begin Mondays, 2nd block.
Harry Potter Club is postponed until 2/22.
Updates for next week: There is no after school on Wednesday, January 10
PTA News
SPIRIT DAY EVERY THURSDAY - All Day at Papa John's (Rolling Road!). Order online using promo code IMS4010. You'll get 40% off all menu prices! See flyer on the PTA website - https://irvingms.memberhub.com. (copy and paste / links don't work!) (COPY & PASTE SINCE THE LINKS ARE NOT LIVE)
TEACHER APPRECIATION - Stay tuned for the next event! - If you are interested in volunteering - please email us! - irvingmspta@gmail.com - or we're happy to take direct donations to support - you can donate here - https://irvingms.memberhub.com/store/items/62509
NEW SPIRITWEAR / NEW LOGO - COMING VERY SOON!!
JANUARY 9th IN-PERSON PTA MEETING @ 6pm! + "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. This presentation will be combined with our January general PTA meeting.
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)
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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