Weekly Words
March 1, 2024
Dear Island Creek Families,
We are excited for next week with Read Across the World Week (March 4-8) and our This is Us Multicultural Night (Thursday, March 7, 5:30-7:00)!
Thanks to our Math Resource Teacher, Annie Nagaoka, we now have our own Instagram account: @islandcreekelementary
Additionally, please join our Facebook group: Island Creek Elementary School
As a reminder, Tuesday, March 5, is a student holiday due to many schools being used as polling centers. Our staff will be engaged in professional learning with one another to continue to support students and families at Island Creek.
Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for sharing your amazing children with us!
Warmly,
Jen Fallert
jrfallert@fcps.edu
You’re invited to Island Creek’s
This is Us Multicultural Night
Thursday, March 7, 5:30-7:00 PM
We are excited to host our second annual This is Us Multicultural Night! Please complete this Registration Form and join us on Thursday, March 7, from 5:30 - 7:00 PM. We hope all Island Creek families can attend! Should you have questions please email our Family Liaison, Jane Horowitz, at jrhorowitz@fcps.edu
Click here to view the event flyer for more information.
Island Creek Crocs Read Across the World (March 4-8)
Thank you, Dr. Smith
Thank you to Dr. Smith, father of three Island Creek students, for presenting to our Kindergarten students the importance of good dental health! The students especially loved the demonstration with brushing the crocodile’s teeth!
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Island Creek has its own Facebook page!
Please follow us! Island Creek Elementary School
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Island Creek is now on Instagram!
Please follow us! @islandcreekelementary
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Ms. Ughade’s Math Class solved a Fraction Crime Scene
February is Black History Month
February is Black History Month which is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in United States history. Did you know the theme for this year’s Black History Month is African Americans and the Arts?
Thanks to our Equity and Family Engagement Committee, all of our Croc Students are learning about a famous African American on our daily Morning News Show. This week our students learned about Douglas Wilder, Michael Jordan, Amanda Gorman, and Barack Obama.
Shown to the left is a gorgeous display that our 5th Grade Students created profiling famous African Americans whose contributions shaped the United States. We love the display so much, that we’ll be placing it in a permanent location in the building.
Click here to learn more about Black History Month.
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Calendar Reminder: March 5 Presidential Primary — Student Holiday/School Planning Day
The Fairfax Board of Elections has requested that schools be closed on Tuesday, March 5, to accommodate the safe and efficient administration of the 2024 presidential primary election.
March 5 will be a holiday for students and a virtual School Planning Day for teachers.
Yearbook Cover Art Contest: Entries due Friday, March 8
We are looking for talented artists to create our yearbook cover for the 23-24 school year. Entries will be accepted from all grade levels.
This year, we would like for students to draw Crocky doing their favorite activity! So if you like to read, draw Crocky reading – if you like to skateboard, draw Crocky and some friends skateboarding – video games, sports, dancing, watching movies - it’s whatever you enjoy doing!
Cover submissions must be 8.5 x 11 inches (same size as standard printing paper) and all designs must be vertical (portrait) orientation.
Submissions must have:
- The name of the school: Island Creek Elementary (please double check spelling and grammar – proper titles should be capitalized).
- The school year: 2023-2024.
- The student’s full name and teacher written neatly on the BACK in pencil.
Things to keep in mind:
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Bright and vivid colors are best since the cover must be scanned before printing.
- Your design should fill the entire page and have lots of color - even the background! (The less white space, the better)
- Be mindful that small details can be difficult to see – design elements should be big, bold, and defined.
- Designs can include several mediums – Colored pencil, marker, crayon, watercolor, oil pastel.
- Artwork must be an original creation.
- One submission per student.
Cover art should be submitted to the main office by Friday, March 8 or sooner.
Shout-out to Island Creek Staff with FCPS Cares!
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Island Creek. We love our Island Creek staff members, let's tell them how we feel!
Look for the FCPS Family Engagement Survey This Sunday
Parents/caregivers will receive the FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey Sunday, March 3, from independent research firm K12 Insight. Please participate — your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve practices to best support our students.
Taking this survey will also help strengthen the partnership between your family and our school. When that partnership is strong, students can experience a range of benefits including improved school readiness, higher student achievement, better social skills and behavior, and an increased likelihood of graduating high school.
The survey will take about 10-15 minutes to complete and will be available in 10 languages. Please visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage for more information. Your voice matters!
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 This year, Ramadan begins on Sunday, March 10th. Ramadan is marked by personal and community prayer as well as fasting from dawn to sunset. If your child will be fasting, please let your child’s teacher know. We will be offering a space for students to go instead of the cafeteria if they plan to fast and want to be prepared. Thank you!
Register Now for 2024 Spring Break Camps
Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) is pleased to offer spring break camps from March 25 - 29, 2024 for first through sixth grade students. Camps will be held at select Fairfax County community centers with camp hours from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. This year's theme is "Building a Mystery Adventure," where participants will be the main character in their own mystery tale. For more information, locations and fees, visit the NCS Camps page or check out the Spring Camp flyer.
Kindergarten Orientation
April 2, 2024 - 2:30 - 3:30 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 rising kindergarten student and their parents/guardians. This year we are trying something new! Rising kindergarten students and their parents/guardians will be placed in tour groups and visit eight different locations at Island Creek to see our amazing school and meet our fantastic staff. At 3:30 we will have Popsicles on the Playground and the opportunity for students to board a school bus.
Due to limited space, we ask that only rising Kindergarten students and their parents/guardians attend.
2024-2025 School Year
We will begin accepting registrations for the 2024-25 school year at the beginning of April 2024. Do you have a child that will turn 5 by September 30, 2024? Virginia law states that parents/guardians must ensure a child attends school if he or she will be five years old on or before September 30.
You may begin the process by completing the registration intake on our website: https://islandcreekes.fcps.edu/resources/new-student-registration.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our registrar Theresa Painter at tepainter@fcps.edu.
Save the Dates: Spring SOL Testing for Grades 3-6
Purple Up! On April 17 to Support Military Families
Join our community and turn FCPS purple on Purple Up! Day, Wednesday, April 17. Wear purple in recognition of FCPS’ 14,000 enrolled military-connected students.
Purple Up! T-shirts are available for purchase through Friday, March 8.
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Hayfield Craft Fair
March 16, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
 Click to view the 2023-2024 FCPS School Calendar
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March 2024: National Women’s History Month
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Monday, March 4-Friday, March 8: Island Creek Crocs Read Across the World Week!
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Tuesday, March 5: Presidential Primary, School Closed for students
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Thursday, March 7: Students and staff are encouraged to wear clothing representing a culture of your choice! Bring a book that represents a culture important to you!
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Thursday, March 7: This is Us Multicultural Night (5:30-7:00)
- Sunday, March 10: Daylight Savings Time begins (move clocks forward one hour)
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Sunday evening, March 10-Tuesday, April 9: Ramadan
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Friday, March 22: Last day of 3rd Quarter of School
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Spring Break for students: March 25-April 2
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Sunday, March 31: Easter
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Tuesday, April 2: Orientation for Rising Kindergarten students (2:30-3:30)
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Wednesday, April 3: 4th Quarter begins
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Wednesday, April 17: Purple Up! Day
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