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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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March 5
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No School - Student Holiday - School Planning Day
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March 7, 14, 21, 28
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Irving 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
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March 12
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Virtual PTA Meeting at 6:30
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March 25 - 29
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Spring Break - No School
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April 1
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Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
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April 2
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Staff Development Day - Student Holiday
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April 3
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Washington Irving’s Birthday!
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Greetings, Irving Families!
Happy March 1st! We are excited to be looking towards spring and warmer weather. As the weather warms and students look for activities to be involved in, we highly recommend students find ways they can give back to their community. To help students find ways to get involved with community service, we will be providing service learning opportunities during our Rock Block - 3rd period, after school, and during team activity days throughout the rest of the school year.
We know many of our students participate in Volunteer and Service to the Community work through organizations like Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church and youth groups. We want to make sure students receive credit for those hours through FCPS as well. We highly encourage all students who complete hours to document their service hours in x2VOL which is accessed through Naviance. Students already have a login and have been using Naviance this school year.
Speaking of opportunities for service - next Saturday, March 9, is our Food for Neighbors, Red Bag pick up! If you participate in this program, please do not forget to set your Red Bag out on your front porch for pick up next Saturday morning. If you would like more information regarding how you can participate in this outstanding program that directly benefits students at Irving, West Springfield High School, as well as many other middle and high schools in our area, please see below.
Take Care!
Cindy Conley
Food for Neighbors
Food for Neighbors is an organization committed to helping local teens struggling with hunger. The food donated goes straight to students and families in Springfield and neighboring communities.
With your support, we can reach even more students in need. Participation is as simple as filling a Food For Neighbors Red Bag once every other month and putting it on your porch on our pick up days. We provide the bags, a desired food list, and pick-up date reminder texts. Our next collection day is March 9. If you would like to donate food, please register as a Red Bag Donor here. If you would like to volunteer as a driver to pick up food or to help sort the food once it is delivered to Irving on our collection days, please sign up here.
If your student needs extra food for the weekend (soup/pasta, crackers, granola bars, oatmeal, fruit snack or milk/juice), please email Meg Gollinger at magollinger@fcps.edu.
Student and Family Surveys
Family Engagement Survey to Open March 3
FCPS is partnering with independent research firm K12 Insight to administer a Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Sunday, March 3, to Friday, March 22. Your feedback is critical in helping FCPS to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs throughout the district. Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment
- Communication
- Student success
- Advocacy
- Family and school partnerships
- Community partnerships
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers will receive the survey link via email from K12 Insight. A public link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available in our front office. Please stay tuned for more information.
💭 Share Your Thoughts on Schoology
FCPS will be conducting voluntary, anonymous surveys on the use of Schoology from Monday, March 11, to Friday, March 22. Surveys will be delivered to:
- Elementary students (grades 3-6) through the Schoology App Center.
- Secondary students via email from Naviance.
Student feedback will inform the school division’s use of Schoology and help improve its processes, communication, and professional learning for staff. FCPS’ Instructional Services Department will also be reaching out to families through focus groups.
Please contact Schoology@fcps.edu if you have questions.
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, athletic attire (including your shoes) and registering via the weekly sign-up are required. Volleyball is extremely popular, students will not be allowed to participate if they do not sign-up and/or properly dressed.
Girls’ Basketball Clinic, conducted by WSHS Girls’ Basketball Coaching Staff will be held both blocks on Monday, March 4 and first block on Wednesday, March 6. Athletic attire (including your shoes) and registering via the weekly sign-up are required.
Updates for after school activities and clubs: There’s NO AFTER SCHOOL on Tuesday, March 5
Open Gym on Wednesday, March 6 will be held during 2nd block only.
Library News
Our most recent library “Irving Says” survey revealed that students were almost evenly split about the deciding whether they’d rather sew their own clothes or grown their own food. Forty-seven percent of students chose the former option, while 53% prefer to grow their own food. My guess is that they’d really prefer anything but those two options….Stay tuned next week to see whether students would rather be able to read minds, or be able to be invisible at will!
Readers Unite continues to meet on Mondays after school. The school tournament for Battle of the Books teams will be held on March 15th. After this time, we’ll have a school winner to send to the April 25th county-wide competition!
Ms. Monk & Mr. Brizek
PTA News
RESTAURANT 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 – NEXT UP – we’re going to stock the staff lounge. Watch this space for more information!
SPIRITWEAR! - Ordering is closed! Products should be available mid-March (hoping before Spring Break).
PTA Meetings and Nominations! - If you're interested or know someone who might be interested in next year's PTA Board, please reach out to us - irvingmspta@gmail.com - we need 3 volunteers to run the nominating committee (short time commitment! mainly to create the nomination slate for the next board). And if you're interested in being on the Board but have questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us or the Board members directly! Next PTA meeting is March 12th by Zoom (meeting delayed a week due to 3/5 student holiday + voting!) (& April's meeting will be April 16th)
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 THE LINKS)
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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