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Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
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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 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!
This week seemed to fly by with the School Planning Day on Tuesday! Even with one less day, we were still able to pack a lot into the week and have much to celebrate. We want to congratulate the 7th graders who recycled the most candy wrappers during Halloween. The reward was a live Zoom session for all students during 3rd period, where a lucky 7th grade student got to toss a pie in my face. Since the Aquaponics group worked so hard to count and organize the recycling challenge, and I already had whipped cream everywhere - a few more students got the opportunity to toss pies in my face as well. It was a fun Thursday morning!
During this time of year, our music classes are preparing and performing in their District Assessments - think SOLs but music performances that include a requirement of students performing a selection they have never seen before!
Today, our WIMS Chorus students kicked off the assessment season at Woodson High School where they performed for their District Assessment. Our students performed beautifully and received high marks from the judges. We are so proud of the hard work of Ms. Little, our Chorus long-term substitute, and our Chorus students! Congratulations!
Tomorrow, our Orchestra students will be heading to Katherine Johnson Middle School to perform for their Orchestra District Assessment. Based on the phenomenal pre-assessment concert I heard last week, I know the students will do an excellent job!
To cap off our celebrations, I am excited to welcome Coach Pam Fine, as our new Track coach! The Track slides in the All Parents and All Students courses in Schoology have been updated with the official Track Meet dates and locations. We look forward to our first practice on Tuesday, March 19 at 3:30 pm.
Lastly, I need to ask for some support from you. With the warmer weather and an increase in activity, many of our students are bringing in perfumes, scented lotions, and body sprays to school that are being sprayed/used on the bus and throughout the building. While we fully support the use of deodorant as you deem appropriate for your child, we are asking that students not bring or use scented lotions, perfumes, and/or body sprays on the bus or in the school building. We have several students and staff members with allergies and the use of these scented products can trigger symptoms. Also, the use of the lotions and sprays on the bus and in the building has become disruptive due to the volume being sprayed and the competing scents. We appreciate your support in ensuring all of our students and staff can teach and learn in a healthy environment.
Take Care!
Cindy Conley
Food for Neighbors - Tomorrow
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.
Irving MS Meditation and Silent Reflection Space
Practices and Procedures
In alignment with FCPS Regulation 1502, Irving MS ensures that students and staff of all religious backgrounds have reasonable accommodations and access to meditation and silent reflection spaces within the school building. The following are our guidelines as of 3/7/24, in accordance with updated Regulation 1502.
- Our meditation and silent reflection spaces are located in the Principal’s Conference Room in the Main Office and in Room 106, just down the hall from the Main Office.
- Meditation and silent reflection space may change as needed, but we will make our effort to keep students and staff informed of the location changes as they occur.
- Supervision, as available, will be provided in the meditation and silent reflection space. Due to safety or supervision issues, a school may not be able to provide a meditation and silent reflection space on a temporary basis but shall work with individual students on other possible ways to accommodate their prayer, meditation, and silent reflection needs.
Prayer, Meditation, and Silent Reflection during Instructional Time
- Students are only permitted to use Meditation and Silent Reflection rooms during instructional time when there is a request that cannot be accommodated in any other way that does not impact instruction. Without an approved accommodation to address a need that warrants missing class, students are not permitted to use the rooms during instruction.
- Parents/caregivers must provide written permission for students to miss instructional time on a regular basis. Please use this Google Form to give permission for their child to utilize the meditation and silent reflection space during instructional times.
Use of Meditation and Silent Reflection Spaces
- Individuals using the space shall abide by the following rules and guidelines
- Intended for personal use
- Respect the rights and beliefs of others
- The meditation and silent reflection space may be used for individual or group prayer, meditation, or silent reflection.
- The use of the meditation and silent reflection space shall be voluntary, and no student or staff member will be compelled to use or participate in activities within the space.
- The Students Rights and Responsibilities applies to all students who use the space.
- The reflection space is available during regular hours: 7:30 am - 2:15 pm.
- Students should report to the Main Office to check in.
Student and Family Surveys
Family Engagement Survey is Now Open!
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, please use the weekly sign-up when you plan to stay after school.
Girls’ Basketball Clinic, conducted by WSHS Girls’ Basketball Coaching Staff will be held both blocks on Wednesday, March 13. Athletic attire (including your shoes) and registering via the weekly sign-up are required.
Updates for after school activities and clubs:
Heritage Night Planning Committee, will meet on Monday, March 11, first block. Please contact Mrs. Baez for further information.
The ONLY activities that will be held on Wednesday, March 13: Hollow Lounge and Girls' Basketball Clinic
WSHS Cheer Interest Meeting, Monday, March 18, first block
Harry Potter Club is moving to Wednesdays, starting Wednesday, March 20th
Library News
Do you have any puzzles to share? Our students enjoy piecing together puzzles in the library during their daily break time. They work through these so quickly and have exhausted our supply. If you have any 500 or fewer-piece puzzles that you could donate to the library, please send them in with your student.
This week the library hosted students selecting Novels in Verse for an English assignment, and 8th grade science classes solving Escape-Room type clues as they learned about the periodic table of elements.
Readers Unite Book Club continues to meet on Mondays after school. The school tournament for Battle of the Books teams will be held NEXT WEEK, on March 15th. The competition T-shirts are made and the students are prepping for the big day. Stay tuned for a group picture. After this time, we’ll have a school winner to send to the April 25th county-wide competition!
Ms. Monk & Mr. Brizek
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West Springfield High School COED Spring Break Basketball Camp
PRESENTED BY WSHS BOYS BASKETBALL & ALEXANDRIA KINGS ORG
CAMP HIGHLIGHTS:
- Daily Competitions, skills/fundamentals stations, & 5v5 game play
- Daily Concession (pizza, chips, drinks, etc.)
- Opportunity to win prizes!
- Championship THURS/Awards Ceremony
- Camp T-Shirt
- FOR: Boys & Girls grades 3-8
- WHEN: March 25-28, MON – THURS (9am – 3pm)
- WHERE: West Springfield High School, 6100 Rolling Rd, West Springfield, VA 22152
- COST: $195 per Camper payment instructions will be provided via email
TO REGISTER:
Contact Coach Terry Henderson at tahenderson@fcps.edu
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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