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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 18-22
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Spirit Week (see below)
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March 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 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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May 7
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Heritage Night
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Congratulations to Salbinaz and Khanim on winning trophies in the 2024 VA Scholastic Championships in Roanoke, March 8-10, 2024! They represented Irving MS at this statewide chess competition and did so well. We are so proud and look forward to displaying the trophies in Irving’s lobby!
Greetings, Irving Families!
What a beautiful week of weather - we were so excited to be able to get our students outside this week for break. Thank you for supporting our request to have scented lotions, perfumes, and body sprays kept at home! The difference this week was very noticeable, and we really appreciate your support - especially as the allergy season is beginning earlier this year.
Today, I was able to be one of the judges for the first ever Irving MS, Battle of the Books! Roughly 25 students read books throughout the year and then competed in a variety of competitions about the books. I added so many books to my spring break reading list. Congratulations to all of our student participants! The love of reading was evident today as was the excitement for the event! Speaking of reading, be sure to be on the lookout for information about a Spring Break Reading Challenge next week!
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Lastly, I want to give a big thank you to our PTA for supporting us all year! Our Executive Board has been working diligently all year to support our staff and students with appreciation days and teacher mini grants. Thank you to Mr. Robert Johnson -President, Ms. Jennifer Johnson - Vice President, Ms. Cathy Ray - Secretary, and Ms. Christy Whiteaker - Treasurer! All of these members of our amazing board are moving on next year and we are in need of new parents/guardians for all positions. If you are interested in filling one of the officer positions, please please reach out - irvingmspta@gmail.com.
Take Care!
Cindy Conley
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.
FCPS Conversation on Fentanyl and Other Drugs - Student Service Hour Opportunity - Resources
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Monday, March 18, 2024
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Lake Braddock Secondary School, 9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015, Auditorium (Enter through door 14)
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) invites you to a community conversation focused on addressing the opioid crisis within Northern Virginia and Fairfax County Public Schools. This discussion will provide families and students with valuable knowledge about the dangers of drugs and deadly fentanyl.
All attendees will receive a free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services currently available within FCPS and Fairfax County.
Together, as a community, we aim to explore collaborative strategies to minimize the impact of these harmful and sometimes fatal substances.
Language interpretation services are available as well as American Sign Language accommodation. Childcare and transportation will also be provided, as needed.
Program appropriate for grades 6 and up.
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. This is the last week of Volleyball Clinic, thanks to Coach Noriega, her coaching staff and WSHS Varsity & JV volunteers.
Updates for after school activities and clubs:
WSHS Cheer Interest Meeting, Monday, March 18, first block
Whisk Takers will meet on Tuesday, March 19, both blocks. The weekly sign-up is mandatory to attend the club.
Track & Field will begin Tuesday, March 19, 2nd block
Harry Potter Club is moving to Wednesdays, starting Wednesday, March 20th
TRIBE is not meeting on Thursday, March 21
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.
Ms. Monk & Mr. Brizek
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West Springfield High School Girls’ Basketball Clinic
Tuesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 21
From 4:00pm to 5:30pm
At West Springfield High School
*This opportunity is for girls that would like to participate in the RISING Freshmen Spring League*
For more information, contact Coach Gibson at, wrgibson@fcps.edu
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! - Products are in and will be distributed next week!
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 2 more 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 April 16th by Zoom (meeting delayed a week due to 4/10 student holiday)
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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