Weekly Words - Mar 22

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 03/22/2024 04:30 PM EDT
translate

Weekly Words

March 22, 2024

Dear Island Creek Families,

Today was the last day of the 3rd Quarter of school! Our Crocs have grown so much this year, and we are fortunate to have the privilege to serve the most amazing students and families.

To keep minds sharp, we encourage our Crocs to continue reading exciting books, writing stories, and practicing their math skills in everyday situations at the store, while cooking, or even playing games.

We hope our Crocs have a safe and fun-filled Spring Break, and we look forward to welcoming every student back to school on Wednesday, April 3.

Take good care,

Jen Fallert, Principal

jrfallert@fcps.edu

Island Creek’s New Vision and Mission

After 7 months of dedicated work, and seeking input from families, staff, and students, the Island Creek Compass Team is thrilled to share Island Creek’s new Vision and Mission!

47
28
22reading

Island Creek Crocs Rocked Their Socks Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day!

0
0
poetrypoetry
gr 4
hidden pond
yb

Order your yearbook online at Barksdale Storefront. Use access code: 0037455YB to log in. 
yb
save the date

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming!

SAVE THE DATE for April 12 - 19 and get ready to empower your reader with book choice.

Start exploring together: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/islandcreek  

#ScholasticBookFairs

Click here to view a short video about how ewallet works!

Our Scholastic Book Fair starts on Friday, April 12th!

Now’s the time to create your eWallet! Watch this short video to learn how it works, then visit our Fair homepage to set up your account: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/islandcreek

Focus on Specials: Music

Anyone walking down the music hall lately has been treated to the beautiful music played on the Orff instruments by our Island Creek student musicians. Orff Instruments, named after the composer Carl Orff, are child-sized pitched and unpitched percussion instruments with which students can apply their music literacy skills to play and create beautiful music. Kindergarten and first graders have worked on providing sound effects and steady beat accompaniment to songs and rhymes. Students in grades 2-4 have begun working on more complicated 2- and 3-part accompaniments of known folk songs. Our fifth and sixth graders have been dabbling in music inspired by the African marimba and the Zimbabwean music culture. Ask your students what they know about “thumbs up,” “chicken wings” and “X marks the spot!” We love our instrumentalists.

333

SCREENING FOR SCHOOL-BASED AAP SERVICES

Screening for school-based AAP services (Levels II & III) is done schoolwide in the spring to determine services for the next school year.  Parents or guardians may initiate the screening for school-based (level II and III) services by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form to the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART) at Island Creek ES prior to spring screening, no later than Monday, April 15, 2024. Please see the AAP Spring Newsletter and the AAP website for more information about AAP Programs and levels of service. Multiple criteria are used to screen students for all levels of AAP services.  Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by Island Creek of their student’s eligibility status by Friday, June 7, 2023.  If you have any questions or to submit the referral form, please contact the AART, Amy Ivey, at amivey@fcps.edu.

3

Spring Photos

Update: Monday, April 15

Spring Photos with Barksdale have been rescheduled to Monday, April 15. These photos will include individuals and class pictures. 

picture
purple

Purple Up! on April 17 to Support Military Families

April is the Month of the Military Child

April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize children from military families for their contributions and sacrifices. We recognize that children serve too! 

Island Creek Elementary is proud to have over 150 military-connected youth as part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community and recognize their strength and resilience. Through-out the month of April we will feature our military-connected students on the Morning News show as they recite the “Pledge of Allegiance.” On Wednesday, April 17th we will celebrate Purple Up! Day, a special day for our community to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. We encourage all students and staff members to wear purple that day as a symbol of the combined colors of all branches of the military.

Save the Date: Island Creek’s 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony

ceremony

Immunization Clinics

To help parents/caregivers obtain vaccinations for their children, the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) will offer immunization clinics with extended hours:

Parents/caregivers should make an appointment but a limited number of walk-ins will be accepted. Please call 703-246-7100 to schedule an appointment. 

pencils

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. 

Kids

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

sol

Updated COVID Recommendations

In accordance with the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) respiratory virus guidance, FCPS and the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) have updated school COVID-19 recommendations.

The COVID-19 isolation period of five days is no longer recommended. 

New respiratory virus guidance applies to respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Students who have symptoms of, test positive for, or have been diagnosed with a respiratory virus may return to school when the student is fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication; AND the student’s symptoms have improved or resolved. 

Students should follow additional precautions as outlined per the CDC upon resumption of normal activities.

Safe, Supported, and Included — the FCPS Family Summit 2024

The FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, April 20, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Marshall High School. The conference will cover topics that are helpful for all families, such as social-emotional resources, along with a specially curated online component to provide supports for students with disabilities and their families. 

Some of the topics include raising resilient, independent children; forming meaningful connections with children; addressing big emotions; and the dangers of opioids and fentanyl. The conference is being planned by several FCPS offices in collaboration with the Fairfax Alliance of Black School Educators, Black Women’s Educational Alliance - DC Chapter, Hispanic Educators Association, and Asian Educators Association. 

This year’s theme is Safe, Supported, and Included, which aligns with Goal 2 of the FCPS Strategic Plan. More details will be available after spring break.

April Webinars and Events for Families

The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars for adults to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Upcoming events include:

Click the linked titles above to register. Learn more about FRC webinars and events.

📖 Lexia Parent Night: How We Help Your Child Learn to Read

FCPS funds the use of Lexia for all elementary and middle schools as part of their literacy instruction. Lexia is a computer-based program that supplements classroom instruction to help students develop literacy skills. It also provides teachers with data to identify students who need additional support and the ability to know which specific concepts and skills to prioritize.

Attend a virtual information night on Tuesday, April 9, to learn more about Lexia and how FCPS is integrating it into the classroom to support student growth. Participants will also get tips for supporting their students at home. Integrating Lexia into the literacy curriculum aligns with the Virginia Literacy Act, FCPS’ Equitable Access to Literacy, and FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3, which aims to have all students reading on level by the end of third grade.

dates

Click to view the 2023-2024 FCPS School Calendar

  • Sunday, March 10-Tuesday, April 9:  Ramadan
  • Spring Break for students:  March 25-April 2
  • Sunday, March 31:  Easter
  • Month of April:  Arab American Heritage Month
  • Month of April:  National Autism Acceptance Month
  • Tuesday, April 2:  Orientation for Rising Kindergarten students (2:30-3:30)
  • Tuesday, April 2:  World Autism Acceptance Day
  • Wednesday, April 3:  4th Quarter begins
  • Wednesday, April 10:  Eid Al Fitr (School closed for students and staff)
  • Thursday, April 11:  5th Grade IRW SOL
  • Friday, April 12-Friday, April 19:  Book Fair at Island Creek
  • Wednesday, April 17:  Purple Up! Day
  • Friday, May 3: Orthodox Good Friday (School closed for students; Teacher Workday)
  • Wednesday, June 12:  Sixth Grade Promotion Ceremony (9:00, Gymnasium); Last day of the 2023-2024 School Year (2-hour early dismissal)