Weekly Update from Irving MS

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

Congratulations to Mr. Mike Higginbotham! We are thrilled to share that Mr. Higginbotham is the Irving Middle School, West Springfield, and now the Region 4 Secondary New Teacher of the year! We are elated that Mr. Higginbotham is being recognized by so many for his dedication to the students at Irving.

Greetings, Irving Families!

It has been a fast 3 days since returning from Spring Break! We were very fortunate to start with a surprise for Mr. Higginbotham, who has now been named the Region 4, Secondary Outstanding New Teacher of the Year. This is a huge accomplishment - each middle and high school in Region 4 submits candidates for this award and out of all of those submissions, Mr. Higginbotham was selected as the recipient of the Region 4 award. After retiring from a career in the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, Mr. Higginbotham went on to be a government contractor, and then in 2022 he became a middle school Science Teacher. We are so grateful he chose Irving Middle School. Please join me in congratulating him!

Speaking of Science, on Monday, April 8, a Solar Eclipse will occur from approximately 2:00 pm-4:35 pm. We will be dismissing at our usual time, 2:15 pm. Irving Middle School will not be providing eyewear for students. We do want to ensure students dismiss safely, so during 3rd period Rock Block today and again prior to dismissal on Monday, we will be reminding students of the information below, we encourage you to reinforce the information at home as well.  If you have concerns about your child walking or riding the bus home and would like to pick your child up prior to the end of the day, please do so no later than 1:30 pm so that we can get our buses lined up in our bus loop in time for dismissal. For more details about the eclipse, visit the FCPS Solar Eclipse webpage.

Reminders to Students:

• Don't look at the sun without approved eyewear. Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can permanently damage your eyes
• Regular sunglasses are not good enough. The NASA website has more information about eye safety.  
• Safe solar viewers are thousands of times darker and should comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard.

Please remind your child to be especially vigilant about eye safety by not looking at the sun. 

Take Care!

Cindy Conley

Rising 9th Grade Families - Join the West Springfield HS PTSA!

The West Springfield PTSA welcomes rising 9th grade parents/guardians to get involved with the high school this spring.  You do not need to wait until the fall for info, and you are welcome to become involved in the PTSA and run for office this spring.  All of the meetings are virtual via Zoom and at 7:30pm, with registration links provided below. The remaining PTSA meeting schedule is:

April 9 (next Tuesday): Registration link

May 14:   Registration link

June 4:  Registration link

Parents/Guardians who want to start following WSHS PTSA information, we use the following social media: 

PTSA website:  www.wshsptsa.net 

Facebook:  PTSA Facebook

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spartanptsa/ (just getting going with this)

E-mail:  Go to FCPS News You Choose and select West Springfield HS PTSA (you can also check other boxes to start receiving other high school communications if you want) 

Middle School Start Times

• ⏰ Community Forums on Middle School Start Times

Fairfax County Public Schools is exploring options for adjusting middle school start times and invites the public to be part of the process. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Please attend the event that works best for your schedule: 

• Monday, April 29, 6-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School. 
• Monday, May 6, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
• Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
• Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School. 

Registration is not required but does help with planning. Click one of the dates above to register. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.

Lexia Night

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

Attend a virtual information night to learn about Lexia on Tuesday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. Participants will discover how FCPS is integrating this program into the classroom to support student literacy growth. Tips for supporting students at home will also be shared. 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.

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

NO OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES/CLUBS on Monday, April 8 

NO SCHOOL on Wednesday, April 10

Readers Unite will meet on Tuesday, April 9, during the 1st block.

Shot Put practice on Tuesday, April 9, during 1st block.

Library News Students worked on this puzzle only periodically, but completed it quickly.  Thanks to those who have donated puzzles.  We’re glad that several students submitted photos of them reading in interesting places for our Spring-Break’s “Take a Break and Read” contest.  We saw students reading poolside in Saint-Martin, students reading while buried up to their neck in sand, students reading in a bunny costume as they volunteered hours at the local USO, students reading on roller coasters at Busch Gardens, and even a student reading mid-Arabesque jump.  From among all of those who submitted photographs, winners were randomly chosen.  Congratulations to Parker, Ariel. and Ms. Choudhury.  Winners receive a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Please encourage your student to always keep some reading materials with them.  Testing season is approaching, and it’s always good to have a book on hand while you’re waiting for others to finish testing! Ms. Monk & Mr. Brizek

WSHS Boys Basketball Rising 9th Spring Basketball League

West Springfield is looking for rising 9th grade boys that are interested in playing in their Spring League. The participation letter is available on Schoology. For more information, please contact Coach Henderson at: tahenderson@fcps.edu.

WSHS Girls Basketball Camp

West Springfield will be hosting a girls basketball camp June 17 -21 for rising 3rd THRU 9th graders.  For registration  you can follow the link: View Girl's Basketball Camp Details (ryzer.com)

For more information you can contact Coach Gibson at:   wrgibsoin@fcps.edu

Sports teams at WSHS

Are you planning to try-out for a sports team at West Springfield?

Season Start Dates:

Fall Sports: Try-outs begin Monday, August 5, 2024

Cross Country, Cheerleading, Dance, Field Hockey, Football, Girls Volleyball

Exception: Golf begins July 29th, 2024

PLEASE NOTE THAT FALL SPORTS DO BEGIN IN AUGUST.  ALL SUMMER VACATIONS SHOULD BE PLANNED FOR JUNE/JULY.

Winter Sports: Try-outs begin Monday, November 11, 2024

Boys/Girls Basketball, Gymnastics, Indoor Track, Rifle, Swim & Dive, Wrestling

Spring Sports: Monday, February 24, 2025

Baseball, Crew, Girls/Boys Lacrosse, Outdoor Track, Girls/Boys Soccer, Softball, Girls/Boys Tennis

If you have sport specific questions, please contact the coach directly. Please find coaches contact information HERE

Each athlete MUST complete the 2 items below prior to any off season workout or try-outs:

VHSL physical is required for participation. It must be dated after May 1, 2024.  The VHSL Physical Form can be found HERE

• Please make sure that the insurance information is included, and all parent/student signatures are on the form.
• Please turn your Physical into the Activities Office.  Mail to:   Attn: Chris Worrell ATC   West Springfield HS, 6100 Rolling Road, Springfield VA, 22152 or email to: cworrell@fcps.edu

• Families & student-athletes must complete the online Athletic Registration each school year after May 1st for the following school year. You can find this link HERE.  The information on the registration must be updated each year for the student-athlete to be eligible. Please update any emergency contact information, complete the concussion education, and check the sport(s) that they wish to try-out for.
• Instructions for how to complete Athletic Registration can be found HERE

Athletics Website:  https://westspringfieldspartansathletics.com/

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)

RESTAURANT SPIRIT WEEK! at Chik-Fil-A (Burke) in May - May 13-17! This is the Chik-Fil-A in Burke! Breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Use code IMS24 for mobile orders. The flyer is here  https://tinyurl.com/IrvingChik (copy & paste, links don't work).

TEACHER APPRECIATION – NEXT UP – we’re going to stock the staff lounge. Watch this space for more information!SPIRITWEAR! -  Students should have received (& brought home!) their orders during Rock Block this week. If they did not, please reach out to irvingmspta@gmail.com.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 1 more volunteer 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

8100 Old Keene Mill Springfield, VA 22152  | Main Office: 703-912-4500
Attendance: 703-912-4545 | Web | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube