A Weekly Message from Irving Middle School

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 04/26/2024 06:00 PM EDT

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

Upcoming Events

NYC Calendar
BOB

Congratulations to Irving’s first “Battle of the Books” team.  On April 25th, ten students from Irving competed at Lake Braddock Secondary School against 13 other middle-school teams.  All competitors were quizzed on the content of fifteen books that the students read throughout the school year.  After four rounds of various methods of quizzing, Irving finished strongly, placing in the top half of all schools.  A special thanks to Mr. Brizek for leading the team this year.

Greetings, Irving Families!

Please join me in congratulating the first ever Battle of the Books team! As the caption above shares - they did a great job in their first ever district competition. We are very proud of all the students who participated in Battle of the Books this year - there were about 35 Irving students who competed to represent Irving at this competition. It was a lot of fun to hear the students talk about so many interesting books. 

Over the years, the PTA has supported many important projects, to include book giveaways, field trips, and flexible seating grants. Many of the projects the PTA has helped with would not have happened at all without their support. As we look to next year, we currently do not have any nominations for our PTA Executive Board. Without a board, we will not be able to have a PTA - so we need your help! If you would be willing to serve as president, vice-president, secretary, or treasurer or would like more information about the roles, please reach out via email to irvingmspta@gmail.com. Thank you for considering serving in one of these roles so we can continue this wonderful partnership. 

Take Care!

Cindy Conley

Stress Less

Stress Less Week at Irving

Our Student Services team has put together a variety of fun, optional, stress-reducing, self-care activities, spirit days and rock block lessons for ALL Irving students during the week of April 29th-May 2nd leading up to SOL testing dates. We want our students to NOT stress the TESTS and learn different ways of self-care. Check out the detailed spirit days and activities for Stress Less Week above!

WIMS Heritage Night

Irving will host a night to celebrate the different heritages of our students on May 7th from 6-8pm. Come see performances, enjoy food from local businesses and families, local authors: Omar Abed (former Irving student) who wrote The Book that Almost Rhymed and Naaz Khan who wrote Room for Everyone, and more. The local authors will be selling their books if you choose to purchase. We are also looking for volunteers to help make our night a success by picking up food, setting up, serving food or cleaning up. If you are able to volunteer, please sign up on our Sign Up Genius here. We hope to see you on May 7th!

Middle School Start Times - Virtual Date Added!

  • ⏰ Community Forums on Middle School Start Times

FCPS 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. Register for an in-person forum by clicking on one of the following dates: 

A virtual forum will be held on Monday, May 13, 6:30-8 p.m. That registration link will be available soon.

While registration is not required, it does help with planning. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.  

School Health Services Survey

School Health Services Satisfaction SurveyThe Fairfax County Health Department and FCPS School Health Services invite parents/caregivers to participate in a survey on the level of satisfaction with support provided to your school community by School Health Services. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and is open until Friday, April 26. Your feedback can help to improve school health services.

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon

FCPS students in grades 3-12 took the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener during March, providing updated information on skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. 

In late April, individual student SEL Screener results will be available for families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail. 

Get more information about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For support in understanding your individual student’s results or ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or contact your student’s School Counselor. 

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:

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) 

Irving Stays After - After School Program

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. 

Registration

Updates:

Track & Field and athletic activity participants (ie Futsal, Open Gym), please remember: your athletic gear (including sneakers), water bottle and other needs as the temperature changes.

Field Games will meet both blocks on Wednesday, April 24, weather permitting.

Futsal Club returns to both blocks on Wednesday, April 24.

Sewing Club will meet both blocks on Wednesday, April 24.

CPP will meet 1st block on Thursday, April 25.

Library News

The library was busy this week with a group of 7th grade classes who examined the role that propaganda posters played in motivating citizens to support World War II.

Testing season is upon us; encourage your students to always have a good book on hand to read while waiting for others to finish testing.

Ms. Monk & Mr. Brizek

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

PTA ELECTIONS – The Irving MS PTA Needs You! No PTA Board, No Irving PTA! – Please consider running for President, Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer. The positions are open to anyone with a current or incoming student at Irving. The current board members have either served their 2 terms or have rising 9th grade students. Elections will be held at the May 14th meeting. Nominations will be accepted from the floor or email: irvingptanomcommittee@gmail.com. Questions, email: irvingmspta@gmail.com.

Without a PTA executive board, there will be no Irving PTA. By not filling these positions, the Irving PTA would no longer be in good standing with Virginia PTA; which means our charter could be revoked or we would have to dissolve Irving’s PTA. Did you know? – Irving Spirit Wear is sold by the PTA; Staff Appreciation Events are hosted by the PTA; Teacher Grants are funded by the PTA; financial support for school capital improvements, field trips and the 8th Grade Dance are provided by the PTA; restaurant nights are coordinated by the PTA

PTA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING – Our next meeting will be Tuesday, May 14th at 6:30pm via Zoom. We need members to attend! We’ll be voting on new Board Officers and possible adjustments to the budget.

TEACHER APPRECIATION – Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6 – 10, 2024. Kendra, our committee chair, is asking for volunteers to help during the day on Monday and Friday. If interested in helping, please email Kendra directly at kendraschaefer08@gmail.com. She has some wonderful things planned for our staff. Teacher/Staff Car Wash will be Tuesday, May 4. The PTA and school administrators will be washing the teachers’ cars during the school day (approx. 9-1)! Stop by anytime to help!

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 Chick-Fil-A (Burke) May 13-17! This is the Chick-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).

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