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Message from Mrs. Fallert
Dear Island Creek Families,
Thank you to the Island Creek PTA and Island Creek Families for organizing and donating food items for the delicious Staff Apple Bar on Monday! As the first quarter of the school year is nearly at an end, I want to share some important reminders and upcoming events.
Zoom-in with Administration
This Wednesday, October 23rd, we will host our monthly Zoom-in With Adminstration from 11:30-12:15. We invite parents/guardians to join us and share glows and grows about Island Creek so we continue to improve with meeting the needs of our students and families. Please register here to access the Zoom link
Book Character Day and Early Release
This Thursday, October 24th, will be our annual Book Character Day. We encourage all students to dress up as their favorite book character (no masks, painted faces, or toy weapons). In addition, we will have a 2-hour early release at 1:20 that day. Please make sure to adjust your pick-up plans accordingly.
Veterans Day Tribute
We want to honor our families with veterans and active-duty soldiers. We are looking for all branches of the military to celebrate Veterans Day. We would like to pay tribute to all our veterans and active-duty soldiers! Please use this LINK to upload your picture by Monday, November 4th.
Share the Warmth Clothing Drive
This is the last week to collect new and gently used clothing for our Share the Warmth Clothing Drive. Please drop off donations to the school office. The Principal's Student Advisory Council will be folding and sorting donated items on Thursday, October 31.
Thanksgiving Luncheon (RSVP by Friday, November 8)
Families are invited to attend our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon which will be held on Thursday, November 21. We ask that families access the QR code to RSVP not later than Friday, November 8.
Outstanding FCPS Employee Nominations
We encourage families to nominate an amazing Croc Staff member for an Outstanding FCPS Employee award (shown below). This is a great opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of our staff.
Thank you for your continued support and entrusting us with your wonderful children!
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All our best,
Jen Fallert, Principal
Karen Baxter, Assistant Principal
Denise Cash-Pinckney, Assistant Principal
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 We are thrilled to announce our 3rd Annual Share the Warmth Winter Clothing Drive! We will collect donations of new or lovingly used winter clothing for children, ages 4-12. We kindly request that all lovingly used clothing be washed before donating. Mrs. Fallert will bring all donated clothing to a Title 1 school in Fairfax County which will host a November “shopping night” for families free of charge.
Please Upload Photos of Your Veterans by Monday, 11/4
Island Creek is a Purple Star school and we embrace opportunities to recognize and celebrate our military-connected families!
We are looking for all branches of the military to celebrate Veterans Day. We would like to pay tribute to all our veterans and active-duty soldiers! Please use this LINK to upload your picture by Monday, November 4th. As a result of the volume of pictures please only upload one photo of the service member. Island Creek staff will create a slideshow of the photos that will be displayed to the entire school on Friday, November 8th.
Thank you for your service!
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 FCPS Honors nominations for the 2024-2025 school year are officially open! Nominate a deserving Island Creek Staff member in each category by Wednesday, November 6. Fairfax County Public Schools celebrates the efforts and accomplishments of exceptional school-based and non-school-based employees from throughout the district.
More information concerning the FCPS Outstanding Employee Recognition Program can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/careers/recognition-programs. If you have any questions concerning the nomination process, please contact Ms. Bickerstaff, Island Creek Awards Liaison, at sabickerstaf@fcps.edu.
Staff members are listed for each category.
Thank you for your support of our dedicated Island Creek staff!
Award Categories (please click on the link to complete a nomination):
On Thursday, October 31, Island Creek will have our 2nd Annual Book Character Day! Students are invited to find a great book and dress up like their favorite character. Book Character Day is a fun, voluntary activity for both students and staff that promotes a love of reading, specifically favorite book characters. We are looking forward to seeing which characters inspire our students!
Dressing up is optional. If students choose to do so, please adhere to the following so that our students have a safe and productive day.
- Costumes should not be scary nor have words, graphics, or toy weapons that are inappropriate for school
- No costume face masks
- No painted faces
Whether your child is wearing a costume or not, please remind them to bring their favorite book.
Zoom-In with Administration
Wednesday, October 30; 11:30 AM-12:15 PM
Do you have questions, wonderings, and/or thoughts that you would like to share with Island Creek Administrators? Ideas on how to make Island Creek an even better school community? We realize not every family is able to attend in-person chats, so we cordially invite families to join Ms. Fallert, Ms. Baxter, and Ms. Cash-Pinckney on Wednesday, October 30 from 11:30-12:15 via Zoom. Please register here to access the Zoom link
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School Picture Day is Coming!
📅 Date: Friday, November 8; (Picture Make-Up Day: Wednesday, 12/11)
📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day
🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001183193#login
📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com
We would like to have at least one volunteer per camera operator. Thank you to the Island Creek PTA for creating a sign-up genius.
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3rd and 4th Grade Families, we look forward to welcoming you to the Family Friday Breakfast Bash on Friday, November 15 from 7:45-8:20. Please RSVP here
- 3rd & 4th Grades Family Friday Breakfast Bash: Friday, November 15; RSVP here
- 5th & 6th Grades Family Friday Breakfast Bash: Friday, November 22; RSVP here
We hope to see your family at one of these events!
You are cordially invited to attend Island Creek's Thanksgiving Luncheon on Thursday, November 21 with your child. Lunch times for the Thanksgving Luncheon differ from your child's typical lunch time, please see the schedule below.
We ask that you RSVP no later than Friday, November 8 using this link or accessing the QR Code below.
Our Croc readers have fallen into some great books this fall, with 8,489 books checked out! Students may borrow books for up to 3 weeks, but it is ideal for students to get into the habit of returning their books every week unless they are reading longer chapter books. If readers need longer than 2 weeks with a book, they can renew their book loan online using the Destiny library catalog or by request at the circulation desk during library time.
For students who enjoy borrowing books more often than their regular library time allows, the library is open every day before school at 8:20 and after school until 3:40. Readers may also request permission from their teacher to visit the library during the school day,
Students in Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades read books during library time featuring Hispanic authors and illustrators, including Alma and How She Got Her Name, written and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, a celebration of unique names and family history. Did your child ask you to share the story of how you chose his or her name? Have you ever shared the origin of your own name, or the names of other family members? Click to edit this placeholder text.
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Given that it is peak leaf season, our 4th grade Virginia History Hunters have been encouraged to use their Every Kid in a Park pass to treat their families to outdoor adventures at nearby National Park Service sites, including Great Falls here in Fairfax County (a perfect illustration of the Fall Line that students studied in their Virginia Geography unit), Prince William Forest Park, and Shenandoah National Park. 4th graders can earn points in our History Hunters year-long scavenger hunt by reading Virginia historical markers and visiting Virginia historical sites.
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5th and 6th grade students enjoyed rounds of “book speed dating” in the library, practicing how to efficiently “judge a book by its cover” by reading the back and inside front cover to help make quick book browsing decisions. Classes have also been learning about new books in our collection by viewing book trailers and evaluating what makes a book trailer effective at persuasion. 5th and 6th grade readers will be storyboarding, writing, and editing their own book trailers for sharing on Schoology and/or on the ICNN morning news later this year.
On display in our library now are books about autumn and books about upcoming holidays and cultural celebrations, including Halloween, All Saints Day/The Day of the Dead, Diwali, and Election Day. Diwali books have been are popular among children who celebrate Diwali and with students who would like to learn more about a holiday that some of their classmates celebrate. Students can browse our online collection of Diwali books to place a book on hold for later delivery. Happy Diwali next week to all who celebrate!Click to edit this placeholder text.
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We wish a fun Diwali to all celebrating! Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs & some Buddhists. The festival represents the symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. #OurFCPS |
Next week we recognize those in our community observing All Saints Day and Día de los Muertos. For Catholics, All Saints Day (November 1) celebrates all those who are with God in Heaven, known and unknown. All Souls Day (November 2), known in Mexico and Latin America as Día de los Muertos, is a day of remembrance and prayer for all those who have died, especially for the souls who may be in purgatory. These special days are celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, and some Protestants throughout the world. #OurFCPS
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You are invited to join our Reading Specialists, Ms. Blumenthal and Ms. Jacobson, on Friday, November 15 (8:40-9:30) to learn about Fairfax County Public Schools' new Benchmark Advanced Literacy Program. Session materials will be uploaded to our webiste.
Advanced Academics Programming (AAP) Important Information
If you have a student in grades 2-6 and are interested in submitting a referral for Full-Time Advanced Academic services, the following information provides a timeline for screening and identification. If you have any questions or to submit the referral form, please contact the AART, Emily Mextorf, at eamextorf@fcps.edu.
December 15, 2024
- Advanced Academic Programs Full-Time Referral Form and optional materials for students in Grade 2 who are not Universal Screener referral candidates and students in Grades 3–7 due to Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART).
- PLEASE NOTE:
- Universal Screener referral candidates are announced in early December.
- If you would like your student screened you may submit a referral from August 21 to December 15, 2024. No exceptions to the referral deadline are made.
March 2025: Central Screening Committee meets. April 3-4, 2025: Eligibility decisions sent. April 7-May 2, 2025: AAP orientations are held at Full-Time AAP sites. May 1, 2025: Appeals due to the AAP office. Fall 2025: Eligible students in Grades 3-8 may attend Full-Time AAP sites beginning first semester.
 Our school has been selected to participate in a pilot program for the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.
A limited number of classes in grades 3-6 will be selected to participate. However, all students in participating grades, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email. We will administer the survey in selected classes during the school day between Monday, December 2, and Friday, December 13. Any student may take the survey at home, if preferred. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose.
We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.
Our next 3-Hour Early Release Monday will be next Monday, November 18 at 12:20 pm. We will follow parent/guardian repsonses from the Early Release on Monday, October 21. l.
If you need to change your child’s plans, please call the school office at 571-642-6300 as soon as possible and no later than Thursday, Novemer 15.
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October is a Busy Month for PTA Events!
Mark your calendars and join us for a month full of fun and community-building. From spirit nights to STEAM & Treat, there's something for everyone
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Sign up for Pickleball Night – Friday, November 15
Your ticket includes professional instructors, from 6 – 9 p.m., who will teach you how to play pickleball, time for open play, and an opportunity to participate in a tournament to win a prize!
Each $25 ticket includes one adult and one child and a popcorn snack.
You can bring your own pickleball paddle or borrow one from us!
Three Wishes Bookshop will be onsite.
Become a PTA Member This Year!
You can now purchase a PTA membership (or family bundle!) for the 2024-2025 school year. We currently have 115 members! Sign up here
Upcoming Dates
❤️Wednesday, October 30: Zoom-in with Administration (11:30-12:15); Please register here to access the Zoom link
❤️Thursday, October 31: Book Character Day; 2-Hour early release for all school-age students (1:20)
❤️Friday, November 1: Diwali and All Saints Day (No school for students and staff)
❤️Monday, November 4: School Planning (No school for students)
❤️Tuesday, November 5: Teacher Workday (No school for students)
❤️Friday, November 8: School Picture Day!
❤️Monday, November 11: Veterans Day Holiday (No school for students and staff)
❤️Friday, November 15: 3rd and 4th Grade Family Friday Breakfast Bash (7:45-8:20); Coffee and Conversations (Benchmark Advanced Literacy), 8:40-9:30
❤️Monday, November 18: 3-Hour Early Release for students (12:20)
❤️Thursday, November 21: Thanksgiving Lunch; Math Night (5:00-6:30)
❤️Friday, November 22: 5th and 6th Grade Family Friday Breakfast Bash (7:45-8:20)
❤️Wednesday, November 27-29: Thanksgiving Break (No school for students and staff)
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