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Dear Island Creek Families,
Thank you to the Island Creek PTA and Community as our students have new recess equipment!
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Chronic Absenteeism: Our school goal is to have less than 5% of our students considered chronically absent (10% or more of the school year). As of Tuesday, we had 5.3% of students chronically absent. Thank you to our dedicated Attendance Team (Ms. Bohnert, Dr. Clinkscales, Ms. Bickerstaff, Ms. DeGregorio, and Ms. Baxter) for their work with supporting students and families. Should you have a barrier with your student's attendance, please contact the school.
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Kindergarten Orientation: Do you have a rising Kindergarten student who will turn 5 before September? We invite you and your child to Kindergarten Orientation on Tuesday, April 1 (9:30-11:00).
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Last Day of the 3rd Quarter: Friday, March 28 (full day of school)
Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for sharing your amazing children with us!
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All our best,
Jen Fallert, Principal
Karen Baxter, Assistant Principal
Denise Cash-Pinckney, Assistant Principal
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Help us reach our goal of 5% or less this year! We are almost there!
To ensure transparency and celebrate our progress, we will be sharing weekly attendance data and updates in our newsletter. By highlighting this important information, we aim to keep our families informed and energized about our collective efforts to encourage regular school attendance
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This morning was the first student-led meeting with their Eco Crocs! The students went outside to see the new place where the garden is going and how they will be a part of putting the garden together. Students sat in the outdoor classroom and shared their hopes and dreams as an Eco Croc. The Eco Crocs had so many ideas, and the sponsors, Ms. Savanick and Ms. Parker look forward to putting together a plan to tap into the knowledge of the Ecoc Crocs and what they want to do. The students left saying things like, “This is so awesome! I am so excited! When do we meet again?”
Advanced Academic Programs: Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Students can be screened for subject specific and part time AAP services at any time in the school year. In the spring, schools review data on all students to determine services for the start of the next school year.
Screening Process for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Multiple criteria are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent or guardian input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom.
Appeals Process for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee. This new information should be submitted to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Emily Mextorf at eamextorf@fcps.edu
For more information about the continuum of AAP services, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advancedacademics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students.
 Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Read more about Women’s History Month in National Geographic Kids.
Shown below is a beautiful display our 3rd Grade Classes made in recognition of National Women's History Month!
dents at all grade levels have been reading and discussing biographies during library time in February and March. In February, we enjoyed biographies of groundbreaking Americans during Black History Month, including Carter Woodson, Katherine Johnson, James Lafayette, and Barbara Rose Johns. Upper grade students played “musical books” (like musical chairs) to get a wide sampling of new picture book biographies. Students in Grades 5 & 6 are also honing their skills as content creators to create videos to highlight new books in the library collection, spotlight American history heroes for Black History Month and Women’s History Month, to promote our upcoming book fair, and/or to craft creative and catchy birthday videos for the ICNN morning news. In March, many grade levels have been reading biographies of amazing women such as Emily Roebling, whose leadership made completion of the Brooklyn Bridge possible; Barbara Johns, at 16 year old Virginia girl who led a peaceful student strike for civil rights in education that led to the only student-led court case that was part of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision; and Frances Perkins, the first woman appointed to a Presidential cabinet and the creator of Social Security. Younger grades have also enjoyed Irish folk tales and explorations of how folk tales originate.
With generous support from the Island Creek PTA and book fair sales, our library has dramatically expanded its collection of updated and appealing biographies for children, not just for special months, but all year round. Many of these are wonderful books for family read-alouds! You are welcome to browse these collections online to find great books about inspiring and fascinating people to read with your child. Your child can log in to the Island Creek Destiny catalog to find books to check out for his/her next library visit, and if books are already checked out, your child can log in with their Google (@fcpsschools.net) account to place holds online and the books will be delivered by Junior Librarians to your child’s class when they become available. Check out this collection of over 150 new biographies for Women’s History Month to get a taste of new books and put books on hold!
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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 125 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 9th 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.
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Parents of rising kindergartners please contact Ms. Bickerstaff, Island Creek Registrar, to schedule an appointment to register your rising kindergartner for the fall of 2025!
Spread the news with neighbors and friends who may also have a kindergartener ready to begin their journey at Island Creek!
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There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
1. Determine eligibility: Children must be age 5 or older by September 30.
2. Identify your local school.
3. Gather documents.
4. Fill out forms.
5. An in-person appointment is still necessary. Please schedule with Ms. Bickerstaff.
Read more about the registration process.
Rising Kindergarten Student Intention 2025-26 Please complete this form if you have a rising kindergartner and plan on attending Island Creek Elementary School. We are not using this data for evaluative purposes nor for placement purposes but merely to collect information for the beginning of the school year. All students come in at various levels academically and socially. We are excited for our 2025-26 kindergarten students!
Tuesday, April 1, 2025: 9:30-11:00 (sign-in at 9:15)
We are excited to welcome our newest Crocs to Island Creek Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year!
This event is intended for the rising kindergarten student and their parents/guardians. Last year we tried something new and it was a success, so will be repeating this year! 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 11:00 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.
For your planning purposes and reference, please see the Spring 2025 Standards of Learning (SOL) Testing Dates. When possible, please avoid scheduling appointments and/or activities that would prevent your child from arriving at school on time on the days your child(ren) are participating in an SOL Assessment.
Monday, April 21 is Island Creek's next 3-Hour Early Release Day for school-age students at 12:20 pm. We will follow parent/guardian responses from the Early Release on Monday, March 10. If you need to change your child’s plans, please call the school office at 571-642-6300.
70th Annual Regional Science Fair
The 70th Annual Regional Science Fair will take place at Robinson Secondary School the weekend of March 21-23.
The fair is open to the public on Sunday, March 23, 1-3 p.m., during the Open House. Community members are invited to see the project displays and congratulate our high school student participants.
Visit the science fair webpage for more information
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! Share your thoughts and ask questions regarding FCPS on Tuesday, April 1 at Lorton Station from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Are you concerned about your infant, toddler, or preschool-aged child's development? Resources are available if your child exhibits difficulties in one or more of the following areas:
- communication
- fine and/or gross motor skills
- self-help skills
- problem solving
- attention skills
Learn more about typical developmental milestones.
The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia (ITC) is the state’s early intervention system for infants and toddlers (0-36 months) with disabilities and their families. ITC provides evaluations and services for children who have developmental delays or medical conditions that may affect development. Parents are encouraged to contact ITC at 703-246-7121 to share their concerns.
Early Childhood Child Find is the process of identifying children with potential special education needs between the ages of 20 months and 5 years (children must be two by September 30).
FCPS Early Childhood Identification and Services (ECID&S) offers a free referral process to identify potential developmental delays or disabilities. Special education services are provided for all children who are found eligible through the referral process. Parents are encouraged to contact 571-423-4121 with questions or to make a referral.
Upcoming Dates
❤️Monday, March 31: Eid al-Fitr (No school for students and staff)
❤️Tuesday, April 1: Teacher Workday (No school for students); Kindergarten Orientation (9:30-11:00)
❤️April 3-9: Book Fair
❤️Friday, April 4: Book Fair Family Night (5:30-8:30)
❤️Wednesday, April 9: Purple Up! Day; Book Fair Family Night (5:30-7:30)
❤️Monday, April 14-Friday, April 18: Spring Break (No school for students and staff)
❤️Monday, April 21: 3-Hour Early Release (12:20)
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