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Dear Island Creek Families,
We are already halfway through the first quarter of the school year! Yesterday, your child should have brought home an interim report that included your child’s current progress for Quarter 1. Thank you for taking the time to review the interim and to talk with your child about what is going well in school and what areas they want to grow more in this year
❤️Thursday, October 2: Yom Kippur Holiday (No School)
Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the beautiful Fall weather!
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Warmly,
Jen Fallert, Principal
Karen Baxter, Assistant Principal
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Saturday, September 21-Sunday, September 29
Blue Star Welcome Week was established to acknowledge the 600,000 military families who relocate to new communities annually, while raising awareness and fostering support for military families nationwide. Approximately 13,500 military-connected students are enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools. Here at Island Creek, we have 120 military-connected students. We extend a warm welcome to our 31 new military-connected students! Thank you for your service. We are so glad you and your family are Island Creek Crocodiles! Please visit the Blue Star Welcome Week page Ways to Welcome a Military Family, for ideas on welcoming military families to our community. Click to edit this placeholder text.
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From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month
Take a look at the beautiful Hispanic Heritage Month display in the main lobby, created by the kindergarten team!
Yom Kippur (Evening-Only Observance and Holiday)
Wednesday, October 1, will be an evening-only observance day for Yom Kippur. There is school on this day, but important events will not occur after school.
Thursday, October 2, is a holiday. Schools and offices will be closed.
See the complete school year calendar.
All students, Kindergarten through 6th grade, have been learning about and practicing school-wide and PE-specific class routines/expectations. Students have been learning new warmups and practicing different exercises. We have enjoyed welcoming our new crocs in PE! All students have been practicing safe movement in the gym and working on modeling cooperative and respectful behavior. We have been playing PE Jeopardy this year and learning all the routines and procedures!
Our PE units for the first quarter are Expectations & Cooperative games, Throwing & Catching, and Movement & Fitness. We will have fun stations for students to practice their learning and skills through throwing and catching activities. During our movement & fitness unit, students in 4th grade, 5th grade, & 6th grade will learn and participate in the functional fitness and VA wellness fitness tests. We are excited to learn together through various movement activities with all our Crocs this year!
Please ensure your child is ready to learn in P.E. by having the appropriate shoes on their P.E. days!
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If you would like to get fingerprinted, you can do so for free at the Gatehouse Administration Building in Falls Church, and now there are also satellite locations that offer free fingerprinting for FCPS volunteers.
How to Register as a Volunteer
- Review FCPS Volunteer Guidelines – All volunteers must read the FCPS Volunteer Protocols before getting started.
- Register in the FCPS Volunteer Portal
- Search for Island Creek Elementary
3. To simplify the background check process, volunteers may use Fieldprint, allowing them to complete fingerprinting at nearby locations rather than traveling to Gatehouse or scheduling virtual appointments. Step-by-step directions for Fieldprint may be accessed here. Please note you must have completed the above action items, numbers 1 and 2, before using Fieldprint.
For full details, visit the Volunteer FCPS website
As part of learning in Fairfax County Public Schools, students use a variety of approved digital tools and resources to support instruction. To access many of these valuable online learning platforms, we require a completed Digital Resource Consent Form on file.
This form ensures that you are aware of and give permission for your child to use FCPS-approved digital resources for their grade level. Without your consent, your child may not be able to participate in certain classroom activities and assignments fully.
Please take a few minutes to review and submit the Digital Resource Consent Form as soon as possible. Your partnership helps us provide engaging and meaningful learning experiences for all students.
Click on the following link: Parent Digital Consent
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) believes in supporting social and emotional learning (SEL) for all students. In FCPS, students use a tool called the SEL Screener to think about their own SEL skills and experiences at school. Island Creek students in grades 3-6 will be participating in the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener in October 14-17 and again in February (TBD).
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information about the SEL Screener including information on opting out please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
In the AAP Fall newsletter, please note the various ways students can access Advanced Academic Program curriculum and resources. It was great seeing so many families at last week's AAP overview.
FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of beginning the middle school day at 8 a.m. or later. In order to minimize any cost for this project, elementary and high school start times would need to shift as well.
Providing feedback opportunities for the community is a critical part of this effort. Since 2024, FCPS’ consultant has hosted five community forums and administered two surveys. A new School Start TImes Survey is open through Tuesday, September 30. It includes two options that are designed to support student well-being, align with research, balance transportation logistics, and minimize costs. Staff, parents and caregivers, students, and community members may provide input on the two options by taking the survey. Find more information about adjusting school start times.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program.
- If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt-out forms are available in Parent Digital Consent.
- Paper opt-out forms are available from your child’s school.
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online and are divided into Elementary (K-6), Middle School (7-8), and High School (9-12).
Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by email to fle@fcps.edu.
📚 Discovering Character in Language Arts 📚
Benchmark Unit 2 in Language Arts is about characters who are faced with difficult choices. Sixth grade students will learn about characters who are changed and inspired by others.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: Have you ever disagreed with a friend? How did you see things differently?
- Activity: Have your child write a diary entry from the perspective of a book character.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Tuesday, September 30.
Supporting Your Child with Dyslexia: October 15, 10-11:30 a.m.
Join us for an informative webinar on Dyslexia Awareness, designed for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) families. This session will provide essential information about dyslexia and the resources available within FCPS to support students with this learning difference.
Understanding Dyslexia: Gain a clear understanding of what dyslexia is, its common signs, and how it can affect students' reading, writing, and spelling.
- FCPS Support Systems: Learn about the various supports and interventions FCPS provides, including evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and the role of reading specialists.
- Virginia Literacy Act: Discover how the new Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and FCPS's Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) Plan are changing literacy instruction to benefit all learners, especially those with dyslexia.
- Resources for Families: We'll share practical tools and strategies you can use at home to support your child's literacy development and partner effectively with their school.
- This webinar aims to empower families with knowledge and resources to help their students with dyslexia succeed.
- Register here
Reading Plans and Your Student: October 22, 10-11:30 a.m.
- This 1.5-hour webinar is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the new reading plans in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Parents will learn about:
- What a reading plan is: A reading plan is a support system for students who are not meeting literacy benchmarks. It outlines specific, evidence-based instruction and interventions to help them improve their reading skills.
- Who requires a reading plan: All students from kindergarten through eighth grade who are identified as needing additional support based on literacy assessments will receive a reading plan. This is part of a broader effort by FCPS to implement the Virginia Literacy Act.
- How schools will support students: The webinar will explain how FCPS is using a science-based reading approach and will discuss the role of reading specialists, the curriculum used, and the assessments to monitor student progress.
- Resources and tools for parents: Parents will leave with practical resources and tools they can use at home to support their child's literacy development. The webinar aims to empower families to be active partners in their child's reading journey.
- Register here
Early Release Wednesdays (12:20) for school-age students
Our new menu items debuting in September and October feature hearty homestyle favorites — including veggie chili, pictured above — and fresh global inspiration! Other new additions include:
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Breakfast: Cinnamon apple overnight oats, mini blueberry pancakes, French toast sticks, egg and cheese breakfast quesadillas and tacos, and turkey sausage and cheese bagels.
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Lunch: Teriyaki chicken stir-fry, teriyaki chickenless bites stir-fry, cheesy turkey pepperoni pasta, cheesy pasta with marinara sauce, deep dish pizza, and cheesy fiesta nachos.
Check our online menu to see when your child can try new recipes developed by FCPS’ executive chef and team of food and nutrition experts, based on student feedbac
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.
A series of Community Conversations are being held across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. These events are also a chance for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events are planned for the following dates from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.:
- Monday, September 29, at McNair Upper Elementary School
- Friday, October 3, at Annandale Terrace Elementary School
- Friday, December 5, at Churchill Road Elementary School
- Tuesday, December 9, at Fairhill Elementary School
- Thursday, December 11, at Bull Run Elementary School
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all.
 FCPS Early Literacy Program Fall Session: October to December
The Early Literacy program helps families and their preschool-aged children prepare for kindergarten. Children and families meet with their class for 2 hours, 2 days a week to participate in fun "school-like" experiences together. These programs support parents and families as their children's first and most important teachers. Early Literacy programs are organized around four cultural/linguistic affinity groups: African Heritage/English, Arabic/English, Hispanic/Spanish, and Korean. Families and their 1-5 year old children are welcome to enroll. Early Literacy Programs are FREE for Fairfax County residents.
Arabic Early Literacy - Classes at Lane Elementary (Tues/Thurs beginning on Oct 7, 11:00am-1:00pm) and Lorton Community Center (Wed/Fri beginning Oct 8, 12:00-2:00pm) Questions? Ready to Enroll? Contact Gigi Hammoud at 703-204-4300 or ekjammoud@fcps.edu For African Heritage, Hispanic/Spanish and Korean Early Literacy Classes please click on the links to complete the interest form.
Questions? contact Amy Garcia, Island Creek Family Liaison, ajgarcia@fcps.edu
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) 2025-26 School Year: October to May
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) partners with parents to prepare their children for success in school. Adult family members of 2-, 3-, and 4-year-olds meet with their instructor for 1 hour each week to learn more about instructing their children at home. For more information, please complete the interest form. Questions? Contact Amy Garcia, Island Creek Family Liaison, ajgarcia@fcps.edu
❤️Thursday, October 2: Yom Kippur Holiday (No School)
❤️Monday, October 13: Indigenous Peoples' Day (No School)
❤️ Wednesday, October 15: 3-Hour Early Release at 12:20 for school-age students
❤️Monday, October 20: Diwali (No School)
❤️Friday, October 31: End of 1st Quarter (2-Hour Early Release at 1:20)
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