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Dear Island Creek Families,
Our Croc students had a fantastic first week back at school after Winter Break! We’re excited to see their energy and focus as we continue learning together.
Please help us keep the momentum going by ensuring your child is at school every day and by scheduling family vacations outside of school days whenever possible. Consistent attendance makes a big difference in student success.
As a reminder, there are no Early Release Wednesdays in January.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support!
Warmly,
Jen Fallert, Principal 🐊
Karen Baxter, Assistant Principal 🐊
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Every Day Counts at Island Creek!
Help us reach our goal of 4% or less this year!
Attendance is a vital life skill that will benefit your child later in life. It’s a good habit to build now to help them graduate from college on time and routinely report to work on time once they have a career.
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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A heartfelt thank you to our Croc families who contributed to this morning’s Staff Breakfast. Your kindness and generosity truly meant so much to our staff and are deeply appreciated! 💚🐊
FCPS invites you to experience a full week of family time with FREE stories, games and math activities - all from the comfort of your home.
Math Week offers families an opportunity to experience math, literacy, history, and geography in a fun and positive way. All content will be available for families in English and Spanish beginning Monday, January 12.
Visit the Math Week website for games, stories, and other interactive activities for the whole family.
STEAM in Action: Winter Olympic Edition!
In STEAM, students continue to experiment, collaborate, and grow through hands-on learning experiences. Our 5th and 6th graders are exploring the Winter Olympic Games by investigating the science and engineering behind hockey. Working in teams, students use the engineering design process to plan, design, and build a hockey net and stick using only specific materials. They test their designs, make improvements, and analyze how forces and motion affect performance. This collaborative challenge strengthens problem-solving, creativity, and teamwork while connecting real-world sports to meaningful STEAM learning
Mr. Korrow’s STEAM classes will pick back up in the new year right where they left off. Students will continue exploring state science standards by investigating the absorbency and design of different paper towel brands and how this connects to the function of vascular systems found in many plants. This work will lead into learning how plants can be integrated into architecture to improve energy efficiency, air quality, among other environmental benefits. Throughout these activities, students will strengthen their collaboration and communication skills as they work in teams to complete hands-on building challenges, with a focus on designing large, stable structures with specific design challenge goals in mind.
Benchmark Unit 4 in Language Arts is about points of view. Students in K-5 will be learning about why and how people create stories, and how to understand different perspectives. Grade six students will learn how a person’s life shapes their point of view.
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: Make up a silly scenario with your child, like a dinosaur walking down the street or an ice cream thunderstorm. Put on a short play where you and your child each play the role of each other. How does your child think you would react to the silly scenario and why? How would you react if you were your child?
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.
All are invitied to attend our virtual or in-person Summer Camps and Programs Information Sessions.
Save the Date! Summer Camps and Programs Information Sessions
Interested in learning about FCPS summer programs and area summer camps? Please join us to learn more at one of the following sessions:
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Virtual, Wednesday, January 21, 6:00-7:00pm, Zoom link will be sent prior to the meeting, please register by 12:00 noon on Jan 21.
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In-person, Friday, January 23, 8:30-9:30am, Island Creek Cafeteria
Please fill out this form to let us know you can come to either event and request an interpreter if needed. A zoom link will be sent prior to the session. Questions? Please contact Amy Garcia, Island Creek Family Liaison, ajgarcia@fcps.edu, call/text 571-595-7015, or by Talking Points Message
At Island Creek, our Croc staff wants every student and family to know just how much you belong and are valued—we truly have the most amazing community!
Because it was such a hit last year, we are thrilled to bring back our Family Friday Breakfast Bash. This is a wonderful chance to gather, share a meal, and get to know other families in your child’s grade.
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When: Friday mornings, 7:45 AM – 8:20 AM (grade levels have assigned dates)
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Where: Island Creek Cafeteria
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Who: Families and their children
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What to bring: A breakfast dish to share (think muffins, fruit, donuts, or your favorite breakfast casserole!)
We can’t wait to enjoy some great food and fellowship with you before the school day begins. The Breakfast Bash dates for every grade level are shown below.
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Kindergarten Family Friday Breakfast Bash: Friday, February 6
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1st and 2nd Grades Family Friday Breakfast Bash: Friday, February 13
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3rd and 4th Grades Family Friday Breakfast Bash: Friday, February 27
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5th and 6th Grades Family Friday Breakfast Bash: Friday, March 13
We hope to see your family at one of these events!
 
FCPS’ 2026-27 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program lottery opens on Monday, January 12. The program offers students in kindergarten and first grade the opportunity to learn in English and another language — French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish — for half of each instructional day.
The online, countywide lottery is open to Fairfax County residents. Families must have a SIS ParentVUE account. Students not currently enrolled in FCPS should register at their base school before applying for the immersion program.
Families applying for first grade must do so by Thursday, February 12, at 4 p.m. Those applying for kindergarten must do so by Monday, March 2, at 4 p.m.
Informational meetings will begin in January. View dates and details on the FCPS calendar. If you have questions, please contact Brigid Williams at 571-423-4600.
Encourage your neighbors, friends, and community members to follow the FCPS budget process and look for opportunities to share your ideas about funding public education. Key decision dates and engagement opportunities are coming up in the next few weeks:
- The Fairfax County delegation to the General Assembly will hold a public hearing regarding the upcoming 2026 session on Saturday, January 10, at 9 a.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center.
Fairfax County residents can sign up in advance to speak at the hearing online or contact the Department of Clerk Services at 703-324-3151, TTY 711, by Thursday, January 8, at noon.
Thursday, January 22, Dr. Reid will present the proposed budget to the School Board
 The Connected Family: Navigating the Digital World Together
Technology connects us like never before, but it’s important to know how to stay safe while using it. This family workshop provides hands-on learning about internet safety to inform families.
January 12, 2026 Lake Braddock High School, 6:30-8:00pm
January 22, 2026 West Potomac High School, 6:30-8:00pm
March 26, 2026 Lorton Community Center, 6:30-8:00pm
Interpreters and Childcare available. Register here for any session.
Family Resource Center January Free Webinars
How to Develop Motivation with Your Child, Friday, January 16, 10-11:30am
Join us to learn strategies for teaching your child adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving. We'll cover practical ways to navigate unexpected changes, manage disappointments, and help your child thrive in uncertainty. Register Here
Futures Planning Workshop - Creating the Framework for Futures Planning, Friday, January 23 10-12:00pm at 2334 Gallows Road, Room 100, Dunn Loring, VA 22027
In this in-person session, participants will have access to a hands-on, thought-provoking workshop geared to get them started with effectively taking long term care of their children with special needs. Register Here
Tips to Reduce Parent Stress and Anxiety, Tuesday, January 27, 10:00-11:30am
Join Rachel Bailey as she discusses how parenting today can feel like a constant cycle of pressure, guilt, and second-guessing. In this workshop, you will learn why certain situations feel so overwhelming (it’s not just the situation itself!) as well as specific strategies to reduce the overwhelm. You’ll also learn how to respond from a place of steadiness rather than reactivity, resulting in less anxiety, more confidence, and a greater sense of ease in everyday parenting. Register Here
The Connected Family: Navigating the Digital World Together
Technology connects us like never before, but it’s important to know how to stay safe while using it. This family workshop provides hands-on learning about internet safety to inform families.
January 12, 2026 Lake Braddock High School, 6:30-8:00pm
January 22, 2026 West Potomac High School, 6:30-8:00pm
March 26, 2026 Lorton Community Center, 6:30-8:00pm
Interpreters and Childcare available. Register here for any session.
Family Resource Center January Free Webinars
How to Develop Motivation with Your Child, Friday, January 16, 10-11:30am
Join us to learn strategies for teaching your child adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving. We'll cover practical ways to navigate unexpected changes, manage disappointments, and help your child thrive in uncertainty. Register Here
Futures Planning Workshop - Creating the Framework for Futures Planning, Friday, January 23 10-12:00pm at 2334 Gallows Road, Room 100, Dunn Loring, VA 22027
In this in-person session, participants will have access to a hands-on, thought-provoking workshop geared to get them started with effectively taking long term care of their children with special needs. Register Here
Tips to Reduce Parent Stress and Anxiety, Tuesday, January 27, 10:00-11:30am
Join Rachel Bailey as she discusses how parenting today can feel like a constant cycle of pressure, guilt, and second-guessing. In this workshop, you will learn why certain situations feel so overwhelming (it’s not just the situation itself!) as well as specific strategies to reduce the overwhelm. You’ll also learn how to respond from a place of steadiness rather than reactivity, resulting in less anxiety, more confidence, and a greater sense of ease in everyday parenting. Register Here
 Welcome back from winter break!
A few updates from the PTA are below:
After-School Programs
Registration for our winter after-school programs closes on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. As you can see, we have a few programs with low enrollment that need more participants to be held.
Register ASAP: https://bc-ffx-islandcreek.jumbula.com/
Family Bingo: Friday, February 6 (6:00-8:30pm)
We will be hosting Family Bingo on Friday, February 6, from 6-8:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. You can purchase an event ticket, raffle tickets, pizza, and daubers online.
Registration is online here: https://ices.givebacks.com/shop
Volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4DA8A82BA6FE3-61545084-pta#/
If you have already purchased a ticket for the postponed event, your ticket will be transferred to this event. If you can no longer attend and would like a refund, please contact islandcreekptaevents@gmail.com.
 Attention Rising 7th Grade Parents
We were asked to share on behalf of Hayfield Secondary Middle School (7th and 8th) Parents group.
Attention rising 7th grade parents, we are now opening the group to you. We wanted parents to have the opportunity to ask questions about various classes before submitting their class schedule preferences. Please remember when joining the group to please answer ALL of the questions to join. We welcome everyone…except spammers, thus the questions to try to filter out most of them. This parent group is NOT an official group run by Hayfield staff. It is an informal group, moderated by volunteer staff/parents that allows parents to ask each other questions and gather information as it relates to Hayfield. Many find it to be a very valuable resource.
Join online here: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1JzoG8VAxC/?mibextid=wwXIfr
❤️Friday, January 16: SCA Winter Wonderland Dance for families (5:30-7:00)
❤️Monday, January 19: Dr. Martin Kuther King, Jr. Holiday (school closed)
❤️Wednesday, January 21: Summer Camps and Programs: virtual session (6:00-7:00pm)
❤️Friday, January 23: Summer Camps and Programs: in-person session (8:30-9:30am, Island Creek Cafeteria)
❤️Wednesday, January 28: Last Day of the 2nd Quarter (2-Hour Early Release at 1:20 for all school-age students; No PM Preschool)
❤️Thursday, January 29 and Friday, January 30: No School for Students (Teacher Workday and Staff Development Day)
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