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Dear Island Creek Families,
There’s a lot of excitement in the air at Island Creek with the possibility of snow! ❄️
As a reminder, Wednesday is the last day of the quarter, and all students will be dismissed two hours early at 1:20 PM. Please note that there will be no aftercare on Wednesday.
Thank you for entrusting your children to us and for partnering with Island Creek staf to support their academic success and social-emotional growth. We truly appreciate our community.
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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1:20 Dismissal on January 28th
All Island Creek students will be dismissed at 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28. There will be no aftercare that day. Wednesday is the last day of the quarter, and all FCPS students will be dismissed two hours early.
Five of our talented 5th Grade students participated in the VOKE Children’s Chorus Festival at Woodbridge High School last weekend! These students worked hard the last few months to prepare for the event, and we are so proud of them! Thank you to our Music Educators, Ms. Arslan and Ms. Laird, for their dedication with growing these students into phenomenal chorus members.
Thank you to Ms. Gillett (1st Grade Teacher), Ms. Jacobson (Reading Specialist), and the Island Creek SCA students for Friday night's spectacular SCA Winter Dance! It was wonderful seeing so many students and families having fun together dancing and drinking hot chocolate! We have the BEST community!
BAND:
All Grades: Students should be practicing at home 3-5 times a week. Students should focus on their next Band Assignment number, and their NEW concert music.
5th Grade: We have been learning our concert B flat scale and recognizing when our music is in the key of B flat. We are also exploring new rhythms, so we become better prepared for challenging music.
6th Grade: We have been reviewing our concert B flat scale and expanding our overall range. We are also preparing new music for our Spring Concert.
STRINGS:
4th Grade: Students have started learning how to read notes in the music and will begin weekly Note Reading Challenges that will be part of their 3rd quarter grade. Please encourage your students to study their flash cards so they can show progress from week to week.
5th and 6th Grade: Students have started working on NEW concert music! Please remind students to practice at home 3-5 days a week and bring their instruments every lesson so they can learn the music along with the class. **Look for and email with information about Solo Festival and Hayfield Area Orchestra coming soon!
We have compiled some fun learning activities for if/when we have a snow day!
FCPS Intervention and Prevention Services invites families to attend an interactive workshop on internet safety. Parents and caregivers will learn about popular apps and social sites, effective ways to talk with youth about online safety, and seven key topics that support healthy digital habits from childhood through adulthood. Sessions are open to all grade levels. Dates, locations, and registration details are shown below.
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!
Island Creek will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.
All students in grades 3-6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 23. We will administer the survey during the school day on Wednesday, February 25. 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 equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.
The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-6 between March 13 and 19 . Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. More information about the SEL Screener and opt outs can be found using this link: https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener
If you have any questions, please reach out to our SEL Screener Lead, Nikki Bohnert, at anbohnert@fcps.edu.
Animal Shelter Collection Drive: February 9-13
We will collect pet items for the Lorton Animal Shelter as part of our Kindness Week. If you would like to donate, please send in unopened, unexpired dog food or treats, cat food or treats, cat litter, dog training pads, or $5-10 Amazon Gift Cards to your child's classroom. All gift cards will be given to the shelter to buy specific items. Classroom totals will be announced on the morning news the following week as a celebration of our community service efforts.
If you have any questions, please email Nikki Bohnert (anbohnert@fcps.edu) or Sarah Trevino (smtrevino@fcps.edu) Digital gift cards can be sent to either of their emails and will be printed off to give to the shelter.
The class who collects the most items including gift cards will win a donut party.
Get your crayons and colored pencils ready! Island Creek is now accepting entries for the 2025-2026 Yearbook Cover.
We want to see colorful, original artwork that shows what makes our school and our students shine. One winning design will be our front cover, and one will be our back cover!
Yearbook Cover Requirements:
- Must be an original idea and your own work - the more creative the better!
- Must be drawn on plain white (unlined) 8.5"x11" paper, portrait orientation
- Must have our school name: Island Creek Elementary
- Must have the school year: 2025-2026
- Please double-check your spelling.
- Must be colorful - bold, bright colors are best.
- Must include your full name and teacher’s name on the back of the design in pencil.
All entries are due to the main office by Tuesday, February 10. Let your creativity shine!
Get ready to send some sweet surprises! From Monday, February 2nd through Wednesday, February 11th, students can purchase candy grams to send a sweet note and treat to their friends, teachers, or anyone at Island Creek Elementary who could use a little extra cheer! 🎉
Candy grams will be sold before school from 8:20 AM to 8:35 AM in the front lobby. Each candy gram is $0.50. It’s cash only, so bring your coins, bills, and your biggest smiles! 😄🍬
Don’t miss out—spread the love this Valentine’s season! ❤️
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation or any other introductory events our school may host. Read more about the registration process. For more information, please call our Student Information Assistant, Ms. Bickerstaff at 571-642-6300.
Try Online Registration
Parents may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process. When registering, parents will create or log in to an existing SIS ParentVUE account.
Gone are the days of digging through emails or hunting for bookmarks. The FCPS app provides a custom experience that is both powerful and easy to use. Here’s how it makes life easier:
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Customized for Your Family: Do you have students at two (or more!) schools? You can "follow" multiple schools to get a feed of news, notices, and events.
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No Sign-In Required: Access essential content like district-wide announcements, live updates, and school calendars instantly. There’s no password to remember, and no login is required.
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Real-Time Notifications: Get push notifications for urgent updates including weather announcements.
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Everything in One Place: From bell schedules and staff directories to athletic event locations and school menus, the app is a central hub for all things FCPS.
To ensure every family stays informed, the app supports automatic translation for more than 100 languages. Learn more about the app or download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.
⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter weather. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!
We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during snow or inclement weather days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference will be held on Saturday, March 21 from 8:30am-3:30 pm at Marshall High School. Families, educators, and community members are invited to this no-cost, in-person event to learn more about special education services and resources. Childcare and language interpretation available.
Visit: the conference website to learn more and register.
Thank you to the families who joined the summer camp information sessions. If you weren’t able to attend and would like to receive a copy of the presentation please email Amy Garcia at ajgarcia@fcps.edu.
Fairfax County Park Authority summer camps registration opens Feb 3, 2026 or Feb 5, 2026 depending on the location. A wide variety of weekly camps for ages 4-16 are offered at recreation centers, parks and nature centers throughout the county. Visit the website to learn more!
❤️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 (Staff Development Day and Teacher Workday)
❤️Friday, February 6: Breakfast Bash with Kindergarten Families (7:45-8:20, Cafeteria); PTA Bingo Night (6-8)
❤️Tuesday, February 10: Yearbook Cover Designs due to the main office
❤️Friday, February 13: Breakfast Bash with 1st and 2nd Grade Families (7:45-8:20, Cafeteria)
❤️Monday, February 16: School Closed (Washington’s Birthday and Presidents’ Day)
❤️Tuesday, February 17: No School for Students (Lunar New Year and Teacher Workday)
❤️Friday, February 27: Breakfast Bash with 3rd and 4th Grade Families (7:45-8:20, Cafeteria)
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