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Dear Island Creek Families,
It was wonderful having our Crocs back at school this week! Between the snow, ice, and snowcrete, we appreciate everyone’s understanding with Monday’s closure and the two-hour delays the rest of the week.
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Kindness Week is next week!
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SCA Candy Gram Sales will continue through Wednesday!
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Animal Shelter Collection Drive is next week!
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1st and 2nd Grade Breakfast Bash: Friday, February 13
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Yearbook Cover Art deadline has been extended to Friday, February 13
Exciting News: Island Creek will have our first PreKindergarten (PreK) class next school year! Limited spaces are available! The PreK program prioritizes children who will be 4 years old by September 30 but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30. Apply at: www.fcps.edu/PreK
We’re looking forward to a full week of school ahead and getting back into our regular routines. Here’s hoping for calmer weather and great days of learning together!
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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Next week, our Crocs will focus on building connections and spreading positivity! Small acts make a big difference!
Island Creek Staff Fairfax participated in American Heart Month by promoting heart health, notably with the "Wear Red".
February is Black History Month which is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in United States history. This year's theme is "A Century of Black History Commemorations" honoring the 100-year legacy of Black history observance.
Click here to learn more about Black History Month
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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 20
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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!
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! ❤️
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.
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The class who collects the most items including gift cards will win a donut party.
Ramadan Observation
Ramadan is from sundown February 17th to sundown March 19th.
If your student requires prayer time or lunch alternatives during the school day, please complete this Ramadan Participation Questionnaire or reach out directly to Principal Jen Fallert (jrfallert@fcps.edu).
From February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.
Important Meal Kit Information: Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid). Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day. Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day. Kits are distributed at the end of the school day. Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.
Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:
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February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
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February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
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February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
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March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
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March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026
Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.
The cold and snow can’t stop us from making music! Before the big snowstorm, our Island Creek musicians spent several weeks learning how to play Orff instruments. Karl Orff was a German composer and music educator responsible for the creation of small percussion instruments like xylophones, metallophones, and glockenspiels that are accessible for elementary students. Our Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students focused on holding the mallets properly, striking in the middle of the bar, moving safely around the music room with our instruments set out, and collaborating with a partner at their instrument. Our 5th and 6th graders put together a 3-part arrangement of a song called “Ding Dong” comprising a bass bordun, alto xylophone part, and the melody on glockenspiels. Similarly, our 3rd and 4th graders sang and played 3 different parts for the song “Pease Porridge Hot.”
Our 5th and 6th grade chorus students have had some great singing opportunities this January! Our 5th grade honors chorus students (Claire G., Luke P., Elodie H., Yaa D., and Gracie D.) attended the Virginia Children’s Choral Festival and sang six songs along with 150 students from different schools (some even from different states) under the direction of Dr. Georgia A. Newlin. Our 5th and 6th grade chorus students participated in the Hayfield Chorus Broadway Night singing “Hakuna Matata” along with the high schoolers under the direction of the Hayfield chorus teacher, Ms. Torres! One of our 6th grade students, Manny J., sang as part of a trio at the beginning of the song along with two other students from other elementary schools! As we move into quarter 3 of the school year, our K – 6 general music students will focus on music literacy, careers in music, improvisation, and jazz.
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.
DUE DATE EXTENDED
All entries are due to the main office by Friday, February 13. Let your creativity shine!
Benchmark Unit 4 in Language Arts is coming to a close! Over the last several weeks, our students have learned, read, and written about the perspectives of characters, authors, and readers.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: If your pet (or a stuffed animal) could talk, what do you think it would say about its day?
- Activity: Ask your child to retell a familiar story from another character’s point of view.
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.
Young Crocs in Motion is for students in 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade. Registration is due Friday, February 20th.
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Wednesday, February 25, is a 3-Hour Early Release Wednesday at 12:20 for school-age students.
Dismissal time and transportation will follow the same arrangements as the December's Early Release Day
If you have any questions or changes, please contact the office (571-642-6300) no later than 4:00 PM on Tuesday, 2/24.
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New-to-FCPS families create a ParentVUE account for online registration. Details are available here: Welcome to Fairfax County Public Schools' (FCPS) Online Registration | Fairfax County Public Schools
Current families can register their new student through their existing ParentVUE account. (No need to register students returning to Island Creek)
Our Registrar, Ms. Bickerstaff, is happy to process registrations directly as well. Please complete this New Student Intake Form and she will respond with registration details and documents necessary to start the process.
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten you can learn more here.
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment
New: Island Creek will have an FCPS PreK Class for School Year 2026-2027!
This is a high-quality Early Childhood Program for eligible families. PreK (which stands for Pre-Kindergarten) is a full-day program, and spaces are limited. The PreK program prioritizes children who will be 4 years old by September 30 but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30.
For more information or to apply, visit the FCPS PreK website, email fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu, or call the PreK Office at 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (AirPods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell). Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool.
FCPS’ cell phone policy helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. Visit FCPS’ cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions, including consequences for cell phone policy violations and exceptions for students with medical conditions or IEP/504 plans.
If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office at 571-642-6300.
 Fairfax County Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) Upcoming Events
Bring the family to the FREE Fantastic Times Open House on Friday, February 13, 7:00-8:30pm at the Jim Scott Community Center, 3001 Vaden Dr, Fairfax, VA 22031. Families can engage in sensory-friendly activities, learn about TRS programs and meet TRS staff. Questions? Call 703-324-5532 or email NCSTRS@fairfaxcounty.gov.
Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) is holding a Summer Camp 2026 Virtual Information Session on Thursday, February 19 at 6:30pm. Learn about TRS summer camp for youth and teens with disabilities. This virtual information session includes a presentation and Q&A opportunity with TRS staff. Registration required. Email NCSTRS@fairfaxcounty.gov or register here.
Summer Camps 2026 Updates
Registration for the FCPS summer programs—Tech Adventure Camp, Career and Technical Education Summer Academy, Elementary Institute for the Arts, Institute for the Arts, and Production Camp—is now open. The summer 2026 location for these programs is Robinson Secondary School. Please visit the program websites for the most up-to-date information. Find links to each of the programs here: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning
Camp Fairfax (summer SACC) registration opens March 17. Find summer 2026 dates, locations, and registration information at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/neighborhood-community-services/camp-fairfax/summer
Fairfax County Lunar New Year Celebration
Celebrate the Lunar New Year on Saturday, February 7, 2026, 11:00am-3:00pm with an afternoon of cultural performances, interactive activities, and family-friendly experiences. This FREE programming is open to all and reflects Lunar New Year traditions observed across multiple Asian cultures, including Seollal, Tết, and other Lunar New Year traditions. Enjoy cultural performances, arts, crafts, games, story time, tasty samples of Asian cuisine and more! Find more information here. The program will be held at the Fairfax County Government Center; 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035.
Upcoming Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center
Part 2 - Safe and Supporting Learning Environments Wednesday, February 11, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Join us to learn how trauma-informed practices and SEL support student well-being and learning, the effects of stress and trauma on children, and practical strategies families and schools can use to create safe, supportive learning environments. Register here
How to Develop Flexibility with Your Child Friday, February 13, 10 – 11:30 a.m. Join us and discover what truly drives children. You’ll learn the critical difference between rewards and motivation and discover strategies to shift the focus to helping your child build a passion for growth. Register here
The Social Lives of Twice-Exceptional (2E) Students: Friendship, Belonging, and Identity
Friday, February 20, 10 – 11:30 a.m. Families will understand how to support 2e students establishing authentic connections and how they navigate peer relationships. Register here
You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup: Tips for Self-Care (Kinship Series) Friday, February 27, 10 – 11:30 a.m. Join licensed clinical social worker and kinship caregiver Dr. Monique Lilakos to learn more about stress management and self-care. Register here.
🍬Candy Grams Sales: Feburary 2-11
❤️ Kindness Week and Animal Shelter Collection 🐾: February 9-13
❤️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); Ramadan Begins at sundown
❤️Friday, February 20: Breakfast Bash with Kindergarten Families (7:45-8:20, Cafeteria)
❤️Wednesday, February 25: 3-Hour Early Release at 12:20 for school-age students
❤️Friday, February 27: Breakfast Bash with 3rd and 4th Grade Families (7:45-8:20, Cafeteria)
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