Island Creek's Weekly Words: February 27


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Dear Island Creek Families,

I wanted to take a moment to share my sincere thank you for your ongoing support and flexibility with our Early Release Wednesdays.

The Island Creek staff has been hard at work during these afternoons, engaging in yearlong professional learning focused on Inclusive Schools. This dedicated time allows our educators to collaborate on new strategies to better support every learner in our building, ensuring that every student feels seen, valued, and challenged.

Thank you to the Island Creek Community for your donations to the Lorton Animal Shelter! Shown below is a thank you message and photos of the donated supplies as well as pets who are currently avaialble for adoption (they are super cute)!

We encourage everyone to unplug for a bit and spend some time getting lost in a great book!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

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Warmly,

Jen Fallert, Principal    🐊

Karen Baxter, Assistant Principal    🐊 


Every Day Counts at Island Creek!

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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: Read Across America

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Thank you from the Lorton Animal Shelter!

Thank you so much for all the donations today! We are moved by the incredible outpouring of love and kindness shown by the Island Creek community!

We are moved by the incredible outpouring of love and kindness shown by the Island Creek community! Here are a few photos of you with Pebbles (available for adoption!) as well as some of our other available pets playing with some of the donated toys! We hope to feature a thank you post on our Instagram and Facebook in the next few days.

Brown tabby cat: Kronk

White and gray cat (white background): Losi

White and gray/brown (blue background): Tiger Bone (best friends with Gray Gray!)

Gray tabby: Gray Gray (best friends with Tiger Bone!)

Black and white dog: Barry McBear

Silver/gray dog: Pebbles

Thank you, again, for all your support for shelter pets!

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Digital Resources For Families 

Fairfax County Public Schools offers a wide range of valuable resources for parents—please explore the following sites and tools to support your child’s learning and well-being.


Body Safety Program

The Body Safety Program is scheduled to take place at Island Creek Elementary the week of April 20-24 for students in Kindergarten-6th Grade.

If you would like to opt your child out of this program, please make sure to send in a signed opt-out form (English/Spanish) no later than Tuesday, April 7. Please note that Rylynn, a Department of Family Services Facility Dog, will be on-site Friday.

We will have a virtual family info session via Google Meet on Tuesday, March 10th at 5:30PM via this link: https://meet.google.com/xze-kydf-itn


📚 Halfway Through Exploring Technology and Society in Language Arts 📚

We are halfway through Benchmark Unit 5 in Language Arts! Across grade levels, students have explored why we use technology, how we take responsibility when making advances in technology, and where ideas for inventions come from. 

Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:

  • Question: What’s the most interesting fact you learned from this unit so far? Why is it interesting to you?
  • Activity: Ask your child to draw a picture of how they would improve a common piece of technology (cell phone, car, etc.).

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.


Spotlight on Specials:  Art

Art, art and more art!! Mr. Korrow and Mrs. Rozycki love this time of year as art projects are in full swing and we have begun preparations for our amazing Authors and Artists night coming up in March. With all of the gloomy winter weather we have had lately, we all seem to especially appreciate working with our bright, cheerful fluorescent colors to prepare for our special art gallery  – “Glow Show” happening that evening. One student even commented how they needed to wear sunglasses to work with their special bright fluorescent colored paper. This is our second year creating a “glow show.” We won’t give out too many spoilers but our theme this year is “Island” and waterfalls, tropical foliage, geckos, frogs, birds, butterflies and of course, crocodiles are all on the horizon! We are definitely in need of help hanging and preparing art work for this great night – please reach out to Allison Rozycki at amrozycki@fcps.edu, if interested in volunteering.

 

In addition, many classes have begun the shift to working with 3D media some with paper and wire and others in the form of kiln fire clay. Clay is a very popular media among our students. Some projects include: clay animal vessels for our third graders, coil pottery for our 4th graders, gargoyles for 5th, 1st graders are making luminaries and kindergarten is working on turtles.

 

We hope to see many families at Authors and Artists night on March 26, 2026!!!


World Down Syndrome Day!

We celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21 because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome.

This year’s theme is #TogetherAgainstLoneliness. It’s a reminder that true inclusion isn’t just about "being there"—it’s about belonging, friendship, and making sure everyone has a seat at the table.

All are encourged to "rock their socks" advocate for a world where everyone is connected. 💙💛

Island Creek students and staff will celebrated World Down Syndrome Day on Thursday, March 19 since school is closed on Friday, March 20 in recognition of Eid-al-Fitr.

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Registration is open for the 2026-27 school year! 

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

  1. Determine eligibility. 
  2. Identify your local school. 
  3. Gather documents. 
  4. Fill out forms. 
  5. Schedule an appointment
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FCPS PreK and Early Head Start Now Accepting Applications for School Year 2026-27

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).     


2025-2026 Yearbooks on Sale! Order Now and Save!

School yearbooks are on sale! The basic book is just $22 now, but the price will go up to $25 on March 20th.

Ordering is simple: Just go http://www.buytheyearbook.com, put in Island Creek School ID 732461, and pay with your credit card. All orders are online only.

PLEASE NOTE: There will not be any additional books for sale in June. If you want your child to have a yearbook, please order one now.


Save the Dates: SOL Testing

Students in Grades 3-6 participate in the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests. Students are administered the assessment in the morning and need to get a good night's sleep and eat breakfast at home or school. Please refrain from scheduling appointments when your child has an SOL Test.

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New Visitor Management System

We are excited to announce that our school is now using the new Raptor Visitor Management System (VMS). This upgrade is part of our school’s and FCPS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining the process for visitors at our school. The VMS ensures that no visitor is on the sex offender registry. 

For most visitors, the user experience will be the same when you check-in at the front office.

But now there is also an app, which can make check-in’s even faster at school. Visitors who choose to download the RaptorSafe App and create a Raptor Passport can pre-verify their information before they get to school. The app will give you a QR code you can use when you check-in at school. 

If you have questions or need assistance with the new system, please contact our front office at 571-642-6300. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe!


Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid

As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on: 

Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open


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Middle School Transition Fair for Families of Students Receiving Special Education Services—March 4, 6:30-8:30pm

FCPS will host its Middle School Transition Fair, an evening for families of elementary and middle school students receiving special education services to learn about planning for the future on Wednesday, March 4, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Luther Jackson Middle School.  At this event, families can meet Career and Transition Services (CTS) representatives and other support staff; learn about postsecondary education, employment, and community supports; and hear from a student and parent panel sharing real transition experiences.  This is a great opportunity to ask questions, connect with resources, and feel more confident about your child’s next steps. Language support will be available. Please register here

 

Parent Coffee at Hayfield Secondary for Rising 7th grade parents, March 4th, 9:00-10:30am

Hayfield Secondary School invites all 6th grade parents to attend a parent coffee on March 4th from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Meet Hayfield Middle School Administrators and Counselors and have an opportunity to ask questions about your child’s transition to middle school. The meeting will be held in the Hayfield Secondary School Middle School Lecture Hall (7630 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria, VA 22315).

 

Month of the Military Child (April) T-Shirts Available for Purchase

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child, and on Purple Up! Day! This year, Virginia will celebrate Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Purple Up! Day is a special day for communities to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. Purple symbolizes the combined colors of all branches of the military. 

FCPS Purple Up! T-shirts and other items are available for purchase now through Monday, March 9, 2026, in our Custom Ink online store. #PurpleUpFCPS! Items will be delivered to your child’s school, expected delivery date March 23. For more information and/or to connect with FCPS resources, email militaryfamilies@fcps.edu

 

Military Family Field Day

Military-connected families are invited to a special field day to honor our military-connected children. The event will be held at Annandale High School (4700 Medford Dr, Annandale, VA 22003) on Saturday, April 18, 2026, from noon to 2 p.m. Enjoy field day games and crafts at the football stadium. Food and beverages will be available for purchase to support various FCPS school clubs and organizations. This is a great opportunity to connect with other military families across the division! To RSVP, please complete this Google form by Friday, March 27, 2026.

 

Free March Webinars from the Family Resource Center

The Family Resource Center holds free webinars throughout the month. Registration is required. Language support is available if requested in advance. Webinars are recorded and available to view on the Family Resource Center youtube channel (FCPS Family Resource Center - YouTube) after the event.  March topics include: Tips to Reduce Parent Stress and Anxiety (March 3, 10-11:30am), You’re Not Doing it Wrong: Parenting Through “Bumps” with Neurodivergent Kids (March 6, 10-11:30am), Why Smart Kids Struggle (March 11,10-11:30am), How to Develop Emotional Regulation with Your Child (March 13, 10-11:30am) and Countdown to Kindergarten (March 27,10-11:30am). Call: 703-204-3941 Text: 571-496-8210 or Email: frc@fcps.edu the Family Resource Center with any questions. 

 

Upcoming FCPS Workshops

FCPS Workshop:  The Connected Family: Navigating the Digital World Together Mar 12, 2026, 6:30-8:00pm at the Lorton Community Center 9520 Richmond Highway, Lorton, VA 22079

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 of popular social sites and apps used by students, effective strategies to engage youth in discussions regarding internet safety and 7 primary topics to discuss with youth that will remain important from kindergarten through adulthood.  Join FCPS Intervention and Prevention Services to learn how your family can build healthy, secure, and positive habits online together. This content is appropriate for parents and caregivers of all grade levels. Interpreters and childcare available. Register here.


🗓️ Island Creek Calendar

️Tuesday, March 10:  5th Grade Writing SOL; Body Safety Program Family Session (virtual, 5:30)

️Friday, March 13:  Breakfast Bash with 5th and 6th Grade Families (7:45-8:20, Cafeteria)

️Monday, March 16:  Spring Photos

️Thursday, March 19:  Rock Your Socks in recognition of World Down Syndrome Day!

️Friday, March 20:  Eid-al-Fitr (No School)

️Wednesday, March 25: 3-Hour Early Release at 12:20 for school-age students

️Thursday, March 26:  Authors and Artists Night (5:30-7:00)

️Friday, March 27: Quarter 3 ends; 2-Hour Early Relase for all students at 1:20

️March 30 - April 6: Student Holiday: Spring Break and Teacher Workday

️Friday, April 10: Kindergarten Orientation (1:30-3:00); No School for students

Thursday, April 23:  This is Us Multicultural Night (5:30-7:00)


❤️Follow Island Creek on Facebook and Instagram

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Facebook link

Instagram:  islandcreekelementary