|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Dear Island Creek Families,
It’s hard to believe August is already here! We hope you’re enjoying a wonderful summer filled with great family memories. We can’t wait to welcome our Island Creek Crocs back in just two weeks (Monday, August 24) for the 2026–2027 school year.
Please take a moment to review the key dates and details below to help us prepare for a great start.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Jen Fallert, Principal 🐊
Denise Cash-Pinckney, Assistant Principal 🐊
Welcome Back to School!
As summer winds down, we are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Use the following list to help make sure your child is ready!
☑️ Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our registrar at 571-642-6300 if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Update Your Contact Information
Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts.
☑️ Update Immunizations and Records
Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy.
When your child is immunized, remember to request a copy of their immunization record and bring that to our front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.
☑️ Learn About School Meals
Families need to provide their children with money to purchase meals at school or send them with a packed lunch. Alternatively, families may apply to receive free and reduced-price meal benefits, pending approval.
☑️ Bookmark the School Year Calendar
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:
- Days marked blue with an “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
- Days marked orange with an “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings, if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days.
- Days marked as TW, SD, and SP and in pink are holidays for students but working days for teachers and staff.
Please note that some holidays and observances, such as Eid al Fitr, may shift, and the calendar may be adjusted.
Rising 6th Grade Students are invited to join Mrs. Fallert and Dr. Cash-Pinckney for "Chat and Chew" on Thursday, August 13 from 12:00-1:00 in the library. Please RSVP here.
Kindergarten Registration
Online Registration is now open for the 2026-27 school year!
Kindergarten helps children learn and practice the social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives.
New-to-FCPS families create a ParentVUE account for online access. 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)
Please call the main office at 571-642-6300 to schedule an appointment.
Early registration puts you on the list for school communications, so don’t wait.
Updated Cellphone Policy: No Phones OR Devices
Senate Bill 108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1. It requires that all schools in the state follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy and prohibit cellphone possession and use for the entire school day. The updated FCPS Cellphone Policy aligns with this law, which means high school students are no longer able to use cellphones, cellphone accessories, or smart devices (like smart glasses, earbuds, headsets, and other items connected to the phone) during lunchtime.
Across all grade levels, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and all smart devices must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (like a smartwatch) must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day, too. Personal devices that connect to a cellphone or cellphone accessory or operate as a smart device must also follow the FCPS Cellphone Policy.
This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. However, school-issued devices must be used in accordance with FCPS Regulation 6410, Acceptable Use Policy, which allows the use of school-issued devices for educational purposes. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.
School Supply Lists
Get ready for the new school year by reviewing the school supply list for your child’s grade level. Lists for all grade levels are available on the Island Creek website. Families are encouraged to review the list early and purchase supplies before the first day of school.
Classroom Assignments and Island Creek's Collaborative Approach
Teacher Assignment Information
Parents and guardians will receive an email with their child’s classroom teacher assignment after 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 18. We are actively registering new students, we appreciate your patience while we finalize our rosters!
Our Collaborative Approach
At Island Creek, our teachers work in Collaborative Learning Teams (CLTs) across every grade level to support each student's academic and social-emotional growth. Every member of our staff is highly qualified and dedicated to meeting the high standards of our school community. Thank you for partnering with us and supporting our talented teaching team!
Open House: Wednesday, August 19
We are excited to welcome our families and students back for another wonderful school year! There’s nothing quite like the magic of meeting new and familiar faces, greeting our teachers, and coming together to welcome a new school year.
Please join us for our annual Open House on Wednesday, August 19. Come explore classrooms, meet teachers and staff, and reconnect with friends!
Who: Island Creek Families and Students
What: Families and students are invited to meet their new teachers, bring school supplies, stop by the clinic and cafeteria, and learn about the PTA, etc. .
When: Wednesday, August 19 (4:00-6:30); this is a drop-in and out event
-
4:00-4:30: Optional early time for Preschool, Kindergarten, and Students with IEPs
-
4:30-6:00: All Students
Where:To keep traffic moving smoothly, please enter through the Main Entrance (Door 1) and exit through either the cafeteria (Door 6) or Kiss and Ride (Door 2).
How: Island Creek Staff will be wearing blue staff shirts and are happy to suport students and families with locating classrooms.
Non-profit organizations and school organizations may distribute materials at Open House. Please notify Administrative Assistant Kathleen Black (knblack@fcps.edu) to reserve a table.
First Day of School
On Monday, August 24, Island Creek staff will be ready to help students find their classrooms.
-
Arrival: Doors open at 8:20 AM; school begins at 8:35 AM.
-
Classroom Escorts: To build independence and ensure a smooth, safe start, parents/guardians may not walk students to their classrooms.
-
Kindergarten Exception: Kindergarten parents may walk their child to class on the first day only.
-
For all other students (Grades 1-6): Please say goodbye at the front door. Extra staff will be inside to help students find their rooms!
Lunch with your Child(ren)
To help our students get settled and master cafeteria routines, lunch visits from family members will begin on Monday, September 28. Thank you for supporting a smooth start to the school year!
Visiting Island Creek
The safety and security of our students and our staff are of utmost importance. Every visitor who enters the building is monitored. All visitors entering Island Creek need to have a valid driver’s license and sign-in using the Visitor Management System (VMS). The VMS will issue each visitor a sticker that should always be worn when in the building
Island Creek's Community Peers Program
Children who are ages 3-4 by September 30th may be eligible to attend preschool classes at an Island Creek Elementary as Community Peers.
The Community Peer program provides an opportunity for preschoolers with all abilities to work and play on a regular basis. Selected community peers attend as peer models in an early childhood special education classroom to promote social, academic, and language development.
Community Peers must be fully potty trained and not currently receiving FCPS special education services. Parents/Guardians are responsible for providing transportation and meals for their child.
Our early childhood special education program uses a child-centered approach with predictable routines that include morning meeting, circle time, work time, small-group activities, music, art, and outdoor play. Each class is led by a certified early childhood special education teacher and a full-time instructional assistant.
Families interested in having their preschool student attend Island Creek as a community peer should fill out this form.
New Student ID Cards Coming for Bus Riders This Fall
As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.
The implementation of the student IDs is designed as an additional safety measure for our 130,000 FCPS students who ride the bus each day, ensuring they are on the right bus and that they get on and off at the correct bus stop, as well as making sure only authorized students are on our buses.
The IDs will be provided to students who ride the bus. Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus.
It is possible that the ID program will expand in the future to include uses such as library cards and meal payment. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
📱 Get Ready for the New School Year With the FCPS App!
Simplify your back-to-school prep! Download the FCPS mobile app to check school calendars, breakfast/lunch menus, and school contacts all in one place with no login required. Plus, get quick access to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the bus app.Download the FCPS mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play, and make sure to subscribe to our school in the app settings.
Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities Update
Families are encouraged to review the updated FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document, which explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses in order to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Updates for the 2026-27 school year include new Universal Grade Matrices (UGMs). UGMs are charts that show behavior expectations and school responses by grade level (K-3, 4-8, and 9-12). These at-a-glance resources (in Appendix D of the SR&R) are designed to make it easier for parents and caregivers to understand how schools respond to different types of behavior concerns.
Visit the SR&R webpage for more information and to review additional updates to the SR&R for the 2026-27 school year.
6th Grade Chat and Chew with the Principals (Rising 6th Grade students)
- Thursday, August 13 (12:00-1:00); Library
Welcome Tours for Families New to Island Creek
- Friday, August 14 (9:00-9:30 and 3:00-3:30); Door 1
Open House and Meet the Teacher for Students and Families
-
Wednesday, August 19
- Optional early time (4:00-4:30) for Preschool, Kindergarten, and Students with IEPs
- All Students (4:30-6:00)
First Day of School!
-
Monday, August 24: Parents of kindergarten students and students who are new to Island Creek may walk their child to their classroom on the first day of school only.
Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians
- Tuesday, September 1
- Session 1: 5:45-6:20
- Session 2: 6:40-7:15 (Repeat of Session 1)
|
