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Dear Island Creek Families,
To those who observe Yom Kippur, we hope you have a meaningful fast. As a reminder all Fairfax County Public Schools will be closed on Monday, September 21 in observance of Yom Kippur.
Next week is one of our favorite times of the year as we celebrate Spirit Week and Friday's Croc-Rock-and-Run!
A huge thank you to the Island Creek PTA, Ms. Mehrtash, and Ms. Barber for their tireless efforts to make this event fun and memorable for our Crocs. My absolute favorite part is watching the community building across our classrooms—and I love that all Croc students and staff get a T-shirt courtesy of our wonderful PTA!
Check out additional details below, and get ready for a fantastic week!
Warmly,
Jen Fallert, Principal 🐊
Denise Cash-Pinckney, Assistant Principal 🐊
Together, We Are Navigating a Course Toward excellence!
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Island Creek's 5th Annual Croc Rock-N-Run will be held during the school day on Friday, September 25. Thank you to the Island Creek PTA, Ms. Mehrtash, and Ms. Barber for leading this special day for our Crocs.
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8:45-9:40: 3rd Grade and 4th Grade
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9:50-10:45: 1st Grade and 2nd Grade
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10:55-11:50: Kindergarten, AM ECCB, PAC, PreK
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12:45-1:40: 5th Grade
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1:50-2:45: 6th Grade and PM ECCB
🐊 Mark your calendars for Friday, September 25!*
This year, the PTA and Island Creek Administration have teamed up to direct funds toward exciting new initiatives that support our students and staff.
📩 Look for a printed flyer from the PTA and a digital flyer from your child's teacher, which will include all the details.
👉 Register and set up your students' fundraising page and learn more about our school-wide goals here.
🙌 Parents and Guardians, sign up here to volunteer during the event.
📣 Families can also register here to attend and cheer on their student.
💚 Want to make an even bigger impact? Click here to join the ICES PTA today—just $10 and takes less than 2 minutes.
*The rain date for this event is Friday, October 2
Next Week is Spirit Week!
Get ready, Island Creek Elementary! We’re bringing the magic, friendship, and adventure of Toy Story to life with an exciting Spirit Week!
Join us each day as we celebrate with fun Toy Story-themed dress-up days.
Tuesday, September 22: To Infinity and Beyond!
Wednesday, September 23: Wild West Wednesday!
Thursday, September 24: You've Got a Friend in Me!
Friday, September 25: Rock those Croc Shirts!
Let’s show off that Croc Spirit!
🍴Lunch with your Child
To help our students get settled and master cafeteria routines, lunch visits from family members will begin on Monday, September 28. Additionally, due to limited seating capacity in the cafeteria, we kindly ask family members to limit lunch visits with their child(ren) to no more than once per week.
Make sure to take advantage of our Island Creek Spirit Wear Back-To-School Sale! You can now shop and save through October 5th! This weekend, hoodies will be marked down to $33.99. This special pricing will run through Sunday Night! Shop today and rep Island Creek. Shop today: https://1stplace.sale/98354
Advanced Academics Programs
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services is available to students in Grades K-12 and is designed to match services to each student’s unique academic needs.
Identification for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services occurs throughout the school year. Full-Time AAP services have two identification cycles:
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Fall identification: Students in grades 3-7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15, 2026.
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Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2-7 may be referred by December 15, 2026.
FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration in the holistic identification process for AAP services.
- All students in Grade 2 take the Naglieri General Ability Tests (NGAT).
- Students in Grades 3-6 who do not have a multi-domain ability test score take the NGAT.
- Students in Grades 3-6 may retake an ability test one time. Families may request the ability test retake by contacting Samantha Jacobson, School Testing Coordinator, at SJacobson1@fcps.edu by September 30.
Families are invited to attend two AAP information meetings, led by Alyssa Grabel, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):
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AAP Continuum of Services: September 23 at 5:00 PM in the library. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
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Full-Time AAP Identification: October 14 at 5:00 PM in the library. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.
For more information, please contact Alyssa Grabel, AART, at angrabel@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website.
The Island Creek Library has been a busy place. During our first weeks together, students have been learning how to enter the library, listen attentively, choose books, care for library materials, and move safely through the space. We have also practiced our checkout routine: Choose, Hug, Get Your Card, Sit and Wait, now that’s not hard! These routines are helping students become more confident and responsible library users.
Students have enjoyed several fun and engaging read-alouds, including Chrysanthemum, Interrupting Chicken, The Book with No Pictures, Library Fish, and Pete the Cat Checks Out the Library. Through these stories, we have practiced listening, discussed what makes the library special, and learned how to make good choices during story and checkout time.
Genrefying the Library!
Many exciting changes are also taking place behind the scenes. New books have arrived, new Dewey Decimal and genre signs have been created, and work has begun to organize the fiction collection by genre. These sections include Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Humor and Graphic Novels, with more to come. Organizing books by genre will make it easier for students to find the kinds of stories they already enjoy while also encouraging them to explore something new. It will help students become more independent when choosing books which will enable students to spend more time reading instead of searching!
On Wednesday, October 7, students, staff, and families are invited to walk to school! Enjoy music and receive a sticker when you arrive.
If you walk outside of school hours, let PE teachers Ms. Atari or Ms. Barber know to claim your sticker during PE class.
Family Life Education (FLE) Materials and Preview Night
Island Creek will host a Virtual Parent Preview Night for FLE on October 19th at 6:00 pm. This session provides an opportunity to ask questions and receive assistance in accessing the materials virtually. You may access the meeting via the following link:
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/96036325102?pwd=OO0nHqbz9pYITeQYrrL7bt2t6YzCaF.1&from=addon
We invite you also to learn more about Fairfax County's elementary FLE program on the FCPS website.
Please reach out to Assistant Principal Dr. Denise Cash-Pinckney at dcashpinckne@fcps.edu with any questions.
Family Life Education Instructional Program Information
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms are available in Parent Digital Consent. Paper opt-out forms are available from your child’s school. Students receiving special education services and accessing modified curriculum will receive a printed opt-out form for modified FLE lessons.
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) , Middle School (7-8) , and High School (9-12). FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology. Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account. Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media). Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.
Program questions may be addressedrby contacting Assistant Principal Dr. Denise Cash-Pinckney at dcashpinckne@fcps.edu or Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by email fle@fcps.edu.
Twice Exceptional Students
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners are students who are gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities.
Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage, which also includes a link to the Special Education Handbook.
New information, including printable flyers, has been added under the heading Supporting 2e Learners in FCPS.
Superintendent Community Conversations
Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Riverside Elementary School
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary Schoo
Registration is now open for the Street Caps Learn to Play Street Hockey Program! They offer free, high-energy clinics that introduce kids ot the game in a welcoming, low-pressure environment.
Additional information, including registration,may be accessed here.
Island Creek's Family Liaison, Ms. Abbas, may be reached at
nsabbas@fcps.edu
Special Education Family Conference: “Connected Communities, Thriving Students”
This free conference will bring families, educators, and community members together to learn about partnerships that support student success. The day will include an opening session, breakout sessions, an exhibitor hall, and lunch.
Getting to Know FCPS: A Military Family Orientation
This virtual presentation is designed for military families who are new to FCPS or moving to Fairfax County. Families will learn about FCPS programs, digital resources, early enrollment options, ways to support student success, and the Military Interstate Compact.
A Zoom link will be provided after registration.
How to Get Kids to Open Up to You, Now and for Years to Come
Friday, October 9, 2026 10 - 11:30 AM
We want to know what's going on in our children's lives -- about school, their friends, their successes, and their struggles. But what should you do when your kids won't tell you what's going on in their lives? What if you ask questions and all they do is shrug and mumble "It was fine" or "I don't know"? In this workshop, you'll learn specific strategies for getting your children to open and come to you when they need support.
Register here
News from the Island Creek PTA
Island Creek Elementary PTA Fall 2026 After School Enrichment Classes!
Are you looking for fun and exciting activities for your child this fall? Island Creek Elementary School PTA, in partnership with Baroody Camps, Inc., is excited to offer a variety of Fall 2026 Enrichment Programs designed to inspire students to learn, create, explore, and have fun!
Registration Dates: September 14-27
Financial Aid Registration Dates: September 14-23
Class options, Dates, and Additional information:
https://bc-ffx-islandcreek.jumbula.com/
🍎 Help Us Stock the Staff Lounge!
Let’s show our amazing teachers and staff some love! We’re looking for volunteers to help stock the Island Creek Elementary staff lounge with snacks, drinks, and other goodies to help keep our staff fueled and appreciated throughout the school year.
Every donation, big or small, makes a difference! 💕 Your generosity helps create a welcoming space where our teachers and staff can relax, recharge, and feel supported.
Thank you for helping us take care of the people who take such great care of our students! ✨
We appreciate our Island Creek Elementary community!
Sign-Up Genius to help support:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B4DA8A82BA6FE3-50657009-stock
🗓️ Island Creek Calendar
❤️Monday, September 21: School Closed (Yom Kippur Holiday)
❤️Wednesday, September 23: AAP Information Session (5:00, library)
❤️Friday, September 25: Island Creek's 5th Annual Croc Rock and Run
❤️Friday, October 2: Rain date: Croc Rock and Run
❤️Wednesday, October 7: National Walk to School Day!
❤️Thursday, October 8: Hayfield Pyramid Social Media (6:00, virtual)
❤️Monday, October 12: School Closed for students (Indigenous Peoples' Day); School Planning Day
❤️Wednesday, October 14: Full-Time AAP Information Session (5:00, library)
❤️Wednesday, October 21: 3-Hour Early Release at 12:20 for school-age students
❤️Friday, October 23: Make-up Picture Day; SCA Croc-toberfest (5:30-7:00)
❤️Friday, October 30: Book Character Day!; 2-Hour Early Release at 1:20 for all school-age students
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