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Dear Island Creek Families,
Happy Friday! We had another wonderful week learning and growing with our students.
Here are a few quick updates and upcoming events to keep on your radar:
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No School This Monday (Oct. 12): School is closed for students in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Our staff will spend the day in professional development focused on trauma-informed practices, student discourse, Talk Moves, and co-teaching.
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Family Friday Breakfast Bash: Thank you to the 1st and 2nd grade families who joined us this morning! Next Friday, we look forward to welcoming our 3rd and 4th grade families for breakfast.
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Croctoberfest is Coming! Join us next Friday, October 16, from 5:30–7:00 PM for our SCA Croctoberfest! Please note: This is a family event, not a drop-off activity. Parents/guardians must remain with their children.
Classroom Corner: Did you know our teachers thoughtfully plan daily discussions using sentence stems and frames? These tools help our students structure their thoughts and confidently share their learning with one another.
Thank you for your ongoing partnership!
Warmly,
Jen Fallert, Principal 🐊
Denise Cash-Pinckney, Assistant Principal 🐊
Together, We Are Navigating a Course Toward excellence!
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Good attendance builds key habits that help your child graduate on time and succeed in their future career.
By highlighting this important information, we aim to keep our families informed and energized about our collective efforts to encourage regular school attendance.
Be sure to check the FCPS Calendar when scheduling doctors' appointments and vacations.
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First Early Release Wednesday for School-age Students is October 21; Please Let Us Know Your Child’s Dismissal Plan!
This school year includes four 3-Hour Early Release Wednesdays at 12:20 PM for school-age students. These shortened school days for students allow teachers to attend professional development sessions and participate in other collaborative work.
Our dismissal time will be at 12:20 PM on these days. Here are the dates for Island Creek:
- October 21
- December 2
- February 10
- May 5
We encourage all parents/caregivers to have their student take their normal route home or to daycare (bus, walk, kiss and ride) at 12:20 PM on these days, but we will ensure that every student has supervised activities at the school and returns home at the regular time if necessary.
Please let us know your childcare plans for these Early Release Wednesdays using this form: https://forms.gle/LTAbstdNsAVAGyM18
Please note you will need to submit one form for each child.
We had over 200 students and families participate on Wednesday morning in walk to school day!
The Island Creek SCA warmly invites you to join us for Croctoberfest on Friday, October 16th from 5:30-7:00pm. Bring your family out for a night of free carnival games, delicious dinner options from local food trucks, and a turn at the dunk tank to see if you can splash your favorite teachers! Admission is completely FREE. See you at Croctoberfest!
Please note: This is not a drop-off event. Parents/guardians must be present with their children.
Hayfield Pyramid Virtual Session Recording: Helping Students Build Healthy Digital Habits
Thank you to the Hayfield Pyramid families and caregivers who joined FCPS Instructional Services and the Hayfield Pyramid principals for a conversation about helping students build healthy digital habits on Thursday evening. The session explored practical ways to navigate social media, gaming, and screen time, including setting healthy boundaries while fostering independence, establishing device routines at home, and hearing students’ perspectives.
If you were unable to attend, you can watch the recording using this link or view a PDF of the presentation. Passcode: zh4KMcu3#t
Volunteer at Island Creek
We’re so grateful to all the parents who help make our school a special place. Your support is appreciated, whether you’re planning on chaperoning a field trip, being a potential classroom reader or assisting the school- we love seeing our parents!
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If you’re interested in volunteering, please apply using the volunteer system. All prospective volunteers, regardless of their level of involvement, need to complete the following steps:
1. Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS online management system.
2. Watch the FCPS Volunteer Orientation video
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3. Submit an online volunteer application with your contact information, areas of interest and availability.
4. Keep in mind that some volunteer roles may also require a background check.
5. Teachers will sned out links for specific opportunities (such as field trips), volunteers will need to apply.
Questions? Please reach out to Nigeen Abbas, Family Liaison
nsabbas@fcps.edu
📷Picture Re-Take Day
Friday, October 23
Our photo studio, Victor O'Neill Studios, will be back to conduct picture re-take.
Re-takes is for any of the following students:
- No purchase is necessary to retake photos!
- If a package was purchased, students MUST return their original photo package to the photographer to receive a new package.
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.
Families are invited to attend the Full-Time AAP Identification Meeting, led by Alyssa Grabel, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):
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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 beginning of the school year is always an exciting time in STEAM! Students have been exploring the STEAM room, learning about the tools and materials available to them, and getting a sneak peek at some of the exciting projects and challenges we will tackle this year.
Students were also introduced to the Engineering Design Process, which will guide them as they ask questions, imagine possibilities, plan solutions, create, test, and improve their designs throughout the year.
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Kindergarten: In STEAM classes with Mr. Korrow, Kindergarten students are exploring texture, shape, and form as they learn different building strategies for taller and more stable towers. They’ve been wonderful collaborators, working together to create several structures as tall as them!
1st and 2nd Grade: Read Edward Fubberwubber Fibbed Big and took on a fun Pig Challenge! Using recyclable materials, tape, and glue, students followed the Engineering Design Process to design and build a new pig to replace the one broken in the story.
Throughout the year, we’ll also begin incorporating computer science and coding into our STEAM experiences. We are looking forward to a year filled with designing, building, experimenting, problem-solving, and lots of creative thinking!
3rd and 6th Grade: Continue their exploration of circuits and fundamental game design as they adapt a simple children’s street game into a haptic touch game that uses command-based navigation for exploring topographies imagined on distant planets. The students have come up with incredible ideas, and I can’t wait to see their finished creations!
4th Grade: Read Iggy Peck, Architect and took on a Bridge Challenge! Working as a team, students planned, designed, and built a bridge to help the stranded students safely cross the water. They then tested their bridges and made improvements to their designs.
5th Grade: Dove deeper into the Engineering Design Process and worked collaboratively to explore their interests. Students shared ideas and identified the types of STEAM projects and challenges they are most excited to tackle this year!
SAVE THE DATE: November 18th is STEAM NIGHT
Family Friday Breakfast Bash
At Island Creek, our Croc staff wants every student and family to know how much you are valued—we truly have the most amazing community! After two fantastic years, we are thrilled to bring back our Family Friday Breakfast Bash. It is a wonderful chance to connect, share a meal, and meet other families in your child’s grade.
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When: Select 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: Island Creek 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 share great food and connection with you before school starts. Below are the Family Friday Breakfast Bash dates for each grade level:
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Grades 3 and 4 Family Friday Breakfast Bash: Friday, October 16
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Grades 5 and 6 Family Friday Breakfast Bash: Friday, October 23
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.
Lunch with your Child
As a reminder, parents/caregivers are may join their childe once a week for lunch. Below are some reminders for families who choose to come in.
Book Character Day: Friday, 10/30
Get ready for Book Character Day at Island Creek Elementary! On Friday, October 30, all Crocodilians are invited to dress up as their favorite book character for a day of literacy fun.
Dressing up is completely optional. If your child chooses to participate, please keep costumes safe and school-appropriate: no scary themes, offensive graphics, toy weapons, masks, or face paint.
Whether dressing up or coming as they are, please remind your child to bring their favorite book to share with their class!
Superintendent Community Conversations
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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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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Tuesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School (note date change)
Share Your Feedback on Traveling to and From School
The FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are asking families to share their experiences traveling to and from their child’s school. The feedback will help inform the Fairfax County School Board’s annual assessment of traffic and pedestrian safety near schools.
The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss-and-ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns.
Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15.
Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu
🗓️ Island Creek Calendar
❤️Monday, October 12: School Closed for students (Indigenous Peoples' Day); School Planning Day
❤️Wednesday, October 14: Full-Time AAP Information Session (5:00, library)
❤️Friday, October 16: SCA Croc-toberfest (5:30-7:00); Grades 3 and 4 Family Friday Breakfast Bash (7:45, Cafeteria)
❤️Wednesday, October 21: 3-Hour Early Release at 12:20 for school-age students
❤️Monday, October 19: FLE Overview Session (6:00, Virtual)
❤️Friday, October 23: Make-up Picture Day; Grades 5 and 6 Family Friday Breakfast Bash (7:45, Cafeteria)
❤️Friday, October 30: Book Character Day!; 2 Hour Early Release at 1:20 for all school-age students; 5th and 6th Grade Chorus sing The Star Spangled Banner at the Hayfield Secondary Football Game
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