Island Creek's Weekly Words: March 28, 2025
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Dear Island Creek Families,
Today marks the end of the 3rd Quarter of the 2024-2025 school year. We are so proud of the growth are Crocs are making as have the best students (and families) in Fairfax County!
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Schools will be closed on Monday, March 31 as it is the Eid holiday. Eid Mubarak to all who celebrate!
- Schools will also be closed on Tuesday, April 1 for a teacher workday.
- Kindergarten Orientation is Tuesday, April 1 (9:30-11:00) and we are thrilled to welcome the Class of 2038!
- Monday, April 21 is Island Creek's next 3-Hour Early Release Day for school-age students at 12:20 pm. We will follow parent/guardian responses from the Early Release on Monday, March 10. If you need to change your child’s plans, please call the school office at 571-642-6300.
Have a wonderful weekend and we look forward to welcoming our Crocs back to school on Wednesday, April 2.
All our best,
Jen Fallert, Principal
Karen Baxter, Assistant Principal
Denise Cash-Pinckney, Assistant Principal
Every Day Counts at Island Creek! Help us reach our goal of 5% or less this year! We are almost there!
To ensure transparency and celebrate our progress, we will be sharing weekly attendance data and updates in our newsletter. By highlighting this important information, we aim to keep our families informed and energized about our collective efforts to encourage regular school attendance
Meet our new Family Liaison!Hi, I’m Claudia Flores, and I’m happy to be part of the Island Creek Elementary team as your Family Liaison. I have a background in education and human services, and my goal is to support families, students, and staff by connecting them with helpful resources.
live in Fairfax County with my husband and our two children, who both attend FCPS. I am also a proud James Madison University graduate, Go Dukes, and a swim mom.
I look forward to working with the Island Creek community and helping families navigate the school system. Please don’t hesitate to reach out, I’m here to help!
Claudia Flores
Family Liaison, Island Creek Elementary
Eid al-Fitr: Monday, March 31Eid Mubarak to those in our Muslim community celebrating! In Islam, Eid al-Fitr is a 3 day festival to mark the end of Ramadan. Muslims dress in new clothes, give charity, and pray in congregation. Eid is celebrated with the exchange of presents and delicious food with family and friends.
All FCPS schools and offices are closed on Monday, March 31, for Eid al-Fitr. Tuesday, April 1, is a student holiday and teacher workday.
Island Creek Book Fair: April 3-9 Advanced Academic Programs: Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time ServicesFairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
Screening for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Students can be screened for subject specific and part time AAP services at any time in the school year. In the spring, schools review data on all students to determine services for the start of the next school year.
- Parents or guardians can initiate the screening process by submitting the AAP School-Based Services Referral Form to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Emily Mextorf, by April 15th.
- The AAP School-Based Services Referral Form may be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/advanced-academic-programs-aap/advancedacademic-program-aap-forms or by searching “AAP Forms” at https://www.fcps.edu/.
- Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by the local elementary school of their student’s eligibility status by early June.
Screening Process for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
Multiple criteria are reviewed holistically to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. Committees consider student work from opportunities with AAP lessons, examples of student reasoning or gifted behaviors from class discussions and activities, progress reports, achievement and ability scores, and parent or guardian input. Committees consider whether students have access to a group of students with similar academic needs to support academic conversations and growth in the classroom.
Appeals Process for Subject Specific and Part-Time Services
If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee. This new information should be submitted to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Emily Mextorf at [email protected]
For more information about the continuum of AAP services, please visit the AAP website at: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advancedacademics-identification-and-placement/current-fcps-students.
Yearbooks are on SaleYearbooks for the 2024-2025 school year are on sale now. Please use this link: https://www.buytheyearbook.com/en/bty/findmyschool and our school ID code: 727747, to order yours. Purchases made before April 15, are $22.00.
April is the Month of the Military ChildApril is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize children from military families for their contributions and sacrifices. We recognize that children serve too!
Island Creek Elementary is proud to have over 125 military-connected youth as part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community and recognize their strength and resilience. Through-out the month of April we will feature our military-connected students on the Morning News show as they recite the “Pledge of Allegiance.” On Wednesday, April 9th we will celebrate Purple Up! Day, a special day for our community to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth and their families. We encourage all students and staff members to wear purple that day as a symbol of the combined colors of all branches of the military.
🧸 Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…Parents of rising kindergartners please contact Ms. Bickerstaff, Island Creek Registrar, to schedule an appointment to register your rising kindergartner for the fall of 2025!
Spread the news with neighbors and friends who may also have a kindergartener ready to begin their journey at Island Creek!
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
1. Determine eligibility: Children must be age 5 or older by September 30.
2. Identify your local school.
3. Gather documents.
4. Fill out forms.
5. An in-person appointment is still necessary. Please schedule with Ms. Bickerstaff.
Read more about the registration process.
Rising Kindergarten Student Intention 2025-26 Please complete this form if you have a rising kindergartner and plan on attending Island Creek Elementary School. We are not using this data for evaluative purposes nor for placement purposes but merely to collect information for the beginning of the school year. All students come in at various levels academically and socially. We are excited for our 2025-26 kindergarten students!
Kindergarten Orientation Tuesday, April 1 (9:30-11:00) Tuesday, April 1, 2025: 9:30-11:00 (sign-in at 9:15)We are excited to welcome our newest Crocs to Island Creek Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year!
This event is intended for the rising kindergarten student and their parents/guardians. Last year we tried something new and it was a success, so will be repeating this year! Rising kindergarten students and their parents/guardians will be placed in tour groups and visit eight different locations at Island Creek to see our amazing school and meet our fantastic staff. At 11:00 we will have Popsicles on the Playground and the opportunity for students to board a school bus.
Due to limited space, we ask that only rising Kindergarten students and their parents/guardians attend.
Spring SOL Testing DatesFor your planning purposes and reference, please see the Spring 2025 Standards of Learning (SOL) Testing Dates. When possible, please avoid scheduling appointments and/or activities that would prevent your child from arriving at school on time on the days your child(ren) are participating in an SOL Assessment.
3-Hour Early Release: Monday, 4/21Monday, April 21 is Island Creek's next 3-Hour Early Release Day for school-age students at 12:20 pm. We will follow parent/guardian responses from the Early Release on Monday, March 10. If you need to change your child’s plans, please call the school office at 571-642-6300.
⏰ Coming Soon: School Start Times SurveyLast year, FCPS held community forums and surveyed middle school families regarding middle school start times. Now, we would like to hear from all staff and families on the possibility of adjusting school start times across the division. The goal remains to begin middle school at 8 a.m. or later at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
On April 1, a survey link will be sent by email to staff, parents/caregivers, and students in grades 5-12. The confidential survey will be open for two weeks and will be available in multiple languages.
🏫 Helping Your Child Prepare for KindergartenWe recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Explore the resources on FCPS’ School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage for ways to help ensure your child starts kindergarten with confidence.
☀️ Save the Date for the FCPS Summer ExtravaganzaDiscover summer learning and activities available in Fairfax County!
Attend the FCPS Summer Extravaganza on Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School and get a jump on summer learning. At this free event, participants can engage in educational and enrichment activities designed to inspire curiosity and growth.
Activities will include student performances, story time, a moon bounce, and face painting. For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
Upcoming Dates❤️Monday, March 31: Eid al-Fitr (No school for students and staff)
❤️Tuesday, April 1: Teacher Workday (No school for students); Kindergarten Orientation (9:30-11:00)
❤️April 3-9: Book Fair
❤️Friday, April 4: Book Fair Family Night (5:30-8:30)
❤️Wednesday, April 9: Purple Up! Day; Book Fair Family Night (5:30-7:30)
❤️Monday, April 14-Friday, April 18: Spring Break (No school for students and staff)
❤️Monday, April 21: 3-Hour Early Release (12:20)
❤️Follow Island Creek on Facebook and InstagramInstagram: islandcreekelementary
7855 Morning View Lane, Alexandria, VA 22315 | Phone: 571-642-6300
Attendance 571-642-6363