Island Creek's Weekly Words: January 31, 2025
News from Island Creek 4 days 10 hours agoHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
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Dear Island Creek Families,
Thank you for your generous donations to this morning's staff breakfast! It was greatly appreciated.
We also want to thank everyone who participated in and/or attended our Third Annual This is Us Multicultural Night last night. The tables, crafts, performances, and food were a wonderful way to celebrate the rich diversity within our community. A special thank you to Daphne Callender (ESOL Teacher) Christine Tragakis (Special Education Teacher), and the enitre Equity and Family Engagement Committe for organizing a fantastic event.
As a reminder we have a 3-hour early release on Monday, February 10, at 12:20 PM for school-age students.
Thank you for your continued partnership with the Island Creek staff. We truly value our home-school connection and appreciate your support.
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!Regular attendance is a significant factor in a student’s success:
- Chronic absenteeism (missing 10% of the school year) correlates to low academic achievement;
- Absenteeism is a powerful predictor of dropout rates;
- Absenteeism has been linked to poor outcomes later in life.
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
Arrival and Dismissal remindersAs a reminder, our arrival and dismissal procedures are in place to ensure the safety of students, staff, and families.
Here are some important reminders for arrival and dismissal:
- Do not use the townhouses on Tassia Drive across from the school for dropping off or picking up your child. This blocks residents' access to their homes and driveways. Parking on Tassia Drive is for residents only.
- All adults entering the building must have a valid driver’s license with them
- Doors open to students at 8:20
- After 8:35, students must report to the office for a Tardy Pass
- No parking in the Bus Lane during morning arrival or starting at 3:00 for dismissal
- No animals on FCPS property unless the pet is an identified service animal
- Kiss and Ride: please do not use your cell phone while in the line to maintain efficiency and safety
- Kiss and Ride: Load and unload students from the passenger side of the vehicle; children should NOT cross in front or between vehicle.
February 3-7 is National School Counseling Week, and highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve academic success. Our counselors work with students in a variety of different capacities, whether it is through classroom lessons, group sessions, or individual counseling. At Island Creek we would like to thank Ms. Bohnert and Dr. Clinkscales, our counselors, for all that they do as they are the best of the best!
Please encourage your child(ren) to make them a card, write a thank you note, or just take a moment to let our school counselors know how much you appreciate them!
Learn more about the role of school counselors in FCPS.
Island Creek's 3rd Annual This is Multicultural Night was a success!Thank you to our students, families, and staff as last night's This is Us Multicultural Night was amazing!
Animal Shelter Collection Drive: February 10-14We will collect pet items for the Lorton Animal Shelter as part of our Kindness Week. If you would like to donate, please send in unopened, unexpired dog food or treats, cat food or treats, cat litter, dog training pads, or $5-10 Amazon Gift Cards to your child's classroom. All gift cards will be given to the shelter to buy specific items. Classroom totals will be announced on the morning news the following week as a celebration of our community service efforts.
If you have any questions, please email Nikki Bohnert ([email protected]) or Dr. Trina Clinkscales ([email protected]). Digital gift cards can be sent to either of their emails and will be printed off to give to the shelter.
SCA Candy Gram Sales Start Monday!Get ready to send some sweet surprises! Starting Monday, February 3rd through Wednesday, February 12th, students can purchase candy grams to send a sweet note and treat to their friends, teachers, or anyone at Island Creek Elementary who could use a little extra cheer! 🎉
Candy grams will be sold before school from 8:10 AM to 8:35 AM in the front lobby. Each candy gram is $0.50. It’s cash only, so bring your coins, bills, and your biggest smiles! 😄🍬
Don’t miss out—spread the love this Valentine’s season! ❤️
News from our Counselors Book Buddies: 3rd & 6th Grade 3-Hour Early Release Monday: 2/10Monday, February 10 is Island Creek's next 3-Hour Early Release Day for school-age students at 12:20 pm. We will follow parent/guardian repsonses from the Early Release on Monday, November 18. If you need to change your child’s plans, please call the school office at 571-642-6300 as soon as possible and no later than Thursday, February 6.
Upcoming Events for Croc Families Lunar New YearLunar New Year 2025—the year of the snake—began this Wednesday, January 29th. For those in many East and Southeast Asian countries, including Pacific Islanders, the Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays of the year and is all about ushering in luck and prosperity with family.
The number of celebration days with different names varies depending on the country. China’s Lunar New Year is known as the Spring Festival, or Chūnjié in Mandarin, while Koreans call the holiday Seollal and Vietnamese call it Tết.
You can learn more about Lunar New Year at the links below.
- Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art
- The Kennedy Center
- Lunar New Year 2025 (History.com/History Channel)
Fairfax County will host its own Lunar New Year celebration Saturday, February 8th at the Twin Lakes Golf Course in Clifton from 6 to 8 p.m. See the flyer below or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lunar-new-year for more information.
We wish good fortune to those in our community who celebrate Lunar New Year!
새해 복 많이 받으세요! 新年快乐! Chúc mừng Năm Mới!
.
February is Black History MonthFebruary is Black History Month which is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in United States history. The 2025 Black History Month theme, African Americans and Labor, focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational and voluntary – intersect with the collective experiences of Black people.
Thanks to our Equity and Family Engagement Committee, all of our Croc Students are learning about a famous African American on our daily Morning News Show.
Click here to learn more about Black History Month.
Young Crocs in MotionThanks to the leadership of one of our outstanding PE Teachers, Ms. Barber, Young Crocs in Motion (YCIM) will have a Girls Club (Tuesdays) and Boys Club (Thursdays). Registration informatoin is linked below.
VSBA School Board Appreciation MonthThank you to the Fairfax County School Board for all they do throughout the year. Want to contact your school board representatives to share your appreciation? Visit their website to find your school board member and contact them.
Virtual Community Boundary Review MeetingsIf you have not been able to attend a Community Boundary Review meeting yet, it’s not too late! The following virtual meetings are scheduled and will have the same format and information available as the previous in-person meetings:
Click one of the dates above to register and receive your unique Zoom link. Please note that each virtual meeting will be capped at 400 participants to help provide a meaningful experience for all. Language interpretation will be available. Learn about FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
Proposed Budget Presented to School BoardSuperintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget at the School Board meeting on Thursday, January 23. Watch a video of the presentation.
As Dr. Reid noted in her January 24 letter to families, “The budget is fiscally responsible and invests in excellence — not just for FCPS, but for all of us in Fairfax County who want a strong community with successful young people, dedicated educators and support staff, and a thriving economy.”
The proposed budget reflects the needs of and FCPS’ commitments to Fairfax County students, families, and community members. It focuses on competitive compensation, including a 7.0% salary increase for all staff to recruit and retain our outstanding educators, administrators, and other school-based and operational staff dedicated to the success of our students; investing in students who require additional support; and continuing multiyear initiatives such as inclusive preschool and safety and security updates.
Learn more on the Budget webpage.
🧸 Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one guardian must be present), the student will be ready for [orientation and any other introductory events your school may host]. Read more about the registration process. For additional information, please contact [name], our school registrar. 💻 Try Online Registration
Online registration for the 2025-26 school year is open. Parents/caregivers may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process.
When registering, parents/caregivers will need to create or log in to an existing SIS ParentVUE account.
🏅 Advisory Committee for Students With Disabilities Seeks Nominations for First-Class AwardsFirst-Class Awards are presented each year to individuals who support, design, and/or implement inclusion activities that result in positive outcomes for students. The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is seeking nominations for the 2025 First-Class Awards. This is a great opportunity for the community to recognize and celebrate the inclusion efforts of educators, administrators, and students who demonstrate the inclusion of students with disabilities in all facets of education.
Nominees should model excellence in their role relative to special education, have a positive impact that benefits disabled and non-disabled students alike, and be committed to creating an inclusive environment and mindset.
Nominate an administrator, staff member, student, or community partner who has made an exceptional contribution to inclusive practices in Fairfax County Public Schools. Nominations close Wednesday, February 19.
Office of the Ombuds: At Your Service!Ombuds staff engage with FCPS employees, families, and students to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
Ombuds office staff members are available to help resolve disagreements between parents/caregivers and schools. They do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email [email protected], or visit their webpage, where you may Submit a Question.
Upcoming Dates❤️Modnay, February 3- Wednedsay, Feburary 10: SCA Candy Grams
❤️Monday, February 10: 3-Hour Early Release (12:20)
❤️February 10-14: Animal Shelter Collection Drive
❤️Monday, February 17: Washington's Birthday and Presidents' Day (No school for students and staff)
❤️Monday, March 10: 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