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Weekly Update from Irving MS

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Tutor.com

Does your child need homework help or feedback on their writing? How about a practice quiz to get ready for a test? Tutor.com is open to FCPS students in all grades, on-demand, 24/7, at no cost to families. Learn more.

Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can be pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Upcoming Important Dates

March 24

After Friday Activities - 2:30-3:30 - No Transportation Provided

March 27-29

PTA Spirit Nights at Glory Days - see the flyer

April 3-7

Holiday - Spring Break

April 13

End of the 3rd Quarter - 2 hour early dismissal

April 14

No School Teacher Workday

Pictured above are our outstanding Peer Tutor Students who attended the Secondary School Writing Centers Association (SSWCA) conference today. Six of our students also presented at the conference today. While there were several middle schools who attended today, Irving Middle School was the only middle school to have students present during the conference.

Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

It is exciting to see our students representing Irving in so many positive ways. From Band, Orchestra, and Choir district assessments, to art exhibits and presentations at the SSWCA conference, our talented students are shining bright. We are grateful for the support you provide to ensure so many opportunities are available for them!

We are just a couple of weeks away from Spring Break and like all other breaks, we will be asking staff and students to truly take the break. Our staff will be away from their emails and we will not be assigning any work to be completed over the break so that students can step aways from school work. If you are looking for something for your child to do, we always recommend reading and students have the next 2 weeks to check out books they would like to read over break. Perhaps they will check out one of author Stephanie Bodeen’s books in preparation of her visit to Irving in April.

A friendly reminder that the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form has been emailed to all parents/guardians. If you have not completed the survey, please consider taking a few minutes to complete it by March 26. It is always helpful to hear what is going well and what improvements can be made.

Take Care

Cindy Conley

National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week is March 20-26, 2023

Quick Facts:

Opioids are the number one cause of unnatural death in Fairfax County. Young adults aged 25-34 are the most common demographic seen in the emergency room for fatal opioid overdoses.
Nationwide there were over 100,000 overdose deaths from April 2020- April 2021.
Using opioids after a period of abstinence, mixing drugs, IV use, and serious medical problems all contribute to an increased risk of opioid overdose.
90% of substance users began using prior to 21-years-old.
Alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine are usually the most common substances used by adolescents.
Fairfax County police stations, pharmacies, and medical facilities provide permanent drug disposal drop boxes for residents to safely dispose of their unused/expired medication. DO NOT flush your medications.

Reframing Our Thinking:

Changing our state of consciousness is part of the human experience (kids spinning in circles to induce dizziness, meditation, runner’s high, and more) but using substances has more negative than positive side effects. Alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine use prevention strategies are also opioid overdose prevention strategies since opioid users likely used one of these three substances first. Every opioid overdose does not lead to death, but it increases the chances of an eventual overdose fatality. Although most opioid users began with alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine, these three drugs are not “gateway drugs”. The term “gateway drug” implies all alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine users will eventually use other drugs, but that is not the case for most, so the time to act is now. Treat your medication as a loaded gun; lock it up and properly dispose of any medications you are no longer using.

Sources & Resources:

Fairfax CSB Opioid Info

REVIVE Training for Opioid Overdoses

Medication Disposal

Teen Substance Use

FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program

Everything You Need to Know About Opioids

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

For further Information & support:Ken Johnson, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist at [email protected].

Technology Support for Families

Visit the Technology Support page for answers to many questions about student technology and basic troubleshooting, including how to reset a password, accessing Zoom in Schoology, laptop resources, and screen activity reports.

After School Information

Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

We will offer late buses on Mondays, Tuesdays, SOME Wednesdays, and Thursdays, buses depart from Irving between 4:35 pm and 5:00 pm. The weekly sign-up regenerates weekly, the link will be available Fridays by 10am. Also, activities and clubs that are labeled both blocks, it is a commitment for the entire 2 hours. Updates and changes will be shared via Schoology, lunch (cafeteria), Rock Block and the after school program board.

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Back to Basics: Strategies for Success - Leadership Coaching, is a 6-week course that incorporates Portrait of a Graduate goals and enhances their communication skills. This free course is offered on Wednesdays after school, both blocks; first session ends Wednesday, March 8, second session begins Wednesday, March 15.

Coming Soon

Football Club starts Tuesday, March 21, 1st block. Participants must wear sneakers, the club will not meet indoors, inclement weather days and when the field is too soiled - the club will be canceled.

WSHS Girls’ Basketball Clinic - Thursday, March 23, BOTH BLOCKS

Basketball Club is moving to Tuesdays starting Tuesday, March 28

Activity Ends

Volleyball Club, will end Tuesday, March 28th

Library News

Many Thanks:

Irving Middle School wants to express our gratitude to the Alpha Beta Alpha Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority a generous donation of over 100 new books. These books will have a lasting impact on the education of our students and will be remembered and appreciated by our school community for years to come.

Save the Date:

We’re counting down to our upcoming author presentation! Stephanie Bodeen will give presentations to students on her day-long visit to Irving Middle School on April 26th. Ms. Bodeen has written many books, including The Compound and The Raft, two titles that a good number of Irving students have already read. We are encouraging all students to borrow a copy of one of Ms. Bodeen’s books to read before the author’s visit. The author will be speaking specifically about those two fiction titles as well as about the writing process.

Students interested in borrowing one of these titles and in attending the author’s presentation should speak with a librarian.

–Mary Ann Monk, Librarian Irving Middle School

News from the PTA

THANK YOU to everyone who supported Pi(e) Day for our fantastic Irving Staff. Pies from Bites by Sam were served, and we provided much-appreciated coffee. It was also one of those days with a crazy schedule, so I think the extra boost was much appreciated and well-timed. Thank you!

PTA Request - To have a PTA Board and a PTA and to do cool stuff for the kids, we need to run an election. To do that we need a nominating committee of 3 PTA members. We currently have 2 volunteers. This is a short-duration volunteer gig - it'll end in May - so if you have some time and can support, please email [email protected]

SPRING SPIRIT WEAR ORDERS ARE DONE! - Closed at Noon today!. Thank you for ordering! Delivery / Distribution will be after Spring Break!

PTA Board Elections - Are YOU interested in having all the fun we are having? Changing your child’s world? JOIN THE IRVING PTA EXEC TEAM! We will elect a President*, Vice President, Treasurer*, and Secretary* (*required to remain a PTA). If interested, please send an email to [email protected]

RESTAURANT "NIGHT" is coming up March 27 – 29 at Glory Days Burke. See the flyer (copy and paste, links don't work) - https://tinyurl.com/WIMSGloryDays - reminders will go out. Need to send a picture of your receipt to [email protected] (easiest) or send the physical receipt in to the school (stay tuned for how).

Weekly Update from Irving MS

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Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can be pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Upcoming Important Dates

March 10

After Friday Activities - 2:30-3:30 - No Transportation Provided

April 3-7

Holiday - Spring Break

A huge THANK YOU! to Mrs. Rhonda Luss (President), Ms. Lynbea Toombs (Vice President), and Mrs. QueSchae Blue-Clark (Book Drive Program Lead) and all of the members of Alpha Beta Alpha Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for donating over 100 books to Irving Middle School! The books donated today provide additional opportunities for our students to read books from multiple perspectives and diverse authors. These books will have a lasting impact on the education of our students and will be remembered and appreciated by our school community for years to come.

We are overwhelmed by the generosity of these amazing women!

Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

Today, we are grateful to have received the wonderful gift of over 100 books from Alpha Beta Alpha Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. We truly enjoyed hearing not only about how they raised funds to purchase the books for Irving MS, but also about all they do in the FCPS community - from a partnership to provide resources to an FCPS elementary school, to a mentoring program run for young ladies, and the hundreds of thousands of dollars they have raised and donated to many other schools, universities, and organizations - they truly are amazing.

On March 12, Irving Middle School parents/guardians will be contacted through email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form Online. This survey is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and offers parents an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various issues related to our school. These issues include instructional leadership, school climate, human resources management, organizational management, communication and community relations and professionalism.

The survey will be collected online between March 12 and March 26. When you receive an email from FCPS Surveys, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Your opinions matter.

Take Care

Cindy Conley

Please join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a community meeting on Opioid awareness, Monday, March 13, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Fairfax High School. During this event, you will hear from individuals and family members affected by the opioid epidemic, medical experts, and law enforcement representatives. You will also have an opportunity to hear directly from Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax County Police Department about local initiatives to address this issue.

For more information, please watch this short video and visit our website.

Natural High

The Problem: Studies have shown that 13 is the average age of first-time drug and alcohol use. 9 out of 10 addictions start in the teen years. 90% of Americans with a substance use disorder began using substances before the age of 18.

Natural High is “a drug prevention nonprofit that inspires and empowers youth to find their natural high and develop the skills and courage to live life well.” The Natural High campaign highlights helping children and teens find healthy thrilling activities to fulfill the dopamine (feel good) levels in the brain.

Solutions: For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Resources:

Natural High

Fentanyl Is Now The Leading Cause of Death For Young People In the US (Video)

Live Your Life Naturally High

Knowing The Signs: Substance Abuse & Today’s Use (Video)

Adolescent Substance Use: America’s #1 Public Health Problem

FCPS video on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs: https://dl.ebmcdn.net/fcps/courses/ATODParentPresentationRequired103119b/story_html5.html

For further Information & support:: Ken Johnson, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, [email protected]

Technology Support for Families

After School Information

Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Coming Soon

Lego Spike Prime - TBD

WSHS Girls’ Basketball Clinic - Thursday, March 23, BOTH BLOCKS

Activity Ends

Volleyball Club, will end Tuesday, March 28th

Library News

Many Thanks:

Save the Date:

Students interested in borrowing one of these titles and in attending the author’s presentation should speak with a librarian.

–Mary Ann Monk, Librarian Irving Middle School

News from the PTA

IT’S ALMOST PI DAY! We are excited to mark 3/14 by providing pie and coffee to our amazing Irving Staff! Want to support these professionals who spend the day with our Tweens and Teens? Just copy and paste this link and contribute to PI DAY at Irving! https://irvingms.memberhub.com/store/items/834473

It’s that time again – SPRING SPIRIT WEAR! The store is open for TWO WEEKS only (closing on March 17th, delivery a week or so after Spring Break). Copy and paste this link and get your Irving Spirit Wear. Have a rising 7th grader? It’s not too early – get them REALLY READY for middle school with some awesome Spirit Wear! https://shop.burkesports.com/groups/1428-irving-middle-school/products?fbclid=IwAR0CnbfYfNbS_iJCHfqw-jQA8YDqAZO7ojdeodeP7g8sF_2IYi21_1UsYn8 (copy and paste, links don't work)

Are YOU interested in having all the fun we are having? Changing your child’s world? JOIN THE IRVING PTA EXEC TEAM! We will elect a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. If interested, please send an email to [email protected] Also, we STILL need one more person to make the nominating committee complete. If you would like to volunteer for this short but important role, please send an email to [email protected]

RESTAURANT NIGHT is coming up March 27 – 29 at Glory Days Burke. Watch this space!

Irving Middle School Reminder

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PTA Meeting Tonight!

PTA Meeting Login Information

Our PTA Meeting is tonight! Please join the meeting at 6:30 pm via this Zoom link and use the following Meeting ID: 889 6599 5750 and Passcode: WIMS.

Help Celebrate Pi Day!

IT’S ALMOST PI DAY! We are excited to mark 3/14, by providing pies to our amazing Irving Staff! Just a sweet treat you say? We hope to provide some lovely, savory, and sweet pies from a local company. Want to support these professionals who spend the DAY with our Tweens and Teens? Just copy and paste this link and contribute to PI DAY at Irving! https://irvingms.memberhub.com/store/items/834473

Spirit Wear Store is OPEN!

It’s that time again – Spring Spirit Wear! The store is open for TWO WEEKS only! (closing on March 17th, delivery a week or so after Spring Break) Copy and paste this link and get your Irving Spirit Wear. Have a rising 7th grader? It’s not too early – get them REALLY READY for middle school with some awesome Spirit Wear! https://shop.burkesports.com/groups/1428-irving-middle-school/products?fbclid=IwAR0CnbfYfNbS_iJCHfqw-jQA8YDqAZO7ojdeodeP7g8sF_2IYi21_1UsYn8 (copy and paste, links don't work)

PTA Officers Needed for 23-24 School Year

Are YOU interested in having all the fun we are having? Changing your child’s world? Join the Irving PTA exec committee! We will elect a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. If interested, please send an email to [email protected]. Also, we need one more person to make the nominating committee complete. If you would like to volunteer for this short but important role, please send an email to [email protected].

Irving MS Updates and Information

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Irving MS PTA Updates

IT’S ALMOST PI DAY! We are excited to mark 3/14, by providing pies to our amazing Irving Staff! Just a sweet treat you say? We hope to provide some lovely, savory, and sweet pies from a local company. Want to support these professionals who spend the DAY with our Tweens and Teens? Just copy and paste this link and contribute to PI DAY at Irving! https://irvingms.memberhub.com/store/items/834473
It’s that time again – Spring Spirit Wear! The store is open for TWO WEEKS only! (closing on March 17th, delivery a week or so after Spring Break) Copy and paste this link and get your Irving Spirit Wear. Have a rising 7th grader? It’s not too early – get them REALLY READY for middle school with some awesome Spirit Wear! https://shop.burkesports.com/groups/1428-irving-middle-school/products?fbclid=IwAR0CnbfYfNbS_iJCHfqw-jQA8YDqAZO7ojdeodeP7g8sF_2IYi21_1UsYn8 (copy and paste)
Are YOU interested in having all the fun we are having? Changing your child’s world? Join the Irving PTA exec committee! We will elect a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. If interested, please send an email to [email protected]. Also, we need one more person to make the nominating committee complete. If you would like to volunteer for this short but important role, please send an email to [email protected].
MARCH 7 – is our next general PTA meeting. 6:30 pm on zoom. Here is the link (copy and paste, links don't work): https://us05web.zoom.us/j/88965995750?pwd=UGIwMVhIR3BTcng3OWpIdytrUjRWZz09

Meeting ID: 889 6599 5750

Passcode: WIMS

Irving MS Weekly Newsletter

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Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can be pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Congratulations, Mr. Luis Barreto and Ms. Diane Gawalt (pictured on the right in second picture above) on their retirement from FCPS. Mr. Barreto was a dedicated custodian for over 15 years and Ms. Gawalt shared her love of reading and service to the community as a librarian at Irving MS with students, staff, and families. We wish Mr. Barreto and Ms. Gawalt all the best in their future adventures!

Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

Due to an early dismissal and school planning day, we are sending out our weekly newsletter a littler early. This last couple of weeks we have experienced an interesting range of weather and while we cannot tell whether this is fake spring or the real thing a little early, we are trying our best to have outside activities and lunch in the courtyard as much as possible. We are also experiencing some behaviors in the building that we do not normally see until around spring break. As you are having conversations with your child, please include the importance of being respectful to peers and staff. We have a number of activities coming up this year and we want to make sure everyone is able to enjoy them.

Last week on Friday, we held our first After Friday activities. We had about 20 students stay after school and they participated in games in the cafeteria with a snack, shot hoops in the 8th grade gym, and played futsal in the 7th grade gym. (For those of you new to futsal - it is an indoor soccer game and the kids had a lot of fun.) We will continue to offer After Friday activities from 2:25-3:25 to hopefully encourage students to stay after at Irving and not overcrowd the Plaza. Our next After Friday afternoon will be on Friday, March 10. Other activities will be offered and may include sports/games out back on the black top and fields as the weather warms up, a short movie, crafts, and other ideas we are collecting from students.

As we look to tomorrow, it is an early dismissal day and students will be dismissed at 12:15. We will be providing a grab and go lunch for students who would like to buy lunch. To ensure we can get all students through the grab and go line in time for the early dismissal, only students who plan to purchase a school lunch will be permitted to go to the cafeteria beginning at 11:45. Students will purchase their lunch and then stay in the cafeteria until the dismissal bell rings. If you give your child permission to go to the Plaza after school, please remind them of the importance of being a respectful, good citizen so that all may enjoy the shopping center.

Take Care

Cindy Conley

Technology Use Reports by Lightspeed

Have you signed up for a report about your child’s internet activity on their FCPS device? You can sign up for weekly reports from Lightspeed, the FCPS internet content filtering service, which lists top sites your child has visited that week. The weekly report also offers guardians the ability to sign up for the free Internet Use Parent Portal for even more detailed information about your child’s internet browsing. Guardians can also “pause” internet access on the FCPS device during non-school hours. Parents/guardians who are interested can submit a request on the Technology Support for Families page for weekly screen activity reports.

After School Information

Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Coming Soon

Irving Interpreters - Tuesday, March 7, 1st block

Lego Spike Prime - TBD

Activity Ends

Volleyball Club, will end Tuesday, March 28th

Library News

The library is excited to announce that young adult author Stephanie Bodeen will give presentations to students on her day-long visit to Irving Middle School on April 26th. Ms. Bodeen has written many books, including The Compound and The Raft, two titles that a good number of Irving students have already read. We are encouraging all students to borrow a copy of one of Ms. Bodeen’s books to read before the author’s visit. The author will be speaking specifically about those two fiction titles as well as about the writing process.

Students interested in borrowing one of these titles and in attending the author’s presentation should speak with a librarian.

–Mary Ann Monk, Librarian Irving Middle School

News from the PTA

Are YOU interested in being on the PTA executive committee? We will elect a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. If interested, please send an email to [email protected] Also, we need one more person to make the nominating committee complete. If you would like to volunteer for this short but important role, please send an email to [email protected]

THANK YOU to all who contributed to Headless Heroes for the Shower our Teachers and Staff with Love event, held on February 14th. The nacho bar was a big hit! A special SHOUT OUT to Christy Whiteaker who organized the event, hosted it and made sure it was a success.

MARCH 7 – is our next general PTA meeting. It will also be at 6:30, and on zoom. More details to come!

Weekly Update from Irving MS

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Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can be pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Upcoming Important Dates

February 20

No School - Presidents’ Day

February 24

After Friday Activities Day

February 24

6:30-8:30

PTA Movie Night - Lyle, Lyle Crocodile for kids AND Hidden in Plain Sight presented by Fairfax County Police Department for adults only. Both are free! We hope you will come and hear this VERY important presentation!

March 2

2-hour Early Release - students will dismiss at 12:15 pm

March 3

Student Holiday (Professional Workday)

April 3-7

Holiday - Spring Break

Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

First, I want to thank all of the chaperones and families who donated drinks and treats for the dance! We had about 560 students stay for the dance. I also want to thank our families who picked up their children at 3:30 - we know our parking lot is small and we appreciate that everyone packed their patience as they snaked around our entire parking lot. We were able to safely move over 500 cars through the entire pick up to exit loop in less than 30 minutes. Thank you!

Coming up next Friday, February 24, the PTA is sponsoring a VERY important presentation by the Fairfax County Police Department called Hidden in Plain Sight. We offered this presentation last year and it was very well received. I cannot recommend this presentation enough - while we all hope never to need to use the information shared in the presentation; it is always better to be informed and prepared. This event is for adults only, no children will be permitted. However, while you attend the presentation, we will be providing the movie Lyle, Lyle Crocodile in the cafeteria for students. There is a sign up through Eventbrite for the presentation linked HERE, as well as a link to sign up to help chaperone the movie night portion in the PTA section of the newsletter below.

Lastly, in an effort to alleviate some of the overcrowding at “the Plaza” and to provide an alternative for “hanging out,” Irving MS will begin offering activities on Fridays from 2:25-3:25. We are NOT able to offer late buses on Fridays. The first “After Friday” Activity Day will be on Friday, February 24 from 2:25-3:25. We will provide a snack for students and they may be in the cafeteria to eat the snack and hang out or they can be in the 8th grade gym for a sport activity such as basketball, futsal, volleyball, etc. We have a small number of staff who will be working on Friday afternoons. We will also be looking for parent chaperones - stay tuned for more information.

Take Care

Cindy Conley

Calendar Update

The Fairfax County School Board approved a calendar for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years at their February 9 meeting. Learn more about the approved calendar.

The first day of the 2023-24 school year will be Monday, August 21, and the last day will be Wednesday, June 12.

Developing a school year calendar is a balancing act, involving multiple factors that must be considered. Community input is one of those factors, and we appreciate our community for being involved in the calendar development process.

Technology Use Reports by Lightspeed

Please Charge Laptops

Please remind your child that laptops must be charged each night. We do not have enough chargers and outlets in classrooms to charge them in classrooms each morning. If your child is unable to locate the laptop charger that was given to them during laptop distribution, a replacement may be purchased for $23 by logging into MySchoolBucks. Thank you!

Technology Support for Families

After School Information Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Coming Soon

Buddy Sports: starting Tuesday, February 21, 1st block.

Library News

Students interested in borrowing one of these titles and in attending the author’s presentation should speak with a librarian.

–Mary Ann Monk, Librarian Irving Middle School

News from the PTA

MOVIE NIGHT! February 24th 6:30 – 8:30 PM will be a Movie Night at Irving, sponsored by the PTA. We will watch Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, and everyone is welcome. It’s free to attend and no sign up is needed – just come. However, we need 10 adult volunteers to chaperone the event. Please sign up, here: (copy and paste the link): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090A4AAFAF29ABFB6-movie

At the same time as the movie, we will have a showing of “Hidden in Plain Sight” by the West Springfield Police, in Barker Hall. The is an adults-only presentation that helps parents to identify risky youth behavior. If you would like to attend “Hidden in Plain Sight” please register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hidden-in-plain-sight-tickets-542976325807

(Copy and paste – links don’t work).

MARCH 7 – is our next general PTA meeting. It will also be at 6:30, and on zoom. More details to come!

Irving Middle School Weekly Update

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Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

Irving Middle School is so fortunate to have some daily substitutes who are committed to supporting our teachers when they need to be out. Ms. Kohne is a retired Irving Science 7 teacher who for over 8 years has been a substitute extraordinaire filling in for teachers almost every day. Ms. Kohne is dedicated to ensuring that even though a teacher is absent, learning still continues. She arrives well before school starts so she can spend time reading through lesson plans, preparing materials, and ensuring that she is ready to provide the best experience for the students she will be working with each day. We are so fortunate that Ms. Kohne chose to continue supporting Irving Middle School after retiring! Ms. Kohne and I are pictured above, showing support for our favorite teams. Ms. Kohne is a die hard Eagles fan and we had a lot of fun today showing our team spirit. May the best team (KC Chiefs!) win!

As a heads up to our families who drive to Irving for drop off/pick up or on Keene Mill Road, today Fairfax County launched a new Speed Camera Pilot program. There are 2 cameras very close to Irving Middle School monitoring both directions on Keene Mill Road. For more information regarding the program, please see this link from the Fairfax County Government Page.

Lastly, February 13-17, is Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) week, we will be sharing ways that students can perform Random Acts of Kindness. Along with the RAK, we will also have a spirit week- see the image below for RAK ideas and what to wear next week. Not only do we hope our staff and students participate in the RAK activities next week, we hope our families do as well. Imagine how fantastic and fun it would be to have 1170 Irving students/families and 130 staff members all performing Random Acts of Kindness throughout the week (and beyond). Let’s make it happen!

Take Care

Cindy Conley

Random Acts of Kindness Spirit Week New Irving Information Technology Use Reports by Lightspeed

Important Technology Reminders Family Tech Planners

Entertainment and tech have the potential to spark meaningful conversations. Tech planners are a great way for kids to have a shared understanding of how your family makes the most out of entertainment and tech time. Use these planners from Common Sense Media to inspire conversation about tech use as a family. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/family-tech-planners

Please Charge Laptops

Technology Support for Families

After School Information

Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Coming Soon

JROTC interest meeting: Tuesday, February 14, 1st block.

Lego Masters: starts Tuesday, February 14, 1st block.

Buddy Sports: starting Tuesday, February 21, 1st block.

Library News

What is your student reading? All students have recently visited the library to have the opportunity to select a book for English class assignments. An engaging dinner conversation could revolve around their book. 7th graders are reading narrative nonfiction books right now. “What period of history?” “What big event?” “What people are involved?” are questions that they could answer. Volunteer to read aloud a chapter with them if they’re having trouble getting into their book!

Listen for news soon about an exciting library-sponsored event. The students will get the “big reveal” next week in ROCK Block.

News from the PTA

THANK YOU to those who attended the PTA meeting. It’s a busy time and we’re grateful for everyone who could make it. A special thanks for those who stepped up to be a part of the nominating committee to nominate next year’s PTA executive committee. We just need ONE MORE person to make the committee complete. If you are interested, please email [email protected].

Are YOU interested in being on the PTA Board? We will elect a President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. If interested, please email [email protected].

On February 14th, the PTA will shower the teachers and staff with love, via a Nacho Bar! Thanks to those who supported through donations to Headless Heroes. If you would like to help, please donate, here: (copy and paste) https://irvingms.memberhub.com/store/items/62509.

MOVIE NIGHT! February 24th at Irving will be a Movie Night, sponsored by the PTA. We will watch Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, and everyone is welcome. We will have sign-ups for volunteers. Watch this space and the Irving PTA FB page. At the same time as the movie, we will have a showing of “Hidden in Plain Sight” by the West Springfield Police, in Barker Hall. The is an adults-only presentation that helps parents to identify risky youth behavior.

MARCH 7 – is our next general PTA meeting. It will also be at 6:30, and on zoom.

What is another way to show love for your teachers? Struggling to find just the right Valentine’s Day gift? Give them the gift of membership to the PTA! (copy and paste): https://irvingms.memberhub.com/store/items/76046

Weekly Update from Irving MS

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Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can be pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Upcoming Important Dates

February 7

WIMS PTA Meeting via Zoom - 6:30

PTA Ledo Pizza Spirit Night: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm - don’t forget the flyer

February 16

7th & 8th Grade Winter Wonderland After School Dance sponsored by the SCA - tickets go on sale Monday, February 6th on MySchoolBucks

February 20

No School - Presidents’ Day

February 24

Movie Night sponsored by the PTA - Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

At the same time as the movie, West Springfield police will bring “Hidden in Plain Sight” to the adults, in Barker Hall

March 2

2-hour Early Release

March 3

Student Holiday (Professional Workday)

Eating Disorder Parent Information

The Code of Virginia, 22.1-273.2, requires Virginia Public Schools to provide, on an annual basis, parent educational information regarding eating disorders for pupils in grades five through twelve. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2022),

“Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. While no one knows for sure what causes eating disorders, a growing consensus suggests that it is a range of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Eating disorders are not fads or phases, and can have serious consequences for health, productivity, and relationships.”

In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a webpage with detailed information and resources to be provided to parents and guardians of Fairfax County Public Schools. This information may be found at the following link:

https://www.fcps.edu/node/37440

Morning Arrival

Irving Middle School opens to students at 7:00 am. Please do not drop your student off before 7:00 am, especially in inclement weather, the building is closed and they will have to wait outside until 7:00 am so that we can ensure we have staff in the building to supervise them. Students arriving between 7:00 and 7:10 must go to the cafeteria.

Family Tech Planners

Please Charge Laptops

Snow Day Information

Fairfax County has announced that we will transition to synchronous virtual learning days starting on the sixth snow day if we go over five snow days this winter. In the event of a virtual learning day, please have the FCPS Laptop Resources website bookmarked to help with laptop information and troubleshooting FCPS-issued devices at home.

Youth Substance Use Presentations Monday, February 6, 6-8pm in the WSHS Library

FCPS is dedicated to providing parents and community members with the most accurate and up-to-date information on youth substance use, prevention, addiction, interventions and available supports. Please join us and our partners from the Fairfax County Police Department and Community Services Board as we discuss these topics as well as the ongoing opioid crisis. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of:

Alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioid.
List what you can do as a caregiver.
How to identify and connect with community resources.

Technology Support for Families

After School Information Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

We will offer late buses on Mondays, Tuesdays, SOME Wednesdays, and Thursdays, buses depart from Irving between 4:35 pm and 5:00 pm. The weekly sign-up regenerates weekly, the link will be available Fridays by 10am. Also, activities and clubs that are labeled both blocks, it is a commitment for the entire 2 hours. Updates and changes will be shared via Schoology, lunch (cafeteria), Rock Block and the after school program board.

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Coming Soon

WSHS Football interest meeting: Tuesday, February 7, 1st block.

JROTC interest meeting: TBD

Step Team: starting Wednesday, February 8, both blocks.

Lego Masters: starting Tuesday, February 14, 1st block.

Buddy Sports: starting Tuesday, February 21, 1st block.

Library News

Listen for news soon about an exciting library-sponsored event. The students will get the “big reveal” next week in ROCK Block.

News from the PTA

Feb. 7 (this coming Tuesday): Restaurant Night / General PTA meeting. First grab pizza from Ledo’s in West Springfield and THEN join us at 6:30 on Zoom. Here are the deets:

Ledo’s: Show this flyer to the cashier or enter code "Fundraiser" for online orders https://drive.google.com/file/d/15uMJZkrHvC9p_QTDj5-AXxO131EQ2JYc/view (copy & paste link). 20% of sales supports the PTA. Offer available between 5:00 and 9:00 PM.
General PTA meeting. Join us at 6:30 on Zoom (link sent via membership hub). Principal Conley joins us for these meetings - we hope you will, too!

Feb. 14 – We LOVE our Teachers and Staff!! This month we will shower our teachers and staff with love in the form of goodies - If you would like to support, please donate to Headless Heroes! Copy and paste this link: https://irvingms.memberhub.com/store/items/62509

Feb. 24 - Movie Night! February 24th at Irving will be a Movie Night, sponsored by the PTA. We will watch Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. We will have sign-ups for volunteers. Watch this space and the Irving PTA FB page. At the same time as the movie, West Springfield police will bring “Hidden in Plain Sight” to the adults, in Barker Hall. More on this in later updates.

As always – it’s never too late to join the PTA! Copy and paste on this link to join: https://irvingms.memberhub.com/

Weekly Update from Irving MS

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Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can be pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Upcoming Important Dates

January 30

First day of the 3rd quarter/2nd semester -

Students will report to their 1st semester, 2nd period class to receive a paper copy of their new schedule.

January 31

DCJS/VDOE School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions Survey during 3rd period Rock Block

February 7 - Save the Date!

WIMS PTA Meeting via Zoom - 6:30

PTA Ledo Pizza Spirit Night: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm - don’t forget the flyer

February 16

SCA After School Dance - more information coming soon!

February 20

No School - Presidents’ Day

Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

Did you know that FCPS has a new way to communicate with teachers and school staff? Available for all families is TalkingPoints. We have been testing out the app and have sent out a few reminder messages in addition to our weekly News You Choose newsletters. It is our hope that you will find the app a helpful way to provide 2-way quick communication. The best part - the app can translate messages sent back and forth into over 145 languages making it easier for families to communicate with the school staff. To start using the tool, download the app by scanning the QR code above or utilize the app store for your device.

Monday, January 30, is the first day of the 2nd semester and we look forward to finishing out our school year strong! When students arrive on Monday, they should report to their 2nd period class from 1st semester. Students will receive a paper copy of their 2nd semester schedule and then transition to their new 2nd period if applicable. Students will continue to follow their new schedules for the remainder of the day.

On Tuesday, January 31, students will participate in the DCJS/VDOE School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions during 3rd period Rock Block. We collected opt-outs back in December/early January and all parents/guardians who opted their child out of participating have received a return email from me. If you would like to opt your child out, you may still do so by completing this form. In order to properly prepare, all opt-outs need to be completed by the end of the day on Monday, January 30.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Take Care

Cindy Conley

West Springfield Dance Camp

Who: Girls and Boys Grades K-8th

Dates: February 2 and 3, 2023, 2/2 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, 2/3 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm; Halftime Game Performance: 2/3 at 7:30 pm

Location: WSHS Cafeteria

Cost: Pre-Registration by January 27 $75; Registration after January 27 $85; Checks made out to WSHS Boosters, Cash also accepted.

Registration Form: https://bit.ly/3BshbCK; Please bring with you a signed Emergency Care Form

For more details, click here.

Morning Arrival

Family Tech Planners

Snow Day Information

Technology Support for Families

After School Information Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

We will offer late buses on Mondays, Tuesdays, SOME Wednesdays, and Thursdays, buses depart from Irving between 4:35 pm and 5:00 pm. The weekly sign-up regenerates weekly, the link will be available Fridays by 10am. Updates and changes will be shared via Schoology, lunch (cafeteria), Rock Block and the after school program board.

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Coming Soon

WSHS Football interest meeting: Tuesday, February 7, 1st block.

Step Team: starting Wednesday, February 8, both blocks.

Lego Masters: starting Tuesday, February 14, 1st block.

Buddy Sports: starting Tuesday, February 21, 1st block.

News from the PTA

The next GENERAL PTA MEETING is Tuesday, February 7th at 6:30pm on Zoom. The link will be provided via our PTA membership site, posted on Facebook, and sent out with the newsletter next Friday.

February 7 is ALSO our next RESTAURANT NIGHT – this at Ledo's Pizza in West Springfield from 5-9pm. Show this flyer to the cashier or enter code "Fundraiser" for online orders https://drive.google.com/file/d/15uMJZkrHvC9p_QTDj5-AXxO131EQ2JYc/view (copy & paste link). 20% of sales support the PTA.

So, we hope to see you AND YOUR PIZZA on February 7th!

Movie Night! TBD – in February

As always, copy and Paste this URL, https://irvingms.memberhub.com/ to join the PTA. Joining the PTA is ALWAYS the right thing to do!

Irving MS Lost and Found Reminder

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Lost and Found Items

Is your child missing a coat, water bottle or hoodie? A friendly reminder to stop by Irving Middle School, Friday, January 27 (tomorrow) from 8:00am-3:00pm, to claim your child's lost and found items. We have several water bottles, lunch boxes, winter coats, and hoodies. All items not claimed by the end of the day Friday will be donated.

A great way to avoid items being left in the lost and found is to label your child's belongings with their first and last name, to include their coats, hoodies, back pack, PE clothes, lunch box and water bottles.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

Weekly Update from Irving MS

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Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can be pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Upcoming Important Dates

January 25

End of the 2nd Quarter/1st Semester

2-hour early dismissal - 12:15 p.m.

January 26 & 27

No School - Professional Development Day and Teacher Workday

January 27

Lost and Found Retrieval - 8:00am to 3:00pm

January 30

First day of the 3rd quarter/2nd semester -

Students will report to their 1st semester, 2nd period class to receive a paper copy of their new schedule.

Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

It is hard to believe we are only 5 days away from the end of the 1st semester! This school year seems to be flying by! At the end of each quarter, we collect all the lost and found items and put them out in the cafeteria so parents/guardians are able to look through and claim what is theirs. Please be sure to stop by on Friday, January 27 from 8:00 am - 3:00pm to see if any of the items belong to you. Any items remaining on Friday, will be donated. Students are also able to check our lost and found in the cafeteria every day.

Speaking of the end of the quarter, we have a 2-hour early dismissal on Wednesday and no school for students on Thursday and Friday of next week. As you are making plans for next week, please speak to your child about their plans for after school on Wednesday. We encourage students to go home, however if you give permission for your child to go to the Whole Foods Plaza, please speak with them about what it means to be a good community member. We continue to hear concerns from the business owners about behavior at the Plaza - especially on early dismissal days and Fridays. We want to make sure students represent themselves in a positive manner. We will continue to remind them next week about our ROCK expectations both in and out of school. We are always working to ensure our students are Respectful, Own their behaviors, Communicate when they see or need something, and are Kind. We appreciate your partnership in sharing this message.

Take Care

Cindy Conley

Lunch menu 1/25/2023 (Wednesday) Early release

Wednesday is a 2-hour early dismissal. We will have lunch available for students who would like to purchase it. Since we only had about 70 students purchase lunch on the last 2-hour early dismissal, we will be holding 1 lunch shift for students who wish to purchase lunch from 11:45 am-12:15 pm. We will remind students about this plan each day next week through announcements and Rock Block lessons.

Turkey Ham & Cheese on Bun

Spicy Chicken Wrap

Yogurt, string Cheese & Soft Pretzel

Baked Chicken on Bun

Spicy Chicken on Bun

How to Talk About Alcohol Safety

Stores have been packed with holiday savings, credit cards have been charged, and food has been consumed. The holidays are often a time for family and friends to come together and create lasting memories with one another. The matching holiday pajamas leave a lasting impression on social media, but what impression does your relationship with alcohol leave on your child. Although difficult, conversations about alcohol safety are necessary. When consuming alcoholic beverages around young people, consider the message you would like for them to receive. Have you caught yourself saying any of the following: “I need a drink,” “a drink would help me relax,” or “wine helps me sleep better at night.” These statements could inadvertently cause your child to believe that alcohol is a suitable replacement for healthy coping strategies.

It’s never too early to have age-appropriate conversations with your child about alcohol. About 10% of children say they have tried alcohol and that number increases to 50% by the time they are 15 (SAMHSA). Early and frequent conversations about alcohol and other drugs tend to be more effective than having “the talk” once. If you choose to not have the conversation with your child as a parent, they will still have the conversion with their peers. Silence communicates as loudly as a verbal conversation, so it is up to you to decide what message is explicitly shared.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Sources & Resources

Why You Should Talk With Your Child About Alcohol and Other Drugs

Talk, They Hear You

FCPS SAPS Program

For further Information & support:

Ken Johnson, M.Ed., Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, [email protected]

Morning Arrival

Technology Support for Families

Snow Day Information

After School Information Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

We will offer late buses on Mondays, Tuesdays, SOME Wednesdays, and Thursdays, buses depart from Irving between 4:35 pm and 5:00 pm. The weekly sign-up regenerates weekly, the link will be available Fridays by 10am. Updates and changes will be shared via Schoology, lunch (cafeteria), Rock Block and the after school program board.

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Coming Soon

Step Team: Wednesdays, both blocks. Start date TBD

News from the PTA

The PTA is busy planning more fun and teacher appreciation for the rest of the school year. We really hope you can join us in some of the fun (i.e., volunteer!). We are a mighty team of 3 and every set of hands is a big help!

Movie Night! We are nailing down a February date with leadership – will send it out as soon as we have it! We will post on social media, email PTA members and will update it, here.

We are excited to shower our indefatigable Irving Staff with more love! We plan to stock the break room in February, feed them pies on Pie Day, and will host at least one more lunch. The REAL FUN will be teacher appreciation week – May 8 – 12. If you want to jump into teacher appreciation week, please email us at [email protected] and we would LOVE to have your help!

Below is a link to some important updates from SEPTA, the Fairfax County Special Education PTA. Copy and paste this link to learn more! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zEwVP0Qq6RSjRgR5JxKhHQcy2TU4FsZDMeePioBDKM0/edit?usp=sharing

The Next General PTA Meeting is Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 6:30pm via Zoom. The link will be provided via our PTA membership site. It is ALSO our next Restaurant at the Ledo's Pizza in West Springfield from 5-9pm. Show this flyer to the cashier or enter code "Fundraiser" for online orders https://drive.google.com/file/d/15uMJZkrHvC9p_QTDj5-AXxO131EQ2JYc/view (copy & paste link). 20% of sales supports the PTA. So we hope to see you AND YOUR PIZZA on February 7th!

As always, copy and Paste this URL, https://irvingms.memberhub.com/ to join the PTA. Joining the PTA is ALWAYS the right thing to do!

Weekly Update from Irving MS

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Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can be pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Upcoming Important Dates

January 16

No School - Martin Luther King Jr Day

January 17

Parent/Guardian Town Hall - 7:00 pm in-person and online

January 25

End of the 2nd Quarter/1st Semester

2-hour early dismissal

January 26 & 27

No School - Professional Development Day and Teacher Workday

January 27

Lost and Found Retrieval - 8:00am to 3:00pm

January 30

First day of the 3rd quarter/2nd semester

Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week

As a school community we want to thank Ms. Conley for her leadership, guidance, care, and kindness since she has served as Principal of Irving Middle School. Ms. Conley wears many hats on any given day. She is a lifelong learner and reflective practitioner, who has a love for teaching. Thank you for all that you do for Irving. We appreciate you!!!

Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

This week, I was so proud to reopen our doors and welcome families to our Curriculum Night. We had hundreds of families join us for our core information sessions and then tour the building to see our elective classrooms. It felt really good to have families back in our building!

We also were able to welcome our rising 6th graders from Hunt Valley, Rolling Valley, West Springfield Elementary, and Orange Hunt this week. The students were able to tour the building and see the elective classes live and hear from our teachers about the classes they were seeing. We loved the enthusiasm from the students and look forward to having them join us next year.

Today, our 8th grade students invaded West Springfield High School for their first trip as a class to get a glance at what to expect in high school. Students were able to hear various groups perform and tour the building. It was a quick trip, but one that starts the journey to high school. Be sure to check in with your child about their high school course selection sheet - it should be turned into their math teacher!

Lastly, a reminder that on Tuesday, January 17, we will be hosting a Town Hall, in-person in our library. We are really hoping to hear from you about how things are going for you and your student here at Irving and find ways we can better partner with families. We hope you will join us at 6:30 pm.

Take Care!

Cindy Conley

Principal

PS: We have A LOT of lost and found items - lots of lunch boxes, jackets, and water bottles! Please come claim your lost items on Friday, January 27. All items not claimed will be donated.

Morning Arrival

Technology Support for Families

New Year’s Resolutions

In January, many people will head to their local Target or Michaels to find a new planner. The crisp, fresh feeling of new paper to write new and improved goals gets some of us excited. When thinking of your goals consider making them SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound), this method breaks your goals down into specific objectives and makes it easier for you to track your progress. What goals would you like to share with your child, to show them examples of healthy adult introspection? Introspection, looking within, is necessary to learn how to manage stress in a healthy manner. What regular coping skills can be implemented into your daily/ weekly routine? Some goals may be physical, spiritual, financial, or emotional. Would it be easier to have serious conversations over a family dinner? Or maybe regular family dinners, spark joy and connection that’s often missing.

Research has shown that family therapy is the best treatment option for young people who misuse drugs and alcohol (SAMHSA). Many people use drugs to manage life’s hardships when they feel disconnected from themselves or others. The opposite of addiction is connection, and young people benefit from connection with their families. Families who have a common mission based on autonomy and openness instead of secrecy and silence thrive. Families teach young people how to manage stress when they communicate honestly and openly with one another. Learning how to manage stress early in life could be a major factor in whether or not a young person decides to use drugs.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Sources & Resources

Why Small Conversations Make a Big Difference

SMART Goals Quick Overview

Knowing the Signs: Substance Abuse & Today’s Youth

For further Information & support:

Ken Johnson, M.Ed.

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

[email protected]

What should I do before my child grows up? Future Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students in Special Education

For families, caregivers, and educators of students receiving special education services.

*English speakers of other languages: We have language support for you. Please see the back of this flyer for more information*

February 15, 2023^

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Luther Jackson Middle School 3020 Gallows Road

Falls Church, Virginia 22042

^Snow Date: February 22, 2023

What should I do before my child grows up-Chinese

What should I do before my child grows up-Korean

What should I do before my child grows up-Spanish

What should I do before my child grows up-Urdu

What should I do before my child grows up-Vietnamese

What should I do before my child grows up-Arabic

After School Information Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

We will offer late buses on Mondays, Tuesdays, SOME Wednesdays, and Thursdays, buses depart from Irving between 4:35 pm and 5:00 pm. The weekly sign-up regenerates weekly, the link will be available Fridays by 10am. Updates and changes will be shared via Schoology, lunch (cafeteria), Rock Block and the after school program board.

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Coming Soon

Back to Basics: Strategies for Success - Leadership Coaching, is a 6-week course that incorporates Portrait of a Graduate goals and enhances their communication skills. This free course is offered on Wednesdays after school, both blocks; first session ends Wednesday, March 8, second session begins Wednesday, March 15.

Volleyball Club - Tuesday, January 17. This will be open to all students at all levels during the 2nd block.

News from the PTA

Happy Friday the 13th! Don’t tempt fate – just join the PTA!!! Copy and Paste this URL, https://irvingms.memberhub.com/, join the PTA and even donate and become a Headless Hero. What a way to start the year!! Questions, comments, concerns, or brilliant ideas – email us! [email protected]

Upcoming Restaurant Night - Don't cook, dine-out or take-out instead!

Feb 7, 2023 @ Ledo's Pizza (West Springfield) 5-8pm - Show flyer to cashier or enter code "Fundraiser" for online orders https://drive.google.com/file/d/15uMJZkrHvC9p_QTDj5-AXxO131EQ2JYc/view (copy & paste link) 20% of sales supports the PTA

Next General PTA Meeting - Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at 6:30pm via Zoom

Movie Night - stay tuned! This will likely be in February.

Weekly Update from Irving MS

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Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can be pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Upcoming Important Dates

January 9

After School and Late Buses resume

January 10

Curriculum Night for Rising 7th and 8th Graders - 6:30pm

January 16

No School - Martin Luther King Jr Day

January 17

Parent/Guardian Town Hall - 7:00 pm in-person and online

January 25

End of the 2nd Quarter/1st Semester

2-hour early dismissal

January 26 & 27

No School - Professional Development Day and Teacher Workday

January 30

First day of the 3rd quarter/2nd semester

Congratulations to the Irving Middle School 2022-2023 Outstanding Staff (pictured above clockwise)- Ms. Mossburg (Outstanding Professional), Ms. Rhodes (Outstanding Teacher), Ms. Ogletree (Outstanding Operational Employee), and Ms. Leishman (Outstanding New Teacher). All of these phenomenal educators are very deserving of their awards!

Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

We are excited to be welcoming the beautiful weather and a New Year! Our students have returned ready to finish out the first semester strong. Their hard work is evident in their paintings, performances, writings, discussions, and debates. There are just a few weeks left before the end of the 1st semester, please make sure that your students are checking their Schoology calendar and all caught up by January 25 - it is a 2-hour early dismissal day.

A quick reminder that we have 2 important dates coming up, Tuesday, January 10, is our rising 7th and 8th grade curriculum night - in-person beginning at 6:30. Please come in and visit our elective teachers and see all our students work as you hear about the class options your child will have next year. Also, Tuesday, January 17, we will hold our Town Hall facilitated by Michelle Cottrell-Williams. This event will be in-person as well. We look forward to hearing from our families!

Take Care!

Cindy Conley

Principal

New Year’s Resolutions

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Sources & Resources

Why Small Conversations Make a Big Difference

SMART Goals Quick Overview

Knowing the Signs: Substance Abuse & Today’s Youth

For further Information & support:

Ken Johnson, M.Ed.

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

[email protected]

What should I do before my child grows up? Future Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students in Special Education

For families, caregivers, and educators of students receiving special education services.

*English speakers of other languages: We have language support for you. Please see the back of this flyer for more information*

February 15, 2023^

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Luther Jackson Middle School 3020 Gallows Road

Falls Church, Virginia 22042

^Snow Date: February 22, 2023

What should I do before my child grows up-Chinese

What should I do before my child grows up-Korean

What should I do before my child grows up-Spanish

What should I do before my child grows up-Urdu

What should I do before my child grows up-Vietnamese

What should I do before my child grows up-Arabic

After School Information Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

We will offer late buses on Mondays, Tuesdays, SOME Wednesdays, and Thursdays, buses depart from Irving between 4:35 pm and 5:00 pm. The weekly sign-up regenerates weekly, the link will be available Fridays by 10am. Updates and changes will be shared via Schoology, lunch (cafeteria), Rock Block and the after school program board.

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Coming Soon

Ping Pong Club, returns - Monday, January 9, 2nd block

Chess Club - Monday, January 9, 1st block

Back to Basics: Etiquette for the Internet Generation - January 11, 2023, both blocks

Trash Ball Club - January 11, 2023, 1st block

Irving Authors - Thursday, January 12, 1st block

Volleyball Club - Tuesday, January 17. This will be open to all students during the 2nd block.

News from the PTA

Happy New Year!

Upcoming Restaurant Nights - Don't cook, dine-out or take-out instead!

Feb 7, 2023 @ Ledo's Pizza (West Springfield) 5-8pm - Show flyer to cashier or enter code "Fundraiser" for online orders https://drive.google.com/file/d/15uMJZkrHvC9p_QTDj5-AXxO131EQ2JYc/view (copy & paste link) 20% of sales supports the PTA

Next General PTA Meeting - Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 6:30pm via Zoom

Movie Night - stay tuned!

For all "things" PTA, visit our website (copy & paste): https://irvingms.memberhub.com/

Become a "Headless Hero" and donate to the PTA! Become a member by joining the PTA!

Email: [email protected]

Weekly Update from Irving MS

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Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can be pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Upcoming Important Dates

December 9-10

School Musical - both nights SOLD OUT - no tickets will be sold at the door.

December 12

Math VGA - Class periods for the day - Periods 3,1,5,7

December 19-January 2

Winter Break - No School

January 3-January 5

No After School Program and Late Buses

January 10

Curriculum Night for Rising 7th and 8th Graders

January 17

Parent/Guardian Town Hall - 7:00 pm in-person and online

Students in Ms. Caliva’s 2nd period listened to Melissa Hotchkiss from the University of Ottawa explain her PhD research about native bumble bees. The connection was made through Skype a Scientist.

Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

Weather like today, makes it difficult to remember we are in December and just a few days away from the end of 2022! As we look toward our last full week of school next week, we will be celebrating education by looking at college and careers after high school. On December 13 and 14, our teachers will be sharing information about their path to college, the universities and colleges they attended, as well as some information about college in general. This is one of my favorite times of the year because it really shows our students there are multiple pathways to achieving what you want to do for a career. Our students also enjoy hearing about the schools close by and far away. I will of course be sporting my Kansas State wear next week. We encourage your child to wear their favorite school’s colors/attire as well on these days as well.

Next week, I will be sending home a video message addressing some of the inappropriate and hurtful behaviors that we have seen over the last few weeks. As I shared in late November, we are taking a careful approach in developing ways to address our students and work with the community. I would like you to save the date of Tuesday, January 17 at 7:00 pm. Irving will be hosting a parent/guardian town hall facilitated by Michelle Cottrell-Williams, Educational Specialist, Equity & Cultural Responsiveness for Region 4. I will explain more about our purpose of the town hall in my video message next week, but I hope you will be able to join us in-person or online for this important night.

Take Care!

Cindy Conley

Principal

School Office Hours During Winter Break

Irving MS Office Hours during Winter Break will be by appointment only 12/19 through 12/22, and 12/27 through 12/30.

The office will be closed on 12/23/22, 12/26/22 and 1/2/23.

The office will re-open on Tuesday, 1/3/23.

Technology - Student Laptops Over School Breaks

Please help your Irving student remember to:

Shut down their FCPS laptop each night and find a safe place for it, off of the floor, to charge.
Charge the laptop fully each night.
Consider using a protective cover or sleeve when transporting the laptop and when packing the laptop in a backpack, ensure the backpack is not overstuffed. An overstuffed backpack could put pressure on the LCD screen, causing it to break.

After School Information Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

We will offer late buses on Mondays, Tuesdays, SOME Wednesdays, and Thursdays, buses depart from Irving between 4:35 pm and 5:00 pm. The weekly sign-up regenerates weekly, the link will be available Fridays by 10am. Updates and changes will be shared via Schoology, lunch (cafeteria), Rock Block and the after school program board.

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

The After School Program will not meet the following days:

Tuesday, January 3 through Thursday, January 5

Coming Soon

Ping Pong Club, returns - January 10, 2023, 2nd block

Back to Basics: Etiquette for the Internet Generation - January 11, 2023, both blocks

Trash Ball Club - January 11, 2023, 1st block

News from the PTA

Greetings from the PTA! We hope you had a wonderful week!

Spirit Wear Distribution!!

Orders placed with delivery to the school will be distributed to your student during their 3rd period Advisory class NEXT WEEK! Those that requested shipped to house, you should receive your orders in the mail soon if you haven't already received them.

Next General PTA Meeting (update!)

Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 6:30pm via Zoom (link will be emailed closer to date) (to deconflict with the 7th grade Curriculum Night on January 10th)

Upcoming Restaurant Nights

Jan 5, 2023 @ Panera Bread (West Springfield) 4-8pm (flyer coming soon!)
Feb 7, 2023 @ Ledo's Pizza (West Springfield) 5-8pm

Movie Night will be in January - stay tuned!

For all "things" PTA, visit our website (copy & paste): https://irvingms.memberhub.com/

Become a "Headless Hero" and donate to the PTA! Become a member by joining the PTA!

Email: [email protected]

Weekly Update from Irving MS

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Tutor.com

Families, did you know that your child has access to expert help in a variety of subject-areas right in their Schoology courses? Learn about Tutor.com and how it specifically works in Middle School.

Purchase your Yearbook!

Yearbooks are $20 and can pre-ordered through MySchoolBucks or directly through Walsworth by going to www.yearbookforever.com

Upcoming Important Dates

December 6

Reading VGA - Class periods for the day - Periods 3,7,5,1

PTA Pupatella Spirit DAY! 20% of sales all day when using the code IRVING for online or in-person orders goes to WIMS PTA!

December 9-10

School Musical - The Descendents at 7:00 pm in the WIMS Cafeteria - tickets $5 - Tickets are SOLD OUT for Friday, December 9 and only a few tickets are left for Saturday, December 10.

** Please note students MUST be accompanied by an adult to attend the musical

December 12

Math VGA - Class periods for the day - Periods 3,1,5,7

December 19-January 2

Winter Break - No School

January 10

Curriculum Night for Rising 7th and 8th Graders

Principal’s Message

Dear Irving Families,

This is an exciting time of year - as we approach winter break we are ensuring that students are taking a look at their work and are all caught up over the next 10 days of school. We want to make sure students are able to enjoy the break free from homework. Students can use StudentVue to see what assignments they have outstanding and can review their Schoology calendar to ensure they are keeping up with and upcoming due dates.

Coming up next week, students will take the second Virginia Growth Assessment on Tuesday, December 6. This assessment is new this year and assesses students growth from the first administration in September up until now. Results will be available after winter break. Also coming up on December 6, is the PTA Pupatella Spirit DAY! Please support the PTA by stopping by Pupatella for some delicious pizza. We are very appreciative of your support on PTA Spirit Nights throughout our school year. Our local restaurants appreciate it as well.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Take Care!

Cindy Conley

Principal

Technology - Student Laptops Over School Breaks

In preparation for the upcoming school break, please help your Irving student remember to:

Shut down their FCPS laptop and find a safe place for it, off of the floor, while schools are closed.
Charge the laptop fully the night before we return to school.
If possible, restart the laptop 2-3 times the night before we return to school. We will also do restarts in school on Monday, November 28, to ensure all laptops receive necessary updates.

Multicultural and Language Resources for Families

FCPS’ Office of Family and School Partnerships would like to remind families of some of the many resources available to them:

Bilingual community liaisons support student registrars by providing families with information about school and community services offered in Fairfax County. Liaisons are available to help families speaking Spanish, Korean, and Arabic. Once registered at a school, families can contact their family liaison for assistance.
Early literacy programs are available to Fairfax County residents for parents of children up to 5 years old. These programs help prepare children for school and build confidence in parents as their child’s first teacher. They also help parents become active partners in their child’s education. Programs are available in African-Heritage, Arabic, Spanish, and Korean.
Parent Information Phone Lines are available in eight languages for parents who speak languages other than English.
A Multilingual Family Podcast is produced by the offices of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Family and School Partnerships, and Professional Learning and Equity. It covers important information for parents in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Korean.
ESOL services are available in Fairfax County not only for students, but also for adults and families. Information on Spring classes will be posted in March 2023.

Visit the Family Engagement webpage for more resources.

Recursos Multiculturales y Lingüísticos

La Oficina de Asociaciones Familiares y Escolares desea recordar a las familias algunos de los recursos disponibles para ellos.

Los enlaces comunitarios bilingües apoyan a los registradores de estudiantes proporcionando a las familias información sobre los servicios escolares y comunitarios que se ofrecen en el condado de Fairfax. Los enlaces están disponibles para ayudar a las familias que hablan Español, Coreano y Árabe. Una vez inscritos en una escuela, las familias pueden ponerse en contacto con su enlace familiar para obtener ayuda.
Los programas de alfabetización preescolar ayudan a preparar a los niños para la escuela y a fomentar la confianza de los padres como primeros maestros de sus hijos. También ayudan a los padres a convertirse en socios activos en la educación de sus hijos. Los programas están disponibles en Árabe, Español, Coreano y Herencia Africana.
Las Líneas Telefónicas de Información para Padres están disponibles en ocho idiomas para los padres que hablan otros idiomas distintos del Inglés.
Un Podcast Multilingüe para Familias es producido por las oficinas de Inglés para Hablantes de Otros Idiomas (ESOL), Asociaciones Familiares y Escolares, y Aprendizaje Profesional y de Equidad. Cubre información importante para los padres en Inglés, Español, Árabe y Coreano.
Los servicios de ESOL están disponibles en el Condado de Fairfax no sólo para los estudiantes en las escuelas, sino también para los adultos. La información sobre las clases de primavera se publicará en marzo de 2023.

Hay más recursos disponibles en la página web de participación familiar.

다문화 및 언어 자원 지원

전국 가정 참여의 달 동안 가족・학교 파트너십 사무소는 가족분들이 이용할 수 있는 몇 가지 자원을 알려드리고자 합니다. 추가 자료는 가족 참여 웹페이지에서 이용하실 수 있습니다.

이중언어 커뮤니티 리에종 연락 담당자는 페어팩스 카운티에서 제공되는 학교 및 커뮤니티(지역사회) 서비스에 대한 정보를 가족에게 제공 및 학생 등록을 지원합니다. 리에종은 스페인어, 한국어 및 아랍어로 가족 지원을 돕고 있습니다. 학교에 등록이 된 다음, 가족은 패밀리 리에종 (가족 연락 담당자)에게 도움을 구할 수 있습니다.
Early Literacy (초기 문해력) 프로그램은 페어팩스 카운티 주민중 5세 이하의 자녀 부모님을 대상으로 운영되는 영어 교육 프로그램입니다. 학교에 진학하기 전 자녀가 학교에 적을 할 수 있도록 돕고, 학부모가 자신감을 느끼고 첫 선생님을 만날 수 있도록 돕습니다. 또한 부모가 자녀 교육에 적극적인 파트너가 될 수 있도록 돕습니다. 프로그램은 아프리카에서 온 아프리칸, 아랍인, 스페인어 구사 가족, 한국인 가족을 위해 준비되어 있습니다.
학부모 정보 전화선은 영어 이외의 언어를 사용하는 부모를 위해 8개 국어로 제공됩니다.
다국어 가족 팟캐스트는 영어가 모국어가 아닌 학생들이 학교에서 별도로 영어를 배우는 과정인 타 언어 사용자들을 위한 영어 (ESOL), 가족・학교 파트너십, 전문 학습・평등 사무소에서 제작합니다. 학부모가 알아야 할 중요 정보를 영어, 스페인어, 아랍어 그리고 한국어로 다룹니다.
ESOL 서비스는 페어팩스 카운티에서 학교 학생뿐만 아니라 성인에게도 제공합니다. 봄학기 정보는 2023년 3월에 게시됩니다.

After School Information

Program Structure & Club Sign Ups

We will offer late buses on Mondays, Tuesdays, SOME Wednesdays, and Thursdays, buses depart from Irving between 4:35 pm and 5:00 pm. The weekly sign-up regenerates weekly, the link will be available Fridays by 10am. Updates and changes will be shared via Schoology, lunch (cafeteria), Rock Block and the after school program board.

End time for 1st block - 3:25 pm

End time for 2nd block - 4:30 pm

Coming Soon

Back to Basics: Etiquette for the Internet Generation - January 2023

News from the PTA

Greetings from the PTA! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Break.

Restaurant DAY at Pupatella (Springfield)! This Tuesday! All Day! Don't cook, DINE OUT or TAKE-OUT instead! Use the code "IRVING" for either online or in-person ordering. Copy and paste the link for the flyer: Dec. 6 @ Pupatella: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FpDhqRxhBiOYrvIvqADMYIvUO9IiiM9k/view

Tentative Spirit Wear Distribution - PTA will pick up your orders from Burke Sporting Goods around Dec 6, 2022. The following weeknights and weekends, the PTA will schedule Spirit Wear Pick-Up events. More details forthcoming. Please check your emails.

For all "things" PTA, visit our website (copy & paste): https://irvingms.memberhub.com/

Become a "Headless Hero" and donate to the PTA! Become a member by joining the PTA!

Movie night will move from December to, most likely, January.

1 hour 31 minutes ago

Irving Middle School News and announcements

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