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Rising Kindergarten Students and their Families are invited to join Island Creek Staff this afternoon from 3:00-4:00 on the Playground!
Rising 6th Grade Students are invited to join Mrs. Fallert and Dr. Cash-Pinckney for "Chat and Chew" on Thursday, August 13 from 12:00-1:00 in the library. Please RSVP here.
Kindergarten Registration
Online Registration is now open for the 2026-27 school year!
Kindergarten helps children learn and practice the social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives.
New-to-FCPS families create a ParentVUE account for online access. Details are available here: Welcome to Fairfax County Public Schools' (FCPS) Online Registration | Fairfax County Public Schools
Current families can register their new student through their existing ParentVUE account. (No need to register students returning to UMES.)
Our Registrar, Shavon Walden, is happy to process registrations directly, as well. Please contact her at srwalden@fcps.edu or 571-642-6300, and be ready to provide your family’s address and rising kindergartener’s date of birth. Ms. Walden will respond with registration details and documents necessary to start the process.
Early registration puts you on the list for school communications, so don’t wait
Throughout the summer, we will introduce our new Island Creek staff members! We have the Best of the Best joining us at Island Creek! We will also post our new staff profiles on Facebook.
Ms. Thomas: Special Education Teacher
My name is Shenita Thomas, and I am a South Carolina native with 10 years of experience working with children and youth in both school systems and the nonprofit sector. I enjoy cooking and baking in my free time, and after serving as a substitute teacher at Island Creek Elementary, I am excited about the opportunity to continue supporting students and working as an educator at the school.
Ms. Grabel: Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART)
I am thrilled to join the Island Creek Elementary School community! This will be my 16th year teaching in FCPS and 20th year teaching overall. I have been an AART for 10 years and prior to this role, was a 6th grade teacher within FCPS. I also taught in New York for 4 years as a reading specialist and a 3rd grade teacher. Outside of teaching, I love exploring new places with my family, hiking, biking, and reading. I look forward to connecting with families and students this year.
Ms. Atari: Physical Education Teacher (P.E.)
I am Huda Atari, and I am excited to join the Island Creek Elementary School community as the new Physical Education teacher. This is my 12th year in education, and I have taught Physical Education, Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), and STEAM in elementary schools. My first language is Arabic, and I am a proud mother of two sons. Outside of school, I love spending time with my family, taking walks, and enjoying nature. I look forward to helping students build confidence, stay active, and develop a lifelong love of physical activity.
Updated Cellphone Policy: No Phones OR Devices
Senate Bill 108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1. It requires that all schools in the state follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy and prohibit cellphone possession and use for the entire school day. The updated FCPS Cellphone Policy aligns with this law, which means high school students are no longer able to use cellphones, cellphone accessories, or smart devices (like smart glasses, earbuds, headsets, and other items connected to the phone) during lunchtime.
Across all grade levels, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and all smart devices must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (like a smartwatch) must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day, too. Personal devices that connect to a cellphone or cellphone accessory or operate as a smart device must also follow the FCPS Cellphone Policy.
This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. However, school-issued devices must be used in accordance with FCPS Regulation 6410, Acceptable Use Policy, which allows the use of school-issued devices for educational purposes. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.
Apply Today for Free and Reduced-Price Meals!
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance
Volunteering at Island Creek
We love our volunteers! If you can volunteer during the 2026-27 school year and have not already done so, please complete your Volunteer FCPS registration this summer! This is required for all FCPS and Island Creek Volunteers.
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Register With Volunteer FCPS Volunteer FCPS allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities. It helps ensure a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment here at Island Creek. All volunteers must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk.
At the Volunteer FCPS site, you can complete a volunteer orientation. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
New ParentVUE Mobile App Launching July 28
On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app will become available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.
In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.
Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.
Download the FCPS App Today!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep you connected and informed, directly from your smartphone. Download the FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
With the app, you can:
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View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
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Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
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Access key links. Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
No need to log in, just download and go! Learn more about the FCPS mobile app.
New Student ID Cards Coming This Fall
This fall, every FCPS student will receive a student identification (ID) card as part of a divisionwide effort to modernize school transportation, improve communication with families, and strengthen student safety while traveling to and from school.
Every student who rides the school bus will need to tap on and tap off the bus every day using their new student ID card. Families can help by reinforcing this new habit with their child.
All students at our school will need to wear their student ID cards throughout the school day. We will be handing out the new student ID cards the first few weeks of school. More details will be shared soon.
Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
Kindergarten Playdate for Rising KDG Students and Families
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Today (3:00-4:00) and Friday, July 31 (9:00-10:00); Playground
Popsicles on the Playground for All Students and Families
- Friday, August 7 (9:00-10:00); Playground
6th Grade Chat and Chew with the Principals (Rising 6th Grade students)
- Thursday, August 13 (12:00-1:00); Library
Welcome Tours for Families New to Island Creek
- Friday, August 14 (9:00-9:30 and 3:00-3:30); Door 1
Open House and Meet the Teacher for Students and Families
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Wednesday, August 19
- Optional early time (4:00-4:30) for Preschool, Kindergarten, and Students with IEPs
- All Students (4:30-6:00)
First Day of School!
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Monday, August 24: Parents of kindergarten students and students who are new to Island Creek may walk their child to their classroom on the first day of school only.
Back to School Night for Parents/Guardians
- Tuesday, September 1
- Session 1: 5:45-6:20
- Session 2: 6:40-7:15 (Repeat of Session 1)
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