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Monday, September 14, 2026: After School Program Starts
Wednesday, September 16, 2026: NO AFTER SCHOOL AND LATE BUSES
Wednesday, September 16, 2026: PTA Meeting 6:30-8:30 PM
Students practicing in Ms. Pfiester's Advanced Orchestra class.
Good afternoon, Irving Community,
As I continue to meet more students and get to know our community, I am energized by their enthusiasm for the role they play in creating an inclusive school culture at Irving MS. Irving has incredible students, and I love supporting their growth as they become confident, thoughtful, and innovative young adults.
This past week, all students received an FCPS laptop and charger. Students are responsible for both items throughout the school year, so please connect with your student about their proper use and care. Families may be charged a fee for lost or damaged equipment. Please also remind your student that the laptop is an instructional tool, not a personal device. During the school day, laptops should be used only at the direction of the classroom teacher. Students may not access games or other non-instructional websites and applications.
Next week, we will begin our “Just in Time” intervention opportunities on Tuesdays and Thursdays during Advisory. Students will also select their Friday enrichment opportunity for the remainder of the quarter. We are excited to provide these additional opportunities for targeted support, exploration, and engagement.
Finally, our first PTA meeting of the year will be held on Wednesday, September 16, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Irving Library. I hope to see you there!
With appreciation,
Emily Cincinnati
Principal
Reporting Discrimination or Harassment
FCPS is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities. Individuals experiencing harassment or discrimination should report the incident as soon as possible.
Welcome Back from our School Board Members
The Fairfax County School Board members wish you a successful 2026-27 School year. View the videos from our representatives:
Sandy Anderson - Springfield District
Tom Dannan - Braddock District
Kyle McDaniel - Member, At Large
Ryan McElveen - Member, At Large
Ilryong Moon - Member, At Large
Signs of Suicide—7th Grade Only
Irving Middle School will continue to use a program called Signs of Suicide (SOS) to teach 7th grade students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. Informational letters, including opt-out forms, for this program were sent in the mail in early September.
The students will receive these lessons through a rotation in their PE class between the dates of October 13th-20th. Counselors may follow up with students during this time as needed.
We encourage you to visit www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn. You can also view this parent video to learn more. If you would like to preview the lesson, please reach out to your child’s counselor.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in this program, or if you would like to opt your child out of this lesson, please contact any of our school counselors.
7th Grade:
Orange and Green Teams–Cynthia Pareja cspareja@fcps.edu
Blue and Yellow Teams – Dave Frenck djfrenck@fcps.edu
Registration for the World Languages Credit by Exam is open until October 16th.
This year's World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at each FCPS middle, high, and secondary school.
The World Languages Credit by Exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits. If that language is one of the languages listed below, consider registering your student for the World Languages Credit by Exam!
The World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at Irving Middle School in November 2026. Date and Time still to be determined.
Registration is open now, and closes on Friday, October 16th, at 4 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted.
Please contact your student’s school counselor to register for the exam.
More information, including the list of languages offered on the exam, and how to register is available online.
Please help hungry students in our neighborhood
Even in counties as wealthy as Fairfax, one in four children struggle with hunger. Food For Neighbors is a local nonprofit that addresses hunger by collecting food from the community and then donating the food directly to local schools. In our area, the beneficiary schools are: Lewis HS, Key MS, Edison HS, West Springfield HS, Irving MS, Poe MS, Holmes MS, Burke School and Annandale HS.
We are fortunate to have the support of about 250 households between Springfield, Burke and Annandale, and an army of volunteers, but we need about 100 more Red Bag donors to meet the student food needs at these schools.
Please help by becoming a Red Bag Program donor. It’s so easy, and it makes a direct impact on students.
To Become a Red Bag Program Donor:
- Request a reusable Red Bag here, and Food For Neighbors will drop it off at your house.
- Five times per year, on the scheduled day, fill the Red Bag with food items that are listed on the tag attached to the bag.
- Put the Red Bag outside of your front door by 8:30 a.m. on the next Red Bag collection day listed on the tag, and a FFN volunteer will pick up your bag and bring it to a sorting site. (All collected food is distributed to school pantries the same day!)
TJHSST Applications
Eighth graders who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2031 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST).
The application will be available Monday, October 5, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, October 28, with a submission deadline of 4 p.m. Friday, October 30. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information, including a schedule of upcoming information sessions at middle schools.
Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window for Students New to FCPS Closes on October 15
The fall referral window is only for students in Grades 3-8 who are new to FCPS since January 1, 2026. Parents and guardians who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services must submit the Full-Time AAP Referral Form to Katie Richter, Irving’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, at kerichter@fcps.edu by October 15, 2026. Late referrals will not be accepted.
For students who are not new to FCPS and have been enrolled, the spring Full-Time AAP identification window is open to students in Grades 2-7. Families interested in referring their student for consideration during the spring window must submit a referral by December 15, 2026.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time AAP services.
Referral form and additional information can be found on the Advanced Academic Program website linked here.
For more information, contact: Katie Richter, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), 703-912-4573, kerichter@fcps.edu
Recognize Irving MS Staff through FCPS CARES
Has an Irving Middle School staff member made a positive difference for you? Please consider submitting an FCPS CARES recognition and tell us about the impact they have made!
The FCPS CARES Program allows parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees who go above and beyond to help others and show they care about their students, colleagues, and the community.
We now have Halloween themed spirit wear! Please scroll down to the bottom of our current spirit wear page to find it. This is a limited edition so get it while it lasts!
Mark your calendar for the first PTA meeting of the year on September 16th, from 6:30 to 7:30 in the library. We can't wait to kick off the year with you!
Please join the PTA if you have not already.
Don't forget to join us on Monday, September 14th for our Ledo Pizza Fundraiser! Details can be found below.
We're looking forward to a fantastic year!
 Raising funds tastes great! Join us at Ledo Pizza for a fundraiser to support Irving Middle School. The event will take place on Monday, September 14th, 2026 at Ledo Pizza of West Springfield: 8324 Old Keene Mill Rd, West Springfield VA, 22152. Online code: FUNDRAISER. Please entter the code into the coupon/fundraiser area when ordering online. Valid for online, carryout, and dine-in orders. Bring in this flyer, show it on your phone, or enter the code for online orders. 15% of all proceeds will be donated to the school! https://order.ledopizza.com
After School Information
The After School Program runs 5 days a week unless noted. Monday through Thursday, our clubs and activities will run in two activity blocks (2:25 pm to 3:25 pm and 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm) with late buses; late buses arrive after 4:30 pm; FAB Fridays are 2:15 pm to 3:30 pm (dates TBD). The club schedule will vary by day and week, the most up-to-date schedule will be posted in the “After School” section in the student portal and Schoology. Students may not leave school and return for the after school program.
In order to sign up for a club, students must sign up using the Weekly Signup located in the After School Program folder located in the Schoology All Students Course and the After School section of the student portal.
Students may participate in as many clubs as they want. We encourage them to try something new as part of the After School Program!
ALL athletic activities and clubs require athletic footwear to participate, locker rooms are not guaranteed during the After School Program.
Coming Soon:
*Schedule is posted on Schoology*
Play auditions: Monday(9/14) and Tuesday(9/15) both blocks; call backs are Thursday(9/17)
Cross Country: Tuesday(9/15) and Thursday(9/17) 1st block
Volleyball assessments: are geared towards more experienced-skilled players. Open Gym (Volleyball) is for all skill levels. Assessments are on Tuesday(9/15) 2nd block and Thursday(9/17) both blocks.
CCEC: Thursday, September 24, 1st block
Cross Country Information
Practices: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1st block
Meets
Championships: Saturday, November 7 at Liberty MS
Middle School Sports
FCPS offers middle school cross country in the fall, volleyball in the winter and outdoor track & field in the spring. Any current FCPS middle school student, enrolled in at least five courses, who is in good standing at their school, and is eligible to participate in the middle school after school program.
Students and parents will need to complete several steps prior to participating in middle school sports, including:
Submission electronically via Final Forms, please do not provide the hardcopy to the school.
Remember to Complete Permission Forms for School Resources
Families can now easily grant consent for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account login. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of a variety of resources, including online educational tools, school counseling services, and more.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Superintendent Community Conversations
Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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Wednesday, September 16, 6:45 p.m., at McNair Elementary School
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Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Riverside Elementary School
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
In Case You Missed It
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