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Dear Irwin Families and Friends,
As we move into the final stretch of the school year, we want to share some important updates and reminders to help ensure a strong and successful finish for all of our students.
📚 CAS Assessment Testing Dates
Our students will begin CAS Assessment Testing this month. Please review the schedule below for your child’s grade level:
3rd Grade:
- Math – Unit I: May 6 | Unit II: May 7 | Unit III: May 8
- ELA – Unit I: May 14 | Unit II: May 15
4th Grade:
- Math – Unit I: May 5 | Unit II: May 6 | Unit III: May 7
- ELA – Unit I: May 8 | Unit II: May 9
5th Grade:
- Math – Unit I: May 13 | Unit II: May 14 | Unit III: May 15
- ELA – Unit I: May 5 | Unit II: May 6
To help your child perform their best, please ensure they get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast each day. Research shows that students who are well-rested and properly nourished are more focused and perform better on assessments.
💻Students will need to bring their fully charged Chromebooks.
⏰ Important Testing Reminder: Once testing has started, students will not be allowed to enter the classroom or interrupt the session. Any students arriving after 8:30 AM—whether coming to school late or returning from breakfast in the cafeteria—will be directed to the Media Center until testing concludes. Please make every effort to have your child at school on time.
🍎 Teacher Appreciation Week – May 6–11
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we are excited to honor our incredible Irwin teachers for the amazing work they do every day for our military-connected families. A heartfelt thank you to our amazing PTO, who have planned special activities and events throughout the week to celebrate our staff. Your support makes a big difference!
🎨 Thank You for “Chalk the Walk”
We are so grateful to everyone who came out to support our “Chalk the Walk” event. It was truly inspiring to see all the heartfelt, encouraging messages of resiliency and support written for our students. Your words matter and help uplift our Irwin community.
🎉 End-of-Year Events & Focus on Learning
We have many exciting and fun-filled events planned to wrap up the school year and celebrate our students' hard work. That said, we kindly ask for your support in encouraging your child to stay focused on learning during this important time. Every day counts!
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Let’s finish strong together!
Warm Regards,
Irwin Admin Team
Ms. Johnson and Ms. Cook
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Gentle Reminders:
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100% ID CHECK: Please remember to show ID. We have a 100% check when picking up students.
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Please do not drop students off prior to 8:00 a.m. There is no adult supervision prior to this time other than for breakfast.
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Student transportation changes must be done in writing prior to 2:00 p.m. (M, T, Th, F) and by 1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.
We encourage you to join the Irwin PTO.
Learn more about the organization and the events they manage in support of our students!
Visit their Facebook page
Email them at irwinintermediatepto@gmail.com
As we welcome the month of May, it's a great time to explore some fun and healthy recipes that kids will love. Cooking together can be a wonderful way to bond and learn about nutritious foods. Here are some tasty and easy-to-make recipes that will keep everyone energized and happy!
Veggie Wraps
Ingredients:
- Whole wheat tortillas
- Hummus
- Sliced cucumbers
- Shredded carrots
- Sliced bell peppers
- Spinach leaves
Instructions:
- Spread a layer of hummus on a whole wheat tortilla.
- Add sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots, bell peppers, and spinach leaves.
- Roll up the tortilla and cut it into smaller pieces if desired.
- Enjoy a crunchy and healthy veggie wrap!
Fruit and Yogurt Parfait
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of low-fat yogurt
- 1/2 cup of granola
- 1 cup of mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Instructions:
- In a glass or bowl, layer yogurt, granola, and berries.
- Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used.
- Enjoy a delicious and nutritious parfait!
Banana Oat Cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 cup of oats
- 1/4 cup of chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Mash the bananas in a bowl.
- Mix in the oats and chocolate chips.
- Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto a baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool and enjoy a tasty and healthy treat!
Mini Pita Pizzas
Ingredients:
- Whole wheat pita bread
- Tomato sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Toppings: sliced tomatoes, bell peppers, olives, spinach
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spread tomato sauce on each pita bread.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Add your favorite toppings.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Enjoy your mini pita pizzas!
Smoothie Popsicles
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of fruit (e.g., strawberries, mango, banana)
- 1 cup of low-fat yogurt
- 1/2 cup of orange juice
Instructions:
- Blend the fruit, yogurt, and orange juice until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into popsicle molds.
- Freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid.
- Enjoy a refreshing and healthy popsicle!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This a time when people talk about how important it is to take care of our minds and emotions. Just like we go to the doctor when we feel sick, it's okay to ask for help when we feel sad, worried, or stressed. Everyone has feelings, and it's important to talk about them. This month helps remind us that it's brave and smart to take care of our mental health.
Ensure that you are taking care of your mind, emotions and overall health. We are looking forward to a strong finish to start our summer. Take time to relax and focus on you.
Irwin Intermediate Counseling Team
📚 Information Center News – End of Year Reminders!
The end of the school year is quickly approaching, and we have a few important reminders from the Information Center!
📅 Important Dates:
- Last day to check out library books: May 23rd
- All books are due back: May 30th
After May 23rd, library checkout will be closed as we begin inventorying our collection. But don’t worry—reading doesn’t have to stop!
💻 Keep Reading All Summer Long:
- MackinVia will be available to all students throughout the summer!
- Throckmorton Library will also offer an incredible summer reading program—look for more information coming home at the end of May.
- Or visit the Fort Bragg Summer Reading Program online: https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/summer-reading-program
📕 Lost or Damaged Books?
If your child has a missing or damaged library book, it will need to be replaced. Please follow our replacement guidelines:
- We are not allowed to accept money.
- Please purchase a new, hardback book that is appropriate for 2nd–5th grade students.
- Picture books, chapter books, or nonfiction (true) books are all welcome.
- If possible, please replace the same title that was lost or damaged.
Your child can help you choose a great replacement book from the children’s section of any bookstore or online vendor.
We appreciate all your support!
Thank you for helping us keep our library collection in great shape and encouraging a love of reading at home!
💯CAS Assessment Testing is completed online. It is imperative that student Chromebooks are fully charged and at school.
📝As a reminder, DoDEA issues Chromebooks to 3rd-12th grade students at the beginning of the school year. Sponsors and students sign Property Use and Responsible Use Agreements. The purpose is for students to have equitable access to digital resources for school purposes.
☑️At the end of each school year, those school issued devices must be returned to the school for accountable property inventory and IT updates. At the time of issue, students received a Chromebook, power supply, stylus, and protective sleeve. The expectation is that the bundle of property is returned in working order to prepare equipment and be for next school year.
👩👦Sponsors who need to replace accessories may learn more at: https://irwinis.dodea.edu/chromebook-collection
Sponsors should report any lost or broken equipment to their child's teacher.
We hope you'll tune in and consider subscribing or giving a thumbs up to our team of student broadcasters! They have set a goal to reach 1,000 subscribers this school year. https://www.youtube.com/@MustangsBroadcastingNetwork Parents can share good news content to have their student introduced for Meet A Mustang or for a congratulatory shout-out for Time To Shine.
Each day a different guest student participates and a group of students' Pledge of Allegiance video is featured. The only way to know which, is to watch. All students, with approved Media Release, are invited to participate in Pledge of Allegiance recordings and to sign-up to be a featured special guest each day. Parents who may have marked Decline or Yearbook Only can update Media Release permissions by visiting the front office.
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| School Hours | Regular Hours | Wednesday Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Office Hours | 7:30 am - 4:00 pm | 7:30 am - 4:00 pm |
| Teachers | 7:30 am - 3:30 pm | 7:30 am - 3:30 pm |
| Students | 8:20 am - 2:55 pm | 8:20 am - 2:10 pm |
Wednesdays are Early Release days
| Cafeteria Hours | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | 7:45 am | 8:15 am |
| Lunch | 10:30 am | 12:35 pm |
