FCPS

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A Peek at Willow's Planner

December 6 – Chorus and Advanced Band Concert, Cafeteria, 7 p.m. (Chorus and band students report at 6:30 pm)
December 7-15 - Chanukah
December 8 - Bodhi Day
December 15 - AAP Referral Packets Due
December 18 - January 1 - Winter Break
January 2 - Students return to school
January 10 - PTA Meeting

Chanukah, an 8-day Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple and the miracle of a small quantity of oil that lit the Temple’s menorah for 8 days. This year, Chanukah begins at sundown on Thursday, December 7. That day will be a half-O day, and major events cannot be scheduled that evening. Learn more about Chanukah in National Geographic Kids.

Bodhi Day, Friday, December 8, is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year, including Bodhi Day. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. Learn more about Bodhi Day in this video from the Miami Children’s Museum.

Yummy Fundraisers!

This month we have several food fundraisers planned. Save yourself some time and energy by eating out and supporting our school. Thank you to our PTA for arranging these dining opportunities!

Willow Writers Club Coming January 2024! Register Next Week!

Who? Students in grades 4, 5, and 6

What? Willow Writers is a space for students to write and share creatively outside of school assignments with a supportive group. It is not tied to the academic program.

Where? Mrs. Young’s Music Classroom

When? Tuesday mornings, 8:15 – 9 a.m. There will be two sessions, each capped at 30 students.

Session One: January 2 – February 6, 2024

Session Two: February 13 – March 19, 2024

Why? Writing in a no-pressure environment helps us tap into our imagination and emotions. It can crystallize our thoughts and strengthen communication. Willow Writers provides support, encouragement and mini-lessons on elements of the writing process while exploring a variety of writing genres.

How Much? Willow Writers is FREE to join.

How do I register for Willow Writers? Registration will open on Monday, December 4th, 2023 at 9am and close on Friday, December 8th at 4pm. There are separate registration forms for each session:

For questions, email Mrs. Young at [email protected]

Plastic Recycling Project

Girl Scout Troop 54063 is collecting plastic bags and plastic film to earn a new Trex Bench for our school. We have placed a recycling bin near the fish tank in the front lobby. In order to earn a bench we need to collect 1,000 pounds of plastic film and plastic bags. Here are some things that you can recycle!

We can recycle anything with a 2 or a 4 on it!

Some Items don’t have a 2 or a 4. Items with a 1,3,5 and 7 can’t be recycled. If it has no number at all then look for things like plastic bags from grocery stores and plastic from mail, bread bags, bubble wrap etc.

Lost and Found

Willow Springs is reminding families as they visit school over the next couple of weeks to please check out the lost and found. Lost and Found items are currently located in the front lobby. We have jackets, water bottles, lunch boxes and so much more! After winter break any unclaimed items will be donated.

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place where we will post an emergency weather closing. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and plan for childcare if appropriate.

Quick Links

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs' Fall Food Fundraisers

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PTA Food Fundraisers

This holiday season you can save yourself some time and effort by eating out and supporting our school! This week, from Wednesday through Saturday, eat at Lazy Dog, tell them you are supporting Willow Springs, and our school will receive 15% of the profit. Print out and show this flier or just say you are from Willow Springs. This deal applies to both dine in and take out.

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News, 11/21/23

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A Note from the Principal's Desk

Dear Willow Springs families,

Although this is a short week, there is much to celebrate and be thankful for as we reflect on the past weeks and look to the future. Thank you to our families who participated last week in our Thanksgiving Lunch, Willow Springs Book Fair and Math & Literacy Night. It was fantastic to see so many families at our events!

As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed from November 22-24. Classes will resume on Monday, November 27.

We want to extend our thanks and gratitude to our entire Willow Springs community. We are thankful for our daily time with your children and the home-to-school partnership. Willow Springs is a special place because of our children, families, staff, and community. We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving full of love and happiness.

We hope everyone has a great holiday. Thank you for sending us your best every day. #WillowPride

Sincerely,

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Thanksgiving Holiday

Schools and offices will be closed November 22-24. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Classes will resume on Monday, November 27. Learn more about the first Thanksgiving. See the complete school year calendar.

https://willowspringses.fcps.edu/events-calendarQuick Links

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News, 11/17/23

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Thanksgiving Lunch

It filled our hearts to see so many families join us for the Thanksgiving lunch! This was a great way to come together as a community and to make special memories with our children.

A Note from the Principal's Desk

Dear Willow Springs families,

November is Family Engagement Month and we have enjoyed engaging with so many families this week! On Wednesday we welcomed over 400 families to our Thanksgiving lunch! We loved seeing the students' faces light up when they saw their parents. Yesterday, we had a very successful Book Fair Family Night and Math & Literacy night. It was exciting for the students to meet an author and have their books autographed. We saw so many students and families having fun engaging in math games. Thank you to everyone who joined us this week! We look forward to more family engagement opportunities in the future.

We hope everyone has a great weekend. Don't forget that next week is a short week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you for sending us your best every day. #WillowPride

Sincerely,

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A Peek at Willow's Planner

November is Native American Heritage Month and Family Engagement Month
November 22 - 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday, Schools Closed
December 6th – Chorus and Advanced Band Concert, Cafeteria, 7:00pm (Chorus and band students report at 6:30pm)
December 18 - January 1 - Winter Break

Federal Impact Aid Forms Due

We are still missing many Impact Aid Forms, all students not completed online have been sent paper copies home. Please either complete the survey online or return the paper copy as soon as possible. The deadline for submission is November 17, however we will continue to accept forms since we are required to submit forms to the federal government for all students. If you have any questions or need help, please contact Liz Flaherty, Impact Aid Coordinator.

Online: Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out the Federal Impact Aid Survey. To make it easier, the form is available online in SIS ParentVUE this year. Once logged in, please select the “Online Packets” tab at the top, then select “Federal Impact Aid Survey” from the drop-down menu.This is important, because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers. For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Forms have been sent home to those who have not completed the online form, please return the form or complete the online survey.

A completed survey is required for each school-age child in every household.

Book Fair

We have had a great fall book fair and we hope the students enjoy reading their books. We are so fortunate to have had author John Gallagher here to talk with our students and autograph their books. Thank you to all of the parent volunteers!

Math & Literacy Night

We had so much fun playing math games with our students and families. A big thank you to Mathnasium for providing the games!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Reminder: Window for Full-time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2023

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Referral Form to our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Ashley Raymond, no later than December 15, 2023.

The window for families to submit a referral for full-time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for full-time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.

Submitting a referral form for full-time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for full-time placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Ashley Raymond.

Referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific AAP or part-time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for full-time AAP next fall.

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

Staying Healthy This Cold/Flu Season

Cases of RSV, the flu, and other viruses often rise this time of year. It is important for students to wash their hands regularly and cover their coughs and sneezes. Please monitor your child’s health daily and keep them at home if they are sick. Visit FCPS' Health and Safety Guidance webpage for more tips.

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.

All Foxes Need a Den and a Friend

The Willow Springs PTA cordially invites ALL families to join the PTA and become active members of our amazing school community! We are stronger together and strong schools and communities support healthy lives and high achievement for our children.

Join the PTA
PTA Page on the Willow Springs Website
PTA Facebook Page
Spirit Wear Online Store-We are excited to see our fellow foxes showing their Willow Pride in snazzy spirit wear! Open 24/7 all year long!

https://willowspringses.fcps.edu/events-calendarQuick Links

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

WSES Book Fair and Math & Literacy Night Tonight!

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Book Fair & Guest Author

All families are invited to join us TONIGHT for Family Night at the Book Fair from 5-7:30 PM. Author John Gallagher of the Max Meow series will be here talking about his books. Buy one of his books at the book fair and get it autographed!

Math & Literacy Night

Join us tonight from 5-7:30 PM for fun learning games, guest readers, and food trucks.

WSES Library and Cafeteria
5-7:30 p.m.
Book Fair
Math Games
Guest Readers
Food Trucks

Quick Links

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News, 11/10/23

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WSES Newsletter November 10, 2023

To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit the Willow Springs web site.

Every day is a great day in Kindergarten! A Note from the Principal's Desk

Dear Willow Springs families,

This week marks the start of the 2nd quarter and most of you have already met with your child's teacher for the annual Parent-Teacher Conference. We thank you for taking the time for this important event! This is a great time to reflect and set goals for the remainder of the year. Start small and set reasonable goals. It can help to write the goals down and plan for rewards as progress is made. If you need help or want to know more about a particular parenting topic, please let us know so we can provide the resources you need.

Progress reports for students who did not request online reports will be sent home on Wed. Nov.15 and grades will be posted to ParentVUE accounts for all students.

November is Family Engagement Month and next week we will have special opportunities to welcome families into our school. On Wednesday we will have the annual Thanksgiving Lunch and we expect over 400 guests! On Thursday evening, we invite all famiies to join us for Family Night at the Book Fair AND Math & Literacy Night. We will have food trucks and a guest author.

This week we say a BIG "Thank You!" to Mrs. Sackie, our PTA president, who has been serving as a long term 1st grade substitute. We don't know what we would have done without you! We are happy to welcome Mrs. Lauren Spierto back after her maternity leave.

We hope everyone has a great weekend and we look forward to seeing you next week during our special events. Thank you for sending us your best every day. #WillowPride

Sincerely,

Calendar Reminder: Thanksgiving Holiday

A Peek at Willow's Planner

November is Native American Heritage Month and Family Engagement Month
November 11 - Veterans Day
November 15 - First quarter grades will be viewable in ParentVUE for all students. Paper copies will be sent home for students not requesting online only.
November 15 - Thanksgiving Lunch
November 13 - 17 - WSES Book Fair Week & American Education Week
November 16 - Math and Literacy Night & Book Fair - Food Trucks
November 22 - 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday, Schools Closed

Schools and offices will be closed Wednesday, November 22, through Friday, November 24. Classes will resume on Monday, November 27. Learn more about the first Thanksgiving. See the complete school year calendar.

Recycle with Us!

Our 5th grade Girl Scouts are sponsoring a plastic recycling program at our school. The girls are working hard to follow procedures to collect 1,000 pounds of plastic film and bags to earn benches for the school. They also want to provide a positive environmental program and heighten awareness among all students of the need for plastic recycling. Send in your plastics and help us reach our goal!

Online: Federal Impact Aid Survey

Forms have been sent home to those who have not completed the online form, please return the form or complete the online survey.

A completed survey is required for each school-age child in every household.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day provides a great reason to pause, reflect, and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices our Veterans and their families have made on our behalf, and we thank them for their service. Learn more about the history of Veterans Day at va.gov.

Thanksgiving Lunch

Our cafeteria will serve a special Thanksgiving lunch on Wednesday, November 15th. In honor of the Thanksgiving holiday, Family Engagement Month, and American Education Week, we invite parents to join their child/children for lunch on this day. Parents may bring their own lunch or purchase a school lunch for $4.75.

We will follow a revised lunch schedule on this day which you can view here. Overflow seating will be available in the gym.

We hope you will be able to join us!

American Education Week

November 13 - 17 is American Education Week. This week is an opportunity to celebrate public education, to inform the community of the accomplishments and needs of public schools, to secure cooperation and support from the public, and to honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. We value the dedication and talent of all of our Willow Springs staff members.

Book Fair

Volunteer Sign-Up

Our Willow Springs book fair is coming soon. We are in need of volunteers to help set up, run registers, help with classes, and take down the book fair throughout the week of November 13-17. Interested? Sign up to volunteer using the link above.

Book Fair Dates and Times:

November 13-16, 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
November 16, 5-7:30 p.m.
November 17, 9-11:30 a.m.

Please join us on Thursday, November 16 for our Math and Literacy Event.

WSES Library and Cafeteria
5-7:30 p.m.
Book Fair
Math Games
Guest Readers
Food Trucks

Activities and Clubs

Visit the Activities/Clubs page on the WSES Website for more information.

All Foxes Need a Den and a Friend

Join the PTA
PTA Page on the Willow Springs Website
PTA Facebook Page
Spirit Wear Online Store-We are excited to see our fellow foxes showing their Willow Pride in snazzy spirit wear! Open 24/7 all year long!

Follow the Willow Springs PTA on Facebook for frequent updates and school news. Like and follow the Willow Springs School page on Facebook for all the latest news and photos.

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News: Thanksgiving Lunch & Veterans Day

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Thanksgiving Lunch

We will follow a revised lunch schedule on this day which you can view here. Overflow seating will be available in the gym.

We hope you will be able to join us!

Veterans Day

We will observe Veterans Day onFriday, November 10th. We invite all students and staff to wear red, white, and blue.

If you have a family member who is a veteran and you would like us to honor them, please consider submitting a photo, name, and information so we can create a slideshow. Here is the link to the Google form where you can submit your information.

Please submit your information by the end of the day on Thursday. Thank you!

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News: Outstanding Employee Awards Nominations

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Fairfax County Public Schools Outstanding Employee Awards Program

Nominations are still open for FCPS’ Outstanding Employee Awards.

To submit a nomination for a Willow Springs Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link.

You may nominate one or multiple employees at our school. One individual may only nominate one employee per category.

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below. Additional information about each category is also linked in the category titles below.

Outstanding Teacher

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher in any school/school district. Librarians are included in this category.

Outstanding Principal

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal in any school/school district

Outstanding Leader

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal).

Common positions in this category:

Assistant and Associate Principals

Outstanding Professional Employee

Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership.

Common positions in this category:

School-Based Technology Specialist
Technology Support Specialist
Instructional Coach
Psychologist
Social Worker
School Counselor
Special Education Lead Teachers

Outstanding Operational Employee

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee

Common positions in this category:

Office Staff
Custodial Staff
Food Service Staff
Instructional Assistants
Classroom Monitors
Public Health Assistants
Public Health Training Assistants
Parent Liaisons

The deadline to submit a nomination is Monday, November 6, 2023.

Here are some helpful tips:

You can find an alphabetical listing of all WSES staff members on our school's website.
You can nominate as many employees as you wish during the nomination window.
School winners from previous years can be nominated again.
You must include your name when you nominate the person.
Each nomination must include a brief paragraph stating why you believe this person is deserving of the honor.
Please make sure the person you nominate is aware and in agreement with the nomination.
After all nominations have been received, a Selection Committee will review files if there are multiple nominees per category. Please contact Laura Tapper if you are interested in being part of this committee.

If you nominate someone and they win, you will be asked to complete a Nominator Form and/or Letter of Recommendation to help this person win at the pyramid, region, and county levels.

If you would like to nominate Mr. Dylan Taylor for Outstanding Principal, the process for this award is different. The nomination must be submitted by December 1st.

If you would like to nominate Mr. Taylor, please contact the Willow Springs Award Liaison, Laura Tapper directly via email at [email protected]

If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Principal, Laura Tapper at [email protected].

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News, 11/3/23

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What a Treat!

On Tuesday, our building was filled with book characters come to life. It was such a fun and lively day!

Early Dismissal Today

Reminder - Students are dismissed 2 hours early today, at 2:00 PM. Please make sure you have transportation and/or child care plans.

A Note from the Principal's Desk

Dear Willow Springs families,

As we end the first quarter and prepare to start the second quarter, many families have had conferences with their child's teacher. If you have yet to schedule a meeting, feel free to contact your child's teacher. The home and school connection is essential for students' success.

This week we have experienced a big drop in temperatures with cold nights and days. Please remember that students should bring jackets for recess as the weather turns cooler. We still have many items in our lost and found, including jackets, so if students are missing an item, please have them check the lost and found area by the main office.

Next week, we will observe Veterans Day on Friday, November 10. We invite students to wear red, white, and blue. Veteran's Day is a time to pay our respects to the men and women who have served our country. We encourage our families and community to show their respect to our veterans using the Google form linked below. Please share a video or picture to honor the men and women in your lives who have served. We will compile and share video submissions through the WSES morning news, as well as on our school's website and Facebook account. Please submit your videos or pictures by 4:00 PM on Thursday, November 9th.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We are grateful for such a wonderful Willow Family! We hope you enjoy the weekend; remember, November 7 is Election Day and a student holiday, and don't forget to set your clocks back one hour on November 5.

Thank you for sending us your best everyday! Together, we make a great team. #GoTeamWillow #Willow Pride

Sincerely,

Follow the Willow Springs PTA on Facebook for frequent updates and school news. Like and follow the Willow Springs School page on Facebook for all the latest news and photos.

A Peek at Willow's Planner

November is Native American Heritage Month and Family Engagement Month
November 3 Two hour early release for students at 2 p.m.
November 5 End of Daylight Saving Time - Fall Back 1 hour
November 6 - 7 - Teacher Workdays, No School for Students
November 8 - PTA Meeting, 7 PM
November 10 - Veterans Day Observance at Willow Springs
November 11 - Veterans Day
November 13 - 17 - WSES Book Fair Week & American Education Week
November 16 - Math and Literacy Night - Book Fair - Food Trucks
November 22 - 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday, Schools Closed

Daylight Saving Time Ends

This Sunday, November 5, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time ends. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!

Please Vote!

✅ Election Day is Tuesday. Remember to vote! Some of the money from the upcoming $435 million bond vote is expected to fund the construction phase of our school’s renovation project. The building and renovation of schools is not funded through the annual FCPS operating budget. Instead, voter-approved bonds allow payment for these projects over time. Read more about bonds here.

Online: Federal Impact Aid Survey

A completed survey is required for each school-age child in every household.

PTA Meeting

We invite all parents to join us for our November PTA meeting on Wednesday, November 8th at 7 PM in the library and online. The link to the meeting will be sent in an email on Wednesday afternoon.

Veterans Day

We will observe Veterans Day next Friday, November 10th. We invite all students and staff to wear red, white, and blue.

Thanksgiving Lunch

We will follow a revised lunch schedule on this day which you can view here. Overflow seating will be available in the gym.

We hope you will be able to join us!

American Education Week

Book Fair

Volunteer Sign-Up

Watch Dogs Watch D.O.G.S

Have you heard about our Watch D.O.G.S? The Watch D.O.G.S group is a group of men who volunteer at school and help the school as needed during the day. You can be a dad, stepdad, grandpa, or uncle. Sign up for a time that fits your schedule as many or as few times as your schedule allows. Sign up with SignUpGenius.

Visit our Willow Springs Elementary Watch D.O.G.S Facebook Page.

Please sign up at least one week before the date you would like to volunteer to allow teachers time to plan and prepare. Volunteering is limited to one time per quarter (per child) to allow opportunities for other volunteers.

Contact Jason Fullen at [email protected].

Fairfax HS Football Game

Friday, November 3rd is the last HOME football game for the 2023 Fairfax Football season. Any student that is in MIDDLE or ELEMENTARY School must be accompanied by an adult. Students in MIDDLE and ELEMENTARY school will not be permitted entry without an adult. Gates open to the public at 6 pm for a 7 pm KICKOFF. The cost is $5 for students and adults. We hope to see many future LIONS at this game. It’s our SENIOR Night and we will be recognizing our Football, Cheer, Golf, Cross Country, and Marching Band seniors starting at 6:35 pm, so get there early!

Activities and Clubs

Visit the Activities/Clubs page on the WSES Website for more information.

All Foxes Need a Den and a Friend

The Willow Springs PTA cordially invites ALL families to join the PTA and become active members of our amazing school community! We are stronger together and strong schools and communities support healthy lives and high achievement for our children.

Join the PTA
PTA Page on the Willow Springs Website
PTA Facebook Page
Spirit Wear Online Store-We are excited to see our fellow foxes showing their Willow Pride in snazzy spirit wear! Open 24/7 all year long!

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News: Author Visit & Book Order Form Attached

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Author Visit & Book Orders

John Gallagher, author of the graphic novel Max Meow series, is visiting our school during Family Engagement Night on 11/16! His latest book, Max Meow 5, will release on 11/7. He will be presenting a session and signing copies of his books. If you plan to attend Family Engagement Night and want him to sign a copy of his book while you are here, see below for the two ways you can get a book.

Getting a book from the book fair? You do not need this form. Just have your child buy a book during book fair week (as long as supply lasts) OR

Want to preorder to ensure a copy? Return this form and pay on My School Bucks (School Store, Browse All Items) by 11/3. We are only submitting pre- orders that we have received payment for. Books should be picked up on our Family Engagement Night.

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News: Author Visit & Book Orders

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For a translated version of this newsletter, please visit the

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Author Visit & Book Orders

Getting a book from the book fair? You do not need this form. Just have your child buy a book during book fair week (as long as supply lasts) OR

Want to preorder to ensure a copy? Return this form and pay on My School Bucks (School Store, Browse All Items) by 11/3. We are only submitting pre- orders that we have received payment for. Books should be picked up on our Family Engagement Night.

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News, 10/27/23

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For a translated version of this newsletter, please visit the

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

On Tuesday, October 24, Willow Springs hosted Latin Grammy award-winning musical duo, 123 Andres. Students enjoyed singing and dancing to the bilingual songs during a morning and an afternoon performance. Many thanks to our Willow Springs PTA for sponsoring this wonderful event and to our fabulous FLES teachers, Ms. Mellott and Mrs. Keener for organizing this special event.

A Note from the Principal's Desk

Dear Willow Springs families,

Both fall and this school year are in full swing. It's hard to believe that next week is the final week in Quarter 1! This is the time of year when teachers at all grade levels hold parent conferences. We have seen many of you already and look forward to seeing many more of you over the coming days. Your partnership is critical to the success of our students and our school and we encourage you to stay in communication with your child's teacher throughout the school year.

November is Family Engagement Month and we look forward to welcoming you into our school for the Book Fair and Math and Literacy Night.

Thank you for sending us your best everyday! Together, we make a great team. #GoTeamWillow #Willow Pride

Sincerely,

Follow the Willow Springs PTA on Facebook for frequent updates and school news. Like and follow the Willow Springs School page on Facebook for all the latest news and photos.

A Peek at Willow's Planner

October 31 Dress as your favorite book character
November 1 Vision and hearing screenings for grades K and 3
November 3 Two hour early release for students at 2 p.m.
November 5 End of Daylight Saving Time - Fall Back 1 hour
November 6 - 7 - Teacher Workdays, No School for Students
November 13 - 17 - WSES Book Fair Week & American Education Week
November 16 - Math and Literacy Night - Book Fair - Food Trucks
November 22 - 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday, Schools Closed

Willow Springs Farmer's Market

Keeping it Fresh: The Office of Communications recently highlighted Willow Springs Farmer's Market and Garden Club on the FCPS Website, it's a great article and an even greater video, be sure to read all about our Market and watch the video!

You have one more opportunity to shop at our Farmer's Market--TODAY is the last day of the market for this season. Stop by after school to pick up some fresh fruits and veggies for your weekend meals.

Book Character Dress Up Day

It will soon be time to get into character to celebrate the season and our love of reading. Who will you choose to be?

End of the First Quarter

As a reminder, Friday, November 3, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students. Dismissal time is 2 p.m. Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 6, for a school planning day, and on Tuesday, November 7, for a teacher workday.

Watch Dogs Watch D.O.G.S

Visit our Willow Springs Elementary Watch D.O.G.S Facebook Page.

Contact Jason Fullen at [email protected].

Book Fair

Volunteer Sign-Up

Online: Federal Impact Aid Survey

A completed survey is required for each school-age child in every household.

🗓️Calendar Reminders: Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day

Día de los Muertos is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. Wednesday, November 1, and Thursday, November 2, are observance days this year. Watch this video to learn more about Día de los Muertos.

The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances during the school year. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. See the complete school year calendar.

News from the Health Room

Kindergarten and third grade students will receive a Vison and Hearing screening on Wednesday, November 1 in accordance with the Code of Virginia 22.1-2731 and FCPS Regulation 21072. FCPS provides vision and screening hearings for:

All students in kindergarten, third, seventh and tenth grades.
All students new to Fairfax County Public Schools in any grade.

If your child wears glasses, please make sure they bring them to school. If your student does not pass either the vision or hearing screening, you will receive a follow up letter instructing you to get a further evaluation with your private doctor. If you have any questions regarding the screening, please call the Health Room at 703-679-6010.

We need volunteers to help us at this event. If you are available to help for 1 hour or more, please email Susan Waldeck, our Health Room Aide, at [email protected].

Fairfax HS Football Game

Activities and Clubs

Visit the Activities/Clubs page on the WSES Website for more information.

All Foxes Need a Den and a Friend

Join the PTA
PTA Page on the Willow Springs Website
PTA Facebook Page
Spirit Wear Online Store-We are excited to see our fellow foxes showing their Willow Pride in snazzy spirit wear! Open 24/7 all year long!

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News, 10/20/23

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This Scoop's for You

Our SUPER COOL staff scooped up sweet treats for our students and families at Bruster's Real Ice Cream on Wednesday night. We LOVED seeing so many of our students and families at this event. Thank you to our PTA for organizing this event!

A Note from the Principal's Desk

Dear Willow Springs families,

This has been a quiet week compared to all of the excitement we had last week. We had our wrap up Boosterthon meeting on Wednesday and the results shown above were shared with us. As you can see, we exceeded our school-wide goal and that is thanks to YOUR generosity and support of our students! Please join us at our next PTA Meeting on November 8th to hear updates on how the funds will be spent.

Tonight is Fairfax High School's homecoming parade and football game. We wish our Lions all the best. Your Willow fox friends will be cheering for you.

Next week we will have CogAT testing for all of our 2nd grade students on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in the morning. We have our fingers crossed that all goes smoothly.

Thank you for sending us your best everyday! Together, we make a great team. #GoTeamWillow #Willow Pride

Sincerely,

Follow the Willow Springs PTA on Facebook for frequent updates and school news. Like and follow the Willow Springs School page on Facebook for all the latest news and photos.

A Peek at Willow's Planner

October 16 Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid Opens
October 31 Dress as your favorite book character
November 1 Vision and hearing screenings for grades K and 3
November 5 End of Daylight Saving Time - Fall Back 1 hour
November 6 - 7 - Teacher Workdays, No School for Students
November 13 - 17 - WSES Book Fair Week & American Education Week
November 16 - Math and Literacy Night - Book Fair - Food Trucks
November 22 - 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday, Schools Closed

Parent Meeting: Understanding the Full-Time AAP Screening Process

All parents are invited to join us Monday at 5:00 PM in the cafeteria and virtually via Zoom as Mrs. Ashley Raymond, AART, talks about the application process for full time AAP placement. Join us to learn about the process and have your questions answered.

A reminder email will be sent on Monday containing a link for the parents who will be joining us virtually.

Honors Choir

Willow Springs Elementary School has 35 students participating in the Fairfax Pyramid Elementary Honors Choir. They will be performing on Thursday October 26th at 7:00 pm at Fairfax High School with other Elementary, Middle and High School students from our Pyramid! We are so proud of how well they are representing our school! #WillowPride

Anna Kohler

Rayan Bastati

Rosemarie LeBlanc

Alice Zottig

Joelle Shenouda

Charlotte Fullen

Adele Wiseman

Luke Herrmann

Skyla Winslow

Hessa Wahidi

Amiah Saffell-Randolph

Madigan Lackey

Leah Shultz

Husnaa Wahidi

Arina Pavlenko

Hadley Johnson

Isabella Sarac

Charlotte Rowland

Chloe Yi

Samuel Falke

Liam Castro

Marah Cheikhsaid

Mena Alqazzaz

Anna Kohler

Lily Isner

Maylinh Warren

Genevieve Walter

Jake Brady

Pravasthi Avuluri

Wegahta Afewerki

Khulan Choijilsuren

Elizabeth Sheremetinskiy

Naomi yuan

Lynn Ballard

Seoyeon Chae

Naya Kwatra

We Appreciate You!

Celebrated every October, National Principals Month is an opportunity schools and communities to celebrate and honor our incredible principals for their visionary leadership and tireless pursuit of success for each student. Thank you, Mr. Taylor, for all you do to make Willow Springs such an amazing place for all students to learn, grow, and have fun! If you would like to send Mr. Taylor a note of appreciation, he can be reached at [email protected].

Online: Federal Impact Aid Survey

A completed survey is required for each school-age child in every household.

Willow Springs Farmer's Market

You have two more opportunities to shop at our Farmer's Market--today and next Friday. Next Friday the 27th will be the last day of the Farmer's Market for this season.

Book Character Dress Up Day

It will soon be time to get into character to celebrate the season and our love of reading. Who will you choose to be?

News from the Health Room

All students in kindergarten, third, seventh and tenth grades.
All students new to Fairfax County Public Schools in any grade.

We need volunteers to help us at this event. If you are available to help for 1 hour or more, please email Susan Waldeck, our Health Room Aide, at [email protected].

Talking to Your Children About Digital Well-Being

It’s Digital Citizenship Week, an opportunity for students to reflect on how their digital habits can impact their social and emotional well-being. Many schools have activities throughout the week. Check your school’s website or newsletter to see what your children are participating in at school. Or, visit Common Sense Media for ideas on how to talk to your children about digital well-being.

Math and Literacy Night

We invite you to join us for this great event and visit the Book Fair which will be open on this same night.

Activities and Clubs

Visit the Activities/Clubs page on the WSES Website for more information.

All Foxes Need a Den and a Friend

Join the PTA
PTA Page on the Willow Springs Website
PTA Facebook Page
Spirit Wear Online Store-We are excited to see our fellow foxes showing their Willow Pride in snazzy spirit wear! Open 24/7 all year long!

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News: Outstanding Employee Awards Nominations

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Fairfax County Public Schools Outstanding Employee Awards Program

Nominations are now open for FCPS’ Outstanding Employee Awards.

To submit a nomination for a Willow Springs Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link.

You may nominate one or multiple employees at our school. One individual may only nominate one employee per category.

Outstanding Teacher

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher in any school/school district. Librarians are included in this category.

Outstanding Principal

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal in any school/school district

Outstanding Leader

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal).

Common positions in this category:

Assistant and Associate Principals

Outstanding Professional Employee

Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership.

Common positions in this category:

School-Based Technology Specialist
Technology Support Specialist
Instructional Coach
Psychologist
Social Worker
School Counselor
Special Education Lead Teachers

Outstanding Operational Employee

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee

Common positions in this category:

Office Staff
Custodial Staff
Food Service Staff
Instructional Assistants
Classroom Monitors
Public Health Assistants
Public Health Training Assistants
Parent Liaisons

The deadline to submit a nomination is Monday, November 6, 2023.

Here are some helpful tips:

You can find an alphabetical listing of all WSES staff members on our school's website.
You can nominate as many employees as you wish during the nomination window.
School winners from previous years can be nominated again.
You must include your name when you nominate the person.
Each nomination must include a brief paragraph stating why you believe this person is deserving of the honor.
Please make sure the person you nominate is aware and in agreement with the nomination.
After all nominations have been received, a Selection Committee will review files if there are multiple nominees per category. Please contact Laura Tapper if you are interested in being part of this committee.

If you nominate someone and they win, you will be asked to complete a Nominator Form and/or Letter of Recommendation to help this person win at the pyramid, region, and county levels.

If you would like to nominate Mr. Dylan Taylor for Outstanding Principal, the process for this award is different. The nomination must be submitted by December 1st.

If you would like to nominate Mr. Taylor, please contact the Willow Springs Award Liaison, Laura Tapper directly via email at [email protected]

If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Principal, Laura Tapper at [email protected].

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News: We All Scream for Ice Cream!

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Family Night at Bruster's Ice Cream

We invite all families to join us TONIGHT at Bruster's Real Ice Cream located at 3903 Fair Ridge Drive from 5-8 PM. Enjoy a sweet treat while spending time with friends and see if you can spot some celebrity scoopers.

Check out all the amazingly delicious flavors before you go:

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News, 10/14/23

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Boosterthon Memories

A Note from the Principal's Desk

Dear Willow Springs families,

What a busy and exciting week we had. Although the students were in school for only 4 days, we all put in 5 days worth of effort! Monday was a Staff Development Day and our teachers were engaged in learning about FCPS' new equity policy and what it means for our school and for our daily practices. We also had professional development on math and literacy instruction, and more. At Willow Springs, we are passionate about supporting ALL of our learners and families and providing engaging and enriching learning opportunities for every student, every day.

Wednesday was our big day of the week with our Boosterthon Fun Run during the day and our PTA meeting at night. It was the perfect fall day for a fun run with crisp air in the morning, clear skies, and plenty of sunshine. Our students poured their hearts into the run doing 35 laps of running, walking, dancing, skipping, and jumping. We all had a great time and made so many wonderful memories while supporting our fundraiser. We loved seeing so many families show up to cheer us on and even run/walk with us at the end! Stay tuned to find out when Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Stringer, and Mrs. Tapper are going to get SLIMED to celebrate our big success. See photos and videos from this event, please visit our Facebook page.

On Wednesday evening we had our October PTA meeting and were again very pleased with the great turnout. We heard about school events and updates, talked about plans for future events, and heard the amazing news that we exceeded our Boosterthon fundraising goal! As of Wednesday evening, we had raised over $52,000! We are in awe of everyone's generous support of our school. Please join us at future PTA meetings as we will be discussing how the funds will be used. We want YOU to be a part of the discussion and decision making. Our November meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8th at 7:00 PM in the library. You may participate in person or virtually.

On Friday, we had a fire drill and we enjoyed a visit from Murphy the therapy dog. Murphy will continue visiting our school every Friday and each week he will visit a different grade level or group of students. On Friday, we also learned that our Friday Farmer's Market is featured in an FCPS news story. You can find the story and video on our Facebook page.

It was a busy and rewarding week at Willow Springs! We look forward to seeing many of you at Bruster's Real Ice Cream on Wednesday from 5-8 PM. The ice cream is delicious and we will have celebrity scoopers. It's a great opportunity for friends and family to chill out together.

Thank you for sending us your best everyday! Together, we make a great team. #GoTeamWillow #Willow Pride

Sincerely,

https://brusters.com/menu/

A Peek at Willow's Planner

October 18 Family Night at Bruster's Ice Cream
October 31 Dress as your favorite book character
November 5 End of Daylight Saving Time - Fall Back 1 hour
November 6 - 7 - Teacher Workdays, No School for Students
November 13 - 17 - American Education Week
November 16 -- Book Fair Family Night & Family Engagement Event
November 22 - 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday, Schools Closed

Outstanding Performance

Our very own Liz Flaherty, Student Information Assistant/Registrar, was honored at a ceremony this week as a recipient of a 2023 FCPS Individual Excellence Award!

This honor recognizes and celebrates Ms. Flaherty's commitment to serve FCPS with the highest degree of dedication and professionalism. FCPS commends her personal efforts and achievements to produce exceptional results while supporting our school system’s mission and vision.

Here's a blurb from the nomination packet:

Liz is the incredible website curator at Willow Springs Elementary School. While her official title is Student Information Assistant, Liz has become one of the premiere school website curators in FCPS. The WSES website feels like a welcoming porch that allows visitors to see a beautiful snapshot of the school, full of happy, engaged students and staff. Liz is constantly striving to improve her skillset as a website curator.

Way to go, Liz! We are all so grateful for all you do to support our students, families, and staff every day!

We Appreciate You!

Digital Citizenship Week

Next week, schools across the country will recognize Digital Citizenship Week to focus on having important and powerful conversations with students of all ages about safe and appropriate online behavior.

To support families in having these same conversations at home, you can find an abundance of resources to read and/or watch using this link.

If you have questions or need help, please reach out to the school or to your child's teacher.

Family Night at Bruster's Ice Cream

We invite all families to join us next Wednesday, October 18th at Bruster's Real Ice Cream located at 3903 Fair Ridge Drive from 5-8 PM. Enjoy a sweet treat while spending time with friends and see if you can spot some celebrity scoopers. Show up to find out who will be scooping ice cream.

Check out all the amazingly delicious flavors before you go:

Lexia Parent Night: Learn About Literacy Support

FCPS funds Lexia for all elementary and middle schools to use as part of their literacy instruction. Lexia is a computer-based program that supplements classroom instruction to help students develop literacy skills. It also provides teachers with the data to identify students who need additional support, and the ability to know which specific concepts and skills to prioritize. Attend an information night to learn more about Lexia and how FCPS is integrating it into the classroom. Parents/caregivers will also get tips for supporting their students at home.

Information nights will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:

Wednesday, October 18, at Thoreau Middle School (Cafeteria).
Thursday, October 19, at Edison High School (Auditorium).

News from the Health Room

Kindergarten and Third grade students will receive a Vision and Hearing screening on Wednesday, November 1.

Activities and Clubs

Visit the Activities/Clubs page on the WSES Website for more information.

All Foxes Need a Den and a Friend

Join the PTA
PTA Page on the Willow Springs Website
PTA Facebook Page
Spirit Wear Online Store-We are excited to see our fellow foxes showing their Willow Pride in snazzy spirit wear! Open 24/7 all year long!

Follow the Willow Springs PTA on Facebook for frequent updates and school news. Like and follow the Willow Springs School page on Facebook for all the latest news and photos.

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News: It's Boosterthon Day, Yay!

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We are Ready to Run!

Willow Springs families, we want to say a HUGE “Thank you!” to all of our students, staff, and donors for this incredible Willow Springs Fun Run fundraiser.

Here are our final stats:

🤯Our students completed 35 laps combined to help our school!

🥳We celebrated our community coming together and created unforgettable memories at our Willow Springs Fun Run event.

Thank you for your support of our school. We’re grateful for our Willow Springs community!

P.S. Giving will remain open for one more week. If you’d like to continue to give and share, head to MYBOOSTER.COM today.

Cheer Us On!

You are welcome to stop by today and cheer on your child/children. If you do stop by, there is no need to check in at the office. After you park, just head straight to the field by the parking lot. If you will be taking your child home with you after the run, you will need to stop by the office to check your child out.

Here is the Fun Run schedule.

👟K, 1st, & 2nd @ 9:30am - 10:30am

👟3rd & 5th @ 10:50am - 11:50am

👟4th & 6th @ 2:30pm - 3:30pm

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News, 10/6/23

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These 3rd graders loved having a Popsicles and Pajama Day! A Note from the Principal's Desk

Dear Willow Springs families,

This has been a very busy and exciting week for us as we kicked off Boosterthon, and our students enjoyed daily challenges and prizes. Students have been rewarded with pajama day, popsicles, keychains, and more! Mrs. Trogdon's class pied Terrific Taylor and Jolly Jackie in the face. Yesterday, Mrs. Bay's class won the challenge and turned Terrific Taylor into a mummy. The fun will culminate with the Fun Run next Wednesday the 11th. Our goal is to raise $50,000 dollars to support enrichment programs and activities to benefit ALL students in our school. Thank you for your tremendous support.

This week we also participated in National Walk to School Day and our Green Team had the first monthly meeting of the year. The Green Team will meet on the first Wednesday of every month from 8-9 AM. If you haven't yet visited our Friday Farmer's Market, you have until October 27th to do so. The market is open every Friday during dismissal and it is located in front of the school.

Next week, we look forward to another GREAT turnout at our PTA meeting and a visit from Murphy the therapy dog on Friday.

Thank you for sending us your best everyday! Together, we make a great team. #GoTeamWillow

Sincerely,

Follow the Willow Springs PTA on Facebook for frequent updates and school news. Like and follow the Willow Springs School page on Facebook for all the latest news and photos.

Boosterthon Fun

Terrific Taylor is a terrific sport and she knows how to make days fun!

A Peek at Willow's Planner

October10 Final Boosterthon Program Day
October 9 Indigenous Peoples' Day and Staff Development Day
- No School for Students
October 11 Boosterthon Fun Run; PTA meeting at 7 PM
October 13 Individual Student Picture Make-Ups
October 13 - 15 CogAT Testing, retakes only
October 17 - 19 CogAT Testing, 2nd grade students
October 31 Dress as your favorite book character
November 5 End of Daylight Saving Time - Fall Back 1 hour

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Indigenous Peoples' Day honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native peoples, past and present. This year, Monday, October 9, is a student holiday and staff development day.

Learn more about Indigenous Peoples’ Day from the National Museum of the American Indian. See the complete school year calendar.

PTA Meeting

Our 2nd PTA Meeting of the year will be held next Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the library. If you are unable to join us in person, we welcome you to join us virtually. On Wednesday afternoon, we will send all families an email with the link you can use to join us.

At this months meeting, we will share updates on Boosterthon, testing, the school renovation plan and more.

Join us to hear the latest news, meet other parents, and share your ideas and experiences!

Picture Makeups/Retakes

Victor O'Neill Studios is coming back for portrait makeups/retakes on Friday, October 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pictures taken in September will be sent home from Willow Springs prior to October 13.

This session is open to the following:

Any student or staff member who was absent for the original session.
Any new/transfer students who enrolled after the original session.
Any new staff members who were hired after the original session.
Any student/staff who was dissatisfied with their original picture day portrait.

Please Note:

Students who previously purchased a photo package and would like to retake their photo MUST return their original package to the photographer in order to receive a new package.
No purchase is necessary to retake photos.
Students retaking their portrait will not receive a new ID card.
The new portrait will replace their original yearbook portrait and then be available for purchase.

Images will be available to view and purchase approximately two to three weeks following our school's picture day.

Save time and Pre-order online HERE.

For questions about ordering school pictures please email [email protected]

National School Lunch Week

October 9-13 is National School Lunch Week.

President John F. Kennedy created National School Lunch Week (NSLW) in 1962 to promote the importance of a healthy school lunch in a child’s life and the impact it has inside and outside of the classroom. Every day, our cafeteria serves delicious and nutritious meals for breakfast and lunch.

Last year, our salad bar opened. The salad bar is available every day to every student and choices include FRESH vegetables and fruit. The salad bar is a part of every lunch and is not a separate purchase.

You can find more information and check the daily meal calendar HERE.

Boosterthon

It's not too late to sign up and join the fun to support our school. Visit mybooster.com to register.

❗️ Bonus prize alert! ❗️

Your student can be earning an extra prize for getting us closer to our $50,000 by getting donations for this weekend ONLY! Learn more about the mystery bonus prize on MYBOOSTER.COM. 👀

❗️This is a limited time window, so head to MYBOOSTER.COM today to learn more. ❗️ Reminder: We’re raising $50,000 for Enriching our Specials Program (PE, Music, Art, Spanish, STEAM, TECH, Library that will directly impact students and staff here at Willow Springs Elem. We can’t do this without your help!

Thanks for helping our school raise funds this year and have a great weekend!!

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Offered in October

One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is the SEL Screener.

The screener is offered to all students in grades 3-12 in October and again in February or March. Students at Willow Springs will take the screener in their classrooms in the days AFTER Boosterthon.

The SEL Screener addresses skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions.

The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create the learning, experiences, and environments students need to be successful. Key updates to the screener this year include:

Different versions for students in grades 3-5 and 6-12.
Fewer topics with more questions to provide schools and families with more data to support planning.
Additional questions aligned with FCPS’ commitment to educational equity.

SEL Screener results are sent to families via postal mail. Families who wish to opt their child out should complete the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or in SIS ParentVUE.

For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact your child’s school.

Please note that the SEL Screener differs from the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey.

Activities and Clubs

Visit the Activities/Clubs page on the WSES Website for more information.

All Foxes Need a Den and a Friend

Join the PTA
PTA Page on the Willow Springs Website
PTA Facebook Page
Spirit Wear Online Store-We are excited to see our fellow foxes showing their Willow Pride in snazzy spirit wear! Open 24/7 all year long!

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News: Boosterthon Challenge, Day 1

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Ready… Set… GO! Boosterthon Challenge, Day 1

Our Willow Springs Elem Fun Run countdown has begun!

Today students experienced our kickoff event to start raising funds for Willow Springs Elementary.

This program only lasts for ONE WEEK , so please register your student TODAY on MYBOOSTER.COM. Share your donation page with family and friends.

Register your student for our all-inclusive event.
Students who register TONIGHT win a keychain AND get to wear pajamas to school tomorrow!

Thank you for your support of our school!

5400 Willow Springs School Road Fairfax, VA 22030 | Phone: 703.679.6000
Attendance: 703.679.6066 | Web | Twitter

Willow Springs School News, 9/29/23

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