 Second graders finished publishing their personal narratives and celebrated by sharing their work with their Fifth Grade Buddies.
Note from Dr. Sheers
Just a reminder that students will be dismissed from school three hours early, at 12:30 PM on Friday, December 14, for a school planning day. The WSES front office will close at 1:00 PM. The office will re-open at 8:00 AM on Monday, December 17.
Mrs. Whitbourne, art teacher, uploads student artwork to Artsonia? Artsonia is an online website you can use to share your child's artwork is by showcasing it with custom gifts. When you visit artsonia.com and browse the gift shop, you’ll find a variety of keepsakes including cards, magnets, coffee mugs, t-shirts, jewelry, tote bags, phone cases, and notebooks, just to name a few. A percentage of all sales will also help raise funds for our school’s art program. You can use the artwork completed in art class (already uploaded) or create something new and upload to your account right from home! Use promo code: “HolidayFunds18” to get 25% off any one non-sale item, valid through December 13, 2018. Contact Mrs. Whitbourne at alwhitbourne@fcps.edu with any questions.
News and Notes
E-Notify - Changes Next Friday!
Fairfax County Public Schools will be moving to a new vendor to provide emergency and essential email, text, and phone notifications beginning December 14, 2018. If you currently receive emergency and essential communications via email, text, or phone, you do not need to do anything, as you will continue to receive this information.
Parents and guardians who have included a cellphone number (in the cellphone field) on a student’s emergency care card will receive a text message on December 14 to confirm the account is set up to receive text messages from FCPS. You do not need to do anything when you receive the text message from the new vendor, School Messenger, on December 14th. If you do not receive a text message, please check the contact information listed on your child’s emergency care card in weCare. Your cellphone number must be listed in the cellphone field so that you receive text messages from FCPS.
New this year, parents can enter their student’s cellphone number in weCare so that their student will also receive text messages for delayed openings, school closings, and late bus notifications. The student’s cellphone number will need to be entered in Section 4, under Additional Information. If the student’s cellphone is listed in weCare, they will also receive the text message on December 14.
Emergency and essential information includes:
- Emergency
- Delayed openings/school closings
- Attendance
- Early release
- Buses running late
- Low lunch balance
- Power, telephone, internet outages or facility repairs
- Back to school information
- Important testing dates
If you have recently changed your contact information, please be sure to update the emergency contact information in weCare.
As a reminder, in addition to email and text messages, all FCPS weather delays and openings are also posted on Twitter, Facebook, FCPS website, school websites, and local radio and television broadcasts. Read more about Weather Cancellation Procedures.
FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards - Deadline, Friday, December 21
Nominations for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a West Springfield ES Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link: https://goo.gl/forms/xSJQx3sNJReWm1782
You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. 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.
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Outstanding Teacher Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher; librarians are included in this category.
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Outstanding New Teacher Eligibility: Within their first three years of being a teacher; librarians are included in this category.
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Outstanding Leader Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position. Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assistant and Associate Principals, DSA, DSS, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school.
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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: administrative and office assistants, custodial staff, food service staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, all parent liaisons.
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Outstanding Hourly Employee Eligibility: At least one year experience in current hourly position. Examples of possible hourly positions: hourly office staff, hourly program assistants, other unique hourly positions as designated per school.
Full-Time Level IV Services Referral Process
Parents or guardians may refer students in Grade 2-7 to Keene Mill Level IV services by submitting the Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form to the school by January 10, 2019.
Identification of Students for Screening
Community News
Winter Open House and Reading Club Kick-Off
On December 8 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., head to Kings Park Library to celebrate the season with crafts, activities, seasonal music with a recorder ensemble and light refreshments for the whole family. Kids can join Kingsley's Winter Reading Club, which challenges kids to read or listen to any five books from December 8 to February 2 and receive a prize.
Read to the Dog
On December 8, from 1-2 p.m., students ages 6-12 are welcomed to sign up at Pohick Regional Library to read to a trained therapy dog. Space is limited, so sign-up soon.
West Springfield Little League
The leaves may be changing, but it’s never too early to start thinking about baseball. West Springfield Little League Spring 2019 online registration is now open. Boys and girls born between September 1, 2006 and August 31, 2014 are welcomed to register. Reduced prices are available until December 15, 2018. Online registration is open until January 5, 2019. Click here to register. For any questions, please email antoniosantiago22@yahoo.com
Save the Date
Wednesday, December 12 PTA Dine Out Night at Panera Bread
Friday, December 14 3-Hour Early Release @ 12:30
Friday, December 21 READ IN Day and Pajama Day
Monday, December 24 Winter Break Begins
Monday, January 7 School Resumes
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