 Triplets on Twin Day during our Dr. Seuss Spirit Week!
Don't forget this Monday is a 3-hour early release! Students are dismissed at 12:35.
Did you get your vote in today? Help us win $10,000! Click here to cast today's vote for WSES. Select "Fairfax" and then "West Springfield Elementary" in the drop-downs and hit "submit" - it's that easy!
Anyone can vote, so please spread the word to your friends, neighbors, and relatives near and far and encourage them to vote daily. We are a small school so every vote counts - help us round up the votes so we can come in on top and win!
PI Day = Yummy Pie, Donations Please!
Pi Day is commemorated on March 14 because though the irrational number (its decimal representation never ends and never repeats) has been calculated to over ten trillion digits, it is widely recognized as 3.14.
Even if math doesn’t rank high on your list of favorite subjects, chances are you still look forward to Pi Day on Thursday, March 14. That’s because though the discussions may begin with Pi — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — they invariably end with a piece or two pieces of yummy pie! As such, WSES would love donations of pies for faculty and staff to celebrate Pi Day on Thursday.
Yearbook on Sale!
All orders are due by Friday, April 12 and can be placed online (ybpay.lifetouch.com using Yearbook ID Code #13281519) or in the office. Yearbook prices start at $17, with package prices ranging from $18.75 to $24.20. Order forms went home in yesterday’s Thursday folder.
Book Fair Volunteers Needed
WSES Spring Book Fair Sign Up
Our Spring Book Fair will take place the week of March 25-29. We need your help with sales throughout the week, for set-up on March 21 and breakdown on March 29. We are also looking for volunteers to come in on the preview day, March 22, to help our students. As a thank you, volunteers who help for at least one hour will receive 10% off of their purchases.
We have lots of opportunities to volunteer so please consider coming in and helping. Even if you cannot help with the event, don’t forget to save the date for Family Night Shopping on Tuesday, March 26, from 4-8 p.m.. All proceeds from the book fair go to our library. Please visit the Sign-Up Genius link below to select a time to volunteer. If you have any questions please contact Mr. Rigsby at lsrigsby@fcps.edu.
Student Arrival in the Morning
With the cooler temperatures we are experiencing, WSES would like to remind families about the arrival policy and times. Students may not enter the building prior to 8:35 a.m.. The only exception to this rule are patrols, who may enter the building at 8:20 a.m. and SACC students.
Parents are asked to please not drop off students prior to 8:35 a.m. since there is no supervision for students and so students are not exposed to such low temperatures for extended time. Parents should also be mindful of what time walkers leave the house in the morning so they arrive to school as close to 8:35 a.m. as possible.
At 8:35 a.m., students may enter to the cafeteria through the front door (Exit 1).
At 8:45 a.m., at the first bell, students may enter through all doors, which patrols will open.
Students are expected to be in their seats by 8:55 a.m. when the second bell rings. Students walking into the building when the second bell rings are tardy and must sign in at the main office in order to not be marked as absent for the school day.
WSES Family STEAM Night
Are you ready to experience STEAM as a family? Then save the date for our second WSES Family STEAM Night on March 29, from 6-7:30 p.m. (following the PTA science fair). We’ll have some of your favorite STEAM activities from last year, such as creating catapults, designing air-powered cars, and building electronics with Snap Circuits. We’ll also have some new activities you are sure to love, from “artsy robots” to playing a piano made out of bananas! See the flyer in yesterday’s Thursday Folder for additional information.
Safety Patrol Applications
This week, Fourth graders received applications to become Safety Patrols for the 2019-2020 school year. Students who are interested must fill out the form and parents MUST sign it in order for the school to be able to process the application.
 Did you know that WSES gathered 270 slips for the 500 Acts of Kindness challenge? Considering all the snow days, delays, and the fact that this was the first year that WSES did something like this, we did great! Though the challenge is technically over, faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to continue recognizing others for their acts of kindness. Slips will continued to be posted in the cafeteria, so check it out when you stop by the school.
What an exciting and snowy February we have had! Despite all our snow days and delays, the students at WSES were still able to participate in their monthly counseling lessons.
In Kindergarten, students learned about coping skills for when they have big feelings such as anger, frustration, or worry. They created their own coping skills book that including tools such as taking a deep breath, counting to 10, counting backwards, getting a drink of water, and drawing a picture.
In First grade, students learned the difference between tattling and reporting. They were introduced to the Tattle Prince who has four simple rules: 1. Be a Danger Ranger (Is it dangerous – if so report!) 2. Be a Problem Solver (Solve on your own if you can) 3. Now or Later (How urgent is the problem). 4. M.Y.O.B (Mind your own beeswax. If is not dangerous and does not involve you then you don’t need to report).
Our Second graders are completing a 2-part lesson on bullying. After reading Katie Couric’s “The Brand New Kid”, they practiced delineating between bullying behaviors and not bullying behaviors. The definition of bullying is when someone does mean things, repeatedly, on purpose – all three parts of that definition need to be true for it to be considered bullying.
Third graders were hard at work learning self-efficacy skills and problem-solving ways to solve their own problems before asking a teacher for help.
In Fourth grade, students began a 2-part lesson on growth mindset based off the book “Mistakes that Worked’ by Charlotte Foltz Jones. This month, students researched and presented on one of the mistakes that worked that they found interesting in the book (inventions that were made by accident because the creators had a growth mindset, such as the sticky note, chocolate chip cookie, penicillin, and many more). Next month they will innovate creations based on their own mistakes.
Fifth graders spent February recognizing peer pressure. They learned about spoken vs. unspoken peer pressure, and various peer pressure “tricks.” Next month, we will explore ways to stand up to peer pressure.
Finally, in Sixth grade, the students completed one of two mandatory sexual harassment lessons. These lessons are provided by FCPS and are mandatory for all Sixth graders across the county. They learned the definition of sexual harassment and were able to identify verbal, physical, written, and online sexual harassment. Sixth graders also signed up for classes with their new counselors at Irving Middle School and are getting very excited and nervous for their upcoming transition!
Community News
Cherry Blossom Festival
It’s almost spring and that means the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C.! Family-friendly activities, exciting events and fundraisers occur throughout the festival over the weeks. The major events include:
Mary Poppins Jr.
On March 29 and 30, students at Irving Middle School will be performing a production of Mary Poppins Jr. beginning each evening at 7 p.m.. Included in the family-friendly production are 9 Mighty Mustang alumni, so be sure to take the family and support our former Mustangs! Tickets can be purchased here.
FCPS Summer Camps
As spring approaches, summer camp sign ups begin. STEM and Tech Adventure Summer Camps are now open for registration for students as listed below.
STEM Summer Camp - Students currently in grades 3 -5 and grades 8-9
Tech Adventure Camp - Students currently in grade 6-7
Each camp has the following dates and fees.
Session 1: June 24 - June 28, 2019
Session 2: July 8 - July 12, 2019
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Fairfax High School
Tuition: $275 - Reduced fee and tuition waivers are not available. Registration will be open from February 4 to June 23, 2019: https://www.fcps.edu/camps-and-institutes-stem-camp
NOVA STEM Camp 19
NOVA SySTEMIC is offering opportunities for students to learn new ideas, solve problems and explore various technological fields of study.
These experiences are designed to build interest, knowledge, and technical skills the students can take with them into the classroom and beyond.
- One-week camps are only $315.
- Camps are offered in a variety of locations in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and Alexandria.
- Camps run from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Childcare available 7:45 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
- Discounts are available if you sign up for multiple camps and/or if you sign up multiple children.
- Registration and other information available on the website: https://www.nvcc.edu/systemic/camps.html
We are only halfway through February and already prepping for the spring. Below is the calendar for SOL testing that will take place in May.
Save the Date
Monday, March 11 Three Hour Early Release
Thursday, March 14 Pi Day - Donations Please
Thursday, March 21 Spring Pictures (Classes and Individuals)
Thursday, March 21 PTA Dine-Out at IHOP
Friday, March 22 WSES Book Fair Preview
Monday, March 25 Book Fair Begins
Tuesday, March 26 Family Night Shopping at Book Fair (Library), 4-8 p.m.
Friday, March 29 PTA Science Fair and STEAM Night 5:30-7:30pm
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