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March 18, 2019
 Region 5 and WSES leadership team recognize Ms. Phyllis Wheeler with FCPS Region 5 Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee Honors Award (Pictured left to right; Mr. Dave Jagels, Principal Taylor, Mrs. Rashida Green, Ms. Lesley Hassen, and Mr. Eric McCann.)
Dear Willow Springs,
We had such a fun week last week, and we are already off to a great start for this one! Some kindergartners were becoming quite the detectives this morning as they investigated the leprechaun invasion that took place over the weekend.
Last week was highlighted by several big events. As you learned, Lesley Hassen was named as our new assistant principal. We know that you will find her kind, kid-first approach will make for a great leader at Willow Springs. When you see her out in the mornings, afternoons, or in between, please introduce yourself!
Friday began with excitement - Ms. Wheeler is our Region 5 Winner! As you can see from the picture above, leadership from the Region 5 Office came out to surprise Phyllis Wheeler with the award for Outstanding Operational Employee. We know that she will represent Willow Springs and the region well as she moves forward in the awards process.
We are looking forward to a fantastic week, and can't wait to see many of you at the Leprechaun Chase on Friday after school.
Here's to a great week!
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Rashida Green, Assistant Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
1st Graders Research Animal Habitats and Create Dioramas
  First graders in Ms. Barkouk's classroom work on their carefully planned dioramas. After researching a selected animal's habitat using one of the FCPS databases, PebbleGo, students completed a graphic organizer with important facts and culminated the unit of study with a diorama.
5th Grade Mathematicians Celebrate Pi Day
 This week, students had fun calculating pi while experimenting with bubbles, Moon pies, online simulations, and more.
Your Views and Opinions are Important
Willow Springs Elementary parents will be contacted through email or text message with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form Online. This survey is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and offers parents an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various issues related to our school. These issues include instructional leadership, school climate, human resources management, organizational management, communication and community relations, and professionalism.
The survey will be collected online between March 13 and March 27. When you receive an email or text message from FCPS Surveys, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. Your opinions matter.
Statewide Tornado Drill to Be Conducted on Tuesday, March 19
The Virginia Statewide Tornado Drill will be held on Tuesday, March 19th. The Code of Virginia requires all public schools to participate in at least one tornado drill each year and FCPS requires the tornado drill to be completed in March of each school year. Similar to previous year’s tornado drills, the National Weather Service will send a test tornado warning to start the Statewide Tornado Drill on March 19. The test warning will be tone alerted and broadcast by NOAA Weather Radio and will simulate what listeners would hear during an actual tornado warning.
Learn more about the Statewide Tornado Drill.
WSES SOL Testing Schedule
The Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests are required of all students in Grades 3-8 across the state by the Virginia Department of Education. SOL tests measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills specified in the Virginia SOLs. In order to assist your spring planning, the SOL schedule is listed below. Please avoid appointments that will take your child out of school during testing. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
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May 20
5th Reading
4th Reading
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May 21
3rd Reading
6th Reading
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May 22
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May 23
5th Math
4th Math
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May 24
6th Math
7th Math
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May 27
No School
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May 28
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May 29
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May 30
5th Science
3rd Math
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May 31
4th VA Studies
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Kindergarten Registration Now Open for 2019-20 School Year |
If you have a child who will reach the age of five on or before September 30, 2019, they are eligible to attend kindergarten for the 2019-20 school year. If your child meets the age requirement and lives within the boundaries of Willow Springs Elementary School they may be registered at this time. Please sign up for a registration appointment and reserve a space for the orientation session soon. Forms and documents required for registration can be found through this link (scroll down to Student Registration) to the Willow Springs website. Student registrations have a direct impact on teacher staffing so the sooner registrations take place the better able we are to staff accordingly. Please call 703-679-6071 or email Liz Flaherty with any questions.
Save the Date: Annual FCPS Special Education Conference on April 6
Mark your calendars! The 14th annual FCPS Special Education Conference will be held on Saturday, April 6, at Lake Braddock Secondary School. The event will focus on supporting inclusive and post-secondary practices for students with disabilities. Visit the Visit the Special Education Conference website or email prc@fcps.edu with questions.
Digital Citizenship
The digital environment at Willow Springs drives many parts of the instruction that goes on both inside and outside of the building. Digital citizenship is more than just a teaching tool; it’s a way to prepare our students in a digital society. Digital citizenship is the appropriate, responsible use of technology both here at school and at home. Our students use different learning environments like Google Applications for Education, Blackboard, Myon Books, The FCPS Library databases, and many many more. It is important to us that students remember that a digital classroom is very much like a brick and mortar classroom in that there are procedures and practices that make the learning experience work for everyone. Willow Springs has successfully been a member of the FCPS Digital Citizenship cohort, earning Common Sense Media recognition as well as diligent users of the Portrait of a Graduate skills and attributes. We take time throughout each day to rehearse the qualities of a Portrait of a Graduate as well as the characteristics that embody a member of a Common Sense Media school community. We hope that you will join us at home in encouraging the very best from our students with regard to their practices when in digital environments. Our school wholeheartedly endorses the use of the principles behind the Common Sense Media, Portrait of a Graduate, and Digital Citizenship.
 Digital Citizenship Parent Night - LIKE Movie Screening
On Thursday, March 28th at 7:00 p.m. in the Lanier Auditorium, join us for a free screening of LIKE, an IndieFlix Original documentary that explores the impact of social media on our lives. https://www.thelikemovie.com/
This documentary, produced by IndieFlix, is for all parents and guardians of students in grades K-12 and students over the age of 10.
Technology is a tool. It’s here to stay and social platforms are a place to connect, share and care, but what’s really happening? Are we addicted? How do we stop? Where do we start? What do we need to know? By understanding the effects of technology and social media on the brain, on our lives and on our civilization, we can learn how to navigate it more safely together.
A full panel discussion will be available directly after the screening to provide resources to support families.
No tickets are required, but please RSVP here to help us estimate attendance.
WSES Looking Ahead
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Wednesday, March 20th - Pastries and Q&A with Principal Taylor at 6:00 p.m. followed by PTA meeting at 7:00 p.m. (Library)
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Friday, March 22nd - WSES Fun Run Leprechaun Chase 5:00 p.m.
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Thursday, April 4th - Spirit Night, Foxes vs. Willows 6:00 p.m. (Centreville HS)
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Friday, April 5th - Student Holiday; No School
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Friday, April 5th - Kindergarten Orientation 10 a.m.
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Monday, April 15th through Friday, April 19th - Spring Break; No School
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Thursday, April 25th - AAP Parent Orientation 5 p.m.
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Friday, April 26th through Friday, May 3rd - WSES PTA Silent Auction
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Friday, May 10th - WSES World Festival
Spring Break, April 15-19, 2019; and the last day of school, June 13, 2019.
Visit the Willow Springs Elementary PTA website.
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