 Note from Dr. Sheers
What a great start to the school year! Thank you to everyone for a great first week of school. The students and teachers were all ready and eager to start this week and we are looking forward to a fantastic school year! Today we kicked off the school year in a school wide Morning Meeting. Check out our social media accounts (Twitter and Facebook) for pictures and videos of our students learning our new school song! The Positivity Project empowers America's youth to build strong relationships by seeing the character strengths in themselves and others.
Our classroom teachers will be sharing our school focus at Back to School Night, but in the meantime, ask your student what Other People Matter mean to them. Wishing you and your family a great school year! Please don’t hesitate to contact me or Ms. Dews, Assistant Principal, if you have any questions or concerns.
News and Notes
Student Arrival
Starting Tuesday, we ask that all students walk to their classrooms independently. All students should report to the cafeteria if they are dropped off before 8:45 am. Students may not enter the school building before 8:35 a.m. and must do so through Door 1. Students are expected to be in their seats by 8:55 a.m. Our announcements begin at 8:55 a.m.
Parents are welcome to walk students into the front of the building, but we will ask that you stop and wave good bye at the office. Thank you for helping our students develop their independence and confidence by walking to the classroom without parental help. Staff will be available to assist if needed.
School Holidays
There is no school this Friday, August 30 and Monday, September 2, so enjoy the long weekend!
Preschool Welcome!
Tuesday, September 3, will be the first day for our preschoolers. Please be mindful when arriving late to school and do not park on the curb as our preschool bus arrives at 9:00. Additionally, our preschoolers dismiss later than our student dismissal, so please make sure you check in the office and get a visitor badge if visiting after K-6 school hours. Happy First Day Preschool!
Back to School Night
The format for our BTSN on Thursday, September 5 is the following:
5:45 – 6:15 PM Meet the Specialist (cafeteria) STEAM LAB, Art Room and Library open for visitors
6:20-7:00 PM Kindergarten – Sixth Grade (Repeating Session)
7:05- 7:45 PM Kindergarten – Sixth Grade (Repeating Session)
Please arrange for child care as this evening is for adults. Additionally, please be mindful when parking in our neighborhood and do not block private driveways, mailboxes and fire hydrants.
PTA Ice Cream Social
On Friday, September 6, the PTA will be hosting their annual FREE Ice Cream Social. It will be held on the blacktop outside of the school from 5-7 p.m. The membership committee will also be present and will have spirit wear available to purchase. We hope to see you there!
Sprit Days
At West Springfield, students are encouraged to wear GREEN on Monday’s to support Other People Matter and Spirit Wear/Blue and White the last Friday of the month.
Lockdown
In order to meet the requirements of the Amended Code of Virginia 22.1-137.2, lockdown drills must be conducted at least four times each school year. On Friday, September 6th at 10:00 a. m. and September 24th at 9:00 a.m.our students and staff will take part in the first two of the four annual “Lockdown Drills” for this school year. A real “lockdown” procedure is initiated in the rare event a high risk incident (involving weapons, stranger intrusion, etc.) occurs in the school, on school property or in the vicinity of the school that could endanger the safety of the students and staff. Future lockdown drills will be unannounced.
A lockdown requires that all students and staff remain in classrooms or other designated secure locations that are away from danger and that minimize access and visibility. During the drill, signs will be posted on the entrance doors indicating the school is in lockdown. No one will be allowed into the school at this time. Similar procedures would be followed in a real situation. Please take this into consideration if your child has an appointment scheduled for Friday morning on September 6th.
The safety of our students and staff at West Springfield is a top priority and the drill will help ensure that we are able to successfully manage crisis situations at the school. Please note that this drill is for practice purposes only.
Family Life Education Instructional Program Information
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms will be included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for Elementary (K-6) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.
Here Comes the Bus!
To help you know when your child’s bus is approaching your stop, FCPS is now using the Here Comes the Bus mobile app, starting on August 26. Here Comes the Bus is a free school bus tracking app that can simplify morning and afternoon routines for parents and students by giving real-time bus location and text or email notification alerts, helping everybody get to the bus stop on time.
Here Comes the Bus® uses FCPS global positioning system (GPS) data and an easy-to-use customizable map that works on one or multiple devices, such as a tablet, smartphone, or desktop computer.
Parents can download the app now for free from the App Store or Google Play. You will need the FCPS school district code 28982 and a Student Information System (SIS) Parent Account. Learn more about the Here Comes the Bus mobile app.
Staffing Update
We wish Mr. Chris Whitbourne, PE teacher, the very best as he has accepted a PE position at Lanier Middle School and Fairfax High School. Until we can fill the PE position, Ms. Deborah Phillips will be filling in as a long-term substitute. If you need to contact Ms. Phillips for any PE related question, please contact her at daphillips1@fcps.edu.
Did You Know?
The School Board has charged us with supporting the FCPS Strategic Plan goals focused around Student Success, Caring Culture, Premier Workforce, and Resource Stewardship. While the Board is responsible for establishing policy, we are responsible for turning that policy into action! Although this is only our fourth day of school, our classrooms are busy with productive activities and our students are already immersed in exciting learning opportunities. Important routines and procedures are being established and serious instruction is already occurring!
Save the Date
Friday, August 30 & Monday, September 2 Labor Day Holiday
Tuesday, September 3 PTA Meeting 9:00 a.m.
Thursday, September 5 Back to School Night
Friday, September 6 PTA Ice Cream Social
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