 Note from Dr. Sheers
Today, students participated in Chalk4Peace. Chalk4Peace is a worldwide event every September for artists to draw their vision of peace outside using sidewalk chalk. It started in Arlington, Virginia over ten years ago and now has countries around the world participating! WSES students drew their images of peace around our school. Check out their beautiful drawings during student dismissal and over the weekend!
Our next Principal's Cafe is Tuesday, October 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Topic: Math Instruction in Grades K-6
*Childcare will be available for students in grades K-6.
RSVP: We would like to personalize our conversations, so please complete the following information if you plan on attending: https://forms.gle/AceYsJUy7tUnPMGZ8
News and Notes
National Walk to School Day
National Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 2. West Springfield Elementary, along with many other schools in FCPS, will participate in International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 2, in an effort to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools. Students, parents and employees are encouraged to bike or walk to school and work on October 2.
Pyramid Challenge Pre-Registration Closes October 1
Online pre-registration for the West Springfield Pyramid Challenge race is now open through October 1! This FREE race will take place at Washington Irving Middle School on October 19 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. The local schools compete to see who can have the highest percentage of participants. Let's bring that trophy to WSES!! Additional information was in the Thursday folder this week. Register online at https://potomac.enmotive.com/events/register/2019-pyramid-challenge by October 1 to guarantee your FREE race t-shirt. Please contact the Pyramid Challenge WSES Coordinator, Abbey Petouvis, at abbey.browne@gmail.com with any questions.
FCPS Career Switcher Information Session – October 14, 2019
The Office of Talent Acquisition & Management (TAM) will host a Career Switcher Information Session at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center on Monday, October 14, 2019. This event will give military veterans, community members and anyone interested an opportunity to learn how to become a licensed Virginia teacher.
The information session will begin with presentations from the five approved Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) career switcher programs, Educate Virginia, Old Dominion University, Regent University, Shenandoah University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Troops to Teachers will also present their program offerings to our military veteran attendees. A panel of FCPS educators will share valuable information with attendees, followed by an opportunity to network with the six presenters, the FCPS licensure team and the substitute office.
6th grade parents/guardians
In November 2019 and January 2020, sixth-grade students at West Springfield Elementary School will receive two lessons on the topic of sexual harassment. These lessons seek to provide students with the necessary information, resources, and strategies to help prevent occurrences of sexual harassment as well as outline the steps to take if they feel they or their peers are targets of these behaviors. In addition, the lessons share how schools support targeted students so that they are able to continue to focus on learning in an environment that feels comfortable and secure. Parents/guardians may review the lessons through their ParentVue accounts, which may be activated at www.fcps.edu/it/MyParentAccount.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of the two sixth-grade lessons on the topic of sexual harassment. Letters and the opt-out form will go home on Thursday, September 26, 2019 that provide more information on how to opt your sixth-grade child out of the lessons about sexual harassment. If you do not receive the letter or opt-out form or have any additional questions, please contact West Springfield Elementary School at 703-912-4400.
Did you know anxiety disorders affect one in eight children? Want to learn what anxious students wish their parents and teachers knew? Learn how to help children manage their anxiety by coming to the Parent Night on Anxiety Awareness on November 13, 2019 at the West Springfield High School Auditorium. Doors open at 6:30pm with a free screening of the documentary ANGST at 7pm. An expert panel discussion follows the screening and information on school and community resources will also be available. The event is sponsored by local school counselors, school administrators, the FCPS Region 4 office and PTAs/PTSAs.
Save the Date
Tuesday, October 1 PTA General Meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the Library
Wednesday, October 2 National Walk to School Day
Monday, October 14 Columbus Day - No School for Students
Tuesday, October 15 Principal’s Café at 7:00 pm.
Saturday, October 19 WS Pyramid Challenge
Wednesday, November 13 Angst Parent Night – 7:00-8:30 pm.
As we begin 5th week of Spanish, there is some exciting new information to share. Have you ever wondered what your student is learning in Spanish or has your student come home and told you about a video they watched in class…you can now follow along with the curriculum and videos.
Using the link: https://westspringfieldes.fcps.edu/parent-handbook/fles you can follow along with the vocabulary and even watch the videos. The vocabulary lists will be updated quarterly (except for Grades K and 1), the YouTube video playlist will be added to on a quarterly basis.
Currently K are becoming scientist is the community. We are currently working on learning about our senses and shapes. We are having fun using the pumpkin for our circle shape and having fun chatting about everything Halloween!
Grade 1 is reviewing material from Kindergarten and beginning to incorporate new vocabulary. Our semester will culminate with a virtual trip to Argentina. We will plan what to pack for our trip to Argentina in December (yet it is the middle of summer in Argentina), so this gives us an opportunity to learn about seasons, numbers, weather and clothes.
Grade 2 is being tasked with designing a cooler. Our goal is to keep popsicles solid, so we will design a container that keeps our popsicles from melting (becoming liquid) and then evaporating (becoming gas).
Grade 3 is expanding upon previous learned material. We left off in second grade learning about the Monarch butterflies, this year we are tackling the ladybugs and learning about how they can help protect the ever-important milkweed plant from the aphid invasion that is currently taking place.
Grade 4 is beginning to navigate its way through the Virginia watersheds. We are learning about the rivers, lakes, bay and ocean. This unit will culminate with the students designing and building a water filter that can filter polluted water we may find in our rivers and lakes.
Grade 5 is learning about earthquakes and will learn about the design process necessary to construct a building that is earthquake proof. We will learn about buildings in our community and have an opportunity to learn about what makes a building earthquake proof. The unit will culminate with the students designing and constructing a building made of straws and tape that can withstand a 6.0 earthquake simulation.
Grade 6 is currently learning about planet placement in the solar system. We are getting a chance to discuss the solar system and other celestial bodies in the galaxy. This unit will culminate with a group project depicting the diameter of each planet and preparing a short paragraph describing their favorite planet.
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