 Students fifth grade completed an ancient civilization hands-on simulation in which students dug up artifacts that were previously 'archived' in our backyard.
Note from Dr. Sheers
Our Principal's Coffee: Plugged in Parents, was another highly attended meeting. I encourage you to review the resources, power point and links that Adam Rice, School-Based Technology Specialist, has pulled together to support you as you navigate technology with your children. For example, did you know FCPS provides discounts to software and computer purchases?
The presentation and resources from the Principal's Cafe: Plugged in Parents can be found here: https://sites.google.com/view/wsespluggedin/home
Next week, I will be traveling Tuesday and Wednesday and will be out of the office. Assistant Principal, Ms. Dews, will be available if you need any assistance during my absence.
Save the Date
Tuesday, December 10 Police Department Santa’s Ride @2:15 p.m.
Sunday, December 15 Barnes & Noble Event
Tuesday, December 17 WSES SCA Collection Ends
Friday, December 20 READ IN Day and Pajama Day
 Students have been learning the importance of #Otherpeoplematter through the Positivity Project throughout the school year. Inclusion Schools Week solidifies the importance that each person is important and should be valued. We celebrated how each of us are different this week and ended in a culminating activity called Walk in My Shoes. Ask your child about their experience this week. A big thank you to the PTA and Jennifer Kunkel, in helping organizing Walk in My Shoes.
- WSES Barnes and Noble Special Event
- Donations Requested
- WSES Welcomes Author Denise Lawson for Read in Day
- AAP Level IV Referral & Screening Parent Open House Information
- Read in Day
- AAP Level IV referral deadline
- Twice Exceptional Students – What Parents Need to Know
- Body Safety Program Information
Help raise money to increase the number of books in teacher’s classroom libraries!
When: Sunday, December 15
Time: Noon – 4 p.m.
Where: Barnes & Noble Springfield – 6646 Loisdale Road
Bring: Coupon Code
Details: Shop anytime noon - 4pm
2:00 - 2:30 Mighty the Mustang visits
2:30 - School Choir and Strings Perform
Teachers and staff will be visiting throughout afternoon, stop by!
Help us earn money back to our school and build teacher libraries.
CAN’T ATTEND OUR BOOKFAIR AT BARNES & NOBLE? Visit BN.COM/bookfairs to support us online on December 15 by entering Bookfair ID 12571816 at checkout
News and Notes
Donations Requested
The WSES Giving Tree supports deserving families in our immediate community. To meet the differing needs of each family, we will collect anything and everything your family is able to contribute. (Household goods, Clothing, Toys/Games, Diapers, Non-perishable food items, etc). Click here for ideas of what to donate
The collection will begin on December 2nd and end on December 17.
Fairfax County Police Department Santa's Ride supports children who are hospitalized over holidays by supplying toys and games to the child life activity rooms in local hospitals. This collection runs now thru December 10. Santa, his reindeer, and a team of elves will arrive with the police motorcade to collect donations and spread holiday cheer with the students at WSES. You can learn more about the program and the Fairfax County Police Santa’s Ride at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZRrYTpWPVc
WSES Welcomes Author Denise Lawson For Our First Read In Day On Friday, December 20th
WSES will have their first READ IN day of the year on Friday, December 20th. This will be an all-day event where students get the chance to read books with friends, teachers, parents and community members. Teachers will be putting out an online sign up for parents and community members to come in and read some of their favorite stories with our students. We will also be welcoming local author Denise Lawson of the Black Bear Series to WSES as our Read In Day guest of honor. You can order her books and bring them in on the morning of December 20th to be signed by Mrs. Lawson for you student. You can order from the following links or pick up a copy from our local Springfield Barnes & Noble store on December 15th and help us get money back for classroom libraries!
Amazon: Denise Lawson Author Page
Publisher’s Site: www.brownlowebooks.com
Barnes and Noble: Denise Lawson Author Page
Students are allowed to wear pajamas to school but please do not bring pillows, blankets or stuffed animals. Please keep an eye out for your classes sign up form and come and be a part of our READ IN Day!
Advanced Academic Level IV Referral and Screening Parent Open House: Monday, December 16th, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm, West Springfield Elementary Advanced Academic Learning Cottage: *For families of students in Grades 2-6 ONLY*
Mrs. Maggie Gawen, West Springfield Elementary Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, will be hosting a one-hour parent open house for those interested in referring their child for Level IV services. During this time, parents who are referring their child for FCPS’ Advanced Academic Level IV Services will have the opportunity to ask Mrs. Gawen questions and to bring in work samples for review. Please read the AAP presentations on our website before coming to the Open House so that you may come prepared with your referral and work samples. Level IV Referrals are DUE January 9th, 2020. Referral forms WILL NOT be accepted after this date. Please RSVP to this event by using the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E44ADAF28A75-west
Read in Day
WSES will have their first READ IN day of the year on Friday, December 20. This will be an all-day event where students get the chance to read books with friends, teachers, parents and community members. Teachers will be putting out an online sign up for parents, and community members to come in and read some of their favorite stories with our students. Students are allowed to wear pajamas to school, but please do not bring pillows, blankets, or stuffed animals, please look at your class’ sign up form and come and be part of our READ IN Day!
Full-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-8 (Level IV)
Level IV services are available for students found eligible through a central selection process. The program is available in Grades 3-8. Eligible students use curriculum from the AAP Curriculum Framework for Levels II-IV in the four academic subject areas on a full-time basis. Due to the volume of files screened centrally for Level IV services, deadlines are strictly held. The referral deadline is January 9th, 2020.
Twice Exceptional Students - What Parents Need to Know:
Twice-exceptional (2e) learners have exceptional strengths and exceptional learning challenges. Learn what FCPS is doing to provide schools and families with insight and guidance to support the identification, instruction, and social-emotional wellness of 2e students. Friday, December 13, 2019, 10 a.m.-noon. Learn more and register (free).
Body Safe Program
Please see the schedule below for the Body Safe Program in December. Opt out forms and information were sent home in the Thursday folder.
12/16/19 - Kindergarten 9:30 am - 11:30 am
2nd Grade 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
12/17/19 - 1st Grade 9:30 am - 11:30 am
3rd Grade 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
12/18/19 - K/1st/3rd Grade 9:15 am - 11:15 am
6th Grade 1:20 pm - 3:20 pm
12/19/19 - 4th Grade 9:30 am - 11:30 am
5th Grade 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
 Second quarter is underway and full of successes!!!
Kindergarten continues to work with colors and is excited to show off their Thanksgiving vocabulary. Feel free to ask them to show you a turkey and pie…pumpkin pie to be specific…which is full of fun words.
First grade continues to work with numbers 1-10. We are making sure we all understand/know the numbers well before moving on to create confidence moving into clothing and the number of specific clothing articles of clothing we will be packing in our suitcase for our virtual trip to Argentina coming up at the end of January.
Second grade had the chance to design, build and test out coolers…can you believe that a couple were so successful that they kept ice frozen overnight. How awesome!!! We will begin working with storms for this next unit and if you happen to have empty 16.9 ounce water bottles laying around please feel free to send them in for our end of unit project.
Third grade is in full swing of ladybug presentations. They have worked incredibly hard and their successes are evident in their work product. Look for their projects and presentations to come home soon.
Fourth grade created water filter for their end of the unit project, and we had some incredible results. Our objective was to design a water filter that was quick to set up and portable. They exceed expectations and had fun in the process watching the water filter out in front of their eyes.
Fifth grade designed and built three story buildings using straws, tape and 3 index cards. The objective is to have the building withstand a 6.0 earthquake on our in-class simulator. We are excited to see the results when we return from the Thanksgiving break.
Grade 6 has produced some impressive projects. They created visuals depicting the diameter of each planet. Their presentations were done all in Spanish and it was great hearing everyone in the group collaborate with each other. When we return from Thanksgiving break, kiddos will present the final step of the project…their favorite planet, in Spanish. The expectation was 5 sentences and over 90% of this group went above and beyond and created paragraphs consisting of 7-8 sentences in Spanish. So proud of this group!!!
Please be on the look out for the web site update for Quarter 2. The new vocabulary list will be up by the second week of December and the new YouTube play list will also be available.
|
