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October 9, 2020
 Students in Ms. Martin's 4th-grade class created 3-D maps representing the Five Geographic Regions of Virginia.
Dear Willow Springs families,
Thank you to everyone that ordered Panera for our Family Restaurant Night. It was a fantastic turnout and great to see so many smiling faces at curbside to go. We are thankful to our families and dedicated PTA for helping us continue to build relationships with families and strengthen our community.
This week our AAP information session was facilitated by Sandy Guidice-Murray, our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher. She provided information and resources about the continuum of services proudly offered at Willow Springs. Please see below for more information and upcoming dates.
First-quarter grading ends on October 30th. Students will not receive an interim report; all parents will have an opportunity to have a conference with their child’s teacher. If you have not already set up your conference time, please contact your child’s teacher.
In honor of Indigenous People’s Day, students will have a four day week as this Monday, October 12th, is a staff development day for FCPS and a student holiday for students. We look forward to engaging in professional development and ensuring that we continue to provide meaningful and rigorous instruction.
Be sure to follow us on twitter @WSESfox.
Enjoy your long weekend,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
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Student Holiday on Monday, October 12, for School Planning Day |
As a reminder, Monday, October 12, is a school planning day and a student holiday. Teachers will participate in a variety of professional development and planning activities and will not be available for office hours. Students are not expected to complete asynchronous assignments on this student holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, October 13.
See the complete 2020-21 school year calendar
Important Action Items for All
Family Resources
Curbside Library Book Pickup
Our next library curbside pickup is on Monday, October 19th. All holds (up to 5) for this curbside pickup should be placed by Thursday, October 15th. A how-to video is also available on your child’s Library Landing Page (in your child’s Google Classroom) or can be seen by clicking here. Email notices are sent out to students’ fcpsschools.net accounts (Grades 3-6) or sent out to parents (Grades K-2) on the Friday before the event, at which point the family will sign up for a time slot to pick up books. The library is happy to make other arrangements if the date/time does not work for your family. We will get the books to whoever needs them! All books can be returned at the families’ convenience by dropping them in the library return bin at the front of the school. All returned books will be quarantined for 7 days before the materials will be handled. Please email Amy Hurley (achurley@fcps.edu) or Jean Naka (jmnaka@fcps.edu) if you have any questions.
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Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP)
The Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) provides actionable information that will assist teachers, leaders, and parents/guardians in supporting student success in school and to better understand school readiness skills across the state of Virginia. This fall your student will participate in the Child Behavior Rating Scale (CBRS) component of the Virginia Kindergarten readiness program. The CBRS rating scale is used for both self-regulation and social skills and is completed after 3-4 weeks of observation. More information about the assessment can be found on the FCPS Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program Parent Notification webpage.
For questions, please contact your child’s teacher.
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Student Art Supplies
Our student art supplies are still available for pick up. It is important to retrieve these supplies as our art teachers' lessons will include these materials.
Please visit the school anytime between 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. to retrieve your family's supplies. Our front office staff will be happy to assist you.
Please contact Ms. Heslep and Ms. Holland with any questions.
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Important AAP Information
Join us on Monday, November 9 at 4:00 PM for a Virtual Parent Question and Answer Session about Level IV Screening and Identification, for grades 2-6th. This is an additional support session for parents who are planning to refer for level IV AAP and have questions or need clarification about the level IV process (i.e. screening file, referral, optional materials, etc).
October 8th is the Fall Referral Deadline - Level IV Referrals are due for students NEW to Fairfax County boundaries as of January 1, 2020 who did not have the opportunity to be screened last spring.
December 1st is the Level IV AAP Referral Deadline. No referrals will be accepted after this date.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Murray, AART
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WSES Equity Audit
Willow Springs needs your input! This Equity Audit will assist in determining entry points and planning action steps for Equity work at Willow Springs. Please complete by October 16.
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Student Rights & Responsibilities Acknowledgement Form
Parents and guardians, please review the Student Rights and Responsibilities and related resources at www.fcps.edu/srr. After reviewing the information, fill out the SR&R Parent Acknowledgement Form using this link we have provided. The form must be filled out one time per student.
WSES Administrators and grade level teachers will be conducting SR&R lessons over the next few weeks to ensure students understand their rights and responsibilities at WSES and within FCPS.
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The Positivity Project
#PositivityInAction
Please click here to visit the Positivity Project website and learn more.
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On Tuesday, we'll begin learning about the Other People Mindset (OPM) element of being present and giving others our attention.
This OPM element means that when I’m with other people, I’m present and give them my full attention. A deliberate focus on being present is so important today due to the increasing number of distractions vying for our time and attention. Phone calls, text messages, emails, social media notifications all have the formidable capacity to pull us away from the present moment and what’s most important – our relationships with other people. How dangerous is this to our well-being and the fabric of our society? Very.
So, why does this matter? Just like plants need sunlight to grow, our relationships need attention. The research is crystal clear, relationships are the cornerstone of health, happiness, and resilience. And, if we don’t give our attention to the people we’re building relationships with – whether family members, close friends, or even distant colleagues – we can’t build those relationships.
On a group level, it’s vitally important that we pick our heads up from our cell phones and truly listen to other people when they’re talking. A positive culture is built with positive relationships – and we can’t build positive relationships without attention. So, the answer is clear: we need to pay attention to people in our lives. That’s going to be good for individuals, small groups, and large societies.
Library Equity Access Pass Information
October 1st marks the start of our Library Equity Access Pass program. The LEAP program provides every FCPS student with access to book checkout at any Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) branch. Click here for more information.
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Printing at Home with FCPS Laptop
If you would like to be able to use your home wifi printer with your student’s FCPS laptop, check out this video for instructions on how to do so. Watch the video.
Virtual Learning Playlist
The virtual learning playlist includes several videos about digital citizenship, technology tips, and how to keep your FCPS laptop and other features ready for student success. Go to the virtual learning playlist.
 We need our Fox Families to join the Willow Springs PTA!
Our WSES PTA is where teachers and families work together to create an environment providing best experiences for all of our children. This is a way of "meeting" other families and community members in this virtual start of school and provide avenues to volunteer for our school.
You can click here to go directly to our updated WSES PTA website. Here you will find a link to our member hub at the top of the page. We have parent/guardian, teacher, and student memberships available, so please join us! We hope you will join us at our next virtual PTA meeting on 10/21!
Stay Connected
Our new and improved website has launched, find us at www.willowspringspta.net. Here you can access important information on memberships, upcoming events and activities and volunteer opportunities. Also, for the latest and greatest, up to date information find us on Facebook. Be sure to “like” the Willow Springs Elementary PTA page and follow us.
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Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Do you have a perfect princess pumpkin or a ghoulishly delightful pumpkin? Share your pumpkin creation with the school at our PTA virtual pumpkin decorating contest. Upload a photo to https://willowspringspta.net/pumpkin-contest-submission-form/ by 10/23 and come back on 10/26 to vote for your favorite in groups K-3, 4-6, and Teachers. The pumpkins with the most votes on 10/30 will receive a frightfully awesome prize.
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Little Caesars
Pizza! Pizza! Help support the PTA and get your fill of Crazy Bread with the Willow Springs Little Caesars pizza kit fundraiser, featuring your favorites like Crazy Bread and also various pizza kits and cookies. Money raised will go to help pay for things like upgrading the water fountain to add a bottle filling station. Order online at www.pizzakit.com with code 386390 by 10/26. We encourage you to make and share your pizza creations on 11/15 at the PTA virtual movie night.
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Interested in Joining the Math Club?
Click the image below to learn more.
Save the Date: Cozymeal Online Cooking Class: Cookies for Kids
Discover the joy of baking as your kids learn how to make comforting homemade cookies. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, PTA is excited to host its’ first online cooking class fundraiser with Cozymeal.
In this fun and interactive baking class, kids will learn how to make their very own cookies. Chef Angela will share two simple and straightforward recipes that kids can prepare while parents assist with the oven. Little bakers will gain confidence in the kitchen and discover how baking cookies can bring just as much pleasure as eating them!
The class is scheduled for Friday, February 12th, 2021. Early bird registration starts 10/9 at https://www.cozymeal.com/online-cooking-class/14378/willow-springs-fundraising-cookies-for-kids. Be sure to mark your calendars (and save a cookie for the PTA)!
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Looking Ahead at WSES |
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Monday, October 12 Indigenous People's Day - Student Holiday
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Wednesday, October 21 PTA Meeting
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Friday, October 23 Last Day to Enter PTA Pumpkin Decorating Contest
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Monday, October 26 Begin Voting for PTA Pumpkin Decorating Contest and Last Day to Order Little Caesar's Pizza Kits
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Friday, October 30 End of First Quarter - 2-hour Early Release
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Monday & Tuesday, November 2 & 3 Student Holidays
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Thursday, November 5 Virtual Overview of AAP and Level IV Screening
2020-21 Standard School Year Calendar
Visit the Willow Springs Elementary PTA website.
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