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December 11, 2020
 Congratulations to Mrs. Berra, Mrs. Young, and our WSES Chorus for a beautiful performance in the Fairfax Pyramid Winter Chorus Concert! How many familiar faces can you spot in the virtual concert photo grid?
Dear Willow Springs families,
December means it's time for lots of holiday celebrations, and at Willow Springs, it also means winter concert season! The Fairfax Pyramid Winter Chorus Concert last night was spectacular. Our students are indeed a talented bunch, and we are fortunate to get to see their musical abilities grow throughout the year! A special thanks to their extraordinary teachers, Mrs. Berra and Mrs. Young.
This week we celebrated two initiatives that we're very proud of, Inclusive Schools and Computer Science. Both programs provided students with opportunities to engage in meaningful activities to help them grow while exposing them to ideas that foster learning in our classrooms.
It's also the time of year our sixth graders begin the middle school transition process with virtual school visits, counselors visiting us, and open houses in January and February for parents and students. This is an exciting milestone for our students, and their energy is palpable.
We are highlighting important dates from last night's school board meeting below and the impact on our WSES community.
After winter break, we will communicate with each family all relevant information related to in-person and virtual instruction and schedule parent information sessions.
Thank you to all of our families for the support you have provided our staff.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
Return to School Tentative Dates and New Bell Schedule
The information below is a draft plan, and we will keep you up to date on any changes.
Bell Schedule – starting 1/12/21, our bell schedule will change to a 10:05 a.m. start and 4:50 p.m. dismissal; this change is for all students and staff (in-person and virtual). This is due to social distancing on buses (1 student per seat; we usually have 2, sometimes 3 per seat).
Return Dates:
- Enhanced Autism classes will be virtual the week of 1/4-1/8; students will return 1/12
- Kindergarten - Students return 1/12
- 1st/2nd Grade - Students return 1/19; Asynchronous (teacher prep) Days - 1/4, 1/11, 1/14, 1/15
- 3rd/4th Grade - Students return 1/26; Asynchronous (teacher prep) Days - 1/4, 1/11, 1/19, 1/21
- 5th/6th Grade - Students return 2/2; Asynchronous (teacher prep) Days - 1/11, 1/28, 1/29, 2/1
Quick Links:
Mitigation Strategies at WSES
The five mitigation strategies are set forth in the Centers for Disease Control’s Indicators for Dynamic School Decision-making guide, and include proper use of masks or face coverings; social distancing; hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette; cleaning and disinfection; and contact tracing in collaboration with the health department.
More information on FCPS Safety Teams is available online
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Thank you Mrs. Berra and Mrs. Young! It's not often we can reach a broader audience outside of our close Fairfax community so it is a perfect year to "invite" friends and relatives far away to join in. Click here for the digital concert program if you want to follow along.
Grab a family picture of everyone enjoying the concert together and tag us at @WSESfox
Consider supporting The Fairfax High School Choral Department by purchasing a white house ornament or sharing this site with family and friends! They can be pre-ordered and paid for on their website http://www.fxchorus.org/ and then you can just drive up to pick up!
Thank you Ashley Shea, Badrinath Laxman, Benedict Thomas, Blake Larson, Carson Sampl, Colin Shultz, Collin Kiefaber, Derek Lee, Faith Choe, Grace Wiseman, Jacob Edessa, Kaitlyn Worley, Kaylee Yuen, Kenneth Kong, Leah Batts, Leah Kim, Leilani (Lani) Malpartida Rojas, Lindsay Batts, Mackenzie Williams, Nadine Omer, Parnika Urs, Philip Belcher, Sadie Quesenberry, and Yuree Kim for a beautiful performance. We are incredibly proud of your talent.
WSES Virtual Library Book Fair
Come check out our Willow Springs Book Fair, open until December 16th. All orders over $30 will ship directly to your home with free shipping. You can find new releases, games for the whole family, teacher wish lists, and more on our site. Enjoy great additions to your home library or purchase gifts for others while helping to raise money for our Willow Springs Library!
Don’t see what you are looking for? Contact Amy Hurley at achurley@fcps.edu for help.
Primary Book Flyer
Elementary Book Flyer
Our next library curbside pickup day will not be until January 11th. If you need library books before then, please email Amy Hurley at achurley@fcps.edu or Jean Naka at jmnaka@fcps.edu. We will still check out the library books and get them to you before Winter break.
WSES SCA #WillowPride Winter Spirit Week
December 14 - 18
Click here to download the flyer.
WSES Community Resources
Willow Springs aims to support students and their families throughout the school year. We are seeking family input to help us identify and support specific family needs. Our goal is to use the information to try and connect families with school and community resources. Please click on the following link to access our Family Needs Assessment form if applicable:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4AA5A62DAAFD0-community
If you are a Willow Springs family that would like to help some of our community members for the holidays by providing gift cards, please email one of the following staff members:
- Michael McRae, school social worker- MBMcRae@fcps.edu
- Tamela Shelton, school counselor- TMShelton@fcps.edu
- Amanda Seminario, school counselor- AASeminario@fcps.edu
Restart Your FCPS Issued Computer Daily
If you have an FCPS issued student computer, please be sure to restart your computer daily. If possible, go to an FCPS site once each week or every other week, log in and restart your computer twice. Doing this at an FCPS location on the FCPS network allows your computer to get valuable and necessary updates. Most high and middle schools (including WSES) have internet reception in their parking lots, which will enable you to get these updates without leaving your car.
This will ensure that updates are applied and will help with the speed of the computer. To restart your computer, click on the Start Button, click on the Power symbol, and choose Restart. Please DO NOT click on Shutdown; this will not restart the computer and apply updates.
Parent/Student Tech Support Portal
To support families who are working with their children during distance learning, Fairfax County Public Schools is launching a new Parent Technology Help Desk. The number is 1-833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS). It will be answered by staff 7 a.m.to 11 p.m., seven days a week. If the help desk is unable to solve the issue on the phone with the parent or guardian, they will enter a ticket on the parent’s behalf and the request for help will be transferred to the appropriate FCPS team.
Parents or guardians who need help in a language other than English should let help desk staff know, and a interpreter will join them on the line. (FCPS also has existing parent information phone lines, available in eight different languages, that can assist with general questions about FCPS.)
FCPS has also set up an online portal to allow older students and parents and guardians to request technology help directly.
Get more information about the new Parent Technology Help Desk.
Special Education Parent Newsletter
The Department of Special Services (DSS) publishes a regular electronic newsletter for parents of special education students to provide updated DSS information, tips and ideas to support you and your family during distance learning. The latest issue is available online.
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Positivity Project
Self-Control
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During the week of December 14-18, Willow Springs ES students will be focusing on the character strength of self-control.
Self-control means to have the ability to control your emotions and behaviors. You think before you act. Those with self-control might be described as disciplined, composed, cool, or poised. Self-control does not mean a lack of thoughts, feelings, or impulses; it just means you have command over them. Individuals with this strength are likely to know that their actions now will impact their success later. Others learn, the more we practice self-control, the better we get at it.
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"The first and best victory is to conquer self."
-Plato
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Looking Ahead at WSES |
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December 2 - December 16 - WSES Virtual Library Book Fair
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December 13 - Last day to submit entry for Gingerbread House Contest
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December 14 - Restaurant Night, Chipotle, 4-8 pm, 11939 Grand Commons Ave., Fairfax
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December 14 - December 18 WSES SCA #WillowPride Winter Spirit Week
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December 21 - January 01, 2021 Winter Break
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January 18 - Holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday)
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January 20- Holiday (Inauguration Day)
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January 22 - End of Second Quarter (2-hour Early Release)
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January 25 - Student Holiday (Teacher Workday)
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February 12 - Virtual Baking Class, Cookies for Kids, RSVP
2020-21 Standard School Year Calendar
Visit the Willow Springs Elementary PTA website.
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