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December 18, 2020
Winter Break: December 21 - January 1, 2021
As a reminder, this year winter break starts on December 21 and ends on January 1, 2021. All students will resume classes virtually on Tuesday, January 5, 2021. Monday, January 4, 2021, is an asynchronous (independent) day.
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Dear Willow Springs families,
Winter break is here, and while this isn't the halfway point of the year, it is a significant milestone in the school year, and we all have a lot to be proud of thus far!
As we welcome 2021, take the time to think of your individual and family goals you have for the new year—model the goal-setting process with your children. Talk with them about the specific steps they need to reach a goal and identify what they will look like when they get there. This is a routine we practice at WSES known as SMARTR Goals and is a great life skill as we all work to improve ourselves every day.
We are so thankful for all of the support you have provided so far this year! Our partnership is essential to your child's success, and we look forward to growing it in 2021.
Please have a safe and enjoyable break, make lots of memories, and have a Happy New Year!
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 January 12, our bell schedule will change to a 9:45 a.m. start and 4:15 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:
- January 4: Asynchronous Day for All Students (Check with your teacher for attendance procedures.)
- January 4-8: Virtual Instruction for All Students
- January 12: Kindergarten and Enhanced Autism classes return
- 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:
Willow Springs ES' 2020-21 School-Based Outstanding Award Winners
Thank you again to everyone who participated in the FCPS Employee Honors nomination and voting process! It means a lot to our educators who give so much of themselves every day to have your support.
Congratulations to Outstanding Teacher: Alison Willison, Outstanding New Teacher: Annie Park, Outstanding Professional Employee: Sarah Lennon, and Outstanding Operational Employee: Karen Rice. They will now move on to the Pyramid level of the awards process.
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Take a look at the gingerbread house contest entries! Thank you to all those who entered. Please click here to see all the designs from kindergarten to 6th grade and cast your vote on your favorite gingerbread house. There will be a first, second, and third prize winner for grades K-3 and 4-6. Voting ends Friday, December 18th.
Fun Performance Collaboration between Fairfax HS and Woodson HS!
It’s finally here! 2020 has been the Grinchiest year EVER, so what better way to say farewell to this year than our men singing You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch! Please share far and wide – we all need a smile and a laugh. https://youtu.be/CYclw3rPATw
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America's Adopt a Solider: Send a Care Letter
America’s Adopt a Soldier® program celebrates the 10th year of its National Care Letter Campaign to honor deployed service members and veterans in state homes and hospitals. Writing letters of appreciation would be an excellent activity for students and families to engage during the winter break. Now more than ever, veterans in veterans’ homes and hospitals are feeling isolated. Many have no family or family nearby and eagerly await visits from volunteers. However, these visits have not been possible due to health and safety restrictions resulting from the pandemic.
Cards and letters will be accepted through Tuesday, December 29, and should be mailed to America’s Adopt a Soldier 5400 Shawnee Road, Suite 300 Alexandria, VA 22312.
For more information visit: www.americasadoptasoldier.org
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Library Book Curbside Pickup
Our next curbside pickup is Monday, January 11th. To select books, you have to place holds in Destiny Discover (log in using the blue side or click here to see directions for placing a hold) by Thursday, January 7th. Families should receive a generated email on the 8th to select a pickup time if the chosen books are available. Students in grades 3-6 receive the email in their school Gmail accounts, while lower grades will have the email sent to the enrolling parent. Be sure to check your junk mail for these email notices. Please email Amy Hurley at achurley@fcps.edu if we need to make other arrangements for you to receive the library books.
Please do not return library books over Winter Break! We will start accepting returns again on Monday, January 4th. There will be a bin outside by the front doors to drop off your library books.
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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.
Positivity Project
Self-Control
This week, WSES students focused on self-control. This is the act of managing behavior in a way that positively influences goal attainment and living up to standards. When talking about self-control with your child, it may be a good idea to discuss the fact that although there are many things we cannot control, we can control our reactions to events and the words of others.
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Looking Ahead at WSES |
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December 18 - Gingerbread House Contest Voting
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December 21 - January 01, 2021 Winter Break: WSES office hours 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. on non holidays.
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January 12 - Begin WSES new Bell Schedule (9:45 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.)
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January 18 - Holiday (Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday) School and offices closed.
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January 20- Holiday (Inauguration Day) Schools and offices closed.
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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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