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January 15, 2021
Important Dates
As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 18, for the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, and Wednesday, January 20, for Inauguration Day.
Friday, January 22, is the last day of the second quarter and is a two-hour early release day.
Monday, January 25, is a teacher workday and a student holiday.
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Dear Willow Springs families,
As hard as it is to believe, our middle school transition meetings are already underway for our 6th graders! This week, Lanier, Rocky Run, and Frost Middle School welcomed our rising 7th graders to Curriculum Nights, while Liberty and Robinson are right around the corner on the 21st and 27th, respectively.
Fun and educational activities are abundant throughout our virtual classrooms, as are discussions about integrity, courage, and equality as we approach the poignant holiday celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.
Even during COVID-19, students find incredible ways to serve their communities either virtually or while practicing social distancing and following CDC guidelines. The upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday weekend is an excellent opportunity to connect students with impactful service opportunities while also teaching students about the life and legacy of Dr. King.
In partnership with FCPS and Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), Volunteer Fairfax will begin offering virtual, family-friendly service-learning activities on January 16.
To learn more about the MLK, Jr., Weekend of Service, and the specific service activities, visit Volunteer Fairfax’s website for more information.
Enjoy the long weekend, and remember to order from Panda Express all day today, to support our fantastic PTA.
Sincerley,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
Quick Links:
Order from Panda Express and Support WSES
Help the PTA make the first restaurant night of 2021 a success! Order from Panda Express all day, today, January 15th, and support the PTA. Order online at order.pandaexpress.com with promo code 320300. Order in person at 14220 Centreville Square, Centreville, VA 20122. Money raised helps fund events like Teacher Appreciation Week and online bingo night.
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WSES Follows 5 Key Mitigation Strategies
Last week, Dr. Brabrand informed staff and families that Return to School plans have been paused with further evaluation in the coming weeks. While there is disappointment that the metrics do not support in-person instruction, we continue to plan for the eventual return to school.
To ensure a healthy environment, we will follow five key mitigation strategies: masks, social distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, cleaning/disinfecting, and contact-tracing documentation. When students return to school in person, we will have safety videos and other training to emphasize our protocols.
Library Book Curbside Pickup
Our next curbside pickup will be on Monday, January 25th. Please have holds placed in Destiny Discover by Thursday, January 21st. Use the blue side when logging in. Emails will be sent out the Friday before curbside to sign up for a pickup time. Be sure to check your spam/junk folder. Email Amy Hurley at achurley@fcps.edu if you need assistance. We are happy to arrange other times to pick up books, as well as different ways to get library books to you.
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Common Sense Media
Are you looking for a way to talk to your children about what happened at the Capitol last week? Read this article titled “Talking to Kids About the Violence at the U.S. Capitol” from WideOpenSchool (powered by Common Sense Media) about how families can discuss events like this.
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Paperless Report Cards
Please help save trees and FCPS $$ on postage by opting in to receive “Paperless” Report Cards (that can be printed through ParentVUE)
- The “Go Paperless” option is now available to all Elementary Student parents to allow them to only receive online progress reports starting the first quarter of SY 20/21
- All parents and/or guardians who live with the student and share the same address need a SIS ParentVUE account and need to select the paperless option to prevent mailing of the printed progress reports
- The “Go Paperless” option will apply to all their associated students, no matter what school level
- If the associated parent and/or guardian has already selected “Go Paperless” for their secondary student, the option will now apply to any Elementary School siblings as well
- If you do not have an account, please request one by emailing Liz Flaherty
To take advantage of the paperless options, parents and/or guardians will need to log into ParentVUE, then go to “My Account” and select "Go Paperless"
SIS ParentVue link
Restart Your Laptop Daily
It is important to RESTART your FCPS laptop daily. If possible, go to an FCPS site once each week or every other week, log in and restart your laptop twice. Doing this at an FCPS location on the FCPS network allows your computer to get valuable and necessary updates. Most schools have internet reception in their parking lots which allows you to get these updates without leaving your car.
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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.
Classroom Monitors
FCPS schools and centers will be hiring classroom monitors to provide in-person classroom assistance for students when a staff member remains virtual. If you would like more information about the position, please review the job description and qualifications online and apply if interested. In addition, please email Amanda McCabe, Administrative Assistant, expressing your interest.
Please feel free to share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested.
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Call for Substitutes
Are you or somebody you know interested in substitute teaching with FCPS? Apply here or attend one of our Friday information sessions to learn more! To sign up for a session visit our substitute information page here.
Say Yes 2 FCPS!
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Positivity Project - PERSEVERANCE
Next week, WSES students will focus on perseverance. Perseverance is an individual's ability to spend long periods of time devoted to a single goal or set of goals. Those who persevere are able to set goals for themselves and then take active, calculated steps toward those goals. People demonstrating high levels of perseverance are able to handle significant, sometimes repeated, setbacks in pursuit of goals. Individuals with this strength might be described as hardworking, devoted, committed. They know if they work hard, and keep pushing when things seem difficult, they will succeed.
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2019-2020 Yearbooks for Sale
The PTA has last year’s yearbooks available for sale. If you missed out on ordering earlier this year, there are some still available. If you are interested, you can email president@willowspringspta.net or order online here.
2020-2021 Yearbooks
This school year is different than past school years and that has affected many different things, including yearbooks. There currently aren’t plans to have a yearbook for the school year. The PTA wants to gauge community interest for having a yearbook for this year. Are parents interested in organizing and purchasing a yearbook? There are other options potentially available as well, such as a Memory Book for a specific grade (e.g. 6th grade). PTA is looking for your input regarding this issue, either for or against it. Also, the PTA will need a coordinator and committee to do a yearbook or memory book, this is a great opportunity to be creative. Please email your yearbook thoughts to president@willowspringspta.net. If you are interested in volunteering to be on the committee, please email vpvolunteers@willowspringspta.net or president@willowspringspta.net.
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Willow Springs Yard Signs
The PTA is interested in designing two sets of yard signs, one for WSES students in grades K-5 and one for graduating 6th graders. The PTA President’s artistic abilities consist of stick figures, so we are looking for designs for the signs. If you or your student has a creative idea for signs, please reach out to president@willowspringspta.net. The goal is to have yard signs available for purchase in the spring with 6th grade graduation signs available for rent also.
Become a Girl Scout Daisy
Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Click the image to learn more.
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. Be sure to check it! 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.
Looking Ahead at WSES |
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January 15 - Restaurant Night, Panda Express, 10:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m., 14220 Centreville Square, Centreville, VA 20122
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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 21 - WSES Virtual PTA Meeting, 7 p.m.
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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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January 29 - Virtual Bingo
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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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