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May 3, 2021
Sixth graders, Colin and Blake, proudly raise our WSES flags.
Dear Willow Springs families,
In May, people all over the United States celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We recognize and believe that students deserve meaningful, sustained opportunities to learn about the diverse perspectives, experiences, and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders year-round. In reflecting on recent events, we want to remind you of our commitment to providing our community learning opportunities and encourage everyone to take a stand and take action against racism and hate. We also want to highlight that Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is one opportunity to honor such vital stories of the AAPI community and culture. Our teachers and staff have resources to support and engage in meaningful instruction and conversation with students and adults.
This week (May 3-7), we will celebrate Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week. We want to express our sincere appreciation for all the hard-working educators and staff we have here at Willow Springs Elementary School. Our students are fortunate to have such an outstanding team of caring individuals working on their behalf throughout the year.
On Wednesday, May 5, there will be a lot of action here at Willow Springs. The day starts with Ride Your Bike to School Day, which is always a great way to get moving first thing in the morning. Remember…safety first! Parents, please ensure that if your child participates, they have masks, helmets and know how to safely navigate their way to and from school using the path.
As the school year rolls on, we find ourselves entering the beautiful month of May. This is the time of year when flowers are in bloom, the temperatures start to rise, and we here at Willow Springs begin to prepare for SOL testing. Please find our spring testing schedule below and check your email for detailed information, including transportation and lunch requests.
Thanks for your support,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
FCPS Cares
Congratulations to Haemin Shin, who was recognized in the April 5th FCPS Cares. The entry reads, "Mrs. Shin goes above and beyond to make sure all the remote work is set up for them to do autonomously at home and at school, which requires her to do so much prep work ahead of time for their classwork. She always remains so enthusiastic during class but helps them learn for themselves. She is amazing!" - a Willow Springs ES parent
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Make an FCPS CARES Nomination
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story below so that we can acknowledge the excellent work of the Willow Springs ES staff.
Please take note of the following before submitting an FCPS CARES
- All submissions are posted to the public FCPS CARES web page and shared via other FCPS news outlets.
- Submissions containing personal or sensitive information may be edited.
- With the submission text included, a notification email will be sent to the recipient and copied to his or her supervisor(s).
Submit Here
Staff Appreciation Week May 3rd-7th
The PTA will be celebrating Staff Appreciation Week from May 3rd-7th. The PTA has been planning and preparing some special treats to show the staff some love. We would love your families to participate as well. The PTA asks families to recognize their teacher and some of the other staff, who work so hard to make the school a success. In the meantime, check out some of the staff's favorite things here- https://willowspringspta.net/our-favorite-things/. The PTA would like families to keep in mind the bus drivers who have been working throughout this year and consider honoring them. Follow us on Facebook, where we'll be posting pictures of our activities throughout the week.
Help with Staff Lunch on May 4
The PTA has some exciting news! Thanks to the generosity of one of the Willow Springs parents, there will be a special staff lunch for Staff Appreciation Week! On Tuesday, the staff will enjoy tasty grilled cheese sandwiches from The Big Cheese food truck. To help with costs, the PTA would like to ask for your help. Would you be willing to donate drinks or packaged snacks for lunch? If you think you would like to help, please drop off any donations to 13206 Kilby Landing Ct, Clifton, or stop by the school before noon on Tuesday for a drop-off. We are also looking for volunteers to assist with setup on Tuesday. A huge thank you to April Leach for making this happen and helping to honor our staff!
2020-2021 WSES Yearbook
The WSES 2020-2021 yearbook is scheduled to arrive Wednesday, June 9, in your child's classroom!
If you missed your chance, sign in to My School Bucks and secure your copy today! We have less than 30 left! Don't wait; order now! Detailed directions are linked here.
Willow Springs Class Assignment Family Input for 2021-2022
The school year 2021-2022 planning has begun! To assist in this process, we would like to invite you to provide some information about your child.
Your child's current and upcoming classroom teachers work together with specialists and the grade-level team to prepare class assignments for the next school year. They will review this form and consider the information relevant to the class assignment. Willow Springs has an incredible staff! Please do not request a specific teacher. Please submit the form by May 5!
SOL Testing Schedule
The Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests are required of all students in Grades 3-8 across the state by the Virginia Department of Education. SOL tests measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills specified in the Virginia SOLs.
Virtual Learners - 9:30 a.m. arrival to WSES
Grades 3-6 Reading: Monday, May 10
Grade 5 Science: Monday, May 17
Grades 3-6 Math: Monday, May 24
3RD GRADE (In-person learners)
Reading: May 11
Math: May 25
4TH GRADE (In-person learners)
Reading: May 12
Math: May 26
5TH GRADE (In-person learners)
Reading: May 11
Science: May 19
Math: May 25
6TH GRADE (In-person learners)
Reading: May 12
Math: May 26
What Students Should Bring on Exam Day
- FCPS issued device
- Students should bring their own materials (mask, hand sanitizer, and pencils)
- Masks are required to be worn at all times.
Students are permitted to bring the following materials and will be inspected prior to the start of the exam:
- Wired headphones/earbuds (audio accommodations only)
- Food/water - May be taken into the exam room but must remain underneath the desk while the exam is underway and may be accessed only during breaks, unless a specific accommodation allows otherwise
Prohibited Materials
Students are prohibited to use the following materials in the exam room and during breaks:
- Use of electronic devices is prohibited from the time the student is admitted to the exam room until they are dismissed at the end of the exam, including break times.
- Students may not handle or access a cell phone or electronic device at any time in the exam room or during break times. This includes smart watches, fitness bands, and any other devices with recording, internet, or communication capabilities.
- All devices, including cell phones and wearable devices, must be turned off and placed out of sight.
- Bluetooth devices (including headphones) are not permitted.
2021-22 Kindergarten and New Student Registration
We're SO excited to welcome our newest Foxes to Willow Springs Elementary School! Are you looking to register a new student with us? Begin the new student registration process!
Registration is now open for rising kindergarteners five years old on or before September 30, 2021, and students in all other grades.
To join us, visit the Willow Springs Website to see the forms and documents necessary for registration. Liz Flaherty, our school registrar, will contact you with the registration process after completing the new student registration form.
Student registrations directly impact teacher staffing, so the sooner registrations occur, the better able we are to staff accordingly. Please call 703-679-6071 or email Liz Flaherty with any questions.
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Positivity Project
P2 Character Trait - Leadership
Leadership means that you value each member of your group and inspire people to do their best. This character strength's focus is on the personal qualities of leaders rather than the practice of leadership. These qualities include the ability to understand others and inspire them toward a common goal, the capacity to mitigate conflict and mold consensus, and the desire to lead other people. Click here to view the Leadership Character Card.
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WSES Virtual PTA Meeting!
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Please join us here on Wednesday, May 19th, for our virtual PTA membership meeting.
- The WSES PTA meeting is a membership organization open to ALL WSES families and staff.
- We meet once a month to learn about what is happening at WSES, determine projects to implement, discuss opportunities, and work together on programs and activities that support our children's educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement.
May PTA Meeting
Find out the latest surrounding our in-person learners, concurrent instruction, building improvements, upcoming student activities, and teacher support at the May PTA meeting. Please click here to virtually join the WSES PTA meeting on May 19th, 7–8 p.m. Information about past meetings is available on the PTA website at PTA Docs.
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PTA Board Elections
We will hold the WSES PTA Board election vote at the June PTA meeting. In the meantime, the PTA must form a three-member committee to nominate people for the Board for 2021-2022. This is an excellent opportunity to help support the local community and shape the direction of the PTA. The election committee will help identify people to help fill PTA Executive Board positions for next year. As of now, we have one position to fill. If you are interested in serving as Vice President, please contact president@willowspringspta.net. There are still positions available on the nominating committee.
PTA Audit Committee Members Needed
The PTA is looking for three PTA members to assist with the end of the year audit. This is a short documentation review process and will be a low time commitment. If you are interested, please contact president@willowspringspta.net.
PTA Virtual Trivia Night
The PTA will be sponsoring a *FREE* Virtual Trivia Night on May 20th from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm. Test your knowledge against your peers in this fun, interactive event. Zoom link to come soon. Hope to see you there!
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Fall Volunteer Opportunities- We Need You!
Are you interested in participating more hands-on with PTA? The PTA is already planning for activities in the fall, and there is room for you! Whatever your passion and whatever your time availability, we have a place for you.
Help enrich your child’s elementary experience and meet new parents along the way. Some possibilities include glow party committee, game night committee, fundraising, book fair committee, staff appreciation, community relations, fun run committee, movie night committee, membership support, club support, spirit nights, and Watch Dogs. With your help, the PTA can provide more opportunities for fun and learning for our children and maximize assistance to our teachers. Contact president@willowspringspta.net for more information. Sign up now!
Box Tops for Education
Now that students are returning to school, the PTA resumes collecting Box Tops for Education. Please bring in any Box Tops or recent receipts you’ve collected over the pandemic and give them to your teacher. You could also download the app and scan your receipt, and the school will automatically be credited. The PTA has raised almost $200 so far through Box Tops, which we can use to fund things like virtual trivia night.
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Amazon Smile
Did you know that shopping through Amazon Smile is the easiest way to support the PTA? The prices are the same, but the PTA receives a percent of the total order. The money the PTA raises goes right back into the school to help with things like new water fountains and staff appreciation week, and virtual game nights.
Shop at Harris Teeter, Earn Donations for Willow Springs
When you shop Harris Teeter brands, a percentage of your purchase is donated to the school that your VIC card is linked to. There are no limits to how much we can earn! Link or Re-Link your VIC card for 2020-2021 today! The Willow Spring PTA code is 6390.
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Stay Connected
Want to learn the latest about PTA up to the minute? The Willow Springs PTA Facebook is an excellent resource for learning about the Willow Springs community and hearing about other fun (mainly free) kid-centric ideas for activities around town. Recent posts include:
- Updates for PTA and school events.
- Postings on free cultural art activities at George Mason.
Visit our WSES PTA website and 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.
WSES Follows 5 Key Mitigation Strategies
To ensure a healthy environment, we follow five key mitigation strategies: masks, social distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene, cleaning/disinfecting, and contact-tracing documentation. Before students return to in-person learning, please watch the safety videos to emphasize our protocols.
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.
June 8th, Synchronous Learning Day
Tuesday, June 8, is the Democratic Primary Election. Because the Fairfax County Electoral Board and City of Fairfax Electoral Board will be using 165 school facilities as polling locations (including Willow Springs ES), June 8 will be a virtual synchronous learning day (no in-person classes) for students.
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Looking Ahead at WSES |
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May 3 - May 8 - Staff Appreciation Week
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Wednesday, May 5 - Class Assignment Family Input Due
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Wednesday, May 5 - Bike to School Day
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Wednesday, May 5 - Transportation Requests Due for Virtual Learners taking SOLs In-person on Mondays. (9:30 a.m. WSES arrival and noon pick up)
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Monday, May 10 - Virtual Learners Grades 3-6 Reading SOL
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Tuesday, May 11 - In Person Learners Grades 3 & 5 Reading SOL
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Wednesday, May 12 - In Person Learners Grades 4 & 6 Reading SOL
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Wednesday, May 19 - WSES Virtual PTA Meeting, 7 p.m.
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Thursday, May 20 - PTA Virtual Trivia Night, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
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Monday, May 31 - Memorial Day; Student Holiday
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Tuesday, June 8 - Democratic Primary Election; Virtual Synchronous Learning Day (no in-person classes) for students.
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Friday, June 11 - Last Day of School; Early Release
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Monday, August 23 - First Day of School 2021-2022
2020-21 Standard School Year Calendar
Visit the Willow Springs Elementary PTA website.
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