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September 9, 2021
 Thanks to super Willow dads, Jason Schneider and Joe Harvey, for helping install outdoor whiteboards in our outdoor learning spaces!
Dear WSES Families,
As we enter week three of the school year, we want to thank our students, staff, and families for working with us and remaining flexible as we ensure safety across all areas, both in and out of our building.
We are working extremely hard to make sure lunch is a safe time for students this year. At Willow Springs, we have expanded our cafeteria space to our outdoor areas and larger indoor spaces. In doing this, our students can practice social distancing while facing the same direction when eating. We are still looking for volunteers to assist in the cafeteria and are in the process of hiring monitors and cafeteria hostesses. If you are interested in volunteering this week, please click here to sign up. Please see below for information regarding monitors, hostesses, and additional opportunities at WSES.
Please make sure to check out the information below that includes important updates from our WSES PTA!
Sincerely,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
Important Health Updates
Safety is our number one priority, and as the number of cases increase around the county, we want to share some additional information about the COVID processes in place at WSES.
Keep your child home from school with any symptoms that are COVID-like.
The most important way you can help as a parent is to keep your child(ren) home if they present with any illness or symptoms that are associated with COVID, i.e., runny nose, coughing, headache, stomach ache. If you keep your child home, and they are feeling better the next day, then they do not need documentation from a medical provider to return. However, if your child comes to school and presents with symptoms, they will be placed in the Care Room and will be sent home. Your child must then be seen by a medical provider in order to return to school.
Parents, caregivers or guardians are strongly encouraged to monitor their children for symptoms of infectious illness every day through a home-based symptom screening and students who are sick should not come to school. Please consider the questions in the Health Screening Questionnaire each morning before sending your child to school. If you answer “YES” to any of the questions, please keep your child home.
Keep your child home if you suspect your child may have come in contact with someone who has COVID.
Please be overly cautious and keep your child home if you are awaiting COVID test results.
Communicate quickly with us.
As soon as you have information that your child has COVID or likely has it, please let us know. We only reveal the name of a student to the health department. The sooner we have information, the sooner we can alert the health department to begin the contact tracing.
Send your child to school with a properly fitted mask.
Aligned with guidance provided by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has established procedures for the use of face coverings/masks (cloth or disposable) for students, staff, and visitors designed to mitigate the spread of COVID. This document highlights the types of masks that are appropriate for students to wear to school.
What will happen if there is a student who tests positive for COVID in my child’s class?
If a student tests positive and was at school during the infectious period (within 48 hours of onset of symptoms), we will alert the entire school community. The school reviews seating assignments throughout the school day and identifies potential close contacts to the student who has tested positive for Covid-19. If your child is considered a potential close contact, we will notify you immediately. If your child is currently at school, we will ask you to come pick your child up from school.
What determines if a student is a potential close contact to a known positive case?
The following are examples of individuals who would be considered a potential close contact:
- Students wearing masks who were less than 3 feet from a student case for 15 minutes or more in a school day
- Students not wearing masks who were 6 feet or less from a student case for 15 minutes or more in a school day
- Students masked or unmasked who were within 6 feet or less of a staff case for 15 minutes or more in a school day
What happens if my child is determined to be a potential close contact by FCPS staff?
Out of an abundance of caution, any student who is identified as a potential close contact by FCPS staff will have to stay home from school until the Health Department completes its contact tracing and closes the investigation. We have been told that this could be up to 72 hours. While your child is at home, your child’s teachers will provide assignments for them to access. If your child does not have their computer at home, we will work with you to pick it up at school. Please note that FCPS staff can only identify potential close contacts; we are not identifying students who have to quarantine. Only the Health Department can determine if your child needs to quarantine through their contact tracing investigation.
Case Information
We cannot disclose details of the positive case to include the child's name, grade, class or any additional information; or the staff member's name or assignment. The health department will contact you directly and will direct the appropriate students to quarantine. The school will notify the entire community when the contact tracing is complete. Once the Health Department has completed their investigation, we will also invite any student who was staying home per FCPS staff direction and who has not been required to quarantine per the Health Department to return to school.
We recognize that the idea of your child being considered a potential close contact or having a classmate who tests positive for COVID can be upsetting. We also recognize that the current FCPS protocols will mean that families may be impacted unexpectedly because they have to be home with their child. Our hope is that sharing information about the current process will help alleviate some of the stress that is inherent in this situation. We also hope that if we all work together, we can minimize the number of positive cases at school, which will minimize the number of students who must remain at home.
Again, thank you for your support, flexibility and patience. We appreciate your partnership to help stop the spread of COVID.
Required: Beginning of the Year Forms
There are many tasks and forms for parents/guardians to complete at the beginning of the year. We have organized the forms into those required and those that are optional. Please click here to access this important information.
Please let us know if you have questions by calling 703-679-6000. Our wonderful front office staff will be happy to assist you with completing these beginning of year tasks if needed.
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Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener
This year K-12 students in FCPS will participate in a Social-Emotional Learning Screener. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions (CASEL, 2020). You can find more information about the screener and the importance of social-emotional learning here. This screener will be a useful tool for us here at Willow Springs to learn how to best support our students and school community. An email will be sent to families this week with more information.
If you choose to opt your child out of the SEL Screener, please return the opt-out form no later than October 8th. The form only needs to be returned if you DO NOT want your child to participate in the SEL screener. If applicable, please print and return to school or send via email to rjclaudio1@fcps.edu.
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Kicking off the Year with the Positivity Project!
WSES continues to be a partner school with the Positivity Project Movement for the 2021-2022 school year. The mission of the Positivity Project is to empower our students to build positive relationships –by understanding, appreciating, and living out 24 character strengths in us all. We will explore the 24 character strengths throughout the year, as well as learn more about the Other People Mindset. Each week we will highlight our P2 focus at school, so that you can also have conversations at home. The week of September 5-11 is the Other People Mindset Intro Week!
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” ~ Mother Theresa
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Dismissal Reminders
- Please remind your child how they are getting home each day.
- Please update you child's PickUp Patrol.
- Kiss and Ride Families - Please remain in your car. Staff members will use the card visible on your dashboard to call children outside.
- If you do not have a Kiss and Ride card, please contact the main office at (703) 679-6000.
- Walkers - All walkers will be dismissed through the gym. Please meet your child on the blacktop.
- Bus Families – As the county has communicated, bus transportation may be delayed. Please stay at the bus stop and wait for your students.
- Parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System to receive the delayed bus report.
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Cafeteria Hostess Needed
Please consider working in our cafeteria this year. We are short a cafeteria hostess so the extra hands would be helpful. No training required, we will give you a bucket with condiments, etc. to pass out as kids raise their hands for help. Monday-Friday, 10:30 - 1:30 p.m. If you're interested, please send your resume to Amanda McCabe at anmccabe@fcps.edu.
If you are interested in volunteering this week, please click here to sign up.
Hope to see you in the cafeteria!
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Now Hiring: Student Monitors and Substitutes
FCPS is seeking individuals to serve as student monitors!
Enjoy working with students? FCPS is seeking individuals to serve as student monitors. Student monitors provide supervision support in the classroom, lunchroom, and outside. If you're interested, please send your resume to Amanda McCabe at anmccabe@fcps.edu.
FCPS is seeking individuals to serve as substitute teachers!
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 to FCPS!
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Fantastic Schoology Sites for Families
The following links are provided to parents to ensure families have an understanding around Schoology and how to access students' assignments, grades, and more:
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News from the WSES PTA
The PTA is already planning a variety of activities for the fall. Please mark your calendars for the following events. Please click here to learn more about what our WSES PTA is doing, as well as our Funds for Foxes.
PTA Membership Drive
The PTA has started the fall membership drive and is encouraging all families to sign up. The PTA is an excellent way to support the students and teachers, which we do through a variety of activities including Staff Appreciation week, building upgrades, books and games to teachers, Read Across America activities, etc. Plus, the PTA has several specials for the summer and fall sign ups. Sign up by 9/30 to be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card. Sign up here.
Virtual Auction
The PTA has started planning for our virtual auction in November. We would like to reach out to the community for donations for the event. No donation is too small and all is greatly appreciated. Donations are tax deductible. Companies that donate will be featured on our Facebook page and in PTA newsletters. Please contact president@willowspringspta.net for more information.
Fall Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in participating more hands on with PTA? Whatever your passion and whatever your time availability, we have a place for you. Only with your support, the PTA can provide more opportunities for fun and learning for our children and maximize assistance to our teachers. Sign up here.
Back to School Movie Night
The PTA will be hosting a back to school movie night on 9/10. The fields will open at 6:00 p.m. There will some outdoor games available and some spirit items available for sale as well. The PTA will be serving pizza. Pizza preorders are being accepted and highly recommended PREORDER BY 9/3- cheese or pepperoni.
Know a student who needs volunteer hours? We NEED volunteers for the event- sign up here. Volunteer service hours credit will be given.
Fall PTA Meeting
The first fall PTA meeting will be on 9/8 at 7:00 p.m. in the Willow Springs Library. All are encouraged to attend. PTA is also looking for a special someone for the Vice President position. No experience necessary, contact president for more information.
Cub Scout Meeting
Interested in learning more about Cub Scouts? Pack 1858 is having the first fall meeting on 9/15 in the cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. Cub Scouts is open to all students from K-6 is a great way to learn outdoor skills, volunteerism and have fun with friends. Fall registration will be available. Contact pack1858@gmail.com for more information.
September Restaurant Night
The first restaurant night of the school year will be on 9/20 at On the Border at Fair Oaks Mall. Restaurant Nights are a great way to see your friends, make new ones, and take a break from making dinner. They are also a vital fundraiser for the PTA, helping to pay for a variety of events for the school, such as staff appreciation week and field trips. We can’t wait to see you there.
Glow Party
The PTA is planning the glow party for 10/22. Do you have supplies we could borrow or donations for the event? We are looking for black lights, decorations, neon poster board, neon duct tape, lava lamps, and anything that glows, like glow necklaces, glow bracelets, blinky rings, etc. Please contact president@willowspringspta.net if you can help.
Know a student who needs volunteer hours? We need volunteers, sign up here. Volunteer service hours credit will be given.
October Restaurant Night
In October, we’ll be hosting a restaurant night on 10/19 from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Fair Lakes Chick-Fil-A, 4516 Fair Knoll Dr. Fairfax, VA 22033. Back by popular demand, we’ll be having the 2021 Nugget Eating contest again. Show us that you can eat more chick’n!
November Restaurant Night
November is a good month for pizza. We’ll have a restaurant night with Fairfax Vocelli’s on 11/6 from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
3rd/4th Grade Math Club for Fall
Willow Springs will be having a Math Club for 3rd and 4th grade this fall. Please click the image to access information.
Virtual Math Club
Willow Springs PTA is sponsoring the Grade 5-6 Virtual Math Club for the fall/early winter. Our math club is an exciting and challenging way to promote critical-thinking and problem-solving skills in mathematics. The activities and problems of the Math Club are designed to meet students at the middle-school level, and to learn some mathematics that is beyond the standard curriculum to 5th and 6th graders. Registration will open in September and the link will be shared then. We will have a lottery among students who register, which may include consideration of a child’s Grade (5 or 6) at WSES. Due will be $15. Email questions to qingyinglu@gmail.com.
Farmer’s Market
Willow Springs will be hosting a weekly fall farmer's market starting 9/10. The students in the Garden Club/Farm to Table club will running the event in conjunction with Piney Meadow Farm. The money the students raise through the produce sales will go towards the Garden Club and STEAM activities. The market will be set up on the basketball blacktop from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Fridays. Parents are encouraged to park in the adjacent neighborhood and walk over to pick up produce. Produce will also be available on outdoor movie night.
Zumba
Zumba is returning. Zumba will be Fridays starting 9/24 until 12/10 (no class on 10/22, 10/29, 11/26).
These high energy, kid friendly classes are available to students in grades K-6. Registration is available at www.novakidsinmotion.com.
Harris Teeter Together in Education Sign Up
Super easy fundraising for PTA. Link your VIC card to our school today with code 6390. Link online, through the HT app or in store at checkout. We currently have 2 people signed up (one being me/PTA President.) Sign up out of town family or friends! PTA earned $40 last year from the program, hoping to earn more this year!
Coke Gives
Super easy fundraising! Send in your Coke lids, cardboard carton codes and plastic wrapper codes to school. PTA can earn up to .38 per item!
Stay Connected
Being connected to Willow Springs and FCPS is important every year, and even more so now as we navigate our return to school. The best way to stay informed is to sign up for newsletters through News You Choose.
WSES and FCPS have a variety of topics you can choose from, including:
- School Newsletters- featuring everything you need to know about your child’s school
- FCPS This Week- a weekly newsletter featuring news and happenings from across the division, published Wednesday mornings
- School Board Meeting Update- a recap of important news coming out of school board meetings, published the Friday morning after the meeting
- FCPS Employee News- weekly updates just for staff, published Tuesday mornings
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.
Looking Ahead at WSES |
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September 7 Rosh Hashanah Observance
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September 8 PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m. in the library (virtual link coming soon)
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September 16 Yom Kippur Observance
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September 10 PTA Outdoor Movie Night
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September 15 Cub Scout Meeting, 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria
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September 20 Fair Lakes on the Border Restaurant Night
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October 11 No School - Staff Professional Development Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day
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October 12 PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m. in the library
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October 19 Fair Lakes Chick fil a Restaurant Night, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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October 20 Cub Scout Meeting, 7:00 p.m. in the cafeteria
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October 22 Glow Party, 6:30 p.m. in the gym/cafeteria
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November 6 Fairfax Vocelli Restaurant Night, 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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November 9 PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m. in the library
2021-22 Standard School Year Calendar
Visit the Willow Springs Elementary PTA website.
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