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December 3, 2021
 WSES students and staff joined together with the George Mason Softball team and the GMU Mascot to kick off this special adopt-a-school partnership!
Willow Springs families,
We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family! This week was full of connections, celebrations, and proud moments for our Willow Family.
Our Foxes kicked off the week by welcoming the George Mason Softball Team and the GMU Mascot to our school. Students and staff had the opportunity to meet the players and coaches, ask questions, and share connections during their visit. Questions ranged from "Why do you play softball?" to "How do you balance playing softball with your academics?" We are excited for this partnership throughout the 2021-2022 school year and the 2022-2023 school year.
We have had numerous opportunities to celebrate our students' positive behaviors this week. We have given shout-outs over the PA system, posted classroom selfies on the morning news show, and we even have some classes who have signed our WSES Book of Honor. We are proud of our students as they continue to model EARS (Empathy, Accountability, Respect, and Safety) throughout the building.
Lastly, please remain vigilant with preventative COVID practices as we head into the last three weeks before Winter Break. Please keep your children home when they are not feeling well, as this will help keep our students coming to school and remaining healthy. Thank you for doing your part on behalf of our staff and all of our WSES families.
Sincerely,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
FCPS Awards Ballot and Voting is Happening Now Through December 10th
Thank you everyone who participated in the nomination process. Now it is time to vote! The categories are as follows:
- Outstanding Teacher
- Outstanding New Teacher
- Outstanding Operational Employee
Voting ends Friday, December 10th @ 4:00 pm. Please click the link below to vote!
WILLOW SPRINGS FCPS AWARDS BALLOT
Important Voting Rules/Reminders:
- Please only vote once.
- This voting link is for WSES community members and staff only. Please do not share this link with family members, friends, or on social media.
Congratulations to Tamela Shelton, our school winner for Outstanding Professional Employee! She will now move on to the Pyramid level of the awards process.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Krystal Styles, the Willow Springs Award Liaison at krstyles@fcps.edu.
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Virtual Family Life Education (FLE) Parent Preview Night
Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. Students in Kindergarten through grade three receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit.
Students in grades 4-6 receive instruction in a human growth and development unit and an emotional and social health unit. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle.
In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in multiple locations.
- Online in Schoology - includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights Any additional media or book titles that are not streamed are available at your child’s school library.
- Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.
- Your child’s Please contact the school to schedule a time to review lessons and/or media.
- City of Fairfax Regional Library – lessons only. Media is not available.
You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held virtually on Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. Please click here to access the link. All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out the form provided to you in your child’s orientation packet at the beginning of the school year or you may access the opt out forms online at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle. If you have already indicated your desire to opt your child out of FLE lessons by using the form provided earlier in the school year, you do not need to complete another form. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify your child’s school principal in writing before instruction begins.
An alternative non-FLE health instructional program is provided for children who do not take part in FLE instruction, and every effort is made to foster understanding and respect for family choices and to avoid peer pressure for or against participation in the program.
Instruction of the instructional units occurs at various times during the school year. Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction. We look forward to working as your partner in providing information that will help your child make healthy choices related to the exciting changes and new challenges he/she will be facing in the next few years.
George Mason University - Super Reader
 George Mason and Virginia529 are combining forces to encourage kids to read! When kids read two books, they earn a ticket to a George Mason men's basketball game vs. Old Dominion on Saturday, December 4th at 7:00pm and/or vs. Massachusetts on Saturday, March 5th at 4:00pm, a super reader certificate, and an exclusive George Mason Super Reader giveaway!
Reading can be as much fun as hitting the game-winning shot at the buzzer, so give it your best shot! Click here or on the image above to learn more.
Get Ready for Our Spirit Week!
December 13 -17
Window for AAP Level IV (full-time) Referrals to Close December 15, 2021
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time advanced academic programs (level IV AAP services) may submit the AAP Level IV Referral Form to Diane Choi no later than December 15.
The window to submit an AAP Level IV Referral Form is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for full-time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Level IV services can be accepted.
Submitting a referral form for AAP Level IV will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of professionals from various schools review materials to determine eligibility for level IV placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they are submitted to the central selection committee by emailing Diane Choi. Referrals for AAP Levels II-III (part-time services) are screened at the local school.
For more information, there are parent presentations available on the FCPS AAP website (under “Presentations”) that contain information similar to our fall parent information meetings at Willow Springs Elementary.
Positivity Project Corner
 For the week of December 5th - 11th, we will be focusing on the Other People Mindset of Knowing That My Words and Actions Affect Others. Everything that you say and do can affect others -- and your relationships with them.
Everything we do, say, text, tweet, snap, or post can positively or negatively impact other people. Our words and our actions are our choices to make, but they can have ripple effects long after we make them. Words and actions have the power to lift others up or tear them down, but, our words and actions also impact ourselves. When a group is comprised of individuals who are thoughtful about their words and actions -- individuals who show respect and consideration for the people around them -- we’re likely to have a happier and healthier culture.
Cafeteria Volunteers Needed
 Please consider volunteering in our cafeteria this week. No training required, we will give you a bucket with condiments, etc. to pass out as kids raise their hands for help. If you're interested in a paid position, please send your resume to Amanda McCabe at anmccabe@fcps.edu.
If you are interested in volunteering this week, please click here or use the QR code above to sign up. Hope to see you in the cafeteria!
COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Now Available
Starting this week, students may obtain COVID-19 diagnostic testing at six drive-through sites in Fairfax County. Diagnostic testing is provided for anyone who has symptoms or is identified as a close contact of someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
COVID-19 testing helps us reduce the virus’ spread and keep our schools safe places for all students to learn. We encourage you to utilize our new diagnostic testing services as needed.
Appointments are not required for diagnostic testing but families must register in the secure online portal. When you register and provide consent for your child to be tested, they will also be added to Willow Springs' screening testing pool. If you do not wish for them to be part of the weekly screening testing pool, simply log back into the online portal after your child’s test is complete and withdraw consent.
More information about diagnostic and screening testing, including site locations and schedules, is available on our website.
VaxUP FCPS!
More than 33% of children ages 5-11 in Fairfax County have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. There are school-located vaccine clinics for children ages 5-11 every day next week and two on Saturday, December 11. Find out where the next pop-up clinic will be or look for other local vaccination opportunities on the health department’s website.
Children do not need to be an FCPS student to attend the school-located clinics. Vaccines will not be available for those 12 years and older. Children must be accompanied by a parent or another responsible adult at all community vaccination sites.
PTA Virtual Auction
Thank you to all who participated in the Fall virtual auction. Thanks to your generosity, the PTA raised over $4,000! The money will be going back into supporting the school and students. If you haven't picked up your items yet, please contact auction@willowspringspta.net to set up a time.
3rd/4th Grade Math Club
The 3rd and 4th Grade Math Club will be opening registration for a winter session on 12/2 using this link.
There will be 15 sessions; 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, and 5/27 at 8:15 – 9 am. Students will participate in mathematically-designed games, stories and puzzles, apply math theories to the real world, and apply creative solutions to challenging math problems.
Gingerbread House Contest
*Exciting news, the gingerbread house contest is back!*
Enter your most creative gingerbread creations in the second PTA Gingerbread House contest! Construct your house in any medium — food, Lego®, a drawing — the possibilities are endless! The PTA will accept submissions November 30 to December 13 using this link.
Parents or guardians may submit their child’s entry using the form, or via the email to gingerbread@willowspringspta.net. Voting will take place December 14-18. The contest is open to K-6 students AND teachers, with prizes for the winners.
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WSES Spirit Wear
The newly revamped Willow Springs PTA spirit wear store is live! Instead of a once a year sale, our new store is open 24-7 all year long. We have so many fun new designs and clothing options for you to check out HERE.
These items make wonderful gifts for teachers and family members!
We are excited for our community to show their Willow Pride!
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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. Sign up at https://wses1.memberhub.com/store.
Funds for Foxes
Here are some of the easy ways you can help earn money for the Willow Springs Elementary PTA! Take a look at some of the partnerships we have.
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