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January 14, 2022
 Mark your calendars for our January 28 Spirit Day. Our WSES SCA will host Decades Day! Wear your favorite clothes from throughout the decades.
Willow Springs families,
This week has been a wonderful week of learning and connecting with students. Our students quickly jumped back into routines and are working collaboratively as we approach the end of the grading period.
Please make sure to read the entire letter carefully as we have provided guidance around our virtual plan and schedule in case we are impacted by weather in the future. We encourage our families to visit our WSES website where you will find the potential schedule and resources.
We hope everyone has a great holiday weekend as we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dedication to equality and serving others.
Thank you for working with us to make learning successful for our students. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
Prepare for Virtual Learning for Future Snow Days
As we prepare to observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, January 17, we are also watching for the potential of winter weather early in the week. We used all of our traditional snow days during last week’s snowstorm. Any future inclement weather days will include virtual learning whenever possible.
We all need to prepare in order to have a successful inclement weather virtual learning day. Here at Willow Springs, teachers and staff will make sure students have the devices and accessories they need and will go over how to log in to their virtual learning tools. Teachers will let students know what to expect for their classes.
At home, we ask that you do a few simple things that will make an inclement weather virtual learning day run smoothly:
- Make sure students bring their device home and be sure the device is charged.
- Review the Student Technology Readiness Checklist with your child and complete all the at-home readiness steps.
- Remind your child that the inclement weather virtual learning day schedule begins at 10:30 a.m. so they can check their devices and make sure they are able to log in properly.
- Remind your child that attendance will be taken on inclement weather virtual learning days.
During weather events, FCPS must consider power outages, technical connection issues, and whether students have access to devices that they may not have taken home the night before. FCPS will announce a virtual learning day in the weather closure announcement on our website and social media channels and through email communications and local media. Willow Springs will also communicate with families, and more information can be found our our WSES website (including the WSES schedule and various resources for staff, students, and families).
Thank you for your help in making sure an inclement weather virtual learning day is a successful one for your child.
Superintendent Search Town Halls
FCPS is conducting a nationwide search for a new superintendent to lead the school district when Superintendent Brabrand's contract expires at the end of the 2021-22 school year. Your input is an important part of the search process! Please attend a Superintendent Search Virtual Town Hall to provide feedback on the characteristics and personality traits you would like to see in the new superintendent.
The town halls will be hosted on Zoom on January 13 and 18. Visit FCPS’ Superintendent Search webpage to register.
Also, please take the Superintendent Search Survey if you haven’t already. FCPS parents/guardians, staff, and high school students were sent their own survey link via an email from “FCPS and GR Recruiting.” Community members can access the survey link on our website.
Latest Guidance for Returning to School
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance for isolation and quarantine in late December, with multiple updates in January. This guidance reduces isolation and quarantine to five days. The VDH states that school districts may choose to continue more stringent isolation and quarantine requirements or may implement the new CDC guidance.
FCPS will adopt the new guidance with one exception:
- FCPS will adopt CDC’s recommendation for a five-day period of quarantine for students and staff.
- FCPS will adopt CDC’s recommendation for a five-day period of isolation for staff.
- FCPS will NOT adopt CDC’s recommendation for isolation for students as we are unable to implement the required physical distancing protocols during meals. FCPS students with COVID- 19 will need to continue to complete a ten day isolation period.
Return Guidance for Students with COVID-19
Students who are COVID-19 positive are able to return to school when ALL of the following criteria are met:
- Student completes at least 10 days of isolation from symptom onset for symptomatic students or 10 days since testing positive (day test administered) for COVID-19 for asymptomatic students; AND
- Student is fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication; AND
- Student’s symptoms have improved; AND
- Student submits the FCPS Isolation Letter with the return date to their attending school
Return Guidance for Students who are Close Contacts to School Related Exposures
Asymptomatic students who are close contacts and required to quarantine are able to return to school when all the criteria for one of the two options below is met:
- Option 1:
- Student completes five days of quarantine; AND
- Student is asymptomatic; AND
- Student is able to wear a face mask at school- Day 6 thru 10 ; AND
- Student submits FCPS Pause Letter with the return date to their attending school
- Option 2:
- Student completes ten days of quarantine; AND
- Student submits FCPS Pause Letter with the return date to their attending school
- Students with mask exemptions will need to utilize Option 2 to return from quarantine.
Some students and staff may be exempt from quarantine if they meet the CDC criteria, are able to wear a face mask, and are asymptomatic:
- Students must complete the FCHD vaccination survey, and receive a clearance email from the FCHD prior to resuming in-person learning and activities.
- Staff must complete the Fully Vaccinated Exemption Form
Return Guidance for Students who are Close Contacts to Community Related Exposures
NEW! FCPS will no longer require Return to School documentation for a student deemed a close contact in the community, outside of the school environment. FCPS recommends that families adhere to the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) quarantine guidance, as appropriate. If families have questions regarding COVID-19, they are encouraged to consult their physician or the Fairfax County Health Department.
Updated Health and Safety Guidance Documents
The best source of the most up-to-date information, including how students return to school after quarantine or isolation, is available on the Health and Safety Guidance Document on the FCPS website.
Attendance Matters!
This is the time of year when winter weather and children’s illnesses can take a toll on school attendance. But it’s important to get your children to school every day possible.
- If you are unsure whether to send your children to school, consult your doctor or this website for guidance: https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/policies-regulations-and-notices/attendance-policies/attendance-when-should-i-send-my. Our school nurse is also a terrific resource for chronic health conditions.
- Do what you can to keep your children healthy. Dress them warmly for the cold weather and make sure they’ve got hats and gloves. Encourage them to wash their hands regularly, and send them to school with a bottle of hand sanitizer.
- Help your child learn to persevere. Today, he learns to overcome a snowdrift. In the future, he will have the grit to triumph over even greater obstacles to his dreams.
Positivity Project Corner
For the week of January 16 - 22, we will be focusing on the character strength of perseverance. Perseverance means you complete what you start despite obstacles. You never give up.
The concept of perseverance can most often be found in one’s active pursuit of overcoming obstacles. Perseverance is a uniquely human characteristic that identifies an individual’s ability to spend long periods of time devoted to a single goal or set of goals. People demonstrating high levels of perseverance can handle significant, sometimes repeated, setbacks in pursuit of goals.
Those who persevere through setbacks often reap the benefits of the success gained by refusing to give up. Sometimes, this comes with the added benefit of increased knowledge and skill as a result of the work needed to achieve. A single group member’s ability or willingness to persevere can substantially impact those working with them and the team. Groups that show high levels of perseverance can achieve goals they may not have believed possible.
To practice and encourage the character strength of perseverance with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
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Lost and Found Items
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Our lost and found is overflowing with jackets, sweatshirts, coats and other items. If your child has lost something, please have your child check our lost and found located in the front lobby during school hours.
All remaining items will be donated at the end of 2nd quarter which is January 20. Thank you!
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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!
Zumba Club
Take a break from sledding and sign your kids up for the spring session of Zumba. This fun club will be meeting on Wednesdays after school from 4:05 p.m. - 5:05 p.m. You don't need any previous experience, just a wish to have fun. Sign up at www.novakidsinmotion.com. There will be 10 sessions, starting January 19th.
Math Club
The Willow Springs Math Club and the Fairfax County Association of the Gifted (FCAG) is sponsoring the AMC 8 Mathematics competition at Willow Springs Elementary School on January 18. The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. Grade 6 students are welcome to sign up on a first come first serve basis. For Grade 5 students who would like to sign up, please email Qingying (Ally) Lu at qingyinglu@gmail.com.
Watch D.O.G.S.
Have you heard about our Watch D.O.G.S? The Watch D.O.G.S group is our group of men who volunteer at school and help the school as needed during their day. You can be a dad, stepdad, grandpa, or uncle. Sign up for a time that fits your schedule as many or as few times as your schedule allows. See upcoming spring spots at https://signup.com/go/mWNvXOp.
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.
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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January 17 Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday (No School)
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January 20 End of Second Quarter (2 Hour Early Release)
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January 21 Student Holiday (No School)
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January 24 Student Holiday (No School)
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January 28 SCA Spirit Day - Decades Day
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January 29 Cub Scout Pinewood Derby at 8 a.m.
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February 9 PTA Meeting at 7 p.m.
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February 25 PTA Game Night
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April 22 Cub Scout Pack 1858 Movie Night
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