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February 27, 2022
 Our 2nd and 3rd-grade teams show off their tutus on "Two, Two, Two, Two, Two, Tuesday." Students from Ms. McGrath's 3rd-grade class take a closer look as they wait for one more chick to hatch.
Willow Springs families,
We hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend. Last week we celebrated "Two, Two, Two, Two, Two, Tuesday"! It was terrific seeing the activities and learning our teachers planned while showing off their style and humor with tutus.
We are also excited to share the baby chicks hatched in Ms. McGrath's 3rd-grade class. What an excellent learning opportunity for our children.
As we move into Monday, we are ready to celebrate reading throughout WSES and the diversity and inclusion we see in stories as we kick off Read Across America Week.
Don't forget our Willow Springs Fun Run fundraiser will kick off in just three weeks on March 10. Registration opened on February 24, and our event day is March 18.
Please remember that this week is a shortened week with a two-hour early release on Thursday, March 3, and a student holiday on Friday, March 4.
We look forward to a fun and engaging week of learning. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
WSES is Celebrating Black History Month
We celebrate Black History Month by affirming Black and African Americans' accomplishments and contributions to our nation's history during February. It provides us a time to honor and recognize the essential role that African Americans have and continue to play in U.S. history.
Thurgood Marshall was the first African American to serve as a justice on the United States Supreme Court. He was put in the Supreme Court by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967 and retired in 1991.
Marshall's most crucial courtroom victory was in the case of Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954. Before this case, the law allowed states to have separate schools for whites and Blacks. Marshall convinced the Supreme Court that this practice went against the U.S. Constitution, and the ruling helped end all forms of legalized segregation.
"When we intend to do good, we do." - Thurgood Marshall
Read Across America Week
 Here's a sneak peek of our WSES library as Ms. Hurley and Ms. Harvey prepare for Read Across America. Students will participate in a "Book Tasting" during their library specials.
Positivity Project Corner
This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm means you approach life with excitement and energy. You energize people around you.
Enthusiasm is the ability to bring life and excitement to different situations. It often leads to a higher level of involvement and engagement both for individuals and for groups. Those who demonstrate enthusiasm bring an energy and level of intensity to individual and group work. These people are often identified as early leaders and innovators as a result of their outward excitement about a task or project. Look for these people to recruit new group members and generate ideas.
For groups, enthusiasm can be directly tied to high levels of success, happiness, and achievement. Enthusiasm is contagious. One person’s enthusiasm can spark others to think, speak, and act with more energy and conviction. Groups that are enthusiastic about tasks are much more likely to spend longer periods of time in service to the group’s overall goals.
To practice and encourage the character strength of enthusiasm 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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Now Hiring: Additional WSES Student Monitors
Willow Springs Elementary is seeking individuals to serve as student monitors!
Enjoy working with children? WSES is seeking individuals to serve as student monitors. Student monitors provide supervision support in the classroom, lunchroom, and may work with small groups of students with foundational math and language arts skills. If you're interested, please send your resume to Amanda McCabe at anmccabe@fcps.edu.
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WSES PTA: Boosterthon
 We’re only 2 weeks away from our Willow Springs Fun Run! Our goal is to raise $20,000 for student programs and activities, school improvements for students and teachers.
Here is a quick video overview of our fundraising program:
FUN RUN OVERVIEW: https://vimeo.com/569056151/4044e58355
We want all families to get registered by the day of our kickoff! Log on to MYBOOSTER.COM today and enter your family’s details.
We are working hard to make this fundraiser safe, fun, and successful for everyone!
Key dates to remember:
- REGISTRATION & DONATING OPENS - 2/24
- Fundraiser Kickoff - 3/10
- Event Day - 3/18
Thank you for working with us to make our school stronger. We are grateful for your support!
2021-2022 Yearbooks
WSES 2021-2022 Yearbooks are on sale now! Price is $23. Personalization and enhancements are not available this year. Order your softcover yearbook online at ybpay.lifetouch.com, school code 9870122
Deadline to order is April 20, 2022.
Fill the Yearbook Challenge
Want to see a special picture in the WSES 2021-2022 yearbook?
Upload your photos to help us share your stories!
Movie Night, Glow Party, Book Fair, Clubs, Scouts, Spirit Days, Restaurant Nights, School Parties & Events, Etc!
*Please include name, grade and description when uploading.
https://wsesyearbook22.shutterfly.com/
Password: WSES
Adopt-a-School Partnership: GMU Softball Team
 We are excited to share that the GMU Softball Team will be returning to WSES to visit our students in the coming weeks. The team is currently in season and spends many weekends on the road. Stay tuned for dates and times when our WSES community will come together at the Mason Softball Complex to cheer on the team!
This past weekend, the team played in South Carolina and even sent us a photo between games. Good luck, Mason Softball; our WSES foxes are rooting for you!
ESSER III Grant: Your Voice Matters!
Last fall, FCPS received $188.8 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding to help safely reopen and sustain the safe operation of schools, and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students. Please provide your thoughts on how FCPS is meeting ESSER III requirements. And, take a look at the impact ESSER III funds are having throughout FCPS. For more information on the ESSER III grant, please watch this video and visit the FCPS website.
Elementary Language Arts Resource Review
The elementary language arts resources review will end February 28. If you have not yet participated in this important process, we encourage you to do so this week.
You can review digital resources and leave feedback online. Physical resources for elementary language arts are being reviewed throughout the month at the Willow Oaks Administration Center from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Monday-Friday. In-person review hours will be extended to 7 p.m. February 24.
Participating in the resource review process is your chance to have a voice in this important decision. Learn more on our website.
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Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA)
 Click the image above to learn more and to register.
FCPS Institute for the Arts (IFTA)
 Click the image above to learn more and to register.
F.P.Y.C. Field Hockey Opportunity
 Click the image above to learn more and to register.
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!
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.
Spirit Day at FunLand of Fairfax
Join the PTA on Friday, March 4th (student holiday) at FunLand, 5111 Westfields Blvd, Centreville, VA 20120. Buy a wristband online and your child can spend the whole day go carting, rock wall climbing, arcade games, zip lining, laser tag and VR. They have a full restaurant and bar as well. Doors open at noon and play all day! Buy online at https://fairfax.visitfunland.com/retail/item/1644.
For more info: https://bit.ly/3AQJclW
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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March 3 2-hour Early Release at 2 p.m.
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March 4 Student Holiday - NO SCHOOL
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March 4 PTA Spirit Day at FunLand of Fairfax
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March 25 SCA Spirit Day - Disney Day
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April 1 Student Holiday - NO SCHOOL
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April 4-8 Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
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April 22 Cub Scout Pack 1858 Movie Night
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