|
For a translated version of this newsletter, please visit the Willow Springs website.
Don't forget that students will be dismissed two hours early from school today. We will begin dismissing students at 2:00 p.m.
March 31, 2022
 We loved seeing Mr. Taylor, Ms. Hassen, and Ms. Stringer in those silly dinosaur costumes! Thank you for all of your support. Awesome job, Willow Springs! #WillowPride
Willow Springs families,
We want to congratulate our WSES community as we earned an estimated profit of $48,000 during the Boosterthon this year. Thank you to all families, community partners, and friends who supported our school and our PTA during this event. Thank you to our PTA for assisting in organizing the events over the past few weeks.
The end of the third quarter has approached, which means that spring break begins next week! Please remember that there will be no school for students tomorrow, Friday, April 1, as it is a teacher workday and a student holiday. Spring break is Monday, April 4 through Friday, April 8, and classes will resume Monday, April 11.
As April springs upon us, we invite our WSES community to recognize the resilience of our military-connected children during the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take this opportunity to celebrate our military-connected children and thank them for their service as part of a military family. Stay tuned for pictures and updates throughout the month.
April is also Autism Awareness Month! WSES is dedicated to educating our students about autism and teaching them how to become more aware of all the similarities and differences found in the world. Throughout the month our special education team will be sharing autism facts and information on the WSES News as well as providing a selection of books in the library that classes will be able to check out and read with students in order to foster meaningful conversations surrounding autism awareness.
We hope everyone has a beautiful and safe spring break with family and friends. Please reach out to us if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to support you.
Sincerely,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
It’s time for 2022-23 Kindergarten Registration
 Will your child turn five years old by September 30? If so, they are eligible for kindergarten enrollment for the 2022-23 school year. More information can be found on the Willow Springs Website.
Take the Family Engagement Survey Today!
 If you haven’t already, please take FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey today! Your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve FCPS’ practices to best support our students. Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment
- Communication
- Student success
- Advocacy
- Family and school partnerships
- Collaboration with the community to see if FCPS is meeting its goals at the school, region, and division levels
The survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Amharic, Farsi, Urdu, Pashto, and Vietnamese. Take the survey now by clicking on the link below. Visit FCPS’ website for more information.
TAKE THE SURVEY!
Positivity Project Corner
This past week our school community focused on the character strength of Humor. Humor means you like to laugh and bring smiles to other people.
Humor is a sense of playfulness and lightness. It is a way of looking at and describing the world that brings laughter to people. A person with the strength of humor is skilled at seeing the funny side of things, bringing smiles and laughter to others, and identifying and communicating the absurdities in life. People with this strength don’t specifically need to be joke tellers, although many are.
Humor plays an important role in helping groups of people rise above difficult circumstances and boost morale. It removes us from our present difficulties by easing tension and making life more fun. This is why athletic teams often need a jokester to help them get through tough losses and early morning fitness sessions. On a larger societal level, humor often helps downtrodden groups to find cohesion and strength. This is why Simon Wiesenthal said, “Humor is the weapon of unarmed people: it helps people who are oppressed smile at the situation that pains them.”
To practice and encourage the character strength of humor 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.
|
February Estimation Contest
 In February, students participated in an estimation contest. Students estimated how many candy hearts were in a given container.
In kindergarten through 2nd grade, two students came within 2 of the correct answer of 93 candy hearts. Congratulations to:
- Iman Jalal in Ms. Willison’s 2nd-grade class with a guess of 91 candy hearts.
- Omar Bagwan in Ms. Mathias’s 2nd-grade class with a guess of 95 candy hearts.
In 3rd-6th grade, one student came the closest to the actual answer of 546 candy hearts. Congratulations to:
- Camden Gross in Ms. Stavros’s 3rd-grade class with a guess of 542 Candy hearts.
Last Friday, our three winners joined Ms. Hassen, assistant principal, for some Speed Stacking fun. The students had a wonderful time learning a new skill and celebrating their estimation success!
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
Fairfax Pyramid Art Show
 Students and families are invited to our annual “Pyramid Art Show” which will exhibit student art work from all grade levels that feed into Fairfax High School (K-12). The Pyramid Art Show will take place at Fairfax High on Tuesday, April 12th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. There will be: one man shows, demonstrations, a craft table, food trucks, a scavenger hunt and certificates for those artists that have their artwork featured in the show. Look for a personal invitation coming home the week before Spring Break if your child’s artwork will be on display. We have so many amazing artists here at Willow Springs. Come see what our students can do!
Spring Picture Day - April 14
The school is looking for some volunteers for school picture day on Thursday, April 14. Volunteers will received a voucher for Lifetouch. Interested volunteers can sign up here.
|
Mark Your Calendars and Sign Up Now!
 Join us on Thursday, April 21 from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
This is a free, student-centered outreach event, hosted by Willow Springs Elementary School for our families and community! More than 30+ student volunteers have agreed to facilitate sessions and showcase "passion projects" that will engage families in learning and creativity!
WE ARE REQUESTING VOLUNTEERS
STUDENT PRESENTER APPLICATION FORM
You can expect to meet Ani and Namira, two 5th graders who entered a recycling video contest and recently traveled to Las Vegas to present at the ISRI and Jason Learning Convention. You will also meet 3rd grader, Kingsley, who was recently featured on WJLA Channel-7 for developing his own educational app! Join us on April 21st and watch students spotlight their passions!
If your child would like to showcase their work and participate as a student presenter Thursday, April 21, please complete this form.
-
Investigate 30+ Student Passion Projects
-
Discover the Children’s Science Center exploration tables
-
Grow your own plant – visit the seed station!
-
Explore the Farmer’s Market
-
Visit Food Trucks, and more
Contact Sarah Lennon with any questions.
Register Now with Ms. Berra!
Introduction to Yoga Club:
Twenty 5th and 6th graders are welcome to join Mrs. Berra for a 3 week "Introduction to Yoga" program. Mrs. Berra will teach students basics of yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Students will learn how to carry these skills into their daily lives at home and school! Club will meet on Thursday mornings from 8:15-9:00 am on April 21, April 28, and May 5 in the WSES Little Theater. Students will need to bring a yoga mat and wear clothes they are comfortable moving in. Please email Mrs. Berra at mmberra@fcps.edu if you have questions
Link to Register: https://forms.gle/wfDRzAaLcbjHuuxA6
Meditation and Mindfulness for Children and Families:
Many people have heard of the numerous benefits of meditation and mindfulness but have the question, “where do I begin?” Please join Mrs. Berra virtually on April 28th from 7:00-8:00 pm for an information session about meditation and mindfulness and practical strategies to integrate these practices into daily life. For questions, please email Mrs. Berra at mmberra@fcps.edu. A zoom link will be sent prior to the event to the email listed on the registration form.
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/z9jWQJWEHeJ3Gcwf8
|
April is the Month if the Military Child
Thinkabit Makerspace Summer Camp at KJMS
 Click the above image to access the application form.
Tutor.com
 We are excited to share a new resource that will soon be available to all Willow Springs students to support learning. All FCPS students will have unlimited access to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost.
Students can connect online any time, and in most subjects for as long as they need. Tutoring is focused instruction provided to students in a one-on-one format through voice or text chat. Tutors will focus on developing students’ strengths and capabilities in reading, mathematics, or other specified subjects. Tutoring services may be accessed before, during, or after school hours and/or on weekends through a link in Schoology.
All tutors must pass a rigorous application process including an extensive background check. No personal information is shared between a student and tutor. All sessions are recorded and transcripts are available for review by teachers and parents/guardians.
Students will automatically have access to the Tutor.com tutoring service unless a parent/guardian submits an opt-out request. Watch for an email soon that will include the online tutoring services notice and opt-out information. Additionally, a hard copy form will be sent home with every student.
For additional information, visit our online tutoring services website. As always, please contact us if you have any questions
Willow Springs Boosterthon Recap
 What an amazing sunny, bubbly, muddy fun run the PTA had on March 18th! We had such a blast with our student friends. Thank you SO much to Mr. Taylor, Ms. Stringer and Ms. Hassen who wore inflatable dinosaur costumes to ALL 3 sessions! Thank you to the parents who came to cheer the students on. Thank you to the teachers who ran, walked, and made this happen.
Ms. Miskovich's class finished off the week by winning the last challenge and got to duct tape Jurassic Joey to the front of the school.
Thank you, families, for all of your generosity, the PTA was able to exceed our fundraising goal and earned over forty-seven thousand dollars and had a great time doing so.
Spring Garden/Farm-to-Table Club
 Please visit our WSES website for more information.
Rubik's Cube Club
Due to an overwhelming response, the Rubik’s Cube Club has filled the membership. The registration for the club has closed for now.
|
PTA Nominating Committee
The WSES PTA is looking for three members to serve on this year’s Nominating Committee.
What’s a Nominating Committee?
The Nominating Committee will work together to identify potential candidates to serve on the PTA Executive Board for the 2022-2023 school year. It’s a great opportunity for someone who wants to be involved in the future of the PTA! Nominating Committee members must be current paid members of the PTA. (You can still become a member for only $15!)
*If you are considering serving on the Executive Board, please do not volunteer for the Nominating Committee.
Interested? Please email board@willowspringspta.net and let us know!
|
Cub Scout Movie Night
Join us for Cub Scout movie night April 22nd! Like Cub Scouts, Russell is trying to earn merit badges and help the world. Doors open at 6 pm. The Jump Rope Club will be doing a special performance at 6 pm. The movie will start at 6:30. Pizza is available for presale at https://wses1.memberhub.com/store. Pizza will be sold by the slice at the event.
|
Cafeteria Volunteers Needed
 If you have ANY time during lunch time frame to volunteer, please consider volunteering in the cafeteria. We have slots as short as a half hour and really need your help. It’s a fun way to see your child during the day, too
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.
|
WSES Spirit Wear
The new Willow Springs PTA spirit wear store is live. Our new store is open 24-7 all year long. We have so many spring options from t-shirts to shorts and hats to protect your head by clicking HERE.
We are excited for our community to show their Willow Pride!
|
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.
-
April 1 Student Holiday - NO SCHOOL
-
April 4-8 Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
-
April 10 WSES Supports GMU Softball Team at Mason Softball Complex at noon
-
April 12 Pyramid Art Show at Fairfax High School from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
-
April 14 Spring Picture Day and Class Photos
-
April 18-22 Spirit Week - Month of the Military Child
-
April 20 Purple Up Day
-
April 21 WSES Student Innovation Expo
-
April 22 Cub Scout Pack 1858 Movie Night
-
April 24 WSES Supports GMU Softball Team at Mason Softball Complex
|
