CWES Weekly Happenings

From the Principal's Desk

Dear Families,

Happy Mother's Day! I was marveling at the extraordinary week we just had and trying to figure out how to capture the magic of Teacher Appreciation Week and Fun Fair and the common element that went into making this week so special when it hit me...MOTHERS. (Dads, please know I saw your participation too, but let me give CWES moms a special shout out for Mother's Day.)

From coordinating teacher gifts, to getting children ready to bring a flower or a poem or wear school colors or a side ponytail, to making appreciation posters to adorn our halls, to feeding our teachers breakfast and lunch, to covering recess by supervising cooped-up students on a rainy day...our moms showed up big for our teachers last week.

From moving Fun Fair indoors, to coordinating contributions to raffle baskets, to organizing volunteers for carnival games, to arranging moon bounces and laser tag and face painters and balloon-twisters, to dragging their kids to school on a rainy Saturday...our moms showed up big for our community last week. 

Sometimes work like this can feel tangential to the task of parenting -- can feel thankless and pointless because there is always more of it than we have time or energy for.

I wanted to take a moment to assure you that the importance of what you do is seen, it is appreciated, and it is having a direct result on your children and the people they are becoming.

From your powerful model,

  • Your children are learning about service to the community.
  • Your children are learning about problem solving and resilience.
  • Your children are learning about gratitude and naming the difference people make in your life.
  • Your children are learning about relationships strengthened by teamwork.
  • Your children are learning about treasuring traditions and working hard to maintain them.

You may think your work is invisible, but know that you are improving our community with every small act of service. Many thanks for the everyday miracles you perform -- and a very Happy Mother's Day to you. Our teachers had a week of appreciation -- one day isn't enough to thank you for all you do. 

Warm regards,

Diane Leipzig, Dr. L

oneday

Woodson HS Grad Walk, May 25

A beloved pre-pandemic tradition is making a welcome comeback this year. Woodson High School Seniors who attended Canterbury Woods in their elementary years are invited to process through the halls of CWES and be cheered on by staff and students alike! 

On Wednesday, May 25, our staff and students will line the hallways to celebrate these accomplished young men and women as they complete their K-12 education!

Seniors should meet outside Door 1 in caps and gowns at 2:15 PM. Parents of graduating seniors are welcome to come take pictures of this special event.  


ASL Honor Society "Voices Off" Dinner, May 13

Want to build your family's sign language skills? Or experience a night of greater awareness about communication differences?

West Springfield High School ASL Honor Society Presents:

*Voices Off *

Dinner, games, entertainment

Dinner sourced from various local restaurants


Friday May 13, 2022
6:30 PM in the Blue Cafeteria
6100 Rolling Road, W. Springfield, VA 22152


Admission $10 - pay at the door
cash or check payable to WSHS


All welcome, No prior knowledge of ASL required,
whiteboards provided.

RSVP by May 10th to Spartan.ASLHS@gmail.com


Parent Input for 22-23 Class Placements

Each year, we solicit your input as we prepare for the placement process of developing balanced classes for the following school year. We do not save your responses from one year to the next, and we recognize that students' needs and their peer relationships evolve from one year to the next. If your child will be enrolled in CWES next year, please take a moment to fill out this Google form to provide us with information that will set your child up for success. Please submit one entry for each of your rising Cougars!

Responses will be accepted through Friday, May 20, 2022.


SOL Schedule

This week we complete the 5th grade SCIENCE TEST and we begin the MATH tests.

Please be sure your child gets a good night's sleep, and please try to avoid scheduling appointments on your student’s testing days. 

  • 3rd Grade:  Math on Wednesday, May 11th
  • 4th Grade:  Math on Tuesday, May 17th
  • 5th Grade:  Science on Thursday, May 12th, and Math on Wednesday, May 18th
  • 6th Grade:  Math on Thursday, May 19th

SEL Small Group Parent/Guardian Coffee Talk, May 18

Come grab a cup of coffee at our SEL Coffee Talk! All CWES parents and guardians are invited to engage with teachers, school counselors, psychologist, and social workers on Wednesday, May 18th at 11:00 – 11:45 A.M. or at 5:00 -5:45 P.M.  

During the session, you will learn about the various small group curriculums we use for students who require support such as Zones, Unstuck and On Target, Kimochis, and Mind UP. These curriculums are a part of CASEL – Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning. Click this link CASEL to learn more about CASEL.


Panera Restaurant Night, May 18

When: 05/18/22 4:00pm-05/18/22 8:00pm
Where: 6230 W Rolling Road, West Springfield, VA 22152
What: CWES PTA receives 20% of sales:
*Order online at panerabread.com and enter code PRFUND at checkout.
*Bring the attached flyer or show a digital version to the cashier when ordering to ensure CWES PTA gets a portion of the proceeds.
panera

Mental Health and Parenting in 2022

Join other Woodson Pyramid parents for a free virtual seminar with licensed professional counselor, Whitney Houston, on June 1st from 7-8:30PM and for Spanish Speakers on June 6th from 7-8:30PM.   

The presentation will discuss:

  • Your role as a parent
  • Setting boundaries
  • Defining expectations for your child and yourself
  • Finding flexibility
  • Mental health and mental health problems
  • Signs and symptoms of mental illness
  • When and how to find help, from whom, and what to do when waiting for professional help

Location: Zoom

English 6/1 Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/LRES6-1

Spanish 6/6 Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/LRES6-6

Please submit questions prior to the presentation here: https://forms.gle/6ihJTz9XMq1te38E8


About Mrs. Houston: Whitney has over ten years of experience working in the behavioral health field providing clinical mental health counseling to individuals and families.  She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maryland, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia, and a clinical supervisor in both states working with pre-post graduate counseling residents.  In her clinical work she has extensive experience working with parents helping to develop boundaries and limitations. She is also a trauma informed clinician that has experience training professionals in understanding the impact of trauma.  Whitney is a mother of two (one child with developmental delays) and a sibling to a sister with mental illness.

Please reach out to Brittany Belscher (bbelscher@fcps.edu) with any questions you have prior to the presentation!


Mark Your Calendars

Friday, May 13: Twin Day, SCA Spirit Day. Plan in advance to dress like a friend or group of friends and go twinning to school!

Wednesday, May 18, 11 AM and 5 PM: SEL Parent/Guardian Coffee Talks; Panera Restaurant Night 

Wednesday, May 25, 2:30 PM: Woodson HS Grad Walk

Thursday, May 26: In-person Nighttime Concerts for Band and Strings

Friday, May 27: Virtual Daytime Concerts for Band and Strings

Monday, May 30: Memorial Day Holiday. No school.

Thursday, June 2: Outdoor A Capella Chorus Concert

Thursday, June 9, 2:30 PM: Sixth Grade Promotion at Woodson High School

Friday, June 10: Last day of school