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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, 05/19 – Buddies Luau Prom (WSHS Spartan Park, 7-9pm)
Tuesday, 05/23 – Orchestra Concert (7pm)
Wednesday, 05/24 – Band Concert (6:30pm)
Monday, 05/29 – Holiday (Memorial Day)
Tuesday, 06/06 – Graduation (Early Release at 10:30am for 9-11th Grades)
Friday, 06/16 – Last Day of School (Early Release at 9:55am)
Leadership Announcements
Good Afternoon West Springfield Community,
We wanted to share our congratulations to Ben Fiacco who has been selected to serve as the Assistant Principal for Sub-School 4. Mr. Fiacco has been the acting Sub-School 4 Principal all year, replacing Johnny Pope who retired last Fall. Mr. Fiacco's previous role was Systems of Support Advisor (SOSA). We appreciate Ben’s service and look forward to him continuing his leadership for West Springfield.
We also congratulate Monica Haynes who has been selected as WSHS's new SOSA. Mrs. Haynes has served as acting SOSA for most of this school year. Earlier this year she was recognized as the West Springfield Pyramid Teacher of the Year and as a Region 4 Teacher of the Year Finalist. Mrs. Haynes also teaches Strategies for Success in our Special Education Department. We appreciate Monica’s support for students and her continuing commitment to students.
Please join us in congratulating Mr. Fiacco and Mrs. Haynes!
Buddies Club Prom - Tonight
The Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award
The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) is sponsoring an award to honor the legacy of Dr. Lawrence "Larry" Bussey by celebrating the efforts and impact of those who work to redress inequitable systems and practices in FCPS. This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by June 15, 2023. The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium.
More information and the nomination form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award website.
End of Year Schedule
APs and SOL exams finish today! However, retakes and makeups will continue next week. Senior and underclass exams and all the important graduation dates are annotated in our End of Year Calendar. You can view the entire schedule on our website.
End of Year Financial Obligations
West Springfield High School will no longer accept checks for payment of activities or obligations through the end of this school year.
Parents and families can make payments via MySchoolBucks, money order or cash.
Google Access for Seniors and Students Leaving FCPS: A Message from IT
Students, as you prepare to graduate or transfer from FCPS, it’s important to know that your FCPS Google Workspace account will be automatically deactivated the day after your last full day of enrollment. Once your account is deactivated, you will not be able to login to your FCPS Google account or access your FCPS Gmail.
It is important that you download any files you wish to keep before your last day of school in FCPS.
Instructions for downloading your Google data are on the Google Workspace Information for Students and Parents page of the FCPS website. Students will also have a tech lesson during their Learning Seminar to help close out the year.
Please work with the Tech Support Team if you have questions.
Medication Pick Up From Health Room
The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than the student dismissal time on the last day of school. Medication left in the health room after the last day of school will be destroyed.
It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home with your student. However, with parent or guardian permission, a high school student may transport over-the-counter medications to and from the school health room. If your student will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by FCPS, the existing medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program, but you will need to pick up the medication on the last day of school and deliver the medication and completed forms to the summer learning site on the first day of the summer program. Please let the health room know if you would like a copy of the form(s).
For questions, call the heath room at (703) 913-3810, or email Laura Settles, School Health Aid.
IT and Such... End of Year Events
SIS End-of-Year Events
Every year FCPS “takes down” Student Information System (SIS) offline to complete End of Year activities. These activities include rolling over approximately 180,000 records of student data from the 2022-23 to the 2023-24 school year. Please be advised that:
- SIS, ParentVUE, and StudentVUE will be unavailable for all users from Thursday, June 23 at 4pm until Monday, June 27 at 6am for system updates for SY 2023-24.
- DIT-generated weekly grade book progress reports will not be emailed to parents/guardians after June 12.
- ParentVUE and StudentVUE Attendance, Grade Book, and Report Card modules will close on June 23.
Chromebooks
FCPS will begin the high school student laptop refresh next Fall. With the current FCPSOn Windows student device line facing discontinuation, we've been on a mission to find a cutting-edge alternative that not only delivers exceptional student experience but also adheres to our $29 million budget for a seamless 1-1 high school student device refresh.
The selected model has:
- improved 14” display screen
- much faster start-up and website load times
- lightweight and higher durability form and keyboard
- extended life battery to easily last the school day
Some students in specialized programs, like Music, CTE, or Fine Arts, will have access to applications used in class. More information on Chromebook distribution will be shared before the start of the new school year.
Laptop Collection
As we near the end of the school year, it's time to start preparing for the return and check-in of student laptops. Students, please take note of the following important information regarding the process:
- Remove any stickers on your laptop before you return your laptop and charger
- If you are missing a charger, Seniors/Underclass can buy a new one on MySchoolBucks and pick it up in the Tech Office (2451) the next morning.
- Student Laptop return days are:
- Seniors - May 30 & 31
- Underclass - June 14 & 15
- Summer School students will need to “Check-Out” their laptops for use during the summer. (They should report to Collaboration Room 3 during Laptop Return Days).
- Students who do not need their laptops for the rest of the year may return their laptops starting on Monday, May 22nd to the tech office (2451) during the following times:
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES
 Senior athletes and parents, the WSHS Student Activities office will be hosting the Senior Sports Awards Ceremony on Monday, June 5th in the auditorium. Refreshments will be served at 6pm and the ceremony will begin at 6:30pm. We hope all our senior athletes and parents will attend!
Spartan Crew SUPERLATIVE Results at States!
 The Spartan Crew Team had a very successful Virginia State Rowing Championship and represented West Springfield well last week. Five of our seven boats reached the awards dock and rowed away with medals. This is the first time in a long time, if not a first for the club, that so many were on the podium. Four of these boats qualified to attend Nationals in Oak Ridge, Tennessee on May 25 - 27.
Here is how all 7 boats raced:
- Women's First Four: Heat 2-1st place; Final-1st place
- Women's Junior Four: Heat 2-3rd place; Final-5th place
- Women's Second Four: Heat 2-1st place; Final-1st place
- Men's First Four: Heat 2-6th place
- Men's First Eight: Heat 2-1st place; Final-2nd place
- Men's Junior Eight: Heat 2-1st place; Final-2nd place
- Men's Second Eight: Heat 1-2nd place; Final-2nd place
**A Junior Boat in rowing means that all the rowers and the coxswain in that boat are in 11th grade or the junior year of high school or younger.
The last time that a Men's Upper 8 (Men's 1st 8) medaled was back in 2004. In 2014 WSHS had a Men's Lower 8 (a Men's Novice 8) medal, so it has been almost 20 years since WSHS Crew has achieved these kinds of results!
Great job Men's and Women's Crew!
Summer Track Resurfacing Project
Our 12- 14 week track resurfacing project is underway. The stadium will be closed for use until further notice. We are hoping to be open for business by mid-August. The Student Activities Office is working on plans for all of our programs while the stadium is closed. Thank you for your patience!
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Upcoming Sports Events, Week of May 22 - 26
Click image for access to full WSHS Athletic Calendar.
FALL SPORTS INFORMATION MEETING
If you have a student interested in trying out for a Fall Sport at West Springfield, please plan to attend the parent information meeting on Monday, June 12th at 6:30pm in the Auditorium.
Agenda
- 6:30- 7:00pm, Parent meeting in the Auditorium
- 7:00 - 8:00pm, Sport specific break out session with parents to review try-out information/rubric and team expectations.
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Cheer Camp
WSHS Cheerleaders and coaching staff invite students in grades K-8 to a Cheer Camp on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 9am - 12pm in the school's Auxiliary Gym and dance room. The cost is $35 per athlete.
Register for the camp.
Girls and Boys Summer Basketball Camps!
 Link for registration: WS COED and Girls Basketball Camp
For more information, contact Coach Bill Gibson.
Stay in Touch with Spartan Sports!
You can follow WSHS Spartan Sports on social media:
Twittter: @wshssports
YouTube Channels: LINK
Sign Up For the NEW Sports and Activities News You Choose
Click Image to access sporting events and club activities happening across the entire school.
Upcoming: Performing Arts Spring Concerts
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WSHS Orchestra
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WSHS Bands
- Wednesday, May 24th, 6:30pm
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High School Student Equity Ambassador Leader (SEAL): Student Selection SY24 School Year
FCPS has established a leadership program—Student Equity Ambassador Leaders (SEALS)—to amplify student voices and provide an increased understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion through leadership development, projects, and relevant experiences of high school students.
SEALS was designed to enable students to take an active role in fostering a school culture that affirms and sustains racial, linguistic, and cultural identities. As the stories of marginalized students appear, SEALS participants will be able to contribute to a more equitable and culturally responsive learning environment.
Students interested in being a WSHS SEAL next school year should fill out this application by 3pm Friday, May 19th.
Class of 2023 Information
Senior Dates: See the full end-of-year calendar HERE
- May 24 - 31: Senior Exams
- May 30 - 31: Laptop Return
- June 1: Senior Obligations, (settling outstanding debts) 8:30 - 9:30am (Sports Lobby)
- June 1: Senior Picnic, 12pm
- June 1: Graduation Rehearsal #1, 10am (WSHS Auditorium)
- June 2: Senior Awards Ceremony, 9am in the WSHS Auditorium (Students should wear business casual attire)
- June 5: Graduation Rehearsal #2, 10am (WSHS Auditorium)
- June 5: Grad Walk
- June 6: Graduation at 2pm (Eagle Bank Arena)
- June 8-9: Class of 2023 All Night Grad Party
Senior Dues: $100 (Senior dues cover:)
- School use of Eagle Bank Arena
- Cap and Gown
- Senior Picnic
Families can pay via MySchoolBucks.
When: June 8 - 9, 2023
Time: 11pm to 5am
Check in: Between 11pm and 11:30pm
Check out:
- 4am: activities start to wind-down
- 4:15am: announcements and raffles
- 4:45am: dismissal of students
All students are required to remain at the venue for the duration of the event unless prearranged with parents.
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Contact wshsangp@gmail.com with any questions, and find us on Instagram WSHS ANGP 2023.
 Time for Senior Portraits
Parents and Rising Seniors Class of 2024:
Victor O’Neill Studios, our school’s official school photographer, is excited to see you on the following date(s) for your senior portraits at West Springfield.
June 22 & 23, 2023 for Senior Formal Yearbook Portraits Session A
**Beat the fall rush and get your portraits done early**
The attire for the school’s yearbook pose will be in the traditional Tuxedos and Drapes. Victor O'Neill will provide the Tuxedo and Drapes. In addition to the yearbook session they also offer sessions that include casual/personality portraits and cap and gown portraits. Please follow the link below to choose your session type and appointment time.
**Sessions are scheduled one at a time. Future session dates have not yet been announced. You will receive another announcement from Student Activities when the next session is available for booking.**
Visit our website for more info and to pick a time.
If you have any questions please email seniors@vosphoto.com
FCPS INFORMATION
Tutoring Grants Available for Families
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is now accepting applications from parents for tutoring microgrants for their children through the K-12 Learning Acceleration Grants program.
The program was created to help Virginia families address the impact of the pandemic on student learning. It provides $1,500 grants to parents of school-age children for tutoring in specific subjects. Children from homes with family incomes at 300% or less of the federal poverty level may qualify for $3,000 grants.
Available services include in-person, online, and hybrid tutoring provided one-on-one or in small group or large group settings. The first step in the process is to visit VDOE’s K-12 Learning Acceleration Grants page and create an application account.
📝 Tutor.com Offers Live Tutors and Test Prep
Writing help, practice quizzes, and SAT test prep are available to all FCPS students at no cost through Tutor.com. Find out how your child can get these services, in addition to 24/7 live tutoring, through their Schoology account: How it works.
Making the Transition to High School
A recent episode of the FCPS multilingual podcast covers the transition to high school. When teenagers move from middle school to high school, a world of opportunities opens up. High school offers new courses, new friends, new activities, and new responsibilities. Hear about these new opportunities in your teenager’s life and how parents can be supportive in the transition.
Listen and subscribe:
 🎨 Calling All Student Artists and Designers: Observance Design Challenge
FCPS is looking for high school students to submit artwork to represent the observances on the FCPS school year calendar for 2023-24 (PDF).
The goal of the Observance Design Challenge is to encourage students to tap into their creativity to create visuals that accurately and positively represent the many religious observances celebrated in the FCPS community. Students may also choose to submit a design for Thanksgiving.
Selected entries will be featured on FCPS social media and in newsletters in the next school year!
See all the submission guidelines and instructions on the FCPS website. Entries will be accepted through June 11, 2023.
Quick Links
COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Operation Purple
The National Military Family Association is hosting its first-ever Operation Purple Summer Challenge - a free, self-paced activity experience to stay entertained and connected with other military kids and families for eight weeks this summer! Every military-connected kid who completes a registration is guaranteed a spot! Register and learn more about Operation Purple Summer Challenge, including their Wednesday “Global Gatherings!”
Road Safety Art Contest
 The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is holding its annual Road Safety Art Contest. The contest is open to students in grades K-12 and gives families a fun way to help children and teens learn about traveling safely around large trucks and buses. Entries may be hand-drawn, digital art, animated and live videos, crafts, or photos. The contest is open until Saturday, June 10, 2023.
Find more information and the contest entry form on the FMCSA Road Safety Art Contest website.
FREE Student Bus Passes via Fairfax Connector
 High School Students can now sign-up for a Free Student Bus Pass SmarTrip card at all Fairfax County High Schools and ride the Fairfax Connector and City of Fairfax CUE bus for free.
NOTE: Students will need to have parent’s/guardian’s approval before signing up. Two steps:
1. Fill out this application
2. Bring to the Main Office to get your FREE student pass
🚨 Remind Teens to Practice Safe Driving
It’s a very exciting time of year for many teens: longer days, nicer weather, and end of year/graduation activities.
Please remind teen drivers of the responsibilities that come with driving. According to this video from the Fairfax County Police Department, there were 622 crashes involving teen drivers last year in Fairfax County. Common mistakes among those drivers include failure to maintain proper control (distracted driver/texting and/or speeding), not having the right of way, and following too close (tailgating).
Consider watching this video with your child as a way of showing the real consequences of unsafe driving. FCPD shared footage of a recent incident where speeding led to a serious, but non-fatal, accident. In a news release, FCPD stated, “Parents and guardians should consider using this video as an opportunity to have a conversation with their teen drivers about how their driving behavior can affect the lives of others.”
Police Leaders of Tomorrow
Police Leaders of Tomorrow is a program for young adults wishing to explore careers in law enforcement and learn about policing. This program offers a variety of activities and opportunities for attendees to learn about the police profession, the importance of service to the community, and maintaining good character. Application is due by May 24, 2023.
Memorial Day Holiday
WSHS Social Media
WSHS Facebook: WSHS Spartans are glad to join in on the conversation on Facebook! We look forward to sending pics and stories of what's happening within our school community into your feeds. Stay tuned; follow us.
We are also on:
Need Help? Contact our Family Liaison
If you have questions about navigating the school, learning about FCPS resources, or getting your student setup for success, our Family Liaison can help. Email, or call (703) 913-3830, to set up an appointment.
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