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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
Wednesday, 08/16 – New Student (Parent) Tech Help Open House
Thursday, 08/17 – New Student Orientation (9 - 10am)
Thursday, 08/17 – Spartan Spree (Open House) (10am - 1pm)
Monday, 08/21 – First Day of School
Wednesday, 08/30 – Back to School Night
Friday, 09/01 - Monday, 09/04 – Labor Day Holiday
Monday, 09/25 – Yom Kippur Holiday
BACK TO SCHOOL INFORMATION
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!
Our Main Office hours are 7:15am to 3:45pm Monday through Friday. Feel free to stop by or contact us at 703-913-3800 if you need assistance. Welcome back Spartans!
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The first day of school is Monday, August 21st!
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.
- Days marked with blue Hs are student holidays.
- Days marked with orange Os are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings if only half marked).
- Days marked in pink are holidays for students, but working days for teachers and staff.
Kick Off Events
WSHS will host three events to kick off the school year. These will be opportunities for students and parents to visit the school building, complete necessary back to school tasks, and prepare for the upcoming school year.
New to FCPS Tech Open House
When: August 16th (9 - 10am)
Location: Library
For students (and parents) new to FCPS, and any student who has not attended an FCPS school in the past two years, we encourage you to come to Tech Open House.
Students will get a short introduction to the current technology offered; get to set/reset their password; ensure they are setup on Student Information System (SIS) StudentVue (explained below); and get a chance to ask tech oriented questions. New and returning parents can sign up for and get help with SIS ParentVue, and more! Participants should Enter at Door 1.
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New Student Orientation
Incoming freshmen and transfer students of any grade who will be new to West Springfield should attend orientation. Students will be introduced to school administrators and counselors and get a student-led tour of the school building. Participants should Enter at Door 5.
When: August 17th
Time: 9 - 10am
Location: Auditorium
Spartan Spree (Open House)
Spartan Spree (Open House) allows students and parents full access to the school building. Along with receiving their new Chromebooks, students have the opportunity to find their classes and shake off some of the nerves before the first day of school. Parents can tag along and get several tasks and errands done to get the school year started off right, such as submitting any necessary forms, purchase spirit wear, meet available staff and faculty, and more. Note: students will be able to access their schedules on August 17th in StudentVue. Participants should Enter at Door 5.
When: August 17th
Time: 10am - 1pm
Location: Entire School
Click image to access Spartan Spree map and website.
Spartan Spree (Open House) Q&A
- Who should come? We encourage every student who is available to attend. It will make a good start to the year. Parents are welcome, and often helpful, but not required.
- What do I need to bring? Some school SPIRIT, a bit of patience, and your favorite form of payment... if you plan to purchase a PE uniform, Spartan Spirit Wear, or add lunch money to your student account.
- Where do we start? Enter Door 5 and stop by the Info Table in the Sports Lobby to get a map of the school and ask any pressing questions. Most students will be eager to get their new Chromebook in the Cafeteria. We recommend all students walk their schedule (Note: student class schedules will populate in StudentVue and ParentVue at 6am on August 17th). Families with medications can drop those off in our Clinic. Students with immunization paperwork or optional forms should visit the Main Office.
- What organizations can I expect to see:
- Main Gym
- Student Activities
- FCPS Transportation (bus schedules)
- Spartan Boosters (PE uniform, spirit wear)
- Class Tables
- WSHS Security (Senior Parking Passes)
- WSHS PTSA (membership)
- All Night Grad Party (seniors)
- Military Family and Life Counselor (military-connected families)
- Aux Gym
- What if I want / need a hard copy of my schedule? Stop by the Library.
Find everything we have planned (so far) for Spartan Spree (Open House) HERE.
Health Room Reminders
Medications: Our Health Room will be open to receive medication during Spartan Spree (Open House). In particular, there is a NEW Epipen Authorization. We will no longer accept previous versions. Families needing to turn in medication must also submit a Medication Authorization Form. Parents should ensure expiration dates of medication(s) extend as far as possible into the school year.
Class of 2024 Meningococcal Vaccine Reminder: All students in grade 12 are required to have been immunized with one dose of the Meningococcal Vaccine given at the age of 16 or older. Please review the immunization requirements here. Proof of immunization must be submitted to the school. These documents need to be returned prior to the start of the 2023-24 school year. For more information on this requirement, visit this FCPS website.
NEW (Updating Immunization Records): Parents can submit immunization information anytime by one of following methods:
Other Useful Information
Student Schedules
We look forward to welcoming everyone back in just one week! Our counselors reported back to school on August 3rd, and have been working to resolve student schedule conflicts. Counselors will personally reach out to those students who are impacted. In the meantime, any schedules found on 3rd party applications (such as Talking points, NoRed Ink, Clever, etc) are not official. All schedules are subject to adjustment over the next week.
Official schedules will be available in SIS (StudentVue and ParentVue) as of 6am on Thursday, August 17th. Until that time, counselors will be unable to respond to any special requests. We ask that you kindly wait until official schedules become available in SIS before reaching out to your counselor with any scheduling errors or concerns.
Bus Schedules
We anticipate that bus schedules will be available in SIS StudentVue / ParentVUE the week of Aug 14th for eligible bus riders. Transportation assignments will be visible in the “Student Info” tab in both StudentVUE and ParentVUE. Parents will be able to ask questions and resolve bus transportation issues for their student during Spartan Spree with a FCPS Transportation Representative (in the Main Gym).
Registering for SIS ParentVUE / SIS StudentVue
FCPS uses a secure solution for accessing information about your child's attendance, class performance, and demographic data called Student Information System (SIS). SIS StudentVue and SIS ParentVue supports all aspects of a student’s educational experience. It is important that students and parents are able to access your SIS account. If you are new to FCPS and West Springfield HS, we encourage you to come to our FCPS Tech Open House to learn more.
Visit this website to learn more about registering for your SIS account.
Lockers
Locker assignments (location and combination) will be visible in the "Student Info" tab of SIS StudentVue and SIS ParentVue. This information will populate at the same time student schedules become available. Freshmen and Sophomores are automatically assigned lockers. Juniors and Seniors can request lockers by filling out the WSHS Locker Assistance Form.
Schoology
FCPS uses a learning space called Schoology. Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online and as a primary communication tool with students. Most of our clubs use Schoology for communication as well.
A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:
- Your child’s classes.
- Your child’s upcoming assignments.
- School, class, and group announcements.
Use your SIS ParentVUE account to login to Schoology. Learn more about Schoology on the FCPS website.
School Meals
Preparing for and Paying for Meals at School
Parents/caregivers need to provide their students with money to purchase meals at school, send them with a packed lunch, or apply (and be approved) for free and reduced-price meals benefits. School breakfast for students costs $1.75. Lunch is $3.50 for high school students.
Free and Reduced-Price Meals
The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2023-24 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price lunch last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible for the 2023-24 school year, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost. Find the Free and Reduced-Price Meals Application at this link.
Paying With MySchoolBucks
The best way to purchase meals (and keep food lines moving!) is to use MySchoolBucks. Set up your student’s MySchoolBucks account today.
MySchoolBucks accounts can be set up to add money to the account automatically, as needed. Families with multiple children can use the same MySchoolBucks account. Visit FCPS’ Food and Nutrition webpage for more information.
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Chromebooks for High School Students
FCPS is changing its high school and secondary student devices to Chromebooks. This device will continue to enable students to use web-based tools like Schoology, Google, and online textbooks. Students can pick up their Chromebook during Spartan Spree (Open House). All others will receive a device within the first weeks of school.
If you would prefer that your student bring their own device, they need to make sure it meets FCPS’ minimum requirements. Students who use their own device will not receive an FCPS device. Our school Tech Team will make sure that students have access to an FCPS device for important tests, such as SOLs. FCPS strives to be financially and environmentally responsible. Students who do not use their FCPS device regularly will be asked to return it.
School Traffic Pattern
 Once school starts on Monday August 21st, student drivers and parents are advised to abide by our school Traffic Pattern depicted above.
- Students (seniors) with approved parking permits should entire through the Tuttle Road entrance or Grisby Drive entrance.
- Parents dropping off students in kiss-n-ride must enter through the Grigsby Drive entrance.
- NOTE: We will disallow parents to drop off students at the Tuttle Road entrance.
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES
SAVE THE DATE!
HOMECOMING - October 6
- Football Game vs. Robinson, 7pm
HOMECOMING DANCE - OCTOBER 7
Get Your 2023-2024 SPORTS PASS
Never too early to get your Spartan Sports Pass! These are all-sport, all year passes. NOTE: WSHS home games only. Scan the QR code below or access the ETIX sports calendar link here.
Stay in Touch with Spartan Sports!
You can follow WSHS Spartan Sports on social media:
Twittter: @wshssports
YouTube Channels: LINK
Sign Up For the Sports and Activities News You Choose
STUDENTS CORNER
 Time for Senior Portraits
Parents and Seniors:
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.
August 14,15, & 16, 2023 for Senior Formal Yearbook Portraits Session B
**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 Victor O'Neill Studios website for more info and to pick a time.
If you have any questions please email seniors@vosphoto.com.
Announcing...
 It feels a little premature to announce graduation before the school year even starts! But... we're okay with that!! Tell your family and friends, and be sure to save the date: Thursday, June 6th, 9:30am at Eagle Bank Arena.
FCPS INFORMATION
Quick Links
WSHS Social Media
WSHS Facebook: WSHS Spartans are on Facebook!
You can also find us on:
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