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For a translated version of this newsletter, please visit the
Willow Springs website.
Boosterthon Memories
A Note from the Principal's Desk
Dear Willow Springs families,
What a busy and exciting week we had. Although the students were in school for only 4 days, we all put in 5 days worth of effort! Monday was a Staff Development Day and our teachers were engaged in learning about FCPS' new equity policy and what it means for our school and for our daily practices. We also had professional development on math and literacy instruction, and more. At Willow Springs, we are passionate about supporting ALL of our learners and families and providing engaging and enriching learning opportunities for every student, every day.
Wednesday was our big day of the week with our Boosterthon Fun Run during the day and our PTA meeting at night. It was the perfect fall day for a fun run with crisp air in the morning, clear skies, and plenty of sunshine. Our students poured their hearts into the run doing 35 laps of running, walking, dancing, skipping, and jumping. We all had a great time and made so many wonderful memories while supporting our fundraiser. We loved seeing so many families show up to cheer us on and even run/walk with us at the end! Stay tuned to find out when Mr. Taylor, Mrs. Stringer, and Mrs. Tapper are going to get SLIMED to celebrate our big success. See photos and videos from this event, please visit our Facebook page.
On Wednesday evening we had our October PTA meeting and were again very pleased with the great turnout. We heard about school events and updates, talked about plans for future events, and heard the amazing news that we exceeded our Boosterthon fundraising goal! As of Wednesday evening, we had raised over $52,000! We are in awe of everyone's generous support of our school. Please join us at future PTA meetings as we will be discussing how the funds will be used. We want YOU to be a part of the discussion and decision making. Our November meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8th at 7:00 PM in the library. You may participate in person or virtually.
On Friday, we had a fire drill and we enjoyed a visit from Murphy the therapy dog. Murphy will continue visiting our school every Friday and each week he will visit a different grade level or group of students. On Friday, we also learned that our Friday Farmer's Market is featured in an FCPS news story. You can find the story and video on our Facebook page.
It was a busy and rewarding week at Willow Springs! We look forward to seeing many of you at Bruster's Real Ice Cream on Wednesday from 5-8 PM. The ice cream is delicious and we will have celebrity scoopers. It's a great opportunity for friends and family to chill out together.
Thank you for sending us your best everyday! Together, we make a great team. #GoTeamWillow #Willow Pride
Sincerely,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
Laura Tapper, Assistant Principal
A Peek at Willow's Planner
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October 18 Family Night at Bruster's Ice Cream
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October 31 Dress as your favorite book character
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November 5 End of Daylight Saving Time - Fall Back 1 hour
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November 6 - 7 - Teacher Workdays, No School for Students
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November 13 - 17 - American Education Week
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November 16 -- Book Fair Family Night & Family Engagement Event
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November 22 - 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday, Schools Closed
 Outstanding Performance
Our very own Liz Flaherty, Student Information Assistant/Registrar, was honored at a ceremony this week as a recipient of a 2023 FCPS Individual Excellence Award!
This honor recognizes and celebrates Ms. Flaherty's commitment to serve FCPS with the highest degree of dedication and professionalism. FCPS commends her personal efforts and achievements to produce exceptional results while supporting our school system’s mission and vision.
Here's a blurb from the nomination packet:
Liz is the incredible website curator at Willow Springs Elementary School. While her official title is Student Information Assistant, Liz has become one of the premiere school website curators in FCPS. The WSES website feels like a welcoming porch that allows visitors to see a beautiful snapshot of the school, full of happy, engaged students and staff. Liz is constantly striving to improve her skillset as a website curator.
Way to go, Liz! We are all so grateful for all you do to support our students, families, and staff every day!
 We Appreciate You!
Celebrated every October, National Principals Month is an opportunity schools and communities to celebrate and honor our incredible principals for their visionary leadership and tireless pursuit of success for each student. Thank you, Mr. Taylor, for all you do to make Willow Springs such an amazing place for all students to learn, grow, and have fun!
Digital Citizenship Week
Next week, schools across the country will recognize Digital Citizenship Week to focus on having important and powerful conversations with students of all ages about safe and appropriate online behavior.
To support families in having these same conversations at home, you can find an abundance of resources to read and/or watch using this link.
If you have questions or need help, please reach out to the school or to your child's teacher.
Family Night at Bruster's Ice Cream
We invite all families to join us next Wednesday, October 18th at Bruster's Real Ice Cream located at 3903 Fair Ridge Drive from 5-8 PM. Enjoy a sweet treat while spending time with friends and see if you can spot some celebrity scoopers. Show up to find out who will be scooping ice cream.
Check out all the amazingly delicious flavors before you go:
https://brusters.com/menu/
Lexia Parent Night:
Learn About Literacy Support
FCPS funds Lexia for all elementary and middle schools to use as part of their literacy instruction. Lexia is a computer-based program that supplements classroom instruction to help students develop literacy skills. It also provides teachers with the data to identify students who need additional support, and the ability to know which specific concepts and skills to prioritize. Attend an information night to learn more about Lexia and how FCPS is integrating it into the classroom. Parents/caregivers will also get tips for supporting their students at home.
Information nights will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:
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Wednesday, October 18, at Thoreau Middle School (Cafeteria).
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Thursday, October 19, at Edison High School (Auditorium).
Register to attend or submit a question in advance.
News from the Health Room
Kindergarten and Third grade students will receive a Vision and Hearing screening on Wednesday, November 1.
Activities and Clubs
Visit the Activities/Clubs page on the WSES Website for more information.
All Foxes Need a Den and a Friend
The Willow Springs PTA cordially invites ALL families to join the PTA and become active members of our amazing school community! We are stronger together and strong schools and communities support healthy lives and high achievement for our children.
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