Willow Springs School News, 11/17/23

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We had lots of fun and made lots of great memories at the Thanksgiving lunch.

Thanksgiving Lunch

It filled our hearts to see so many families join us for the Thanksgiving lunch! This was a great way to come together as a community and to make special memories with our children. 


A Note from the Principal's Desk

Dear Willow Springs families,

November is Family Engagement Month and we have enjoyed engaging with so many families this week! On Wednesday we welcomed over 400 families to our Thanksgiving lunch! We loved seeing the students' faces light up when they saw their parents. Yesterday, we had a very successful Book Fair Family Night and Math & Literacy night. It was exciting for the students to meet an author and have their books autographed. We saw so many students and families having fun engaging in math games. Thank you to everyone who joined us this week! We look forward to more family engagement opportunities  in the future.

We hope everyone has a great weekend. Don't forget that next week is a short week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you for sending us your best every day. #WillowPride

Sincerely,

Dylan Taylor, Principal

Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal

Laura Tapper, Assistant Principal


Willow the fox

A Peek at Willow's Planner

  • November is Native American Heritage Month and Family Engagement Month
  • November 22 - 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday, Schools Closed
  • December 6th – Chorus and Advanced Band Concert, Cafeteria, 7:00pm  (Chorus and band students report at 6:30pm)
  • December 18 - January 1 - Winter Break

Impact Aid

Federal Impact Aid Forms Due

We are still missing many Impact Aid Forms, all students not completed online have been sent paper copies home. Please either complete the survey online or return the paper copy as soon as possible. The deadline for submission is November 17, however we will continue to accept forms since we are required to submit forms to the federal government for all students. If you have any questions or need help, please contact Liz Flaherty, Impact Aid Coordinator.

Online: Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out the Federal Impact Aid Survey. To make it easier, the form is available online in SIS ParentVUE this year. Once logged in, please select the “Online Packets” tab at the top, then select “Federal Impact Aid Survey” from the drop-down menu.This is important, because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers. For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Forms have been sent home to those who have not completed the online form, please return the form or complete the online survey.

A completed survey is required for each school-age child in every household.


We have had a great fall book fair!

Book Fair

We have had a great fall book fair and we hope the students enjoy reading their books. We are so fortunate to have had author John Gallagher here to talk with our students and autograph their books. Thank you to all of the parent volunteers!


Students had fun playing math games.

Math & Literacy Night

We had so much fun playing math games with our students and families. A big thank you to Mathnasium for providing the games!


Next week is the Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanksgiving Holiday

Schools and offices will be closed November 22-24. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Classes will resume on Monday, November 27. Learn more about the first Thanksgiving. See the complete school year calendar.


Reminder:  Window for Full-time AAP Referrals Closes on

December 15, 2023

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Referral Form to our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Ashley Raymond, no later than December 15, 2023

The window for families to submit a referral for full-time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually.  Forms for full-time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. 

Submitting a referral form for full-time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for full-time placement.  Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Ashley Raymond.

Referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific AAP or part-time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for full-time AAP next fall. 

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.


This is cold and flu season.

Staying Healthy This Cold/Flu Season

Cases of RSV, the flu, and other viruses often rise this time of year. It is important for students to wash their hands regularly and cover their coughs and sneezes. Please monitor your child’s health daily and keep them at home if they are sick. Visit FCPS' Health and Safety Guidance webpage for more tips.


Attendance Matters

Missing School Over the Holidays

Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.

Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.


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.

  • Join the PTA
  • PTA Page on the Willow Springs Website
  • PTA Facebook Page
  • Spirit Wear Online Store-We are excited to see our fellow foxes showing their Willow Pride in snazzy spirit wear!  Open 24/7 all year long!
  •  Our online spirit wear shop is open year round, 24 hours a day for your shopping convenience.

https://willowspringses.fcps.edu/events-calendarQuick Links