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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.
NEWS AND NOTES
UPCOMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY:
Monday, 2/19: Washington's Birthday and Presidents' Day (no school)
Friday, 2/23: WSHS Black History Month Celebration and Assembly
MARCH:
Tuesday, 3/5: Student Holiday (no school)
Friday, 3/8: International Night, 7pm
Saturday, 3/9: Fairfax County Teen Job Fair @ WSHS
Thursday, 3/21: EL Parent's Night, 6:30pm
Friday, 3/22: End of 3rd Quarter
Monday, 3/25 - Friday, 3/29: Spring Break
📅 Calendar Reminder: Presidents Day (Holiday)
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All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 19, for the Presidents Day holiday.
Presidents Day is a time to honor and remember the birthdays and achievements of the country's most distinguished leaders, and to reflect on the role of the president in shaping the nation’s history and development.
See the complete school year calendar. See the employee calendar.
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Connect FCPS Calendars to Your Personal Calendar
You can subscribe to FCPS calendars so updates and new events will automatically be added to your Outlook or Google calendars. Subscribe to “All Calendars” or specific types of events, including holidays, featured FCPS events, School Board meetings, fine and performing arts events, or religious and cultural observances.
👮School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation
Thursday, February 15, is recognized as School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day. The SROs who work in Fairfax County public schools are sworn police officers with the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD).
We want to give a huge shout out and THANK YOU to Officer Joseph Plazio who has served as an SRO for 12 years.
Thank you for the work you do in our school every day keeping our students and staff safe! We especially appreciate all the relationships you build and the connections you make within our school community. #HappySROAppreciationDay
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STUDENT SERVICES INFORMATION
FAFSA in the Media
There have been many hiccups in the technology of submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for many families. The latest news is that colleges will not get FAFSA summaries from the Dept of Education until mid-March at the earliest. This means that colleges won’t be able to give students financial aid award letters until late April – May at best unless the student completed the CSS Profile.
Media has been reporting the growing list of colleges that will push back deadlines for students to accept offers of admission into May – June.
Bottom line: the new FAFSA has created an unusual application year for the Class of 2024.
Parents and students with questions or persistent issues filling out the FAFSA are encouraged to schedule an appointment with our FCPS partners at College Access Fairfax (CAF). Our school staff and friends at CAF know the delayed FAFSA has provided an unneeded stress to your college application season. Please know that you are not alone.
Report Cards
Report Cards are now Available in ParentVue. Students or parents in need of a physical copy of the report card can email: WSStudentServices@fcps.edu.
24-25 SY CPP Application
The College Partnership Program (CPP) application is now open until March 15th. Learn more about CPP here. The application can be found HERE.
This program is designed to support students interested in exploring, applying to, and enrolling in college. Students of all backgrounds and experiences (grades 8-11) are encouraged to apply.
CPP was created to help students who face additional barriers to achieving their higher education goals, which includes:
- Students who are the first in their family to attend college in the U.S.
- English language learners
- Students who are economically disadvantaged
- Students with disabilities
Direct any questions to one of our WSHS CPP Advocates: Kimberley Greene-Herbert , Jeff Toomer , or Taylor Wagonseller.
Academic Advising Schedule Dates and Information
Academic Advising for next school year continues...
- Our Academic Website is currently available. Students and parents can find a great deal of information on this site, including how teachers provide class feedback, course selection sheets, how to add classes for next year to SIS StudentVue and much more. This is a public site available to all.
- Student considering taking a Dual Enrollment (DE) class will have to complete this packet. Students and parents should note the FCPS DE Virtual Orientation dates available and the Friday, March 22 deadline.
- To better serve DE students during Academic Advising, we are asking students to share their student NOVA ID, aka Empl ID, so that we can ensure a smooth Dual Enrollment process.
DE Students who have not yet created a NOVA ID (Empl ID) and know that they will be signing up for a NOVA Dual Enrollment class for 2024-2025 School year, please access this website to create the ID. Share the ID HERE once one is created.
Important Academic Advising Dates:
- February 20 - 27, Academic Advising Rising Sophomores
- March 29, last day to make schedule change requests for 2024-25 School Year.
STUDENT CORNER
Take your Learner’s Permit Test at West Springfield HS
When: 3:10pm, specific dates below
Where: Room 2225
Cost: $20
2023-24 Dates: 2nd Semester shown below
- February 20
- March 11
- April 3 and 25
- May 15
Who can take the test: Students MUST be 15 years and 6 months old by the day of the test.
- This test is for Fairfax County Public School students ONLY (FCPS ID is required).
- If student has had two unsuccessful attempts at passing this test, then they are required to test at the DMV for their 3rd attempt.
Please read the instructions below carefully…
How to Register:
- Visit FCPS ACE and sign up for a specific date: fcps.edu
- Once registered on the FCPS ACE site, student must also register with the DMV. A link is provided during the ACE registration and in a confirmation email. Failure to register with the DMV will result in not being able to test since they issue the secure testing codes to FCPS proctors.
The following are required to the take the test-; student should bring with them on test day:
- A picture ID to verify identity. If the student does not have a picture ID, take a picture, write the student's full legal name under the picture, and have a teacher sign to verify the student's identity. Students may also show their photo from SIS.
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Earbuds/headphones to listen to directions and test audio.
NEED TO PREPARE FOR THE LEARNERS PERMIT TEST? SIGN UP FOR ONE OF THE PREP COURSES!
These 90-minute classes are offered on Zoom and help to prepare students for the permit test. Sign up on aceclasses.fcps.edu. Dates for spring are 2/13, 3/5, 4/16, 5/7.
Send any questions to Mr. Casey Grubbs (clgrubbs@fcps.edu)
Attention Class of 2024!
Parents, please help get your senior to fill out THIS FORM for graduation. Information provided is necessary for gown orders and name pronunciation for graduation.
🎓Seniors: Graduation Announcements and Accessories
Order HERE
Need help or want to order by phone? Please call 1-800-567-8367
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES
Spring Sports Tryouts Begin Monday, February 19th
Tryouts for most Spartan Spring Sports begin February 19 (President’s Holiday). Our teams host tryouts with the purpose of identifying those athletes that have the ability and potential to fill the needs of the team.
WSHS philosophy is to include as many students as possible in the overall athletic program of the school. At the same time, some sports are limited as to how many student-athletes can participate based on resources, equipment, and the capacity of the coach. Our goal is to maximize the opportunities for our students to gain skills playing sports without diluting the quality of our programs.
Tryout Schedules are depicted below. Parents / students should contact our coaches directly with any questions. Please note that students who have not completed the VHSL Physical and Athletic Registration are not eligible to begin tryouts until cleared by our Athletic Trainers.
Spring Sports Tryout Dates / Times
Spartan Sports Calendar, Week of February 19 - 24
Click the image above for access to the Spartan Sports Calendar.
Stay in Touch with Spartan Sports!
You can follow WSHS Spartan Sports on social media:
X: @wshssports
YouTube Channels: LINK
Sign Up For the Sports and Activities News You Choose
 School Activities Calendar. Check it out.
Yearbooks and Senior Ads Now On Sale
 Yearbooks and Senior Ads are now on sale! Orders can be placed online at https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/ using school code 4150 and will be sold on a first come, first served basis. We sold out of yearbooks for the past two years, so order yours today! We cannot guarantee books will be available for in-person sales at the end of the year. For questions, please email Ms. Melissa Morgan, Yearbook Adviser, at mmorgan2@fcps.edu.
Athletic Boosters
🏅Booster Club Scholarship
2024 Rob Benton and Ron Tugwell Scholarship
Open to WSHS graduating seniors who participated in a VHSL sanctioned event or an FCPS supported club sport at WSHS at any time and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Eligible Participants include, but not necessarily limited to:
Athletes
Performers
Managers
Trainers
Statisticians
Videographers
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sunday, April 7, 2024
Student-Athletes can apply HERE.
Question: wshs.spartans.athletic.boosters@gmail.com.
Athletic Boosters Club Nominations and Elections
The Spartan Athletic Boosters are accepting nominations for the Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 school year.
Elections will be held on May 1, 2024 at the Booster Club Board Meeting. Submission Deadline is April 28, 2024
Need additional information? Check out our website and social media pages at:
📣Spirit Wear
Shop online for spirit wear. Two options:
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Option #1: HERE
- 15% off $70 with code: WIN15
(Exclusions apply to the brands: The North Face, Acrux, and TravisMathew).
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Option # 2: Looking for flannel pajama bottoms, hoodies, beanies, and decals? These items are available at the concession stand at all home games!
FCPS INFORMATION
Instruction 2 Industry Career Expo Event
This weekend, school divisions across the region will team up with Virginia Ed Strategies to host the annual Instruction 2 Industry Career Expo event. This Northern Virginia regional event will allow high school students to connect virtually and in person, with more than 60 local industry professionals from in-demand career fields.
The purpose of this FREE career exploration event is to provide students with opportunities to prepare for tomorrow’s workforce today.
The in-person Career Expo and Job Fair event will be held on Saturday, February 17, from 1-4pm, in the North Hall of the Dulles Expo Center.
Students should register today on the Instruction 2 Industry Events Page
Our Schools, Our Future: Register for Community Conversations
Join Dr. Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:
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Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
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Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
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Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
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Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
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Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
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Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.
Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help us plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Save the Date: FCPS Military Fair (Virtual), March 20, 5:30pm
- Service Panel
- 2 x Optional Breakout Sessions
- Service Academies / ROTC
- Enlistment
More information to follow!
Fairfax County Science and Engineering Fair Open House
Members of the general public are invited to attend the science fair open house at Robinson Secondary School on Sunday, March 17, 1-3pm.
FCPS Quick Links
NEWS FOR THE COMMUNITY
 On February 23rd during LS 4 in the Auditorium, WSHS Black Student Union will lead our student body in a celebration of the rich tapestry of Black history and culture with our Black History Month Assembly. This assembly promises to be an enlightening and inspiring event, showcasing the achievements, contributions, and stories of Black individuals who have left an indelible mark on history. Students must opt-in to attend the assembly. Due to space constraints, the first 900 students who complete the google form will be allowed to participate. [Students have been informed of the assembly and sign up via Schoology.]
Sign Up for FCPS Summer Camps and Learning Programs
Registration is now open for several summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30am to 2pm. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools.
CTE programs are available for grade 6-11 students to explore CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. IFTA allows students to select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, and theater. Visit the IFTA webpage to register.
Summer Learning
Programs are also available for high school students to fulfill the Economics and Personal Finance course requirement, earn a high school course credit via this summer’s online campus program, or recover one high school course credit through the Credit Recovery Academy.
FCPS' free online class for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provides FCPS middle and high school English Learners the opportunity to continue developing their academic, reading, and writing skills in online discussions with an ESOL teacher.
Find session dates, registration links, and registration deadlines on FCPS summer programs.
2024 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Schedule
The Annual Fairfax County Teen Job Fair focuses on students and young job seekers who are looking for a variety of employment opportunities; full time, after-school, seasonal positions, internship opportunities, and volunteer positions.
The fairs have provided thousands of teenagers the opportunity to get in front of employers and for our employers to find talented Fairfax County students to fill their positions.
This year, the fairs will run on two Saturdays in March:
- March 2 at Chantilly High School, 11am - 1pm*
- March 9 at West Springfield High School, 11am - 1pm*
*Final workshops will end at 1:30pm
The fairs are open to all teens in Fairfax County looking for employment, volunteer opportunities, or tips on building their resume.
Student registration is free and open to all teens in Fairfax County looking for employment, volunteer opportunities, or tips on building their resume.
Business registration is also free and open to any organization providing positions for students. Free table space and a complimentary table covering will be provided to registered businesses and organizations to advertise their available positions. Participating businesses must provide positions for students at the fair; soliciting without offering positions is not permitted.
ALL NIGHT GRAD PARTY - 2024!!
WSHS Class of 2024 ANGP
Find general information HERE
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YARD SIGNS FOR SALE
Have you purchased your Class of 2024 Yard Sign yet? Options to personalize! Show your Spartan spirit all year long with a Spartan Class of 2024 or Home of a Spartan yard sign. Yard signs aren’t just for seniors! All proceeds benefit the ANGP for the Class of 2024! Order yours at https://wshs-angp.square.site/signs
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Ready to Eat, Live, and Love Better?
Friends and families of West Springfield High School can sign up for the Seasonal Roots online farmers market and get a 1-year membership for just $25 (50% off)! For each sign up, Seasonal Roots will donate $20 to the West Springfield High School All Night Grad Party!
Seasonal Roots offers custom orders with convenient home delivery of a wide variety of farm-fresh produce, baked goods, eggs, milk and artisan goods.
Click here to sign up and be sure to use the promo code WSHSANGP2024.
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Do you own a local business?
Please consider donating as the ANGP depends largely on the generosity of the community and the senior parents to help make it a successful event and a night to remember.
You can donate online at wshs-angp.square.site. Click the “Donate” link at the bottom of the page. All donations are tax-deductible.
We will show our appreciation for your support by acknowledging all donors on our West Springfield All Night Grad Party website and communications.
We appreciate your support!
WSHS Social Media
Find WSHS Spartans 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 to set up an appointment.
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