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UPCOMING EVENTS
AUGUST
Mon, 8/26: PTSA In-Person Social, 5-6:30 pm, near Door #2
Wed, 8/28: Back to School Night, 6-8 p.m.
Fri, 8/30: Labor Day Break (No school)
SEPTEMBER
Mon, 9/2: Labor Day Break (No School)
OCTOBER
Thu, 10/3: Rosh Hashanah (No School)
Fri, 10/4: Teacher workday (Student Holiday)
Wed, 10/9: PSAT/NMSQT (Grades 10/11) and SAT Day (Grade 12)- No School for 9th Graders
Mon, 10/14: Staff Development Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Student Holiday)
Thu, 10/31: End of Quarter 1 (2 Hour Early Release)
🗓️ Calendar Reminder: Labor Day
Friday, August 30, and Monday, September 2, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students.
Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day.
We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends. See the complete school year calendar.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
‼️UPDATE: School Traffic Pattern
In an effort to increase safety for pedestrians in the WSHS parking lot, effective Friday, 8/23/24, students should ONLY be dropped off using the Kiss and Ride lanes. Students may not be dropped off in the main parking lot (Tuttle Road entrance) from 7:45am to 8:15am.
Anyone entering through the main parking lot will not be permitted to exit until after 8:15am.
Please see the map below
Family Life Education Instructional Program Information
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms are available in Parent Digital Consent. Paper opt-out forms are available from your child’s school. Students receiving special education services and accessing modified curriculum will receive a printed opt-out form for modified FLE lessons.
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) , Middle School (7-8) , and High School (9-12). FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology. Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account. Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media). Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.
Program questions may be addressed at WSHS or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by email to fle@fcps.edu.
Health and Physical Education Program- 9th and 10th graders
Thank you to those who are participating in our Health and Physical Education program this upcoming school year! The HPE Department is looking forward to a great 2024-25 school year. As we approach the beginning of the school year, we are reaching out to get your support. We have listed a few policies that will help us provide a safe and healthy learning environment for all students at West Springfield High School.
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Dressing out: Students must wear a gray shirt and blue or black shorts. Students must wear sneakers or running shoes to safely participate. Students' participation in class activities can be limited due to improper clothing which can affect their grade. Students can bring a sweatshirt or sweatpants to put on when it is cold. Students are encouraged to wear the PE uniform and you can purchase one using the ordering using the link below. The store closes on August 27th.
PE Uniform Ordering Link: My Team Shop (bsnteamsports.com)
- PE Locker Rooms & Backpacks (new policy this year) : All students have access to PE locker rooms where they can dress out and store personal items. Backpacks will be permitted in the locker rooms this year. All ninth-grade students will be assigned a PE locker and will need to remember their combinations. Tenth grade students will bring their own combination lock and will remove it after class each day. Locks left on after class will be removed. Students must put all backpacks and personal belongings in their PE locker prior to coming to the gyms for attendance.
Please remind students to lock up their personal belongings. FCPS teachers and staff are not responsible for students’ personal items.
- Phones: Students are not permitted to have cell phones in PE. Phones are not permitted to be out while in the locker rooms. Phones must be put in bags before entering the locker room.
We appreciate your support as we begin the 2024-25 school year. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email Jennifer Davies, Department Chair for HPE, at JODavies@fcps.edu
STUDENT SERVICES
Back to School Night is August 28th
Back-to-School Night is an important night for parents to meet the teachers and hear important school and classroom information.
When: Wednesday, August 28th
Time: 6 pm-8 pm
For more information please visit our BTSN Page.
**All presentations and documents for Back To School Night for each class can be found on Schoology. If you cannot attend the event, please review materials for your student’s classes in Schoology.**
Schedule Request Policy
We are excited to have your students joining us for the 24-25 School Year.
All schedules will be live the morning of August 15th in ParentVue and StudentVue.
Our schedule request policy is below:
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Week 1 – Corrections only for too few or too many classes, incorrect grade level placement, absence of required courses, and incorrect course listed.
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Weeks 2-4 – If space is available for elective changes and moving up a level to Honors or AP. These types of requests will not be considered after week 4 of school as students will have missed too much content.
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Weeks 5-6 – No schedule change requests.
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Week 7 – until the end of second quarter – level down changes for students to move out of AP, Dual Enrollment, and Honors courses.
Please note that students will remain in their AP, DE, and/or Honors course until the end of September if they choose to start the year in those courses. We want to give students time to challenge themselves and receive support before they consider dropping down a level.
- Any courses dropped after the second quarter will receive a Withdraw Pass or Withdraw Fail on their transcript – this will not impact the GPA in accordance with FCPS policy.
SCHEDULE CHANGE FORM
For any questions, please email your Counselor.
STUDENT CORNER
Learner's Permit Test at WSHS
When: 3:10pm- specific dates below
Where: Room 2228
Cost: $25
2024-25 Dates: 1st Semester shown below
- September 5 and 26
- October 24
- November 21
- December 5
- January 9
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 you have had 2 unsuccessful attempts at passing this test, then you are required to test at the DMV for your 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, you must also register with the DMV. A link is provided during the ACE registration and in your 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- bring them with you on your 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. You may also show your photo from SIS.
- Earbuds/headphones to listen to directions and test audio (optional).
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 1st Semester are 9/25, 10/21, 11/18, 12/4, 1/8.
Send any questions to Casey Grubbs (clgrubbs@fcps.edu)
SAT School Day
On Wednesday, October 9, West Springfield High School twelfth graders will have the opportunity to participate in the SAT School Day. FCPS will cover the cost for any twelfth grade student to take this test. The essay option and subject area tests are not available during SAT School Day.
Students who would like to sign up for the SAT on October 9th are asked to complete the form below by Wednesday, September 4, at 3PM. Students may not sign up after this deadline.
West Springfield High School: 2024 SAT School Day Intent to Participate Form https://forms.gle/T8p2N5uQmLC3njKy5
Your student will need to use a @fcpsschools.net email account to access and complete this form. For security reasons, no personal accounts will be able to access the form. This link is also available on the WSHS Class of 2025 Schoology Group. A translated version of the form content may be found on the SAT School Day Intent Form webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/43896). FCPS sites cannot accept walk-ins on the day of the exam.
General information about the SAT School Day test format is available on the College Board webpage (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/taking-the-test/sat-in-school). Directions on how to access scores and score release dates are published by College Board via the College Board website. Please note that WSHS will not email scores to students when they are released. Students must access their score through their College Board account, so we encourage all students to log in to or create a College Board account now to be fully prepared.
We will share exam day schedules and additional details in the coming weeks. If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration at West Springfield High School, please contact our Assessment Coach, Laura Fitzsimmons (Lmfitzsimmon@fcps.edu).
PTSA
In-person Social
PTSA in-person social next Monday (8/26) 5-6:30pm at the Outdoor Classroom near Door #2: New to WSHS? Been here but willing to share your experience with others? Just want to meet some other parents or catch up with friends? This is a chance for parents to get together in person for informal chats. No agenda. You don’t have to be a PTSA member. You can just drop in and don’t have to stay the whole time. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome as well!
[If it’s too hot or rainy we’ll head inside – we’ll post a sign and announce the change via social media if needed]
SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES
If you don’t have Spartan spirit wear, don’t worry -- the Booster Club will have plenty for sale!
The cost of all games is $5.00 for students and $7 for adults.
To avoid long lines, we strongly encourage you to purchase a Season Pass, through our eTIX Site. Or you can purchase individual game tickets here.
PLEASE VISIT our WEBSITE www.spartansports.net for more information and our game schedule.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS – We are excited to kick off our football season with our first home game on August 29th as the Spartans take on the Hayfield Hawks @ 7pm.
The theme for this FIRST home game is a WHITE OUT.
All elementary and middle school students need to be accompanied & supervised by an adult while at the game. High school students who get dropped off must plan to have their rides waiting for them at the conclusion of the game.
If you or your student plans to come, please take the time to discuss the relevant information below:
- No backpacks or other bags will be allowed in the stadium.
- No outside food or drinks are allowed. The concession stand will be open.
- The purpose for students who attend our varsity football games is to watch the game, cheerleaders, band, and dance team.
- We cheer for our team and not against our opponent. All cheers should be positive.
- The gates to the stadium will open at 6:15pm.
- All students need to leave immediately following the game.
- Elementary & middle school students must always be supervised by an adult.
- If you leave the game, you will not be able to re-enter the stadium.
- Whistles, air horns and similar noisemakers are prohibited.
Our goal is to create a positive community event. Any behaviors that take away from this goal may result in removal from the game.
LET’S GO SPARTANS!
 Spartan Sports Calendar Week of August 26-31
Save the Date
HOMECOMING - September 27
- Football Game vs. Yorktown
HOMECOMING DANCE - September 28
Stay in Touch with Spartan Sports!
You can follow WSHS Spartan Sports on social media:
Website: www.spartansports.net
Instagram: @wshs_sports
Sign Up For the Sports and Activities News You Choose
 School Activities Calendar. Check it out.
SENIORS
🎓 Graduation- Class of 2025
Our WSHS Graduation date was just released. The Class of 2025 graduation will be held on Monday, June 9th, at 7:00 pm. Graduation will take place at Eagle Bank Arena on the campus of George Mason University. We wanted to get the date and time advertised for planning purposes, you can get all your graduation information on our WSHS Class of 2025 page.
FCPS NEWS
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and more:
- Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE
- Updating Immunizations and Records
- Transportation Patience and Safety
- Superintendent Reid Welcomes Everyone Back to School
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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No-Cost Virtual Therapy for High School StudentsVirtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to provide a safe space to address concerns such as:
- Mood/behavior changes, motivation, grief/loss
- Anxiety, worry, fears
- Social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships
- Academic stress
You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940 or by contacting our school counselor, social worker, psychologist, or director of Student Services.
Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.
FCPS Quick Links
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 or sign up for Talking Points. Use code the code T6AXZW
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