 Give thanks to a WSES staff member: https://forms.gle/MLbWdaJMeBfj4GCZ8
 We’re excited to offer a series of monthly sessions designed to support and empower you as partners in your child’s education. Each month, we’ll dive into a new topic, offering practical tools, insights, and resources that you can use at home. From understanding curriculum to learning strategies that boost student success, these sessions are a great way to connect, ask questions, and grow together as a school community.
Our first session is all about our new Language Arts Program - Benchmark Advance on November 19 at 6:00 p.m.
- Our Reading Specialist will introduce our new Language Arts Curriculum, Benchmark Advance. We’ll discuss the program’s scope and sequence, lesson structure, and give you a chance to explore the materials your student is using in class each day. We’ll also share practical tips on how you can support your child’s reading at home. We hope you can join us and bring any questions you may have about the Language Arts program—we’ll be happy to answer them!
Registration Required *Childcare available
Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfItM9-gaatOCb_bKaGOlz_vE6PAIUH6BoxJukDNtFnSl4gGA/viewform?usp=sf_link
***Reminder - Monday, November 18 - 3 Hour Early Release at 12:30 p.m.
Inclusion Schools Week
During the week of November 18, we will be recognizing our neurodiverse population by celebrating an Inclusive Schools Week. As part of this week, morning meetings will focus on building empathy, being inclusive, and celebrating diversity. We are preparing bulletin boards that do the same and working with teachers to prepare activities throughout the week.
Often, when we speak to students about neurodiversity, we recognize everyone’s difference as their “Superpower.” That is to say that we strive to celebrate these differences and want each child to view them as strengths. So as part of this week and in an effort to recognize and celebrate each student’s “Superpower,” we are asking for your support to work with your child to submit a video on the link below. These videos will only be visible by West Springfield Teachers and they may be shared with your child’s classroom or shown on morning announcements with yours and their permission.
The prompts for the video are:
- My name is __________.
- I am in _______ grade in Mr./Mrs. __________ class.
- My Superpower is _____________.
- I use my superpower to ________________________________.
Please use this link, My Superpower Video, to submit your video. We are asking for all videos to be submitted by TODAY!
Family Life Preview Night
There will be a virtual preview of the Family Life Education (FLE) program on Tuesday, November 19 from 7:00 pm - 7:45 pm. This will occur via Zoom https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/94169159288. Your child’s teacher will communicate with parents via newsletters showing dates of instruction and the link for the opt out form.
The elementary FLE program is taught by the regular classroom teacher. The early elementary program emphasizes the importance of families, distinction between good and bad touch, sources of help, and the importance of friendships. Human sexuality is first introduced in grade four. In the Human Growth and Development unit, students learn about the male and female reproductive systems. Students view age-appropriate videos and learn the maturational process, changes which occur during puberty, and prenatal development. Students study the effects of peer pressure and begin to examine the influence of media on behavior and attitudes. Students begin an understanding of sexually transmitted infections in grade 5. The emotional and social health unit includes abuse prevention from good touch/bad touch in primary grades to types of abuse in upper elementary grades. Instruction for abuse prevention includes resources for help.
Holiday Assistance
As the holidays are approaching, ECHO a local community-based organization, can provide support for you and your family if needed. Please contact Jen Lynch, School Social Worker jblynch@fcps.edu if you need assistance with contacting this organization.
Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.
For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
West Springfield Pyramid Challenge - November 16
The West Springfield Pyramid Challenge is a FREE fun run that was started over a decade ago with the goal of introducing cross-country running, encouraging community involvement, and fostering school spirit among the elementary schools of the West Springfield Pyramid. This year's event will take place on Saturday, November 16 from 10:00am-12:00pm at Washington Irving Middle School. Students from the participating elementary schools will run a half-mile or one-mile course, depending on their grade level. This year's event will also include a unified heat with an accessible 200-meter course for students with physical and cognitive disabilities. The participating elementary schools are: Cardinal Forest, Hunt Valley, Keene Mill, Orange Hunt, Rolling Valley, Sangster and West Springfield.
RACE SCHEDULE:
Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your race start time to pick up your t-shirt and bib!
10:00 am: Half Mile Kindergarten (Boys & Girls)
10:15 am: Half Mile 1st Grade (Boys & Girls)
10:30 am: Half Mile 2nd Grade (Boys & Girls)
10:45 am: Half Mile 3rd Grade (Boys & Girls)
11:00 am: Unified Run (K-6 Boys & Girls; 200 Meters)
11:10 am: Mascots Race (Weather Permitting)
11:20 am: One Mile 4th, 5th & 6th Grade (Boys)
11:40 am: One Mile 4th, 5th & 6th Grade (Girls)
Boundary Review Community Meetings Start This Month
As a reminder, FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This important work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is vital to this process. With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will be hosting a series of community meetings in each of FCPS’ six regions. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.
Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Full-Time Referral Deadline
Spring screening is available for any Grade 2-7 FCPS-enrolled student. The spring screening referral deadline is December 15, 2024. If you would like your child screened for Full-Time AAP Services, please do not wait for test scores before submitting a referral.
- The referral form and optional parent questionnaire can be submitted electronically or you can send in a hard copy. Please note the sections to add commentary and/or examples to both the referral and parent questionnaire. The optional work samples guidelines submitted from home are listed here, as well. Scroll down close to the bottom of the page to find this information. Please note no more than two additional pages of student work samples on single-sided 8½” x 11” pages can be submitted. We will work as a school committee to decide on work samples from school that best show student strengths, including critical thinking and problem solving skills. Please send/email all documents together. Referrals and other optional materials submitted after the deadline of December 15, 2024 will not be accepted.
- This parent checklist lists required and optional documentation and important dates.
Andrea Howard, Family Liaison
IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair
Parents/caregivers, school staff, and students over the age of 14 are invited to attend an interactive event celebrating the individualized education program (IEP) process. The IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, November 16, 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., at Luther Jackson Middle School.
The event is sponsored by Fairfax County Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA). Activities include simulated IEP meetings, break-out sessions on the various parts of an IEP, and a resource fair to learn more about community supports. Register in advance.
Save the Date
Saturday, November 16 - November - West Springfield Elementary Pyramid Challenge
Monday, November 18 - 3 Hour Early Release
Inclusive Schools Week Nov 18 – 22
Friday, November 22 - Walk in My Shoes
Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29 - Thanksgiving Break
WSES 3-Hour Early Release Mondays:
- November 18
- February 10
- March 10
- April 21
- May 12
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