A Message from our Administrators
Dear Hunt Valley Community,
This month continues to fly by, and we only have one week left before winter break. Over the last two weeks we have had our 15 days of cheer for staff, and we appreciate the support from our PTA and Sunshine Committee! This week, our staff has enjoyed soup, a potluck lunch, massages, hot chocolate and cookie decorating. We know that our staff is looking forward to the PTA's Sweet Shoppe on Monday. We are so grateful for the kindness and treats that you have given to us!
If you are looking for something to do tomorrow, the West Springfield HS Choral Department is hosting a Breakfast with Santa. See more details below.
Any family that is interested in having their child be considered for full-time Advanced Academic services the deadline is Sunday, December 15th at 11:59 pm. No late forms will be accepted.
Please remind your child(ren) to look through our Lost and Found if they are missing a jacket, sweater, water bottle, lunch box, gloves, etc. Any unclaimed items will be donated on Friday, December 20th.
There is a lot of information below so please look through News You Choose for:
- West Springfield High School Breakfast with Santa
- Employee Awards
- Full-Time AAP Referral Window Reminder
- Federal Impact Aid Survey Reminder
- SEL Screener Information
- SCA Updates
- Multicultural Night Information
- Yearbook Ordering Information
- Update on Potential Changes to Middle School Start Times
- Community Meetings on the Comprehensive Boundary Review
- Preparing for Winter Weather
- Winter Resources from Fairfax County Government Agencies
- West Springfield Little League registration
We hope that everyone has a fantastic weekend!
Sincerely,
Keieownna Hightower, Principal
Chrissy Gibbs, Assistant Principal
Eric Kopacz, Assistant Principal
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Mark Your Calendar
December 15--Full-Time AAP Referral Form DUE
December 23-January 3--Winter Break; Building will be closed
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Employee Awards
Congratulations to our Employee Awards Nominees and Winners:
Outstanding Operational Employee: Melanie Prendergast
Outstanding Professional Employee: Meg Moody and Stephanie Lady
Outstanding New Teacher: Annie Nielsen
Outstanding Teacher: Meredith Leech
Outstanding Leader: Eric Kopacz
Outstanding New Principal: Keieownna Hightower
Ms. Prendergast, Ms. Lady, Ms. Nielsen, and Ms. Leech will move on to the pyramid level!
Thank you to everyone who nominated one of our outstanding employees!
Full-Time AAP Referral Window Reminder for Parents
Parents/guardians who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic services may submit the Full-Time Referral Form (translations linked below) to the local school Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) no later than December 15, 2024. No late forms will be accepted. Point of Contact: Ashley Huntley, arhuntley@fcps.edu
Full-Time Referral Form (PDF)
Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
A huge THANK YOU to all the families that have filled out and submited their form through ParentVue or sent the paper survey back to HVES!!! If you still have the paper survey form that was sent home in your child's Wednesday Folder, please fill it out and return the form to the classroom teacher ASAP.
SEL Screener Information
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.
 
 
Update on Potential Changes to Middle School Start Times
At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from Prismatic Services, Inc., presented options for adjusting start times at FCPS middle schools. As a reminder, Prismatic is charged with developing an action plan to help the School Board reach its goal of starting middle school at or after 8 a.m.
The presentation includes five options for adjusting middle school start times based on the consultant’s analysis from community forums, surveys, and interviews with staff, parents, associations, and other groups. The School Board will provide next steps to the superintendent.
Watch a video of the work session. Visit the Middle School Start Times webpage for more information on the project.
Community Meetings on the Comprehensive Boundary Review
If you did not get a chance to attend one of the recent community meetings on the Comprehensive Boundary Review, please consider attending the final meeting in this first phase of the boundary review process. The Region 1 meeting will take place Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m.,in the Madison High School cafeteria. Register today. If you are unable to participate, stay tuned for details about virtual Community Boundary Review Meetings coming early next year.
View FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information. Sign up for FCPS’ School Boundary Review newsletter as well.
❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.
Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.
Winter Resources from Fairfax County Government Agencies
🍲 Food Assistance and Resource GuideFood insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Learn how to help these families and the many resources available to support those who need food assistance on Fairfax County’s website or view the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
📚 Bundle Up With Books Over Break
Fairfax County Public Library’s (FCPL) winter reading adventure has begun and will continue through Friday, January 31, 2025. Visit your local FCPL library branch or visit their website to register and get a sneak peek at the prizes being offered. Check out their Winter Reading Events webpage to learn about laser tag, movie nights, crafting sessions, Noon-Year Eve celebrations, and book discussions.
⛄ Get Outdoors for Winter Fun!
The Fairfax County Park Authority has rounded up its seasonal fun into a handy list of events happening across the county.
Learn more about the Winter Wonderland and the Holiday Train at Burke Lake Park, Holiday on the Farm at Frying Pan Farm Park, and many more fun events.
 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DA5AF2EA6FECF8-51211530-cafeteria
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DA5AF2EA6FECF8-51771041-lunch
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