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Happy Valentine's Day Eagles!
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In our SEES school community, we S.O.A.R., meaning that we demonstrate: Support, Optimism, Acceptance, and Responsibility.
Dear Springfield Estates Families,
What a wonderful week we’ve had at Springfield Estates! Valentine’s Day was filled with love, kindness, and plenty of sweet treats. It was heartwarming to see our students and staff spreading joy throughout the building!
No School on Monday, February 19Just a reminder that there will be no school on Monday in observance of Presidents Day. We hope everyone enjoys the long weekend and comes back rested and ready for a great week ahead!
WIDA Testing UnderwayOur multilingual learners are hard at work completing their WIDA assessments, and we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts! This important assessment helps us measure their growth in English language proficiency, and we appreciate the support from teachers and families in encouraging our students to do their best.
Possible Weather Impact Next Week
We are keeping an eye on the potential snowstorm forecasted for next week. Please stay tuned for any schedule updates or school delays/closures. As always, we will share information as soon as possible via email, social media, and FCPS weather alerts.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Enjoy the long weekend, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday!
With gratitude,
April Martin, Proud Principal and Kassandra Flading, Assistant Principal
P.S. Don't forget to follow us on social media for daily updates and photos! https://www.facebook.com/seeseagles and https://www.instagram.com/springfieldestateselem
Upcoming Dates & Reminders:
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February 17: School Holiday - Presidents' Day. No school for staff or students.
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February 18: SEES Spelling Bee. Details coming soon.
- February 21: SCA Spirit Day: Blend In or Stand Out Day!
- February 28: SCA Spirit Day: Dress to Impress Day!
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Mar 7: SCA Spirit Day: Work Out or Sleep In
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March 10: Three Hour Early Release Monday. Students will be dismissed at 1:05 p.m. unless we have already received notification from their families that they should stay until 4:05 p.m.
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Mar 14: SCA Spirit Day: Students Dress as Teachers and Teachers Dress as Students
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March 14: Pi Day and Math Night. Details coming soon!
- March 17: Spring Pictures.
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March 21: SCA Spirit Day: Tie Dye Day
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March 28: SCA Spirit Day: Monochromatic Day
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March 31: School Holiday - Eid al Fitr. School is closed for staff and students.
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April 1: Teacher Workday. No school for students.
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April 14 - 18: Spring Break. School will be closed for staff and students.
Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener
The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-6 during the week of March 10th. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. More information is available about the SEL Screener by accessing this link: https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener
If you have any questions, please reach out to Allison Donnelly at aldonnelly@fcps.edu.
From the SEES PTA
Online Spirit Wear Store - Deadline February 28
Looking for new SEES Spirit Wear? The PTA's online store is now open! Choices include short sleeve, long sleeve, and hoodies. Order online now here. After the online store closes, purchases will be sent home directly with your student.
Shirts are only available through pre-order (we will not have extras for sale). Once the online store closes on February 28, no other purchases can be made. Apparel is all printed, locally in Fairfax, by DMV TEES, who works closely with SEES for Custom Apparel throughout the year! Proceeds benefit the SEES PTA.
For questions, contact Megan Brooks in the SEES office at mjbrooks@fcps.edu.
Staying Safe - Arrival, Dismissal and Transportation
In collaboration with the Fairfax County Police Department, we are sending out the following guidelines and reminders. Please remember that our school is situated in a neighborhood, and drivers must adhere to the traffic rules and regulations in place. Thank you for helping us to keep our students safe, reduce traffic congestion around our school, and be respectful of our neighborhood!
Families choosing to travel to SEES by car MUST use our Kiss & Ride Line.
- Students cannot be dropped-off/picked-up on the street in front of or behind the school.
- Students cannot be let out of the car in the middle of the street.
- Drivers cannot double-park, especially on Meriwether Lane.
- Do not block driveways at any time. Parking is not allowed within 10 feet of driveways.
- Do not park next to the yellow curb in the bus loop directly in front of SEES. These areas are reserved as bus-loading/unloading zones.
- See the section below for details on using Kiss & Ride at SEES.
Walkers
- All walkers use Door #7.
- Door #7 is only staffed until 9:20 am for arrivals. If you arrive after that time, please escort your child to Door #1 at the front of the school.
- All Kindergarteners must be met and walked home with a family member who is 16 years of age or older. All other walkers should walk home immediately after leaving the building.
- Children who leave school as ‘’walkers’’ are considered to be walking directly home and are not supervised once they exit the building. Children may not leave as a ‘walker’ to then meet a parent at a car parked in our neighborhood.
Kiss & Ride
- Students using Kiss & Ride are dismissed to our cafeteria where they are supervised until called out to their car.
- Our Kiss & Ride line operates from Deepford Street (behind SEES) – turn into our side parking lot and follow the car line/instructions. Kiss & Ride is staffed until 9:20 am in the mornings and begins to shut down around 4:15 pm in the afternoon.
- Drivers remain in the car at all times. Please do not pass other cars in the Kiss & Ride line at any time unless directed by a staff member. Your SEES Kiss & Ride Car Tag must be displayed on your rearview mirror. Please pull forward as directed by staff. Students will be called by number when parents arrive in the Kiss & Ride line to pick them up.
- Children enter and exit on the right (passenger) side of the vehicle.
- If you arrive by car after school starts, please park in a designated parking spot and bring your student to our main entrance (Door #1) and sign them in at the front office. Do not drop them off at our main entrance as this is our bus loop.
Bus Riders
- Families should be at the bus stop at least 5 minutes prior to the listed pick-up time. PreK and Kindergarten riders must be met by an authorized guardian.
- Transportation can be reached directly at 703-446-2150.
- Daily bus delays are listed at www.busdelay.fcps.edu.
- Families can sign up for the FCPS Here Comes the Bus App to receive real-time bus location information. Search ‘’Here Comes the Bus’’ at FCPS.edu for details.
Same Day Dismissal Changes
Same day dismissal changes, including planned early pick-ups of students, must be communicated to the front office in writing prior to 3:30 pm (an email to SpringfieldEstatesElem.Attendance@fcps.edu is preferred).
- A note to the classroom teacher is also appreciated BUT, as classroom teachers may not have an opportunity to check their email before the end of the day, all dismissal changes MUST be communicated to the front office.
- If your child is being picked up during their Specials time (music, PE, art, etc.), please allow additional time for them to return to their classroom to pack up their belongings.
If your child attends SACC, be sure to also let the SACC staff know of a dismissal change as SACC operates separately from FCPS.
From FCPS
Breaking Down the Budget: Investing in Our Classrooms Did you know that more than 85% of FCPS’ budget stays in our classrooms? Currently, 92.5% of FCPS staff are school-based, more than neighboring school districts. We are in the middle of FCPS’ annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback. Learn more about the proposed FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget and see the budget timeline.
🤧 Protect Yourself and Your Community From the Flu
Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department.
The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
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Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
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Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
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Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.
🐻 It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us prepare and ensure we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
Families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms on the FCPS kindergarten registration webpage. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the kindergarten registration webpage.
✨ A strong start is Goal 1 of the 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Learn More About How Your Child Feels at School
The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-12 in March. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop the skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who do not have a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28 Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day. Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student. To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28, and the week of March 3, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
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