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 Mindfulness, Movement, Mindset
Students in Yoga Club meet on Wednesday mornings to strengthen minds and bodies.
A Note from the Principal's Desk
Dear Willow Springs families,
February seemed to fly by as it brought us lots of changes and learning opportunities. This week our students have really enjoyed the spring-like weather and opportunities for outdoor play.
As our thoughts turn to spring, we are reminded that soon we will be preparing for the 25-26 school year and our influx of new Kindergarten students and students who will be joining our AAP program from other schools. If you have a preschooler at home who will be eligible for Kindergarten in the fall, we encourage you to register them as soon as possible (see registration information below). This will give us the information we need to plan our Kindergarten Orientation and welcoming activities.
Next week promises to be another energy filled week as we celebrate Read Across America Week. You can celebrate at home as well by setting aside time to put the devices away and read as a family or take a trip to a local library.
We wish all of you a relaxing & rejuvenating weekend filled with happy moments. Thank you for sending us your best every day! #WillowPride
Sincerely,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
Laura Tapper, Assistant Principal
Let's Read Across America!
Next week, schools across the country will engage in the annual celebration of Read Across America Week. Here at Willow Springs, we have a week full of engaging activities planned to remind us how much fun reading is and how it helps us learn and grow.
Information on Eating Disorders
According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2023), Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. There is no single cause of an eating disorder. Rather, it is a complex combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that converge and set off an individual’s predisposed genetic vulnerability.
In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a web page with detailed information and resources for parents and guardians. This information may be found at Eating Disorders.
 Kindergarten Registration
If your child is eligible for kindergarten enrollment for the 2025-26 school year please complete the Survey of Preschool Children. The form should be returned to Liz Flaherty, Registrar at WSES.
Online Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open. If you have a child who is eligible to start Kindergarten in the fall, please register them now. Early registration gives us the information we need to start supporting YOU as you prepare to send your child to public school.
Both new and returning (re-enrolling) families can use our Online Registration (OLR) system to register students entering Kindergarten (00) through 12th grade for the upcoming academic year.
Welcome to Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) Online Registration.
OLR provides families with the information to utilize this convenient registration tool. Parents and guardians can still register students using the electronic bundle or choose to complete paper registration forms if they prefer.
Willow Springs Student Registration Page for New Students.
After registration is complete the student will be ready for orientation, Bridge to Kindergarten, or any other introductory events Willow Springs may host.
 🚀 Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun
Registration will be available soon for summer camps offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students. Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration begins for these programs on Monday, March 10, and ends Friday, June 6.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to allow current K-5 students to explore activities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary arts, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps.
E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes.
For more information, see the Summer Learning page.
Ramadan Meal Kits
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
 You-Seum Now Open!
We are so proud of our Willow Springs families and want to showcase who YOU are. Our school "You-Seum," a museum display about you is now open!
We want to showcase artifacts that are special to you and your family, ex: I am bringing in a Slovak dictionary from my grandmother. To avoid overcrowding the showcase, we do have a signup.
Please use the link: https://signup.com/go/fLifscr Please also make a card explaining the item and its connection to your family. Include any student or staff names! We will rotate the items each month!
PTA Volunteer & Leadership Opportunities
We have two more volunteer leadership opportunities coming up. Please consider giving your time to the Willow Springs PTA through one of these opportunities!
Yearbook Committee
The PTA seeks two people to support the publication of the school Yearbook. In partnership with PTA Vice President, Marci Sackie, these roles are largely behind the scenes and able to be done from home. Ideally, these volunteers would commit to two years in these roles. For more information or to volunteer, please email vicepresident@willowspringspta.net.
Nominating Committee Members
It may seem hard to imagine as we kick off 2025, but Spring is just around the corner. The PTA seeks members to serve on the 2025 Nominating Committee. This committee reviews applications and recommends the slate of Executive Officers for the vote of the PTA membership. PTA Vice President Marci Sackie is managing the committee this year. For more information or to volunteer, please email vicepresident@willowspringspta.net.
2025 FCPS Family Summit
Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging!An Extension of the Special Education Conference
Families, educators, and community members are invited to the 2025 FCPS Family Summit: Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging. Fairfax County Public Schools will be hosting the free, in-person event in collaboration with valued community partners. The summit will be held Saturday, March 15, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at South Lakes High School.
As you plan your spring and summer activities and travel, please keep in mind that our 3rd - 6th grade students will be taking standardized tests (SOLs) in May and June.
If you can avoid traveling or appointments that will keep your child out of school on a scheduled testing date, that would be greatly appreciated and will benefit your child. Students tend to prefer taking these tests in their classrooms and learning spaces with their peers and their usual teachers. When students are absent on a testing day, they are eligible for a makeup opportunity, but the makeup test will be given by any available staff, and it will not take place in the classroom.
The calendar is linked here. Please know the schedule is subject to change.
We will be sharing more information about testing in the coming weeks and months. Please stay tuned and attend PTA meetings to learn more.
March is National Women's History Month and Celebrating Arts in Our Schools Month.
March 3-7: Read Across America Week
March 9: Daylight Saving Time Begins, Spring Forward 1 Hour!
March 17: 3 Hour Early Dismissal
March 25: 5th Grade SOL Test: Integrated Reading and Writing
March 28: Quarter 3 Ends; Willow Springs Spirit Night-Fairfax H.S. Field House Gym 6-8 p.m.
April 28: 3 Hour Early Dismissal
May 19: 3 Hour Early Dismissal
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