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 Veterans Day
Tuesday, November 11, is a holiday and schools will be CLOSED for students.
Meet Ms. Meseret "Messi" Mogues
Pictured above Meseret Mogues (left) and Heather Shrader (Right)
Hello, my name is Meseret Moges, and I’m excited to join the team as your new school nurse. I’m passionate about supporting student health and creating a safe, caring environment. I look forward to working with everyone and helping our students stay healthy and ready to learn.
Ms. Mogues is joining Heather Shrader, our Public Health Nurse, to support student health and well being through the services and supports offered in our Willow Springs Health Room.
Dear Willow Springs Families,
We hope your weekend was an enjoyable and relaxing one. Quarter 1 ended just over a week ago and we are already fully immersed in November and Quarter 2. We hope all of you were able to attend the annual fall Parent-Teacher Conferences to learn how your child is doing is school and how learning can be supported at home. If you weren't able to schedule a meeting, it is never too late to contact your child's teacher and ask for a short meeting. Meetings can be held by phone, in person, or virtually.
November has brought us a time change, some cooler temperatures and lots of vibrant fall color. It is also bringing a flurry of activities. This Friday we will have the very popular PTA Bingo Night starting at 6:00 PM. We are also looking forward to the annual Thanksgiving Lunch, the fall book fair, and Family Engagement Night. This month is a great time to get involved in school activities which help strengthen our bonds and our school community.
We look forward to seeing you at these upcoming special events.
Sincerely,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Laura Tapper, Assistant Principal
Peter Wolf, Assistant Principal
FCPS Outstanding Employee Award Nominations
Willow Springs is a wonderful place for students to learn, grow, and blossom together. The growth of our children at school is expertly guided on a daily basis by outstanding teachers and staff members who work in partnership with you to ensure our children have all they need to achieve their dreams.
We are very pleased to announce that nominations are now open for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards!
This is a great opportunity for YOU to show the teachers and staff members who are an integral part of our FOX FAMILY how much you appreciate the difference they have made, and are making, in the lives of your children and all the children in our school community.
To submit a nomination for a Willow Springs Elementary School Outstanding Employee, please complete the nomination form found in this Google Doc.
All that is required is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work. Tell us the story of how this employee has supported you and your child. Multiple parents may collaborate on one nomination.
You may nominate up to ONE employee per category:
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal) at their current location
- Positions in this category include Assistant Principal, Associate Principal, Director of Student Services, Director of Student Activities
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership at their current location
- Positions in this category include Resource Teacher and Special Education Department Chair and Multilingual Learners Department Chair who serve in a non-instructional role for more than 50% of their time, After-School Specialist, Assessment Coach, Athletic Trainer, Career Center Specialist, Career Experience Specialist, College and Career Specialist, Crisis Resource Teacher, Instructional Coach, School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Psychologist, Reading Specialist, Safety and Security Specialist, Social Worker, Speech Language Pathologist, School Counselor, Systems of Support Administrator, or other employee paid as a Resource Teacher who serves in a non-instructional or administrative role in the school)
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee at their current location
- Positions in this category include Administrative Assistant, Office Assistant, Student Information Assistant, Finance Technician, School Finance Assistant, Student Services Assistant, Registrar, Custodian, Building Supervisor, Operating Engineer, Food Services staff, Instructional Assistant, Family Liaison, Public Health Training Assistant, Safety and Security Assistant, and all hourly employees*
The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 14, 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact Laura Tapper (latapper@fcps.edu) or Amanda McCabe (anmccabe@fcps.edu).
Complete 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, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in.
Please complete your survey as soon as possible.
We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or submitting the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type “Federal Impact Aid Survey” in the Issue Description section. You may also call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
Elementary Language Arts Grades
Progress report grades in English language arts (ELA) have changed to reflect the 2024-25 curriculum, assessments, and Standards of Learning.
FCPS is raising the bar and setting high goals! We are teaching and grading students on the skills they need by the end of the school year. Think of it as a growth chart and each quarter students are measured in progress toward end of year expectations. In light of this, first quarter grades are often lower than the other quarters as students work to reach grade-level mastery.
This is an expected part of the learning journey. We are here to support every student as they progress in learning. We are celebrating the effort and growth toward these new, higher standards! Learn more about this change in ELA grading and reporting.
📚 Uncovering Characters in Language Arts 📚
Students in grades K-6 are now in Unit 2 in Language Arts (Benchmark). This unit is about why characters matter.
Students in K-5 will be learning about different characters, and how they shape stories and face challenges. Grade six students will learn about how characters are changed and inspired by others.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: How does the way you act change the way people think about you?
- Activity: Pretend you are a talk show host and interview your child as if they are the main character of their favorite book.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchhmark Families website.
November Early Release Wednesday
Wednesday, November 19th will be a 3 Hour Early Release Wednesday.
Students will be dismissed at 1:00 PM.
Family Night & Call for Volunteers
This year’s annual Family Night Event will be held on November 20th!
We are in need of 20-30 adult volunteers for the evening for centers and activities put on by the Children’s Science Center. Anyone volunteering must be registered as a level 2 (or higher) volunteer in the FCPS volunteer system. Here is the direct link: https://volunteer.fcps.edu/custom/501/opp_details/1611
Book Fair Volunteers
Our book fair will be here before you know it. Mark your calendars for November 17-21.
We will need several volunteers throughout the week to help with everything from set up and take down, to making wish lists with our younger students, and working the register. Anyone volunteering must be registered as a level 1 (or higher) FCPS volunteer. Here is a link to our sign- up page: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F4DACA72CAA8-59407968-2025.
November 11: Veteran's Day Holiday, Schools Closed
November 14: PTA Bingo Night, 6-8 PM
November 17-21: WSES Book Fair Week
November 19: 3 Hour Early Release at 1:00 PM
November 20: Annual Thanksgiving Lunch & Family Engagement Night
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