 70 staff members, 150 chaperones and 14 busses makes a great day at Burke Lake!
Next week, we proudly recognize Military Connected Families Week, a time to honor and celebrate the students and families in our school community who serve or have served our nation.
Our military-connected families demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and strength in the face of unique challenges, including frequent moves, deployments, and time apart from loved ones. Their experiences enrich our school, bringing diverse perspectives and a deep sense of commitment and service.
We are grateful for the sacrifices these families make and for the contributions they bring to our classrooms each day. As a school community, we remain committed to supporting and uplifting our military-connected students, ensuring they feel valued, understood, and connected.
Please join us in recognizing and celebrating these exceptional families throughout the week by participating in our Spirit Week. We also invite our military families to join us for a breakfast in your honor on Wednesday.
Calendar Changes
April 21, 2026 - CALENDAR CHANGE - No School
April 22, 2026 - CALENDAR CHANGE - No Early Dismissal
STEAM Night, Science Expo & Book Fair
Wednesday, April 15
Bring the whole family for an evening of interactive, hands-on fun. Explore a variety of activity stations at your own pace, whether you prefer to watch or participate.
Make the most of your night by starting at the Book Fair, then visiting the Science Expo, and finishing at STEAM Night, which begins at 6:00 p.m.
📚 Book Fair: 4:00–7:30 PM
🔬 Science Expo: 5:30–6:30 PM
⚙️ STEAM Night: 6:00–7:30 PM
|
Discover the power of STEAM!
- build an air-powered car
- design marble runs
- show off your coding skills
- create a catapult
- explore electronics
- program robots
- engage in a Keva Plank challenge
|
Purple Up! Military Breakfast
We invite all WSES Military-connected families to breakfast on Wednesday, April 1 (Purple Up Day). Deadline to RSVP is TODAY!
Month of the Military - Spirit Week Next Week
 Monday- Patriotic Day! Wear red, white, and blue.
Tuesday- Stars and Sparkles! Wear stars and/or sparkles.
Wednesday- Purple Up Day! Wear lots of purple!
Thursday- Hats Off to Military Kids! Wear your favorite hat to school.
Friday- House Color Day! Wear your house color.
WSES Book Fair - Next Week
The Spring Book Fair is April 13-17 during school and Wednesday evening with STEAM Night. Students will preview books in the library and can buy any day.
You can help by volunteering! Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C4BA5AE2BA0F94-63359862-west#/.
For easy purchases, set up a Scholastic eWallet: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/westspringfieldelemschool.
Lights! Camera! Action!
Get ready for a night of music and movie magic! You’re invited to our Spring Music Program on Tuesday, April 24, at 6:00 p.m. in the gym.
Come enjoy tunes from your favorite movies, performed by our amazing Kindergarten, Second Grade, Fifth Grade Chorus, and Sixth Grade Chorus. This is a show you won’t want to miss!
Bring your family and enjoy the fun!
Visiting our school anytime soon?
Avoid frustration and pre-register!
Raptor Safe is our new visitor management system. This will be the standard way to sign in at all FCPS schools.
The new system allows you to pre-register via the Raptor Safe app, saving you valuable time when checking in for school visits or events! We strongly encourage all family members to download the app and complete their registration today, it will only take a couple of minutes to complete the process!
Registration Options:
-
Via the App: Search "Raptor Safe" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can also visit raptortech.com/raptorsafe-app/ for direct links.
-
In Person: If you are unable to register ahead of time, you can still complete the process at the school kiosk. Please ensure you have a valid photo ID with you to check in
Discover What's New on the Menu
FCPS is excited to bring new and flavorful menu items to students while continuing to meet the high nutrition standards you trust. The school division’s registered dietitian team has developed standards to make school meals healthier while still tasting great.
Here’s what students can look forward to:
- New globally inspired dishes that offer exciting flavors from around the world.
- Fresh ingredients like whole grains, lean proteins, and plant-based options.
- Scratch-made items like homemade granola.
- Vegetarian options like the meatless Philly melt are available alongside classic favorites.
Our goal is to provide balanced, safe, and flavorful meals that support students’ learning, growth, and overall health.
Want to know what’s on the menu? Food and Nutrition Services has menus available.
Advanced Academic Programs (AAP)
Screening for Subject-Specific and Part-Time Services
Students may be evaluated for subject-specific and part-time AAP services at any point during the school year. Each spring, schools also review data for all students to determine service placements for the upcoming school year.
- Parents or guardians may begin the screening process by submitting the AAP School-Based Services Referral Formto the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) or Assistant Principal by April 15 each year.
- Families who submit a referral will receive notification from their local elementary school regarding their student’s eligibility status by early June.
For additional details, please refer to the Spring AAP Newsletter.
If you have questions, contact our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Caryn Seiler, at csseiler@fcps.edu
2026 Special Education Family Conference
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Marshall High School.
Dr. Shelley Moore will deliver the keynote address on The Evolution of Inclusion. It will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information, including breakout session offerings and a list of vendors that will be on site. Confirm your attendance for this year’s conference.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
Nominate Our Outstanding WSES Staff
Do you know an outstanding WSES staff member who goes above and beyond or turns ordinary to extraordinary? Nominate them for an FCPS Cares Award and help share how amazing they are!
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Pyramid Art Show
Wednesday, April 15th, 5pm-8pm, West Springfield High School
Selected artwork from West Springfield ES will be displayed along with artwork from surrounding elementary schools, Irving Middle School and West Springfield High School. Students that have art on display will receive an official invitation with their name on it in the beginning of April.
Volunteer with Us!
The new volunteer management system, Volunteer FCPS, allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities at our school or across the school district.
Volunteer FCPS is how FCPS provides a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. Anyone interested in volunteering with FCPS must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk on EVERY visit – no exceptions.
SOL Testing and Parent Permission to Retest
 Students in grades 3-8 participate in state assessments each year. These Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments measure how students are learning grade level standards. See the table below for the primary dates for Spring 2026 SOL testing at WSES.
|
Grade Level
|
Reading SOL
|
Math SOL
|
Science SOL
|
Integrated Reading & Writing SOL
|
|
3
|
May 12
|
May 14
|
none
|
none
|
|
4
|
May 12
|
May 14
|
none
|
none
|
|
5
|
May 12
|
May 14
|
May 19
|
March 24 (no retesting)
|
|
6
|
May 12
|
May 14
|
none
|
none
|
If you have questions about state assessments or about SOL retesting, contact your student’s teacher or James Koontz, School Testing Coordinator, at jhkoontz@fcps.edu.
Department of Family Services April Parenting Workshops
Parents and caregivers can join the April “Stronger Foundations for Parenting” workshop series focused on building strong parent-child relationships, resilience, and overall child well-being. Sessions are offered both virtually and in person throughout April.
 |
|
It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
If your child will attend our school, please gather necessary documents and begin the registration process!
Questions? Please contact our registrar Maria Paz Garcia.
|
Kindergarten Orientation
DATE: Wednesday, April 22
TIME: 2:00 - 3:00 pm
WHERE: Cafeteria
WHO: Parent and Rising Kindergartner
Save the Date
Monday, April 13 - Book Fair Week, Military Connected Sprit Week
Wednesday, April 15 - Purple Up Day
- 📚 Book Fair: 4:00–7:30 pm
- 🔬 Science Expo: 5:30–6:30 pm
- ⚙️ STEAM Night: 6:00–7:30 pm
Tuesday, April 21 - No School
Wednesday, April 22 - Kindergarten Orientation 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Week of May 4 - Staff Appreciation Week
Wednesday, May 13 - Three Hour Early Release at 12:25 pm
Friday, May 29 - Field Day and School-Wide Picnic
Friday, June 5 - Inflatable Costume Race and Human Sundaes to Dr. Sheers and Mr. Potten ~10:00 AM
Monday, June 15 - 6th Grade Promotion at 10:00 am
Wednesday, June 17 - Early Dismissal at 1:25 p.m./Last Day of School
❓Questions?
|
