We are excited to celebrate Staff Appreciation Week next week and honor the incredible educators and team members who make our school such a special place. This year’s theme, Mustang Proud, reflects the dedication, care, and pride our staff bring to our students and community every single day.
Throughout the week, we will recognize the many ways our staff go above and beyond to support learning, build relationships, and create a positive environment for all. I am inspired by the commitment and heart I see in our school, and I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate alongside you.
We invite you to join us in showing appreciation, whether through a kind note, a message of thanks, or simply sharing your gratitude with a staff member who has made a difference in your child’s life. Your support helps make this week even more meaningful.
Thank you for being part of our Mustang community and for helping us celebrate what makes us truly Mustang Proud.
As we continue to strengthen communication between home and school, we are also preparing to meet upcoming accessibility requirements in future school communications. These requirements are designed to ensure that all families can easily access, understand, and engage with information from teachers and the school.
We have created a brief survey to better understand your preferences for how you receive communication from your child’s teacher, including format, frequency, and accessibility needs. Your feedback will help us make communication more effective, inclusive, and responsive to every family.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.
Thank you for helping us improve how we connect and support your child’s learning.
WSES Annual Award Nominations Open
It is that time of the year that we request nominations for our WSES Awards. Please take a moment to nominate a staff or community member! Please use this form to nominate staff, students or community members for one of our four end of the year awards.
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Extra Mile: You Go the Extra Mile for Children. Your daily walk alongside children has taught them how to walk, and by your example…where to walk. Your footprints will be the stepping stones to their future.
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Footprint: Some people come into our lives and quickly go…But others stay a while, and leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.
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Starfish Award: Every day, an old man walked the beach with a pail, picking up starfish that had been washed in by the tide, and throwing them back into the sea. One day a young boy stopped the old man and asked, "Why do you throw the starfish back? It doesn't matter. They will only wash up on the shore again tomorrow." The old man picked a starfish out of his pail, threw it as far as he could into the sea, and replied…"It mattered to that one."
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Inclusive Educator Excellence Award: This award honors a Mustang who actively promotes diversity and inclusion, creates a welcoming and supportive environment where every student feels valued and able to succeed, employs innovative and effective teaching methods that engage all students, demonstrates leadership in advocating for inclusive practices, and commits to ongoing professional development to enhance their understanding and implementation of inclusive teaching strategies.
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 18.
The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.
Full details and the nomination information form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.
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Wednesday, May 13
House Color Spirit Day and Whole School Photo
Early Release at 12:25 p.m.
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🚴 Exciting News! Bike Safety Unit Starting Next Week! 🚴
From May 6th to June 6th, Mr. Aleman will be teaching a Bike Safety Unit during P.E. Here are the details:
👟 Closed-Toed Shoes Required:
For your safety, remember to wear closed-toed shoes—no Crocs or sandals, please!
🪖 Bring Your Own Helmet:
Feel free to bring your own helmet for extra comfort and protection. Safety first! (we will have helmets but will require students to wear hair nets).
🚲 Bring Your Bicycle:
If you ride your bicycle to school, you can use it during class. Time to pedal to success!
🌦️Dress Appropriately:
This unit will be held outdoors, so make sure to dress appropriately for the weather, unless it's raining. Be prepared for a wheelie good time rain or shine!
Adults on Campus During PM Dismissal
To help us maintain a safe and orderly environment, families are reminded not to enter school property before 3:20 p.m. Students are still in session at that time, and many classes are using outdoor spaces for recess and instruction.
We have noticed an increase in adults gathering behind the building prior to dismissal. For student safety and supervision, this area must remain clear until dismissal procedures begin.
We appreciate your cooperation in waiting until 3:20 p.m. to arrive on campus and for helping us keep all students safe.
Donations Requested
Help us keep our staff happy these last weeks by donating candy (preferably chocolate). Our staff loves a sweet treat during the day, thank you!
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results Now Available
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March, 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, we will share copies with you directly.
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.
Free Theatre Tickets to Mamma Mia
Theatre 4 Kids Foundation has partnered with West Springfield High School to provide an exciting opportunity for elementary students interested in the performing arts!
They are offering 80 free tickets per show to West Springfield's performance of Mamma Mia on April 30, May 2, May 7, May 8, May 9 all at 7:00 PM.
If you are interested, please click to complete the Google Form https://forms.gle/5zU3nNHYpa5LAvYr9 to get free tickets!
This offer is sponsored by the non-profit organization, Theatre 4 Kids Foundation, run by FCPS high school students with a mission to inspire the next generation of performers, artists, and technicians by providing unforgettable performing arts experiences for students and their families.
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:
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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.
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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
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.
Get Ready for Field Day! (Volunteers Needed)
It’s almost time for the most high-energy day of the school year - Field Day! On Friday, May 29nd, our students will be heading outside for relay races, games, and plenty of school spirit.
To make this day a "win" for everyone, we need a team of enthusiastic parent volunteers to help us manage stations and keep the fun moving. Whether you're a pro at officiating or just great at cheering, we have a spot for you!
📅 The Game Plan
We have broken the day into shifts so you can volunteer for your child's specific session or stay for the whole day:
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Morning Shift (Grades 3rd – 6th): 9:10 AM – 11:10 AM
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School-wide Picnic: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
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Afternoon Shift (Grades K – 2nd): 12:30 PM – 2:10 PM
🙋 How You Can Help
Ready to join the fun? To make sure everything runs smoothly and safely, please follow these two quick steps:
Thank you for helping us make this a memorable day for the kids. Let’s hope for sunshine and high energy!
6th Grade Panoramic Photo
Victor O’Neill will be here on May 5 at 9am to take a panoramic photo of the 6th grade class. If you would like to order the photo please go to: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001223152
The online code will be your student ID number. All orders placed before photo day will be shipped home with no shipping charge.
Kindergarten Registration
It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
If your child will attend our school, please gather necessary documents and begin the registration process!
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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.
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Grade Level
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Reading SOL
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Math SOL
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Science SOL
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Integrated Reading & Writing SOL
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3
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May 12
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May 14
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none
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none
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4
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May 12
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May 14
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none
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none
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5
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May 12
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May 14
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May 19
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March 24 (no retesting)
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6
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May 12
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May 14
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none
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none
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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.
Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations.
Dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are also available.
Save the Date
Week of May 4 - Staff Appreciation Week
Tuesday, May 5 - 6th Grade Panoramic Photo at 9:00 a.m.
Wednesday, May 13 - House Color Spirit Day
Three Hour Early Release at 12:25 pm
Monday, May 25 - Wednesday, May 27 - No School
Friday, May 29 - Field Day and School-Wide Picnic
Friday, June 12 - Inflatable Costume Race and Human Sundaes of 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?
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