September 18th, 2026 Edition
Important Dates
September 21st- Student Holiday- No School (Yom Kippur)
September 23rd- Senior Parent Night (6:30PM in WSHS Auditorium)
October 7th- SAT & PSAT School Day (*No report day for 9th graders; 2 hour early release schedule for 10th-12th)
October 31st- Deadline to order 2027 yearbooks & create Senior Ad
News From WSHS
Update to Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Dear WSHS Families:
We are changing our arrival and dismissal traffic pattern effective Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The details are outlined below, and for our returning families, it is the same pattern that we have used in previous years.
For Kiss n’ Ride drop off please enter the school grounds with the crossing guard at the Grigsby Drive entrance. Once you enter the campus, you will take an immediate left down our kiss n’ ride lane and proceed to door 1 for drop off.
West Springfield High School’s SGA Presents.. Highway to HOCO: A week of Rock n’ Roll
Homecoming Dance Tickets are $25. Tickets MUST be purchased via MySchoolBucks BY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 at 11:59pm.
*Important Guest Information: Students may bring one non-WSHS guest. If bringing a non-WSHS guest, the student should purchase two dance tickets in MySchoolBucks, after which, submit a completed Homecoming Dance Guest Form. The guest form contains a section that MUST be completed by an administrator at the guest student's school BEFORE being submitted. Incomplete guest forms will not be accepted and guests arriving without completed forms will not be allowed to enter the dance.
Guest forms should be submitted to Room 2441 (Mr. Alukonis), Room 2114 (Mrs. Whitlock in the Leadership Classroom), or the Activities Office. All guests must enter the dance with a WSHS student and present photo ID upon entering. These forms must be turned in by 3PM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9.
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Homecoming T-Shirts - LIMITED TIME ONLY!
Orange Homecoming T-Shirts are available for purchase on My School Bucks from September 18th through September 24th.
$10 for S, M, L, and XL $12 for XXL and XXXL. The graphic provided is an approximate of the design - it may vary slightly once printed.
Buy your shirt early and wear orange to the Homecoming football game on Friday, October 9!
More details about spirit week and all of our other events are coming soon! Stay tuned!
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SAT School Day and PSAT/NMSQT Testing Day
SAT School Day and PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) exams will be held at each high school on Wednesday, October 7, at no cost to families. The digital SAT School Day exam is offered to pre-registered 12th grade students, and the digital PSAT/NMSQT exam is provided to 10th and 11th grade students.
Unscheduled Day for 9th Grade Students Because of the testing, most 9th grade students will not have school on October 7. Students are encouraged to complete any missing work or assignments that need to be completed prior to the end of the first quarter.
Ninth grade students with disabilities who receive low incidence special education services will still receive in-person instruction with a two-hour early release on October 7.
Contact WSHS Assessment Coach akhorak@fcps.edu or Family Liaison scstevens@fcps.edu with any questions.
Learn more about SAT and PSAT assessments in FCPS.
Yearbook Orders!
📚 2027 Yearbooks – Lowest Price of the Year!
- 💰 Cost: $70.00 ( book only) | $76.00 (Includes custom nameplate)
- ⏰ Order Deadline: October 31st
- 🛒 How to Order: Click here to order and use school code 4150 for West Springfield.
🎓 Senior Yearbook Ads (see Senior section below for more info)
- ⏰ Design & Order Deadline: October 31st
- 🛒 How to Order: Click here to order and use school code 4150 for West Springfield.
Please note that if you receive free or reduced meal benefits, email slholgrefe@fcps.edu and ask for further instructions on how to pay. Include your full name and student ID number in your email.
Student Schedules
Our Spartans are off to a great start and have had the opportunity to settle into their classes and become familiar with their schedules.
As we move further into the school year, students who would like to request a schedule change should first meet with their school counselor. Their counselor will provide them with a schedule change form, which requires parent/guardian and teacher acknowledgment of the request.
Please keep in mind that submitting a request does not guarantee a schedule change. All requests are reviewed based on graduation requirements, course availability and sequencing.
World Language Credit by Exam (WLCBE)
Registration is now open for the Fall 2026 World Language Credit by Exam (WLCBE). The WLCBE assesses language proficiency in languages other than English and recognizes the strengths that our students bring as effective communicators in multiple languages.
This assessment may be used to award world language credits towards graduation, determine course placement for language courses offered in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), and fulfill the world languages requirements for the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy. Please review the FCPS WLCBE Page for important testing information including the registration process and languages offered.
Registration Window
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Opened: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
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Deadline: Friday, October 16, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
Questions about the WLCBE can be directed to your students' school counselor!
Attendance Matters!
Every school day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect. Regular attendance helps students build strong relationships, develop lifelong habits, and make the most of every learning experience. We encourage all West Springfield High School families to make attendance a priority by establishing consistent routines and arriving on time each day. Together, we can create a school community where every student is present, engaged, and empowered to reach their full potential. Every day counts! We are here to help and support. If you have any questions about your children's attendance, please contact Nicoleta Abott, Dean of Students: fnabott@fcps.edu
Introducing Our 2026–27 ML Family Literacy Sites
The Family Literacy Program supports multilingual learner families by building English language skills, strengthening family literacy, and connecting families with their children’s schools and communities. The program is free for eligible FCPS families.
This year’s sites include Glen Forest ES, Graham Road Community Building, Mission Center, West Potomac HS, Herndon HS, Falls Church HS, John R. Lewis HS, and Centre Ridge, which offers a virtual option.
Classes are offered during the fall and spring, both in person and virtually. Families attend classes during the day or evening, depending on the site, and must live in Fairfax County and have a child who attends—or will attend—FCPS.
To learn more or register, contact the Family Literacy Program at 571-423-4647 or visit the Family Literacy Program website.
Website for the Family Literacy Program: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/multilingual-learners/family-literacy-program
News from FCPS
Superintendent Community Conversations
Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for the event closest to WSHS:
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
College Fair and Postsecondary Virtual Night
Prepare for your child’s future at College Fair and Postsecondary Night. The annual FCPS College Fair will be held Sunday, October 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the George Mason University Eagle Bank Arena. Approximately 200 colleges and universities will be represented, including two- and four-year schools and U.S. Service Academies.
The virtual postsecondary night event will be held on Monday, October 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. Both events will help students prepare for the next chapter of their educational journey. Learn more about the College Fair and postsecondary virtual event.
Yom Kippur
Monday September 21, is a holiday and schools and offices will be closed. See the complete school year calendar.
Virtual Mental Health Services
Since 2023, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to offer virtual mental health services to FCPS high school students.
Parents are encouraged to contact Hazel Health directly if they are seeking mental health support for their child, have noticed changes in their child’s mood or behavior, or are having difficulty connecting with a therapist in the community.
To make it easier for families to access services, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to streamline the referral process. Parents can visit the Hazel Health in FCPS website to enroll their child in services or visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.
Twice Exceptional Students
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners are students who are both gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities.
Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage, which also includes a link to the Special Education Handbook.
New information, including printable flyers, has been added under the heading Supporting 2e Learners in FCPS.
For more information, please contact Student Services at (703) 913-3800
 Senior Parent Night
Join us for Senior Parent Night to learn more about what to expect during your student’s senior year! We’ll review important senior-year information, graduation requirements, postsecondary planning, key dates and deadlines, and resources available to support students and families throughout the year. We look forward to partnering with you as we help our seniors make the most of their final year at West Springfield!
When: September 23rd @ 6:30 PM
Where: West Springfield HS Auditorium
Senior Meetings
This week, our school counselors visited senior Advisory classes to review important information about postsecondary planning and the college and career process.
Starting the week of 9/14, seniors are able to schedule their individual Senior Meeting! During these meetings, students will review graduation requirements, postsecondary goals, college and career planning, transcript requests, and more!
Counselor Alpha Assignments:
- A–BIE | Ms. Frisch — Ms. Frisch is currently on leave. Ms. Sethi (Director of Student Services) and Mr. Stansbery (College & Career Center Specialist) will be supporting her seniors with their individual Senior Meetings.
- BIF–DAH | Ms. Malloy — Ms. Malloy is serving as the long-term substitute for Ms. Montain.
- DAI–GAB | Mr. Montero
- GAC–HOW | Ms. Fleming
- HOX–LED | Ms. Arenholz
- LEE–MOD | Mr. Tsang
- MOE–PIN | Ms. Fulton
- PIO–SEC | Ms. Neforos
- SED–TOO | Ms. Lodwig
- TOP–Z | Mr. Duperrouzel
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All Night Grad Party
The All Night Grad Party is booked for June 8th, 2027 at The St. James!
Stay tuned—ticket sales will be open in November!
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Celebrate Your Senior: 2027 Senior Yearbook Ads Now On Sale!
Commemorate your student's achievements and milestones with a Senior Ad in the 2027 West Springfield High School Yearbook! These custom recognition ads allow you to share favorite photos, personal messages, and words of encouragement to celebrate your graduating senior.
Important Information:
- ⏰ Deadline to Design & Order: October 31st
- 🔑 School Code: 4150
- 💻 How to Order: Visit https://yearbookordercenter.com/, enter school code 4150, and follow the prompts to choose your ad size and complete your design.
Space in the yearbook is limited, and ads are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to design and submit your ad early.
If you have any questions, please contact Stacie Holzgrefe at slholzgrefe@fcps.edu.
Personalized Graduation Yard Signs
Want to celebrate your graduate in a special way? Personalized graduation yard signs are available to order now. (You can also celebrate their sports/band/theater participation) Click the link below to order yours!
You will need to create an account first, then it will bring you to the order page.
https://springfield-va.fastsigns.com/fcps
Senior Pictures - Session C (October 13th-16th)
 To book a Senior portrait session during the WSHS upcoming session dates (October 13th - 16th.), please visit www.vosphoto.com/westspringfield .
National Honor Society Candidate Invitations
NHS candidate invitations were emailed to eligible seniors on September 9. Students who received an invitation have met the 3.5 GPA scholarship requirement and are invited to apply for membership in West Springfield High School’s S. John Davis Chapter of the National Honor Society. Students who wish to be considered must complete the NHS Candidate Application by 10:00 p.m. on September 18, 2026. The application must be accessed using the student’s FCPS Google account.
Families of eligible students are encouraged to check with their student to ensure they received the invitation and are aware of the deadline.
Have a great weekend!
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