 First graders releasing their butterflies
We are thrilled to invite you to our annual Heritage Night - our biggest school celebration of the year! This special evening is a chance for our community to come together, honor our diverse traditions, and learn from one another.
Date: Wednesday, October 21
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
How to Participate:
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Food Sign-Up
Share a taste of your heritage! Bring sample-size portions of a favorite dish that reflects your family’s cultural background. Sign Up Here
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Display Sign-Up
Create a display to share your culture, traditions, and story. Posters, trifolds, photos, artifacts, and other creative ideas are welcome. Sign Up here.
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Student/Family Showcase
Perform or present something meaningful to you, your family, or your culture. All are welcome to showcase until the sign up is full! Students can sign up on the poster near the front office.
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Volunteer to Help
Former Student Mustangs, this is your chance to give back and earn service hours by helping make the night a success! Sign Up Here
News and Notes
Outstanding Mustang Employee Nominations
It’s time to recognize the incredible staff members who make West Springfield ES such a special place! 🐴💙
Nominations are now open for the 2026–2027 FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards. Mustang staff and families are invited to nominate a deserving West Springfield employee who goes above and beyond for our students, staff, and school community.
🏆 AWARD CATEGORIES
- Outstanding Teacher
- Outstanding New Teacher
- Outstanding Principal
- Outstanding Professional Staff Leader
- Outstanding Educational Services Employee
- Outstanding Operational Services Employee
🗓️ NOMINATION DEADLINE Friday, October 23, 2026
📝 HOW TO NOMINATE Complete the nomination form linked here.
Questions? please contact Jessica Knotts
Thank you for helping us celebrate our amazing Mustang staff! 🐴
📚 Book Character Parade – Friday, October 16
Students are invited to dress as their favorite book character and bring the book to carry in our Book Character Parade!
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Please note: No masks or pretend knives and/or weapons.
Families are welcome to join us on the track at 9:00 AM to watch the parade and celebrate our amazing Mustang readers!
Cultural Showcase
This year in our front lobby, we will have a Heritage and Cultural Showcase. This month (October 1-October 31st), we will be highlighting Disability History and Awareness Month and LGBTQIA+ History Month. If you are interested in contributing an artifact (picture, piece of clothing, story, etc.) to the showcase, please fill out the Google Form here and bring your artifact to the front office.
Traffic Safety Near Our School
We understand that families may need to drive their children to school from time to time. If you need to, please familiarize yourself with our school’s kiss-and-ride procedures for the safety of all children and staff.
Please drop off or pick up your students in the designated areas. Students should not be dropped off or picked up in other areas around the school or in nearby neighborhoods. Please also avoid parking in neighborhoods or double parking in front of our school if you intend to walk your child to school. This can increase the number of students walking through busy intersections and create traffic hazards for other drivers and families trying to get to school.
Please follow all signs and directions posted at our school, on public roads, or provided by school staff or crossing guards, and avoid making U-turns. Most of all, always — ALWAYS — drive slowly near our school. The safety of all our students is one of our top priorities!!
The Fairfax County Police Department has additional safety tips for families, including ways to keep walkers safe and what to do about scooters, bicycles, and e-scooters.
Fall into Flavor With FCPS’ New Menus
FCPS’ new September and October menu items are packed with classic favorites and fresh global inspiration. Check our new online menu system to see when you can try new recipes based on student feedback, and developed by FCPS’ executive chef and team of food and nutrition experts.
Student Pictures
You still have time to order your student’s photos at www.strawbridge.net/picture-day-lookup
Enter our school name and state
Select “Get Code”
Enter your child’s name and student ID and click “submit”
Click on the student code to access
Volunteer With Us!
Now is the time to become an approved FCPS volunteer so you can volunteer as a chaperone, support classrooms and special events, assist in the cafeteria, and more! All volunteers must register with FCPS, complete the volunteer orientation, and sign in using the visitor kiosk. Some volunteer opportunities may also require a background check.
Our Focus on Academic Growth and Excellence
The FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
The third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful, including reading on level by third grade. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice.
Advanced Academic Programs
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services is available to students in Grades K-12 and is designed to match services to each student’s unique academic needs.
Identification for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services occurs throughout the school year. Full-Time AAP services have two identification cycles:
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Fall identification: Students in grades 3-7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15, 2026.
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Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2-7 may be referred by December 15, 2026.
FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration in the holistic identification process for AAP services.
- All students in Grade 2 take the Naglieri General Ability Test (NGAT).
- Students in Grades 3-6 who do not have a multi-domain ability test score take the NGAT.
- Students in Grades 3-6 may retake an ability test one time. Families may request the ability test retake by contacting Caryn Seiler, School Testing Coordinator, at csseiler@fcps.edu by September 30.
For more information, please contact Caryn Seiler, AART, at csseiler@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs website.
Dates for Early Release Wednesdays
Early Release Wednesdays will start in late September 2026. Each elementary school will have a total of four early release days throughout the school year. Students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m.
Early release Wednesdays for West Springfield ES are:
- November 18
- January 13
- April 7
School Hours
- 8:45 AM – 3:30 PM
- Doors open at 8:45 AM *students should not arrive before 8:45 AM
- Students are expected to be in class by 8:55 AM (after that, they are marked tardy)
Attendance
- Please call the attendance line at 703-912-4444 or use our online form to report absences or tardies
- Daily attendance matters—please aim for on-time arrivals!
Family Resource Center
Family and School Partnerships Family Cafes
Growing Together: Talking About Social-Emotional Learning at Home
Parents and caregivers of students in all grade levels are invited to learn how to understand their child’s SEL Screener results and use them to start conversations at home. Childcare, interpretation, and snacks will be provided. Please register in advance to help with planning.
- Date: Thursday, October 8, 2026
- Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Location: Skyview High School, 2949 Education Dr., Herndon, VA 20171
- Registration link
- Contact: Family and School Partnerships Office, 703-204-4300, FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu
Sibshops and SibTeens
Join us for a morning of connection, activities, and conversation with peers who share similar family experiences.
- Sibshops is a community-building program for children in grades 2–5 who have a sibling with a disability. Participants can play games, enjoy art activities, and connect with other children. Register here
- SibTeens is a community-building group for students in grades 6–8 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have a sibling with support needs. Through recreational and art-based activities and discussion, students can share about their lives and support one another. Register here
Session details
Date: Tuesday, November 3
Time: 9 a.m.–12 p.m. (Sibshops and SibTeens)
Location: Katherine Johnson Middle School
Address: 3801 Jermantown Road, Fairfax, VA
Save the Date
Tuesday, October 6 - Multi-Lingual Family Night, 6-8pm
Wednesday, October 7 - Walk & Roll to School Day
Monday, October 12 - Student Holiday
Friday, October 16 - Book Character Parade
October 19 - 23 - Bookfair
Wednesday, October 21 - Heritage Night, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 30 - End of Quarter, 2-hour early release at 1:25 p.m.
Monday, November 2 - Tuesday, November 3 - Student Holidays
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