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December 17, 2021
Willow Springs families,
Winter break is here, and although it is not the halfway point of our school year, it is undoubtedly a milestone. Our students, staff, and families have so much to be proud of thus far, and we hope our Willow Family takes time over the break to celebrate!
As we enter the New Year, we encourage everyone to take the time to reflect and think of both individual and family goals that you have for the new year. What specific steps do you need to take to reach these goals? What will it look like when you finally get there? It's critical to practice this process as we all improve ourselves every day.
It has been an incredible year, and we look forward to what 2022 has in store for our Willow Springs Community. We are grateful for all of our foxes and the support that you have provided so far this year. We look forward to a year of continued success and growth!
Please have a safe and enjoyable break, makes many memories with family and friends, and we wish you a Happy New Year! We will see you all again in 2022!
Sincerely,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Lesley Hassen, Assistant Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
WSES Employee Award Winners
Thank you everyone for voting. Congratulation to all of our winners! They will move along to the Pyramid Review Panel for judging against the winners from other schools in our Fairfax Pyramid.
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Outstanding Teacher:
Haemin Shin
Kindergarten Teacher
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Outstanding New Teacher:
Annie Park
3rd Grade AAP Teacher
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Outstanding Professional Employee:
Tamela Shelton
School Counselor
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Outstanding Operational Employee:
Gunjan Agrawal Sapkota
Applied Behavior Analysis Instructional Assistant
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Congratulations, Estimation Winners!
 In November, all students had the opportunity to engage in a school-wide estimation contest. Each student examined a container full of small pumpkin candy corns. There was one smaller container for grades kindergarten through 2nd grade and a larger container for 3rd through 6th grade. Many estimations came close to the total, and four students guessed the number of pumpkins exactly. Congratulations to the following students:
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Estimation Jar:
- Matthew Brady in Ms. Creek’s 2nd grade class
- Euiso Lee in Ms. Miller’s 2nd grade class
- Asan Safiyanov in Ms. Willison’s 2nd grade class
These three students correctly estimated exactly 37 pumpkins in the container.
3rd - 6th Grade Estimation Jar:
- Leo Li in Ms. Martin’s 4th grade class
Leo correctly estimated exactly 149 pumpkins in the container.
These students earned an opportunity to play games with our administrators, Mr. Taylor, Ms. Hassen, and Ms. Stringer, for their excellent estimation skills. They created their own Mancala games (using egg cartons and dried beans) and then learned and played a friendly and competitive game of Mancala!
Congratulations again to Matthew, Euiso, Asan, and Leo! We will be doing more school-wide math opportunities when we return from the break.
WSES Winter Break Office Hours
- Monday, December 20th through Wednesday, December 22nd the WSES office will be open from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Thursday, December 23rd through Friday, December 31st the WSES office will be closed.
- Normal office hours will resume on Monday, January 3rd.
Winter Break Homework Expectations
Winter break is coming soon and we are looking forward to enjoying time to relax and enjoy being with family and friends. To ensure students take a well-deserved break, no homework will be assigned over winter break. Teachers may assign long-range assignments in the weeks ahead of the break, allowing students to practice time management skills. But, no assignments should be due immediately following the break. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year.
Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has new tools to help parents and guardians know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided by Lightspeed, our internet content filtering service, at no cost to families. You may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. If you want more detailed information, sign up for the Internet Use Parent portal and log-in anytime to see more detail about your child’s browsing and “pause” access to the internet during non-school hours. Find out more and sign up for these services on our website.
Students May Submit COVID Vaccination Status
You may wish to voluntarily share your child’s COVID-19 vaccination information with Willow Springs. However, we do not require your child’s vaccination information and no school employee will ask for your child’s vaccination status. The only exception is student-athletes, who are required to share their vaccination status to participate in their sport or activity.
If you would like to provide us with your child’s vaccination status, please bring your child’s COVID-19 vaccination card or a photocopy of the card to the WSES Main Office. COVID-19 vaccination documentation contains Protected Health Information and should not be emailed.
As always, you are welcome to contact us if you have any questions.
Student Quarantine Options Now Include a 7-Day Timeline
CDC guidance allows for a reduction of the student quarantine period to seven days “when diagnostic testing resources are sufficient and available.” With FCPS now offering drive-through diagnostic testing at six sites across the county, in addition to the many alternative ways to access COVID-19 testing, FCPS is now providing the option for students who have been exposed to COVID-19 to return to school and in-person activities after seven days.
If your child is quarantined due to exposure at school, please keep them at home until one of the following quarantine periods is met:
- Seven days of quarantine, your child remains symptom-free AND you provide both: a negative COVID-19 test (Rapid Antigen or PCR) taken on day five of quarantine or later, as well as a copy of the FCPS pause letter indicating the return to school dates; or
- 10 days of quarantine, your child remains symptom-free AND you provide a copy of the FCPS pause letter indicating the return to school dates; or
- 14 days of quarantine and you provide a copy of the clearance letter (SARA-Alert) from the health department.
If your child is quarantined due to exposure outside of the school, please contact the school as soon as possible and you will receive a Return Letter for Exposures Outside of FCPS. The timeline for quarantine return begins when you alert the school. Keep your child at home until one of the following quarantine periods is met.
- Seven days of quarantine, your child remains symptom-free AND you provide both: a negative COVID-19 test (Rapid Antigen or PCR) taken on day five of quarantine or later, as well as a copy of the Return Letter for Exposures Outside of FCPS indicating the return to school dates; or
- 10 days of quarantine, your child remains symptom-free AND you provide a copy of the Return Letter for Exposures Outside of FCPS indicating the return to school dates (you must contact your school to request the letter at the beginning of the quarantine period); or
- 14 days of quarantine and you provide a copy of the clearance letter (SARA-Alert) from the health department.
The above options only apply to a student returning to in-person learning and school-sponsored activities. Other organizations, such as SACC, may have different requirements for return.
We continue to balance the need for students to have a high-quality in-person learning experience with student and staff safety. By adhering to our layered prevention strategies and increasing vaccination rates, we are all doing our part to keep schools safe.
WSES School Improvement & Innovation/ESSER Plan
The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) is a federal grant which requires that spending be used in specific areas. Part of the Fairfax County Public Schools spending plan identifies funding to be used for Unfinished Learning and Student Academic and Social, Emotional, Mental Health (Wellness) Needs. Schools have been given funding allocations to support the academic and wellness needs of students. Schools are required to create plans in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Wellness highlighting the strategies they will use to support these areas using their ESSER III funding. Click here to find out more about our WSES School Improvement and Innovation Plan.
Positivity Project Corner
For the week of January 2 - 8, we will be focusing on the character strength of optimism. Optimism means you expect the best from the future and work to achieve it.
Optimism represents a state of hopefulness and confidence about the future (both short and long term). People with this strength are future-oriented. They have a positive vision of what the future holds and maintain confidence that they will get there. Despite setbacks, they keep a positive attitude and often find ways to convert what seems like an obstacle into a stepping-stone to achieving their goals.
Optimism is not about wearing rose-colored glasses and rolling over when the going gets tough. It’s about staying focused on the good in any situation -- allowing you to be aware of opportunities and accountable for your emotions. Optimists are strong leaders. They find meaning in hardship and can create a vision for the future. Optimists are inspiring; their example is contagious. And, by sharing and achieving their vision -- despite setbacks -- they help us all achieve more.
To practice and encourage the character strength of optimism with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions. three questions.
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Monthly Math Spotlight
Have you asked or wondered to yourself, “What can I do to help my child with math?” What families do and say about math at home has a huge impact on students' mathematical mindset and confidence.
Throughout the year we will highlight parts of the article Twelve Steps to Increase Your Child’s Math Achievement and Make Math Fun by Jo Boaler. Each month you’ll have a new tip to make math fun at home and answer the question, “What can I do to help my child with math?”
This month our monthly math spotlight is all about having FUN with math through the use of math puzzles and games (number 11 & 12 in the article). Math puzzles and games inspire children and are great for mathematical development.
Math Puzzles Suggestions:
All students have access to ST Math in Schoology. This program is set up in a series of puzzles students solve. Students should access ST math for approximately 60-90 minutes each week.
- Sudoku Puzzles
- Ken Ken Puzzles
Math Games You May Have at Home:
- Blokus
- Guess Who (supports logical thinking)
- Mancala
- Yahtzee
- Mastermind
- Monopoly
- Rummikub
- Set
- Phase 10
- Challenge 24
- Dominos
Throughout the month have some fun with your child while playing some math puzzles or games!
Lost and Found Items
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Our lost and found is overflowing with jackets, sweatshirts, coats and other items. If your child has lost something, please have your child check our lost and found located in the front lobby during school hours.
All remaining items will be donated at the end of 2nd quarter which is January 20th. Thank you!
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Cafeteria Volunteers Needed
 Please consider volunteering in our cafeteria this week. No training required, we will give you a bucket with condiments, etc. to pass out as kids raise their hands for help. If you're interested in a paid position, please send your resume to Amanda McCabe at anmccabe@fcps.edu.
If you are interested in volunteering this week, please click here or use the QR code above to sign up. Hope to see you in the cafeteria!
COVID-19 Testing
FCPS’ COVID-19 testing program helps keep our schools safe places to learn and work. We offer:
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Diagnostic Testing for students at six drive-through locations. You may take advantage of these services if you are a close contact or are experiencing symptoms. Appointments are not needed for diagnostic testing but families do need to register in the secure online portal. Information about student diagnostic testing, including site locations and schedules, is available on the FCPS website
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Optional Screening Testing for unvaccinated students. Parents and guardians can use the secure online portal to register their unvaccinated child(ren) for optional COVID-19 screening. If you do not want your child to participate, no action is required. You will have the option to update your child’s vaccination status and/or withdraw consent for testing anytime. Student-athletes do not need to pre-register with the online portal for screening testing, they will use a separate portal provided by their school’s student activities director.
FCPS COVID-19 Testing Sites During Winter Break
FCPS COVID-19 testing sites will not be available from December 18-January 1. Testing will resume on January 3, 2022. If needed, other local providers are available for testing and vaccinations during that time.
Inclement Weather
In the event of inclement weather, COVID-19 testing sites will follow school schedules. If schools are closed, testing sites are closed. If schools are delayed, all testing sites will open at 10:00 a.m.
WSES Spirit Wear
The newly revamped Willow Springs PTA spirit wear store is live! Instead of a once a year sale, our new store is open 24-7 all year long. We have so many fun new designs and clothing options for you to check out HERE.
These items make wonderful gifts for teachers and family members!
We are excited for our community to show their Willow Pride!
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PTA Membership Drive
The PTA has started the fall membership drive and is encouraging all families to sign up. The PTA is an excellent way to support the students and teachers, which we do through a variety of activities including Staff Appreciation week, building upgrades, books and games to teachers, Read Across America activities, etc. Sign up at https://wses1.memberhub.com/store.
Funds for Foxes
Here are some of the easy ways you can help earn money for the Willow Springs Elementary PTA! Take a look at some of the partnerships we have.
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December 20-31 Winter Break (No School)
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January 3 Classes resume
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January 8 PTA Restaurant Day, Bagel Buddies at Fair Lakes
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January 12 PTA Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
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January 17 Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday (No School)
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January 20 End of Second Quarter (2 Hour Early Release)
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January 21 Student Holiday (No School)
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January 24 Student Holiday (No School)
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February 25 PTA Game Night
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April 22 Cub Scout Pack 1858 Movie Night
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