Dear Spartan families,

Our monthly PTSA meeting is tonight!, November 18 at 730pm via Zoom (you can register for the meeting here). 

See the meeting agenda and relevant documents for your review on the PTSA website.

A couple of highlights for tonight's meeting - 

In this announcement:

• PTSA meeting tonight, 730-830 via Zoom (register here)
• Stock the Breakroom November 24th!
• Reminder to Join the PTA!
• Reflections Arts contest reminder (deadline this Saturday, November 22nd!)
• Food for Neighbors
• FCCPTA Advocacy

Crimson Coward fundraiser coming December 8th and 9th

Stock the Breakrooms:  November 24th!! 

 There are 10 different breakrooms for teachers and staff, and we need donations to stock them all!  

Let's show our appreciation for everything our incredible WSHS Staff does by stocking a snack bar! If you would like to donate items, please visit the Amazon Wishlist here or if you would like to come help us with distribution on November 24^th, you can sign up here! (go here for any direct monetary donations)

And Thank You!

PTSA Membership Drive -- please help us top 400 members!

• How do I join?  Follow this link to our Givebacks (formerly Memberhub) store and select the option that is best for you:  https://wshs.givebacks.com/store
• I joined last year / this past spring.  Do I need to join again?  YES!  Our membership year lasts from July 1 - June 30, so if you haven't joined for the current year in the last few weeks, please join for this year!
• Why should I join?  This is our school.  We can keep it a great school by doing our part, or we can hope others do it for us.  Be part of the people doing their part, and help support an organization that advocates for our children and schools!  See our list of other reasons at https://wshsptsa.net/join/membership/ 
• If I join, will I be asked to do things?  You can just pay your dues and not do anything else if you want.  Totally up to you.  We'll share volunteer opportunities and opportunities for donations to teacher appreciation and other events, but joining doesn't commit you to doing anything else.  The most important step is joining.  I hear too often "I didn't join because I don't have time to do things." Don't let that stop you.  If that's the case, we're happy to just take your financial support-- we'll put it to good use! 
• What's new with the PTSA this year?  
  • More community-building projects
  • WSHS participation in the PTA's Reflections art contest
  • New Restaurant nights (Stay tuned!)
  • In-person PTSA member meeting(s) and social activities

• Other ideas?  Join and let us know.  We can build together!

If you are interested in finding out how you can help with the PTSA, please e-mail us at wshsptsa@gmail.com

Call for student submissions to PTSA's Reflections Arts contest

(closes this Saturday, November 22nd, at midnight!)

West Springfield High School PTSA is inviting you to participate in the National PTA Reflections art contest. I Belong is the theme this year and you can submit in the following categories: Dance choreography Film production Literature Music composition Photography Visual Arts Instructions on how to enter are located here. ALL WORK MUST BE UPLOADED TO: Reflections Submission Form by Saturday November 22, 2025 at midnight. All submissions need to be submitted in a digital format. If your medium is on paper, use your cell phone to take a picture of your art to submit. If you have any questions, please email WSHSReflectionsChair@gmail.com. We look forward to experiencing your creativity!

Food for Neighbors helps to supply food to the WSHS food pantry. They are looking for a few volunteers to help the mornings of January 17; March 7; and April 25. The volunteers would meet a Food for Neighbors driver at WSHS, unload large, heavy bins full of food, and transport those bins to the pantry in the school. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact springfieldvc@foodforneighbors.org and THANK YOU!

Fairfax County Council PTA (FCCPTA) Advocacy

Did you know what one of the roles of the PTA / PTSA is educational advocacy? The FCCPTA advocates every single day for issues affecting public education, and the well being and success of  children and families. As a membership organization, positions are adopted based on the mission, research, and/or previous positions of Virginia or National PTA.

To learn more visit the FCCPTA Advocacy page here. 

To learn even more - you can 

• Review the PTA Advocacy Basics Video
• Review the presentation slides from the November 15 Education Advocacy Training Session
• And see the list of resources available to assist with the advocacy role of the PTA