Due to the heavy vehicle traffic during arrival and dismissal, we have asked FCPS to conduct a safety assessment of our procedures. The goal is to determine whether the county or VDOT can provide additional support to improve driving behaviors and enhance student safety. We will share updates as they become available.
This effort aligns closely with School Zone Enforcement Month, which takes place each February. During this time, Fairfax County police officers conduct targeted enforcement near schools, crosswalks, and bus routes throughout the county. Enforcement focuses on speeding in school zones, pedestrian safety violations, and passing a stopped school bus.
Passing a stopped school bus remains one of the most dangerous violations officers observe. Drivers are reminded that stopping for a school bus with flashing red lights is required by law.
Together, through increased awareness, enforcement, and continued collaboration with county partners, we can strengthen safety for all students during arrival and dismissal.
West Springfield ES has a New Visitor Management System
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.
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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.
Celebrating SEL Week!
March 2-6 is SEL Week! Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which students develop the skills to understand and manage their emotions, build positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and show empathy for others. Research shows that strong SEL skills support academic achievement, improve behavior, strengthen peer relationships, and help students thrive both in and out of the classroom.
Each day we will focus on a different area of SEL in our morning meetings. You can extend learning at home in the following ways:
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Self-Awareness – Encourage Self-Awareness at home by having a conversation with your student about their strengths. Consider sharing some of your strengths now and when you were a student.
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Self-Management – Encourage Self-Management at home by talking about a goal you set for yourself and how you achieved it. Model Self-Management through your words, for example, "I'm feeling a little frustrated so I'm going to stop and take a few deep breaths."
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Social Awareness – Encourage Social Awareness at home by talking about empathy. Share a time that someone considered your thoughts or feelings or that you showed empathy for someone else.
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Relationship Skills – Show your student positive Relationship Skills at home by helping someone in need, checking in with someone to let them know you care, or talking about how you handled a conflict or disagreement.
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Responsible Decision-Making – Encourage Decision Making at home by talking about ways you have solved a problem. Have your student share a problem they are dealing with and help them think about next steps.
Mood Meters
We’re excited to share that we received a grant from Educate Fairfax to support SEL, allowing us to place a Mood Meterin every classroom! Part of the RULER approach, the Mood Meter helps students build emotional vocabulary, increase self-awareness, regulate emotions, and strengthen relationships by identifying and expressing their feelings.
Families can also extend this learning into our West Springfield community by downloading the “How We Feel” app from the app store to practice emotional awareness and regulation together at home.
We look forward to a wonderful week of learning, growing, and SEL-abrating together!
Understanding K-12 Math Pathways in FCPS
FCPS offers a wide range of mathematics course options for students, and those options are evolving as we work towards our goal of all students taking Algebra in 8th grade. In elementary school, we are moving away from providing access to higher grade-level standards for only a few and expanding access to all. Find out all of the details on the WSES Understanding K-12 Math Pathways site.
Purple Up
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is gearing up to honor and celebrate its military-connected youth in April, the Month of the Military Child, and on Purple Up! Day! FCPS Purple Up! T-shirts and other items are available for purchase now through Wednesday, March 11, 2026, in our Custom Ink online store. These items highlight our gratitude and appreciation for our 14,500 military-connected students and their families. #PurpleUpFCPS!
Winter Family Score Reports for ES Screening/Growth Assessments
Family score reports for elementary winter screening and growth assessments will be centrally distributed to families through SIS ParentVUE (PVUE) Documents. Families in grades PreK-6 will receive up to three (3) reports based on the assessments their student took this winter:
Student Fasting Meal Kits
From February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.
Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website.
Nominated Our Outstanding WSES Staff
Do you know an outstanding WSES staff member who goes above and beyond or turns ordinary to extraordinary? Nominate them for an FCPS Cares Award and help share how amazing they are!
Volunteer FCPS Helps Community Members Connect With Schools
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.
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 21
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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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More information about these assessments can be found on the webpage SOL Tests in Elementary and Middle Schools. The Grade Level Tests webpage outlines the division testing schedule for required assessments at each grade.
The state allows elementary school students who fail a spring SOL test to have another attempt before the end of the school year. Parent/guardian permission is required for the school to retest any student in grades 3-6. A decision not to allow retesting will not impact your student’s grades or academic record.
If you believe your student would benefit from a second opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills on the spring SOL test, submit your decision using the Parent Digital Consent application. This application uses your SIS ParentVUE login. If you don’t have a SIS ParentVUE Account, you may complete and return a printed copy of the permission form (available in seven different languages) to give permission for retesting.
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.
FCPS Summer Programs Registration now open
Includes Tech Adventure Camp, Career Technical Education Summer Academy, Elementary Institute for the Arts, Institute for the Arts, and Production Camp at Robinson Secondary School. Registration link
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It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
If your child will attend our school, please gather necessary documents and begin the registration process!
Questions? Please contact our registrar Maria Paz Garcia.
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Kindergarten Orientation
DATE: Wednesday, April 22
TIME: 2:00 - 3:00 pm
WHERE: Cafeteria
WHO: Parent and Rising Kindergartner
Save the Date
Tuesday, March 10 - Spring Portraits and Class Group Photos
Wednesday, March 18 - Early Release at 12:30 p.m.
Friday, March 20 - Student Holiday
Friday, March 27 - End of Quarter/Early Release at 1:30 p.m.
Monday, March 30 - Monday, April 6 - Spring Break
❓Questions?
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