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 Kindness Tree
It's C O L D outside, but warm and spring-like in our building. Our Kindness Tree is bursting with kind thoughts and positive words.
Fantastic Foxes!
Here's a peek at the referral form for our new POSITIVE behavior referral system. We look forward to sharing and spreading the good news about all the great things our students do!
A Note from the Principal's Desk
Dear Willow Springs families,
Our days continue to be full of energy, engagement, and learning! It feels like February just started and we are already approaching the end of the month. It must be true that time flies when you are having fun.
We are excited about something new we are starting that we are calling, "Fantastic Foxes." This is a POSITIVE behavior referral system in which any staff member can complete and submit a form recognizing a student for going above and beyond to display their Fox EARS. EARS stands for Empathy, Accountability, Respect, and Safety. Students who are referred for their great choices and behaviors will be recognized with a positive phone call, email, or text home to parents and a certificate of appreciation. We have already received our first 5 referrals and will begin contacting students and parents next week to share to the good news.
We look forward to higher temperatures next week so we can all get out and play and finish February with kindness in our hearts and laughter in the air.
With warm wishes,
Dylan Taylor, Principal
Ipsa Stringer, Assistant Principal
Laura Tapper, Assistant Principal
February PTA Meeting
Our February PTA Meeting was held on Thursday, February 20 at 7:00 PM in the school library. We also had parents who participated virtually via the Zoom link.
It was a very informative meeting and lots of updates were shared by the school and the PTA.
The presentation slides are attached here for you to review and see what we talked about.
Join us next month to hear updates on the budget, school events, testing, and upcoming PTA and school events.
3 Hour Early Dismissal
This coming Monday, February 24th is a 3-hour early dismissal day, and our foxes will be dismissed from school at 1:00 PM.
We have saved your dismissal plan from our last early release day and will plan on sending your child home the same way they went home last time. Please make or adjust your plans now to ensure your child knows what to do, where to go, and arrives there safely.
If your child will be staying at school after dismissal, please send them with a snack and a drink and in clothes and shoes that are appropriate for physical activity and artwork. Students who stay at school will be dismissed at 4:00 PM which is our normal dismissal time.
Thank you for your cooperation and support as we provide essential planning and professional development time for our teachers and staff!
Ramadan and Fasting Plans
Ramadan begins next Friday, February 28th and we know that we will have students who will be fasting. To help us plan for their needs during lunch time, next week we will send a Google Survey for parents to fill out to let us know if their child will be fasting. It is important for us to have accurate numbers and lists of students who will need access to an alternate location during lunch.
If your child will be fasting during Ramadan, please be on the lookout for the email and survey which will be emailed on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.
Register Your Rising Kindergarten Child for School
Online Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is open now. If you have a child who is eligible to start Kindergarten in the fall, please register them now. Early registration gives us the information we need to start supporting YOU as you prepare to send your child to public school.
Both new and returning (re-enrolling) families can use our Online Registration (OLR) system to register students entering Kindergarten (00) through 12th grade for the upcoming academic year.
Welcome to Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) Online Registration.
It will provide families with the information to utilize this convenient registration tool. Parents and guardians can still register students using the electronic bundle or choose to complete paper registration forms if they prefer.
Willow Springs Student Registration Page for New Students.
You Seum Opening Soon!
We are so proud of our Willow Springs families and want to showcase who you are. Starting February 18, we are opening a "You-seum," a museum display about YOU!
We would love to showcase artifacts that are special to you and your family, ex: I am bringing in a Slovak dictionary from my grandmother. To avoid overcrowding the showcase, we do have a signup.
Please use the link: https://signup.com/go/fLifscr Please also make a card explaining the item and it's connection to your family. Include any student or staff names! We will rotate the items each month!
Read Across America Bookmark Design Contest
In honor of Ready Across America Week, which will be March 2-7, students are invited to design a bookmark. Students can design a bookmark (using the criteria on the attached form) that the library will print out for Read Across America week. It is not a contest this time, as we will print all of those who turn it in on the template and follow design rules.
All entries must be accompanied by a completed FORM found here.
SYA Sign Ups
Registration is now open for SYA Spring Sports. See information in the flier above and use the QR code or go to the website to register.
WSES' Watch D.O.G.S.
Have you heard about Watch D.O.G.S? It is a group of parents and family members who volunteer at school and help as needed during the day. Adults get to see their children in the school setting, and students are so excited to see their parent or family member at school. Teachers greatly appreciate the help. It is a win-win situation for everyone and demonstrates to students that school is important, and that families and schools work together.
Sign-up for a volunteer time that fits your schedule, at least one week before the date you would like to volunteer. Volunteering is limited to one time per quarter (per child) to allow opportunities for other volunteers.
Signup sheet:
https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/162548814099/true#/invitation
Link to Information on WSES’ website:
https://willowspringses.fcps.edu/get-involved-volunteer-opportunities/watch-dogs
 SCA Community Service Project
The WSES School Council Association (SCA) is sponsoring their first community service project of the year!
During the month of February, we are conducting a community service project for our local animal shelter. We will be collecting items from an approved list (see photo above and see attached). Please be sure the items donated are on this list or we will not be able to accept them. We will collect items from February 1-28. The class with the most donations by February 28 will earn a pizza party!
Found It!
If your child(ren) has lost something, we have probably found it and it is now hanging on our Lost and Found cart in the lobby near the main entrance.
Please encourage your child to check this area closely to find any lost items. Parents are also welcome to stop and browse.
Any items not claimed by the end of February will be donated to a local charity.
PTA Volunteer & Leadership Opportunities
We have three volunteer leadership opportunities coming up. Please consider giving your time to the Willow Springs PTA through one of these opportunities!
Yearbook Committee
The PTA seeks two people to support the publication of the school Yearbook. In partnership with PTA Vice President, Marci Sackie, these roles are largely behind the scenes and able to be done from home. Ideally, these volunteers would commit to two years in these roles. For more information or to volunteer, please email vicepresident@willowspringspta.net.
Nominating Committee Members
It may seem hard to imagine as we kick off 2025, but Spring is just around the corner. The PTA seeks members to serve on the 2025 Nominating Committee. This committee reviews applications and recommends the slate of Executive Officers for the vote of the PTA membership. PTA Vice President Marci Sackie is managing the committee this year. For more information or to volunteer, please email vicepresident@willowspringspta.net.
As you plan your spring and summer activities and travel, please keep in mind that our 3rd - 6th grade students will be taking standardized tests (SOLs) in May and June.
If you can avoid traveling or appointments that will keep your child out of school on a scheduled testing date, that would be greatly appreciated and will benefit your child. Students tend to prefer taking these tests in their classrooms and learning spaces with their peers and their usual teachers. When students are absent on a testing day, they are eligible for a makeup opportunity, but the makeup test will be given by any available staff, and it will not take place in the classroom.
The calendar is linked here. Please know the schedule is subject to change.
We will be sharing more information about testing in the coming weeks and months. Please stay tuned and attend PTA meetings to learn more.
February is Black History Month and
Love the Bus Month
February 24: 3 Hour Early Dismissal
March 17: 3 Hour Early Dismissal
March 25: 5th Grade SOL Test: Integrated Reading and Writing
March 28: Willow Springs Spirit Night-Fairfax H.S. Field House Gym 6-8 p.m.
April 28: 3 Hour Early Dismissal
May 19: 3 Hour Early Dismissal
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