Willow Springs School News: 4/25/25

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Our students' artwork was on display at the Fairfax Pyramid Art Show.

Art on Display

Our students' creativity and talent were on display this week during the annual Fairfax Pyramid Art Show. We greatly appreciate the guidance and support provided by our art teachers, Mrs. Milena Heslep and Mrs. Tracy Bank.

Our WSES art teachers are Mrs. Milena Heslep and Mrs. Tracy Bank.

A Note from the Principal's Desk

Dear Willow Springs families,

It was wonderful to see all of our students return safely from Spring Break. We had a full week of learning, fun, and activities. We are so proud of all of our creative and talented students whose artwork is on display in our halls or who were featured in the Fairfax Pyramid Art Show!

This week we had an Earth Day Spirit Week and on Friday, our PTA hosted a breakfast for our bus drivers to show our appreciation for them. This was also a special week because we enjoyed such beautiful weather and daily outdoor recess!

This is a reminder that SOL testing starts on May 1st (scroll down to see the schedule) for students in grades 3-6 and many other assessments are ongoing. There will be celebrations and other special events to plan for, and time is sure to fly by.

We hope you have a great weekend. Thank you for sending us your best every day! #WillowPride

Sincerely,

Dylan Taylor, Principal

I psa Stringer, Assistant Principal

Laura Tapper, Assistant Principal

Farmer's Market

The Willow Springs Farmer's Market opens for business on Friday, April 25 at dismissal! Students in the Garden/Farm-to-Table club run the market in conjunction with Piney Meadow Farm. The money students raise through the produce sales go towards the Garden Club and STEAM activities. The market is open in the spring and fall.

3 Hour Early Dismissal

Monday, April 28 at 1 p.m.

We have saved your dismissal plan from our last early release day and will plan on having the same students stay at school as last time.

If your child will be leaving at 1 p.m. but their mode of transportation has changed (ie. from bus to kiss and ride or from walker to kiss and ride, etc.),

PLEASE UPDATE PICK UP PATROL to reflect the new plan.

If your child will be staying at school after dismissal, please send them with a snack and clothes and shoes that are appropriate for physical activity and artwork.

The SEL Screener reports are now available to view in SIS ParentVue.

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Reports Available

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March. The screener provides information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.

For support in understanding your student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to your school with any questions.

✨ A positive school climate where students feel like they belong and have access to emotional, behavioral, and mental health services are part of FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.

Sixth Grade Panoramic Photo is Online!

Any student who has not had a chance to order a Panoramic photo, it’s not too late! All orders using this link will direct ship to a home address entered at checkout.

Please use your student ID as your online code.

For questions or about ordering, please contact Victor O'Neill Studio: underclass@vosphoto.com

Parent input forms for class placement are due by May 9th.

Parent Input Forms for the

25-26 School Year

Our planning for the 25-26 school year has begun! To assist in this process of class placement decisions, we invite you to provide some information about your child.

Willow Springs Elementary School Class Assignment Input for 2025-2026

Your child’s current and upcoming classroom teachers work together with specialists and the grade level team to make class placement decisions for the coming school year. As part of this process, they will review the information obtained from you via the parent input form consider the information relevant to the class assignment.

Willow Springs has an incredible staff! Please do not request a specific teacher.

Please complete the parent input form by Friday, May 9th! If you have more than one child enrolled at Willow Springs, please fill out ONE form per child.

Willow Springs Elementary School Class Assignment Input for 2025-2026

Fairfax High School is offering several sports camps this summer. Use the link to register.

Summer Sports Camps

Fairfax High School Athletics is excited to host multiple sports camps this summer for elementary and middle school students within the Fairfax High School pyramid.

See the flier above for more information or click the link below to register

http://camps.fairfaxhighathleticboosters.com

Basketball Camp

Attention All Rising 2^nd - 7^th Graders

The Fairfax Girls Basketball Staff is hosting basketball camp the week of July 14 – 18 from 9 AM – 3 PM at Fairfax HS. The camps will provide quality instruction, skill development, fun interactive games and team play. For more information, online registration and payment go to

https://givebutter.com/futurelionsgirlsbasketball

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Head Girls Basketball Coach Tim Lucas at Tflucas@fcps.edu.

Techstravaganza

All are invited to this annual STEM activity fair which will be held on Saturday, May 17th from 10 AM to 4 PM at TJHSST.

All Kindergarten students performed in the 3 Piggy Opera this week.

Kindergarten Registration

If you have a child who is eligible to start Kindergarten in the fall, please register them now.

If you have question please contact Liz Flaherty, Registrar at WSES.

Welcome to Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) Online Registration.

OLR provides 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.

After registration is complete the student will be ready for orientation, Bridge to Kindergarten, or any other introductory events Willow Springs may host.

Willow Springs Green Team has several successful environmental initiatives: the after-school garden club, farmer’s market, bluebird trail (our feathered friends will be nesting in the next 2-3 weeks, btw), girl-scout-led plastic recycling campaign, and cafeteria food sharing program.

What have they been up to lately? Please view the movie here. What's Next? Earth Day (April 22 to be exact). About the GREEN Team? Student-led club for third-sixth graders. Read all about the Team on our website.

Spring 2025 SOL Testing Calendar

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 testing dates are listed below, and the testing calendar is linked here. Please know the schedule is subject to change.

May 1: 6th grade SOL Reading test

May 2: 5th grade SOL Reading test

May 5: 4th grade SOL Reading test

May 6: 3rd grade SOL Reading test

May 8: 6th grade SOL Math test (including Math 7)

May 9: 5th grade SOL Math test (including Math 6)

May 12: 4th grade SOL Math test

May 13: 3rd grade SOL Math test

May 16: 5th grade SOL Science test

Important Dates

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month

April 28: 3 Hour Early Dismissal