Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

Our schools have done an impressive job creating a positive climate and culture for our students, families, and staff. Teachers are eager to teach, students are excited to learn, and everyone is contributing to a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment where every student knows they belong. Students at Springwoods Elementary School, like many students in schools across the division, are finding community in their house system, our Participate Learning teachers are thriving under our teacher mentors, and a recent Potomac High School graduate earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. I invite you to stay up to date on our stories and all the recent PWCS news which may be found in The Scoop!

After two successful weeks of learning, I want to reaffirm our commitment to prioritize student and staff safety through our dedicated security staff and our multilayered approach to safety. In observance of National Security Officer Appreciation Week, September 17-23, I would like to thank our security personnel for their tireless dedication to upholding Commitment 2: Positive Climate and Culture. As we begin our staggered implementation plan for activating our safety screening technology across all middle and high schools, including traditional and nontraditional schools, throughout September and October, I wish to acknowledge the ease with which our security personnel have adopted this support tool in their essential work of keeping our students safe and our schools secure. Be on the lookout for communication from your child’s school regarding the specific start date for security screening implementation.

PWCS provides a safe, secure, and inclusive environment so students come to school feeling welcomed, connected, and confident they are learning the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind necessary to create a thriving future for themselves and their community. For our students to achieve in our classrooms, they must be in their seats, on time and ready to make a difference. In recognition of Attendance Awareness Month, we challenge our families and partners to support us by establishing high expectations for school attendance not only for September, but throughout the school year.

Thank you to the 90% of families who have completed the Back to School Packet. If you have yet to do so, please complete the packet in ParentVUE as soon as possible and no later than September 15. The Back to School Packet provides critical information for PWCS to reach you in case of an emergency and other important information about your student. If you need assistance, please contact your student’s school, or visit the Back to School webpage for more information.

As a reminder, in observance of Labor Day, schools and offices are closed on Monday, September 4. I hope you enjoy a long and relaxing weekend.

Sincerely,

LaTanya D. McDade, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Prince William County Public Schools