Updated 12:45 p.m. January 18, 2023 -- The number of Prince William County high schools that failed to notify students they were the recipients of National Merit recognition in time for the college application process grew to four.
According to county schools spokeswoman Diana Gulotta, Battlefield, Colgan, Forest Park, and Patriots high schools failed to tell a combined 28 students they received letters of commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program.
While the students do not qualify for the scholarship, many students use the commendation letters on college applications. The school division said it learned about the error on Tuesday, January 16 when the original number of county high school students believed to have not been notified was 16.
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On Thursday, January 5, at 10:18 a.m., officers responded to Fannie Fitzgerald Elementary School, located at 15500 Benita Fitzgerald Drive in Dale City, to investigate an assault. The investigation revealed on Wednesday, January 4, during class, an eight-year-old male student was struck by his teacher, identified as the accused.
The student reported the incident to a family member, who notified the school the following day when police were contacted. The victim reported minor injuries. Police identified the suspect on January 9. At the time of the incident, the accused was a Prince William County Public Schools teacher.
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An ambulance took a Prince William County Public Schools student from her classroom to a hospital after having a reaction after using narcotics.
Police and rescue crews were called to Independence Traditional School near Manassas at 9:44 a.m. Wednesday, January 4, 2023, after the unidentified student showed signs of illness.
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Willie Deutsch will run to reclaim the Coles District seat on the Prince William County School Board.
Deutsch, 33, posted a video to Facebook to announce his campaign. In it, the Republican cited a widening achievement gap in the state's second-largest school division, which has been growing since the lockdowns of the 2020 pandemic.
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The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators has designated Kerrydale Elementary in Prince William County and Bayside Sixth Grade Campus School in Virginia Beach as National ESEA Distinguished Schools for 2022-2023.
Kerrydale Elementary was selected for closing achievement gaps between student groups. The school serves a population of 333 students. Of these students, 12.6% receive special education services, 66% are economically disadvantaged, and 53% are English language learners.
Bayside Sixth Grade Campus was selected for exceptional student performance for two consecutive years. Seventy-five percent of the school’s 317 students are economically disadvantaged. Bayside is the only sixth-grade campus in Virginia Beach.
“Congratulations to Kerrydale Elementary and Bayside Sixth Grade Campus’s students, teachers, principals, staff, and communities for being recognized as National ESEA Distinguished Schools and for their success in raising student achievement,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow said. “This is an especially significant designation given that under our federal accountability system, elementary schools must meet annual benchmarks for increasing the percentage of students achieving grade-level proficiency in reading and mathematics.”
Both schools will be recognized during the 2023 National ESEA Conference, February 1-4, 2023, in Indianapolis.
ESEA is the abbreviation for the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (most recently reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015). The law requires states to establish long-term and interim goals for increasing student achievement in reading and mathematics.
Title I of ESEA provides funds to all of Virginia’s school divisions for supplemental educational support to eligible schools. The focus of this program is to raise the achievement level of students at risk of academic failure due to poverty and other factors.
Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. LaTayna McDade thanked area non-profit organizations who helped to make the holidays special for children.
McDade recognized the SPARK education foundation, which works with businesses and non-profits in the community, for organizing these events:
- Fraternal Order of Police Battlefield Lodge #43 for providing students with opportunities to participate in Santa Cop;
- Volunteer Prince William for supporting students and their families during the holidays through "Un-Trim-A-Tree" and "Holiday Helpers";
- Northern Virginia Family Services for supporting students and families throughout the year;
- All PWCS business and community partners support our community all year round by donating, gifting, supplying, and collaborating with us;
- And, school staff, parents, and students who donate clothes, food, school supplies, toys, books, games, and make contributions to our schools' food pantries and clothes closets.
By Prince William County Public Schools
The Freedom High School football team secured the first state title in school history with its 48-14 win over James Madison High School in the VHSL Class 6 state football championship. This caps off an undefeated season for the Eagles.
"It feels great." said Darryl Overton, Freedom High football head coach, in an interview with Hi Def High School. "After all the battles you fight on the field and all the ones you fight off, [the championship] solidifies what you've been doing. I couldn't be more proud and happier."
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Prince William County Public Schools called a Code Orange, meaning students and teachers are expected to work from home tomorrow, Thursday, December 15.
According to the school division, school buildings and offices will be closed. Students are expected to learn asynchronously (asynchronous learning allows for independent learning or within a specific timeframe). Staff is expected to work remotely.
A winter weather advisory will be in effect between 1 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday, with the possibility of icy conditions in the early morning hours. According to the National Weather Service, an ice storm warning will be in effect in the Shenandoah Valley.
A shortage of school bus drivers and concern over ice prompted the schedule change; the school division posted to Twitter.
Prince William County, Public Schools, is the state’s second-largest school division.
Elsewhere, Manassas City Public Schools will open two hours late on Thursday. We’ve also heard from the two community colleges in the area, NOVA and Germanna, who will open later than usual tomorrow.
We’re posting closures and delays here.
By Jennifer T. Wall
Prince William County School Board, Gainesville District
Over the past 18 months, I have repeatedly heard the statement to the effect that it is the western end of the county's turn to feel the pains of development. This statement ignores the fact that over the last two decades, the west end of Prince William has in fact experienced explosive growth.
Anyone who knows Prince William County and has lived in this county for the last two decades will agree that many areas in western Prince William have been completely transformed from what they once were.
