Stafford County teachers returned to school today, August 5, 2024, to prepare for the new school year. The morning began with volunteers from Mount Church providing backpacks to students. They donated over 300 backpacks filled with supplies and sorted through all donations from the recent Collect for Kids event.
A representative from Stafford Public Schools expressed appreciation for the volunteers’ efforts, saying, “Thank you to the Mount Church Volunteers for starting the morning with a heart of service for our students coming BackToExcellence. None of this is possible without the continued support of the Stafford community.” Stafford Public Schools students will return to class on Tuesday, August 13.
In Prince William County, the school division partnered with the Prince William Community Foundation for the annual Back to School Community Fair over the weekend. The back-to-school fair was held at Unity Reed High School near Manassas on Saturday, August 3, 2024. School in Prince William County begins on Monday, August 19.
The Prince William Community Foundation, partnered with the school division to host the event, and shared their gratitude on social media, stating, “Words cannot express my gratitude for an exceptional time we had! Thank you to everyone who was a part or played a part in our Back-to-School Community Event. Together, we Can Make a Difference.”
Thank you to the @MtAraratorg Volunteers for starting the morning with a heart of service for our students coming #BackToExcellence. They generously donated more than 300 stuffed backpacks and sorted through all of our Collect for Kids donations from this weekend’s donate and… pic.twitter.com/InCnKV2TWo
— Stafford Schools (@SCPSchools) August 5, 2024
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) will ban personal wireless communication devices, including cell phones, during high, middle, K-8, and traditional school instructional periods starting in the upcoming school year. It joins Stafford County and Fredericksburg public schools in requiring students to turn off and store cell phones during instructional time.
Press release:
PWCS is excited to welcome students back to school on Aug. 19! To help prepare our families for the first day, below are 10 key things you need to know for a successful start to the 2024-25 school year. More details will be shared in the coming days and weeks:
Schedules
Elementary schedules will be available on Aug. 11, and secondary schedules, including K-8 and traditional schools, will be available on Aug. 14, in ParentVUE and StudentVUE.Tax Free Weekend for School Supplies
The three-day Virginia Sales Tax Holiday is Aug. 2-4. Check your school’s webpage for supply lists.Complete the annual Back to School Packet
The Back to School Packet will be available on Aug. 6 in ParentVUE. Please contact your student’s school if you do not have a ParentVUE account.New Wireless Device Rules
Coming to high, middle, K-8, and traditional schools, use of personal wireless communication devices (cell phones) will be prohibited during instructional periods. More details will be shared soon.New Bus Stops
As part of the transportation improvements announced earlier this year, many students may have new bus stops. Transportation information will be available in ParentVUE and StudentVUE on Aug. 12.Free meals expanded to 24 more schools
Code of Behavior Updates
The PWCS Code of Behavior has been clarified that expulsion must be considered in the case of substance abuse offenses, weapons offenses, group assault, and assault on staff (as set forth in Virginia Code § 22.1-277.08). The updated Code of Behavior can be accessed from the Back to School Packet.Important Health Information
Be sure your student has received required vaccinations.
PWCS has partnered with Hazel Health to provide quality mental health care services for all students at no cost to families. Families must opt-in for their student to receive services. More information will be shared in the coming weeks.Communication Improvements
Coming this school year, based on feedback from parents and guardians, families will have an option to choose their preferred method of communication via an app, emails, and/or texts. Stay tuned for details.Curriculum Updates
Virginia Literacy Act/English Language Arts – The Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) requires school divisions to develop a literacy plan to implement this school year. These enhancements will ensure success for all students.
Math Curriculum Update – The Virginia Board of Education updated the math Standards of Learning. PWCS will be implementing the new standards this school year.
Insidenova.com: Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent LaTanya McDade has received a contract extension and 6% pay bump ahead of the upcoming school year. The extension came after the Prince William County School Board conducted its annual performance review of McDade in a late-June closed session.
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Prince William County Schools is expanding the Community Eligibility Provision from 44 schools to 68 for the 2024-2025 school year.
The CEP program is a meal service option for schools and districts in low-income areas and offers free breakfast and lunch. The program also does not require a household application from a parent or guardian to enroll in the program; instead, schools are reimbursed.
“Schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF),” the USDA website states.
This expansion comes after the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to reduce the percentage of students who qualify for free meals from 40% to 25%.
PWCS media representatives said in a statement that CEP ensures all students receive nutritious meals, regardless of their family’s income.
“CEP improves meal access and promotes a more inclusive environment and equitable meal service,” the representatives said.
In the upcoming school year, PWCS can add 24 more schools — and roughly 26,516 students, according to a press release — to the program.
PWCS representatives also said they will continue to evaluate data and add qualifying schools each year.
The following schools were added for the next school year:
Elementary schools
- Antietam Elementary School
- Chris Yung Elementary School
- Coles Elementary School
- Covington-Harper Elementary School
- Kyle Wilson Elementary School
- Lake Ridge Elementary School
- Mary Williams Elementary School
- Montclair Elementary School
- Pattie Elementary School
- Penn Elementary School
- Rosa Parks Elementary School
- Signal Hill Elementary School
- Springwoods Elementary School
- Tyler Elementary School
- Victory Elementary School
- Westridge Elementary School
Middle schools
- Lake Ridge Middle School
- Parkside Middle School
- Potomac Shores Middle School
- Saunders Middle School
High schools
- C.D. Hylton High School
- Osbourn Park High School
- Potomac High School
- Woodbridge High SchoolÂ
Here is a list of all the qualifying CEP schools in PWCS.Â
The Virginia Department of Education is hosting Commonwealth Conversations to gather input from parents, educators, and community members on achieving cell phone-free education in Virginia, addressing youth mental health, and education performance. Following Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order 33, which mandates cell phone-free education, school boards will implement related policies by the end of the year, with the changes taking effect in January 2025.
The Virginia Department of Education is hosting a series of Commonwealth Conversations to give parents, educators, and community members the opportunity to share their thoughts on the best ways to achieve cell phone-free education in Virginia and address the increasing evidence of the impact cell phone and social media usage has on youth mental health and education performance.
On July 9, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33 to establish cell phone-free education to promote the health and safety of Virginia’s K-12 students. Executive Order 33 directs the VDOE to provide guidance to school boards on cell phone-free education policies and procedures. School boards will establish local cell phone-free education policies and procedures before the end of this year.
Parents, educators, and interested community members are invited to attend a Commonwealth Conversation and discuss their expectations for the upcoming policy changes that will take effect in January 2025. Below is a list of the upcoming conversations being held throughout the Commonwealth:
Manassas – July 18, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
Osbourn High SchoolFredericksburg – July 30, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
James Monroe High School-Virginia Department of Education
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) recently held its inaugural sports fair at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center.
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Student representatives are non-voting members and serve for one term, concluding with the final School Board meeting of the school year.
Students will be dismissed early on Friday, June 7, 2024, the last day of school for the 2023-24 school year.
As the Prince William Education Association celebrates its latest collective bargaining victory with Prince William County Public Schools, the state teachers' union is again looking into the local teachers' association practices and has launched an investigation.
Newly obtained documents show that on May 24, Virginia Education Association President James Fedderman sent a letter to Maggie Hansford, President of the Prince William Education Association, informing her that the VEA Executive Committee met on May 18 to discuss members' concerns. Those concerns included PWEA’s “finances, governing procedures, and operating procedures.” The VEA asked Hansford to produce documentation from meeting minutes, bank statements, bylaws, policies, and information on how the organization elects its officers by June 1.
