From North Stafford High School’s Facebook page:
North Stafford High School’s Choir has reached the final round of the WashFM Christmas Choir Competition! Let’s bring the title of DMV Best Choir to Stafford—your vote makes all the difference! Cast your vote now and support our talented performers. #StaffordSchoolsArts
#WASH-FM’s 2024 Christmas Choir Competition | Win DMV Best Choir!!
The Board approved Option A, which has students starting school on Aug. 19 and finishing on June 12. Teacher workdays in this option begin on Aug. 11 and all major holidays — including Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Presidents Day and Memorial Day, to name a few — will be observed.
According to a PWCS news release on Nov. 20, the first day of school may be moved to Aug. 18 depending on the Board's decision in January to revise its own policy to observe Eid al-Adha — one of the major holidays in Islam — which falls on May 26 and May 27 in 2026. PWCS already observes Eid al-Fitr, the other official Islamic holiday.
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Delegate Paul Milde (R-64, Stafford County) has introduced legislation aimed at closing a loophole created last year by HB 790, which inadvertently allowed underage students to possess tobacco and vaping devices on school grounds without facing legal consequences.
The proposed legislation comes in response to growing concerns from law enforcement and community leaders who have noted the impact of the loophole on schools and extracurricular activities. While Stafford County schools reported a 21% decrease in vaping incidents over the past year, with 23 incidents in 2024 compared to 29 in 2023, officials remain vigilant about preventing access to these products by minors.
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Authorities have launched an investigation following a report of a sexual assault that occurred earlier this school year at Osbourn Park High School.
The incident, which reportedly occurred within a school bathroom during the first two weeks of the academic year, was disclosed to police and school officials on November 15, prompting an immediate response.
According to the Prince William County Police Department, an adult female student reported that while she was in a bathroom stall near the gymnasium on the first floor, an unknown individual entered her stall and sexually assaulted her. The suspect is described as a Caucasian or light-skinned individual with a thin build, standing approximately 5’8” to 5’9”. The suspect’s gender remains unconfirmed. At the time of the incident, the individual was reported to be wearing an animal costume mask, a dark-colored long-sleeve shirt, and full-length pants of an unknown color.
In a letter to parents dated November 22, Osbourn Park High School Principal Lisamarie Kane expressed sorrow over the incident and outlined steps being taken in response.
“As soon as our administration team was made aware, our school resource officer and law enforcement officials began an investigation,” the letter states. She added that the school cooperates fully with authorities and supports the victim and their family.
In light of the incident, the school has implemented additional safety protocols, including:
- Increased supervision in shared areas.
- Restricted bathroom access during instructional time.
- Enhanced safety education and support for students.
- Counseling services are being offered to any student who may need assistance.
The Prince William County Police Department urges anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Tips can be provided anonymously to help identify the suspect and ensure justice for the victim.
Welcome (or welcome back) to a Potomac Local News series, “Meet the Principal.”
We started this series at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year with the nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County Schools, but now let's turn our attention to the new and existing Manassas City Public Schools principals. Potomac Local has asked each principal the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.
Today, get to know David Rupert, Baldwin Elementary School's principal since 2020 and longtime MCPS educator. Rupert has been an educator in some fashion in MCPS since 2002, working at Metz Middle School, Weems Elementary, Mayfield Intermediate and coaching at Osbourn High.
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According to the district's monthly incident reports, high schools in Stafford County experienced a surge in disciplinary issues in September 2024 compared to the same month in 2023. The data highlights significant increases in student non-compliance, tardiness, and communication device violations, indicating a need for enhanced behavior management strategies.
Key Findings
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Meet the Principal Series Continues: Manassas Local Editor Caitlyn Meisner launched this series at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year to introduce nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County Schools. Now, we’re shifting focus to highlight the new and existing principals in Manassas City Public Schools. Each principal has answered the same questions (in bold), and their responses will be shared below. Stay tuned as we continue to profile the educational leaders shaping our community’s schools.
Choir Call Answered: We called for Christmas choir performances, and you delivered! The Gainesville Community Choir (GCC) submitted a video and press release about their upcoming shows. Keep those choir videos coming—I’m excited to feature them during the holiday season!
The Gainesville Community Choir will perform a winter collaborative concert titled *“From Darkness to Light.” The program includes Dan Forrest’s LUX: The Dawn from On High and other seasonal selections performed with the Fairfax Choral Society. Catch these performances:
- Friday, December 6 at Grace United Methodist Church in Manassas
- Saturday, December 7 at Annandale United Methodist Church
Stafford Schools Go Silent: We recently reported on Stafford County Public Schools hiring a new superintendent. Interestingly, no press release about the hiring was sent to us, though it was shared with other news organizations. We obtained the press release after filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
This follows an incident where the district’s public information officer asked us to leave the premises after we questioned the school board chair about the ongoing bus crisis. Since then, communication from Stafford Schools has been sparse.
According to the PIO, we’re “not supposed to be asking questions of school board members.” While disappointing, this lack of transparency won’t deter us from bringing you the important stories affecting our community.
Welcome (or welcome back) to a Potomac Local News series, “Meet the Principal.”
We started this series at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year with the nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County Schools, but let's turn our attention to the new and existing Manassas City Public Schools principals. Potomac Local has asked each principal the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.
Today, get to know Andrew Wilson, the principal of Round Elementary School since 2018. Wilson has been with MCPS since 2013 and has worked at Osbourn High School as assistant principal and dean of students. He also has experience in teaching special education.
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On Monday, November 18, 2024, the Manassas City Council and School Board convened a joint meeting to discuss findings from a space needs study and the future of shared facilities for critical city and school operations. The study, presented by Assistant City Manager Steve Burke, identified a 40,000 to 52,000 square foot requirement to house the Department of Social Services, the voter registrar, and the School Board's central office.
Past and Current Facility Plans
