Prince William County Public Schools Archives - Page 13 of 40

Prince William Schools Address Book Controversy with New Parental Control System After Parent Challenges Popular Novel

Published September 16, 2024 at 8:00AM | Updated September 19, 2024 at 12:29PM

The Prince William County School Board 2024 to 2027. Top left to right: Erica Tredinnick, Justin Wilk, Dr. Babur Lateef, Lisa Zarapur, Tracy Blake. Bottom row: Jennifer Wall, Richard Jessie, Loree Williams. [Photo: Prince William County Public Schools]

While acknowledging that the book is popular and contains a compelling story, Funderberg insisted that its adult content did not add value to the narrative and should not be accessible to young readers in middle school libraries. The Prince William County School Board reviewed the challenge, with both school-based and district-level committees voting to retain the book, limiting it to high school libraries. The superintendent upheld this decision, ensuring the book would remain available only to older students.

As the county continues to face challenges related to the availability of certain books deemed inappropriate by some parents, new initiatives are being rolled out to give parents greater oversight.

Features

Connecting You with Community Leaders: Meet the Principals and Local Candidates

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 5, 2024 at 9:59AM

I’m excited to share that we’ve just published our sixth “Meet the Principal” post, and even more profiles are coming!

Our Manassas Local Editor, Caitlyn Meisner, is working diligently to spotlight nearly two dozen new principals who have just started their roles in Prince William County this year.

News

Meet the Principal: Q+A with Pennington’s New Principal, Michael Kelchlin

By Caitlyn Meisner

Published September 5, 2024 at 9:00AM

Welcome (or welcome back) to a new Potomac Local News series, “Meet the Principal.” With nearly two dozen new principals in Prince William County this school year, it’s important to get to know the folks in their new roles.

Potomac Local has asked each principal the same questions in bold, and their respective answers will be found below.

Prince William

Back to School, Slow Down: Police Ramp Up Enforcement in School Zones

By Alan Gloss

Published August 27, 2024 at 10:04AM

Officer Anthony Lynch explains what a driver has to do for the multiple violations she received as the nearly four-foot long paper ticket blows in the wind. (Photo by Alan Gloss)

Area police have a message for the public: Slow down in school zones because school is back in session. Prince William County Police officers were out in force this week to encourage motorists to slow down in the posted school zones.

Lt. Jonathan Perok said, “School zone safety is a serious concern that impacts students, school staff, parents, and the broader community. Enforcement in these areas is one-way police can assist in ensuring the speed through these zones during critical times is followed. Drivers and pedestrians alike are urged to follow posted signs, avoid distractions, and plan extra time in their commute, especially during this transitional back-to-school period.”

Prince William

Prince William County Schools Achieve Record Highs in Latest SOL Assessments

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 23, 2024 at 1:43PM

[Photo: Prince William County Public Schools]

More from Prince William County Public Schools:

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) recently published the Standards of Learning (SOL) scores for the 2023-24 school year, covering all school divisions across Virginia. The data revealed that PWCS’ SOL scores improved across all subjects, including reading and writing, math and science, and history and social sciences, surpassing the state’s scores in nearly every category.

Schools

Prince William Schools Reports Significant Increase in On-Time Graduation, Decline in Dropout rate

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 17, 2024 at 11:35AM

Photo: Prince William County Public Schools

Prince William County Public Schools: “The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has shared the Prince William County Public Schools’ preliminary on-time graduation and dropout rates for the 2023-24 school year, citing remarkable progress throughout the division.

The preliminary on-time graduation rate for the 2023-24 school year is 94.3%, a 2.6% increase over the previous school year, and the English learners’ on-time graduation rate is 80.6%, a 9.6% increase over the year prior. The overall dropout rate decreased by 2.7% and the English learners’ dropout rate decreased by 9.6%.”

Prince William

Teachers Return to Prince William County Schools on August 12, 2024

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 11, 2024 at 10:58AM | Updated August 11, 2024 at 11:27AM

Teachers will return to Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) on Monday, August 12, 2024. The second-largest school division in Virginia is gearing up for the return of its 92,000 students on August 19, 2024.

Superintendent Dr. LaTanya McDade shared her excitement for the upcoming school year in a recent message to the community.

Prince William

Classroom Cell Phone Ban to Take Effect in Prince William County Schools

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 7, 2024 at 2:00PM

Photo: Prince William County Public Schools

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) will implement new guidelines restricting the use of cell phones and wireless communication devices in classrooms for the 2024-25 school year. The guidelines aim to create an environment conducive to focused learning, minimize distractions, and promote face-to-face social interactions among students.

Under the new guidelines, all wireless communication devices, including earbuds, must be silenced and stored away during the school day for students in middle, traditional, and K-8 schools. Dual-purpose watches may be worn, but wireless and cellular features must be turned off. High school students must be silent and store their devices during instructional periods. However, they may use their devices during lunchtimes and passing periods, with usage prohibited in restrooms and locker rooms.

Prince William

Volunteers Provide Backpacks to Students in Stafford and Prince William Counties

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 5, 2024 at 2:00PM | Updated August 13, 2024 at 6:22PM

A back-to-school festival held at Unity Reed High School near Manassas. [Photo: Prince William County Community Foundation]

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.

Originals

PWCS Bans Cell Phones in Classrooms for 2024-25 School Year

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 3, 2024 at 8:00AM | Updated August 4, 2024 at 8:46AM

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: