The weapon was safely confiscated without further issues. This marks the second such incident in recent months, despite the school district’s $11 million investment in safety screening technology. The school district emphasized its commitment to student and staff safety, indicating ongoing evaluations of security measures.
A knife was discovered in the possession of a 15-year-old student at Colgan High School, prompting swift action by school authorities and law enforcement on February 14. According to reports, the incident unfolded at approximately 9:15 a.m. when the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Colgan High School was alerted to the weapon’s presence.
It was revealed during the subsequent investigation that the accused student had allegedly brandished the knife toward fellow students within a classroom setting.
With cumulative grants to school divisions totaling $1.52 million, PWCS, in partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), is set to establish registered teacher apprenticeship programs aimed at alleviating teacher recruitment challenges and fostering a robust talent pool within the community.
Expressing enthusiasm for the initiative, Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons stated, “I am proud to continue our commitment to helping school divisions find ways to put exceptional people from their own communities in their local classrooms.” Coons emphasized the pressing need for innovative approaches in addressing teacher shortages and highlighted the collaborative efforts with the National Center for Grow Your Own to tailor effective apprenticeship programs to local contexts.
Thursday, February 1, marks the deadline for applications to Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) specialty programs, excluding the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, which closed in December. PWCS offers diverse and talent-driven opportunities for elementary, middle, and high school students, wrote Superintendent Dr. LaTanya McDade.
In Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS), students across different grade levels can choose specialized programs tailored to their interests and strengths:
Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. LaTanya D. McDade has earned the title of Region IV Superintendent of the Year. The district covers school divisions in Northern Virginia: Prince William, Stafford, Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier, and west to Orange.
Region IV Chair Dr. Shannon Grimsley, Superintendent of Rappahannock County Public Schools, admired Dr. McDade’s inspirational leadership and commented on her unanimous nomination. “This award is a testament to Dr. LaTanya McDade’s exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence. She is an inspirational leader very much admired by her colleagues, and she will represent Region IV well in the running for Superintendent of the Year of the state of Virginia.”
Each year, the iWRITE literacy organization organizes a publishing contest for young writers and illustrators in grades three through 12.
This year, Anushka Misra, a seventh-grade student at Gainesville Middle School, emerged as one of the 125 winners chosen from across the globe.
On January 17, 2024, Karyn Riddle, Assistant Principal at Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, was honored as the 2024 Outstanding Secondary School Assistant Principal of Virginia by the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP). According to a Prince William County Schools spokeswoman, a panel of school leaders, including principals and division superintendents, carefully selected Riddle for this prestigious recognition.
Riddle, a proud graduate of Osbourn Park High School, has dedicated 24 years to the education of students in Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS). Her journey began at Osbourn Park High, where she spent a decade teaching and served as the school’s assistant principal for four years. Subsequently, Riddle contributed eight years in the central office as a student management supervisor, specializing in leadership development. In 2018, she assumed the role of assistant principal at Colgan High.
As winter storms swept through Prince William County this week, the decision to close schools became a focal point of discussion.
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) Superintendent Dr. LaTanya McDade, responsible for overseeing Virginia’s second-largest school system, shed light on the rationale behind the recent Code Red closures and the newly introduced Code Orange option.
Prince William County Public Schools: “Due to hazardous road conditions forecast for areas of the county between 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. Friday morning, January 19, 2024, all Prince William County Public Schools and Offices will be closed Code Red.”
