A Prince William County Public Schools spokeswoman confirmed tonight that Woodbridge High School administrators are bracing for a student walkout tomorrow, Friday, November 17, 2023.
According to information emailed to parents by Principal Heather Abney, the students will join others who support Palestine, who have called for a cease-fire in an ongoing war with Israeli soldiers following Hamas militants who invaded Israel and killed citizens in their homes on October 7, 2023.
“The changes were introduced at the Tuesday, Nov. 14 school board meeting by Chair Babur Lateef (at large) and members Jen Wall (Gainesville) and Adele Jackson (Brentsville). If adopted, the changes would prevent speakers from signing up for two meetings following the meeting at which they last spoke.”
Updated 5:50 p.m.: A Woodbridge native is one of 32 U.S. Rhodes Scholarship awardees named Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, Class of 2024.
Fahad Abdulrazzaq, who attended Prince William County Public Schools, received the scholarship.
Students at Colgan High School in Prince William County will stage a walkout supporting Palestine.
School administrators sent a letter home to parents about the walkout anticipated to take place on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
Insidenova.com: “Prince William County Public Schools made small gains in standardized test scores and other assessment areas last academic year, but key issues persist in specific student groups, county officials told the School Board during its Oct. 18 meeting.”
“Chronic absenteeism, rising drop-out rates and access and achievement gaps for student subgroups are the most persistent and glaring issues across the county, Superintendent LaTanya McDade and other county officials told the board in their State of the Schools 2022-23 presentation.”
Prince William County Public Schools: “The 2024-25 calendar options poll will be available for comment through October 27. The poll will include three options for the instructional calendar. The results will be presented to the School Board in November, who will make the final decision in December.”
“Option A requires an earlier start date to the school year, an extended winter and spring break, and a later end date to the school year.
Prince William County fire and rescue: “Firefighters of the Prince William County Fire and Rescue System will join students, from selective schools around the county to celebrate International Walk to School Day. Although the official event occurs on Wednesday, October 4th, Prince William County schools will be extending the activity throughout the month known as “Walktober.”
“The Walk to School Day/Walktober event will begin at various times, corresponding with the school’s opening. Students, along with parents and community leaders, will walk from meeting points along the walker’s route. Walkers at some schools will be joined by Fire & Rescue personnel as they exit the buses and enter the schools for the day. The event raises awareness of the need to create safer routes for our children when walking and biking. In addition, it emphasizes important issues as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion and concern for the environment. International Walk to School Day is a global event involving communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day.”
Prince William Times: “Two new Prince William County schools — a high school in Woodbridge and an elementary school in Potomac Shores — that are coincidentally planned near sites once considered by the Washington Commanders for a new stadium, will be delayed by more than a year and are now slated to open in 2027.”
“But the possible future stadium was not a factor in the delays, according to School Board Chairman Babur Lateef and a school division spokeswoman.”
Press Release: “[Prince William County Public Schools] is activating a new severe weather alert system in all our middle and high schools to keep our students and staff safe during after-school activities. This is part of our commitment to providing safe and welcoming facilities to our students, families, staff, and community.”
“This new system, Perry Weather, can detect wind chill, lightning, and pinpoint dangerous heat and WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) conditions in the air. If lightning is detected within 10 miles of a middle or high school, a siren will sound a 15 second initial warning, and a strobe light will begin flashing on the system.”
