Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

The excitement for the first day of a new school year always delivers smiles, laughter, high-fives, and hugs. Amid a spirited early morning atmosphere, I began the first day of school at Osbourn Park High School, welcoming students to the 2023-24 school year (watch video). Throughout the week, I visited 31 schools to welcome new and returning students, engage with teachers and staff, and observe classroom instruction. I am inspired by the positive energy in our classrooms, high quality instruction well underway, and a spirit of collaboration between our staff and families.

We thank you for your patience as the beginning of the school year always requires some time for our bus drivers, students, and families to get acclimated to new transportation routines. Stabilization in pick-up and drop-off times can take up to two weeks, and we are working for that to occur even sooner. While we continue to improve our bus routes, I encourage you to download the Here Comes the Bus mobile app, which allows you to track your student’s buses in real-time.

Please remember every day in your child’s education is precious. We appreciate you working with us this year to make attendance count from day-one. Chronic absenteeism, missing more than 10% of the school year for any reason, has been associated with lower reading and math achievement in elementary grades, and class failure and drop out at the secondary level.

Thank you to all the extraordinary teachers, counselors, administrators, and staff for your dedication to our students and families. I also want to acknowledge the incredible work of our transportation staff, building security, food and nutrition services staff, nurses, custodial and facilities staff, and the numerous volunteers for their commitment to ensuring the success of this first week and the bright 2023-24 school year ahead.

Sincerely,

LaTanya D. McDade, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Prince William County Public Schools