Collage of three photos of PWCS students, a male in a woodshop, a group of students getting off a school bus, and a female student sitting at a desk in front of a computer

Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

I hope you and your family are enjoying a relaxing summer. It is hard to believe that the first day of the 2023-24 school year is quickly approaching. As we prepare for the brand-new school year and the excitement of the first day of school on August 21, I wish to provide an overview of important Back to School information, which may be found on our website.

The Back to School Packet will be available in ParentVUE on Tuesday, August 8, and should be completed by Friday, September 15. In completing this packet, parents/guardians will update emergency cards, contact information, and complete annual policy reviews and acknowledgments. The information you provide will allow school staff to ensure your students’ safety this school year, so please double check to make sure all information is accurate. While students may access their information through StudentVUE, parents/guardians will need to complete the Back to School Packet before accessing student information in ParentVUE.

Also, please ensure your student is up to date with immunizations before August 17. The Code of Virginia requires that children are adequately immunized (§ 22.1-271.2) before entering public kindergarten or elementary school. Immunization information for your student is available in ParentVUE.

If immunization requirements are not met by August 17, students will not be allowed to start school on August 21. Please make an appointment with your health care provider, Prince William Health District, urgent care facility, or local pharmacy for your child to receive any missing immunization(s). Additionally, Prince William County Community Foundation, Inc. (PWCCF), will be holding immunization clinics on Friday, August 11 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at both Freedom High School, 15201 Neabsco Mills Road in Woodbridge and Unity Braxton Middle School, 10100 Lomond Drive in Manassas. PWCCF is also holding a Back-to-School event for the community at Freedom High School on Saturday, August 12.

Class schedules will be released in ParentVUE for elementary schools on August 11, and for middle and high schools on August 16. Students may access this information through StudentVUE; however, parents/guardians will not have access to the same information until they complete the Back to School Packet first. Completing the Back to School Packet is vital to the safety and security of our students, which is why it must be completed before viewing other student information.

Bus schedules will be available in ParentVUE and StudentVUE on August 11. In anticipation of the first day of school, I encourage you to download the Here Comes the Bus mobile app that allows you to track your student’s buses in real-time. Once the Back to School Packet is completed, check back often in ParentVUE, as changes to bus stops and times may occur up until the first day of school.

Parent engagement is an integral part of ensuring a smooth return to school by establishing the necessary goals, attitudes, and relationships that support student achievement. We value your partnership as we work together in launching the thriving futures of our students.

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