Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

Across the county, schools have been engaged in Commitment 2: Positive Climate and Culture while celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. One amazing example of global citizenship can be found at Battlefield High School, where students from the International Club and Spanish Honor Society held their annual Horchata Bachata celebration. I invite you to learn along with our students as we celebrate Latino culture.

Throughout October, PWCS honors several observances focused on special education including Dyslexia Awareness, ADHD Awareness, and Learning Disabilities Awareness. PWCS believes in Commitment 1: Learning and Achievement for All and is dedicated to providing effective instruction to meet the needs of every student. PWCS will continue to proactively improve our approaches, practices, and delivery of special education instruction and services to enhance the educational experience and support for all students. More information on the strategic investments and initiatives may be found on the PWCS website.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the names of over 16,000 semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These students entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The pool of semifinalists represents less than one percent of the nation’s high school seniors. PWCS is proud to acknowledge 2024 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists seniors:

• Skye Auger - Osbourn Park High School 
• Joseph Dietrich - Patriot High School

The Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs have demonstrated a clear and effective commitment to equitable access to advanced coursework. To qualify for the 2023 AP School Honor Roll, schools must meet or exceed the criteria for a given recognition level for their work around College Culture, College Credit, and College Optimization. The following PWCS schools have received recognition:

• 2023 AP School Honor Roll – Silver: Battlefield High School, Colgan High School, Osbourn Park High School, and Patriot High School
• 2023 AP School Honor Roll – Bronze: Forest Park High School

In addition to the AP School Honor Roll, the AP Access Award honors schools that encourage more responsive, inclusive, and equitable opportunities for diverse students taking AP courses. The following PWCS schools have received recognition:

• 2023 AP Access Award: Battlefield High School, Colgan High School, and Forest Park High School

As October is also Energy Action Month, I want to recognize the 12 PWCS schools that have earned the Virginia Naturally Schools designation from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the official environmental education school recognition program in the Commonwealth. This award highlights PWCS’ commitment to improving environmental awareness and stewardship by educating students and staff. Congratulations to our 12 schools—Bel Air, Belmont, Coles, Dale City, Mountain View, Mullen, Neabsco, and Piney Branch Elementary Schools, along with Benton Middle School and Freedom, Gar-Field, and Patriot High Schools—as they continue to work toward the school division’s dedication to sustainability, the environment, and reducing the carbon footprint.

Have a restful weekend and remember that Monday is a divisionwide professional development day, which is a non-attendance day for all students.

Sincerely,

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