A member of the military holds their child at a PWCS event

Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

This week marks the start of the second marking period, giving us a chance to celebrate recent successes and set new goals. Now is an important time to clarify our expectations for the next nine weeks. We urge everyone to keep building good habits—like regular attendance, taking care of health and wellness, and encouraging students in schoolwork, sports, and other activities.

Last May, the School Board approved updates to Policy 661, “Assessment and Grading Practices.” In alignment with the approved policy, annual grades at the middle and high school levels will be calculated by averaging quality points versus course percentages. This allows for a better representation of the overall performance of the student and brings consistency to how grades are calculated throughout the division. You can see more details in the middle school course catalog and in the high school course catalog. Look for more information from your school.

As a reminder, middle and high school report cards will be mailed on November 12. Elementary school report cards will be posted to ParentVUE no later than November 12. Please be sure to check in ParentVUE and with your student(s) and their teacher throughout the year.

November marks National Family Engagement Month, and I am pleased to spotlight two upcoming Family Engagement Series webinars. On Wednesday, November 12, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., we will host “Building Meaningful Family Partnerships Beyond Events,” and on Thursday, November 20, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., we invite you to join “Strengthening Families Through Wraparound Services.” We encourage all families to participate and take advantage of these valuable opportunities to connect and learn together.

In observance of National Veterans and Military Families Month, I am thrilled to announce that the Virginia Department of Education recognized 18 PWCS schools as 2025 Virginia Purple Star schools, including four first-time recipients and 14 renewals. The Purple Star Designation is awarded to military-friendly schools that demonstrate exceptional support for students and families connected to the military. With our newly honored schools, I am proud to announce that over half of the division now holds Purple Star Designations. I invite you to read more about which schools are new or have renewed their Virginia Purple Star Designation.

On Tuesday, November 11, all schools and offices will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. Across our county, schools are recognizing and honoring the service and sacrifice of men and women in the armed forces. I share with you one story about Minnieville Elementary School’s Veterans Day recognition to highlight the meaningful ways students and staff are expressing gratitude. Prince William County Public Schools extends its heartfelt appreciation for the dedicated service of our veterans.

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