Superintendent celebrates fantastic first week of school

Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

What an incredible first week of the 2026-27 school year! There is something special about the first day of school—the excitement of seeing friends again, meeting new teachers, walking into new classrooms, or, for some of our youngest learners, beginning school for the very first time. Throughout this week, I had the opportunity to visit 34 schools across PWCS, and everywhere I went, I saw students eager to learn, educators excited to teach, and staff working together to create welcoming environments where every student feels they belong.

When students feel a true sense of belonging, they are empowered to thrive. Two outstanding examples are Kerrydale and Minnieville Elementary Schools, which have both been nationally recognized as a Bright Spots Top School for literacy achievement. Additionally, Kerrydale ranks among the top 5% of Virginia schools for exceeding expected reading achievement. These accomplishments reflect what is possible when high expectations are paired with high-quality instruction, strong leadership, and a steadfast commitment to supporting every student.

This year also began with students walking through the doors of two remarkable new learning environments. We welcomed students to Woodbridge Elementary School, where flexible and innovative spaces were intentionally designed to encourage students to collaborate, create, problem-solve, and learn from one another. We also officially opened the division’s first net-zero energy building, Occoquan Elementary School, creating a modern and sustainable environment for generations of students to come.

As we settle into the routines of a new year, I want to remind families that the Annual Back to School Packet must be completed in ParentVUE by Friday, September 18. Keeping this information current helps our schools maintain accurate emergency contacts and other important information for your student’s safety.

Finally, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to our teachers, counselors, administrators, bus drivers, transportation staff, food and nutrition teams, custodians, facilities staff, security officers, nurses, office professionals, technology teams, and every employee whose work made this successful opening week possible. Thank you for the care, professionalism, and commitment you bring to our students every day.

And thank you to our students, families, and community for an outstanding first week. I look forward to all we will accomplish together during the 2026-27 school year.

Sincerely,

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