Families participating in an arts and crafts activity at the Saunders Middle School Fall Festival

Dear PWCS Families, Employees, and Community,

As we close out the first quarter, I want to congratulate our students, teachers, administrators, and staff on a strong start to the school year. As I have visited classrooms and schools across the division, I have seen firsthand the dedication, creativity, and hard work taking place each day. Thank you for all you do and let us carry that momentum into the second quarter.

I am also proud to celebrate 15 PWCS students who earned national recognition through the National Education Opportunity Network (NEON) National Honor Society. These exceptional scholars ranked among the top 20% of nearly 10,000 students nationwide who participated in virtual college-level courses during the spring 2026 semester, with two of our students ranking in the top 5%. Representing Gar-Field, Osbourn Park, Potomac, and Woodbridge High Schools, these students excelled in courses offered by prestigious institutions. Congratulations to these outstanding scholars.

As we look ahead to November, I want to recognize you, our families, as we celebrate Family Engagement Month and the many ways you support your students each day. Family engagement does not have to mean attending every event or knowing every answer. It means staying connected, asking questions, celebrating progress, and being an active partner in your student’s learning. Parent-teacher conferences, taking place on Monday, November 2, offer another opportunity to connect with your student’s teachers and discuss their progress. I also encourage you to explore our Family and Community Engagement resources and discover ways to stay connected throughout the school year.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the first quarter a success. I am proud of the progress our students have made and look forward to seeing them build on that momentum in the months ahead. As a reminder, there will be no school for students on Monday, November 2, or Tuesday, November 3. In addition to parent-teacher conferences, November 2 is reserved for professional development, while November 3 is a teacher workday.

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