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December 9, 2021 - Vol. 4, No. 24

VA STAR program offers current students a pathway to return to PWCS as IT employees

In honor of Computer Science Education Week, learn more about the Virginia Student Training and Refurbishing (VA STAR) program, which teaches students to repair and refurbish computers that are then given to schools and families in need.

VA STAR helps students prepare for next steps in their career, and in PWCS, participating students have the unique opportunity to secure jobs in the schools they once attended. This year, six Forest Park High School graduates who participated in the program were hired as technology support specialists.

Read more.

This ad supports SPARK, the Education Foundation for PWCS.

Good News

Unity Reed High School student ranks as best in the nation with prestigious High School Butkus Award®

Congratulations to Unity Reed High School senior Shawn Murphy for receiving the prestigious Butkus Award® recognizing him as the best high school linebacker in the nation. Read more.

Four PWCS schools earn the Virginia Purple Star Designation in 2021

Tyler Elementary School and Parkside Middle School join the group of schools in PWCS with the Purple Star designation for their commitment to military-connected families. Ashland Elementary School and Porter Traditional School are the first two schools in PWCS to receive the distinction for a second time. Read more.

Potomac High School's Cybersecurity Specialty Program is setting students up for success in a high-demand field

In Potomac High School's cybersecurity specialty program, students earn skills and certifications that put them on a path for a career in this fast-growing field. Read more.

Unity Braxton Middle School students participate in Amazon Tech Day

Unity Braxton Middle School students tuned into virtual presentations from Amazon employees designed to inspire and make them aware of opportunities in the technology field. Read more.

Announcements

Help students understand the dangers of social media challenges The average teenager spends nearly 40 hours a week on social media. The popularity of social media and increased student access to the internet has led to some dangerous trends wherein youth try to complete a variety of online challenges. Students are frequently exposed to these challenges via their phones and other electronic devices and watching these challenges can become extremely addictive. These trends have emerged on Facebook, Instagram, and are prominent on TikTok, where "monthly challenges" have made headlines this year.   PWCS encourages our families, staff, and community members to have more conversations with our students about the dangers of social media challenges and the negative impact it can have on everyone around them. Please visit the Student Services Department's Internet Safety and Social Media Tips webpage for information on how to help students navigate viral social media stunts, view a parent resource guide to popular social media apps and other online websites, and discover positive ways of using social media effectively.

Parent Resource Center hosts workshop on Functional Behavioral Assessment and the Behavioral Intervention Plan December 16 - Virtual Session - 7 p.m. Register | Request Accommodations  The Parent Resource Center invites you to learn more about the Functional Behavioral Assessment and the Behavioral Intervention Plan (FBA/BIP), formal processes that help parents, teachers, and school professionals identify problem behaviors and work collaboratively to develop strategies that will improve or eliminate those behaviors.

STEAMing ahead to the new year— Donate now!

Help SPARK, the education foundation for Prince William County Public Schools, achieve its goal to raise $25,000 for STEAM before 2021 ends. When you make your tax-deductible charitable donation between now and December 31, 2021, you will be supporting STEAM programs for students throughout the Division. 

Learn more and make a donation.

Impact Aid Survey Deadline Extended to December 22nd It's not too late to complete the 2022 Impact Aid Student-Parent Survey for each student in your household. The Impact Aid grant program provides PWCS with significant funding to support programs for all students, but PWCS only receives this funding based on returned forms.

PWCS names new ombudsman for the School Division.

Benton Middle School's Debra Peterman receives Virginia Association of Science Teachers RISE award.

Join the Family Engagement Series at 7 p.m. on December 14 for "Overview of the Special Education Process and the Supports Available to Parents."

Prince William Health District hosts COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics at PWCS school sites

Children age 5 -11 can receive the Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric COVID-19 vaccine at two upcoming clinics. *Those age 12 and over may receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

IT scheduled maintenance this Sunday

Information Technology Services will be performing routine maintenance on Sunday, December 12. Division-wide internet access, including the guest network, VPN access, and intranet will be affected. Cloud-based applications such as Outlook, Office 365, The Hub, and Canvas will be available outside of the PWCS network.

EMPLOY classes teach career readiness

During Inclusive Schools Week, PWCS is proud to highlight programs that help all students develop marketable skills for the future, including the Employment Opportunities for Youth (EMPLOY) program at Battlefield High School.