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Things to know this week in PWCS
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🎉 PWCS celebrated Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week (January 12-16, 2026), honoring the dedication of our school leaders. Check out how students are sharing their appreciation 😊
Superintendent Dr. LaTanya D. McDade Presents Proposed Strategic Plan 🚀
Superintendent of Schools Dr. LaTanya D. McDade recently unveiled Elevate 2030, the proposed four-year strategic plan that will guide PWCS through 2030.
The School Board will hold a public hearing to receive feedback on Elevate 2030 at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center (14715 Bristow Rd., Manassas, VA 20112).
For more details on how to participate in the hearing, please visit the public hearing page on the PWCS website. For more information about Elevate 2030, please visit the PWCS website.
We value your feedback and hope you take this opportunity to help shape the future of our division.
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PWCS Presents Proposed 2027-31 Capital Improvement Program to School Board
PWCS presented its proposed 2027–31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) during a School Board work session on Wednesday, January 14. The CIP outlines plans for future facility projects, including new construction, renovations, and major maintenance. View the proposed CIP.
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✨ Planning Thriving Futures with Student Vision Profiles
It’s Academic Advising Season!
Starting at the end of January, middle and high school students will meet individually with their school counselors to review academic plans and select courses for next year. These meetings help students reflect, plan, and align their choices with future career goals.
Students’ updated Student Vision Profile will be available by January 30, 2026. Before your meeting, explore advanced opportunities such as dual enrollment through College and Career Ready Virginia to make the most of your high school experience.
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Copilot Coming Soon for High School Students 💻
PWCS high school students will gain access to Microsoft Copilot through their school accounts starting February 2, 2026. Copilot is a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool that, in a classroom setting, supports writing, research, and organizing schoolwork.
As high school students begin using Copilot, there are several important points families should know:
• Copilot is a tool that can help students work more efficiently and build important digital skills to prepare them for college and career readiness.
• Students will receive guidance from their schools on using Copilot responsibly, safely, and ethically.
• Copilot use is monitored through PWCS accounts, and student information remains protected under existing data privacy policies.
• Anything students type into Copilot stays within the PWCS system and is not used to train or improve any AI models.
• PWCS has created instructional guidelines and professional development opportunities to help teachers introduce Copilot, support students, and model safe and effective AI use.
Families can visit the Artificial Intelligence in PWCS webpage to learn how AI is used in schools and find resources to help support their students at home.
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📢 PWCS Makes Updates to Grading Policy
PWCS has made updates to the grading assessment policy, which was approved by the School Board in June 2025.
Semester and yearlong grades are now calculated by averaging quality points rather than course percentages. Read more about these updates.
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🏈 History is made as Girls Flag Football becomes official division sport! Read more.
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📚 Enhance Study Sessions with Khan Academy
To support academic success, all PWCS high school students in grades 9-12 now have access to Khan Academy through the PWCS Portal. This free resource offers personalized tools, instructional videos, and practice assessments aligned with the College Board. Two of the most used SAT preparation courses are:
- SAT Math – covering algebra, problem-solving, data analysis, and advanced topics.
- SAT Reading and Writing – focusing on grammar, vocabulary in context, and evidence-based reading comprehension.
Watch this video to learn additional helpful study tips to support students at home.
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⭐️ PWCS Proud! Help Us Celebrate Outstanding PWCS Staff ⭐️
The winter nomination window for PWCS Proud! is officially open to nominate those PWCS employees who go above and beyond in making a difference in our schools and community. Visit the PWCS Proud! webpage to learn more and submit a nomination by January 28, 2026.
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Good news right now around PWCS
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🗓️ Upcoming Dates and Deadlines
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Wednesday, January 21, 2026: School Board Meeting
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Thursday, January 22, 2026: Last Day of Second Marking Period
- Friday, January 23, 2026: No School- Teacher Workday (No School for Students)
- Monday, January 26, 2026: No School- Division Parent Conferences/ Division Professional Development (No School for Students)
- Saturday, January 31, 2026: Instructional Job Fair
- Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.: Specialty Program Applications close
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