Side Navigation
Skip Sidebar Navigation
Weekly Announcements
Bell Schedule
Required Back To School Immunizations
Weekly Announcements
Navigating our Website and Apps
Laptop Distribution
Need to enroll a new student
New Student Orientation
Canvas and Zoom Resources for Students and Parents
StudentVue - ParentVUE
Office 365 Accounts
Can't Access an App
PSHS Clubs
WiFi Parking Lot
FAFSA Resources for Parents
Last item for navigation
View School Announcements, Updates, and Meeting Info and Links

PSHS STUDENT HANDBOOK

View handbook here


2021-22 School Year Virtual Only Updates


Parents, the attached letter contains important details for parents/students who are pursuing Virtual Learning for the 2021-2022 school year.  Please view the information here. 


Activity Buses


Due to a driver shortage, Activity Buses are now planned to begin on Tuesday, September 21, 2021.  We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

 

Week of September 13

VACCINATION INFORMATION: Although our students have done a wonderful job of following school health and safety procedures and PWCS universal masking guidelines, according to the CDC: “COVID - 19 vaccination is our most effective strategy to prevent infection and severe disease”.  Everyone age 12 or older in Virginia is now eligible for the COVID - 19 Vaccine.  More information on vaccination sites and opportunities in our area can be found HERE.  

EMERGENCY CARDS: This year, we will be collecting student information virtually via the New School Year Packet now available in ParentVUE. Instructions for completing the packet can be found HERE. Please be sure to complete the New School Year Packet by Friday! The information you provide will allow school staff to have the most up-to-date contact information and ensure the safety of your student this school year.

ACTIVITY BUSES: Potomac Activity Buses return on Tuesday, September 14th! Each Tuesday, we'll be encouraging students to work with their teachers to stay afterschool for access to clubs/activities and additional remediation or enrichment opportunities for their classes with FREE bus transportation offered. Students riding Activity Buses will be picked-up from Potomac at 4:15pm and may be dropped off at more general stops throughout the community instead of their normal AM/PM bus stops. Please contact our administrator coordinating transportation, Mrs. Regina Nash (NashRM@pwcs.edu), with questions.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • September 16: Yom Kippur Holiday (NO SCHOOL)
  • September 21: PAC Meeting @ 7pm (Potomac HS Library)
  • September 23: PTSO Meeting @ 7pm (Potomac HS Library)
  • September 27: PWCS College Fair @ 6pm (Woodbridge HS)

 

 


Week of September 6

LAPTOP INSURANCE: We highly encourage each family to take advantage of the optional insurance being offered through a partnership with Securranty and Prince William County Public Schools.  Please visit the Securranty website by clicking HERE for more information about this insurance policy and to purchase the insurance directly.

EMERGENCY CARDS: This year, we will be collecting student information virtually via the New School Year Packet now available in ParentVUE. Instructions for completing the packet can be found HERE. Please be sure to complete the New School Year Packet by September 17! 

COLLEGE FAIR: The PWCS Office of Student Services recently posted two college fair dates on the College and Career Planning page.

  • Monday, September 27, from 6-8 p.m. at Woodbridge High School 
  • Tuesday, October 19, from 6-8 p.m. at Colgan High School

Students and families are welcome to attend either open-house style college fair. PWCS mask requirements will be in place at these events.

ATTENDANCE UPDATE: With 2 weeks of experience navigating hallways for our students, our teachers and staff will be encouraged to closely track and document student tardies and attendance once we return to the building. It is our schoolwide expectation that students are in class on time to maximize instructional time. Please take time to review our Potomac Student Handbook for an overview of student behavioral expectations and consequences as we get the school year started.

GET INVOLVED: I encourage all of our parents to support continued success at Potomac by joining the Potomac Principals Advisory Council (PAC), or Parent, Teacher, Student Organization (PTSO). Please see meeting info below:

  • Provide feedback and input about the school’s Continuous Improvement Plan and budget at our PAC meeting on Tuesday, September 21st at 7pm in the Potomac Library.
  • Assist with community partnerships and student support events at our PTSO meeting on Thursday, September 23rd at 7pm in the Potomac Library.

Week of August 30


Our teachers and staff recognize the significance of being away from a traditional teaching/learning environment for 18+ months and are assisting with student’s transition back by emphasizing school resources, classroom study habits, and foundational skills/knowledge needed to set the stage for rigorous learning over the first 3 weeks. We are also focused on supporting student behaviors that promote a positive learning environment for all students. Please take time to review our Potomac Student Handbook for an overview of student behavioral expectations as we get the school year started.

 STUDENTVUE: We’re continuing to seek ways to provide instant information to our students and families and the StudentVUE app is a fantastic tool for students to access class schedules, grades, and more right from their phone! If your student has not yet downloaded the app, please share our easy-to-follow Potomac StudentVUE Access infographic. Contact your Grade-Level Secretary for more ParentVUE or StudentVUE information.

REMINDER! Students/Parents are also able to review bus information by logging into StudentVUE or ParentVUE. Simply select “Student Info” on the lefthand menu and scroll down to “AM (or PM) Transportation Type” for the Bus #, Bus Stop Location, and Times. Download the HERE COMES THE BUS App so you can track your bus in real time and receive push notifications regarding the status of your bus.  

LAPTOP INSURANCE: We highly encourage each family to take advantage of the optional insurance being offered through a partnership with Securranty and Prince William County Public Schools.  This is a discounted group policy that provides coverage for laptops that are issued to each student for accidental damage, flood, fire, vandalism and more.  Families will be responsible for any damage, including accidental damage, that occurs to student laptops this year and this insurance coverage can help provide peace of mind. Please visit the Securranty website by clicking HERE for more information about this insurance policy and to purchase the insurance directly.

EMERGENCY CARDS: This year, we will be collecting student information virtually via the New School Year Packet now available in ParentVUE. Instructions for completing the packet can be found HERE. Please be sure to complete the New School Year Packet by September 17! The information you provide will allow school staff to have the most up-to-date contact information and ensure the safety of your student this school year.




Week of August 23

We are thrilled to welcome our Potomac Panther students back to the building tomorrow! We will open our doors at 7:00a and school begins at 7:25a. Students are reminded to wear a mask and to bring your fully charged school issued laptop. Remember that breakfast and lunch are free this year for all students as well!

TRANSPORTATION:   Students/Parents are also able to review bus information by logging into StudentVUE or ParentVUE. Simply select “Student Info” on the lefthand menu and scroll down to “AM (or PM) Transportation Type” for the Bus #, Bus Stop Location, and Times. Download the HERE COMES THE BUS App, so you can track your bus in real time and receive push notifications regarding the status of your bus.

EMERGENCY CARDS:  Emergency cards, annual acknowledgements, and consents are now electronic! This year, we will be collecting the information virtually via the New School Year Packet now available in ParentVUE. Instruction for completing the packet can be found HERE. Please complete the New School Year Packet by September 17. The information you provide will allow school staff to have the most up-to-date contact information and ensure the safety of your student this school year.

12TH GRADE IMMUNIZATION UPDATE: Over the past several days, PWCS has contacted parents of 12th Grade students regarding the meningococcal vaccine requirement for all 12th Grader students prior to the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Given the delayed notification and quick turnaround time, the county has been granted an extension for the requirement to be met by all 12th Grade students by December 2021. A copy of your 12th Grader's vaccine administration record must be emailed (BenfieTR@PWCS.EDU) or delivered to Potomac HS in order for your 12th Grader to be able to attend school on Monday, January 3, 2022. 

VIRTUAL ONLY (VO) STUDENTS UPDATE: Attention Virtual Only (VO) Students and Parents! Please see our Virtual learning Info Page and our latest VO Student Update provided by our Administrator supervising VO courses, Mrs. Hilary Mahalchick.

PTSO: Please join our Potomac PTSO by using THIS link to pay yearly membership of $20/family or $10/faculty member. Our PTSO meets regularly to discuss community partnerships, receive information regarding school events, and plan ways to provide student support. The first meeting will be held virtually on September 23rd at 7pm.

 

Week of August 16


CAMBRIDGE PROGRAMME UPDATE: Attention Cambridge Students and Parents! Please see the latest Cambridge Programme Update provided by our new Cambridge Coordinator, Mrs. Hilary Mahalchick.

GET INVOLVED: “When parents are involved at school, the performance of all the children at school, not just their own, tends to improve. The more comprehensive and well planned the partnership between school and home, the higher the student achievement” (Henderson, A.T., and Nancy Berla. 1995).

  • Questions about the school budget? Want to stay up-to-date on school SOL and instructional data? Want to propose school-funded updates to our building/facilities? Visit our PAC meetings which will begin in September.
  • Want to provide feedback or ask questions about current instructional practices? Want regular updates on class events like Prom, Graduation, etc.? Please join our Potomac PTSO by using THIS link to pay yearly membership of $20/family or $10/faculty member and visit our PTSO meeting on Thursday, September 23rd at 7pm in the Library.


Week of July 24


Yearbook Pick-Up:  

Great news, Panthers! Your 20-21 Yearbooks are HERE! Pick yours up on  Mon (7/26), Tues (7/27), or Wed (7/28) from 11am-2pm at Door 34. Still need to purchase your yearbook? Buy now at www.yearbookforever.com. We will also accept cash sales ($70) at pick-up, but supplies are limited! Don’t wait! 

Students who are unable to pick-up their yearbooks during this time should contact Ms. Golnek (golneksm@pwcs.edu) for more details on future pick-up dates or other available accommodations. 

Senior Pictures: 

Class of 2022, your time is finally here! You’re officially SENIORS! Kick-off your senior year by scheduling your Senior Portrait appointment! Senior Portraits will be held August 2nd through August 6th from 8:30am-6pm in the Auditorium. 

Due to current delays with the Postal Service, please note that you don't need to wait to receive your appointment card before you book your appointment. The website has been opened up for scheduling and you are welcome to start that process. Prestige will also send out email notifications so be sure to check your emails for updates! Be sure to schedule your appointment at least 48 hours in advance. 

Book your Senior Portrait appointment NOW on https://prestigeportraits.com. You can find their name by utilizing the "Search by City & State" feature. 

Remember, it’s FREE to sit for just your yearbook/Student ID picture! Don’t miss out!  

If you have any questions about Senior Portraits, please contact Prestige directly at 1-800-736-4753 

View Senior Pictures flyer here


STUDENT ATTENDANCE: In an effort to keep students and staff healthy and safe, Potomac High School is moving towards a paperless attendance office system. Please send all communications about attendance via email to your child's administrative secretary. 

For absences, late arrivals or early dismissals, please send an email with your child's name, attendance request, brief explanation of the request and date/time if available. If you have documentation from the courts, a doctor's office, etc., please send this as an attachment to your email.  Once we receive the email, we will process the request and make the necessary adjustments in your child's records.

Please email early dismissal requests on the same day of the dismissal. We will process as quickly as we can. Parent/guardians may also call in early dismissals at 703-441-4200 and you will be directed to your child's administrative secretary. We may only accept calls from the parent/guardian (not emergency contacts). If the dismissal is not pre-arranged, please call from your vehicle and we will process via phone. Please park in one of our visitor parking spaces outside of door 34, and your child may exit the building once processed. Below is a list of our administrative secretaries and their email addresses: 

9th Grade   Mrs. Claudia Vela           velacp@pwcs.edu
10th Grade     Mrs. Dena Covington     covingdj@pwcs.edu
11th Grade   Mrs. Katie Satchell         satchekm@pwcs.edu
12th Grade   Mrs. Dena Covington     covingdj@pwcs.edu 

Additional attendance information can be found here.



POTOMAC YOUTUBE CHANNEL


 Students and parents are encouraged to visit our official Potomac HS YouTube page HERE! Please be sure to subscribe to stay up-to-date on information and events at Potomac. Various events will be live streamed and the channel will also include more student-created and parent-created content very soon!