A Message from Dr. LaTanya D. McDade

Top of mind right now is the report from the Prince William Police Department of the deaths of two local teens. We are saddened by these deaths and our thoughts and prayers are with their families. Both deaths appear to be connected to counterfeit forms of the drug Percocet, sometimes referred to as “Perc30.” The police have shared that the counterfeit drugs in both incidents were preliminarily tested and confirmed as being laced with fentanyl.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “the misuse of and addiction to opioids-including pain relievers such as fentanyl is a serious national crisis that affects public health as well as social and economic welfare” (NIH, 2020, para.1). This national problem affects all communities, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continues to prioritize efforts to help solve this crisis. As a community, we must remain vigilant and informed on how to best support our youth and together prevent misuse, addiction, and even death associated with substance abuse.

As part of this education effort, at 7:00 p.m. on May 5, PWCS will be hosting a special Family Engagement Series session called “Substance Abuse-Let’s Talk About It.” This virtual event will provide our parents and other caring adults with the tools needed to start conversations with our students. You may register for this virtual session and review other helpful resources, including signs of drug and alcohol abuse, at our Substance Abuse Prevention webpage. The session will be recorded and shared on this webpage by May 9.

If you have concerns about your child, or your family, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Contact 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for assistance. SAMHSA also has a treatment locator available on their website. In addition, you may also reach out to your child’s school for support.

Before the month of April concludes, I would like to recognize Occupational Therapy Month. Occupational therapists support our teachers by analyzing student performance and modifying activities to increase a student’s participation in the educational environment. Thank you to all our occupational therapists for the unique value and support they provide to our students and school communities.

On Tuesday, the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors approved the Fiscal Year 2023 School Division Budget, providing resources for priorities outlined in the PWCS Vision 2025 Launching Thriving Futures Strategic Plan. Among the many investments, the budget invests more than $80 million to provide teachers and staff with a 4.2% cost of living adjustment and a step increase, resulting in an average pay increase of 7%. As announced to all employees on March 18, this strong budget also enabled enhancements and adjustments to be made to ensure PWCS has regionally competitive pay scales. In the April 19 Communicator, the Department of Human Resources announced it is hosting webinars for all employees to provide further information and an opportunity to address questions.

Earlier this week, we shared information about the application process for the PWCS Virtual Academy. A limited number of seats in this virtual academy are available for kindergarten through eighth grade students for the 2022-23 school year. Parents/guardians who are interested can learn more about the application criteria and process on our website. The application deadline is May 10.

Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, I appreciate the hard work of our teachers in ensuring our students are learning in a positive and safe culture. We will be celebrating teachers across PWCS, and I encourage you to reach out to a teacher to share your appreciation.

As a reminder, Monday is a holiday for all PWCS students and staff. Enjoy the extended weekend.