July 31, 2024
Dear Potomac Community,
It’s almost time! Over the past 2 months our Potomac staff has been busy preparing for an AWESOME 2024 – 2025 school year. We look forward to welcoming our students back in-person on Monday, August 19th. Please find a few Potomac Senior High School updates below:
+ NEW POTOMAC ADMIN: The Potomac HS student body continues to grow! Our anticipated enrollment for the 24 – 25 school year exceeds 2,200 students and we’ve added several new instructional staff members and administrators to make sure our students and their families continue to receive the individualized support necessary for student success! Please check out the video below introducing our newest Potomac Administrators and feel free to reach out to your student’s administrator to give them a warm welcome to Potomac!
+ PARENTVUE: Throughout the school year, parents will be asked to log-in to ParentVUE to stay current on school information including class schedules, attendance, grades, and emergency card information. Since it is critical that our parents have access to student information via ParentVUE, I am asking each parent to confirm that their log-in information is active or visit THIS link for more information to sign-up. Until this packet is complete, parents/guardians will be unable to access important information in ParentVUE to start the new year (including student schedules and bus information).
- Online Concussion Training for Athletics will now be completed through Parent Vue. Instructions can be found on the Potomac Athletics website HERE.
If you are having any issues with accessing your account, please call the school at 703.441.4200 and request to speak with your Grade-Level Secretary.
As a reminder, weapons are never permitted on Potomac HS property. All students and visitors entering Potomac will be required to submit to a weapon detector screening to ensure no weapons are brought onto the premises. Bags, purses, backpacks, etc., may also be screened using metal/weapon-detecting wands and/or by hand. Refusal to cooperate with the screening procedure will result in the denial of entry (and/or disciplinary action for the student). Please see more information and FAQs HERE.
+ BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS:
- NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION: All students new to the building are invited to participate in New Student Orientation from 8a – 12:00noon on Friday, 8/9 (Last Names A – J from 8 – 11:30a and Last Names K – Z from 11:30 -3p), in-person at Potomac. Please see THIS letter for more transportation and logistic details!
- BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: Our Potomac Parents are invited to tour the building and meet their student’s teachers at our 2024 Back To School Night on Thursday, 9/5 at 6:15pm. Please plan to attend to start the school year off informed with school updates and information!
The cost of a parking pass is $100. Payment can be made by cash, check, or money order. Please make checks/money orders payable to “Potomac Senior High School.” If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Parker or Mrs. Norwood. Items that you will need when purchasing a parking pass:
1. Completed application with a parent/guardian signature
2. Valid driver’s license (belonging to the student)
3. $100 cash, (check or money order payable to Potomac Senior High School)
A valid Potomac parking pass must be visible in your windshield when parking on campus. Seniors must also park in their assigned space. All other cars are in violation and are at risk for towing.
Reminder: Driving an automobile to school and parking on school property is a privilege and not a right. Violation of any driving/parking rules will result in disciplinary action, the withdrawal of driving privileges, and/or the vehicle being towed at the owner's expense. A violation may include, but is not limited to, leaving campus without permission, excessive absences/tardiness to school, and/or discipline issues.
+ SENIOR EVENTS:
- IMMUNIZATIONS: Last chance! Proof of meningitis immunization is REQUIRED for students to return to school. If immunization requirements are not met by August 15, students will not be allowed to start school on August 19. Please make an appointment with your health care provider, Prince William Health District, urgent care facility, or local pharmacy for your child to receive any missing immunization(s). Additionally, free immunization clinics will be held on Tuesday, August 6 and Thursday, August 8 from 11a - 6p each day at Rippon Middle School. If you have questions, please contact the school nurse or visit the immunization requirements webpage HERE.
- SENIOR PICTURES: Senior Portraits will be taken on 8/5 thru 8/7 from 8:30a – 3p by appointment only onsite at Potomac. Appointment information was sent via School Status to all rising seniors, see THIS flyer for information sent. Senior Portrait Make-Up opportunities will be provided on 11/7 and 11/8 from 8a – 2p for any Senior who was unable to take Senior Portraits in these timeframes. Any Senior planning to attend the make-up sessions should be sure to check their emails and Class Canvas page for forthcoming details on how to schedule.
- SENIOR BREAKFAST: Save the date! Our 24 – 25 Potomac Senior Breakfast for Senior students and their parents will take place on Thursday, August 8th from 8-11am in the Potomac Cafeteria. Our event will be in-person event and we plan to offer breakfast, allow Seniors/parents to browse information provided at various tables, and view a presentation from our Potomac Counseling Department. See you there!
+ 24 – 25 SUPPLY LIST: Given the diversity of classes offered at Potomac, our teachers typically communicate specific school supply needs via student/parent email and course syllabus near the beginning of the school year. That said, please find a general list of school supplies that are helpful regardless of course offerings being taken below:
General supplies for use in all courses: • Pencils • Pens (blue/black) • Colored pencils
• Highlighters • 3 ring binder (hard plastic) • Loose-leaf paper • Dividers (at least 5 tabs) • Glue sticks • Scissors (hard plastic) • 2 pocket folder • Dry erase markers (for student use) • Scientific Calculator (not required, but recommended) • Index cards • Combination lock (For students taking Health and PE only) • Athletic Clothing- Health and PE (Uniforms are not used. Clothing should have sleeves) • Plastic water bottle • Plastic eyeglass case (if needed)
**Note: Additional supplies needed for specific classes will be provided on the syllabus at the beginning of the school year; however, you do not need to purchase items listed in the syllabus if they are included in the list above.
+ FREE BREAKFAST/LUNCH: We are pleased to inform our Potomac community that all enrolled students at Potomac Senior High School are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2024-2025 school year! No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.
- Students and families are encouraged to complete Free and Reduced Lunch status documentation for access to FAFSA-related grants/scholarships, College Application cost waivers, etc.
- Students are still required to pay for snacks and extra entrees and sides. Parents and guardians may add funds to accounts with cash or check at school or with a credit or debit card at www.myschoolbucks.com A la carte prices may be found HERE.
+ SHOUT OUT! I’d like to give special recognition to our fantastic Custodial Team led by Ms. Mayra Rodas and Mr. Walter Zarate! This summer, Potomac had extensive furniture replacement, flooring replacement, and refreshed painting throughout the building making facilities preparations for the coming school year more challenging than ever but our Custodial team put thorough plans in place and are on pace to have our grounds sparkling on August 19th! Week after week our Custodial Team keeps our school building and grounds nice, neat, and clean so that we can host visitors and special guests with pride and provide our students with the very best environment for teaching and learning. THANK YOU Potomac Custodial Team!
All Things POTOMAC!
Email: PotomacPanthers@pwcs.edu
Website: www.potomachs.pwcs.edu
Location: 3401 Panther Pride Drive, Dumfries, VA, USA
Phone: 703.441.4200
Twitter: @PotomacPanther