+ 2ND QUARTER UPDATE: Please be reminded that 1st Quarter grading closes on Thursday, October 31st! This week there is a holiday on Friday, November 1st and Teacher Workdays on Monday, November 4th and Tuesday, November 5th and there will be NO SCHOOL on either day. 2nd Quarter begins on Wednesday, November 6th.
+ NEW CAMBRIDGE COORDINATOR: We are excited to welcome our new Cambridge Coordinator, Mr. Nathan Hoback, to Potomac HS! Mr. Hoback previously served as high school teacher and Department Chair in a different county. Please see THIS quick video introduction on our Potomac YouTube Channel and be on the lookout for a quick informal Meet & Greet opportunity in the coming weeks. Welcome aboard Mr. Hoback!
+ TOUCH BASE: REMINDER! Monday, November 4th we will hold our Fall Touch Base event from 8:30 – 10:30am at the school. The Touch Base event provides parents with the opportunity to briefly meet with teachers to discuss student progress and to plan strategies for continued student growth. All teachers will be located in the gym. Students do not report to school as the remainder of the day will serve as a teacher workday.
In order to assist with cutting down on wait time, we have created shifts by balancing our student’s last names into groups and have assigned the time slots for visits:
A - J: 8:30-9:30am
K - Z: 9:30-10:30am
+ STUDENT ATTENDANCE UPDATE: As we transition from 1st to 2nd Quarter next week, I’ve asked that our teachers and staff pay particular attention to accurately inputting student attendance each day. Please see 4 quick notes below:
1. Be in class BEFORE the bell rings! Any student arriving to their classroom after the bell is tardy.
2. Make morning drop-offs by 7:15a! Although school starts at 7:25a, dropping students off after 7:15a runs the risk of students being unable to make it in the building and to their class before the bell rings.
3. Follow Student Drop-Off procedures! After turning in at the marquee, take the 4th right into the underclassmen lot and then an immediate right to drop off at the sidewalk leading up the steps toward the school. After you drop your student off, drive straight ahead to the top of the hill and make a left turn to exit school grounds. Please yield to students throughout the parking lot and do not drop your students off at any other location.
4. Avoid disciplinary consequences! In the coming weeks, our Administrative team will be processing discipline for tardies and absences and conducting tardy sweeps throughout the building with students receiving consequences described in our Student Handbook linked HERE.
Let’s continue to work together to promote the very best teaching and learning environment for our students and staff!
+ VDOE AWARD: Last week, the Virginia Department of Education announced their 24 – 25 Exemplar School Recognition Awards. 49 schools throughout the state were recognized with the VDOE Continuous Improvement Award based on growth shown over the past 3 school years. I’m proud to announce Potomac HS as one of the honorees! What a testament to the hard work of our teachers and staff, the capability of our students, and the commitment shown by our community to provide our students with awesome teaching and learning opportunities every day! You can read more about the recognition HERE. In the coming weeks, we’ll be finding ways to celebrate this awesome accomplishment with our Potomac students, staff, and parents. Again, CONGRATULATIONS to our Potomac HS community for the well-deserved honor!
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