“We win this as a team,” Occoquan Elementary Principal Hamish Brewer said. “We could not be more proud to represent Prince William County Public Schools and the Occoquan community as a National Title I Distinguished School.” The national award is the first such award for a Prince William County public school.

The My PWCS mobile app is all new for the 2016-17 school year, with tools to keep people up to date while on the move. Notifications and emergency alerts keep users aware of breaking news—including sought after inclement weather messages.

Students in Prince William County Public Schools will participate in the Annual King Day Celebration and Youth Oratorical Contest on Jan. 16 at Hylton Memorial Chapel, 14640 Potomac Mills Road, Woodbridge at 11 a.m. 25+ students including Manassas and Mansssas Park will compete in early January at the regional level for a spot in the final competition of six finalists—three middle school and three high school students.

Parents of Prince William County eighth-grade and high school students are invited to a High School Parent Summit on Saturday, Jan. 7 at Hylton High School from 8 to 11 a.m.

To see how students get hooked on robots, catch the FIRST LEGO League tournament at Gar-Field High School on Nov. 19. The opening ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. FLL robots are not maneuvered by a remote control like many other robotic platforms. Instead, the robots are driven by a computer program that these fourth and fifth graders have written themselves.

Students and adults interested in nursing careers are encouraged to check out the Prince William County Public Schools Practical Nursing program. The application period is Dec. 1, 2016 to March 15, 2017. The program prepares students to become a valuable member of a healthcare team working under the supervision of a physician or a registered nurse. The School of Practical Nursing is located at Osbourn Park High School in Manassas.

Parents, guardians and residents are encouraged to participate in the school boundary planning process by attending the Community Meetings at 7 p.m. on Nov. 22 (Potomac HS auditorium) and at 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 (Freedom HS auditorium). Visit the Eastern Elementary School Boundary Planning Portal for additional information.

Fire Chief Kevin McGee of Prince William County Department of Fire and Rescue would like to remind merchants to take the following necessary precautions in protecting their patrons and merchandise during this holiday season: