PBAC Meeting October 16th 

Next Wednesday, October 16th after the PTO meeting, we will be holding our PBAC meeting. October’s PBAC meeting agenda includes community engagement and how parents can get more involved. We hope to see you there.  

Meeting time: 7:30pm 

Location: PBES Library 

Fall Food Drive 

We are excited to announce our Fall Food Drive, running from October 7th to October 21st! This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together and support families who need a little extra help this year. Please donate non-perishable food items. We are collecting canned goods, pasta, rice, canned fruit, applesauce, canned vegetables, canned meat/fish, canned potatoes, Instant mashed potatoes box, one-box meals (like Hamburger Helper), peanut butter, jelly, cereal, oatmeal, pre-made baking mix, flour, sugar, shelf-stable milk, cooking oil/spray. Please have your students bring their items to their classroom.   

Boxes of Basics 

Boxes of Basics is a non-profit company that our social worker here at Piney Branch works with closely to help provide clothes for some of our low-income families. Piney Branch is now a donation center and we’re asking the community for any new or gently used clothes for sizes newborn through 16-youth. 

For more information about Boxes of Basics you can visit their website 

One Warm Coat 

Gainesville Pediatric Dentistry has once again reached out to Piney Branch and asked that we help collect new or gently used coats for families in need. A box has been placed in the front office since October 15th and is being picked up on December 30th.  You can see details at the One Warm Coat website.

PWCS 33rd Annual Food Show 

Join us at the table for the PWCS 33rd Annual Food Show. PWCS would like our families to come to try new recipes at Patriot High School on November 14th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. 

Click here to RSVP to the PWCS 33rd Annual Food Show or call 703-791-7314 to let us know you are joining us.

Veterans Day Luncheon 

Does your child have a local veteran in their family? We invite them to join us on Friday, November 8th at 12:00 p.m. for a special Veteran's Day Luncheon. Veterans and their families can enjoy a special meal provided by Mission BBQ and enjoy a performance by the PBES Chorus Club and our Purple Star Ambassadors.   Please fill out this RSVP form by November 1st to reserve your spot. Questions? Contact Merissa Bartoli at [email protected]  

To celebrate our veterans, we will be displaying a "Wall of Honor" in our main hallway.  Please send in photographs of the veterans in your family that you would like to honor by November 1st to the front office.  Please label the photographs with their name and branch of service and the student to whom they are connected.  Photographs will not be returned so please do not send in originals.   

PWCS Proud 

PWCS is excited to launch PWCS Proud! an employee recognition program aligned with the You Belong Here initiative for staff retention and engagement. PWCS staff, students, families, and community members are encouraged to nominate PWCS staff members who: 

• Contribute to one or more of the 2025 PWCS Strategic Plan Commitments; 

• Exemplify the six PWCS Core Values; 

• Provides exceptional contributions to PWCS through their work; 

• Model high standards while creating a strong sense of community. 

The first nomination submission window will be open from October 7-October 28, 2024. 

Impact Aid Information

Impact Aid is a federal education program that reimburses school districts for lost revenue and additional costs due to the presence of nontaxable federal property (such as military installations, Indian lands, national parks, national laboratories, and Veterans Affairs hospitals) in a community. 

Funding under Impact Aid is allocated to local school divisions based on the number of qualifying students.  For PWCS, a qualifying student is defined as:

• Has a parent or legal guardian who is active-duty member of the United States Uniformed Services; or
• Resides with a parent or legal guardian who works on federal property, in the state of Virginia, as a civilian employee.

Please log into your ParentVue account and complete a Student-Parent survey for each child in your household.  Surveys will open September 30^th.  Surveys should be completed by November 30, 2024.   

Gifted Education and Talent Development Information Session 

Parents or guardians who would like to learn about the process used to identify students for gifted education and talent development services in Prince William County Public Schools are invited to attend a virtual information session on October 24, 2024, at 7 p.m. Please register for the session and request interpretation services by completing the online registration form. The link to the Zoom session will emailed to all registrants two days before the session. 

2nd Grade Naglieri Testing 

This fall, the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test – Third Edition (NNAT3) will be administered to Grades 2, 6 and 9 students in Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS). The NNAT3 is used to assess the development of reasoning and problem-solving skills in students as part of our universal screening process for Gifted Education. During this 30-minute test, students are asked to solve a series of non-verbal logic problems, which provides them with an opportunity to demonstrate reasoning skills without relying on language.  

The NNAT3 will be administered at Piney Branch on Wednesday October 23. 

NNAT3 results will be used in combination with other classroom achievement information to assist us in understanding the learning strengths and needs of students so that our staff can design the most effective instructional plan for them. The best way to prepare your student for this test is to simply encourage them to do their best. When results are available, a copy of your student’s scores will be sent to you. If you have questions about NNAT3, please contact Ms. Sobers ([email protected]). 

Accessing Unit Test Results (Grade 2-5) 

You can view your child’s unit assessments given in Mastery Connect after they have taken the test. Please watch these videos for the steps you can take. 

Accessing Mastery Connect on a Computer 

Accessing Mastery Connect on an iPad 

Watch D.O.G.S.

Calling all Watch D.O.G.S.!

There are still plenty of opportunities to serve as the Watch DOG for the day. The students, teachers, and staff are looking for all fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, and father figures to be the Hero of the Hallway for at least one day. Use the links below to purchase your official Watch DOGS T-shirt and sign up for the day of your choice. If you have any questions about the Watch DOGS program or would like to be a Watch DOG, please email the program coordinators at [email protected]. 

Click here to sign up to be a Watch D.O.G.S.  

Click here to obtain a Watch D.O.G.S. T-shirt 

;Accessing PBES Resources Outside of School

You can access our PBES resources like Canvas, Office 365 and Clever from almost wherever you are. Please see the following help videos to:

• Logging in to PWCS Applications
• Setting up a Canvas Parent Account

Silent Auction Online Bidding Open until October 17th 

Help us kick off our Silent Auction with online bidding. The Silent Auction will be held during Bingo Night on October 18. Starting bids will be accepted online through October 17. Bidding will continue in-person at Bingo Night on October 18. Check out what's available and place your starting bids today.

Bingo Night is almost here! 

Join us on October 18th and get ready to shout "BINGO" at this fun-filled event. Doors open at 6pm. Stay for the GRAND PRIZE Game to win an ELECTRIC SCOOTER!  Pre-order pricing closed on October 15, However, you will be able to make purchases at Bingo Night on Friday, October 18th. Premium concessions will be available while supplies last! 

October PTO Meeting

Please join us in person for our next PTO Meeting on Wednesday, October 16th or join us remotely.   Join in person to enter our monthly PTO gift card giveaway; you do not need to be a member to join us!

Color Craze  

Fundraising EXTENDED thru October 31, 2024! 

Get ready to unleash your energy at Piney Branch Elementary School's most vibrant event of the year. The Piney Branch PTO is thrilled to present the 2024 Color Craze. On October 31st, the school grounds will transform into a colorful canvas as students dash through clouds of color, laughter, and excitement.  CLICK HERE for instructions to register and start your fundraising to help your child win one of our grand prizes.

Fundraising will stay open until Thursday, October 31, 2024 for your student to win the grand individual and class prizes! We are halfway to our goal Piney Family, keep up the good work!

Volunteer Opportunity  

Want to douse your student in color? Now’s your chance! Color Craze volunteer spaces are now open and we expect them to fill up quickly. Volunteer for 2024 Color Craze today and watch the fun in real time.  

PTO Silent Auction

The PTO will be hosting a silent auction to benefit our school. In addition to donations from local businesses and community groups, we are calling on our families to donate items as well. Each grade level has been given a theme. Donated items can be sent into school through October 4th. Please let your child's teacher know the item is for the PTO Auction.  Need ideas?

Grade Level Themes for Auction: 

Kindergarten- Death by Chocolate 

First Grade- Out on the Town 

Second Grade- Let's Get Crafty 

Third Grade- Tailgate Time 

Fourth Grade- I Scream for Ice Cream 

Fifth Grade- Firepit Friday 

Families will have a chance to bid online and then in person on items at our Bingo Night, Friday, October 18. More details to come. 

Join the PTO

Become a member*! Your membership helps us support the Piney Branch community. You can also attend meetings and vote on initiatives that are important to you - but that is not a requirement. You do not have to attend meetings or volunteer to become a member.

Your time as a volunteer helps us execute our mission to support the students, teachers, staff, and parents at Piney Branch. It is also a great way to connect with our community. Volunteer opportunities are vast and flexible - choose what works best for you.

Payments can be made by clicking the Piney Branch venmo link*.

Save the Date for More Exciting PTO Events

• October PTO Meeting  - Wednesday, October 16
• Silent Auction & Bingo Night - Friday, October 18
• Color Craze - Thursday, October 31
• November PTO meeting - Wednesday, November 20                
• Spirit Night @ Haymarket Iceplex - December TBD      

 *This Website (Webpage) is not managed, approved, or sponsored by the Prince William County Public Schools.

Marsteller Math and Science Specialty Program

The Marsteller Math and Science Specialty Program is an interest-based program. All students interested in math and science are eligible to apply. It is the mission of the program to provide students with opportunities to explore in-depth mathematical and scientific concepts and principles in an enriching program of study while further developing their critical thinking skills.

Once in the program, students must earn at least a grade of B in Math and Science and Cs in all other classes to remain in the program. Students must also earn satisfactory conduct and effort grades and have good attendance. Students must maintain these standards throughout middle school.

Rising 6th-grade students are eligible to apply for the Math and Science Specialty Program if they are zoned to attend Marsteller Middle School. Students who are zoned to attend Bull Run, Gainesville, Nokesville, Parkside, Reagan, and Unity Braxton Middle Schools may be eligible to apply as transfer students. Families should check the PWCS find my school site to check school zones. Marsteller accepts 25 transfer students per year by lottery.

Families apply for their students with the online application beginning November 1st through February 1st. No students are automatically added to the program. All students, even Marsteller zoned students, must apply and be accepted in order to participate. 

More Information about Marsteller Math and Science Program

Important dates:

• Information Night: October 30 at 6:00 pm at Marsteller Middle School (Spanish translation will be available)
• Information Night: January 9 at 6:00 pm at Marsteller Middle School (Snow date Jan 14) (Spanish translation will be available)
• November 1st, 2024: Application opens
• February 1st, 2025: Application is due (no late applications will be accepted)
• Mid-Late February 2025 Program decision is released
• March 5th, 2025: Program Acceptance is due

Flu Shots

PWCS has made it easy to get your flu shot this year by setting up a free flu vaccine clinic. The first one will be held at the Kelly Leadership Center on Saturday, September 21. We hope everyone can take advantage of this opportunity.

September 21, 9 am to 1 pm, Kelly Leadership Center

September 26, 8 am to 4 pm, Kelly Leadership Center

September 30, 11:30 am to 4 pm, Independence Nontraditional School

November 18, 8 am to 4 pm, Unity Reed High School

November 21, 8 am to 1 pm, Potomac Transportation Center

Click here to register for one of the clinics

Mighty Sprinters

Mighty Sprinters is now open for registration for children ages 3-10. They are offering a kids running, and a fitness program. For more information you can visit their website. 

Stemality

Come by Stemality's Gainsville location to explore coding, robotics, and so many of their hands on workshops and with their expert instructors. More information is available on the Stemality website.