A note from Mr. Thorne and Ms. Sobers . . .

Piney Branch Families,

• The exciting energy and buzz of a fresh school year is in the air and Piney Branch is ready to welcome its students back for a brand new, exciting school year. We look forward to seeing everyone at orientation, supply drop, and/or the first day! 
• On the first day, we kindly ask that all students travel to school the same way they will leave school. This works as a check and balance to ensure the most important aspect of student safety on the first day is taken care of – arrival and dismissal!  If you require special arrangements, please make sure to communicate transportation plans directly with the classroom teacher and the front office ([email protected]).
  • Due to a lack of parking and the volume of Kiss N’ Ride, we do not allow parking drop-off during arrival.
  • If you want “First Day Photos” in front of the school, you’re welcome to park and take a picture prior to 8:30am on Monday, but you must then return to the Kiss n’ Ride line or bus stop.
  • Finally, our security protocols prohibit parents from walking students to class on the first day.

We thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

Steve Thorne and Monica Sobers

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Back To School 23-24

2023 Vaccination Requirements

The deadline for students to meet the immunization requirement for mandatory immunizations for public school enrollment is August 17, 2023. If proof of the required immunizations is not provided by August 17, 2023, the student will be excluded from school starting August 21, 2023, until the required immunization documentation has been provided to the school. If you have questions, please contact our office 571-261-5300 or visit the immunization requirements webpage.

 

Teacher Assignments and Back to School Packet 

The Back to School Packet is available in ParentVUE. Having up-to-date emergency contact information for our families is vital. We need all families to complete the annual Back to School Packet. Until this packet is complete, parents/guardians will be unable to access important information in ParentVUE to start the new year (including teacher assignments and bus information). If you do not have an active ParentVUE account, please call our office.

 

Meet Your Class and Supply Drop-Off

Please see the following anticipated dates and events schedule.

• KG Student Orientation & Supply Drop – Aug 17^th @ 9:30 a.m.
• New Student Orientation & Supply Drop (Grades 1-5) – Aug 18 @ 9:30 a.m.
• Supply Drop Off (1st-5th Grade) – Aug 18
  • Last Names – A-C 9:30-10:00
  • Last Names – D-H 10:00-10:30
  • Last Names – I-M 10:30-11:00
  • Last Names N-S 11:00-11:30
  • Last Names T-Z 11:30-12:00

 

2023-2024 Bell Times & Bus Information

Piney Branch bell times remain 9:20-4:00.  Kiss n’ Ride drop-off will occur at 9:10am. For more information check the PWCS Transportation webpage for updates.

Preliminary bus stop information will be available in ParentVUE the week of August 14.

Information on how to access The Hub’s StudentVUE and ParentVUE applications can be found on The Hub page of the PWCS website.

 

Kiss N’ Ride (Car Drop-off)

If you will be new to Kiss N’ Ride (car drop-off) and require a hang tag or are a KNR vet and need a replacement tag, please come by the office 9-4 daily, or at supply drop-off/orientation events.  ID will be required. If you want to double check your number, please call the office and we’ll be happy to help you.

 

KG Registration 2023-2024

The online registration process for the 2023-24 school year has been open.  Once the registration is processed the registrar will reach out with any missing documentation that is needed and/or an in-person verification appointment.  Proceed to the Registration Process Information webpage to register for the 2023-24 school year.

 

Health Treatment Plans & Medication Dropoff

Students requiring health treatment plans and medication while at school should plan to make arrangements with Nurse Denise beginning August 14.

 

School Meals 2023-2024

Applications for free and reduced-price meals are now available on the PWCS Nutrition Site. Below, please find the USDA-approved school meal prices for the 2023-24 school year:

Breakfast

• Student full price - $1.60
• Adult price - $2.75

Lunch

• Elementary student full price - $2.60
• Middle student full price - $2.75
• High student full price - $2.85
• Adult full price - $4.50

A la carte - Milk, $1

 

 For Good Measure

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 into PWCS Applications
• Setting up a Canvas Parent Account

You can see other helpful videos on our website's Tech Tutorials Page.

 

Security and Crisis Management

As we prepare to welcome back our students this year, we want to assure our families that security is our top priority. In addition to our extremely robust Crisis Management plan, we also have the following measures in place to ensure student and staff safety:

• Single point of entry: During school hours all exterior doors are locked. All visitors must come to Door 1, ring the bell, and state the nature of their visit to be granted entry.
• Visitors must present, provide, and leave a valid government photo identification. IDs are cross-referenced with states’ sex offender registries. IDs are returned upon exit.
• All visitors, staff, and county employees are visibly identifiable by badges that must be worn while on school premises.
• All staff receives training annually on Crisis Management
• Upgraded HD security cameras throughout the building, all points of entry, and outside.

Safety is our number one priority, and all staff is diligent in assuring that students are safe during the school day. Further information about Crisis and Emergency preparedness can be found on the PWCS Crisis Management webpage.

 

 Mark Your Calendar/Upcoming Events

• August 17 – Kindergarten Orientation
• August 18 – New Student Orientation
• August 18 – Supply Drop Off/Meet and Greet
• August 21 – FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
• September 1-4 – NO SCHOOL Labor Day Holiday
• September 8 – PTO Movie Night
• September 13- Fall Picture Day
• September 15 – NO SCHOOL Rosh Hashanah
• September 21 – First PTO Meeting
• September 25 – NO SCHOOL Yom Kippur
• September 27- Back to School Night (K-2)
• September 28- Back to School Night (3-5)
• October 13 – PTO “Color Craze” Run-a-thon
• October 19 – PTO Meeting

 

 PTO News

The PBES PTO is excited to announce we've launched a new website! We hope this will allow you quick and easy access to important information (Color Run, Movie Night, Spirit Nights, etc.). You can also now join the PTO right from the  PTO website* (no need to fill out and return a membership form). 

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

 

 

Community Flyers and Announcements