Crossroads Food Drive 

Piney Branch's Student Council Association is holding a food drive to benefit Crossroads Connection. The Food Drive will begin on Wednesday February 26th and go through Friday March 14th. Crossroads-Connection provides a weekend food program for children in sixteen Gainesville and Haymarket, VA public schools. They currently serve 400 children with food for every weekend during the school year.   

We are collecting the following items: Quaker instant oatmeal, granola bars, Snyder's mini pretzels, Welch's fruit snacks, goldfish, skinny pop popcorn, fruit cups, chef Boy R Dee microwave bowls, Lance cookie and cracker variety packs, Kraft's mac n' cheese cups. Please donate and help support!   

Thank you all for everything you do to support our amazing families here at Piney Branch! If you have any questions, please email Kelly Nicewonger at [email protected] or Courtney McAfee at [email protected]. 

Crossroads Food Drive 

5th Grade Promotion Information 

5th Grade parents, our time at Piney Branch is coming to an end and the PTO and Piney Branch have some AMAZING things planned to send off our 5th graders with a BANG!.  Please mark your calendars: 

Feb 28th- Yard signs go on sale 

June 9th-10:30am, 5th grade promotion 

June 9th- 1:30-3:00, 5th grade party sponsored by the PTO  
 

5th grade Slideshow for Promotion - Send these Photos in! 

5th grade parents, we would LOVE for you to send us your students Kindergarten pictures.  We will be using this at promotion.  In the email please send us your students name, 5th grade teacher name and Kindergarten teachers name.   

Email photos to: 

[email protected] 

5th grade party 

Our PTO has set up an amazing party for these students to send them off in a fun way.  We are in need of some people to donate a couple of items and also chaperone.  Want to help out at 5th grade party sign up now: 

Sign up Genies for supplies and chaperones

2025-2026 Transfer Requests 

Transfer season for the 2025-26 school year is now open and will close on April 30, 2025. If your student is at Piney Branch on a transfer, a form needs to be completed each school year. See PWCS Regulations 721-1 for more detailed information about the reasons for student transfer.  Transfer Request and Daycare Verification. 

 Cylinder-Shaped Containers Needed for a Library Project! 

Dear Parents: We are doing a special project in Library next month for Read Across America Week. We are in need all different sizes of cylinder-shaped containers (for example: empty oatmeal containers, any medium to large cans with a smooth cut, Pringles containers, plastic food saving containers, etc... We will be using these to make drums. Thank you so much for supporting this effort.) Please begin sending these in. Make sure your child’s name and teacher’s name are on the can somewhere. If you have extras, please feel free to send them in for those students who might forget. 

Spring Individual/Class Pictures  

Spring individual/class pictures will be taken on March 20, 2025. Spring pictures is a prepay session. Your online receipt or order form with payment must be presented to the photographer on picture day. Ordering online (school code = PINESPRING25) is the most popular method for parents to order pictures. The online prepay will close the night before picture day at 7:00 p.m.  There will also be paper forms sent home closer to picture day.  

Everyone is still photographed for the class picture, regardless of purchase. Families can still purchase the group photo after picture day. 

Spring 24-25 Picture Day order form

2025 SOL TESTING 

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has created the Virginia Assessment Program to help measure students’ academic progress in the Standards of Learning (SOLs). The SOLs indicate the Commonwealth of Virginia’s expectations for what students should know and be able to do in the subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science, and history/social science. Copies of the SOLs are available online at the VDOE website. 

Each year, students at various grade levels are expected to participate in SOL testing or alternative assessments unless specifically exempted by state or federal law, or by Virginia Board of Education regulations. In grades 3-8, most students will participate in some type of SOL testing or assessment annually. High school students typically participate when they need a qualifying score to earn verified credit toward graduation or satisfy federal participation requirements. Some SOL tests, like Algebra I, are only given at the completion of the courses. Some SOL tests, like the Integrated Reading and Writing test, are only given to students in grades 5 and 8. According to VDOE, parents may also request to have their high school student participate in additional testing beyond what is required by state and federal law if they are currently enrolled in a related course. 

Once testing is complete, information about your student’s performance will be shared with you. For more information about general testing windows in PWCS, please visit our website at: 

PWCS Testing Webpage

Piney Branch Testing Dates/Windows 

• March 13 5th grade Integrated Reading Writing SOL 

• May 5-6 4th/5th  Reading SOL 

• May 7-8 3rd Reading SOL 

• May 8 4 VA Studies/ 5 Science SOL 

• May 13-14 3-5 Math SOL 

• May 26-June 6: Expedited Retakes  

Please contact school testing coordinator, Ms. Sobers [email protected] if you have specific questions about SOL testing at Piney Branch. 

Caring Cardinals Club

The Caring Cardinals Club is a place where students will come together to speak about positive changes they want to see in our school community. This club is an ADL supported program called No Place for Hate. Caring Cardinals Club will meet once a month before school at 8:15am on the third Thursday of each month until May.  Breakfast will be served at each meeting.

Meeting Dates: March 20th, April 24th and May 15th. If there is inclement weather then the meeting date will change. You will get more information via School Status if that happens.

Message from PWCS Food and Nutrition Department 

The PWCS Food and Nutrition Department will offer a take-home lunch option during the month of March to support students who may be fasting during the school day. 

Interested students can request a take-home lunch from cafeteria staff, in place of a standard lunch, during their assigned lunch period. Take-home lunches will not require refrigeration and can be transported home safely. 

This menu will be available from March 3rd through March 27. 

Lunch Accounts

Please be sure to check your student’s lunch account and pay any outstanding balances. Balances can be paid through My School Bucks. If you have any questions please contact Ms. Merida.

 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

 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 

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 

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, 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 

Guitar Lessons Enrollment Deadline March 14th 

Is your child ready to unlock or expand their musical potential? Our new after-school guitar lesson program is designed to nurture budding musicians and ignite their passion for playing the guitar.  Level: Beginner 

Registration is now open until March 14th. Learn more and register today.

Spring Enrichment Enrollment Deadline March 16th

We're excited to bring you a fresh lineup of new classes in our Spring Enrichment Program! This season, we're introducing a variety of new options that will inspire and engage your children. 

Registration will close at midnight on March 16th. Check out our new class schedule and register today. now and start planning. Get ready for a season of fun and learning!  

Spring Bingo Night March 21, Preorders due March 19

Spring Bingo is Friday, March 21st. Our grand prize this spring is a 3D Printer, plus - we're bringing the 50/50 Raffle back for a chance to win some cash. Family packs and bingo card packs are now available for pre-sale until March 19th at 5:00 p.m. Place your pre-orders today! Pizza by the slice, snacks, candy, and drinks will be available for purchase at Bingo Night.  

Calling for Volunteers! We are looking for a few parents to help us set up before Bingo night.

Volunteer to help at Bingo Night. 

2024-2025 Yearbooks Order Deadline March 28

Pre-orders for the 2024-2025 yearbooks are open! Capture and cherish your student's memories from this school year by ordering your yearbook online through Candid Color. Orders must be placed online by March 28, 2025. Click here for ordering instructions.  

Capture Your Memories in the Piney Branch Yearbook

Attention PBES parents! Our Piney Branch Yearbooks will be available for sale soon, and we want to make sure every special moment is included. We're calling on you to help us create a yearbook filled with unforgettable memories by uploading your photos from PBES events. 

Click here to upload your snapshots and let’s make this yearbook truly special! 

2025 PBES Musical Tickets Nearly Sold Out!

Piney Branch Elementary School proudly presents Disney’s The Lion King Kids! Experience the magic and excitement of this beloved story in an unforgettable 45-minute performance featuring our talented student cast, led by our fabulous music teacher, Ms. Nichols. With iconic songs and breathtaking scenes, it’s a show you won’t want to miss!  

Capacity for each performance is limited due to fire and safety code restrictions; please order your tickets early as we expect them to sell out. All attendees (ages 0 to 100+) must have a ticket. All tickets will be sold online; no tickets will be sold at the door. Click here to learn more and order your tickets. Please read the instructions carefully to ensure your order is placed correctly. All sales are final.  

Save the Date for Spring Spirit Night April 18

Our Spring Spirit Night will be Friday, April 18th at Chuck E. Cheese in Manassas, VA from 3:00-9:00 p.m. Spirit nights remain one of the easiest ways to support the PTO. Show up, enjoy a night of family fun, and the PTO earns a portion of the profits - it's a win win. See you there!  

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*.

Join us on Facebook | Piney Branch Elementary School PTO 

Have you seen our new Piney Branch Elementary School PTO Facebook page? Get event updates, connect with fellow members, and catch all the latest news. Join our social community! 

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

2nd Annual Cardinal 5K Run/ Walk 

Gainesville High School will be hosting their yearly Cardinal 5K Run/Walk on May 17, 2025, at 9:00 am. 

Register for Cardinal 5K Run/Walk

Techstravaganza 

Techstravaganza is a free, public, hands-on STEM activity fair for elementary and middle school students in Northern Virginia. In previous years, they've hosted more than 4,500 students and 70 labs presenting STEM activities. Exhibitors range from TJHSST clubs and  TWIST volunteers to organizations like NASA SCaN, Art of Problem Solving, George Mason University, American Society of Naval Engineers, and the National Air and Space Museum. This year, they will be holding the 21st annual Techstravaganza on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 10 AM to 4 PM at TJHSST. Admission is free, food will be for sale. 

More information about the event can be found on this website.

Forest Camp 

Forest Camp is having a week long summer day camp by NatureBridge. Visit their website to learn more about their program and register your child.   

VSA Recreation Soccer

Virginia Soccer Association registration is open for spring 2025 season. If your child is interested in playing soccer or you’re looking to keep your child active with the arrival of spring visit VSA Recreation page to see how to register.  

Perfect Performance Flag 

Is your child interested in football? Perfect Performance Flag is a great league to start learning the fundamentals of football and their team-oriented environment makes it fun for children to enjoy learning a new sport and staying active. Please visit Perfect Performance Website for details on how to register.   

Stemality Summer Camp Registration Now Open

Stemality has opened their registration for their Summer Camp Program. Check out their website to see what workshop best interests your child.