The Westie Update

Attendance Awareness Month

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Suicide Prevention Month

National Workforce Development Month

9/4 National College Colors Day

9/8 International Literacy Day

9/11 Patriot Day

9/13-9/19 National Arts in Education Week

Welcome to the Westie Update newsletter. Every other Monday, you'll receive this newsletter by text and email with the latest school news, important reminders, upcoming events, and everything you need to stay connected with what's happening at our school.

We had an amazing first week of school! It was wonderful to see our students connect with friends, meet their teachers, learn new routines, and begin the school year with so much enthusiasm. Our students are adjusting beautifully, and we couldn't be prouder.

A big thank you to our families for your support and partnership throughout the first week. Your encouragement helps set our students up for success each day.

As we head into Week 2, we're excited to keep the momentum going with more learning, new experiences, and plenty of opportunities to grow. ✨📚🍎

• September 1 – VESPTO Ice Cream Social | 5:00–8:00 p.m.
• September 3 – National College Colors Day | Future starts now! Wear your favorite college colors
• September 4–7 – Labor Day Holiday | No School for Students
• September 15 – First VAC & PTO Meetings of the School Year | VAC: 6:30–7:00 p.m. | PTO: 7:00–8:00 p.m.
• September 21 – Yom Kippur Holiday | No School for Students
• September 28 – Picture Day | All Grade Levels
• September 29 – Back-to-School Night | 5:00–7:00 p.m.

Dear Families,

As we begin the new school year, we wanted to share a few Lexia Core5 Reading updates. If you are unfamiliar with the program, Lexia Core5 Reading is a computer-based literacy program that provides personalized reading instruction for students. It adapts to each child's skill level and focuses on key areas of reading, including phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Lexia has updated and adjusted some of its program content. Because of these changes, we will be resetting student Lexia levels and allowing the program to reassess students to ensure they are working at the most appropriate level for their current reading needs. This reset does not erase your child's reading progress or growth. Rather, it helps ensure that students receive instruction and practice that align with the updated Lexia program and their current skill level.

In addition, same as last school year, we kindly ask that students do not use the independent portion of Core5 at home.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to the school's Reading Specialist, Mrs. Heffron, at heffromm@pwcs.edu. Thank you for your support.

At Victory Elementary School, every day counts! We are excited to partner with our families to help every student have a successful school year.

Why is attendance so important?

Coming to school every day helps students:

• Build strong learning habits.
• Stay connected with their teachers and classmates.
• Keep up with classroom learning and activities.
• Feel confident and ready to learn.

Even missing just a few days of school can make it harder for students to keep up with what they're learning.

Attendance in PWCS

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) follows the provisions of Virginia law (Code of Virginia § 22.1-254) regarding compulsory attendance for all school-aged students.

If your child is absent, please let the school know. You can either:

• Call the school office to report the absence, or
• Report the absence through ParentVUE.

PWCS tracks student attendance and mails attendance letters to notify families of:

• Truancy status after three unexcused absences.
• Excessive excused absences.
• Chronic absenteeism, when a student has missed 10% or more of the school days based on the current point in the school year.

For more information about attendance policies and procedures, please visit the PWCS Attendance Guidelines webpage.

When planning vacations or extended family trips, we encourage families to schedule them during school breaks. Reviewing the PWCS School Calendar can help you plan ahead and prevent missed instructional time.

Arrival & Dismissal Information

Instruction begins promptly at 9:20 a.m. and dismissal begins at 3:50 p.m.. Please help your student arrive on time each day so they are ready to learn.

🚗 Car Riders:
A school-issued car tag is required for dismissal and should be clearly displayed on your windshield. (A car tag is not needed for morning drop-off.) During dismissal, please follow staff directions and pull forward as instructed to help keep the line moving safely. If the car rider doors are already closed when you arrive in the morning, please bring your student to the front office to sign them in.

🚌 Bus Riders:
Please review bus safety expectations with your student, including staying seated, following the driver's directions, keeping aisles clear, and arriving at the bus stop at least 5 minutes early. We also recommend using the EZ Arrival Bus App to track your student's bus. Parents and authorized adults picking up Pre-K and Kindergarten students at the bus stop must have a photo ID ready.

We understand that some buses may run behind schedule, and the EZ Arrival app may not always display route information accurately as drivers become familiar with their routes, students, and daily routines. We appreciate your patience and understanding as PWCS Transportation works through these beginning-of-the-year adjustments. If you have any transportation questions or concerns, please complete the Transportation Customer Service Team Form or call 571-402-3940.

🚶 Walkers:
Staff will meet Westie Walkers at the crosswalk beginning at 9:10 a.m. during arrival and will escort students to the crosswalk at dismissal (approximately 4:00 p.m.). ⚠️ For everyone's safety, all students and families are required to use the designated crosswalk. Never cross the street outside of the crosswalk, and always wait for the staff member to stop traffic before crossing.

🔔 Dismissal Changes:
If your child's dismissal plan changes or you need to pick them up from the office, please notify the front office before 3:30 p.m. whenever possible. This gives staff enough time to communicate changes with teachers and helps ensure a safe and smooth dismissal for all students.

Get those smiles ready—Picture Day is Monday, September 28 for all grade levels.😊 Families can preorder photos through the Candid Color website using the code VICPREPAY.

We can’t wait to see everyone’s picture-perfect smiles! 📸✨

Join the VESPTO for a sweet start to the school year at Cookies & Cream in Haymarket on tomorrow Tuesday, September 1, from 5:00–8:00 p.m.

Enjoy a delicious treat, catch up with school friends, and support our school community at the same time!

📍 14650 Washington St., Haymarket, VA

🍴Not in the mood to cook? No problem! 🍴
Preorder your favorite eats from Ghosted Concepts conveniently located in the same building! It’s the perfect way to enjoy a hassle-free, delicious meal while supporting a great cause! Visit Ghosted Concepts to pre-order your meal.
See you there!

Join us for Back-to-School Night on Tuesday, September 29, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. Come visit your child's classroom, meet their teacher, connect with our staff, and learn more about the exciting year ahead. We look forward to seeing you there!

What is VESPTO?

The Victory Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (VESPTO) is a volunteer-led group of parents, guardians, teachers, and staff working together to support our school and enrich the educational experience of every Victory student through fun events, programs, and family involvement.

No matter how much time you have, there's a place for you in VESPTO!

Ways to Get Involved:

🌟 Become a Member
Learn more about VESPTO, see upcoming events, and become a member by visiting the VESPTO website.

📅 Attend a Meeting

Join us virtually on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7-8pm to stay informed, share your ideas, and connect with other Victory families.

📌Join us this coming Tuesday September 15, 2026.

The Victory Advisory Council (VAC) is a team of parents, guardians, and school staff who work together to provide valuable feedback, share ideas, and advise the principal on ways to strengthen our school community and support student success. Your voice helps shape decisions and ensures families have a meaningful role in our school's future.

We're currently looking to fill a couple key positions on the council! If you're interested in serving, please complete the interest form below to learn more.

Victory Advisory Council (VAC) Leadership Interest Form – Fill out form

Not ready for a leadership role? All parents and guardians are welcome to attend our virtual meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 6:30–7:00 PM. We'd love to have you join the conversation!

VESPTO & VAC Meetings – New This School Year!

We're trying something new this school year to make it easier for families to participate! Instead of holding meetings on different days, our Victory Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (VESPTO) and Victory Advisory Council (VAC) will meet on the same day each month—the 3rd Tuesday.

📌Join us this coming Tuesday September 15, 2026.

🗓 Monthly Meeting Schedule

• VAC (Virtual): 6:30–7:00 PM
• VESPTO (Virtual): 7:00–8:00 PM

We hope this new schedule makes it more convenient for parents and caregivers to join us. Whether you're interested in staying informed, sharing your ideas, or getting involved in our school community, we'd love to have you!

Everyone is welcome to attend—we hope to see you there! 😊

• Our breakfast menu stays the same each week and follows a consistent weekly schedule.
• Our lunch menu changes monthly, and we'll update it here as soon as the new menu is available.

For nutrition information, allergen details, and additional menu resources, please visit the PWCS Nutrition website.

Crossroads-Connection, in partnership with Victory, offers weekend food assistance for students facing food insecurity. This program provides nonperishable food bags each Friday for students in genuine need of support.

If your student qualifies, please fill out the online form request below.

Weekend Food Support Request Form – Fill out form

Paper forms are available by contacting our school social worker, Michelle Caynor at caynorms@pwcs.edu

Hazel Health offers bilingual therapy in over 19 languages, allowing PWCS K-12 students to connect with a licensed therapist who speaks their language.

In therapy, your student may gain essential tools to succeed in school and life, such as:

✓ Improving communication

✓ Building confidence

✓ Fostering healthy relationships

All students – regardless of insurance or immigration status – can access virtual therapy at no cost to families. Every student can receive the support they need.

This resource is always available via the button below.