October 11, 2026

We hope everyone is ready for another great week!

First, congratulations to our Boys and Girls Volleyball seniors who were recognized during Senior Night this past week! We are proud of our student-athletes and enjoyed celebrating their accomplishments and contributions to our school community.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to the Gainesville Manassas Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for their incredibly generous donation of suits, dress pants, ties, and button-down shirts for our entire football team! Our football players participate in “Ties on Thursdays,” an initiative that gives our student-athletes an opportunity to practice dressing for success while building confidence, professionalism, and pride. We are grateful to the Gainesville Manassas Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. for investing in our young men and supporting their growth both on and off the field!

As a reminder, there is no school tomorrow, Monday, October 12, due to a Teacher Workday.

We also have an exciting and busy week ahead! Homecoming Week is here, and PSAT Day is Wednesday, October 14.Seniors will participate asynchronously that day and will not report to school. Teachers may assign work for seniors to complete from home.

We started our homecoming spirit week last Friday with Jersey Day, where so many joined in on representing their favorite teams throughout the school. Homecoming festivities continue with the remainder of our Spirit Week days and our Homecoming Game on Friday, October 16, followed by the Homecoming Dance on Saturday, October 17. Please see the information below for additional details about PSAT Day and all of our Homecoming Week activities.

As we enjoy the excitement of Homecoming Week, please remember that the first quarter ends on Friday, October 30—just two weeks away! We encourage students to use these next two weeks to stay focused, check their grades and outstanding assignments, and connect with their teachers if they need additional support. Families, this is also a great time to review your student's academic progress and help them finish the quarter strong.

Please take a few moments to review this week's newsletter, which includes several important updates, opportunities, and reminders for our students and families, including:

• PSAT Day Information

• Specialty Program Fair

• Homecoming Information

• Counseling Connection

• Discounted Yearlong Athletic Game Passes

• Upcoming College Fairs

• Important Dates and Upcoming Events

• ...and more!

We look forward to a wonderful week filled with school spirit, celebration, and success. Let’s have a great Homecoming Week and finish the first quarter strong!

• October 12: No School for Students, Teacher Workday
• October 14: PSAT Day *Asynchronous day for Seniors, College & Career Fairs (more information below)
• October 15: Fall Music Showcase at 7:00 pm in Auditorium
• October 9-17: Homecoming Spirit Week
• October 16: Homecoming Game
• October 17: Homecoming Dance

Don't miss our big Homecoming showdown against Indy this Friday at 7:00 PM!

• Theme: Pink Out! Wear pink to support Breast Cancer Awareness and bring the energy!
• Kickoff Time: 7:00 PM

Special Homecoming Concessions Menu:

• Specialty Eats: Walking Tacos, Street Tacos, & Elotes (Mexican Street Corn)
• Stadium Classics: Burgers, Pretzels, Cookies, & Fresh Popcorn
• Our Signature Drink: Lions Lip-Smacker Flavored Lemonade

Arrive early, grab your favorite food, and bring the noise!

On Wednesday, October 14th, students in grades 9, 10, and 11 will participate in the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). The Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT® (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), is a practice version of the SAT exam. Earning a high score on the PSAT in your junior year could qualify you to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Approximately $180 million dollars in merit scholarships are awarded to students each year.

• All PSATs will be taken on a PWCS device, as the test is only available in digital format. Please ensure students arrive on test day with their school-issued devices fully charged to include the charger.

• Allow approximately three weeks after the PSAT for score reports to be shared with students. Score reports house valuable information that provides an explanation of scoring, displays your student's areas of strength, recommend courses that may be appropriate for your students, and much more.

• October 14th will be an important but busy day at Unity Reed High School. We thank you in advance parents/guardians for the support around students being here on time and ready to test.

Seniors, Wednesday, October 14 is your asynchronous learning day, and it’s a great opportunity to focus on your plans for life after graduation. Whether you’re headed to college, the military, a trade program, or directly into the workforce, use this time to take your next step toward your future!

🚌 Interested in the Alcanza College Fair?

We have a limited number of seats available for a field trip to George Mason University for the Alcanza College Fair. Interested students should stop by the College & Career Center, across from the Senior Lounge, for more information. Space is limited, so don’t wait!

✅ Not Attending the Field Trip? Here’s Your Senior To-Do List:

1. Check Canvas and your student email and complete any asynchronous assignments from your teachers.

2. Log in to Naviance to explore post-graduation options, search for scholarships, and request letters of recommendation.

3. Work on your college applications and essays. A little progress now can save you stress later!

4. Explore a college campus in person or virtually. Many colleges offer virtual tours that you can experience right from home.

5. Research your options after graduation, including trade and technical schools, apprenticeships, military opportunities, and career pathways.

6. Apply for scholarships! Every application is an opportunity to help fund your future.

7. Order your cap and gown! 🎓 See the link at the bottom of this newsletter for ordering information.

8. Mark your calendar for Virginia College Application Week (VCAW)! During VCAW, many Virginia colleges and universities waive their application fees, making it a great time to submit applications.

   
   

⭐ Your Future Starts Now!

Graduation will be here before you know it! Use this day to get organized, make progress, ask questions, and take at least one meaningful step toward your post-graduation goals.

Get ready for Homecoming! Here’s everything students and families need to know about tickets, guest forms, Spirit Week, and the big dance.

💃 Homecoming Dance

Saturday, October 17

Mark your calendars and get ready for a great night of Homecoming fun! We look forward to celebrating with our students. Homecoming Dance tickets are on sale September 30 through October 16 for $30 each — CASH ONLY.

Tickets may be purchased:

• During all lunches

• In Room 1150, across from the Senior Lounge

Students are encouraged to purchase their tickets early!

📝 Bringing an Outside Guest?

Outside Guest Forms are available at the Athletics & Activities Office, located across from the Senior Lounge.

All guest forms must be completed, signed, and approved by:

• The guest’s parent/guardian

• The guest’s school administrator

Please allow enough time to obtain all required signatures and approvals before the dance.

🏈 Spirit Week Starts Early!

Please note that there is no school on Monday, October 12. Because of the shortened week, Homecoming Spirit Week kicks off early on Friday, October 9, with Jersey Day!

Wear your favorite team jersey and show your school spirit!

Show your Lion pride all year long by purchasing a Yearlong Athletic Pass! These passes provide discounted admission to regular season Unity Reed High School home athletic events, making it an affordable way to cheer on our student-athletes throughout the school year.

Whether you're a student, parent, family member, or community supporter, your presence in the stands makes a difference. Come out, support our teams, and help create an exciting home-field advantage for our Lions! Tickets can be purchased on GoFan (click the picture linked below for direct access).

High school counselors support students as they work toward graduation and prepare for life after high school. They partner with students, families, teachers, and staff to support academic success, social and emotional well-being, and college and career planning. For more information and links to school resources, including how to contact your child's school counselor, please visit our Unity Reed High School Counseling webpage.

Counseling Lesson and Insight Meeting Schedule for October

• Grade 12 Insight Meetings (by appointment)

• Grade 9 Insight Meetings through Health and Physical Education 1 WIN periods

Dual Enrollment

The College and Career Ready Virginia (CCRV) Program is a statewide initiative designed to expand access to dual enrollment for high school students at no tuition cost to students. The Spring 2027 declaration will open on October 15, 2026, and will close on December 15, 2026. The Spring 2027 CCRV Student Info Session (Zoom) on Thursday, October 15, 6-7 PM will help students and parents/guardians understand CCRV requirements, the registration process, and what to expect for spring 2027.

Register for the October 15, 6-7 PM, CCRV Info Session (Zoom)

Unity Reed CCRV Courses

College and Career Planning

Several college representatives are visiting to share information about their school, admissions, and programs. These are great opportunities to help students plan their post-high school options. The schedule and registration links to attend these visits are in Naviance (access in PWCS Portal).

PWCS college and career fairs provide students with direct access to colleges, employers, and resources that support informed academic and career planning for high school students in all grade levels and their families. 20-Minute info session topics include Military College Pathways, Financial Aid and Scholarships, George Mason University Direct Admissions, and PWCS Specialty Programs. Please go to the PWCS college and career fairs webpage for more information.

• Forest Park High School: October 14, 6-8 PM

Virginia College Application Week is October 19-30. This is a great opportunity to submit applications to most Virginia colleges with no fee! There will also be college application assistance, workshops on financial aid/scholarships and essay writing, and on-site admissions opportunities. Students are encouraged to check their email and Canvas announcements for more details leading up to the event.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. At Unity Reed High School, we are committed to ensuring that all Lions in our Pride are treated with kindness, respect, acceptance, and inclusion. Please visit the PWCS Bullying Prevention webpage for information on what bullying is, how to report it, and learn about support resources for students and families.

Family Engagement Series

Specialty Programs Information Session for High School Students

• 6-7:30 PM on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 – Live Zoom Webinar Registration

• All requests for language accommodations are due by October 22, 2026.

Explore Your Future at the PWCS College & Career Fairs

Meet representatives from colleges, universities, trade/technical schools, businesses, military recruiters, and more! Click below for more information about the upcoming college fairs.

https://www.pwcs.edu/support_services/college_career_readiness/college_fair/index

The Virginia High School League AND Prince William County Schools set requirements and standards for students to be eligible to participate in high school athletics. It is important for student-athletes and their families to be familiar with these requirements. Below you will find information on 2026-27 tryouts, as well as details on the requirements that MUST be completed by ALL student-athletes that plan on participating in school athletics during the 2026-27 school year.

Welcome to the new school year! Whether you are joining the Lions Activity Boosters Club for the first time or returning for another dynamic year, thank you for stepping up to support our students. Your time, energy, and dedication directly enrich the educational, athletic, and extracurricular experiences of every student at Unity Reed.

For more information, contact The Lions Activity Boosters Club Board

labcunityreed@gmail.com

https://www.instagram.com/labc_unityreedhs/

• Weekly LIONS’ ROAR: This will include the latest updates with pertinent information for the upcoming week and will be emailed to students and families every Sunday. This information will also be posted on our school website.

• URHS website: This will be updated more frequently so that we can share the most up to date information with you. In fact, click here to view our school website.

• School Status: This is our messaging system, and it allows staff to send text messages, emails, or make phone calls to families. When an email comes to your inbox with this system, the sender will be listed as School Status or Teacher name. A text message will include the staff member’s full name in the message but will be a random number. This system allows the recipient to respond directly to a message.

• The PRIDE Newsletter: This is a monthly newsletter where we celebrate and highlight the incredible accomplishments of our students, staff, and community at Unity Reed High School. Each month, we will showcase achievements, events, and milestones that make our school proud. Stay tuned for inspiring stories, academic successes, athletic triumphs, and much more. All this information will also be available on our school website for easy access and sharing.

I encourage you to continue to stay in touch with important updates by visiting our website. We are here to support you. Please reach out throughout the school year with any questions, concerns, or to share general feedback, and thank you for being part of our school community, as our STRENGTH is IN UNITY!

Sincerely,

Milagros Vélez
Principal, Unity Reed High School