October 18, 2026

We had a wonderful time celebrating Homecoming Week at URHS! From spirited theme days and the Powder Puff game to an energetic pep rally, a rainy Friday night football game, and a memorable Homecoming dance, the week was filled with incredible school spirit and opportunities to celebrate our students and community. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make Homecoming Week such a fun and memorable experience!

Next up, we’re excited to bring our school community together for URHS Trunk-or-Treat on Thursday, October 29! Our SAVE Club and SALC are leading this fun community event in partnership with Ellis Elementary School and Innovation Elementary School.

We invite our families, staff, clubs, teams, and community members to join the fun by signing up to decorate a trunk and provide candy for our trick-or-treaters. We hope you’ll help us create a fun and festive evening for students and families across our community! To participate with a decorated trunk, please contact Lydia Armour at armourld@pwcs.edu. Additional information is included below.

As we enjoy the excitement of fall, we also want to remind families that the first quarter ends Friday, October 30. We encourage students to make the most of these final two weeks by staying focused, checking their grades and outstanding assignments, and connecting with their teachers if they need additional support. Families, this is also a great time to review your student’s academic progress and encourage them to finish the quarter strong!

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

• URHS Trunk-or-Treat with Ellis & Innovation Elementary Schools

• Counseling Connection

• Discounted Yearlong Athletic Game Passes

• Class of 2027 Cap & Gown Orders and Last Senior Portrait Session
  
• Important Dates & Upcoming Events...and much more!

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our students and the URHS community. We look forward to another great week!

• October 29: Trunk-or-Treat (in partnership with Ellis & Innovation Elementary Schools)
• November 2: No School for Students - Touchbase conferences
• November 3: No School for Students - Teacher Workday
• November 11: No School - Veteran's Day
• November 25-27: No School - Thanksgiving Holiday

The PWCS Food and Nutrition Department will host their 35th Annual Food Show on November 5 at C.D. Hylton High School from 5-7 p.m.! The show will feature potential new school lunch items and recipes for all attendees to sample. This event is free and open to all PWCS students, families, staff, and community members. Please RSVP online to let us know you will be attending!

School photos are now available online! Families should have received an e-proof via email with information about viewing and ordering their student’s photos. If you have not received the email, please be sure to check your spam or junk folder.

For questions or assistance regarding your student’s school pictures, please contact underclass@vosphoto.com.

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. There will be a registration help session for students on November 6, 9-10:30 AM. For more information on eligibility and the program, go to the CCRV webpage or contact your school counselor.

Unity Reed CCRV Courses

College and Career Planning

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.

The following materials are neither sponsored nor endorsed by PWCS:

• Financial Aid Officers from Northern Virginia Community College’s Manassas Campus will be helping students and families submit their FAFSA forms for the 2027-2028 school year at the Manassas City Library (10104 Dumfries Road). The next session will be Saturday, November 14, 11 AM-2 PM. See the attached flyer for more details (in English and Spanish).

• Alfred Street Baptist Church presents its 24th Annual Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Festival, a hybrid (in-person and virtual) event being held November 13-14, 2026. The festival is dedicated to connecting high school students and their families to over 70 HBCUs, and scholarship opportunities. On-site admissions, music auditions, waived application fees, and scholarships will be offered, in addition to workshops on the college application process, financial aid, scholarships, and acclimating to campus life. Information and Registration

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 accommodationsare due by October 22, 2026.

Fall weather is here you can never not have enough blankets! We’re selling ultra-soft, plush blankets for just $20, and every purchase helps support our Senior Class of 2027. Perfect for chilly days, movie nights, game nights, or gifting to someone special! Support our graduating Senior Class with their second fundraiser for the year! Blankets are $20.

Ways to grab yours:

• Purchasing online through GoFan at the following link: https://gofan.co/app/school/VA24954
  
• At lunch: Find us during all lunch periods at the 3rd-floor Admin Office.

Sales are live and items are available now! Don’t wait—secure yours today. Thank you for supporting our Seniors and helping make this fundraiser a warm success

Josten's URHS Store is Now Open!

Order your Cap and Gown early. Visit Josten's URHS Store today!

The students will not need to add a tassel because the unit already comes with the tassel needed for graduation. The cost until December 1st is $25.75. The items will be picked up from the school in Spring when the Representatives come to deliver.

Victor O'Neill Studios will be in the auditorium for Senior portraits:

Session C - November 12, 13. URHS Auditorium

Please follow the link below to choose your session type and appointment time:

www.vosphoto.com/unityreed

As a friendly reminder, appointments are needed for Senior Portraits.

If you have any questions, please email our Senior Portraits Team: seniors@vosphoto.com. Please kindly include your senior's First and Last Name and "Unity Reed HS Class of 2027" when emailing, for faster assistance.

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.

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).

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