WOLF WEEKLY
August 5, 2026

Good evening Lake Ridge Middle School Parents/Guardians-   We are finalizing everything to get the building ready for students.

NEW BELL TIMES
Beginning this school year, the school’s bell schedule will be 8:15 am – 2:55 pm.  The doors will open, for students to enter the building at 7:45 am each morning.

SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
Our school supply list is available on our website and a flyer is also attached to this newsletter.  Please note that this is a basic list and specific teachers may ask for additional items specific to their curriculum.

 OPEN HOUSE
Open House is scheduled for August 20th.  This will give students an opportunity to meet/greet some of their new teachers and get an idea of where the teacher’s classrooms are located.

  • 6th Grade: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
  • 7th/8th Grades: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL PACKET AVAILABLE IN PARENTVUE AUGUST 10
The Annual Back-to-School packet will be available in ParentVue beginning August 10. Having up-to-date emergency contact information for our families is vital. We need all families to complete the annual Back to School Packet.  Completing the packet unlocks access to key details like class schedules and bus routes – so don’t delay!

SCHEDULES
We are still working on class schedules.  We anticipate that they will be available for viewing in StudentVue/ParentVue after 4:00 p.m. on August 18th.  Keep in mind, the system may be very slow due to all students/parents countywide attempting to get on.

CELL PHONE POLICY 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR
This year, Prince William County Public Schools took a bold and research-based step forward by adopting the new Cell Phone-Free Education Policy. Beginning in August 2025, all schools will implement a bell-to-bell policy that limits cell phone use during the instructional day. This decision, shaped by community input and a successful pilot across 33 schools, is rooted in a shared goal: creating classroom environments where students are fully present—mentally,

emotionally, and socially. The student-created slogan, “Stop the scroll, take control,” reminds us that this policy is about empowerment, not restriction. It is about reclaiming focus, restoring meaningful human connection, and giving our students every opportunity to thrive. For more information, I invite you to review the PWCS FAQ page.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENT
Virginia law requires all students entering grades kindergarten through 12 to be adequately immunized (Virginia Code § 22.1-271.2). All required immunizations must be completed by August 21, 2026, for students to begin school on August 24, 2026.  Families can check their child’s immunization compliance status in ParentVUE.

Rising 7th grade students are required to provide proof of immunizations for both Tdap and Meningococcal.  HPV immunization is recommended; however it is not required. 

Immunizations can be dropped off to the front office Monday-Friday from 8am to 4pm.  You can also email a copy to Ms. Gouro at [email protected] or Mr. Forberg at [email protected]  Please do not email immunization records directly to Nurse Camacho as she will not be in the building until August 20th and may not be accessing emails before then.  Click here for more information about immunization requirements.  Please note, additional reminders may be sent to families throughout the summer.

BUS TRANSPORTATION
Please make sure to register for bus transportation, within the ParentVue app, before August 7 (August 14 for Special Needs Transportation).  Any registrations made after August 7 may not be processed in time for the beginning of the school year and you’ll have to provide transportation for your student until it is completed by the PWCS Transportation Department.  Also, make sure to download the EZArrival Bus App so that you can get notified when the bus is getting close to the bus stop or if there are any delays.  Click here for more information.

Bus stops and times are continually being adjusted.  Please check ParentVue or StudentVue on the evening of August 23rd to get the most current information.  We also recommend having your student at the bus stop at least 5 minutes early.

KISS & RIDE LINE
As we continue to work on efficiency and safety, it’s important to remind you of the proper way to enter/exit from the kiss & ride line in the mornings and afternoons.  If you are driving your student(s) to school, please enter in from the 2nd entrance to the school which is located by the football field. Once you pull in, and come to a complete stop, please drop your student off; having them walk a little bit is a great way to get the blood flowing and their mind awake before school. By doing this, you help to move the traffic in and out of the school in a quick and efficient manner. Do not wait to pull up to the front door as it causes traffic to be backed up both ways on Mohican Rd. Parents are not permitted to drop students off in the large upper parking lot. The entrance next to the electronic marquee is for buses and staff only. As always, please allow extra time and drive cautiously in the parking lot. Please see the attached map for the flow of the kiss & ride line.  At dismissal, students should be waiting between the cones and the stop sign.   See the attached map.

Parents are not permitted to stop on Mohican Road to drop off their children.  It is a 4-lane major road with no shoulder.  Stopping on that road to drop off your child is very dangerous, even if you turn on your flashers.  It impedes traffic and creates a dangerous situation on the road at the busiest time of the day.

WALKERS
Students who walk to school and cross Mohican Road must do so at the crosswalk.  We will have PWC Crossing Guards out to assist with traffic control.  Students are to follow the directions given by the Crossing Guards to ensure safety.

LUNCH & BREAKFAST FOR 26-27 SCHOOL YEAR
PWCS has announced that Lake Ridge Middle School students will be provided breakfast and lunch at no charge for the 2026-27 school year.  Please ensure that your student knows their student ID number as it will need to be entered each time they grab a meal.

ATHLETICS
We are very excited to see what success our Athletic Team brings to Lake Ridge! For new athletes, please ensure that you register for an Arbiter account.  You can register here.  Returning athletes will login to their existing account. More information can be found on https://www.pwcs.edu/learning_activities/student_activities/middle_school_guidelines

  1. You have to complete the "2026-2027 Lake Ridge Middle School Athletic Participation". You can locate the link on our School Website or log into your previous Arbiter account and search for "Lake Ridge Middle School." You will need to register each school year to participate in the athletic season. 

  2. After you register, please check the "Physical Expiration Date" on your Arbiter account. Athletic Physicals expire 14 months after the posted date per Virginia Law.  If your Physical is set to expire during the season, you will not be eligible to participate during the season until a new Athletic Physical is uploaded. This does not mean that you lose your spot on the team, rather that you cannot participate in practices or games until the updated Physical is Approved.  As a general precautionary, it might be safe to have your Physical uploaded each school year. https://www.pwcs.edu/userfiles/servers/server_340140/file/student-activities/middle-school-physical-form.pdf
  3. As you complete your Athletic Physical over the summer, reminder that you must have a Doctor's Stamp on page 3 of the form. This is a legal stamp that authenticates the Physical. Without the stamp, you will not be approved. You will ONLY need to upload Page 3 this upcoming school year. 

  4. As you register for the 2026-2027 Athletic School Year, please only register for the sports that you are interested in trying out for. This will allow the check-in process to be more efficient at the beginning of the tryout period.  
  5. We are set to begin our Fall Season on August 31, 2026. Students wanting to try out for a fall sport MUST have all information uploaded and completed by August 26thto ensure approval is completed by our Athletic Trainer for Monday's tryouts. Do not wait, get your registration completed! 

As you are signing up for or 2026-27 season, this is a gentle reminder that you can only tryout for one sport team during that season.  Due to practice and game schedules, it is recommended that you try out for the sport you feel you are stronger with.

Athletic Physicals are NOT to be dropped off at the school or emailed to any staff members, and MUST be uploaded to Arbiter. You may contact our Athletics Coordinator, Mr. Larson, at [email protected] with any questions.  Please note that he will not have access to his email until August 20, 2026.  If you have any issues with registering for your Arbiter account, please contact them directly at 1-800-311-4060 or [email protected].

 

Jim Dutrow
Principal
Lake Ridge Middle School
703-494-5154