January 4, 2026
Good afternoon, Prince George Families,
Welcome back, and happy New Year! As we begin 2026 together, we are excited to welcome our students back to school and look forward to building on the many successes we saw throughout the last year. As I shared before we departed for Winter Break, teaching and serving our students and families is something we value and do not take lightly. We appreciate your support and partnership as we work together to ensure all of our students are successful today, tomorrow, and beyond.
As the year gets underway and before we return to school tomorrow, we ask for your help in reviewing a few important reminders with your child.
First, we know many students have likely received new toys for Christmas. Please ensure students do not bring toys to school, especially those that imitate or mimic the appearance or function of a weapon in any way, or any items that are not permitted under our Student Code of Conduct. While these items may seem harmless outside of school, they can be disruptive or cause concern in a school setting. When these items are found in a student’s possession, they will be confiscated, and the student will be subject to discipline in accordance with our policies and procedures.
Similarly, many other students may have received new electronics for Christmas, like smartphones, tablets, wireless headphones, and smartwatches. Please take some time to review our division’s Personal Communications Device Policy, which outlines our expectations for student electronic device use while at school. Your help with this at-home will help us maintain a focused learning environment in our schools, ensuring that instructional time is used effectively and meaningfully.
Finally, we want to remind our students and families that any comments or actions perceived as threatening, whether verbal, physical, or digital, are taken very seriously and may result in disciplinary action in accordance with our Student Code of Conduct. Threats are investigated by our administrators and we work closely with the Prince George County Police Department on school safety matters. We encourage families to talk with their students about the seriousness of making threatening statements, their impact on classmates and the school community, including added anxiety and stress, and to come forward if they see or hear something concerning by reaching out to a teacher, an administrator, a trusted adult, or law enforcement.
As always, I thank you for your continued support and collaboration. Your support through at-home conversations benefits our schools every day, helping build safe, welcoming campuses focused on learning and growing the minds of the children of our community.
We wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and successful start to 2026.
Sincerely,
Dr. Wayne Lyle
Superintendent
Prince George County Public Schools