When inclement weather causes road conditions to be hazardous, schools may open late, close early, or close for the entire day depending upon the severity of the weather. Please listen to any local television or radio news station for announcements of changes in school schedules.
This information is also posted immediately on the PWCS Web site at www.pwcs.edu, and will be aired on PWCS-TV (Comcast Cable channel 18 and Verizon FiOS channel 36). Information may also be obtained concerning school closing, delayed opening, or early closing, by calling 703.791.2776 and selecting #3, and by visiting pwcs.edu on the Internet.
When schools open late or close for the entire day, information is given to radio and television stations for broadcast by 5 a.m. These stations announce this information within minutes and at repeated intervals thereafter. The announcement will be one of the following:
“All Prince William County Public Schools will open two hours late today.” Or,
“All Prince William County Public Schools are closed today on Code Green.*
Liberal leave policy in effect for employees.” Or,
“All Prince William County Public Schools are closed today on Code Red.*
Employees will not report.”
*Color codes mentioned in the announcement affect employees only.
When weather conditions deteriorate after the school day has begun, it may become necessary to close schools early. When an early closing is necessary, the announcement will be one of the following:
“All Prince William County Public Schools will close one hour early today.” Or,
“All Prince William County Public Schools will close two hours early today.”
If schools close early, or if schools Divisionwide are closed all day due to inclement weather, all after-school student activities, athletic activities, and General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and Adult Education classes will be canceled. However, exceptions can be made in some cases and the school activity may be held as planned, so please monitor the PWCS Web site, your school’s Web site, PWCS-TV, and special communications from coaches.
If you are a late riser, the road conditions may look normal to you; however, they were considered hazardous at 5:00am when the decision was made to delay or close the schools.
Parents should not bring students to school early when a delayed opening is in effect, because school staff members may also be delayed in getting to schools.
In periods of very severe weather, some parents may consider roads and sidewalks in their area unsafe for travel by students. In those instances, parents have the option of not sending their child to school. The student is expected to make up all assignments. The student will not be penalized academically and the absence will be counted as excused.
When school is dismissed early, all after-school activities and athletic events are canceled.
***Please do not call your child’s school, the transportation office, or the central offices during weather emergencies.
