Based on our conversations with our meteorologist at AccuWeather, we anticipate weather conditions to deteriorate during our normal dismissal time. As a result, Washington County Public Schools will dismiss 2-Hours early today, Wednesday, December 11, 2024. All extracurricular activities for Wednesday are postponed.
#TheWashingtonWay: We are so thankful for our amazing support staff that we have here at WCPS! At the meeting this evening, School Board Members recognized our Support Staff Award Winners for the fall semester.
*Master Technician Award -- Jason Salyers (Technology Department)
*Wheels on the Bus Award -- Ronica Blevins (Transportation Department)
*Above and Beyond (Custodian) Award -- Becky Lane-Smith (Watauga Elementary School)
*Helping Hand Award -- Lynn Redman (High Point Elementary School)
*Silver Spoon Award -- Kristen Deel (E.B. Stanley Middle School)
*Customer Service Award -- Abby Stamper (WCPS Annex)
Congratulations to our award winners and thank you for your hard work!
Due to predictions of windchills in the morning in the single digits, WCPS will operate on a 2 hour delayed schedule on Friday, December 6, 2024. Childcare will be available for working parents at elementary schools.
The WCPS Transportation Department would like to inform families that Bus 5 is running roughly 30 - 40 minutes late this morning, Wednesday, December 4. The route will be completed as normal.
In what has been a tricky morning, we have decided to call a Remote Learning Day for Tuesday December 3, 2024. Main roads are clear, as are some back roads and side streets. However, “road checkers”, encountered multiple slick secondary roads. At our December School Board Meeting, we will present a Snow Route plan that would potentially allow us to have in person learning on days like today. Be safe, stay warm, and we’ll see everyone online
Due to current snowfall in some parts of Washington County, temperatures in the teens overnight, and predicted snowfall in the morning hours, WCPS will operate on a 2 hour delayed schedule on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. Childcare will be provided for working parents at elementary schools. Should conditions worsen to warrant a Remote Learning Day, childcare will not be available. A decision to change from a 2 hour delayed schedule to Remote Learning will be made by 7:30 a.m.
Please join me in congratulating Mr. Chase Nunley for being voted the 2024-2025 Abingdon High School Teacher of the Year!
Due to winter weather, Washington County Public Schools will implement a Remote Learning Day for Friday, November 22, 2024. NO childcare will be provided.
Classroom teachers will communicate with students to facilitate classes.
Stay safe and warm!
Stay in the Know: With the potential for winter weather this evening through tomorrow morning, we wanted to alert you of the two options for Friday, November 22, if Washington County Public Schools is NOT on a regular schedule.
*Remote Learning Day -- NO childcare will be provided
*Two-Hour Delay -- Childcare will be provided at elementary schools from 8:00 a.m. until the start of the school day.
As a reminder: A Remote Learning Day will be announced if instruction is going to be provided during an unscheduled closure of a school or schools. Classroom teachers will communicate with students about the processes they will use to facilitate their classes.
A Remote Learning Day is NOT a traditional snow day. School Closed will be announced if instruction is NOT going to be provided during an unscheduled closure of a school or schools.
As we are now entering the winter months and know weather can be unpredictable, it’s important to stay connected with Washington County Public Schools. We have various ways for you to stay in the loop.
Websites:
*The district and individual school websites will be the hub of communication for all WCPS.
*All information that affects the school or district will be communicated through district and/or school web pages. The district website is https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/
*School web pages are “school initials + .wcs.k12.va.us” (example: Abingdon High School = ahs.wcs.k12.va.us)
*The websites can be translated to multiple languages by clicking the drop-down menu in the top right-hand corner.
Receive Text Messages, Phone Calls & Emails:
*The contact information for students and/or parents comes from the Contact 1-5 Data in PowerSchool for each student.
*Check with your student’s school to make sure your contact information is up to date.
Receive Push Notifications:
*Download the Washington County VA Schools Mobile App for your smartphone.
*The app is available for FREE download in the Apple Store and the Google Play Store.
*The app will provide instant access to district and school announcements and calendars.
*Scroll down to settings; toggle the school(s) you would like to receive push notifications for and view.
Social Media:
*The district maintains and operates Facebook, Twitter (X), and Instagram accounts as well as a district YouTube account.
*Families are encouraged to follow the district accounts @washcovaschools for updates, news, and information.
*Individual schools maintain a Facebook and Twitter account.
Promise Program: Representatives were thrilled to visit our high schools this week and share the exciting details about the Washington County Promise Program. This commitment by Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Viginia and Virginia Highlands Community College offers an incredible opportunity for high school students to attend VHCC with free tuition and jumpstart their future without the financial burden.
During the visits, students learned about the requirements needed to take advantage of this life-changing program. It's time to start planning your next steps!
To qualify for the Washington County Promise Program, students must:
*Graduate high school between 2025 and 2037
*Live in Washington County, VA, for at least 12 months prior to graduation
*Complete the FAFSA and VHCC scholarship applications
*Choose a degree or workforce credential program
*Maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA once you're in college
*Perform 8 hours of volunteer work each year
Our high schoolers were eager to learn how they can take part in this program, and we're excited to see them take full advantage of this opportunity.
Visit https://promiseprogram.org/ to review all of the eligibility requirements and start your application today!
Washington Way Award Nominations: Nominate a special support staff person for the #WashingtonWayAward! Do you know someone whose work and commitment makes WCPS a better place to be?
#WashingtonWayAward Categories:
*Above and Beyond Custodian Award -- Vote for a custodian that makes a difference!
*Silver Spoon Award -- Vote for the best food service worker out there!
*Helping Hand Award -- Vote for a nurse or an aide that has helped you!
*Master Technician Award -- Vote for the one who has helped you fix things!
*Wheels on the Bus Award -- Vote for the driver or mechanic who helps get you home!
*Customer Service Award -- Vote for the person who is always there to help!
Scan the QR Code by Friday, November 22 to nominate a support staff person. To learn more about the #WashingtonWayAwards, watch this video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM7Y0BdMbF4
Washington Way Award Nominations: Nominate a special support staff person for the #WashingtonWayAward! Do you know someone whose work and commitment makes WCPS a better place to be?
#WashingtonWayAward Categories:
*Above and Beyond Custodian Award -- Vote for a custodian that makes a difference!
*Silver Spoon Award -- Vote for the best food service worker out there!
*Helping Hand Award -- Vote for a nurse or an aide that has helped you!
*Master Technician Award -- Vote for the one who has helped you fix things!
*Wheels on the Bus Award -- Vote for the driver or mechanic who helps get you home!
*Customer Service Award -- Vote for the person who is always there to help!
Scan the QR Code by Friday, December 6 to nominate a support staff person.
To learn more about the #WashingtonWayAwards, watch this video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM7Y0BdMbF4
Abingdon FFA member Maggie G. recently attended the National FFA Conference and Expo in Indianapolis where she participated with the National FFA band. Maggie was selected to perform a solo at their performance! Congratulations Maggie!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySYMY9_veg8
It was an exciting Friday for Washington County Public Schools! We were honored to provide a tour of Rhea Valley Elementary, Holston High School, and Abingdon High School to Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera and her staff, as well as Sen. Todd Pillion. During the visit, Secretary Guidera was able to see the new safety vestibule at Abingdon High School, learned about flood recovery efforts at Rhea Valley Elementary and saw the Hydrophonics System in action at Holston. Secretary Guidera also offered a special congratulations to Holston High School for being recognized Thursday with the 2024-2025 Virginia Board of Education Exemplar High Achievement Award. As always, our students were great ambassadors for our distinguished guests, and we loved highlighting all the great things happening in WCPS!
Abingdon Falcon Baseball spent their evening volunteering at the Abingdon Elementary Fall Festival! Thank you to these players and all the AHS students who gave their time!
Congratulations to Abingdon High School students Ava M. and Haylee H. for winning the Virginia Tech Honor Choir Soloist Competition! They both participated in a masterclass with Virginia Tech Voice Professors, and performed their solos at the VT Choirs Concert at the Moss Arts Center with their Chorus teacher, Brandy Baxter, accompanying them on piano.
Promise Program: Today was a proud moment for Washington County Public Schools! We witnessed something truly special as our community gathered at Virginia Highlands Community College to celebrate the launch of the Washington County Promise Program. This commitment by Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia and VHCC marks a major step forward in providing a brighter future for our students.
Thanks to this incredible program, students who live in Washington County, VA, can
now pursue higher education with free tuition, breaking down financial barriers and
opening doors to countless opportunities. We’re beyond excited to see the impact this
will have on our students, their families, and our community as a whole.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us today - from students and faculty to
community leaders and partners. Your support means everything as we work together
to enrich the lives of our young people.
Head over to https://promiseprogram.org/ and discover how this opportunity can benefit your student!
#WashingtonCountySchools #VHCCPromise #StudentOpportunities #OurFuture
#CommunityStrong #EducationMatters
(Photo Courtesy: Virginia Highlands Community College)
Elementary School Visit: Watauga loves it when members of the Abingdon High School Football team visit their former elementary school each year! The players made the most of their visit by playing on the playgrounds, reading in the classrooms, receiving high fives, riding scooters in PE, and even working on their dance moves in kindergarten! We love seeing our older student's bond with our younger students. An added thanks to the AHS coaches for allowing team members to visit feeder schools.
From the WCPS Transportation Department: Due to an accident on Interstate 81 and traffic delays as a result, several WCPS buses are delayed in their afternoon routes.
At the October 7 school board meeting, members voted to move the end of the first quarter grading period to Friday, October 11. As a result, the 2 hour early dismissal that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, October 9 has been moved to Friday, October 11 to allow time for teachers to complete grades. Schools will be closed Monday, October 14 through Wednesday, October 16 for Fall Break. Report cards will be sent home with students on Tuesday, October 22. Please contact your student's teachers with questions.
