Washington County Public Schools

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!

Good afternoon, WCPS Families & Staff – We are providing an update following initial water testing for lead in all Washington County Public Schools’ buildings. That information was released earlier this month. On October 26, 2024, new regulations approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required water that is used in schools be tested for lead by 2028. To be ahead of that timeline, the Washington County Service Authority tested five fixtures at every school (at least two fixtures in the kitchens and 2 or more water fountains in various locations throughout the school). There are three possible results from testing: *Non-detect: Practice good water habits *Less than 10 parts per billion (ppb): Consider risk mitigation such as flushing before use *Greater than 10 parts per billion (ppb): Stop using the water source and take remediation steps If you recall, the initial testing found that four of our schools had at least one fixture that tested less than 10 ppb (Meadowview Elementary – two fixtures, Watauga Elementary – one fixture, Glade Spring Middle School – one fixture, and Holston High School – two fixtures). One school had two fixtures that tested above 10 ppb (Greendale Elementary). As a result, we took additional precautions at those five schools immediately. Only fixtures that tested non-detect are available for cooking purposes at these schools. This is above and beyond the protocols recommended by the EPA. The moment we received the initial testing results, we immediately discontinued the use of consumable water fixtures at the five schools (e.g. drinking fountains) – with that protocol remaining in place until the issue is remedied. As a result, we have been providing bottled water for students and staff. We are also installing a new water cooler at all schools in our division. This water cooler is equipped with five different filters that are designed to remove lead and other impurities. As an additional safeguard, we also began the process of testing every fixture in Greendale Elementary. That testing is now complete, with test results showing 52 fixtures tested non-detect, 8 fixtures tested less than 10 ppb, and 17 fixtures tested above 10 ppb. The most recent test results show that most of the drinking fountains came back as non-detect (with the exception of the fountain in the teachers' lounge, and the fountains located in Ms. Matney's, Ms. Mitchell's, and Ms. Saltz's classrooms) many of the elevated readings came from fixtures not needed for day-to-day school operations. One fixture tested extremely high, and we believe that could be because the classroom sink has not been used for an extended period of time. We will replace that fixture and test again before considering future use. (The samples for lead testing are taken after the fixture has been unused for a minimum of eight hours to get a worst-case result. Flushing the fixture for an extended period reduces the likelihood of lead presence.) We are replacing the sink in the kitchen that initially tested above 10 ppb and will retest again before returning that sink to service. Other next steps are to determine and troubleshoot whether the elevated testing numbers are due to the fixture itself, or if it is a result of the plumbing in the walls. Those fixtures will remain turned off until further notice. It is possible that sinks that are no longer used or needed will be removed from future service. We have been given clearance to use all points of contact that have returned "non-detect" results. More testing has taken place at the four schools that also saw elevated results. Once those test results are complete, we will conduct additional tests at the remaining 11 schools in our division. We will continue to work with the Washington County Service Authority and the Office of Drinking Water to ensure we are taking all needed steps to keep our students and staff safe. We are also staying in contact with the local Health Department. The new Greendale testing results and additional information which includes an FAQ, and a helpful flyer can be found at this link on our website: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/washington-county-service-authority-information/722977 If you have any questions or concerns, we will continue to work with the agencies referenced above to share the latest information and provide the safest possible environment for our students and staff. Thank you, Keith Perrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent Washington County Public Schools 812 Thompson Dr. Abingdon, VA 24210 276-739-3000 @WashCoSuper

Stay Connected: 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. 

Special Congratulations: The Patrick Henry One-Act Team recently placed 4th in the Super Regionals Competition with an Outstanding Acting Award for Lotte Gendel, Honorable Mentions to Laci Counts, Sophie Moore, Zen Moser, and an Outstanding Technical Award for the Patrick Henry One-Act Technical Team. The team will celebrate their season with a final performance on Saturday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the Kennedy-Reedy Theatre at the McGlothlin Center for the Arts at Emory & Henry University.

Calculating Measurements: Ms. Austin's Trigonometry class at John S. Battle High School made a clinometer, and used it along with trig ratios, to calculate the heights of objects that are difficult to physically measure. Some of those objects included a light pole, field goal post, and tree, just to name a few!

Unique Creations: Sixth-grade math students at Damascus Middle School tried their hand at game design this week. From brainstorming game concepts to creating game boards and establishing game rules, the students constructed and presented the unique designs to their classmates. Many engaging learning resources for integer operations were created!

Happening Tonight: Our partners at Parent Guidance are offering a great Ask a Therapist Live event this evening, Wednesday, November 20. This event takes place once a month and offers a unique opportunity for parents to engage directly with a licensed family therapist. Parents can ask questions anonymously and receive personalized answers in real-time. Click here to register: https://shorturl.at/InrLd

Nomination Deadline Approaching: 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

Promise Program: Our friends with the Promise Program have been visiting middle schools, sharing the amazing news about the Washington County Promise Program! Our students are beginning to think about their futures, and we're excited to show them how this commitment can help make their college dreams a reality -- with free tuition. These visits were all about getting our middle schoolers thinking ahead and understanding that opportunities are within reach. By preparing now, they can set themselves up for a successful future with the help of this incredible program. We loved seeing the excitement and curiosity from our middle schoolers as they learned how the Washington County Promise Program can help them succeed. Visit https://promiseprogram.org/ to see if your student is eligible to take advantage of this amazing commitment by Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia and Virginia Highlands Community College. #WashingtonCountySchools #VHCCPromise #MiddleSchoolFuture #BuildingBrightFutures #FreeTuition #StudentOpportunities

Optimist Club Outstanding Youth: The Optimist Club of Bristol recently recognized local middle school students from Wallace Middle, Virginia Middle, and Tennessee Middle. Students were nominated by their home schools based on academic achievement and overall character. This year's award winners from Wallace Middle School were J. Crowder and L. Senter. These students were recognized at a luncheon hosted by the Optimist Club of Bristol.

National ESEA Distinguished Schools Recognition: The Virginia Department of Education has selected Greendale Elementary School as one of two schools in Virginia to receive the 2024 National ESEA Distinguished Schools Award. Recognized for exceptional student performance for two consecutive years, Greendale Elementary School made noteworthy gains in reading and science SOL scores, improving by 9 and 14 points respectively in the last year. The school implemented key literacy initiatives, such as targeted reading interventions, an open library, and ongoing professional development for school staff. The school has also focused on data driven instruction such as formative and summative assessments to guide differentiation; explicit teaching with clear demonstrations and guided practice; tailored instruction for personal interventions; and small group instruction and remediation. "I am so proud of Mr. Michael Colston and all of the educators at Greendale Elementary for their perseverance and the incredible gains their students have made as a result," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons. "Their intentional focus on improving literacy outcomes, targeted tutoring in reading and math before and after school, and community engagement and collaboration initiatives have all contributed to creating the culture of success and excellence that embodies the school. Congratulations on this well-deserved and impressive achievement." Students receiving free lunch make up 88% of Greendale Elementary’s student population. ESEA is the abbreviation for the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the primary source of federal aid for elementary and secondary education requiring states to establish long-term and interim goals for increasing student achievement in reading and mathematics. ESEA provides funds to all of Virginia’s school divisions for supplemental educational support to eligible schools. The focus of these programs is to raise the achievement level of students at risk of academic failure due to poverty and other factors. The Distinguished Schools Program, a project of the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators, recognizes federally funded schools from each state for their outstanding achievements in education. Each year, only two schools per state are chosen as National ESEA Distinguished Schools, underscoring the prestigious nature of this honor.

Veterans Day 5K: It was a great morning on Saturday for the first Washington County Career & Technical Education Center Veterans Day 5K to support Skills USA! Runners and walkers of all ages completed the course. A special thanks to We Run Events and sponsors for making this event possible.

Stay Connected: Be sure to check out the latest edition of The Washington Way! It's our division newsletter to help you stay updated with what is going on across the WCPS system. Visit this link to read the news: https://shorturl.at/4As0K

For the first time in school history, JSB and PHHS had teams competing in the RDL (Robot Drone League) regional competition! These teams brought home 1st place -PHHS and 2nd Place- JSBHS! Both will now advance to the national competition in January! #WashingtonWay

National Recognition: Washington County Public Schools is excited to announce that Greendale Elementary School has been named a 2024 National ESEA Distinguished School. This prestigious honor, awarded to only two schools per state each year, celebrates the outstanding efforts and the incredible progress of our students at Greendale Elementary. The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) – formerly the National Title I Association – has been recognizing exemplary federally-funded schools through the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program since 1996. The program celebrates the efforts of schools across the country making significant improvements in education. The National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program annually acknowledges the success of hundreds of schools in one of three categories, with Greendale Elementary being recognized under Category 1: • Category 1: Exceptional student performance and academic growth • Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups • Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g. homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.) NAESPA implemented the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program to spotlight schools that have effectively utilized their ESEA federal funds to improve educational outcomes for students. More information about all National ESEA Distinguished Schools is available on the NAESPA website: https://www.eseanetwork.org/ds The 2024 National ESEA Distinguished Schools will be honored February 19-21, 2025, at the 2025 National ESEA Conference. Congratulations to Greendale Elementary School on this outstanding achievement!

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!

Coming Together: We are still thinking about the fantastic Thanksgiving Meal put together by our School Nutrition Department. We loved seeing our students, staff & families enjoying the great food! As you can see in the photos, it was all smiles! Sending a big THANK YOU to our incredible cafeteria staff for their hard work.

Reminder: The Washington County Career & Technical Education Center Veterans Day 5K Run & Walk is TOMORROW, Saturday, November 16 at 9:00 a.m. Lace up your running shoes & have some fun for a great cause! Click here to register: https://register.chronotrack.com/r/82374

Thanksgiving Lunch: This afternoon, our students enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal. This tray was put together by our fantastic team at Wallace Middle School. We are so thankful for our hardworking School Nutrition Department!

Promise Program Launch: Funded by Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia, the Promise Program is an amazing opportunity for students who live in Washington County, VA to attend Virginia Highlands Community College for free. This generous scholarship is available for the Class of 2025 through 2037 and is designed to make college and workforce training more accessible and affordable, covering tuition, fees, and books. Whether you are attending public school, private school, or are homeschooled, if you've lived in Washington County for at least 12 months prior to graduation and are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you can qualify! To learn more about the Washington County Promise Program, click here: https://promiseprogram.org/