Washington County Public Schools

Easter Break Reminder Washington County Public Schools will be closed on Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21 for Easter Break. We hope all of our students, staff, and families enjoy a relaxing and joyful long weekend filled with sunshine, sweet treats, and special moments. Classes will resume on Tuesday, April 22 ~ See you then, refreshed and ready to hop back into learning!

Science in Action at Damascus Middle School In Mrs. Caywood's Science 7 classes, students took part in the Battle of the Beaks -- a hands-on activity to demonstrate natural selection. Students tested various bird beak shapes to see which ones were best adapted for feeding on different food sources.

Fourth graders from across Washington County put their thinking skills to the test at the Washington County 4-H History Bowl! Students showed off their knowledge of Virginia state history in a fun competition! After an exciting day of learning and teamwork, High Point Elementary School took home this year's championship title! Congratulations to all the students who participated -- we are so proud of you!

Last week, our Sports Medicine and Intro to Health & Medical Sciences students from the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center took an exciting trip to the Northeast State Health Careers Campus! They explored real-world medical programs, peeked into lab life, & even got hands-on experience performing throat cultures. In the EMT/Paramedic lab, students practiced starting IVs & intubating patients.

BeYOUnified at WCPS Today was an amazing day of teamwork, smiles, and unforgettable moments at our first Unified Sports Competition! Washington County students came together to compete, cheer each other on, and show what inclusion is all about! We are so proud of all of our athletes, partners, and coaches who made today so great!

Trigonometry in Action Students in Ms. Austin's Trigonometry class at John S. Battle High School took their learning to new heights! They used clinometers and trig ratios to measure the height of some pretty tall objects -- the school building, a light pole, a field goal post, and even a tree!

🎃Save the Date: WCPS Boo Dash 5K and Monster Mile Even though it’s only April, we’re already gearing up for October – so mark your calendars for a spooktacular event you won’t want to miss! Washington County Public Schools, in partnership with We Run Events, is thrilled to host our first-ever Boo Dash 5K and Monster Mile! This community-wide event is all about health, wellness, and Halloween fun – and yes, costumes are encouraged (just no masks, please!) There will even be awards for best team costume and best individual costume! Whether you’re running, walking, or cheering on your family and friends, this is an event for everyone to enjoy, and we want to see YOU there! 📅Date: Saturday, October 18 ⏰Time: 4:00 p.m. 📍Location: Virginia Creeper Trail Stay tuned for more details – but for now, mark those calendars, start planning your costume, and get ready to dash into fall fun with WCPS! 👻

WCPS Alumni Spotlight: Jenna Gilbert ~ Abingdon High School ~ Class of 2015. We are thrilled to highlight Ms. Jenna Gilbert, a proud Abingdon High School graduate! Are you a graduate of Washington County Public Schools? If so, we'd love to hear from you! We're excited to learn about your accomplishments and share your story and advice with our current students, families, and community. Please click here, to fill out a submission form: https://forms.gle/7qzqxJCpCjryVsfW8 OR Do you know a graduate from Washington County Public Schools who has made a positive impact in their community? Nominate them to be featured in our Alumni Spotlight Series! Click here, to nominate a WCPS graduate: https://forms.gle/LFV1PwdpHnLfYRhn8

🍎✨ Great things are happening in the mornings in Washington County Public Schools! From Grab-and-Go options at the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center to Breakfast After the Bell at our high schools, students are starting their day full and focused. Want to see how innovation and collaboration are making a real difference? Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXwMjzRizpU

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/e29Kj

🎉 Big News from High Point Elementary School Mrs. Caitlyn Lester, our amazing music teacher at High Point Elementary, is now in the quarterfinals of a national competition to be named the Top Teacher in America -- and she needs our help moving forward! If she makes it to the top spot in the next few days, she'll move on to the semifinals -- and she's so close! If she wins it all, she'll receive $25,000 for her family and classroom -- but that's not all! It would also bring Bill Nye the Science Guy to High Point for an unforgettable day of learning with HPES students and staff. You can vote once a day, so let's rally around Mrs. Lester and make this happen -- every vote counts! Click here to vote: https://americasfavteacher.org/2025/caitlyn-lester

When it comes to sparking an interest in collision repair, no tool is more powerful than real-world engagement. Check out this great article featuring Mr. Brian Casey, Auto Body Repair Instructor at Washington County Career and Technical Education Center. He's showing how partnerships with local industry pros are making a big impact on student's futures. https://www.grecopublishing.com/hd0425wmabaschoolprofile/

Are you concerned about your child's development or speech? Scan the QR code below to learn more about FREE early childhood screenings on April 22, 2025.

Our students at Abingdon Elementary School boogied the night away at Friday's Glow Dance -- and wow, did they bring the energy! From dancing under the lights to playing glow-in-the-dark putt-putt and munching on goodies, it was a night full of fun and laughter. Thank you to the Abingdon Elementary School PTO for putting together such a fantastic event for AES families!

Rhea Valley Elementary Pre-K students recently took a fantastic field trip to Emory & Henry University -- and it was more than just a day out! Not only did our youngest learners get to explore campus, run on the football field, catch touchdown passes, and cheer with pom poms, but they also learned some important lessons -- like how to safely use sidewalks and crosswalks. Even better? Patrick Henry High School's Teachers for Tomorrow Dual Enrollment students were right there helping every step of the way. They guided Pre-K students across streets, modeled safe walking practices, and helped make sure everyone stayed safe while learning! https://youtu.be/RViX0MIcufo

🎤🏆 The School Board gave a big round of applause to Greyson Pruitt and Will Duncan of Patrick Henry High School for their standout performances at the VHSL State Speech/Forensics Championships! *Greyson Pruitt ~ Patrick Henry High School ~ Extemporaneous Speech State Champion and All-State Honors *Will Duncan ~ Patrick Henry High School ~ Impromptu Speech 3rd Place and All-State Honors Way to go, Greyson and Will! We are so proud of you!

🥇 The School Board gave a well-deserved shoutout to our incredible Indoor Track State Champions! *Tyler Barrett ~ Patrick Henry High School ~ Shot Put Class 1 State Champion *Josie Jackson ~ Abingdon High School ~1000m and 1600m Class 3 State Champion *Tyler Stanley ~ Abingdon High School ~ Long Jump Class 3 State Champion Congratulations to these student-athletes for their hard work, dedication, and well-earned victories! We’re proud to have you representing WCPS!

🎉🏀 Congratulations to A.J. (Annsley Jadyn) Trivette of Abingdon High School for being named the Class 3 Girls State Basketball Player of the Year! With standout plays and unstoppable drive, A.J. dominated the court this season. Way to represent Abingdon and WCPS!

🏀⏱️ During a meeting this evening, the School Board proudly recognized Elijah “Eli” Gilliam of Abingdon High School for an unbelievable basketball performance: 7 Points – 3 Rebounds – 2 Steals – All in just 23 seconds! Congratulations, Eli! Way to make Abingdon and WCPS proud!

🌟Sending a big thank you to the John S. Battle High School Cadet Leadership Class for proudly presenting the colors at tonight’s School Board meeting. Their dedication and poise were a perfect reminder of the strong leadership and community spirit that defines our students. We couldn’t be prouder of these future leaders.