Washington County Public Schools

Bullseye at Rhea Valley Ms. Beth Delp, Rhea Valley Elementary's physical education teacher, just hit the target with a brand-new activity for 4th and 5th graders: Archery! This initiative aligns with the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), which promotes international-style target archery in school curricula. NASP aims to enhance students' focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and goal-setting skills -- attributes that are beneficial both in the classroom and in life! To learn more about the National Archery in the Schools Program, click here: https://www.naspschools.org/

Sending a big thank you to the William King Museum of Art for welcoming Abingdon High School's Gifted Class, led by Ms. Hulsey, for a day filled with creativity! These talented students toured the latest exhibits and even rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on activity. Check out one of their amazing projects!

Technology in Action at High Point Elementary School Staff at High Point Elementary School are using AI-powered glasses to help break down language barriers and build stronger connections with families! Check out this awesome feature from WCYB on how the glasses are being utilized: https://wcyb.com/news/local/high-point-staff-use-ai-glasses-to-bridge-language-gap-with-hispanic-families

Brunch and Learn Valley Institute Elementary School recently welcomed some very special guests for the Grandparents Brunch and Learn: Social Media Safety seminar, hosted by Communities in Schools! Families enjoyed a tasty brunch while learning important tips on how to help keep students safe online. A big thank you to Travis Howard with the Virginia State Police for sharing valuable insights on social media safety.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Today we're celebrating the amazing administrative professionals who help keep Washington County Public Schools running smoothly every single day! From managing schedules to supporting staff, students and families, you do it all with professionalism, kindness, and care. Your hard work and dedication make a huge difference, and we appreciate you!

Student Spotlight Join us in congratulating Gwen A., of Abingdon High School! Gwen, a student in Ms. Dotson’s Digital Applications class, won the School Nutrition Department’s Lunch Menu Design Challenge. Her menu items will be featured the week of May 12! As part of learning more about database applications, students got creative while mastering different tech tools and designing some great menu options. Gwen was recognized with a certificate and a special gift for her creativity with her design. Big thanks to Ms. Dotson, her class, and the School Nutrition Department for this fun collaboration!

Happy School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Today, we're sending a huge THANK YOU to our amazing school bus drivers who safely transport our students each and every day! From the first morning stop to the last afternoon drop-off, you help start and end our students' days with smiles and safety in mind. Your dedication doesn't go unnoticed! Let's all give a wave and a thank you to our drivers on this special day!

🌟WCPS Alumni Spotlight: Logan Dingus ~ John S. Battle High School ~ Class of 2012. We are thrilled to highlight Mr. Logan Dingus, a proud John S. Battle 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

Happy Easter from Washington County Public Schools! We want to wish all of our amazing students, staff, and families a wonderful Easter filled with joy, making memories, and a little chocolate too! As you enjoy the break, we'd love to see how you're spending your time! Whether it's hunting for eggs, spending time outside, or just soaking in some family time -- feel free to share your Easter break photos with our school outreach specialist, by emailing Ashley Hoak at ahoak@wcs.k12.va.us ~ Please note: Submitted photos may be posted to WCPS social media platforms. We can't wait to welcome our students and staff back on Tuesday!

Science + Creativity = Game On Students in Mrs. Cannon's Physical Science 8 class at Glade Spring Middle School are taking review time to a whole new level by designing their very own science-themed board games! From Hungry Hungry Symbiosis to Cell Procedure, these clever and colorful creations cover material from 6th to 8th grade and will help students gear up for the SOLs in May.

Students in Ms. Chaney's 8th grade science class are diving into the world of sound, light, and electromagnetic waves -- and they are doing it in style with VR headsets! During the lesson, the students used the VR headsets to learn more about how waves work in our everyday lives. Throughout the module, they worked alongside a CEO of a telecommunications company to provide high-speed, reliable internet to rural communities.

💜 In recognition of the Month of the Military Child, students and staff at Rhea Valley Elementary School proudly wore purple to show their support for the children of active-duty service members. To all who serve -- we thank you and appreciate you.

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