š Happy National School Counseling Week! š
This week, weāre celebrating our incredible school counselors who make a difference every day! From providing guidance and encouragement to working with teachers, staff, and families to help their students thrive, their impact is felt across our schools. ā¤ļø
Counselors were asked how they know students are thriving. Here is what they had to say:
"When they stop by (all smiles) just because"
"When they show a positive attitude towards their education"
"When they are happy, healthy, & excited!"
Join us in thanking our counselors for their dedication and hard work!
Empowering Future Professionals: In Ms. Fuller's Marketing Co-op class at John S. Battle High School, students aren't just learning about marketing strategies -- they're gaining real-world skills that will benefit them for years to come! As part of this unique course, every student has a job, and they've been taking a deep dive into something just as important: understanding their W-2 forms and filing taxes. These real-life lessons not only equip students with the tools they need for financial literacy but also help them feel confident and empowered in handling their finances as they move into the next phase of their careers.
Tune In: Thank you to WCYB for coming out to Patrick Henry High School this morning to talk with students about the robotics programs in WCPS, and the recent RDL Competition! Be sure to watch WCYB this evening for the full story.
School Board Appreciation: February is School Board Appreciation Month in Virginia, and we want to take a moment to thank the dedicated members of our School Board! Your commitment to the success and well-being of our students and schools is inspiring, and your hard work doesn't go unnoticed. We appreciate everything you do to make Washington County Public Schools a great place for our students, staff, and families!
Special Resources: Parents, February is all about love and relationships. Join Parent Coaching to nurture and strengthen your connection with your children. This free resource pairs you with a parenting coach and offers content designed by therapists. Click here to register and receive ongoing support: https://cookcenter.info/coaching
Introducing the participants of the CultivatED Leadership Academy, made up of our great WCPS staff members! The goal of the CultivatED Leadership Academy is to grow a leadership team that is ready to bloom to ensure we continue our tradition of excellence, The Washington Way.
Family Math Night: We love seeing our young students having fun while learning math. Rhea Valley Elementary School hosted Family Math Night, which consisted of various activities and games for students and families to enjoy!
Collecting Data: Students in Mrs. Caywood's Science 7 class at Damascus Middle School have been busy! They lifted and observed their fingerprints to collect and analyze data while practicing scientific inquiry. Scientific inquiry is a process that uses evidence to solve problems and understand scientific phenomena. It involves making observations, forming hypotheses, conducting experiments, and analyzing data.
Honoring Black History: February is Black History Month, and Washington County Public Schools is proud to recognize the incredible contributions of notable individuals throughout history. This provides a special opportunity to reflect on the achievements, struggles, and resiliency of Black communities and to deepen our understanding of their lasting impact on society.
In celebration of Black History Month, the WCPS School Nutrition Department will highlight Leah Chase, known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine. We will have a special menu item celebrating her life and dedication to bringing people together through food. Leah Chase's restaurant, Dooky Chase's Restaurant in New Orleans, became an important meeting place for civil rights leaders during the 1960s. She opened her doors to activists and leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and others who needed a safe place for strategy and discussion. The restaurant provided not only great meals, but also a sense of solidarity and hope, playing a crucial role in the fight for racial equality. Through Chase's impact on Creole cuisine and commitment to her community, she became a driving force in the kitchen and in maintaining cultural heritage and unity. On Wednesday, February 12, our students will be able to enjoy a special tasting of gumbo, inspired by Chase! We believe that through meals like this, there can be conversations and a deeper appreciation for the valuable contributions towards American food traditions by chefs like Leah Chase.
To view WCPS menus for February, click here: https://shorturl.at/0YUBo
Photo of Leah Chase Courtesy of Dooky Chase's Restaurant
RDL Nationals: Thank you to WJHL for highlighting the recent Robot Drone League Nationals competition and for giving a shoutout to our teams from Patrick Henry High School and John S. Battle High School! To read the article, click here: https://shorturl.at/xXkiN
WCCTEC Visit: It was an exciting day for 8th grade students from E.B. Stanley Middle School! Students visited the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center to learn about the various programs and classes offered and to hear from current WCCTEC students and teachers. The 8th graders had the chance to visit 18 different classes/stations at WCCTEC, which provided a great opportunity for these students to start thinking about their futures!
We wanted to make you aware of a few calendar changes during the months of February and March:
*The School Board Meeting scheduled for Monday, February 3, has been canceled. The limited number of agenda items for the 3rd will be moved to the School Board Meeting on the 18th.
*The 2-Hour Early Dismissal scheduled for Thursday, February 13, will now be a REGULAR (Full) school day due to days missed because of inclement weather.
*A reminder that Monday, February 17 (Presidentās Day) will now be a REGULAR school day due to days missed because of inclement weather.
*The School Board Meeting will be held as scheduled on Tuesday, February 18.
*The 2-Hour Early Dismissal scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, will now be a REGULAR (Full) school day due to days missed because of inclement weather.
Practicing Essential Skills: CNA students at the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center are making great strides as they prepare for their upcoming clinicals! They practiced an essential skill -- helping a resident shave. Their dedication and hands-on learning will help make a difference in patient care!
Hands-On Learning: Ms. Hockett's 6th graders at Wallace Middle School kicked off their semester by applying the Scientific Method and the Engineering Design Process. Students used different brands of soap to determine which would produce the largest bubbles! They worked together to conduct a series of trials with the different brands and were able to identify independent and dependent variables during their experiment.
Students also worked together to apply the Engineering Design Process through a scenario. They took on the role of an engineer to work through their design challenge of building a tower with a limited number of index cards, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and tape. Through their Engineering Design challenge, students were able to think like an engineer, build a prototype, identify constraints within designs, and share their results with their peers!
Sharing Unique Global Perspectives: Thank you to WCYB for interviewing and highlighting our awesome exchange students at Abingdon High School! Click the link to read the article and watch the story: https://shorturl.at/92b7F
WCPS will operate on a REGULAR SCHEDULE tomorrow, Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Because the WCPS Transportation Department has determined there are still a few roads in the county impacted by snow and ice, buses will only travel on clear routes. The roads that will not be used tomorrow can be found here: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/transportation%2Fbus-routes/743711
Our website provider is having issues this morning, that's why our district website is returning an error right now. You can get to your school apps and email by going directly to our SSO Portal at https://portal.wcs.k12.va.us.
SCHEDULE UPDATE: Due to snowfall overnight resulting in slick roadways across the county, WCPS will implement a Remote Learning Day today, Monday, January 27, 2025.
If your student has any issues accessing virtual instruction during their scheduled time, please contact your childās teacher or principal directly. We will work with them on instruction, assignments, and attendance.
WCPS will operate on a REGULAR schedule tomorrow, Monday, January 27, 2025. Because our Transportation Department has determined there are still a few roads in the county impacted by snow and ice, buses will only travel on clear routes. The roads that will not be used tomorrow can be found here: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/transportation%2Fbus-routes/743711
We are also closely monitoring the potential for winter weather this evening into tomorrow morning -- We will update should additional schedule changes be needed.
Congratulations to the PHHS Robotics Drone Team for winning the National RDL Competition. Patrick Henry formed an alliance with Elizabethton High School and won the title. John Battle's Team walked away with the coveted "Rookie Team of the Year" for their hard work! So Proud!
