Washington County Public Schools

Special Congratulations: John S. Battle High School senior Kara Kelley scored her 1,000th career basketball point on Thursday, during JSB's basketball game against Graham High School. Congratulations Kara on your big accomplishment!

We are closely monitoring the potential for winter weather to impact the area this afternoon, especially near our Russell County border. If you have concerns about your teen driver who would be driving home in these potential conditions, please contact your student's principal and they would be happy to work with you to coordinate an early dismissal. The same goes for bus riders in areas where roads are still snow covered or may become covered if the weather materializes. We will closely monitor conditions for the remainder of the afternoon, but we do not currently anticipate a division wide schedule change.

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/JQpLa

WCPS will operate on a REGULAR SCHEDULE tomorrow, Friday, January 24, 2025. Because 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 Additionally, if you know of a child in need of winter weather gear (hat, gloves, etc.) please contact your child's principal, and we will work to help meet those needs.

Entrepreneural Skills: Ms. Field's Economics classes at Patrick Henry High School were able to get savvy with their money last week to see if they had what it takes to be an entrepreneur! Thanks to Cindy Fields with the Small Business Development Center for sharing her skills.

WCPS will operate on a REGULAR SCHEDULE tomorrow, Thursday, January 23, 2025. However, buses will only travel on clear routes. There are still a few roads in the county impacted by snow and ice. The roads that will not be used tomorrow can be found here: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/transportation%2Fbus-routes/743711 As a reminder, if you know of a child in need of winter weather gear (hat, gloves, etc.) please contact your child's principal, and we will work to help meet those needs.

Check This Out: Mr. Marousek's Welding students at the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center have proudly completed the trailer project for the ECU Battle of the Build's competition! A special shoutout goes to Mr. Casteel's Engineering students for designing the tailgate with the school logo. Join us in wishing them the best of luck in the contest on February 1!

Special Recognition: During the meeting this evening, School Board Members Recognized the WCPS 2024-2025 Teachers of the Year. These individuals were chosen by their colleagues because they exemplify the best of being a teacher for Washington County Public Schools and the service they provide to the community, school, and most importantly, students. Elementary Schools: *Abingdon ~ Gwen Campbell *Greendale ~ Abby Rasnake *High Point ~ Heather Hensley *Meadowview ~ Kimberly Cox *Rhea Valley ~ Beth Delp *Valley Institute ~ Joy Hull *Watauga ~ Sherry Thomason Middle Schools: *Damascus ~ Sallie Moss *Glade Spring ~ Sherry Cannon *E.B. Stanley ~ Maggie Branton *Wallace ~ Kaitlyn Maples Secondary Schools *Abingdon High ~ Chase Nunley *John S. Battle High ~ Emily Tallman *Patrick Henry High ~ Alyssa Fields *Holston High ~ Buffy Milhorne *WC CTE Center ~ William (Billy) Buchanan The Board also congratulated the following grade level Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025. Each of the building’s Teacher of the Year were chosen as models of what it means to be a teacher. *WC Elementary School Teacher of the Year ~ Abby Rasnake *WC Middle School Teacher of the Year ~ Kaitlyn Maples *WC High School Teacher of the Year ~ Chase Nunley Washington County School 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year ~ Chase Nunley Congratulations to all as we celebrate these exemplary teachers of Washington County Schools!

We had hoped that we would be able to provide in person learning opportunities tomorrow. However, our afternoon update from our meteorologist provided a declining forecast. Due to the extremely cold temperatures forecasted for the morning, which are now predicted to have wind chills hovering in the sub-0 range for much of the morning, and TVA asking customers to participate in a voluntary power conservation effort, WCPS will implement a Remote Learning Day for tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22, 2025. If your student has any issues accessing virtual instruction during their scheduled time, please contact your child’s teacher or principal directly. We will work with them on instruction, assignments, and attendance. Additionally, if you know of a child in need of winter weather gear (hat, gloves, etc.) please contact your child’s principal, and we will work to help meet those needs. We thank you for your understanding and appreciate your patience as we continue to work through these weather-related schedule challenges.

Referrals for gifted education services will be accepted January 20-31. If you would like to refer a student for an evaluation, please complete the survey link below. Should you have any questions, please contact Ms. Susan O'Dell at sodell@wcs.k12.va.us or Dr. Sherry King at sking@wcs.k12.va.us. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLiwngXy-clNKrKlaFTPY6qwh3m3U6ElkdXCkMc_WOr796LA/viewform

Thank You: Even on snowy and cold days, the dedication of our School Nutrition Department shines! We want to send a big THANK YOU to our team for always making sure school kitchens are stocked and for working hard to provide meals during our inclement weather childcare days. We are so grateful for everything our team does behind the scenes to ensure our students are able to enjoy tasty meals each and every day!

This winter has brought several challenges, including missed school days due to snow, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate these weather conditions together. Looking ahead to the next couple of days, the forecast is calling for extremely cold temperatures, and as a result, Washington County Public Schools will operate on a 2-hour delayed schedule on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working parents who need that service. We know that there are still a few roads in the county that have been impacted by the snow and ice -- The routes that will not be used tomorrow can be found here: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/transportation%2Fbus-routes/743711. We are also asking families to prepare for the division to implement a 2-hour delayed schedule on Wednesday, if necessary. We recognize this decision might raise questions so please review the following information. Why a 2-Hour Delay? *Safety: Although the forecast predicts extreme cold, a 2-hour delay gives temperatures a chance to rise slightly during the daylight hours. Local meteorologists say the coldest temperature, or morning low, will be early in the morning. Temperatures have the potential to increase as the morning continues. *Road Conditions: Snow and ice continue to impact roads across the county, and the delay gives the WCPS transportation department additional time to ensure that bus routes are safe for travel. Driving in the daylight will allow drivers to see slick spots on the roads. *Bus Preparations: When temperatures drop to extreme lows, starting school buses can become a challenge. Cold diesel engines can cause buses to be slow to start, and they may require extra time for pre-start warm-ups to ensure vehicles are operating properly. *Comfortable Learning Environment: A 2-hour delay gives our maintenance team extra time to check that all heating systems in school buildings are operational before students and staff arrive. This helps ensure classrooms are at a safe and comfortable temperature when the school day begins. The extra time also allows our maintenance staff to check pipes in the school building to make sure they are not frozen. * In-Person Learning: While remote learning is beneficial and utilized when needed, in-person learning provides a richer educational experience, with direct access to instruction, hands-on activities, and social interactions which can be difficult to replicate virtually. A 2-hour delay helps maintain the in-person school routine. Cold Weather Tips: *Layering is Key: Layering your clothing helps trap warmth and allows you to adjust your outfit based on your activity level and the weather. *Protect Your Extremities: Hands, feet, ears, and face are especially vulnerable to the cold and should be well-protected. We know that delays and snow days can be challenging for families, and we sincerely thank you for your continued flexibility. Our goal is to balance instruction with the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We will continue to monitor weather conditions closely to make the best decisions for everyone. As mentioned earlier, childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working parents who need it. Be on the lookout for specific details from your child’s school.

MLK Jr. Mural Project: 5th grade students at High Point Elementary School have been busy creating a mural, which can be found on display in the front showcase. Students worked together to offer ideas and decorate the mural. Students also had a chance to discuss and share their own dreams, tracing their handprints for the project.

WCPS Alumni Spotlight: Emma Harmon -- John S. Battle High School -- Class of 2020. We are thrilled to highlight Ms. Emma Harmon, a proud John S. Battle graduate, who is now a 1st grade teacher at High Point Elementary! 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

Due to winter weather and hazardous road conditions, WCPS will be closed tomorrow, Monday, January 20, 2025. Childcare will not be available. Be safe and stay warm!

While we hope you had an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine today, we are looking ahead to this weekend and early next week, where we could experience more weather-related challenges. Significant snowfall is in the forecast for Sunday evening, with an arctic blast of cold temperatures to follow. Given these predictions, we will be closely monitoring the forecast to ensure the safety of our students and staff. We are asking you to plan for the possibility of a schedule change on Monday, January 20, 2025. We have sent remote learning materials home with students this weekend just in case we have another prolonged closure. However, the earliest we would begin to consider a Remote Learning Day would be Wednesday, January 22, in the event road conditions do not improve by mid-week. Our practice is to consider using Remote Learning Days after missing 5 days for weather. Factoring in the days we have rescheduled, Tuesday would be the 5th day we’ve missed during the 2nd semester. We will continue to monitor conditions and communicate further updates as needed. Thank you for your understanding and patience as we navigate this next round of winter weather.

Fan of the Month: Let's give a special shoutout to our WCPS Fan of the Month, Mujtaba M. of Abingdon High School, who is always positive & encouraging! He stays up to date with WCPS, commenting on our social media posts & tuning into the livestream of our School Board meetings.

Thank You: We are sending a big shoutout and thank you to all of our amazing WCPS principals in recognition of Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week. Our team is phenomenal, and we couldn't be prouder of each of our principals!

Reminder: We wanted to remind you of a couple upcoming alterations to the WCPS Calendar. During the Board Meeting on Thursday, January 9, 2025, Board Members voted to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day and President’s Day regular school days. If you recall, these days were previously built into the school calendar as make-up days in the event of inclement weather and the use of snow days. *Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 20, 2025) – SCHOOLS OPEN – NOW A REGULAR SCHEDULED SCHOOL DAY *President’s Day (Monday, February 17, 2025) – SCHOOLS OPEN – NOW A REGULAR SCHEDULED SCHOOL DAY With students now scheduled to be in the classrooms during these two important days, teachers will use that time to educate students on the importance of honoring and recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and President’s Day.

Washington County Public Schools will operate on a REGULAR SCHEDULE on Friday, January 17, 2025. However, buses will only travel on clear routes. There are a few roads in the county still impacted by snow and ice. The roads that will not be used tomorrow, can be found here: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/transportation%2Fbus-routes/743711. Principals will be happy to work with students impacted by the use of clear routes only to make further arrangements. While we are excited to be on a regular schedule tomorrow, the forecast is calling for the possibility of snow in some areas this evening. Please be mindful this could result in schedule changes/alternations, if necessary.