Washington County Public Schools

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/YDM6i

Holiday Spirit: The Patrick Henry High School Cafeteria Elves are hard at work making tasty breakfast and lunch meals for students and staff -- while also helping everyone get into the festive spirit!

Check Writing 101: Students in Ms. Rotton's Civics & Economics classes at Glade Spring Middle School have been learning how to write checks -- just in time to finish up holiday shopping!

Good afternoon, WCPS Families and Staff -- Now that testing has been completed at the five schools that returned a positive result following initial water testing for lead in all Washington County Public Schools’ buildings, we wanted to provide you with an update of our next steps. As context, the first testing information was shared with you on November 7 which included the following information. 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. Those regulations require water to be tested only at daycares and elementary schools, however, WCPS took the testing further, and had samples also taken from our middle schools and high schools. To be ahead of the 2028 timeline, we partnered with the Washington County Service Authority and tested five fixtures at every school (at least two fixtures in the kitchens and two or more water fountains in various locations throughout the school building). 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 The initial test results that we received in November 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). After we received those results, we took additional precautions at those 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. We also immediately discontinued the use of consumable water fixtures at those five schools (e.g. drinking fountains) the moment we received the initial testing results. Since that time, we have been providing bottled water for students and staff. We also took additional steps and installed a new water cooler at all schools in our division. These water coolers are equipped with five different filters that are designed to remove lead and other impurities. With testing at the five schools now complete, we have several remediation options moving forward: *Permanently discontinue the use of fixtures that had elevated testing levels *Add a filter system to the fixture *Replace the fixture and supply lines to the fixture Our maintenance team has already identified those inventory needs and are in the process of ordering the necessary parts to begin making those changes. Following mitigation efforts, we will retest those fixtures before putting them back in service. We have been given clearance to use all points of contact that have returned “non-detect” results. We also plan to conduct more testing at the remaining 11 schools in our division. Testing will be conducted on all drinking fountains as well as all water sources in the kitchens. As a further safeguard, we also plan to develop a schedule where schools are randomly tested every three years even though that is not currently required. As we move through this testing and remediation process, 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 will also continue to stay in contact with the local Health Department. Complete testing results for Glade Spring Middle School, Greendale Elementary, Holston High School, Meadowview Elementary, and Watauga Elementary, as well as additional information, which includes an FAQ, and a helpful flyer, can be found at this link on our website: https://washingtoncountypsva.sites.thrillshare.com/documents/washington-county-service-authority-information/722977 If you have any questions or concerns, we will continue to partner 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

Registration Open: The Youth & Family Summit is a three-day event held each June and sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education and the Partnership for People with Disabilities. Youth with disabilities from across the Commonwealth meet to network and discuss important issues together. This year's theme and focus is Relatedness. For more information, click here: https://imdetermined.org/event/2025-youth-and-family-summit/

Photo Fun: Check out this festive area set up in the cafeteria at Abingdon High School by our AHS School Nutrition Department personnel. This space allows students and staff to have some fun and take holiday photos!

Teachers for Tomorrow: Emory & Henry University, Virginia Highlands Community College, Bristol Virginia Public Schools, Washington County Public Schools, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop and implement an innovative pathway for students to obtain teacher certification through a collaborative educational pipeline. “We are thrilled to partner with our public school and community college partners to create an educational pathway that supports the development of future teachers in our region,” said Dr. Michael Puglisi, Provost, Emory & Henry University. “This initiative will not only benefit our students but will help meet the growing demand for educators in our communities.” This partnership aims to address the critical need for qualified educators by offering students from the local area an accelerated route to become licensed teachers. Students will have access to a streamlined pathway through this program. The opportunity includes experiential learning opportunities, dual enrollment courses, and a structured course sequence designed to take them from high school through to a bachelor’s degree in education and teacher licensure. Abingdon High School senior, Gavin Songer, was among more than 25 high school students attending the signing event on the campus of Virginia Highlands Community College. “I have so many teachers who have helped me and are my absolute role models...I am interested in becoming a teacher so I can make a difference in others’ lives like they have me.” Program Highlights: *Emory & Henry University (EHU): --EHU will provide the final two years of the 1+1+2 Teachers for Tomorrow Program, enabling students to complete their bachelor’s degree and obtain teacher licensure through a prescribed curriculum. --EHU will also offer students a discounted tuition rate of $7,500 per year (excluding the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant), making the program more accessible and affordable. --EHU has developed a visit program offering students the chance to explore the EHU campus during their early years at VHCC. This program provides valuable exposure to EHU's academic environment, including classroom experiences, as well as a glimpse into campus life. --EHU will share annual data with VHCC on transfer students, including persistence rates, graduation outcomes, and job placement statistics, to ensure ongoing success and improvement of the program. *Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC): --VHCC will offer dual-enrollment classes to BVPS and WCPS students, allowing them to complete the Uniform Certificate of General Studies (UCGS) and earn the first year of the 1+1+2 Teachers for Tomorrow Program. --Additionally, VHCC will provide EDU-specific courses as part of this program, enabling students to earn credits toward their Associate of Science (AS) degree in Education, which constitutes the second year of the program. *Washington County Public Schools: --Starting in 10th grade, students will receive information about the "Teachers for Tomorrow" pathway, encouraging them to consider a career in education. --Juniors and seniors will gain valuable classroom experience, offering them hands-on exposure to the teaching profession. --Dual-enrollment opportunities will be available for 11th and 12th graders, enabling students to earn up to one year of college credit, setting the foundation for their future studies. The goal of this collaborative effort is to create a sustainable, well-supported pipeline that allows students from the region to enter the teaching profession more quickly, effectively, and with the skills needed to succeed in today’s classrooms. “How wonderful that through this program we will be able to affordably train today’s students to be tomorrow’s teachers...all right here in southwest Virginia,” said Dr. Adam Hutchison, President, Virginia Highlands Community College. “This outstanding opportunity is a true testament to the partnerships and collaborative spirit that is so vital to providing opportunities for the future.” Through this comprehensive program, students will gain the skills, credentials, and experience they need to make a meaningful impact as educators, while simultaneously addressing the needs of local schools and communities. This collaboration serves as a model for how higher education, community colleges, and K-12 schools can work together to provide quality education and training for the next generation of teachers. “As long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a teacher just like my grandma,” said Kinsley Bird, a Patrick Henry High School graduate and current VHCC student. “I cannot imagine doing anything else – and this program just made my path smoother and more affordable.” Kinsley will be joining the Emory & Henry family this spring of 2025.

Virtual Reality Learning: Students in Mrs. Ruble's morning Geometry class at the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center recently used the Prisms app in Virtual Reality headsets to solve a real-world problem. They applied their knowledge of the Pythagorean Theorem to determine the distance needed for a cable car route to move people between two mountain towns during snowy weather!

Sharing Proceeds: Watauga Elementary PTRC welcomed their friends from Rhea Valley Elementary School to join them during their fall festival this year. They would now like to donate a portion of the proceeds from that event to RVES!

Virginia Tech Distinguished Music Educator Award: A big congratulations to Mrs. Baxter, chorus teacher at Abingdon High School, for receiving the 2024 Virginia Tech Distinguished Music Educator Award. This award recognizes "outstanding contributions to music education in the Commonwealth of Virginia." A note from Mrs. Baxter: Today I was humbled and thrilled to receive the 2024 Virginia Tech Distinguished Music Educator Award. Thank you to the Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts, Dr. Dwight Bigler for nominating me, Dr. Emmett O’Leary for driving down from Blacksburg to present the award, the Chorus Boosters for setting up this ceremony, the students who spoke and all who attended. Thank you to AHS and Central Office Administration, past and present, for all your support. Finally, thank you to my students. You mean the absolute world to me. I believe in you and that’s why I do this job. Thank you for being in my class!

Teachers of the Year: It is an honor for Washington County Schools to announce and congratulate the following teachers selected by their respective schools as their 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year. These persons 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 These teachers will be recognized as their building’s Teacher of the Year at the Washington County School Board meeting on January 21, 2025. As well, we are excited to announce and congratulate the grade level Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025. Each of the building’s Teacher of the Year could be chosen as all are models of what it means to be a teacher. *2025-2025 Elementary School Teacher of the Year -- Abby Rasnake *2024-2025 Middle School Teacher of the Year -- Kaitlyn Maples *2024-2025 High School Teacher of the Year -- Chase Nunley The 2024-2025 Washington County Teacher of the Year will be announced during the Washington County School Board Meeting on January 21, 2025, and will be our Division’s candidate for the Region VII Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to all as we celebrate these exemplary teachers of Washington County Schools.

Holiday Magic: Sixth grade students at Damascus Middle School received a special package from the North Pole last week! Since then, Jolly the Elf has become part of the daily routine -- moving to a new location each night and staying very busy. She has decorated, helped "teach" moon phases, hidden candy canes, and at times, found herself "stuck" in some awkward situations!

Holiday Family Night: Watauga Elementary School held a Title 1 Family Night earlier this month. Families participated in several holiday STEM & literacy activities. Students were also excited to have their picture taken with Santa!

WCPS will operate on a 2 hour delay on Thursday, December 12, 2024 due to black ice in some locations. Opening later will allow better visibility for drivers. Childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working parents if needed.

Christmas Luncheon: On Tuesday, Wallace Middle School Beta & Gifted students had the opportunity to enjoy a Christmas luncheon at the historic Martha Washington Inn in Abingdon. Students received a lesson in proper dining etiquette prior to their meal & were treated to a tour of the facility.

Based on our conversations with our meteorologist at AccuWeather, we anticipate weather conditions to deteriorate during our normal dismissal time. As a result, Washington County Public Schools will dismiss 2-Hours early today, Wednesday, December 11, 2024. All extracurricular activities for Wednesday are postponed.

Monitoring Winter Weather: The WCPS Transportation Department and administrators are closely monitoring weather conditions and forecasts. Currently, we believe that schedules will remain normal for Wednesday, December 11, 2024 (except for the Konnarock, Taylor's Valley, and Green Cove areas of Washington County), as current road temperatures are warmer than air temperatures. However, bus drivers are on standby in the event conditions change.

Happening Tonight: Our partners at Parent Guidance are offering a great Ask a Therapist Live event this evening, Wednesday, December 11. 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/OpfEZ

An Important Update from the WCPS Transportation Department: Due to weather conditions, buses will NOT run in the Konnarock, Taylor's Valley, and Green Cove areas of Washington County on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

Bus service to the Konnarock, Taylor’s Valley, and Green Cove areas of Washington County will run on a two hour delay for Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Should weather conditions deteriorate further, it is possible these areas could become closed. We will keep you updated on further schedule changes.