Washington County Public Schools

Our students are getting a unique learning experience with a very special guest -- Rosemary the cow! The Mobile Dairy Classroom is visiting several of our schools over the next few days, teaching students about dairy farming, cow care, and the importance of agriculture. They even get to see a live milking demonstration! This program, provided by the Southwest Dairy Museum, gives students a closer look at where milk comes from, and the role dairy farmers play in our communities.

WCCTEC Seniors Level Up Their Career Skills Seniors at Washington County Career & Technical Education Center had a great experience at Career Commons with EO, sharpening their professional skills for the future. From crafting standout resumes to learning interview techniques and diving into hands-on career exploration, they're leveling up for success!

🏀📚 Watauga Elementary Scores Big in March Madness Reading Watauga Elementary School wrapped up its March Madness of Reading Challenge in true championship style with basketball stations, ice cream sundaes, and a student vs. staff basketball game! Not only did students surpass their reading goals, but they also claimed victory on the basketball court!

April Parent Coaching Parenting can be challenging and, at times, feel isolating. Parent coaching is here to provide support during those tough moments. Offered at no cost by your school district, parent coaching connects you with a coach and resources developed by therapists. Click here to sign up for ongoing support: https://cookcenter.info/coaching

Summer Enrichment Experience at Virginia Tech The deadline to apply for SEE VT has been extended to April 15, and all fees have been waived, meaning this incredible opportunity is now free for all campers! SEE VT is a residential camp for rising 6th and 7th grade gifted students from rural communities. At SEE VT, rural middle school students will have access to place-based and rural-focused academic enrichment to include STEM and humanities courses, social activities, exploration of campus life, field trips, and more! Camp will be held on Virginia Tech's Blacksburg campus June 15-20, 2025. Applications are due by April 15. Please see the below flyer for more information.

WCPS Bands and Choruses Hit All the Right Notes As we wrap up Music in Our Schools Month, we have some incredible news to share! Every WCPS Chorus and Band that participated in the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) District Assessment earned a Superior Rating -- the highest honor awarded! Congratulations to these outstanding bands and choruses: Bands: *Abingdon High School *John S. Battle High School *Patrick Henry High School *Holston High School *Damascus Middle School *E.B. Stanley Middle School *Glade Spring Middle School *Wallace Middle School Choruses: *Abingdon High School *Patrick Henry High School (3 separate choirs -- all Superior) *Holston High School *E.B. Stanley Middle School *Glade Spring Middle School This is a fantastic achievement! The VMEA District Assessment is a state-level evaluation, where ensembles are judged by expert musicians on the skills they've been honing all year. And there's more -- schools that had both a chorus and band receive Superior Ratings now qualify for the prestigious VMEA Blue Ribbon Award, the highest music honor in Virginia! Congratulations to our talented students, dedicated directors, and supportive families. Your hard work and passion for music continue to make WCPS shine!

Our MAP (Meadowview Afterschool Program) Pre-K - 1st grade students had an awesome time this weekend when they went to see Pete the Cat at the Barter Theatre! After the show, they got to chat with the actors during a special talk-back session. Then, they wrapped up the day with playtime and a picnic at the Coomes Center, enjoying the beautiful spring weather and making memories with friends!

WCPS Alumni Spotlight: Lillie Ruble ~ Abingdon High School ~ Class of 2021. We are thrilled to highlight Ms. Lillie Ruble, 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

Celebrating Excellence at Greendale Elementary Today, we gathered to celebrate the incredible achievement of Greendale Elementary School, which was named a 2024 National ESEA Distinguished School—one of only two schools in Virginia to receive this prestigious honor! This award recognizes exceptional student performance and academic growth, and we couldn’t be prouder of our students, staff, and school community. As Principal Michael Colston shared, this honor reflects the dedication, hard work, and commitment of everyone at Greendale who makes student success a priority every single day! We also want to send a thank you to our special guests who joined us for this event. Congratulations, Greendale Elementary!

📱 Staying Safe in the Digital World Students at E.B. Stanley Middle School heard an important lesson in social media safety from Special Agent Travis Howard of the Virginia State Police. Agent Howard shared with students' tips on recognizing online dangers and making smart digital choices. His presentation helped students understand how to stay safe, responsible and cyber-smart in today's online world.

Washington County Schools Theatre Arts Camp at Emory & Henry University is back for our 4th year! Camp runs Monday - Saturday, June 9 -14 from 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. daily, with a final showing Saturday afternoon, June 14th. To be eligible for camp, students must live in Washington County, VA and be a rising 3rd-12th grader. Camp is free to families and includes daily programming, a T-shirt, lunch and even a trip to Barter Theatre! In the past we have had overwhelming interest in theatre camp, and while we want to include every student, spots are limited. In an effort to be as equitable as possible in our registration process, we will open a window for families to complete a “camp interest form” from March 27 - April 10. Completing this form does not guarantee a spot at the camp, but enters your student into a registration lottery. We will lottery the available spots based on a tiered system and notify families by April 15. Those students not selected in the initial lottery will be placed on a waitlist and offered spots as they become available. In the past every student on the waitlist has eventually been called. Families will be allocated spots together, though separate forms for each child are required to enter the lottery process. We expect students from all tiers to be offered spots. Your child MUST be available for the entirety of camp. Available spots will go into the lottery system based on the following tiers. All students must fill out a “Camp interest form” before April 10 to be considered for a spot. *Tier 1 - Campers wait-listed last year *Tier 2 - Returning campers *Tier 3 - New campers Link to form - https://forms.gle/bdWdhVg9chYp3HCFA

🎨🎶 Showcasing Art and Music High Point Elementary School students and families spent Thursday evening celebrating youth art and music at EO in Abingdon! The talented HPES Choir filled the room with songs of peace and unity, plus a special springtime surprise song that had everyone smiling! Families also explored a beautiful student art show, showcasing the creativity of our young artists. And because keeping our students safe is always a top priority, the Virginia State Police were on hand to share important cybersecurity tips. A huge thank you to everyone who made this night so special!

From classroom to kitchen -- our students are cooking up success! We're shining a spotlight on Zach N. a talented culinary student at Washington County Career & Technical Education Center, who completed a fantastic 120-hour work experience at JJ"s Restaurant in Abingdon. With hard work, dedication, and a passion for cooking, Zach got a hands-on experience in a fast-paced kitchen, sharpening his skills and preparing for a bright future in the culinary world. Check out this great article highlighting his accomplishments: https://rsvprehab.com/news/zach-at-jjs-restaurant-in-abingdon-virginia/

A Voice for Rural Schools Washington County Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Keith Perrigan, and President of the Coalition of Small and Rural Schools, wrote a great article for Cardinal News highlighting an important issue facing our rural schools: the Support Cap. In his article, Dr. Perrigan emphasizes that the Support Cap, which was initially implemented by the General Assembly as a temporary austerity measure 16 years ago, continues to impact rural schools to this day. To read Dr. Perrigan's full article, click here: https://cardinalnews.org/2025/03/27/rural-schools-and-communities-need-full-removal-of-the-support-cap/

Abingdon Elementary School was rocking this week with an unforgettable visit from Mr. Nigel and his band! With music, dancing, and plenty of laughter, students were reminded of the power of kindness, respect, and making good choices. His message: "You matter! I matter! We all matter!" It was a day filled with fun and life lessons! Check out all of those smiles!

Enrollment Now Open for the 2025 Summer CTE Exploring Pathways Camp This camp is open to rising 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students in Washington County Public Schools. It will be held June 9 - 13 from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. daily. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided. Campers will choose four classes to rotate through each day. If these classes fill up, they will be asked to select two additional classes as alternatives. You can enroll your child by clicking the link below or scanning the QR code on the flyer. You can also find the application online at https://wcctec.wcs.k12.va.us. The deadline for registration is May 9, 2025. https://forms.gle/iBVVmUBFaL49XtVx9

WCPS Middle School Administrators at #VMSA conference enjoying @mr_alsheimer challenging us to be more engaging.

🔧🎨💇‍♀️WCCTEC Students Showcase Future Careers Our students from the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center represented their individual programs at a career fair this week sponsored by Valley Institute Elementary School. Elementary students were able to use a virtual welder, listen to their own heartbeat and test their hair and nail skills on manikins!

Lights, Camera, Career Exploration Patrick Henry High School students had a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of digital media and design during tours of WCYB-TV and ETSU's Digital Media Center! Check out some of the fun during the tour at WCYB.

Farming meets Finance at JSB Students in Intro to Animal Systems Class at John S. Battle High School wrapped up learning about farm income and expenses by playing Farmopoly! Students had to keep up with income (getting paid rent, selling livestock or products) and expenses (buying properties, or landing on drought). The top student ended with over $6,000 and several properties with barns.