Due to predictions of windchills in the morning in the single digits, WCPS will operate on a 2 hour delayed schedule on Friday, December 6, 2024. Childcare will be available for working parents at elementary schools.
Presentation of Colors: The first Cadet Leadership Color Guard Class at John S. Battle High School Presented the Colors for the first time Wednesday evening. We are proud of our students for their dedication!
Creative Learning: Students in Mrs. Bolyard's EmpowerEd Center at Glade Spring Middle School have been busy studying heat transfer. Students were able to make homemade ice cream while learning more about the heat transfer method!
Free Coaching for Parents: Watch this video https://shorturl.at/GlGY7 to learn how to sign up for FREE coaching through Parent Guidance. The parent coaches focus on in-the-moment strategies for parents to use at home.
The WCPS Transportation Department would like to inform families that Bus 5 is running roughly 30 - 40 minutes late this morning, Wednesday, December 4. The route will be completed as normal.
Oreo Moon Phases: Mrs. Caywood's Science 6 students at Damascus Middle School have been learning about the different phases of the moon. They even used Oreos to model the various phases!
In what has been a tricky morning, we have decided to call a Remote Learning Day for Tuesday December 3, 2024. Main roads are clear, as are some back roads and side streets. However, “road checkers”, encountered multiple slick secondary roads. At our December School Board Meeting, we will present a Snow Route plan that would potentially allow us to have in person learning on days like today. Be safe, stay warm, and we’ll see everyone online
Author Visit: On Monday, Glade Spring Middle School hosted author Rob Buyea. GSMS students and faculty read Mr. Buyea's novel, "Because of Mr. Terupt." Mr. Buyea held a presentation for the entire school and also worked with two individual groups for a writing workshop. Thank you, Mr. Buyea, for coming to visit Glade Spring Middle School!
GSMS would also like to extend a special thank you to Glade Pharmacy and Meadowview Veterinary Urgent Care for their donations.
Good afternoon, WCPS Families & Staff --
We are providing an additional update following the initial water testing for lead in all Washington County Public Schools’ buildings. That information was released on November 7. If you recall, 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. To be ahead of that timeline, the Washington County Service Authority 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).
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 results released 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). As a result, we took additional precautions at those five 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 immediately discontinued the use of consumable water fixtures at the five schools (e.g. drinking fountains) the moment we received the initial testing results. As a result, 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. Those water coolers are equipped with five different filters that are designed to remove lead and other impurities.
As a further safeguard, we began the process of testing every fixture at Glade Spring Middle School and Holston High School. That testing is now complete with test results showing 36 fixtures tested non-detect at Glade Spring Middle School, 10 fixtures tested less than 10 ppb, and 13 fixtures tested above 10 ppb. A further breakdown shows that two drinking fountains – Room 302 drinking fountain and the drinking fountain at the main entrance in the gymnasium saw elevated readings.
At Holston High School, 59 fixtures tested non-detect, 14 fixtures tested less than 10 ppb, and 16 fixtures tested above 10 ppb. A further breakdown shows one drinking fountain – the girls locker room drinking fountain, saw an elevated test result.
Other next steps are to determine and troubleshoot whether the elevated testing numbers are due to the fixture itself, or if it is a result of the plumbing in the walls. Those fixtures will remain off until further notice. It is possible that sinks that are no longer used or needed will be removed from future service. We have been given clearance to use all points of contact that have returned “non-detect” results.
We continue to await test results at Watauga Elementary School and Meadowview Elementary School, which also saw elevated results. Additional testing has now been completed at Greendale Elementary School, Glade Spring Middle School, and Holston High School. Once testing is finished at Watauga and Meadowview, we will conduct more tests at the remaining 11 schools in our division.
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. At the same time, we are also staying in contact with the local Health Department. The new testing results for Glade Spring Middle School, Holston High School, and Greendale Elementary School, as well as additional information, which includes an FAQ, and a helpful flyer, can be found at this link on our website: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/washington-county-service-authority-information/722977
If you have any questions or concerns, we will continue to work 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
Stay Connected: As we are now entering the winter months and know weather can be unpredictable, it's important to stay connected with Washington County Public Schools. Did you know you can receive push notifications directly on your phone?
*Download the Washington County VA Schools Mobile App for your smartphone
*The app is available for FREE download in the Apple Store and the Google Play Store
*The app will provide instant access to district and school announcements and calendars
*Select the menu button -- Scroll down to settings; toggle the school(s) you would like to receive push notifications for
To learn more about the mobile app and how to receive news and notifications, watch this helpful video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOcFhm3VBbg
Due to current snowfall in some parts of Washington County, temperatures in the teens overnight, and predicted snowfall in the morning hours, WCPS will operate on a 2 hour delayed schedule on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. Childcare will be provided for working parents at elementary schools. Should conditions worsen to warrant a Remote Learning Day, childcare will not be available. A decision to change from a 2 hour delayed schedule to Remote Learning will be made by 7:30 a.m.
From the WCPS Transportation Department: Buses in the John S. Battle High School area may be running late this afternoon (Monday, December 2) due to an accident on Island Road. Several WCPS buses are sitting in traffic due to the incident.
Promise Program: The past couple of weeks, we enjoyed sharing big opportunities with our youngest students! Along with our friends from the Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia and Virginia Highlands Community College, we visited all of our elementary schools to share the exciting news about the Washington County Promise Program. We're already planting seeds for bright futures by introducing this life-changing opportunity to our students and families early on.
During the visits, we talked about how the Washington County Promise Program can offer free tuition for eligible students, making higher education more accessible than ever before. The excitement at each stop was contagious, and we can't wait to see these young minds grow and eventually take advantage of this amazing opportunity. This is just the beginning of a bright path for our students, and we're thrilled to share this journey with them and their families.
Visit https://promiseprogram.org/ to see if your student qualifies.
#WashingtonCountyPublicSchools #VHCCPromise #FreeTuition #EducationStartsHere #FutureReady #StudentSuccess
Helpful Resources: Parents, we know the holiday season can bring added stress. Parent Coaching is a FREE resource where you can meet with a coach to get personalized support for any challenges you or your child may be facing. Whether it's behavior issues or holiday stress, a coach can help guide you through it. Click here to register for support from a coach: https://parentguidance.org/school-coaching/
Happy Thanksgiving from Washington County Public Schools! We are so incredibly thankful for our amazing students, staff and families. We hope you all have a wonderful day with family and friends. Share what you are thankful for in the comments!
Reminder: Schools will be closed from Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29 for Thanksgiving Break. We hope all of our students, families, and staff have a wonderful Thanksgiving Break! Classes resume on Monday, December 2.
Real-World Experiences: Members of the John S. Battle High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) embarked on an enriching field trip to Nicewonder Properties, combining professional learning with practical life skills. The visit offered students a firsthand look at the operations of a successful business and the chance to refine their dining etiquette during a formal lunch.
Students had the opportunity to interact with professionals from various departments, who highlighted the importance of teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability in today's business landscape. The experience allowed students to connect classroom knowledge with real-world applications, deepening their understanding of business operations and career possibilities.
Hands-On Learning in Action: Students in the Introduction to Health & Medical Sciences class at the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center practiced making closed beds this morning. This exercise is helping build foundational skills for a future in healthcare!
Health Clinic: The School Based Health Clinic at John S. Battle High School will be open Wednesday, November 27 and Friday, November 29 from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. to see patients by appointment only. Please call the clinic at 276-642-5335 to schedule an appointment.
Spelling Bee: Elementary students have been busy practicing their words & competing in their school spelling bees! Thank you to Teresa Carter from WCYB for serving as pronouncer at Greendale Elementary & Casey Goetz from WCYB for serving as pronouncer at Watauga Elementary. We are so proud of our students!
