Washington County Public Schools

Students Take Action for Water Conservation Wallace Middle School 6th grade science students recently learned about water properties and the importance of watershed health. They also learned about human impacts on watersheds. At the end of the unit, students took action to make their own water conservation and watershed protection posters to hang around Wallace Middle School!

Creativity in Action Ms. Mink's English 6 students at Glade Spring Middle School recently took poetry to the next level by blending haiku and art! Check out their beautiful creations!

Spring Break Fun We loved seeing all the amazing Spring Break photos our families shared! From beach vacations to fishing trips, family time, and local adventures, it looks like everyone made the most of break! Check out all the fun memories and get ready -- because we can't wait to welcome our students and staff back tomorrow!

Spring Break Fun We hope everyone is enjoying a well-deserved Spring Break! Whether you're spending time with family, exploring, or making unforgettable memories, we want to see what you've been up to! Feel free to share your Spring Break photos with our school outreach specialist, by emailing Ashley Hoak at ahoak@wcs.k12.va.us *Please note: Submitted photos may be posted to WCPS social media platforms.

Hands-On Learning at its Best! Our Nurse Aide students at the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center are currently gaining invaluable real-world experience as they complete their required clinical hours at a local senior living facility. From taking vital signs like blood pressure to assisting with bathing and grooming, these students are honing essential skills that will prepare them for success in the healthcare field. We are proud of their dedication to learning and providing compassionate care!

🌟Appreciation Luncheon On Monday, the Damascus Middle School SCA hosted a fantastic appreciation luncheon for our School Board members and Central Services staff. The students had a blast chatting over lunch, learning more about the important roles of their guests, and discovering the work they do to help support our schools. Thank you to the Damascus Middle School SCA for hosting this wonderful event!

2025-2026 WCPS Administrative Announcement During the School Board meeting on Monday, several exciting administrative changes were approved that will help shape the future of our schools. We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Allyson Willis will be transitioning to the role of principal at Abingdon Elementary School for the 2025-2026 school year. Currently serving as the principal at Watauga Elementary, Mrs. Willis has dedicated 17 years of service to Washington County Public Schools, both as a teacher and an administrator. She looks forward to meeting families, students, and staff continuing the tradition of excellence at AES. “The commitment to student success, coupled with a high level of professional expertise, is a cultural foundation that has been established at AES over time, and one that I look forward to experiencing,” said Mrs. Willis. “Please know that I am here to support you, listen to you, and work alongside you to continue to create the best environment possible for the students of Abingdon Elementary School. I am confident that, together, we will create an engaging and enriching environment for our entire school community.” In addition, Mrs. Laura Nunley, currently serving as the assistant principal at Watauga Elementary School has been named the new principal at Watauga Elementary School. Mrs. Nunley will begin her new role on July 1, 2025. She is looking forward to continuing to work with families and putting students first -- and is committed to building on the strong foundation that Mrs. Willis has established, working with Willis for 12 years, first as a special education teacher for 10 years and then as her assistant principal. “My goal is to continue fostering an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and challenged to reach their fullest potential,” said Mrs. Nunley. “I am excited to partner with our incredible staff, students, and families to ensure that Watauga Elementary remains a place of growth, belonging, and success.” These leadership transitions are an exciting step for our school division, and we are confident that both Mrs. Willis and Mrs. Nunley will continue to lead with dedication, vision, and a focus on student success.

Exciting Career Cafe at Damascus Middle School! Damascus Middle School was excited to have another amazing Career Cafe presenter on March 7! Commander Matt Williamson from the U.S. Navy shared information about his career as a helicopter pilot and Commander of Flight Operations. He informed students about a career in the military as a whole and gave students a sense of day-to-day life on an aircraft carrier. He also shared details about the places all over the world that he has traveled to because of his career in the military. Students were able to come away with information to help them in their own career journeys!

Save the Date -- Family Engagement Event -- THC: Teens, Habits, and Choices All Washington County Public School students and their families are invited! Join us for an impactful event designed to educate and inspire students and families about the risks of THC use and the power of making positive choices. There will be finger foods and door prizes provided. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and resources from community partners. Thursday, March 20 -- 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. -- EO Companies Career Commons

🏅🎉WCPS Student Athletes Shine We are thrilled to spotlight some of our incredible student-athletes who were recognized by School Board members for their outstanding performances on the field and court! From record-breaking career points to impressive rushing yards, these athletes are setting the bar high for excellence. Abingdon High School *Owen Barr - Football - Junior = 1,225 Yards / Senior = 1,416 Yards *Luke Honaker - Basketball = 1,070 Career Points *Annsley Trivette (Junior) - Basketball = 1,722 Career Points John S. Battle High School *Kara Kelley - Basketball = 1,124 Career Points *Porter Gobble - Basketball = 1,062 Career Points Patrick Henry High School *Cade Caywood -Basketball = 1,011 Career Points *Cole Caywood - Basketball = 1,568 Career Points *Mikey Jenkings - Football = 1,272 Rushing Yards Holston High School *Luke Greene - Football = 1,371 Rushing Yards *Noah Tweed - Football = 1,007 Rushing Yards

🎵🌟We are proud to recognize Ben Campbell (AHS) and Kingston Hay (AHS) for their achievements in music! These talented students were honored by School Board members for their accomplishments in All-Virginia Band! All-Virginia Band *Ben Campbell (AHS) - 2nd Chair Concert Band *Kingston Hay (AHS) - 3rd Chair Orchestra Percussion

✨🎵Special Recognition School Board members recognized the students that were selected as delegates for the All-Virginia Chorus this year! These students will travel to Richmond in April to sing alongside high school singers from all over the Commonwealth. This is one of the highest honors choral students in Virginia can receive! Soprano 1 *Lotte Gendel (PHHS) *Kaylee Gross (JSB) *Haylee Hansen (AHS) - 1st Alternate *LillyAnna White (JSB) - 2nd Alternate Soprano 2 *Jalyn Carter (JSB) *Natalie Combs (JSB) *Bernadette Murphy (HHS) *Kai Ricks (JSB) *Karyna Vang (AHS) - 1st Alternate Alto 1 *Sadie Milhorne (HHS) - 1st Alternate *Aubri Phillips (AHS) - 2nd Alternate Alto 2 *Janie Gayle (JSB) *Jaila Strebek (AHS) *Twyla Bremner (PHHS) - 1st Alternate Tenor 1 *Zach Poe (JSB) Tenor 2 *Ethan Boothe (JSB) *Adam Mabry (JSB) *Greyson Pruitt (PHHS) - 1st Alternate Bass 1 *Allen Sweeny (JSB) *Noah Brown (JSB) - 1st Alternate *Alex Schurtz (JSB) - 2nd Alternate Bass 2 *Zen Moser (PHHS) *Graydan Poe (JSB) - 1st Alternate VMEA Honors Choir *Adam Mabry (JSB) Va-ACDA All-Virginia Middle School Chorus *Nora Snodgrass (EBS) - Alto 1

🎉🏆 Celebrating Excellence A big congratulations to the Patrick Henry High School Scholastic Bowl Team for their outstanding accomplishments this season! The team was recognized this evening by the School Board for their incredible achievements: *Undefeated District Champions *Region 1D Champions *Super-Region (1C/1D) Runner-Up *VHSL Class 1 State Runner-Up We are so proud of these students for their hard work, dedication, and teamwork! *Amy Moncibais -- (Coach) *Carter Steiner -- (Team Captain) *Kayleigh Addison *Holden Belcher *Sofia Belcher *Lou Carroll *Caleb Hampton *Claire Lachniet *Sophie Moore *Zen Moser *Greyson Pruitt *Bryce Reynolds *Isabella Smythe *Chloe Snapp *Austin Spates *Haven Street *Carter Withers

Save the Date Get ready for an unforgettable experience at Theatre Arts Camp at Emory & Henry University! This camp for rising 3rd through rising 12th grade students will be a chance to explore the world of theatre, unleash your creativity, and have a blast! Mark your calendars for June 9-14 and stay tuned for more details coming soon!

Future Leaders in Manufacturing: Five Washington County Career & Technical Education Center students representing welding, engineering, computer networking, collision repair, and automotive technology recently attended a Women in Manufacturing Symposium at the Higher Education Center. It was hosted by SVAM (Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing) and sponsored by regional businesses with which students had the opportunity to network. Part of the morning was a Q&A session with a discussion panel including Laura Smith, Drafting instructor at WCCTEC. Panelists shared their manufacturing story and career path.

Special Congratulations Watauga Elementary School librarian, Mrs. Tara Williams was recently named the 2025 Clinch Region Librarian of the Year! WES sends a big thank you to Mrs. Williams for the many opportunities she provides for students each day.

WCPS Calendar Notes: Spring Break is Almost Here! Just a quick reminder that Wednesday, March 12 will be a Regular School Day -- but Spring Break is just around the corner! Schools will be closed Thursday, March 13, Friday, March 14 and Monday, March 17. It will soon be time to relax, recharge, and enjoy some extra family time!

Happy National Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day! We are giving a HUGE shoutout to the incredible Maintenance Department at Washington County Public Schools. Whether it's fixing a leaky faucet, keeping our classrooms sparkling clean, or ensuring our schools are safe and functional every day -- they're the unsung heroes making it all happen. We are so grateful for their hard work, dedication, and behind-the-scenes efforts that keep our schools running smoothly. Thank you for all you do!

It's the last day of National School Breakfast Week, and we've got a clue for you: Today's breakfast was a scoop of fun! To wrap up the week, our students enjoyed freshly churned breakfast ice cream! We all scream for ice cream -- especially when it's a sweet start to the day! A huge thank you to our amazing School Nutrition Department for making this week so fun and delicious. You served up some excitement and set the bar high for breakfast! Remember, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and today we cracked the case on how to make breakfast even cooler!

Special Congratulations Damascus Middle School competed in the KidWind Regional Challenge at Virginia Tech where they came home as Champions! The KidWind Challenge is a hands-on design competition where student teams design, build, and test small-scale wind turbines and solar devices, showcasing their knowledge and skills in clean energy technologies. These students entered the solar energy portion of the competition where they created an Otter Habitat. They created and designed a Solar Island powered completely by solar energy. This team has now qualified for the State Tournament at James Madison University in April! Damascus Middle School would like to thank the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center for sponsoring the team and bringing this opportunity to our region.