Holston High School

Schedule Change: Based on multiple forecasts (including the highly reliable FirstWARN Tri-Cities) and a Winter Weather Advisory for Washington County, WCPS will be closed on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, due to the timing of anticipated snowfall and the likelihood of poor road conditions. This will be a traditional snow day, and we encourage our students to enjoy some outdoor fun in the snow! Please note, if weather conditions do not improve and roads remain unsafe later this week, Thursday and Friday may transition to Remote Learning Days. WCPS has 10 Remote Learning Days available to use throughout the course of the school year. We’ve already used six of those days, and we would like to keep some in reserve for potential use later. As we get closer to scheduled state testing and assessments, having some days in reserve would provide a safety net. Adding additional school days to the end of the school year will be discussed at the School Board meeting in March. Stay safe, enjoy the snow, and we will keep you updated on any further schedule changes.

Schedule Change: Due to the number of roads still closed across Washington County and the number of employees who are unable to leave their homes, WCPS will provide virtual instruction tomorrow, Monday, February 17, 2025.

Today is National School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day, and we have two of the best! Thank you, Officer Malone and Officer Reid, for all you do at HHS!

Schedule Update: Our road checkers have been busy this afternoon checking the conditions of roads across the county. They have determined there are still several roads that remain slick due to the snow and sleet we have received today. However, we are hopeful as temperatures are predicted to warm overnight, conditions will improve. However, warmer temperatures and rains could also cause flooding issues. Either way, a 2-Hour Delayed Schedule on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 will allow us time to determine the safest course of action. Childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working families. Please be on the lookout for additional information from your child’s principal. In the event conditions deteriorate and we need to make a shift to a Remote Learning Day, a decision will be made by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning, if not earlier.

🎉Special Congratulations🎉 The following WCPS students auditioned for and 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! Please congratulate these fine musicians on their accomplishment! Soprano 1 *Lotte Gendel, PHHS *Kaylee Gross, JSBHS *Haylee Hansen, AHS (1st Alternate) *LillyAnna White, JSBHS (2nd Alternate) Soprano 2 *Jalyn Carter, JSBHS *Kai Ricks, JSBHS *Natalie Combs, JSBHS *Bernadette Murphy, HHS *Karyna Vang, AHS (1st Alternate) Alto 1 *Sadie Milhorne, HHS (1st Alternate) *Aubri Phillips, AHS (2nd Alternate) Alto 2 *Jaila Strebek, AHS *Janie Gayle, JSBHS *Twyla Bremner, PHHS (1st Alternate) Tenor 1 *Zach Poe, JSBHS Tenor 2 *Adam Mabry, JSBHS *Ethan Boothe, JSBHS *Greyson Pruitt, PHHS (1st Alternate) Bass 1 *Allen Sweeny, JSBHS *Noah Brown, JSBHS (1st Alternate) *Alex Schurtz, JSBHS (2nd Alternate) Bass 2 *Zen Moser, PHHS *Graydan Poe, JSBHS (1st Alternate)

The Second Annual Washington County Public Schools Art & Poetry Contest Reception was held on Thursday, February 6 in the Art Gallery in the VHCC Library. HHS English Teacher Christine Mitten and Art Teacher Carter Harlow coordinate this event to showcase the talents of Washington County students. The exhibit will continue through February 27.

School counselor Julie Matlock coordinated a wonderful Lunch and Learn opportunity for students in the Gifted Education Program! Washington County Career & Technical Education Center's Ms. Laura Smith, instructor of Drafting/CAD; Mr. Jonathan Casteel, instructor of Robotics and Engineering; and Adia Ahn, senior student, shared their knowledge and advice about the engineering field. In addition to this great program, students enjoyed a delicious lunch of pizza and dessert!

Schedule Change: Due to water, limbs, and other debris on several roads, WCPS will operate on a 2 hour delayed schedule, today, Friday, February 7, 2025. Childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working parents.

National School Counseling Week is this week, and we are so thankful for the hard work of our counseling department throughout the year! From providing counseling for scheduling, career and college planning, and social-emotional support, to coordinating special programs on a variety of topics, they help HHS students thrive at school, in their workplace, and in the community!

🌞 Exciting Summer Science Opportunities for High Schoolers! 🌞 Study Science. Do Science. Summer Camp for Students: The Virginia Tech College of Science is now accepting applications for five residential summer science camps for students in grades 7-12. Dive into microbiology, neuroscience, physics, nanoscience, data science, and more! Make new friends and unlock new passions this summer! Costs are associated with each camp and need-based scholarships are available. Applications are due April 10: https://www.science.vt.edu/get-involved/camps.html Email Victoria Corbin at explorescicamp@vt.edu with any questions. Virginia Junior Academy of Science Research Symposium -- May 31, 2025: Students in grades 7-12 who wish to enter the VJAS Research Symposium are asked to submit their research paper by February 21. The 2025 Symposium will be a hybrid event where students may present in-person at Ferrum College or attend synchronously via Zoom. Membership in the VJAS is free. Click here for more information: https://vjas.org/index.html VJAS is also seeking judges both virtually and in person -- https://vjas.org/judges.html National Youth Science Camp: The NYSCamp is a residential science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics program open to current high school juniors and seniors. Two students will be selected to represent Virginia as delegates in this fully in-person experience! The camp will be held July 10 - August 2 and is offered at no cost to the selected participant. Apply by February 28: https://www.nysacademy.org/programs/nyscamp/

Mr. Dante Lee, Director of the Southwest Virginia Healthcare Excellence Academy Lab School (HEALS) , and Ms. Shelby Neikirk , HEALS Clinical Placement Coordinator, visited with students at Holston High School to share the wonderful opportunities provided by the program!

WCPS will operate on a REGULAR SCHEDULE tomorrow, Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Because the WCPS Transportation Department has determined 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

Our website provider is having issues this morning, that's why our district website is returning an error right now. You can get to your school apps and email by going directly to our SSO Portal at https://portal.wcs.k12.va.us.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: Due to snowfall overnight resulting in slick roadways across the county, WCPS will implement a Remote Learning Day today, Monday, January 27, 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.

WCPS will operate on a REGULAR schedule tomorrow, Monday, January 27, 2025. Because our Transportation Department has determined 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 We are also closely monitoring the potential for winter weather this evening into tomorrow morning -- We will update should additional schedule changes be needed.

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.

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.

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.

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.