Washington County Public Schools

🌟WCPS Alumni Spotlight: Logan Dingus ~ John S. Battle High School ~ Class of 2012. We are thrilled to highlight Mr. Logan Dingus, a proud John S. Battle 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

Happy Easter from Washington County Public Schools! We want to wish all of our amazing students, staff, and families a wonderful Easter filled with joy, making memories, and a little chocolate too! As you enjoy the break, we'd love to see how you're spending your time! Whether it's hunting for eggs, spending time outside, or just soaking in some family time -- feel free to share your Easter 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. We can't wait to welcome our students and staff back on Tuesday!

Science + Creativity = Game On Students in Mrs. Cannon's Physical Science 8 class at Glade Spring Middle School are taking review time to a whole new level by designing their very own science-themed board games! From Hungry Hungry Symbiosis to Cell Procedure, these clever and colorful creations cover material from 6th to 8th grade and will help students gear up for the SOLs in May.

Students in Ms. Chaney's 8th grade science class are diving into the world of sound, light, and electromagnetic waves -- and they are doing it in style with VR headsets! During the lesson, the students used the VR headsets to learn more about how waves work in our everyday lives. Throughout the module, they worked alongside a CEO of a telecommunications company to provide high-speed, reliable internet to rural communities.

💜 In recognition of the Month of the Military Child, students and staff at Rhea Valley Elementary School proudly wore purple to show their support for the children of active-duty service members. To all who serve -- we thank you and appreciate you.

Easter Break Reminder Washington County Public Schools will be closed on Friday, April 18 and Monday, April 21 for Easter Break. We hope all of our students, staff, and families enjoy a relaxing and joyful long weekend filled with sunshine, sweet treats, and special moments. Classes will resume on Tuesday, April 22 ~ See you then, refreshed and ready to hop back into learning!

Science in Action at Damascus Middle School In Mrs. Caywood's Science 7 classes, students took part in the Battle of the Beaks -- a hands-on activity to demonstrate natural selection. Students tested various bird beak shapes to see which ones were best adapted for feeding on different food sources.

Fourth graders from across Washington County put their thinking skills to the test at the Washington County 4-H History Bowl! Students showed off their knowledge of Virginia state history in a fun competition! After an exciting day of learning and teamwork, High Point Elementary School took home this year's championship title! Congratulations to all the students who participated -- we are so proud of you!

Last week, our Sports Medicine and Intro to Health & Medical Sciences students from the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center took an exciting trip to the Northeast State Health Careers Campus! They explored real-world medical programs, peeked into lab life, & even got hands-on experience performing throat cultures. In the EMT/Paramedic lab, students practiced starting IVs & intubating patients.

BeYOUnified at WCPS Today was an amazing day of teamwork, smiles, and unforgettable moments at our first Unified Sports Competition! Washington County students came together to compete, cheer each other on, and show what inclusion is all about! We are so proud of all of our athletes, partners, and coaches who made today so great!

Trigonometry in Action Students in Ms. Austin's Trigonometry class at John S. Battle High School took their learning to new heights! They used clinometers and trig ratios to measure the height of some pretty tall objects -- the school building, a light pole, a field goal post, and even a tree!

🎃Save the Date: WCPS Boo Dash 5K and Monster Mile Even though it’s only April, we’re already gearing up for October – so mark your calendars for a spooktacular event you won’t want to miss! Washington County Public Schools, in partnership with We Run Events, is thrilled to host our first-ever Boo Dash 5K and Monster Mile! This community-wide event is all about health, wellness, and Halloween fun – and yes, costumes are encouraged (just no masks, please!) There will even be awards for best team costume and best individual costume! Whether you’re running, walking, or cheering on your family and friends, this is an event for everyone to enjoy, and we want to see YOU there! 📅Date: Saturday, October 18 ⏰Time: 4:00 p.m. 📍Location: Virginia Creeper Trail Stay tuned for more details – but for now, mark those calendars, start planning your costume, and get ready to dash into fall fun with WCPS! 👻

WCPS Alumni Spotlight: Jenna Gilbert ~ Abingdon High School ~ Class of 2015. We are thrilled to highlight Ms. Jenna Gilbert, 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

🍎✨ Great things are happening in the mornings in Washington County Public Schools! From Grab-and-Go options at the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center to Breakfast After the Bell at our high schools, students are starting their day full and focused. Want to see how innovation and collaboration are making a real difference? Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXwMjzRizpU

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/e29Kj

🎉 Big News from High Point Elementary School Mrs. Caitlyn Lester, our amazing music teacher at High Point Elementary, is now in the quarterfinals of a national competition to be named the Top Teacher in America -- and she needs our help moving forward! If she makes it to the top spot in the next few days, she'll move on to the semifinals -- and she's so close! If she wins it all, she'll receive $25,000 for her family and classroom -- but that's not all! It would also bring Bill Nye the Science Guy to High Point for an unforgettable day of learning with HPES students and staff. You can vote once a day, so let's rally around Mrs. Lester and make this happen -- every vote counts! Click here to vote: https://americasfavteacher.org/2025/caitlyn-lester

When it comes to sparking an interest in collision repair, no tool is more powerful than real-world engagement. Check out this great article featuring Mr. Brian Casey, Auto Body Repair Instructor at Washington County Career and Technical Education Center. He's showing how partnerships with local industry pros are making a big impact on student's futures. https://www.grecopublishing.com/hd0425wmabaschoolprofile/

Are you concerned about your child's development or speech? Scan the QR code below to learn more about FREE early childhood screenings on April 22, 2025.

Our students at Abingdon Elementary School boogied the night away at Friday's Glow Dance -- and wow, did they bring the energy! From dancing under the lights to playing glow-in-the-dark putt-putt and munching on goodies, it was a night full of fun and laughter. Thank you to the Abingdon Elementary School PTO for putting together such a fantastic event for AES families!

Rhea Valley Elementary Pre-K students recently took a fantastic field trip to Emory & Henry University -- and it was more than just a day out! Not only did our youngest learners get to explore campus, run on the football field, catch touchdown passes, and cheer with pom poms, but they also learned some important lessons -- like how to safely use sidewalks and crosswalks. Even better? Patrick Henry High School's Teachers for Tomorrow Dual Enrollment students were right there helping every step of the way. They guided Pre-K students across streets, modeled safe walking practices, and helped make sure everyone stayed safe while learning! https://youtu.be/RViX0MIcufo