šš Abingdon FFA Member Named 2026 Virginia State Fair Master Showman
Congratulations to Whitley on an outstanding showing at the 2026 State Fair of Virginia!
Competing in intermediate swine showmanship, Whitley earned the division championship out of 23 youth exhibitors. She then advanced to compete against the champions from the other age divisions and was selected as the 2026 Master Hog Showman.
As the swine representative in the Master Showman competition, Whitley demonstrated her skills by showing all four species: beef, meat goats, sheep and swine.
Her success extended beyond the showmanship ring! Whitley also earned several top finishes at the State Fair, including:
*Reserve Champion Market Hog in the lightweight division
*Reserve Champion Market Gilt in the middleweight division
*Champion Breeding Gilt in the lightweight division
*Reserve Supreme Breeding Gilt of the 2026 Virginia State Fair
*Fifth place with her commercial ewe and fourth place with her market goat
Whitley represented Abingdon FFA and Washington County 4-H at the State Fair, showcasing her hard work, dedication and knowledge of livestock.
Congratulations to Whitley on an outstanding showing at the 2026 State Fair of Virginia!
Competing in intermediate swine showmanship, Whitley earned the division championship out of 23 youth exhibitors. She then advanced to compete against the champions from the other age divisions and was selected as the 2026 Master Hog Showman.
As the swine representative in the Master Showman competition, Whitley demonstrated her skills by showing all four species: beef, meat goats, sheep and swine.
Her success extended beyond the showmanship ring! Whitley also earned several top finishes at the State Fair, including:
*Reserve Champion Market Hog in the lightweight division
*Reserve Champion Market Gilt in the middleweight division
*Champion Breeding Gilt in the lightweight division
*Reserve Supreme Breeding Gilt of the 2026 Virginia State Fair
*Fifth place with her commercial ewe and fourth place with her market goat
Whitley represented Abingdon FFA and Washington County 4-H at the State Fair, showcasing her hard work, dedication and knowledge of livestock.
šWCPS Alumni Spotlight
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
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
šŗ John S. Battle Senior Selected for National FFA Band
Congratulations to Maggie Graham, a senior at John S. Battle High School and member of the John S. Battle Band Program and FFA chapter, on being selected to perform with the 2026 National FFA Band!
Maggie auditioned for the national band and earned a spot playing trumpet as second chair. She is currently in Indianapolis, Indiana, with fellow musicians for rehearsals and performances at the National FFA Convention & Expo, which runs Oct. 21ā24.
Maggie is making John S. Battle High School and Washington County Public Schools proud!
š Looking for a fresh start?
Whether youāve worked in a restaurant, deli or food service, or have no kitchen experience at all, Washington County Public Schools has an opportunity for you!
Weāre looking for Substitute School Nutrition Assistants to help prepare and serve meals to our students. These part-time, flexible positions pay $15 per hour and are available at schools across the division.
No previous food service experience? No problem! Training is provided to help you get started.
Subbing is also a great way to learn more about school nutrition and explore opportunities in the field, including contracted positions that may open in the future.
*$15 per hour
*Part-time, flexible positions
*Multiple positions across WCPS
*Food preparation and service
*Kā12 schools
*Friendly and welcoming environment
Interested? Learn more and apply: https://washingtonco.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4980135
Come be part of the team that helps keep our students fueled throughout the school day!
Whether youāve worked in a restaurant, deli or food service, or have no kitchen experience at all, Washington County Public Schools has an opportunity for you!
Weāre looking for Substitute School Nutrition Assistants to help prepare and serve meals to our students. These part-time, flexible positions pay $15 per hour and are available at schools across the division.
No previous food service experience? No problem! Training is provided to help you get started.
Subbing is also a great way to learn more about school nutrition and explore opportunities in the field, including contracted positions that may open in the future.
*$15 per hour
*Part-time, flexible positions
*Multiple positions across WCPS
*Food preparation and service
*Kā12 schools
*Friendly and welcoming environment
Interested? Learn more and apply: https://washingtonco.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4980135
Come be part of the team that helps keep our students fueled throughout the school day!
ššØ A Little Fall Art at High Point Elementary
Second-grade students at High Point Elementary School brought a pumpkin patch to life through art! Using tempera paint and oil pastels, students created colorful scenes featuring pumpkins of different sizes, adding texture and details to make each piece unique.
Their festive artwork is now on display in the second-grade hallway for everyone to enjoy!
Second-grade students at High Point Elementary School brought a pumpkin patch to life through art! Using tempera paint and oil pastels, students created colorful scenes featuring pumpkins of different sizes, adding texture and details to make each piece unique.
Their festive artwork is now on display in the second-grade hallway for everyone to enjoy!
šāāļøš Run for a Cause: Brighter Paths Trail 5K
Greendale Elementary and Valley Institute Elementary Run Clubs are teaming up for the Brighter Paths Trail 5K on Saturday, November 21, in Mendota!
Join the fun and support two meaningful causes! Proceeds will be split between St. Jude Childrenās Research Hospital in honor of WCPS students Leeland and Caden and the Mendota Kids Club.
*Saturday, November 21, 2026
*Start time: 1 p.m.
*Location: 2562 Mendota Road, Mendota, VA 24270
*Early registration: $10/child | $20/adult
*Race-day registration: $20/child | $30/adult
Ready to hit the trail? Register here: https://runsignup.com/race/va/mendota/brighterpathstrail5k
Greendale Elementary and Valley Institute Elementary Run Clubs are teaming up for the Brighter Paths Trail 5K on Saturday, November 21, in Mendota!
Join the fun and support two meaningful causes! Proceeds will be split between St. Jude Childrenās Research Hospital in honor of WCPS students Leeland and Caden and the Mendota Kids Club.
*Saturday, November 21, 2026
*Start time: 1 p.m.
*Location: 2562 Mendota Road, Mendota, VA 24270
*Early registration: $10/child | $20/adult
*Race-day registration: $20/child | $30/adult
Ready to hit the trail? Register here: https://runsignup.com/race/va/mendota/brighterpathstrail5k
šš The future is looking bright at Holston High School
VA College Application Week is underway at HHS, and students are exploring their options and taking steps toward their futures. Whether they're researching colleges or submitting applications, it's an exciting time to consider what's next!
VA College Application Week is underway at HHS, and students are exploring their options and taking steps toward their futures. Whether they're researching colleges or submitting applications, it's an exciting time to consider what's next!
ššThe new inclusive playgrounds at Abingdon Elementary School and Greendale Elementary School are ready for play!
Made possible through federal funding secured with the support of U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, these playgrounds create welcoming spaces where students of all abilities can play, explore and enjoy time together.
Weāre grateful to everyone who helped bring this vision to life, including Playground Specialists Inc. These new spaces are more than playgrounds -- theyāre opportunities for connection, inclusion and fun for all our students!
We canāt wait to see the memories made here for years to come!
Made possible through federal funding secured with the support of U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, these playgrounds create welcoming spaces where students of all abilities can play, explore and enjoy time together.
Weāre grateful to everyone who helped bring this vision to life, including Playground Specialists Inc. These new spaces are more than playgrounds -- theyāre opportunities for connection, inclusion and fun for all our students!
We canāt wait to see the memories made here for years to come!
šøš From John S. Battle High School to the Grand Ole Opry
11th grader Easton Compton took the stage at the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, showcasing his guitar skills at one of country musicās most iconic venues!
Help us congratulate Easton on this exciting opportunity! Weāre proud to see our students sharing their talents on such a special stage!
11th grader Easton Compton took the stage at the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, showcasing his guitar skills at one of country musicās most iconic venues!
Help us congratulate Easton on this exciting opportunity! Weāre proud to see our students sharing their talents on such a special stage!
šUpcoming Parent Resource Center Workshop: Anatomy of an IEP
Washington County Public Schoolsā Parent Resource Center, in collaboration with PEATC, will host an Anatomy of an IEP workshop on Thursday, October 22, from 5:30ā7 p.m.
The workshop will help families better understand the different sections of an Individualized Education Program (IEP), what each section means, and how it connects to their childās educational experience.
Families can choose to attend in person or virtually!
In person: Washington County Library ā Abingdon. Attendees can connect with a PEATC representative and community partners to ask questions and learn about available resources.
Virtual: Join from wherever you are!
Pre-register today:
In-person registration: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/peatc/2421605
Virtual registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../dqJGvUTJTSeEAD8j4Gj9Xg
We hope youāll join us for this opportunity to learn more about the IEP process and connect with resources to support your child!
ā¾ļø A Wildcats Welcome
Thank you to Coach Trey McCall and the Emory & Henry baseball team for greeting Watauga Elementaryās Wildcats Friday morning!
We appreciate you taking the time to welcome our students and start their day with a smile!
Thank you to Coach Trey McCall and the Emory & Henry baseball team for greeting Watauga Elementaryās Wildcats Friday morning!
We appreciate you taking the time to welcome our students and start their day with a smile!
š National School Bus Safety Week
Every stop matters. Every student matters.
Help us keep WCPS students safe by staying alert around school buses, stopping when required, and watching for students getting on and off the bus.
School bus safety is everyoneās responsibility! Let's work together to make sure every student gets to and from school safely.
Every stop matters. Every student matters.
Help us keep WCPS students safe by staying alert around school buses, stopping when required, and watching for students getting on and off the bus.
School bus safety is everyoneās responsibility! Let's work together to make sure every student gets to and from school safely.
šWCPS Alumni Spotlight
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
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
šāļø Learning about the world, one continent at a time
Third graders at Abingdon Elementary School recently explored the seven continents through partner research and shared what they learned by creating their own travel booklets.
What a fun, hands-on way for our students to discover the world!
Third graders at Abingdon Elementary School recently explored the seven continents through partner research and shared what they learned by creating their own travel booklets.
What a fun, hands-on way for our students to discover the world!
š§ Hands-on learning at the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center!
Students in the Heavy Equipment/Utility/Construction class are building real-world skills through a hands-on drainage project. Theyāve been learning how to lay concrete pipe, install a concrete flume for drainage, set risers and place a culvert.
A big thank-you to Jones Construction for donating the materials that made this learning experience possible! These opportunities help our students develop practical skills they can carry into future careers.
Students in the Heavy Equipment/Utility/Construction class are building real-world skills through a hands-on drainage project. Theyāve been learning how to lay concrete pipe, install a concrete flume for drainage, set risers and place a culvert.
A big thank-you to Jones Construction for donating the materials that made this learning experience possible! These opportunities help our students develop practical skills they can carry into future careers.
šš High Point Elementary School kindergarten students had a great time exploring all things apples
Last week, students made homemade applesauce, learned about the apple life cycle, practiced measuring, taste-tested different apples and even used apples to paint!
We love seeing our students learn through hands-on activities and creativity!
Last week, students made homemade applesauce, learned about the apple life cycle, practiced measuring, taste-tested different apples and even used apples to paint!
We love seeing our students learn through hands-on activities and creativity!
šŖš Itās National School Lunch Week!
The theme this year is Cafeteria Circus, and weāre celebrating the meals, choices and WCPS School Nutrition teams who help keep our students fueled and ready to learn.
Hereās to a great week of school lunch!
The theme this year is Cafeteria Circus, and weāre celebrating the meals, choices and WCPS School Nutrition teams who help keep our students fueled and ready to learn.
Hereās to a great week of school lunch!
š Enjoy your fall break, WCPS! We hope you enjoy the day off and get a chance to relax, recharge and enjoy a little bit of fall.
š¢ On August 10, the Washington County Board of Supervisors asked Washington County Public Schools to present a conceptual plan for consideration of a 1% local sales tax referendum that included a plan for consolidation of schools. The School Board submitted a conceptual plan and on September 22, the Board of Supervisors approved placing the referendum on the ballot for a special election on April 6, 2027.
Now that the referendum is officially on the ballot, our immediate focus will shift to providing information about the sales tax referendum, which if approved, would help address millions of dollars in mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) needs across the school division without the need for a significant increase in other revenue sources. As a result, Washington County Public Schools has separated its school facilities and planning information into two webpages to make it easier for families and community members to find information about two separate topics; the Sales Tax Referendum and the potential for unification.
Discussions about potential school configuration adjustments will slow down dramatically as additional information is gathered and the best configuration for Washington County Public Schools as a whole is evaluated. We do not anticipate significant updates about unification or other potential school configuration adjustments in the near future.
Information about each topic can be found on the following webpages:
*Sales Tax Referendum Information: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/o/wcps/page/school-facilities-and-capital-improvement
*School Configuration Adjustments Information: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/page/school-configuration-adjustments
The sales tax referendum webpage will continue to be updated regularly as additional information becomes available. Community members are encouraged to visit the appropriate webpage for updates and information about each topic.
šØš A little creativity goes a long way
First graders at Meadowview Elementary School have been working hard painting the clay fish they made in art class. We love seeing our students bring their creations to life through hands-on learning!
First graders at Meadowview Elementary School have been working hard painting the clay fish they made in art class. We love seeing our students bring their creations to life through hands-on learning!
