For the first time in school history, JSB and PHHS had teams competing in the RDL (Robot Drone League) regional competition! These teams brought home 1st place -PHHS and 2nd Place- JSBHS! Both will now advance to the national competition in January! #WashingtonWay
National Recognition: Washington County Public Schools is excited to announce that Greendale Elementary School has been named a 2024 National ESEA Distinguished School. This prestigious honor, awarded to only two schools per state each year, celebrates the outstanding efforts and the incredible progress of our students at Greendale Elementary.
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA) – formerly the National Title I Association – has been recognizing exemplary federally-funded schools through the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program since 1996. The program celebrates the efforts of schools across the country making significant improvements in education. The National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program annually acknowledges the success of hundreds of schools in one of three categories, with Greendale Elementary being recognized under Category 1:
• Category 1: Exceptional student performance and academic growth
• Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups
• Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students (e.g. homeless, migrant, English learners, etc.)
NAESPA implemented the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program to spotlight schools that have effectively utilized their ESEA federal funds to improve educational outcomes for students. More information about all National ESEA Distinguished Schools is available on the NAESPA website: https://www.eseanetwork.org/ds
The 2024 National ESEA Distinguished Schools will be honored February 19-21, 2025, at the 2025 National ESEA Conference.
Congratulations to Greendale Elementary School on this outstanding achievement!
Promise Program: Representatives were thrilled to visit our high schools this week and share the exciting details about the Washington County Promise Program. This commitment by Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Viginia and Virginia Highlands Community College offers an incredible opportunity for high school students to attend VHCC with free tuition and jumpstart their future without the financial burden.
During the visits, students learned about the requirements needed to take advantage of this life-changing program. It's time to start planning your next steps!
To qualify for the Washington County Promise Program, students must:
*Graduate high school between 2025 and 2037
*Live in Washington County, VA, for at least 12 months prior to graduation
*Complete the FAFSA and VHCC scholarship applications
*Choose a degree or workforce credential program
*Maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA once you're in college
*Perform 8 hours of volunteer work each year
Our high schoolers were eager to learn how they can take part in this program, and we're excited to see them take full advantage of this opportunity.
Visit https://promiseprogram.org/ to review all of the eligibility requirements and start your application today!
Coming Together: We are still thinking about the fantastic Thanksgiving Meal put together by our School Nutrition Department. We loved seeing our students, staff & families enjoying the great food! As you can see in the photos, it was all smiles! Sending a big THANK YOU to our incredible cafeteria staff for their hard work.
Reminder: The Washington County Career & Technical Education Center Veterans Day 5K Run & Walk is TOMORROW, Saturday, November 16 at 9:00 a.m. Lace up your running shoes & have some fun for a great cause! Click here to register: https://register.chronotrack.com/r/82374
Thanksgiving Lunch: This afternoon, our students enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal. This tray was put together by our fantastic team at Wallace Middle School. We are so thankful for our hardworking School Nutrition Department!
Promise Program Launch: Funded by Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia, the Promise Program is an amazing opportunity for students who live in Washington County, VA to attend Virginia Highlands Community College for free. This generous scholarship is available for the Class of 2025 through 2037 and is designed to make college and workforce training more accessible and affordable, covering tuition, fees, and books.
Whether you are attending public school, private school, or are homeschooled, if you've lived in Washington County for at least 12 months prior to graduation and are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you can qualify!
To learn more about the Washington County Promise Program, click here: https://promiseprogram.org/
Special Recognition: Congratulations to the John S. Battle One Act Team for placing 2nd in the Mountain 7 District Theatre Competition! The play performed this year is "The Chips are Down" by Don Zolidis.
Senior Hollyn M. and junior Ellie A. were recognized as outstanding actors. Ms. Julia Casey is the director, assisted by Janie G. Many other JSB Choir members are also involved.
The cast and crew are now advancing to the Regional Competition at Marion on November 23.
Mental Health Resources: Our partners at Parent Guidance are offering a great Ask a Therapist LIVE event on Wednesday, November 20. This event takes place once a month and offers a unique opportunity for parents to engage directly with a licensed family therapist. Parents can ask questions anonymously and receive personalized answers in real-time. Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yB1ZBU3_QuuLraJ-faNGFQ#/registration
Showcasing Regional Culture: Several WCPS elementary schools recently welcomed The Jack Tales Players from Ferrum College to perform mountain music & Appalachian folktales. The students were wonderful audience members, and even had the chance to participate in the show!
Fire Department Field Trip: Pre-K students at Watauga Elementary School enjoyed a fun trip to the Abingdon Fire Department. Students learned about fire safety, saw the equipment that firefighters use, and even got to sit in the fire truck!
Hands-On Learning: The Empower Health 360 group from the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center had an amazing hands-on experience at Bristol Regional Medical Center. From operating the Da Vinci surgical robot with a rep's guidance to spending time in Radiology, 4W Med-Surgery, & more -- our students had the chance to get an inspiring look behind the scenes of healthcare. Thank you to Ballad Health & Bristol Regional Medical Center for giving our students the opportunity to explore these career paths & even open the doors for future job shadowing. It was a 10/10 day for everyone involved!
Washington Way Award Nominations: Nominate a special support staff person for the #WashingtonWayAward! Do you know someone whose work and commitment makes WCPS a better place to be?
#WashingtonWayAward Categories:
*Above and Beyond Custodian Award -- Vote for a custodian that makes a difference!
*Silver Spoon Award -- Vote for the best food service worker out there!
*Helping Hand Award -- Vote for a nurse or an aide that has helped you!
*Master Technician Award -- Vote for the one who has helped you fix things!
*Wheels on the Bus Award -- Vote for the driver or mechanic who helps get you home!
*Customer Service Award -- Vote for the person who is always there to help!
Scan the QR Code by Friday, November 22 to nominate a support staff person. To learn more about the #WashingtonWayAwards, watch this video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM7Y0BdMbF4
Cavs in Motion Fun: Members of the group, Cavs in Motion at Damascus Middle School, finished the season with the Speedway in Lights 5K! They arrived in style on the Cavalier bus with Holston High School SRO Mike Reid at the wheel. Every Cav in Motion finished the race with the support of family members & Damascus Middle School staff who served as running buddies. Cavs in Motion is a running program at Damascus Middle School that combines physical fitness & personal growth.
Lace Up Your Running Shoes: The Washington County Career & Technical Education Center Veterans Day 5K Run & Walk is this weekend on Saturday, November 16 at 9:00 a.m. WCCTEC is working to make this a fun event! Click here to register: https://register.chronotrack.com/r/82374
Veterans Day: Students across the school division have been recognizing all the men and women who have served our country. Several schools hosted wonderful programs as a way to say thank you to our veterans for their courage and dedication.
Working Together: SCA members at Damascus Middle School visited Haynes Corn Maze. Students engaged in team building, communication, and friendly competition to solve the riddles and complete the maze!
5 Star Student: Thank you to WCYB for showcasing one of our E.B. Stanley Middle School students in their 5 Star Student Segment. We love seeing our students excelling in the classrooms and their communities! For more, click here: https://shorturl.at/h2OTW
Exemplar Award Recognition: During a meeting on Thursday, school board members recognized Mr. Long, principal of Holston High School and Mr. Colston, principal of Greendale Elementary School. The board thanked both administrators for their hard work in preparing students for their futures. On October 24, the Virginia Board of Education recognized 141 schools for their high achievement and continued improvement as part of its Exemplar School Recognition Program. The recognized schools include 92 schools across the Commonwealth earning the Board of Education Highest Achievement Award. Washington County Public Schools is honored that Greendale Elementary School and Holston High School received the 2024-2025 Board of Education Highest Achievement Award. The Highest Achievement Award is based on performance during the 2023-2024 school year.
"Being recognized in the Exemplar School Recognition Program is a direct reflection of a school's commitment to high performance and increasing excellence," said Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons.
Good evening,
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. In an effort to be ahead of this requirement, the Washington County Service Authority has already conducted testing for lead in all Washington County Public Schools' buildings. They tested 5 fixtures at every school, at least 2 fixtures in the kitchens and 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
During a meeting this afternoon with the Washington County Service Authority and Office of Drinking Water, I learned that four of our schools had at least one fixture that tested less than 10 ppb (Meadowview Elementary - 2 fixtures, Watauga Elementary - 1 fixture, Glade Spring Middle School -1 fixture, and Holston High School -2 fixtures.) One school had two fixtures that tested above 10 ppb (Greendale Elementary)
As a result, we will begin taking additional precautions at those five schools immediately. Only fixtures that tested Non-detect will be available for cooking purposes at those schools. This is above and beyond the protocols recommended by the EPA. As an additional safeguard, we will begin the process of testing every fixture in these buildings beginning with Greendale Elementary School tomorrow morning. After the testing is complete at the 5 schools mentioned earlier, we will begin the process of testing every fixture at the remaining schools as an additional precaution.
As stated before, we will discontinue consumable water fixtures at these 5 schools (e.g. drinking fountains) until the issue is remedied. As a result, we will provide bottled water for students and staff, but please feel free to send water from home with your child.
Additional information provided by the Washington County Service Authority and Office of Drinking Water which includes a FAQ, and an informational flyer can be found at this link on our website: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/washington-county-service-authority-information/722977
We will continue to work with the Washington County Service Authority, Office of Drinking Water and Virginia Department of Health to ensure we are maintaining the safest possible environment for our students and staff while communicating the latest information with our stakeholders.
If you have concerns related to this issue, we will work with the agencies referenced above to provide answers to your questions.
Thank you,
Keith Perrigan, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Washington County Public Schools
812 Thompson Dr.
Abingdon, VA 24210
276-739-3000
@WashCoSuper
