Washington County Public Schools

💵 First and second graders at Valley Institute Elementary School became real-world entrepreneurs during Economics Marketplace Day! As part of their Economics unit, students crafted homemade goods to sell for Bulldog Bucks'. Some of the items for sale included bookmarks, decorated rocks, bird feeders, bracelets, and more -- all using materials students had at home. Then, they stepped into the roles of producers and consumers, learning firsthand about goods, services, supply and demand, budgeting, and even debit cards. Students worked hard to balance what they earned and spent, and yes, some even faced the occasional "declined card" if they went over budget. What a great way to build creativity, money smarts and strong work ethic!

🎨✨ You're Invited to the John S. Battle High School 2025 Art Show -- featuring award-winning artwork created by talented JSB 9th-12th grade students! 📍 Where: A Work of Art Gallery & Gifts 600 State Street, Bristol, TN 📅 When: Saturday, May 10, 2025 🕒 Reception begins at 3:00 p.m. Not only will you have the chance to admire these incredible pieces, but artwork will also be available for purchase! Support our amazing student artists and take home a masterpiece!

Branching Out for a Greener Future Watauga Elementary School recently celebrated Arbor Day in the best way, by planting a tree and growing community spirit! Members of the WES Student Council learned more about Arbor Day from Abingdon Town Arborist, Mr. Kevin Sigmon, and helped plant a tree on school grounds! A big thank you to the special guests who grabbed a shovel and joined the fun: Members of the Washington County School Board and Abingdon Town Council, Mayor Anderson, and Del. Israel O'Quinn. It was a beautiful day to dig in and celebrate nature!

Digging into Science at Damascus Middle School After learning about fossils, students in Mrs. Caywood's 7th grade science class used miniature dinosaurs and modeling clay to create their own fossil masterpieces!

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Get Ready to Run The Run Club at Greendale Elementary School is participating in a 5K and Kids' Mile, and they are wanting all WCPS elementary students to join the fun! 📅 When: Sunday, May 4 📍 Where: The Creeper Trailhead, Abingdon 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who: Open to students, parents, and community members Greendale has a big group signed up already, and they're hoping even more students from across Washington County will come out for a great day of fitness, fun, and community spirit! Please see the registration flyer below for more details.

WCPS Alumni Spotlight: Mason McGinnis ~ Patrick Henry High School ~ Class of 2018. We are thrilled to highlight Mr. Mason McGinnis, a proud Patrick Henry 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

John S. Battle High School freshman Elliot Williams is the American Heart Association Tri-Cities 2025 Teen of Impact Winner for her work to raise funds and awareness to eliminate heart disease and stroke and improve well-being in the local community. In the United States, cardiovascular disease remains the No. 1 cause of death and can begin developing as early as young adulthood. The Teen of Impact initiative brings together Gen Z changemakers across the country who are committed to improving heart health and reversing this statistic. Elliot ranked sixth in the country out of 177 teen participants, raising $71,090 for the mission of the American Heart Association. Thank you to WJHL for this great feature on Elliot Williams: https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/freshman-elliot-williams-ranks-6th-in-nation-for-american-heart-association-fundraising/

📚 Washington County 4-H Members Shine Congratulations to our talented students who participated in the Washington County 4-H Activity Day at Abingdon High School. From public speaking and dramatic reading to oral presentations and "Share the Fun," these young leaders showed off their skills in SOL-related project areas! Our county champions went on to represent Washington County at the District 4-H Junior and Intermediate Contest Day at Wytheville Community College.

From Tank to Table -- The Future is Growing at Holston High School Holston High School students are diving into the world of aquaponics -- a high-tech sustainable farming system that combines raising fish and growing plants in water. Thanks to an exciting partnership with Wyndale Gardens, this hands-on horticulture pilot program is teaching Holston students cutting-edge agriculture skills. Check out the full story from the Bristol Herald Courier to see how Holston students are leading the way in the future of food: https://heraldcourier.com/news/local/education/k-12/article_59112491-1b74-4b0b-b3ab-224eaa8928e4.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Graduation Season is Almost Here We're counting down the days to celebrating the Class of 2025! Be sure to check out the graduation dates for our high schools! Worried about the weather? We've got a backup plan. View the second graphic to see our Inclement Weather Graduation Dates. Mark your calendars and get ready to cheer on our amazing graduates!

Sending a big thank you to the William King Museum of Art for welcoming Abingdon High School's Gifted Class, led by Ms. Hulsey, for a day filled with creativity! These talented students toured the latest exhibits and even rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on activity. Check out one of their amazing projects!

Technology in Action at High Point Elementary School Staff at High Point Elementary School are using AI-powered glasses to help break down language barriers and build stronger connections with families! Check out this awesome feature from WCYB on how the glasses are being utilized: https://wcyb.com/news/local/high-point-staff-use-ai-glasses-to-bridge-language-gap-with-hispanic-families

Bullseye at Rhea Valley Ms. Beth Delp, Rhea Valley Elementary's physical education teacher, just hit the target with a brand-new activity for 4th and 5th graders: Archery! This initiative aligns with the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), which promotes international-style target archery in school curricula. NASP aims to enhance students' focus, self-control, discipline, patience, and goal-setting skills -- attributes that are beneficial both in the classroom and in life! To learn more about the National Archery in the Schools Program, click here: https://www.naspschools.org/

Happy Administrative Professionals Day! Today we're celebrating the amazing administrative professionals who help keep Washington County Public Schools running smoothly every single day! From managing schedules to supporting staff, students and families, you do it all with professionalism, kindness, and care. Your hard work and dedication make a huge difference, and we appreciate you!

Brunch and Learn Valley Institute Elementary School recently welcomed some very special guests for the Grandparents Brunch and Learn: Social Media Safety seminar, hosted by Communities in Schools! Families enjoyed a tasty brunch while learning important tips on how to help keep students safe online. A big thank you to Travis Howard with the Virginia State Police for sharing valuable insights on social media safety.

Student Spotlight Join us in congratulating Gwen A., of Abingdon High School! Gwen, a student in Ms. Dotson’s Digital Applications class, won the School Nutrition Department’s Lunch Menu Design Challenge. Her menu items will be featured the week of May 12! As part of learning more about database applications, students got creative while mastering different tech tools and designing some great menu options. Gwen was recognized with a certificate and a special gift for her creativity with her design. Big thanks to Ms. Dotson, her class, and the School Nutrition Department for this fun collaboration!

Happy School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Today, we're sending a huge THANK YOU to our amazing school bus drivers who safely transport our students each and every day! From the first morning stop to the last afternoon drop-off, you help start and end our students' days with smiles and safety in mind. Your dedication doesn't go unnoticed! Let's all give a wave and a thank you to our drivers on this special day!

🌟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.