Washington County Public Schools

🍎🍴 Happy School Lunch Hero Day! Today, we're celebrating the real superheroes behind the scenes -- our amazing school nutrition staff! These amazing individuals not only serve up tasty meals, but they also create an atmosphere of kindness, care, and community at every lunch table. From the first bell to the final bell, they're making sure every student is fueled and ready for success! Let's take a moment to thank our lunch heroes for their hard work, positive attitudes, and the smiles they serve alongside every tray! Give a shoutout to your favorite lunch hero in the comments below!

In a super move to celebrate School Lunch Hero Day, administrators at Patrick Henry High School, alongside our School Nutrition Department leadership, gave the PHHS nutrition team a well-deserved break, and stepped behind the serving line themselves! With aprons and hairnets on, they rolled up their sleeves to serve lunch and show some love to the real heroes who fuel our students every day. Thank you to our incredible WCPS nutrition team for everything you do -- today and every day!

School Board Meeting Time Change Please note that the Washington County School Board will hold its regular meeting on Monday, May 5 at 4:00 p.m., instead of the usual 6:00 p.m. start time. The time change is for this meeting only. To view the agenda, click here: https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/wcps/Board.nsf/Public

Happy School Principals’ Day! Today, we are giving a BIG shoutout to the amazing principals across Washington County Public Schools! Our principals are leaders, cheerleaders, problem-solvers, and champions for every student and staff member. Thank you for inspiring greatness, creating strong school communities, and leading with kindness every day! Drop a "thank you" below to show some appreciation to your favorite WCPS principal!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month At Washington County Public Schools, we believe that mental health is just as important as physical health. This month, and every month, we're committed to creating a supportive, safe, and caring environment for our students, staff, and families. Let's work together to end the stigma, start the conversations, and support one another with compassion and understanding. To learn more, click here: https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-health-awareness-month/

🌟United Way Student of the Year Abigail M., an 8th grade student at Wallace Middle School, was named the United Way Student of the Year during the 2025 Impact Awards Ceremony. Students were nominated from 21 localities for their leadership, acts of service, and volunteerism while contributing to the betterment of their community. What an honor to win such a prestigious award! Washington County leaders and educators were present to honor her for this tremendous accolade regarding her generosity of time and talents. Congratulations, Abigail!

May Parent Coaching Resources: Parenting can feel overwhelming -- but you're not alone. Parent Coaching is a no cost resource that connects you with a coach and expert tools to support your journey. A breath of fresh air is just a click away: https://cookcenter.info/coaching

Going Once, Going Twice... SOLD! Fourth grade students at Greendale Elementary School recently took part in an exciting auction! They enjoyed spending tokens they have earned as exemplary Greendale Lions. After the auction, students had a chance to spend more tokens at the Fourth Grade Store. This was a great way to teach real-life math skills!

Sweet Celebration Junior Washington County Community Scholars at E.B. Stanley Middle School earned a well-deserved treat for their incredible achievements this year! These hardworking students maintained strong grades, great attendance, and gave back to their community through volunteer work.

Special Visitor Mrs. Rhudy's Agriscience class at Damascus Middle School had a very special (and fluffy) visitor -- a sweet, bottle-fed lamb! This hands-on experience brought learning to life as students got up close with agriculture in the cutest way possible.

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!

💵 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!

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ 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.

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!

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

📚 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!

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/