Damascus Middle School

Hot Meal: For those in need of a hot meal, John S. Battle Football will be serving free hamburgers with chips and drinks on Tuesday, October 1, at the Damascus Volunteer Rescue Squad beginning at 12:00 p.m. Thank you JSB Football!

Good afternoon, WCPS Families & Staff -- Due to the ongoing cleanup efforts across Washington County, several of our families still without power and utilities, the continuing assessment and coordination of food service needs, and roads that are still inaccessible by bus, Washington County Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Because of this closure, childcare will be offered for working parents from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at High Point Elementary, Meadowview Elementary, Valley Institute Elementary, and Watauga Elementary. Students at Abingdon Elementary and Greendale Elementary can take advantage of childcare at Woodland Hills Christian Church, provided by the Boys and Girls Club. If these students aren't already registered with the Boys and Girls Club, you can call (276) 696-9923. Rhea Valley students in need of childcare may come to Meadowview Elementary. Breakfast and lunch will be provided by WCPS School Nutrition Department at all locations. Each elementary school will send out additional information about childcare specifics for their students. We are also aware that conditions across the county may still be tricky on Wednesday, and delayed schedules and alternate bus routes may be needed in order to get schools open. We appreciate your continued patience as we work to navigate these unprecedented challenges. We will keep you updated should additional schedule changes be necessary. To our Damascus area families -- we know that it is going to be more difficult to get schools open in your area as cleanup efforts are ongoing and schools are still without utilities in that area. We will do everything we can to help provide some normalcy for you as soon as it is safe to do so. We are also incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from our community at our donation supply drop-off locations. I couldn't be prouder of our students who led efforts to help our friends and neighbors! If you still have items you would like to donate, you may do so prior to the John S. Battle/Patrick Henry football game at JSB this evening. Because of the amazing support that our schools and the United Way has received, we will not take any additional donations after tonight. When this inventory is used, we will consider additional opportunities to collect donations. Please continue to pray for our students, families and friends impacted by this devastation. If you know a family in need, please contact your child's principal and we will work to help meet those needs. Thanks again for your support, patience, grace, and prayers. Thank you, Keith Perrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent Washington County Public Schools 812 Thompson Dr. Abingdon, VA 24210 276-739-3000 @WashCoSuper

Needed Donations: New immediate needs have been identified, according to the Damascus Fire Department: *EMPTY Gas Cans *Portable Showers or Supplies to Make a Shower *EMPTY 5 Gallon Buckets *Personal Wipes *Flashlights *Batteries Abingdon High School, John S. Battle High School, & Patrick Henry will be serving as central hubs to bring donations and supplies. All three high schools will be accepting supplies until 3:00 p.m. Items will also be collected at the John S. Battle/Patrick Henry Football Game at JSB on Monday evening. Those items can be dropped off behind the gymnasium.

Please Share: Our school communities are coming together to help our families & friends in need. Schools have opened their doors to provide services & amenities to all local students, parents, & families. (We will add to this list as resources become available) • John S. Battle High School: The library is open with phone chargers available, comfortable places to sit – if needed, hot showers can be provided. • Patrick Henry High School: The school has Wi-Fi & electricity. PHS also has two washers & dryers, laundry detergent, hot showers, & hot beef ravioli available for lunch. Families are welcome to come use any of these resources until 3:00 p.m. • Greendale Elementary School: Open until 3:00 p.m. for families to charge devices, use WiFi & wash clothes. • Valley Institute Elementary School: Open until 3:00 p.m. for families to come sit in the air conditioning in the cafeteria and charge electronic devices if needed. • E.B. Stanley Middle School: Open until 3:00 p.m. for those needing to charge electronics. • Glade Spring Middle School: GSMS will be providing a boxed spaghetti dinner for anyone in the community who needs a hot meal. Food will be ready by 4:00 p.m. A reminder that Abingdon High School, John S. Battle High School, & Patrick Henry will be serving as central hubs to bring donations and supplies. All three high schools will be accepting supplies until 3:00 p.m. Items will also be collected at the John S. Battle/Patrick Henry Football Game at JSB on Monday evening. Those items can be dropped off behind the gymnasium. Needed Items Have Been Identified as Follows (If other needs are identified at a later time, we will continue to take collections in the coming weeks) • Water • Cleaning Supplies • Nonperishable Food Items • Pet Food Additional Resources: • The Coomes Center in Abingdon has showers available & Food City in Damascus has set up a shelter for those in need. • Washington Co. has a Shelter at Highlands Fellowship Church at 134 Commerce Ct. Bristol, VA. • Anyone is welcome to visit the Damascus Rescue Squad location for supplies from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. any day this week. Address: 32094 Government Road, Damascus VA, 24236

Community Meal: Glade Spring Middle School will be providing a boxed spaghetti dinner for anyone in the community in need of a hot meal on Monday, September 30. Food will be ready by 4:00 p.m.

Good afternoon, WCPS Families & Staff -- Due to the current heartbreaking devastation in Damascus, several of our schools still without power, internet or phone service, and many families without any utilities, including water, Washington County Public Schools will be closed on Monday, September 30, 2024. We have moved frozen food from several schools without electricity to a refrigerated trailer, generously provided by Food City. A huge shoutout to our Maintenance and Cafeteria teams and to our School Board Members who spent their Saturday morning moving frozen food. However, many schools have lost all their refrigerated food items, and we will need to place orders for replacements on Monday. We will not be able to provide childcare at most schools for those same reasons and staffing concerns. If that changes, your child's school will send you more information. Thank you for your patience as we work through this situation together, as a community. Please pray for our students and friends in Damascus, with many, having lost everything. We are in the process of identifying needs and will provide information soon about how we can help our friends and neighbors. Be safe, Keith Perrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent Washington County Public Schools 812 Thompson Dr. Abingdon, VA 24210 276-739-3000 @WashCoSuper “Committed to the Success of Every Student“

Washington County Public Schools will be CLOSED Friday, September 27, 2024. The decision to close is based on forecast models calling for heavy rain to continue into Friday, which could lead to flash flooding. Hurricane Helene is also expected to bring strong winds, possibly gusting over 65 mph at times. Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a State of Emergency for Virginia due to the anticipated impacts of Hurricane Helene and we have been informed that swift water rescue and other emergency teams have been dispatched to the area as a precaution. Because of this closure, child care will be offered for working parents from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Friday, at each elementary school. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for all students by Washington County Public Schools. Each elementary school will send out additional information about child care. The Boys and Girls Club will also provide child care for students already enrolled in the program, at Woodland Hills Christian Church beginning at 9:00 a.m. Washington County Public Schools will provide breakfast and lunch for those students as well. *Please have a backup plan for child care in the event conditions deteriorate overnight to the point it is unsafe to travel -- A final decision on child care availability will be made after reevaluating conditions in the morning. Please take the following steps to prepare for the impacts of Hurricane Helene to help ensure the safety of your family: Be Self-Sufficient for 72 Hours: Make sure you have enough food, water, medication, flashlights and other essential supplies to last for at least three days. Stay Informed: Keep an eye on trusted weather reports and updates on the storm's path and any potential impacts to our area Expect Road and Utility Disruptions: Roads could be blocked, and various utilities such as power, water and communication services may be impacted. Plan accordingly. Exercise Caution: Avoid travel during heavy rain and wind, especially in areas prone to flooding or landslides. Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads.

Thank you to WCYB for highlighting a trip several Damascus Middle School students took to Laurel Creek Park. Click the link to read and watch the story: https://wcyb.com/news/local/middle-schoolers-engage-in-hands-on-environmental-learning-aiming-to-preserve-local-park

DMS held its second Career Cafe this week, with a presentation about Occupational Therapy. The presenters were Dr. Amanda Bird Blevins and Dr. Hannah Caudill from Emory and Henry's Department of Occupational Therapy.

The volleyball game today has been postponed. It will be played on Monday, October 7.

Cavs in Motion is a running program that combines physical fitness and personal growth. We will practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-5:00, October 1-November 7. We will not practice during Fall Break or on Election Day. DMS will have a girls team and a boys team. They will not practice together but will participate in the culminating event, the Speedway in Lights 5K on November 10 at the Bristol Motor Speedway. For more information, girls can talk with Mrs. Childress, Mrs. Cox, or Nurse Stiltner; boys can talk with Mr. Dale.

Due to flood warnings, downed trees, and the potential of another 5 inches of rain today Washington County Public Schools will be CLOSED on Thursday, September 26, 2024.

Real World Learning: Gifted and Talented Education Program students from Damascus Middle School visited Laurel Creek Park. The students heard from the town manager and town staff about a creek bank erosion and will now spend the rest of the year exploring ways to solve the issue. This project will give students a real-world application to something they are working on in the classroom. WCYB came out to the park to interview students about the importance of this project and talked with them about what they are hoping to learn. Tune in to WCYB News at 5:30 this evening to see the report.

Volleyball plays at home tonight against Virginia Middle School! Go Cavs!

Reminder: school dismisses two hours early today for Parent Teacher Conferences!

During our first Career Cafe, sponsored by School Counselor Jamie Moser, students enjoyed learning about the careers of veterinarian and veterinary technician. Veterinarian Dr. Emily Winebarger Hoss and Vet Tech Chlowe Taylor shared the joys and challenges of their jobs.

The volleyball team plays at Wallace Middle School today! Go Cavs!

Good luck to the football team as they play Northwood Middle School at Holston High School today! Go Cavs!

Flu Vaccine Clinic: WCPS is scheduled to have flu vaccine clinics in schools October 8th, 10th and 11th. Be on the lookout for student registration forms being sent home.

School will dismiss three hours early today for an afternoon of fun at the Washington County Fair!