Our students are getting a unique learning experience with a very special guest -- Rosemary the cow! The Mobile Dairy Classroom is visiting several of our schools over the next few days, teaching students about dairy farming, cow care, and the importance of agriculture. They even get to see a live milking demonstration!
This program, provided by the Southwest Dairy Museum, gives students a closer look at where milk comes from, and the role dairy farmers play in our communities.
Summer Enrichment Experience at Virginia Tech
The deadline to apply for SEE VT has been extended to April 15, and all fees have been waived, meaning this incredible opportunity is now free for all campers! SEE VT is a residential camp for rising 6th and 7th grade gifted students from rural communities. At SEE VT, rural middle school students will have access to place-based and rural-focused academic enrichment to include STEM and humanities courses, social activities, exploration of campus life, field trips, and more!
Camp will be held on Virginia Tech's Blacksburg campus June 15-20, 2025. Applications are due by April 15.
Please see the below flyer for more information.
📱 Staying Safe in the Digital World
Students at E.B. Stanley Middle School heard an important lesson in social media safety from Special Agent Travis Howard of the Virginia State Police.
Agent Howard shared with students' tips on recognizing online dangers and making smart digital choices. His presentation helped students understand how to stay safe, responsible and cyber-smart in today's online world.
WCPS Middle School Administrators at #VMSA conference enjoying @mr_alsheimer challenging us to be more engaging.
Washington Way Award Nominations:
Nominate a special support staff person for the Spring #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, April 18 to nominate a support staff person. To learn more about the #WashingtonWayAwards, watch this video: https://youtu.be/IM7Y0BdMbF4
Save the Date
Get ready for an unforgettable experience at Theatre Arts Camp at Emory & Henry University!
This camp for rising 3rd through rising 12th grade students will be a chance to explore the world of theatre, unleash your creativity, and have a blast! Mark your calendars for June 9-14 and stay tuned for more details coming soon!
E.B. Stanley Middle School STEM Career Fair:
E.B. Stanley Middle School students had a great opportunity to explore a variety of careers at the STEM Career Fair! They learned from experts in fields like science, technology, engineering, and math, and had the chance to ask questions about potential job opportunities in these exciting industries.
A big thank you to all the professionals who participated and helped make this event a success. Your time and expertise are truly appreciated!
We're excited to see how this experience inspires our future STEM leaders!
Approved 2025-2026 School Calendar: This calendar was approved on 2/18/2025, by the School Board based on recommendations from the Calendar Committee and additional feedback from Dr. Perrigan.
*Please Note: Inclement weather annually causes the last day of school to be rescheduled later than it appears on the calendar. It is recommended you delay making plans for the start of vacations until after June 5.
A special thanks to the Calendar Committee for their work putting this calendar together.
To view the calendar on the WCPS website, click here: https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3765/WCPS/5334217/2025-2026_School_Calendar_REVISED_2.26.25.pdf
Schedule Update: It has been a busy day for our road checkers, assessing road conditions across the county. VDOT has done a great job of clearing roads of snow and ice. As a result, WCPS will operate on a 2-Hour Delayed Schedule tomorrow, Friday, February 21, 2025.
We are aware that some roads, particularly in the Valley Institute area, remain snow and ice covered. Because of this, buses will be running on clear routes only. We encourage parents of teen drivers to check road conditions before they head out in the morning. If slick roads prevent your child from attending school, please contact your child's principal.
The 2-Hour Delay will also give real feel temperatures time to rise by about 10 degrees between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working parents. Please be on the lookout for additional information from your child's school.
Our road checkers will be out again early tomorrow morning evaluating conditions. Should a shift to a Remote Learning Day be necessary, a decision will be made by 7:00 a.m. Please note, if we transition to a Remote Learning Day, childcare will not be provided.
Stay safe, and we will keep you updated!
Important Update: Due to continued deteriorating road conditions, we have made the decision to cancel the Remote Learning Day Meal Pick Up at Abingdon High School today.
We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Stay safe and warm!
Schedule Update: Due to deteriorating weather conditions, WCPS will implement a Remote Learning Day for today, Thursday, February 20, 2025. No childcare will be provided.
Due to the Remote Learning Day, breakfast and lunch meals will be available for Washington County students at one central location. Meals can be picked up between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at Abingdon High School. Follow the signage to the back cafeteria door for pick up.
Washington County Public Schools will operate on a 2-Hour Delayed Schedule on Thursday, February 20, 2025. Childcare will be provided for working families at elementary schools. Please be on the lookout for additional information from your child's school.
Due to predicted winter weather this evening into the early morning hours, we will recheck road conditions tomorrow morning. If a shift to Remote Learning is necessary, a decision will be made by 7:00 a.m. If we move to Remote Learning, please note that we will not be able to provide childcare.
Stay safe, and we will keep you updated!
Schedule Change: Based on multiple forecasts (including the highly reliable FirstWARN Tri-Cities) and a Winter Weather Advisory for Washington County, WCPS will be closed on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, due to the timing of anticipated snowfall and the likelihood of poor road conditions. This will be a traditional snow day, and we encourage our students to enjoy some outdoor fun in the snow!
Please note, if weather conditions do not improve and roads remain unsafe later this week, Thursday and Friday may transition to Remote Learning Days.
WCPS has 10 Remote Learning Days available to use throughout the course of the school year. We’ve already used six of those days, and we would like to keep some in reserve for potential use later. As we get closer to scheduled state testing and assessments, having some days in reserve would provide a safety net. Adding additional school days to the end of the school year will be discussed at the School Board meeting in March.
Stay safe, enjoy the snow, and we will keep you updated on any further schedule changes.
Schedule Change: Due to the number of roads still closed across Washington County and the number of employees who are unable to leave their homes, WCPS will provide virtual instruction tomorrow, Monday, February 17, 2025.
Schedule Update: Our road checkers have been busy this afternoon checking the conditions of roads across the county. They have determined there are still several roads that remain slick due to the snow and sleet we have received today. However, we are hopeful as temperatures are predicted to warm overnight, conditions will improve. However, warmer temperatures and rains could also cause flooding issues. Either way, a 2-Hour Delayed Schedule on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 will allow us time to determine the safest course of action. Childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working families. Please be on the lookout for additional information from your child’s principal.
In the event conditions deteriorate and we need to make a shift to a Remote Learning Day, a decision will be made by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning, if not earlier.
Schedule Change: Due to water, limbs, and other debris on several roads, WCPS will operate on a 2 hour delayed schedule, today, Friday, February 7, 2025. Childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working parents.
🌞 Exciting Summer Science Opportunities for Middle Schoolers! 🌞
Study Science. Do Science. Summer Camp for Students: The Virginia Tech College of Science is now accepting applications for five residential summer science camps for students in grades 7-12. Dive into microbiology, neuroscience, physics, nanoscience, data science, and more! Make new friends and unlock new passions this summer! Costs are associated with each camp and need-based scholarships are available. Applications are due April 10: https://www.science.vt.edu/get-involved/camps.html Email Victoria Corbin at explorescicamp@vt.edu with any questions.
Virginia Junior Academy of Science Research Symposium -- May 31, 2025: Students in grades 7-12 who wish to enter the VJAS Research Symposium are asked to submit their research paper by February 21. The 2025 Symposium will be a hybrid event where students may present in-person at Ferrum College or attend synchronously via Zoom. Membership in the VJAS is free. Click here for more information: https://vjas.org/index.html VJAS is also seeking judges both virtually and in person -- https://vjas.org/judges.html
WCCTEC Visit: It was an exciting day for 8th grade students from E.B. Stanley Middle School! Students visited the Washington County Career & Technical Education Center to learn about the various programs and classes offered and to hear from current WCCTEC students and teachers. The 8th graders had the chance to visit 18 different classes/stations at WCCTEC, which provided a great opportunity for these students to start thinking about their futures!
WCPS will operate on a REGULAR SCHEDULE tomorrow, Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Because the WCPS Transportation Department has determined there are still a few roads in the county impacted by snow and ice, buses will only travel on clear routes. The roads that will not be used tomorrow can be found here: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/transportation%2Fbus-routes/743711
Our website provider is having issues this morning, that's why our district website is returning an error right now. You can get to your school apps and email by going directly to our SSO Portal at https://portal.wcs.k12.va.us.