Watauga Elementary

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.

📚✨ Honoring Student Achievement: The George Washington Research Paper Celebration ✨📚 The George Washington Research Paper Contest and Celebration is one of the most exciting events of the year for WCPS fourth graders! Each year, students have the opportunity to demonstrate their writing talents by crafting essays about the life and legacy of George Washington. The top three essays from every elementary school were selected, and those students, along with their families, were treated to a tasty brunch at the Martha Washington Inn to celebrate their hard work and creativity. Each participant was presented with a certificate and a special book written by George Washington. The top three division winners had a chance to read their essay aloud at the event -- a memory they'll cherish! The overall division winner was awarded an incredible all-expenses-paid trip to Mount Vernon this summer, to explore the home of our nation's first president. 🌟 Congratulations to Andrew S., of Valley Institute Elementary, named the overall division winner 🌟 A big THANK YOU to everyone who made this event possible and to our hardworking fourth graders! Let's keep fostering a passion for history and writing in our students! George Washington Awards by school: Abingdon Elementary School: *Third Place: Parker S. *Second Place: Callan D. *First Place: Ayla S. Greendale Elementary School: *Third Place: Lily Krieger *Second Place: Hunter A. *First Place: Will C. High Point Elementary School: *Third Place: Londyn L. *Second Place: John W. *First Place: Avery B. Meadowview Elementary School: *Third Place: Bentley H. *Second Place: Adelyn C. *First Place: Coy R. Rhea Valley Elementary School: *Third Place: Rees D. *Second Place: Frankie H. *First Place: Knox M. Valley Institute Elementary School: *Third Place: Leah H. *Second Place: Patrick P. *First Place: Andrew S. Watauga Elementary School: *Third Place: Campbell C. *Second Place: Charles H. *First Place: Randall W. Top Three Division Winners: *Third Place -- Will C. -- Greendale Elementary School *Second Place -- Avery B. -- High Point Elementary School *First Place -- Andrew S. -- Valley Institute Elementary School

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.

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.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: Due to snowfall overnight resulting in slick roadways across the county, WCPS will implement a Remote Learning Day today, Monday, January 27, 2025. If your student has any issues accessing virtual instruction during their scheduled time, please contact your child’s teacher or principal directly. We will work with them on instruction, assignments, and attendance.

WCPS will operate on a REGULAR schedule tomorrow, Monday, January 27, 2025. Because our 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 We are also closely monitoring the potential for winter weather this evening into tomorrow morning -- We will update should additional schedule changes be needed.

We are closely monitoring the potential for winter weather to impact the area this afternoon, especially near our Russell County border. If you have concerns about your teen driver who would be driving home in these potential conditions, please contact your student's principal and they would be happy to work with you to coordinate an early dismissal. The same goes for bus riders in areas where roads are still snow covered or may become covered if the weather materializes. We will closely monitor conditions for the remainder of the afternoon, but we do not currently anticipate a division wide schedule change.

WCPS will operate on a REGULAR SCHEDULE tomorrow, Friday, January 24, 2025. Because 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 Additionally, if you know of a child in need of winter weather gear (hat, gloves, etc.) please contact your child's principal, and we will work to help meet those needs.

WCPS will operate on a REGULAR SCHEDULE tomorrow, Thursday, January 23, 2025. However, buses will only travel on clear routes. There are still a few roads in the county impacted by snow and ice. The roads that will not be used tomorrow can be found here: https://www.wcs.k12.va.us/documents/transportation%2Fbus-routes/743711 As a reminder, if you know of a child in need of winter weather gear (hat, gloves, etc.) please contact your child's principal, and we will work to help meet those needs.

We had hoped that we would be able to provide in person learning opportunities tomorrow. However, our afternoon update from our meteorologist provided a declining forecast. Due to the extremely cold temperatures forecasted for the morning, which are now predicted to have wind chills hovering in the sub-0 range for much of the morning, and TVA asking customers to participate in a voluntary power conservation effort, WCPS will implement a Remote Learning Day for tomorrow, Wednesday, January 22, 2025. If your student has any issues accessing virtual instruction during their scheduled time, please contact your child’s teacher or principal directly. We will work with them on instruction, assignments, and attendance. Additionally, if you know of a child in need of winter weather gear (hat, gloves, etc.) please contact your child’s principal, and we will work to help meet those needs. We thank you for your understanding and appreciate your patience as we continue to work through these weather-related schedule challenges.

Special Recognition: During the meeting this evening, School Board Members Recognized the WCPS 2024-2025 Teachers of the Year. These individuals were chosen by their colleagues because they exemplify the best of being a teacher for Washington County Public Schools and the service they provide to the community, school, and most importantly, students. Elementary Schools: *Abingdon ~ Gwen Campbell *Greendale ~ Abby Rasnake *High Point ~ Heather Hensley *Meadowview ~ Kimberly Cox *Rhea Valley ~ Beth Delp *Valley Institute ~ Joy Hull *Watauga ~ Sherry Thomason Middle Schools: *Damascus ~ Sallie Moss *Glade Spring ~ Sherry Cannon *E.B. Stanley ~ Maggie Branton *Wallace ~ Kaitlyn Maples Secondary Schools *Abingdon High ~ Chase Nunley *John S. Battle High ~ Emily Tallman *Patrick Henry High ~ Alyssa Fields *Holston High ~ Buffy Milhorne *WC CTE Center ~ William (Billy) Buchanan The Board also congratulated the following grade level Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025. Each of the building’s Teacher of the Year were chosen as models of what it means to be a teacher. *WC Elementary School Teacher of the Year ~ Abby Rasnake *WC Middle School Teacher of the Year ~ Kaitlyn Maples *WC High School Teacher of the Year ~ Chase Nunley Washington County School 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year ~ Chase Nunley Congratulations to all as we celebrate these exemplary teachers of Washington County Schools!

This winter has brought several challenges, including missed school days due to snow, and we appreciate your patience as we navigate these weather conditions together. Looking ahead to the next couple of days, the forecast is calling for extremely cold temperatures, and as a result, Washington County Public Schools will operate on a 2-hour delayed schedule on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working parents who need that service. We know that there are still a few roads in the county that have been impacted by the snow and ice -- Later this evening, we will provide a list of the roads that will not be used for bus routes tomorrow. We are also asking families to prepare for the division to implement a 2-hour delayed schedule on Wednesday, if necessary. We recognize this decision might raise questions so please review the following information. Why a 2-Hour Delay? *Safety: Although the forecast predicts extreme cold, a 2-hour delay gives temperatures a chance to rise slightly during the daylight hours. Local meteorologists say the coldest temperature, or morning low, will be early in the morning. Temperatures have the potential to increase as the morning continues. *Road Conditions: Snow and ice continue to impact roads across the county, and the delay gives the WCPS transportation department additional time to ensure that bus routes are safe for travel. Driving in the daylight will allow drivers to see slick spots on the roads. *Bus Preparations: When temperatures drop to extreme lows, starting school buses can become a challenge. Cold diesel engines can cause buses to be slow to start, and they may require extra time for pre-start warm-ups to ensure vehicles are operating properly. *Comfortable Learning Environment: A 2-hour delay gives our maintenance team extra time to check that all heating systems in school buildings are operational before students and staff arrive. This helps ensure classrooms are at a safe and comfortable temperature when the school day begins. The extra time also allows our maintenance staff to check pipes in the school building to make sure they are not frozen. * In-Person Learning: While remote learning is beneficial and utilized when needed, in-person learning provides a richer educational experience, with direct access to instruction, hands-on activities, and social interactions which can be difficult to replicate virtually. A 2-hour delay helps maintain the in-person school routine. Cold Weather Tips: *Layering is Key: Layering your clothing helps trap warmth and allows you to adjust your outfit based on your activity level and the weather. *Protect Your Extremities: Hands, feet, ears, and face are especially vulnerable to the cold and should be well-protected. We know that delays and snow days can be challenging for families, and we sincerely thank you for your continued flexibility. Our goal is to balance instruction with the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We will continue to monitor weather conditions closely to make the best decisions for everyone. As mentioned earlier, childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working parents who need it. Be on the lookout for specific details from your child’s school.

Due to winter weather and hazardous road conditions, WCPS will be closed tomorrow, Monday, January 20, 2025. Childcare will not be available. Be safe and stay warm!