Abingdon Elementary

Good afternoon WCPS Families & Staff -- The full Washington County Public Schools division will operate on a two-hour delayed schedule on Monday, October 7, 2024. Delaying the start of school will allow additional time for students and staff to arrive safely in daylight hours, due to some area roads still having debris. Childcare will be provided beginning at 8:00 a.m. for working families at each elementary school. We do have the following transportation information and route changes for students and families to be aware of: *Taylor's Valley Bus 37 -- Students who live in Taylor's Valley can meet Bus 37 at the VFW Post on Route 91 at 9:15 a.m. Pick up in the afternoon will be at approximately 3:30 p.m. *Konnarock/Green Cove Bus 69 -- Students who live above Green Cove Road on Route 58, or on Green Cove Road, can meet Bus 69 at the intersection of Green Cove and Route 58. Students who live on Rhymer Road or the closed section of Route 58 can meet Bus 69 at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church. Your driver will reach out to you with additional messaging about pick up and drop off times. *Bus 38 -- Students who live on Rush Creek Road can meet Bus 38 at the intersection of Rush Creek and Confederate Road at 9:00 a.m. with drop off at approximately 3:45 p.m. Again, a big thank you for your continued support and patience -- your efforts to help our school community and families has not gone unnoticed. Thank you, 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“

Good afternoon WCPS Families & Staff – Rhea Valley Elementary School, Damascus Middle School and Holston High School will be closed Friday, October 4, 2024. Childcare will be provided at Rhea Valley Elementary from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. As we did this morning, all other Washington County Public Schools will operate on a two-hour delayed schedule on Friday, October 4, 2024. For Holston High School students wanting to attend their classes at the Washington County Career and Technical Education Center, transportation will be provided TO and FROM Holston High School. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for those students at WCCTEC by the WCPS Nutrition Department. However, WCPS transportation will not be available to students who reside in the Rhea Valley Elementary, Damascus Middle, and Holston High attendance zones and attend other schools or programs in the division. If your family is in need supplies, Damascus Middle School has some items, and will be open. Please call the school for additional details at (276)739-4100. We are again planning to provide meals for our Damascus area students on Friday at Holston High School. We will send additional information in a separate message. As we look towards next week, it is our goal to have students and staff return to Rhea Valley Elementary, Damascus Middle, and Holston High on Monday. As a result, we are asking you to please plan for the possibility of a division wide two-hour delay on Monday, October 7, 2024. The WCPS Transportation Department is also working hard to plan and identify alternate bus routes for our Damascus area students. However, bus transportation for the Konnarock, Green Cove and Taylor Valley areas remains doubtful early next week. We will keep you updated as those plans are developed. We also ask you to be on the lookout for additional messaging to assist families and students displaced by the floods. We thank you for your continued support and patience as we work as a school community to navigate these unprecedented challenges and help our neighbors in need. Thank you, Keith Perrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent Washington County Public Schools 812 Thompson Dr. Abingdon, VA 24210 276-739-3000 @WashCoSuper

Good afternoon WCPS Families & Staff -- Rhea Valley Elementary School, Damascus Middle School and Holston High School will remain closed for the remainder of the week. Rhea Valley families in need of childcare may come to Holston High School where care will be provided from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. All other Washington County Public Schools will operate on a two-hour delayed schedule on Thursday, October 3, 2024. Delaying the start of school will allow additional time for students and staff to arrive safely in daylight hours, due to some area roads still having debris. We recognize a small percentage of families in our community are still without power. However, we believe it is important for our schools to be open to provide students with meals and help them return to a routine. For those families still without power, your child’s principal will work with your family. Our transportation staff have driven our bus routes but if you believe roads in your area are unsafe, please contact your child's principal as well. For Holston High School students wishing to attend their classes at the Washington County Career and Technical Education Center, transportation will be provided TO and FROM Holston High School. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for those students at WCCTEC by the WCPS Nutrition Department. However, WCPS transportation will not be available to students who reside in the Rhea Valley Elementary, Damascus Middle and Holston High attendance zones and attend other schools or programs in the division. For our families in need of supplies, Damascus Middle School has some supplies and will be open. Please call the school for more information at (276) 739-4100. We are also planning to provide meals for our Damascus area students on Thursday at Holston High School. We will send more information in a separate communication. As a reminder, if you know of a family in need, please contact your child’s principal and we will work to help meet those needs. Thank you for your continued support and patience. Thank you, Keith Perrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent Washington County Public Schools 812 Thompson Dr. Abingdon, VA 24210 276-739-3000 @WashCoSuper

Good afternoon WCPS Families & Staff -- Because a significant percentage of our families are still without utilities, staffing concerns at multiple schools, and the fact that some roads are still inaccessible for buses, Washington County Public Schools will be CLOSED on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. However, we are working in coordination with the National Guard to clear some of those roadways, and AEP anticipates that power will be restored to additional areas by Wednesday. 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. If all goes as planned with cleanup and restoration efforts, Washington County Public Schools anticipates operating on a two-hour delay on Thursday, October 3, except for schools in the Damascus area, which will remain closed. For those who have power and other utilities, we apologize for this inconvenience and hope to return to normalcy in the coming days. As a reminder, if you know of a family in need, please contact your child's principal and we will work to help meet those needs. Thank you for your continued support and patience. Thank you, Keith Perrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent Washington County Public Schools 812 Thompson Dr. Abingdon, VA 24210 276-739-3000 @WashCoSuper

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“

A special thanks to all of our families that joined us at Barberitos on Tuesday! We hope you had a nice dinner with your family and had some time to visit with AES friends. We are waiting to hear the grand total, but we have been told it was a very busy evening. Thank you to Barberitos for hosting us and for supporting our school. We plan to do this again in November at Puerto Nuevo -- we hope to see you there!

Childcare will be provided on Friday, September 27, for Abingdon Elementary School working families. If you would like to participate in childcare, please complete the form below for EACH STUDENT you plan to bring. The hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A cold breakfast and lunch will be provided. Drop off and pick up will be at the front entrance of the school. Please have a backup plan for childcare in the event conditions deteriorate overnight to the point it is unsafe to travel. A final decision on childcare availability will be made after reevaluating conditions in the morning. This option is intended for working families without alternate childcare. https://forms.gle/48WRQdH74SY7Cgfq8

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.

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.

It’s Scholastic Book Fair time! From 9/30-10/4, come experience the excitement all over again with your kids. Remember, what starts at the Book Fair stays with you forever. Every purchase benefits our school. We can't do it without you! Please consider volunteering to help at the Book Fair. The story starts with you! Volunteer Sign Up https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4DABAF2FA6FCCF8-51459454-fall Shop https://www.scholastic.com/bf/abingdonelementaryschool

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.

Vote Now: Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands is a Regional Finalist for the 2025 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards grant! Be sure to cast your vote to help CIS-AH become a regional winner & further their impact throughout our community. See the flyer on how to vote

Happy Labor Day from WCPS! We hope all of our students, staff and families have been enjoying this long weekend! We will see you back on Tuesday.

Dunk Your Superintendent! If you don’t like the idea of a new cell phone policy or think school starts too early in August, now is your chance to take out your start of school frustrations, and dunk Dr. Perrigan! He’ll be in the dunk tank at Dairy Queen in Abingdon (Exit 19 location) on Saturday, with the fun beginning at 4:00 p.m. Proceeds raised from the event go towards St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. WCPS students and staff have loved participating in fundraisers for St. Jude and are thrilled to be able to give back.

An Important Message for Abingdon Elementary School Families: Abingdon Elementary School will be OPEN Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Good afternoon, AES Staff and Families, As we shared with you last week, 3rd party air quality testing was performed on samples from Abingdon Elementary School on Friday, August 16 due to a disturbance of asbestos by an outside contractor during a demolition/construction project in the gymnasium. The gymnasium has been sealed off and without HVAC during the construction period. No students or staff have been in the construction area during the project. In addition to taking air samples outside the gym, we also tested dust residue found on surfaces in the adjoining hallway and the cafeteria to ensure we were covering all bases. Over the weekend, we had a certified asbestos removal company clean and run negative air machines in the building to ensure our students and staff can return to a safe learning and work environment. Third party air quality has been performed again after the cleaning, and we have now received the official greenlight to allow students and staff to return to school. In following the safest possible protocol, the remaining impacted areas of Abingdon Elementary School are sealed off, with continuous air monitoring taking place on the outside of those sealed areas to confirm air is not contaminated during the remainder of the project. In following OSHA protocol, signage will be placed alerting students and staff to avoid these areas. The signage is meant to alert you to the impacted area to prevent accidental entry, but please know that areas not marked with signage are safe for occupancy. Because the cafeteria and gym areas remain sealed off and closed, food will be transported in for students. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, with students eating in their classrooms while the project and air testing continue in the gym and cafeteria area. Over the next 3 weeks, we will be working diligently and carefully to get the gym and cafeteria areas tested, unsealed, and reopened. As mentioned before, WCPS will be taking additional steps to prevent an incident like this one from happening again. This includes a thorough review of our construction and maintenance protocols with outside contractors, increased oversight during projects involving potentially hazardous materials, and a professional review of our existing Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) Management Plans. As always, your child’s safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we continue to work to resolve this issue. We will provide more information as it becomes available. If you have specific questions, you may email me directly at [email protected] Thank you, Keith Perrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent Washington County Public Schools 812 Thompson Dr. Abingdon, VA 24210 276-739-3000 @WashCoSuper