The Valley Bulldogs are excited and ready to start fundraising! Be on the lookout for some VIES Bulldogs who are working to raise funds for our school! Remember Bulldogs, if we reach our goal of $5,000 in sales you could win the chance to pie Principal Scott!
Congrats to the February Excellent Attendance winners! Two students from each grade had breakfast with SRO Owens. We are so proud of our students who worked towards perfect attendance and won the drawing. Thank you families for making sure your students are getting to school!
VIES Families,
Please be aware that due to the inclement weather we have had this year we will be on a REGULAR schedule March 12th. That means we will be dismissing at 3 PM as usual. If you have any questions about this schedule change please call: (276)642-5500. Thank you.
Take a look at this week's edition of the Bulldog Beat to see all the fun! Be sure to follow along on our Facebook page and to comment your favorite memory you and your student(s) made this week.
Click the Link to get the Beat: https://secure.smore.com/n/y5ue2
Valley Institue Elementary School Art Show
Talented young artists from Valley Institute Elementary School showcased their incredible artwork at Blackbird Bakery in honor of Art Appreciation Month on Thursday! From vibrant colors to creative designs, these students filled the space with a lot of fun.
You can still check out their masterpieces -- the art will be on display throughout March at Blackbird. A perfect time to grab a coffee and a sweet treat and enjoy the awesome artwork of our students!
Please join us tomorrow, March 6th, at Blackbird Bakery to see all of the amazing art work from Valley Institute Elementary School. We have pieces on display from K to 5th grade students. Opening night starts at 4:30 until 6:30. Grab a treat and see art just as sweet!
Good afternoon VIES Families and Friends,
We are in need of volunteers for our Career Fair. If you have a career you would love to share with the students at VIES please reach out at: (276)200-4003 or (276)642-5500. Thank you so much!
Good evening Valley Families!
Next week (March 3-7) is Read Across America Week and to get into the spirit we will be having dress up days Monday-Friday. Take a look at the schedule below and remember: “reading is a passport to countless adventures,” Mary Pope Osborne.
Take a look at this week's edition of the Bulldog Beat to see all the fun! Be sure to follow along on our Facebook page and to comment your favorite memory you and your student(s) made this week. Click the Link to get the Beat: https://secure.smore.com/n/6wgjp
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
Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration: It's time to get ready for Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration at Washington County Public Schools -- Mark your calendars for March 27, 2025!
*Children who will be 5 years of age by September 30th are eligible for kindergarten enrollment.
*Children who will be 4 years of age by September 30th are eligible to register for Pre-K.
*Children who will be 3 years of age by September 30th are eligible to register at Meadowview, Rhea Valley, and the Child Development Hub -- located at 300 Towne Center Dr., Abingdon, VA.
Families should contact the school in the zone in which they reside for more information -- Abingdon Elementary, Greendale Elementary, High Point Elementary, Meadowview Elementary, Rhea Valley Elementary, Valley Institute Elementary, and Watauga Elementary. A Head Start representative will be available at each school during registration.
Documentation Needed for Screening/Registration:
*Pre-K: Proof of Income and Proof of Address
*Kindergarten: Birth Certificate, Immunization Record, Evidence of Physical Exam, Proof of Address
Reminder:
Spring Picture Day is tomorrow February 25th! Make sure you dress to impress and look your best. Attached is an image of the background that will be used for photos (red text will NOT be on prints). We can't wait to see all your smiling faces. Thank you.
Take a look at this week's edition of the Bulldog Beat to see all the fun! Be sure to follow along on our Facebook page and to comment your favorite memory you and your student(s) made this week. Click the Link to get the Beat: https://secure.smore.com/n/9dpnkh
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.
Good evening Valley Families,
Reminder, February 19th there will be NO afternoon tutoring. Please make sure to let the office know if you need to change your student's afternoon transportation plans. We are sorry for any inconvenience and appreciate your assistance. Thank you!
📚✨ 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
