🎶 Tiny Desk Concert Series - Eastside High School 🎶
The Eastside Spartans are movin' on up! Check out their "Tiny Desk Concert" here: https://youtu.be/MRZWQNcceCc
📢 Early Release Reminder!
This is a reminder that all schools will dismiss early at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, October 10, in observance of the end of the first nine weeks grading period.
Teachers are reminded that they are expected to participate in scheduled professional development activities following dismissal, lasting until 3:30 p.m.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation!
📢 Reminder: Fall Break Closure 🍂
Wise County Public Schools will be closed on Monday, October 13th for Fall Break.
We hope all students, staff, and families enjoy a safe and relaxing long weekend! 🧡🍁
44th Annual McChesney Band Festival Info:
Date: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Time: 1:00pm - 6:30pm
Location: Bullitt Park, Big Stone Gap, VA
Admission: $10.00 (Children 5-under receive free admission)
Contact: Kimberely Sturgill | ksturgill@wisek12.org
🍂🎉 The Wise County Career and Technical Education Center (WCCTC) hosted their annual Fall Festival today! Students enjoyed corn hole, pumpkin carving contests, seed spitting contests, pie eating contests, a cupcake walk, bingo, football toss, ring toss, putt putt, and more! Huge thanks to our administration, sponsors and teachers for grilling up delicious hamburgers for the students! 🍔🎃
Fall fun, friendly competition, and great food—what a perfect way to celebrate the fall season! 🍁👏
This month, we’re giving a huge THANK YOU to the heart of our schools — our PRINCIPALS! 💙
From leading with vision to supporting every student and staff member, your commitment to community makes a difference every single day. 🙌
This week's alumni spotlight is Deventae Mooney, Class of 2013, from Eastside High School.
Wise County Public Schools is eager to learn about and share alumni highlights from its graduates! Please click here (https://forms.gle/ADQAbVxjGmieZA6R9) to complete a submission form.
***please note that submissions will be featured in the order they are received.
Link: https://forms.gle/ADQAbVxjGmieZA6R9
Students enjoyed tons of fun activities like the three-legged race, a HUGE inflatable bouncy house, egg on a spoon race, football toss, ring toss, pumpkin bowling, boat racing, fishing, sack race, face painting & tattoos, putt putt, bingo, and more! 🎯🎨🎃
Plus, students enjoyed treats that include popcorn, drinks, and a cakewalk! 🧁⛳🍿
We would like to thank the WCCTC students, teachers, and our amazing Family Engagement Coordinators for pulling together our 1st annual Pre-K Fall Festival and making it a huge success! Your support brought joy and smiles to so many little faces! 🧡
🎉 Celebrating National Principals Month
Every October, we take time to celebrate National Principals Month—a special opportunity to recognize the vital role school principals play in shaping the academic success and well-being of students across the country. Principals are not only school leaders but also mentors, visionaries, and champions for students and staff alike.
This month, we proudly honor Mr. Paul Clendenon, Principal of Union Middle School:
Google Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m5-wU39gS3lDRmwTMp_oel0Bo8Rfv8Gr/view?usp=drive_link
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/XI8-DzE62Gs
🎓 Known for his exceptional ability to bring team members together to achieve shared goals, Mr. Clendenon leads with integrity, collaboration, and a student-first mindset.
🏌️ Off campus, he's an avid golfer, and he also shares his passion for sports as a sports analyst for the Union Sports Network. Whether he's on the green or behind the mic, Mr. Clendenon brings the same focus and enthusiasm that he brings to our school community every day.
Thank you, Mr. Clendenon, for your leadership, your dedication, and your commitment to making Union Middle a place where students and staff thrive.
Happy National Principals Month!
Brag on a Bus Driver - Redena Barton
🚍🐻🧡💙With over 36 years in education, Redena Barton has become a cherished figure in the Union Primary, Middle, and High School communities. As a dedicated school bus driver, Mrs. Barton exemplifies commitment, kindness, and community spirit. She treasures every student on her route — especially her own grandchildren who ride with her daily! Mrs. Barton’s bus route is a scenic journey through the heart of Southwest Virginia — from the quiet curves of Egan Road to the peaceful end in Clinch Haven.
Her favorite memory? Driving a bus, as her mother (who was the first female bus driver in Wise County) once did, now with a third generation aboard!
Mrs. Barton’s unwavering dedication, deep roots in the community, and love for her students make her an irreplaceable part of Wise County’s educational family. She is more than a bus driver — she is a constant, caring presence in the lives of those she serves. Thank you, Mrs. Barton! 🧡💙🚌🐻 #HeroBehindTheWheel
National Coaches Day is today, Monday, October 6, 2025, and serves as an annual day to honor the positive impact coaches have on individuals and communities. Today, we celebrate the mentors, motivators, and game-changers who push us to be our best — on and off the field. Whether it’s drawing up plays, inspiring comebacks, or teaching life lessons, coaches make a lasting impact every single day.
👟 Thank you for your passion.
💪 Thank you for your dedication.
👏 Thank you for your commitment.
📣 Tag a coach who has changed your life and let them know how much they mean to you! #NationalCoachesDay
🧹 Happy National Custodian Day! 🧼
Today, we honor the hardworking custodians who keep our schools clean, safe, and running smoothly. Your dedication, attention to detail, and pride in your work make a world of difference every single day for our students, faculty, and staff. 🌟
To all custodians—thank you for everything you do! We appreciate you. 🙌
#NationalCustodianDay
Wise County Public Schools is eager to learn about and share alumni highlights from its graduates! Please click here (https://forms.gle/ADQAbVxjGmieZA6R9) to complete a submission form.
***please note that submissions will be featured in the order they are received.
Link: https://forms.gle/ADQAbVxjGmieZA6R9
WCPS will be offering FREE developmental and speech screenings Friday, October 24. These screenings are open to preschool children ages 2.5 - 5 years of age, who live in Wise County, and are not yet attending kindergarten. For more information, contact Kristen Day at kpday@wisek12.org, or at (276) 328-8017 ext. 12043.
Wise Primary School’s “Old Fashion Day” Brings History to Life!
Today, students at Wise Primary School stepped back in time for an "Old Fashion Day"! It was a fun-filled, hands-on experience where students explored traditions, trades, and games from the past!
Activities included:
🍎 Apple Butter Exhibit & Apple Cider Tasting
🐝 Bee Keeping Display
⛏️ Coal Mining Exhibit & Gristmill Demonstration
🐐 Mini Goats Petting Area
🐄 Milk-a-Cow Station
🦌 Wildlife Education Exhibit
🚜 Tractor Photo Booth
🎶 Live Music & Clogging Demonstrations
🎯 Classic games like Jenga, Connect Four, Tic Tac Toe, Hopscotch, and Cornhole
🪣 Washtub Washing Experience
🧵 Quilting Demonstration
🍿 Kettle Corn Snacks
🌳 Outdoor Classroom & Nature Walk
The day was full of learning, laughter, and a deeper appreciation for the simple joys and hard work of the past. Thank you to all the volunteers, teachers, and community members who made this memorable event possible!
