🚌National School Bus Safety Week 2025 🚌
October 20–24, 2025
This year’s message is also a reminder: safety doesn’t begin or end with the bus ride. It’s about Safety at Every Stop 🛑—from the moment a child leaves their front door to the time they return home.
Stay alert. Slow down in school zones and neighborhoods.
Stop for the bus. Obey the stop-arm law every time—no exceptions.
Support accountability. Technology and enforcement work hand in tandem to change driver behavior.
Raise awareness. Share facts, resources, and personal stories that open eyes and change hearts.
Wise County Public Schools would like to express our sincere appreciation for our dedicated bus drivers and transportation team.
Each day, these individuals go above and beyond to ensure the safety, well-being, and comfort of our students. Their commitment, patience, and care play a vital role in our students’ success — both on the road and in the classroom.
Thank you for all you do to keep our children safe!
Stay informed and inspired—check out all the updates and stories in this month’s edition of the WCPS October 2025 Newsletter by clicking here: https://wisecova.edurooms.com/engage/wise-county-public-schools/newsletters/wcps-october-2025-newsletter
✅ Board meeting visits from our awesome 4-H partners & Coeburn Middle School admin team
🎥 Canaan Spears | Union High featured on The Pulse S2E1 for the 2025-2026 school year
🌟 Darren Williams | Eastside High – WCYB Five Star Student
🏈 Rocky Bond | Eastside High – WCYB Player of the Week
⚡ Keldan Hamilton | Eastside High – Gatorlyte Quick Play Winner (Week 6)
🎓 Shelby Stanley | Eastside High – WCYB Scholar Athlete of the Week
🚁 AirVac landed at Union Middle for a special learning experience
💻💪 Celebrated IT Professionals Day, Coaches Day & Custodian Day
🏆 St. Paul Elementary recognized as one of America’s Best Schools by NCUST!
🎉 Lunchbox276 held a ribbon-cutting for their new food distribution warehouse
🔩 WCCTC Spotlight: Precision Welding & Fabrication – shaping future careers!
🎊 The WCCTC Annual Fall Festival was a huge hit with students!
🍁 Our 1st Annual Pre-K Fall Festival at WCCTC brought smiles and fun for our youngest learners
👒 Wise Primary School’s "Old Fashion Day" brought history to life in the most charming way!
👩🏫 Celebrated 47 years of dedication with the incredible Ms. Judy Abbott at Eastside High 💚
We’re proud of our students, staff, and community for making Wise County Public Schools a place of excellence, tradition, and growth! 📘🍎
📢 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! 🧡🍁
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. 🙌
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! 🧡
🧹 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
🎉 Congratulations to the students, faculty, staff, administration, community members, and community leaders of St. Paul Elementary School—alongside Dr. Karen Dickenson—for being named one of NCUST’s 2025 America’s Best Schools! 🏆
Out of hundreds of schools across the nation, St. Paul Elementary is one of only 200 schools selected—and the ONLY school in the entire state of Virginia to receive this prestigious honor! Dr. Gregory Ottinger, Executive Director of the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST), presented a certificate of commendation to Dr. Karen Dickenson on behalf of St. Paul Elementary. The school was deemed a silver award medalist, receiving $2,500.00. Students, Isabella Burke and Annebelle Riner, were selected as student representatives and were asked to read speeches on their educational experiences at St. Paul Elementary and the impact the school has had in their lives! Both, Isabella and Annebelle received $100.00 for their award-winning essays!
Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence are truly inspiring. Your success is a shining example of what can be achieved when a community comes together to support education. 🌟
Link to Thursday's award ceremony: https://youtu.be/UaleHppEcJ4
America's Best Schools Spotlight: https://ncust.com/abs-spotlight-st-paul-elementary-school/
#AmericasBestSchools #NCUST
Wise/Norton School Flu Clinic Information:
Pre-Registration:
https://redcap.link/lenoflu25
2025-2026 Parent Letter Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZWw32MlgotvWb3txAsApEy4DRWL-YIR9/view?usp=sharing
Student Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bsuCxh5lsz_2a01aFBYyiwmjO6Fy10w6/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=118171730297788648515&rtpof=true&sd=true
Employee Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16e2DndZ-hj-IP3jSwaH-SSbvtyYhiVYz/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=118171730297788648515&rtpof=true&sd=true
For more information, please call: (276) 328-8000
📢 SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER RECAP
Link: https://wisecova.edurooms.com/engage/wise-county-public-schools/newsletters/september-2025-newsletter
We’re off to an incredible start! Here’s what’s been happening in our amazing school communities:
🎒 Student Opportunities Expand
Our latest field trip opened doors to real-world learning—proof that opportunity is growing for every Eastside Spartan!
🏆 School Board Highlights
✅ Dominating SOL Rankings in VA
✅ 11 YEARS of Superior Academic Performance
We’re proud to lead the way in the pursuit of excellence!
🧠 Curriculum & Instruction Updates
Our teachers continue to grow through professional development in:
• 🤖 AI Training
• 📚 UFLI Literacy Training
• 🏫 Science of Reading & HMH Implementation Training (SPED Grades 3–8)
🌟 Spotlighting Student Success
• 🎖️ Cole Morgan: WCYB 5-Star Student
• 🏈 Kam Bostic: WCYB News 5 Player of the Week
• 💻 Kenzie Oliver: 2nd Place (High School Division) – SWVA Can Code Pitchfest
• 💻 Gemma Sturgill: 3rd Place (Middle School Division) – SWVA Can Code Pitchfest
🛒 COMMUNITY Power
Thanks to everyone who united for Food City Bucks—your support fuels student success! Union Primary, Middle and High School Bears lead the way!
🎉 Speech Pathology Week
We celebrated our incredible speech-language team—thank you for giving our students a voice!
🚍 Transportation Spotlight
👏 Huge thanks to Robin Yates for keeping our students safe and smiling!
🍎 Educational Spotlight: Teachers for Tomorrow
At WCCTC, this program is building the next generation of passionate educators. The future is bright!
Let’s keep pushing forward, together. 💙
The "August 2025 Newsletter" is released!
This month’s newsletter features key updates from the August 11 school board meeting, along with back-to-school news as we welcome students to a new year of learning! Get the latest on our school safety initiatives, capital improvement projects, curriculum and instruction enhancements, and recent academic achievements. We also reaffirm our ongoing commitment to community engagement and spotlight our growing partnership with United Way and Lunchbox276 to support our students and their families.
Start the school year informed and inspired—check out all the updates and stories in this month’s edition by clicking here: https://wisecova.edurooms.com/engage/wise-county-public-schools/newsletters/august-2025-newsletter-74650
Wise County Public Schools congratulates Katelynn W. from Union High School as the VHSL Class 2 Girls Outdoor Track & Field State Champion in the 100m & 300m Hurdle events. Katelynn is coached by Jay Edwards and James Hamilton. The WCPS Board recognized Katelynn and her incredible accomplishments during the August 11th school board meeting.
Wise County Public Schools congratulates Braelyn H., Maddie C., Emma S., Haley D., Dakota C., Mallory D., Jada J., Rylie B., Haley F., Alexia B., Zoey N., Zoe S., Rhyleigh L., and Peyton V. from Eastside High School as the VHSL Class 1 Softball State Champions. The Lady Spartans are coached by Head Coach Suzi Atwood, who is assisted by Alex Wyatt and Marcus Sartin. The WCPS Board recognized this special team and their incredible accomplishments during the August 11th school board meeting.
Wise County Public Schools also congratulates Jocelyn A. from Eastside High School as the Class 1 Girls Outdoor Track & Field State Champion in Triple Jump. Jocelyn is coached by Joel Davis and Mike Rhodes.
Wise County Public Schools congratulates Shelby S., Hailey M., Hannah M., and Katie W. from Eastside High School as the VHSL Class 1 Girls Outdoor Track & Field State Champions in the 4x800m Relay.
The Lady Spartans are coached by Joel Davis and Mike Rhodes.
