🚌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!
🌟 Community Spotlight! 🌟
Big thanks to Lowe’s Home Improvement for giving Wise Primary School a beautiful makeover on Wednesday, October 15th! 🎨✨
They painted curbs yellow & blue (including handicap spaces), refreshed all the handrails with black paint, mulched the landscape beds with rubber mulch and added colorful flowers 🌸, and even touched up signs with bright red paint for extra pop! 🚧🌼
Our school grounds have never looked better — and it’s all thanks to this amazing community effort!
In his deepest apprecation, Principal Hood states, "Lowe's really went above and beyond in transforming the outside of Wise Primary School today. The pressure washing, painting, and landscaping improvements will significantly enhance the school's appearance and create a welcoming environment for both students and staff. It's great to see businesses like Lowe's giving back to their community. We are so appreciative of all the materials and labor that Lowe's has provided for this needed project at Wise Primary School. Thanks again Lowe's of Wise County!! You guys and gals rocked it out!!"
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! 📘🍎
VDOE Performance Level Cut Score Implementation
From September 29 - October 14, 2025, the Department facilitated 13 listening sessions with almost 400 participants including school board members, superintendents, principals, and central office staff representing all 8 superintendent regions. The Department continues to gather feedback from stakeholders to support a thoughtful and well-informed process that supports students and educators in meeting higher expectations. We encourage you to share additional opportunities for your educators and families to learn more about revisions to cut scores and to provide input on the implementation plan. Upcoming listening sessions are scheduled for the following dates and times:
Teacher Listening Sessions
October 16, 2025, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 228 039 215 165 3
Passcode: Mw9gB7TR
October 20, 2025, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 294 871 245 452 9
Passcode: cQ2hz6dc
Parent Listening Sessions
October 17, 2025, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 260 057 484 258 4
Passcode: hS3rE9Qa
October 20, 2025, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 282 592 230 634
Passcode: uM7KA7Jv
Information about upcoming listening sessions is posted on the Raising Expectations in Virginia K-12 Education web page. Feedback can also be submitted on the Share Your Thoughts Form by Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at noon EST.
📢 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
WPS will begin After-School Remediation for students who have returned their permission forms on Tuesday, September 30th. Students will be provided with an after-school snack. WPS will conduct after-school remediation on Tuesdays and Thursdays, unless otherwise noted. Buses will leave WPS at approximately 4:45 PM. Car Pick-ups will also be at 4:45 PM in the playground circle.
Thank you!!
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!
WPS will begin After-School Remediation for students who have returned their permission forms on Tuesday, September 30th. Students will be provided with an after-school snack. WPS will conduct after-school remediation on Tuesdays and Thursdays, unless otherwise noted. Buses will leave WPS at approximately 4:45 PM. Car Pick-ups will also be at 4:45 PM in the playground circle.
Thank you!!
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. 💙
We’re excited to continue our Employee Spotlight series, where we recognize team members who go above and beyond, bring positive energy, and make a difference in their roles and to those around them, while spotlighting the difference they make in their school(s)!
Mr. Jason Dean consistently goes above and beyond to support both students and staff. From assisting with transportation, special events, crisis response, and attendance to leading WPS resources, Mr. Dean is always ready to lend a helping hand. His dedication to student growth in physical education is truly commendable. No task is too big or small for him. We also love his passion for pro wrestling—it brings great energy to our team. Thank you, Mr. Dean!
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.
