Damascus Middle School

The DMS Cavalier Boys Basketball team, coached by Mr. Emery Reid and assisted by Mr. Brandon Phillips, put in the work this season but came up short in the Highlands Middle School Conference Championship game tonight! Even in a loss, these young men demonstrated discipline, teamwork, and heart! Go Cavs! 🎉🏀

Perfect from start to finish 💯✅: The DMS Cavalier Girls Basketball team coached by Ms. Shannon Kelly concluded their perfect season (15-0) with a win over Chilhowie Middle School in the Highlands Middle School Conference Championship tonight! Go Cavs! 🎉

Holiday Joy🎶🔔: Ms. Megan Mitten's choral students presented a beautiful concert to usher us into our Christmas break!

Put on your Christmas pajamas and come cheer on the DMS Cavalier Basketball teams tonight at home! Go Cavs! 📣🏀

The choral program will present "A Winter Concert" on Friday, December 19 in the Holston High School auditorium at 9:30 AM.

The concert will be livestreamed at the following link:
https://youtube.com/live/bmbo55L3Cec?feature=share

PowerUp to the Picture Perfect Challenge! 📷
From November 21 to December 13, students at DMS were challenged to complete 30 units in Lexia PowerUp. Those who achieved this goal had the opportunity to take a photo with some friends. Congratulations to the 6th-grade classes that completed the most units! Keep up the great work!

Lexia PowerUP Success at DMS: 🎉

During November, many students in grades 6–8 worked hard in Lexia PowerUP to earn rewards. As they completed lessons, collected “true” usage minutes, and earned certificates, students could qualify for a grade-level UNO tournament and enter a drawing for a free HHS hoodie, generously donated by The Tacklebox.

Their effort paid off! Many DMS students earned spots in the UNO tournaments, demonstrating dedication to improving their reading skills. At the end of the month, three lucky students had their names drawn and each received a brand-new HHS hoodie (thank you to the HHS Athletic Boosters). This month, students are working towards a photo with a friend.

Congratulations to all of our hardworking students for their progress and enthusiasm. Keep up the great work in Lexia PowerUP!

The DMS Cavalier Basketball teams travel to Glade Spring Middle School today to play the Rebels in front of the GSMS student body! Go Cavs! 📣🏀
Below is the link for the game, which will be broadcast on the NFHS network. You may be prompted to create an account to view it, but you will not be required to purchase a package.

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/glade-spring-middle-school-glade-spring-va/evt56bf5756a5

Good luck to the DMS Cavalier Basketball teams as they travel to Virginia Middle School to play the Bearcats tonight! Go Cavs! 📣🏀

📣 SCHEDULE CHANGE: Washington County Public Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay tomorrow, Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Buses will run on clear routes only. Childcare for elementary students will be provided at elementary schools (for elementary aged students only) for working parents who need it. Please watch for additional information from your child's elementary school.

📢SCHEDULE UPDATE: Washington County Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Monday, December 15, 2025. Most roads are clear and dry and we had hoped that more secondary roads would improve throughout the day. However, there are several areas in every part of the county that still have roads that are ice covered. WCPS Offices will open at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. Childcare will be available beginning at 10:00a.m. Please watch for additional information from your child’s elementary school. Be safe and stay warm!

📢SCHEDULE UPDATE: Due to winter weather and poor road conditions across the county, WCPS will be CLOSED today, Friday, December 12, 2025. Childcare will NOT provided at elementary schools.

📢SCHEDULE CHANGE: Weather models show that we will receive more snow overnight, especially on the eastern side of the county. As a result, WCPS will operate on a 2-hour delayed schedule tomorrow, Friday, December 12, 2025. If an adjustment needs to be made to the schedule in the morning, we will do so by 7:30 a.m. Childcare for elementary students will be provided at elementary schools (for elementary aged students only) for working families who need it. Please watch for additional information from your child’s elementary school.

The Chorus Concert scheduled for tonight has been cancelled.

Good luck to the DMS Cavalier Basketball teams as they travel to Saltville today to play the Northwood Panthers! Go Cavs! 📣🏀

Damascus Middle School was pleased to welcome an Athletic Trainer to our Career Cafe series on December 8. Dr. D.C. Cobler from Emory and Henry University came to speak with students about this exciting field. Students learned about the requirements and skills needed to become an athletic trainer as Dr. Cobler spoke about the unique, challenging, and fun aspects of this healthcare discipline. Students came away with an idea of an additional career possibility for those that love sports and want to remain in that world after their education.

Yesterday our Athletic Director, Lisa Blackburn, and student athletes from Damascus Middle School surprised some of our incredible teachers with a special honor — the "My Jersey, Your Impact" award. This tradition celebrates educators who make a powerful difference both in and out of the classroom. Seeing our athletes proudly share their jerseys with the teacher who inspires them reminds us why we do this work. Congratulations to all of our teachers for making a lasting impact on our students’ lives — on the court, on the mat, in the classroom, and beyond.

Damascus Middle School is excited to announce our teacher of the year, Mrs. Lisa Blackburn! Mrs. Blackburn brings the same energy to the classroom now (her 35th year of teaching, with 28 of those years spent teaching seventh graders English at DMS), as she has every year she has been an educator! She knows what strategies and activities work with middle school students, like the books her students write, illustrate, and read to RVES kindergartners and the Greek Mythology projects students create each year. Yet, she is never afraid to try new things, integrating current trends, technology, and ideas to keep students engaged.

Her enthusiasm can be seen in everything she does! As Athletic Director and co-sponsor of the Spirit Club, she is instrumental in highlighting our student athletes with DMS Student Athlete Profiles posted in the main hallway and gives our student athletes the opportunity to honor the teacher(s) who have impacted their lives with My Jersey: Your Impact ceremonies. Through all of the roles she fills at DMS, she seeks to build relationships with students by recognizing who they are as individuals. It is no wonder that former students often stop by DMS to visit Mrs. Blackburn; her impact is felt throughout their lives. We are so thankful she is a part of our faculty! Congratulations, Mrs. Blackburn!