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
Our St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Math-A-Thon is underway from now until March 7. Please help your student take part in this cause by sharing their donation page on Facebook. Our school-wide goal is to raise $2,000 or more.
Since we missed several days of Kindness Week, we will continue our celebration with dress-up days on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week!
DMS will kick off our annual St. Jude Math-A-Thon on Monday, February 24. It will run for two weeks. Donations are due by Friday, March 7. Students received instructions and permission slips today. Please help support this worthy cause. Every dollar counts!
https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Math/Math?pg=entry&fr_id=159510
@stjude #stjudemathathon
Important Information for Damascus Area Students: No Bus Service to Konnarock, Green Cove, and Taylors Valley today, Friday, February 21, 2025.
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!
Dr. Heaton’s science students put a fun twist on genetics with Punnett Square Speed Dating! Students paired up to predict the possible genetic outcomes of imaginary offspring, exploring dominant and recessive traits in a fast-paced and engaging way.
Dr. Heaton’s science students put their creativity to the test with a Periodic Table Word Play activity, crafting clever and punny Valentine’s Day cards using chemical elements! From "You’re Na-thing without me" (Sodium) to "I Cu in my heart" (Copper), these students proved that chemistry isn’t just about reactions—it’s about connections!
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.
Schedule Change: Due to the number of roads still closed across Washington County and the number of employees who are unable to leave their homes, WCPS will provide virtual instruction tomorrow, Monday, February 17, 2025.
Today is National School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day! Thank you, Officer Connelly, for all you do for DMS!
National Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 14-20. We will remind ourselves of the importance of kindness in our world with dress-up days!
Schedule Update: Our road checkers have been busy this afternoon checking the conditions of roads across the county. They have determined there are still several roads that remain slick due to the snow and sleet we have received today. However, we are hopeful as temperatures are predicted to warm overnight, conditions will improve. However, warmer temperatures and rains could also cause flooding issues. Either way, a 2-Hour Delayed Schedule on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 will allow us time to determine the safest course of action. Childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working families. Please be on the lookout for additional information from your child’s principal.
In the event conditions deteriorate and we need to make a shift to a Remote Learning Day, a decision will be made by 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning, if not earlier.
The DMS Cavalier Boys Basketball Team improved throughout the season and finished strong! Coached by Mr. Emery Reid, Mr. Tony Fuller, and Mr. Brandon Little, these boys put in the work. The future looks bright for Cavalier basketball; these young men are great teammates and strong competitors.
The DMS Cavalier Girls Basketball Team, coached by Ms. Shannon Kelly and Mr. Ryan Meador, finished a very successful season with a 13-4 record! Kinzley D. had over 100 points, and Claire J. had over 100 rebounds in the season. Congratulations to the team on your hard work!🎉
Schedule Change: Due to water, limbs, and other debris on several roads, WCPS will operate on a 2 hour delayed schedule, today, Friday, February 7, 2025. Childcare will be provided at elementary schools for working parents.
🌞 Exciting Summer Science Opportunities for Middle Schoolers! 🌞
Study Science. Do Science. Summer Camp for Students: The Virginia Tech College of Science is now accepting applications for five residential summer science camps for students in grades 7-12. Dive into microbiology, neuroscience, physics, nanoscience, data science, and more! Make new friends and unlock new passions this summer! Costs are associated with each camp and need-based scholarships are available. Applications are due April 10: https://www.science.vt.edu/get-involved/camps.html Email Victoria Corbin at explorescicamp@vt.edu with any questions.
Virginia Junior Academy of Science Research Symposium -- May 31, 2025: Students in grades 7-12 who wish to enter the VJAS Research Symposium are asked to submit their research paper by February 21. The 2025 Symposium will be a hybrid event where students may present in-person at Ferrum College or attend synchronously via Zoom. Membership in the VJAS is free. Click here for more information: https://vjas.org/index.html VJAS is also seeking judges both virtually and in person -- https://vjas.org/judges.html
