Rhea Valley Elementary

Good afternoon, WCPS Families & Staff -- Due to the current heartbreaking devastation in Damascus, several of our schools still without power, internet or phone service, and many families without any utilities, including water, Washington County Public Schools will be closed on Monday, September 30, 2024. We have moved frozen food from several schools without electricity to a refrigerated trailer, generously provided by Food City. A huge shoutout to our Maintenance and Cafeteria teams and to our School Board Members who spent their Saturday morning moving frozen food. However, many schools have lost all their refrigerated food items, and we will need to place orders for replacements on Monday. We will not be able to provide childcare at most schools for those same reasons and staffing concerns. If that changes, your child's school will send you more information. Thank you for your patience as we work through this situation together, as a community. Please pray for our students and friends in Damascus, with many, having lost everything. We are in the process of identifying needs and will provide information soon about how we can help our friends and neighbors. Be safe, Keith Perrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent Washington County Public Schools 812 Thompson Dr. Abingdon, VA 24210 276-739-3000 @WashCoSuper “Committed to the Success of Every Student“

Due to schools being closed on September 27th, we will offer childcare from 8:00-3:00. Transportation will not be provided. The doors will open at 8:00. You may bring your child to the office and complete the paperwork for your child to stay. You must pick up your child before 3:00 in the office. Thank you!

Washington County Public Schools will be CLOSED Friday, September 27, 2024. The decision to close is based on forecast models calling for heavy rain to continue into Friday, which could lead to flash flooding. Hurricane Helene is also expected to bring strong winds, possibly gusting over 65 mph at times. Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a State of Emergency for Virginia due to the anticipated impacts of Hurricane Helene and we have been informed that swift water rescue and other emergency teams have been dispatched to the area as a precaution. Because of this closure, child care will be offered for working parents from 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Friday, at each elementary school. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for all students by Washington County Public Schools. Each elementary school will send out additional information about child care. The Boys and Girls Club will also provide child care for students already enrolled in the program, at Woodland Hills Christian Church beginning at 9:00 a.m. Washington County Public Schools will provide breakfast and lunch for those students as well. *Please have a backup plan for child care in the event conditions deteriorate overnight to the point it is unsafe to travel -- A final decision on child care availability will be made after reevaluating conditions in the morning. Please take the following steps to prepare for the impacts of Hurricane Helene to help ensure the safety of your family: Be Self-Sufficient for 72 Hours: Make sure you have enough food, water, medication, flashlights and other essential supplies to last for at least three days. Stay Informed: Keep an eye on trusted weather reports and updates on the storm's path and any potential impacts to our area Expect Road and Utility Disruptions: Roads could be blocked, and various utilities such as power, water and communication services may be impacted. Plan accordingly. Exercise Caution: Avoid travel during heavy rain and wind, especially in areas prone to flooding or landslides. Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads.

Due to the weather, Rhea Valley Elementary's Open House will be canceled tonight. Stay safe!

Due to flood warnings, downed trees, and the potential of another 5 inches of rain today Washington County Public Schools will be CLOSED on Thursday, September 26, 2024.

Rhea Valley Elementary Parents, VDOT has now put up signs stating that you may not park in front of the school at any time, including dismissal. If the driveway is full, you must line up in the church's parking lot and drive over as the line goes down. You won't be able to sign your child out in the office during dismissal time. If you have an appointment, you will need to come before 2:30. We appreciate your help in keeping our students and parents safe!

Please see the attached flyer about our RVES Open House.

HHS would like to invite the RVES & DMS families to our annual HHS homecoming carnival! This year, it will be held on Wednesday, October 9th, from 5-7pm. We will have inflatables, food, and fun for all! More info available on the flyer. Please contact Erinn Linkous (elinkous@wcs.k12.va.us) or Emily Heaton (eheaton@wcs.k12.va.us) for more information!

Tomorrow, Thursday, September 19th, is a 2-hour early dismissal for parent/teacher conferences. Rhea Valley Elementary will dismiss at 12:50. Please come to the school at your assigned appointment time for your conference. Thank you!

Tomorrow is Picture Day at Rhea Valley Elementary. Come wearing your best smiles!

Flu Vaccine Clinic: WCPS is scheduled to have flu vaccine clinics in schools October 8th, 10th and 11th. Be on the lookout for student registration forms being sent home.

***Edited to say 11:50 will be the dismissal time*** This is a friendly reminder that tomorrow, Friday, September 13th will be a 3-hour early dismissal day for our students due to the annual School Day at the Fair. Please make any necessary arrangements to ensure that your child is picked up promptly at the adjusted dismissal time of 11:50 pm. We are looking forward to a fun and exciting day at the fair, and we encourage you to join us if you can! Thank you for your attention and support.

Please see the attached flyer for our Communities in Schools Fall Kick-off for Attendance

Pre-K Color Days!!!

School Days at the Fair will take place on Friday, September 13th. There will be free admission to the fairgrounds from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for all students and school employees -- admission will be 1/2 price for parents at $5.

Exciting news for our community! We are thrilled to announce that we’ve partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Empire to open a brand-new site at our school as a recipient of the 21st Century Grant! Get ready for top-notch after-school programming, fun activities, and a safe place where your child can learn, grow, and thrive. Stay tuned for more details!

Vote Now: Communities in Schools of Appalachian Highlands is a Regional Finalist for the 2025 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Awards grant! Be sure to cast your vote to help CIS-AH become a regional winner & further their impact throughout our community. See the flyer on how to vote

Dear Parents, I hope this message finds you well. We want to inform you that we will be conducting a lockdown drill at school sometime this week as part of our ongoing safety procedures. Please note that Pre-K and Kindergarten students will not be participating in this drill. We will ensure that these young learners remain in a safe and secure environment during this time. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work to keep our school environment safe.

Happy Labor Day from WCPS! We hope all of our students, staff and families have been enjoying this long weekend! We will see you back on Tuesday.

If you need additional food on the weekends, sign up for the backpack program. The backpack program provides a bag of food to participating students on Friday of every week. It is supported by local churches and individuals in our community!  If your child would benefit from receiving one of the food bags, please complete the form that went home with your student last week and return it to school. If you are in need of another form, you can contact the school. Thank you!