Jefferson County Schools invites you to an informational meeting on Oct. 23 about the Standard Response Protocol we use in our schools and ways you can support student safety at home. Lt. Ben Williams from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department will present the information and answer questions. The event takes place at 5:00 p.m. in the Washington High School auditorium. https://www.jcswv.org/events?id=23365841
WHS senior Taylor Decker is not only a busy high school student, but she also takes classes through Shepherd University and Blue Ridge CTC as part of the WVDE's Grow Your Own teacher training program. Ms. Decker will finish high school with a year's worth of college credits at no cost to apply to her post-secondary education and will enter a teaching program next school year as a sophomore! She often uses her teacher training skills to tutor classmates, who commend her for her friendliness, stamina, and math positivity. To learn more about enrollment in the Grow Your Own program, talk to your school counselor or visit https://teachwv.com/grow-your-own/.
Thanks to the JCS community for supporting our teachers and staff as they worked to learn new skills and classroom techniques on this day of staff development!
REMINDER: Tomorrow, Oct. 20, is a staff development day for Jefferson County Schools. There will be NO SCHOOL for students while our staff take advantage of training opportunities to continue supporting students. Thank you, and have a great weekend!
Wednesday, Oct. 25, is test day at Washington High School. All Sophomores and any juniors who signed up to take the PSAT will be ONSITE. Freshmen and seniors will NOT report to campus so our staff can provide a secure testing environment. Sophomores and juniors should report to school at their regular time.
Teachers will provide students on remote learning with instructions and assignments ahead of time and in Canvas.
Meals are available for all students. Remote learners can pre-order a meal pack here: www.jcswv.org/PSAT. Meal pick is between 11:15 am - 12:00 pm at the school.
Washington High School has taken a proactive step to enhance student safety by installing an outdoor Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on the stadium field. This initiative aims to ensure the well-being of WHS students by providing rapid access to life-saving equipment during P.E. classes, sporting events, or emergency situations. The outdoor AED serves as a crucial asset in our ongoing commitment to safeguarding the lives of our students and athletes, underscoring the school’s dedication to a safe and healthy environment!
This is a reminder that Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, is a staff development day for Jefferson County Schools. Students will not be in school to provide our staff with training opportunities to help them continue serving kids. Thank you.
Today kicks off National School Bus Safety Week, an opportunity to focus on safe practices around school buses. We want to start by acknowledging the JCS bus operators, aides, mechanics, and transportation administrators responsible for safely transporting our students to and from school each day. These individuals are a direct link between the home and the classroom, and they play a pivotal role in the education and care of our students. Thank you to our Transportation team for keeping our kids safe on the road!
10/13/23: Jefferson County Schools prioritizes safety in all that we do. Thursday afternoon (10/12), we received a notification about a widely shared message calling for violence. We consulted with federal and local law enforcement agencies and found no immediate danger connected to the non-specific threat. The threat level did not change as a result of the message. In an abundance of caution, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department is conducting extra patrols around our schools. We are grateful for their partnership and dedication to protecting our children. If you see something, say something. You can report suspicious activity by calling 866-WVWATCH (866-989-2824).
Proper nutrition plays an important role in learning. That's why JCS staff work to develop daily menus that offer delicious, nutritious options for our students! Plan ahead with regularly updated breakfast and lunch menus, available on your school's website and the JCSWV app (on Google Play and the App Store).
Join the Washington High School Theatre Troupe this weekend as they present Every Brilliant Thing, the story of a six-year-old boy who lists everything that’s brilliant about the world to make his mother happy. There are three chances to watch. Reserve your seats now!
https://whstheatre.ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200442275
Join us TODAY, October 12, at the JCS Operations Facility, located at 635 McGarry Blvd. Kearneysville, for our next hiring event exclusively for school service personnel! JCS staff will be on hand to conduct onsite applications, screenings, and interviews for all service positions. Plus, a representative from WV Adult Education will be available to answer your questions about their new self-paced preparatory course for the state's Service Personnel Competency Test! Visit www.jcswv.org/careers for a complete list of job openings. JCS offers service positions with the flexibility to meet your needs as a busy family, so join us today and learn how you can make your mark in our caring community of educators!
In recognition of National School Lunch Week, we want to express our sincere gratitude to the men and women serving as cooks in our school cafeterias who keep our students fed, focused, and ready to learn. Thank you for the important role you play in supporting their success!
Good morning Patriots! The WV PROMISE Scholarship application is now available on the CollegeforWV.com website. If you are planning to attend a university or college within West Virginia, you do not want to miss out on this incredible scholarship opportunity. If you are eligible, you can receive up to $5,200 per year for four years towards your tuition. You’ll need to complete the application (available now), and then in December when the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) becomes available, you must fill that out and submit it. See your counselor with any questions!
A reminder that Jefferson County Schools will dismiss two hours early today, October 6, for faculty senate meetings.
It's National Principals Month, and we're celebrating Ms. Marcus! We're so grateful for her dedication, determination, and commitment to our students and staff. Thank you for being the guiding light in our school!
Congratulations to the Washington High School Golf Team! Not only did they wrap up the regular season on Monday, Sept. 25, by defeating Goretti and South Hagerstown in a 9-hole match at Fountainhead, but they also claimed the Regional Title during a match at the Woods on Thursday, Sept. 28. Go Patriots!!!
As National Attendance Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to thank our JCS students and families for making it a priority to practice good school attendance! Don't forget submissions for our district-wide attendance poster contest are due this Friday, September 29 - visit www.jcswv.org/attendance for contest details. And keep up the good work! Remember… students who miss fewer than nine days of school see better grades, stay on track to graduate high school, and even have better work habits. That's why Attendance Matters: All Day, Every Day!
JCS Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bishop speaks at the Charles Town and Shepherdstown Rotary Clubs during a lunch on Wednesday. Dr. Bishop will connect with students and the community again during a series of events in the coming months. Visit www.jcswv.org/events for details!
9/25/23: The Charles Town Police Department is investigating a direct threat made against an individual Washington High School student over the weekend. There is NO THREAT against other students or staff; however, in an abundance of caution, there will be an increased police presence on campus while the investigation continues. We want you to be aware of the circumstances but will not release any information that could compromise the integrity of the investigation. Thank you for your understanding and patience.