Washington County High School

The Lady Panthers finished as runners-up after a hard-fought Championship game against the Currituck Knights, falling just short with a final score of 40–34. Nominated for Tournament MVP were Aaliyah Carter and Ke’Niya Young. They both had outstanding performances to lead the team. A huge congrats to the team and coaches!

Congratulations to these students athletes for being selected to the  2025 Eastern Carolina All Conference football  team. Offense Kiymani Jones 1st team QB Brandon Spruill 1st team WR Shy Quez Chesson 2nd team RB Defense Tyshawn Stevens  1st team DT Jeremiah Mann 2nd team DE Tyquez Selby 2nd team LB Vincent Smith 2nd team LB Christopher Phelps 1st team Safety Honorable Mentions Symir Jenkins Jaquan Bonner Zymere Cooper Keitrell Sutton Special Congratulations to Kiymani Jones for being named Eastern  Carolina Offensive Conference Player of the Year Tyshawn Stevens for being named Eastern Carolina Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Here is the link to the EPIC album from our Early Graduation. https://fotoshare.co/e/HAuy0xSQkMM0zGeNceATq EPIC Photo Booth LLC can be reached at http://www.epicpicsphotobooths.com/

Today was a success because Community Schools are powered by community partnerships. When schools, families, local organizations, and businesses work side by side, our students and our county thrive. Today reminded us that it truly takes all of us sharing resources, building relationships, and showing up with a common purpose. This is what growth looks like. This is what impact feels like. Thank you to every partner, supporter, and community member who helped make today meaningful. We’re stronger together! "Lifting as we climb."

Warm holiday greetings from the office of the Superintendent. Our best wishes as you enjoy the winter break with friends and family! https://youtu.be/CTEti49Eq4A

🌟 Customer Service in Action. Community Partnerships in Bloom. 🌟 One of our core pillars is customer service, and it continues to be the foundation for strong, meaningful relationships across our community. Because of this commitment, our community partnerships are truly blooming, creating opportunities that uplift and celebrate our students. The Student of the month billboard is made possible through the generous support of The Law Office of D. Cole Phelps, LLC,. Their partnership helps us shine a spotlight on students who demonstrate excellence, character, and leadership. Thank you to The Law Office of D. Cole Phelps, LLC for investing in our students and standing with us as we “lift as we climb.”

Congratulations to all of our outstanding students who received awards and certificates at our Honor Roll and Principal’s List Awards Ceremony! The ceremony was truly amazing and a wonderful celebration of hard work, dedication, and academic excellence. Each award was well deserved, and we are proud of our students for their commitment to success. A special thank you to our counseling team for organizing such a meaningful and well-executed event. Your hard work made this celebration possible and memorable for our students and families. Well done to everyone involved! 🎉📚🏆

Our JROTC participated in the Christmas Parade tonight.

Check out our CTE article from EdNC!

https://www.ednc.org/showcase-spotlights-cte-offerings-at-washington-county-schools/

Please join us for our monthly school board meeting held tonight at 6pm. You may join in person at 509 Adams Street, Plymouth, NC, or online at the following link. Thank you in advance for supporting our schools! https://youtube.com/live/2Fv-Gu7hIx4?feature=share

Out of an abundance of caution, and due to the threat of inclement weather, all WCS schools will operate on our "Friday early release" schedule tomorrow, Dec. 8, 2025. Staff will be released as soon as all students have safely left campus.

🎤 Guest Speakers = Real-World Impact! 🌟 Today our students had the privilege of hearing from Andre Webb, a proud former PHS scholar who excelled academically and continues to shine professionally. After graduating, Andre attended East Carolina University, earning his degree in Management Information Systems. He now works as an Automation Engineer, using technology, innovation, and problem-solving to drive efficiency in today’s workforce. Andre delivered an inspiring message, emphasizing that there is a growing market for women and minorities in the tech and engineering fields. He encouraged students by sharing how success in this career isn’t about where you start it’s about being willing to learn, grow, and work your way up. He also highlighted the importance of hands-on experience, explaining how, after ECU, he attended Pitt Community College to gain practical training and completed an internship that helped launch his career. Our students were fully engaged and motivated by his transparency, his journey, and his passion. This is exactly why guest speakers matter they connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities, and that’s what we focus on in CTE every single day! #CTE

🏀 In the Spirit of Community & Support! 🎉 We’ve themed out our December home basketball games and would love for our community to join us in the fun and excitement! Your support helps make each game a memorable experience for our students and fans alike. We’re also thrilled to announce that CTE’s Sports Marketing Panther’s Den will be up and running by Game 1, bringing even more energy and engagement to the court! Come out, show your Panther pride, and be part of the action!

🔥 Our Master Chef Competition Did NOT Disappoint! 🔥 CTE truly shines when students get the opportunity to put their hands-on skills to work—and today they delivered. Each team showed out with their signature dishes, including: 🥦 Fresh Broccoli Salad 🍓 Strawberry Crunch Dessert 🍪 Homemade Cookies 🥔 Creamy Mashed Potatoes 🥩 Parmesan Steak Plus, every homemade drink and dressing was crafted to perfection. Our CTE students proved that skill, creativity, and teamwork make an unbeatable recipe! 🏆 1st Place Group: Fourth Block (2nd block: 2nd place and 1st block: 3rd place) 👏 Honorary Standout Chef: Hunter for bringing his own original recipe 👨‍🍳 Top Chef of the Year: E. Hooker – exceptional skill, leadership, and presentation! We’re so proud of all our young chefs. This is what CTE excellence looks like! Shout out to our Foods Instructor, Mrs. Spencer 🍽️

🎨 Adopt an Aspiring Artist! 🎁

We’re inviting our amazing stakeholders to help make their holiday season even brighter! Stop by the front office to choose from the displayed name tags.

Once you’ve selected a student, return an unwrapped gift with the name tag attached.

Your kindness helps us celebrate our young artists and reminds them that their community believes in their talent. ❤️✨

Thank you for supporting our students and keeping the spirit of giving alive! 🙌

After decades of exceptional leadership, countless postseason runs, and a legacy that has shaped generations of athletes, Coach Shelton “Lamont” Gilliam has officially announced his retirement. With an extraordinary career record of 339–60 and a celebrated girls’ state championship, Coach Gilliam has made the decision to pass the torch. Coach Gilliam’s impact extends far beyond the win–loss column. During his time at Washington County High School and formerly Plymouth High School, he built programs rooted in excellence. His success has been highlighted in numerous media outlets over the years including MaxPreps, the Roanoke Beacon, and the Washington Daily News. Coach Gilliam has coached multiple players who advanced to prep school and college basketball careers. Some of the players under his leadership were Adrian Moore, Brittany Franklin, Omar Harris, Janazia Dixon, Aryn Gibson, and Brandon Carter Jr. Their futures were shaped and elevated under his leadership. As we step into a new era of Panther basketball, we announce that Interim Coach Ben James, our current Sports Marketing teacher and Coach Gilliam’s assistant for the past two seasons, will lead the program for now. We encourage our students, staff, alumni, and community supporters to rally behind Coach James and our Panthers as we honor the foundation Coach Gilliam built. His influence will continue to live on in every practice, every game, and every young athlete who puts on a Panthers jersey. Thank you, Coach Gilliam, for your dedication, commitment, and lasting legacy. Go Panthers! Coach Crossen -AD

December Newsletter