Washington County High School

"Due to inclement weather our Early Graduation scheduled for Thursday, January 23rd has been rescheduled for Saturday morning January 25th at 11:00am. We look forward to celebrating with you and your families."

Due to the accumulation of snow and prolonged freezing temperatures, all Washington County Schools will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, January 23, 2025 for staff and students. Staff, please refer to School Closing Guidelines on our website, Condition Red. We will continue to monitor the weather and provide you with an update regarding the school schedule for Friday. - Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Due to the anticipated inclement weather, all after-school activities for this evening are canceled, and all Washington County Schools will be closed tomorrow for staff and students, Wednesday, January 22, 2025. - WCES Students: Homework packets will be provided and are expected to be completed upon their return to ensure students are counted present. - WCHS and WCECHS Students: Coursework will be accessible online via Google Classroom or NCVPS, depending on your designated platform. - We will continue to monitor the weather and provide daily updates regarding the school schedule for the remainder of the week. Please stay safe as we navigate these winter conditions. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Dear Parents/Guardians: The peak of the cold and flu season is upon us and WCS is beginning to see an increase in illness. More cases of colds, flu, strep throat, and the stomach flu have been reported. The custodians will begin spending additional time wiping desks and other hard surfaces. To prevent widespread flu in the school, we recommend that your child stay home from school if he/she experiences flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send your child to school, please consider the following guidelines: Consider keeping your student at home for an extra day of rest if he/she has any of the following: Very stuffy or runny nose and/or cough Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep) Headache Mild stomach ache Student must stay home for treatment and observation with the following symptoms: Fever (greater than 99.0 degrees by mouth) without taking medication Vomiting (one or more times) Diarrhea Chills, headache General malaise/feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches Congested (wet) or croupy cough Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose To help prevent the flu and other colds, talk about good hygiene habits with your student: Wash hands frequently with soap and water Do not touch the eyes, nose or mouth Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing (coughing or sneezing into their bent elbow, not their hands) Avoid close contact with people who are sick Colds are the most contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever must remain at home until “fever free with no medication” for a minimum of 24 hours. A child who has started antibiotics needs to be on medication for 24 hours before being able to return to school. Often, when a child awakes with vague complaints (the way colds and flu begin) it is wise to observe your child at home for an hour or two before deciding to send him/her to school. Your child should be physically able to participate in all school activities on return to school. Keeping a sick child at home will minimize the spread of infections and viruses in the classroom. Thank you in advance for helping make the rest of this year at school as healthy as possible! Washington County Schools

The Foods I and Foods II final exam have been moved to Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Additionally, if your child missed their English II or Biology exam, they should plan to attend on Tuesday to make up these exams. Please also note that the Math III final exam will still be held on Tuesday, January 21. Early graduation rehearsal will take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 10 AM. If you have any questions, please contact the school office.

🎉 Hallway Hero Spotlight: Sylvia Mizelle Britt 🎉 We’re thrilled to celebrate another outstanding member of our Panther community! This week’s Hallway Hero is Ms. Sylvia Mizelle Britt, a dedicated and nationally certified school nurse who has been making a difference in education for 8 years with WCS and has served in the nursing profession since 1978. 💙🐾 📚 Education & Credentials: LPN, ADN RN – Pitt Community College Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BBSN) – East Carolina University Nationally Certified School Nurse (NCSN) 🌟 Greatest Accomplishment: Ms. Britt takes great pride in earning her BSN during a time when online programs were unavailable, balancing her roles as a wife, mother, and student. Her journey required passing challenging exams to bypass some courses and attending others at clinical sites. Additionally, achieving her NCSN certification was a significant milestone, marking her first major exam since graduating from ECU in 1987! 🏆 Career Highlights: Ms. Britt’s accomplishments reflect her resilience and commitment to growth, demonstrating her ability to excel in the face of challenges and adapt to changing educational demands. 💡 Why Nursing? Ms. Britt’s passion for nursing began during her teenage years as a candy striper in a local nursing home. Helping residents with non-medical tasks ignited her love for caregiving and a curiosity for the medical field that inspired her career. 🐾 What Being a Panther Means: To Ms. Britt, being part of the Panther family means working as a team and supporting one another—a true testament to the unity and collaboration that defines WCHS. 👏 Let’s celebrate Ms. Britt’s dedication, compassion, and impactful contributions to our Panther community! #PantherPride #HallwayHeroes #WCHS

Join us today to cheer on our 6th-8th grade basketball teams as they play their first game on our new campus! Tip-off is at 4 PM—don’t miss it!

Washington County Schools was made aware of a recent cybersecurity incident involving PowerSchool by the North Carolina Department of Instruction (NCDPI). The incident impacted student and staff data globally. We are still in the early stages of this development and in the information gathering process. However, our Technology Innovations Department has been working with PowerSchool and the NCDPI. From their analysis, it appears that no student's password, grades, or social security number was accessed by the hacker. However, other student information, including medical, discipline, and custody related alerts, demographic data, student UID, and contact information, was compromised. It also appears that staff members with PowerSchool access had their phone numbers, email addresses, addresses, and UIDs compromised. Additionally, the hacker accessed approximately 515 active staff members' social security numbers. We were informed by PowerSchool that it has confirmed that the breach involved unauthorized access due to compromised credentials of one of its contract employees. “PowerSchool has shared that the threat has been contained and that the compromised data was not shared and has been destroyed.” Importantly, per PowerSchool, there are no additional copies of the compromised data in existence. PowerSchool is also working with law enforcement to monitor the dark web for any data exposure. Upon notification of this incident,Washington County Schools has been in communication with NCDPI and Powerschool and will continue to actively work alongside both entities to ensure that all notifications required of PowerSchool are conducted. It is important to stress that there is nothing that WCS could have done to avoid this situation as we did not have administrative access to the maintenance tunnel where the breach occurred. Our commitment to protect student and educator data is a top priority. For additional details and FAQs, please visit PowerSchool's public website - https://www.powerschool.com/security/sis-incident/

🎉 Hallway Hero Spotlight: Maxwell Woode 🎉 Today, we’re excited to recognize another exceptional member of the Panther family! Meet Mr. Maxwell Woode, an inspiring educator with 14 years of teaching experience who has made a global impact as an international teacher. 💙🐾 📚 Education & Credentials: Diploma in Basic Education – Akrokerri College of Education Bachelor of Education in Mathematics with a minor in Accounting – Valley View University 🌟 Greatest Accomplishments: Served as a facilitator in Teachers' In-Service Training at his district, recognized for his dedication and hard work. Held the role of local Secretary for the Ghana National Association of Teachers for four years. Helped countless students excel in their Basic and Senior High Education Examinations through innovative teaching strategies. Coached students to victory in both a soccer competition and a quiz competition during his elementary school teaching days. 🏆 Career Highlights: Mr. Woode has inspired many students over the years and achieved the milestone of becoming an international teacher, broadening his influence and impact. 💡 Why Education? Mr. Woode believes in the uniqueness of every individual. He is passionate about helping students unlock their full potential through the right exposure, guidance, and teaching methodologies. 🐾 What Being a Panther Means: To Mr. Woode, being part of the Panther community means belonging to a solid, supportive, and inclusive team where everyone feels valued and included, no matter their background. 👏 Let’s celebrate Mr. Woode’s dedication to education and his outstanding contributions to our Panther family! #PantherPride #HallwayHeroes #WCHS

🏀🐾 Panther Nation, it’s game time! 🐾🏀 Join us this Friday, January 17th, for the first-ever home game in our brand-new facility! Come cheer on our 9-12th JV, Lady Panthers, and Varsity as they bring the heat on their home court! 🎟 Details: 📅 When: Friday, January 17th 📍 Where: New Gymnasium Facility 3177 US-64, Plymouth NC 27962 🅿️ Parking: Lot directly beside the gymnasium Click here below for tickets: https://gofan.co/event/3009441 🚨 Important Reminders: Security will be strictly enforced for everyone’s safety. Hoodies are not allowed to be worn on your head inside the building. Let’s pack the gym and show our Panther pride! See you there! 💪💙 #PantherNation

The JROTC Cadet Leadership donated over 60 gently used coats and sweaters to support families in need within the community.

🎉 Hallway Hero Spotlight: Jalaiyah Tann 🎉 Today's Hallway Hero is Ms. Jalaiyah Tann, an 8th-grade science teacher dedicated to fostering growth and curiosity in her students. 🌟🐾 📚 Education & Credentials: Associate in Science – Martin Community College Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Technology – Martin Community College Bachelor of Arts in Psychology – North Carolina State University 🌟 Greatest Accomplishment: Ms. Tann takes immense pride in helping students grow academically and personally. She recalls transforming the academic confidence of a student who once struggled in science by using tailored lessons, hands-on experiments, and consistent encouragement. Through her dedication, she ignited a passion for learning in her students and proved to them—and herself—that anything is possible with the right support. 🏆 Career Highlights: Incorporating hands-on activities and relatable experiments to make science engaging and accessible. Watching students’ confidence and test scores soar, proving that learning is not just about passing a test but fostering curiosity and critical thinking. 💡 Why Education? Ms. Tann chose to be an educator to inspire and empower students, just as her own teachers did for her. She believes in the transformative power of education and sees science as a way to nurture curiosity and prepare students for the challenges of life. 🐾 What Being a Panther Means: For Ms. Tann, being a Panther is about belonging, support, and shared success. It’s a commitment to lifting one another up and creating an environment where students, teachers, and families can thrive together. 👏 Join us in celebrating Ms. Tann’s contributions to our Panther family and her unwavering dedication to our students’ success! #PantherPride #HallwayHeroes #WCHS

Our welding students are officially up and running in the new welding booths! Today marks their first day in action, utilizing Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) techniques to hone their skills. 💪⚙️ #CTE #Welding #SMAW #HandsOnLearning #FutureWelders #PantherPride

🎉 Hallway Hero Spotlight: Vintonya Belcher 🎉 Today, we proudly highlight another extraordinary member of the Panther family: Ms. Vintonya Belcher! With 18+ years in education, Ms. Belcher’s journey exemplifies dedication, passion, and a commitment to making a lasting difference. 💙🐾 📚 Education & Credentials: Elizabeth City State University (ECSU): BS M.Ed. Currently near completion of her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership (MEd-EDL) 🌟 Greatest Accomplishment: Ms. Belcher finds her greatest joy in seeing students overcome struggles—be it behavioral or academic—and achieve significant growth and confidence in their abilities. Witnessing these transformations fuels her dedication to education. 🏆 Career Milestones: Earning her M.Ed. Advancing her professional journey by working toward a leadership-focused M.Ed-EDL degree 💡 Why Education? Ms. Belcher’s inspiration to teach comes from her aunt, who modeled the power of resilience, dedication, and compassion in education. Starting as a classroom teacher and now serving as a program case manager, Ms. Belcher is driven by the opportunity to empower students to overcome behavioral challenges and reach their full potential through evidence-based strategies and unwavering support. 🐾 What Being a Panther Means: To Ms. Belcher, being a Panther means creating a community of belonging, acceptance, and support—a space where everyone feels valued and inspired to grow, both academically and personally. 👏 Message to Fellow Panthers: “The spirit of being a Panther fosters unity and pride, lifting team and student morale and building a strong foundation for collective success!” Let’s cheer on Ms. Belcher for her incredible work and the positive impact she continues to make in our Panther community! #PantherPride #HallwayHeroes #WCHS

January is School Board Appreciation Month. Thank you for the important work you do in making our school district a great place for all students and educators. We appreciate you!

🎉 Welcome Back, Panthers! 🎉 We’re kicking off the year at WCHS by continuing our Hallway Hero Recognitions! 💙🐾 This week, we’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on Mr. Torrey Hines, an extraordinary educator and administrator with 29 years of dedication to education. 📚 Education & Credentials: BA in Music - North Carolina Central University Education Certifications - East Carolina University & Elizabeth City State University MA in Educational Leadership and Supervision - University of Phoenix 🌟 Greatest Accomplishment: Mr. Hines began as a lateral entry teacher and has worked tirelessly to rise to the role of administrator. Despite many challenges, his determination and perseverance paved the way for this incredible journey. 🏆 Career Highlights: Named School Teacher of the Year three times Recognized by the Governor of NC for leading a band program in national events Led a band to the U.S. Army All-American Band National Competition Secured 2 NCSBDA State Marching Band Championships Achieved 2 High-Step National Drumline Championships and a Top 3 national ranking Honored by the Grammy Foundation for excellence in schools and community Elevated a school’s letter grade in his first year as principal 💡 Why Education? Mr. Hines chose this field to be a positive force in the lives of youth, believing education is the key to empowering future generations. 🐾 What Being a Panther Means: For Mr. Hines, being part of the Panther community embodies belonging, resilience, and unity, with a collective commitment to growth and positive change. 👏 Join us in celebrating Mr. Hines, a true Hallway Hero and a shining example of Panther pride! #PantherPride #HallwayHeroes #WCHS

Yesterday’s games were nothing short of AMAZING! Our athletes brought their A-game, showed incredible teamwork, and gave us all something to cheer about! 💪🔥

🚨Attention Parents of Early Graduates🚨 Cap and gowns have arrived! Students must pay their $60 fee to Ms. Vernessa Nobles and present their receipt to Mr. Hines to receive their cap and gown. Graduation Details: • Date: Thursday, January 23rd • Time: 6:00 PM • Location: The new facility Important Information: All cords will be distributed during graduation rehearsal. The rehearsal date will be shared with students next week.

Save the date!

OPEN HOUSE! Join us today at our new home for an open house. Come out to meet with your student scholars' teachers and locate your new classroom. This is strictly for students and their families. Be sure to only enter on the Hwy 64 side (not Hwy 45 side) for parking.