Winchester Public Schools

➡️ NEW! How to Report a Student Absence with Attendance Monitor ⬅️

WPS FAMILIES: Student absences must be reported through the PowerSchool Parent Portal in a web browser. The Attendance Monitor is NOT available in the PowerSchool app.

Visit https://bit.ly/WPSReportAbsence for more details and review instructions here:
https://bit.ly/ReportAbsenceESP (Spanish)
https://bit.ly/ReportAbsenceENG (English)

How time flies! ✈️ Just last week we were getting ready at open houses and today we are in the full swing of things. We hope all of our students and staff had a great first day and are just as excited as us to keep going! ✏️📚

Did you know... During the 2026 general election, voters in the City of Wi******er will be asked if an additional general retail sales tax not to exceed 1% be levied in the City. Revenue from the tax could only be used for qualifying capital projects involving the construction or major renovation of public schools serving the City of Wi******er. The tax would expire on July 14, 2046.

Visit www.winchesterva.gov/1-for-schools and attend a Town Hall to learn more.

Town Hall Dates:
• August 26, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. – Garland R. Quarles Elementary School (building tours start at 5:30 p.m., meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.)
• September 10, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. – Frederick Douglass Elementary School
• September 23, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. – Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School
• October 15, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. – Daniel Morgan Middle School

Wi******er Public Schools

🌟 Convocation 2026 🌟

Our annual Convocation was just as inspiring as it was exciting! Ms. Leslie Cornwell, WPS Teacher of the Year, reminded us that we have just as much to learn from our students as they have to learn from us. Congratulations to our exceptional award winners and thank you to everyone who makes our community so special!

🍎 Stewart Bell Excellence in Teaching Award:
Doug Harrison, Director of Bands and Guitar Teacher at John Handley High School

🏆 Rookie of the Year Award:
Yelena Bravo Edwards, ESOL Teacher at Garland R. Quarles Elementary School

🥇 Excellence in Service Awards:
Brenda Titus - Bus Driver
Susan Baker - Custodian at Daniel Morgan Middle School
Kim Hurlbut - Teaching Assistant at Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School

Wi******er Education Foundation Awards

📚 Navy Federal Credit Union Education Grants:
Rachel Levi - Data Coordinator at Central Office
Natosha Fradillada - Guidance Counselor at JHHS
Nicole Hobson - Multi Classroom Leader at Daniel Morgan Intermediate School

📖 Mindy Loy "Come Back to Teach” Education Grants:
Jennifer O’Connell - ESOL Teacher at DMMS
Fenton Todd, Jr. - Special Education Teacher at DMMS
Klio Stroubakis - Science Teacher at DMMS
Carissa Phillips - Special Education Teacher at DMMS

🤝 Wi******er Education Association Friend of Education Award: Claire Prosser

🏫 Teachers of the Year:
Julia Cabrerizo - Frederick Douglass Elementary School Teacher of the Year
Jennifer Berry - GQES Teacher of the Year
Alee Smith - John Kerr Elementary School Teacher of the Year
Kate Dean - VACDES Teacher of the Year
Anita Gesumaria - DMIS Teacher of the Year
Kelly Staubs - DMMS Teacher of the Year
Leslie Cornwell - JHHS Teacher of the Year and WPS Teacher of the Year

🎒📸 Show us your First Day Pics!
We want to see your WPS First Day moments — big smiles, front-porch pictures, bus stop excitement and everything in between!
👇 Share a photo in the comments
📩 OR send it to us in a DM
🔒 Please keep personal information private — no last names, addresses or other identifying details.
We can't wait to share these pictures of our students from our favorite day of the year!🎊

WPS School Board Meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. at the Douglas School (598 N Kent St). Meeting agenda and YouTube streaming information may be accessed online at https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/wps/Board.nsf/Public
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