School phone number: (540)828-6081

Greetings John Wayland Families,

It feels like a brand new year has started after missing a week of school due to snow and ice.  That was a crazy storm!  I hope everyone was able to stay warm and safe while we were away.

In this edition of the Jaguar Jiggy Journal we have information about snow make-up days (there aren't any yet) and a refresher on the morning drop-off routine for families who drive their children to school.  We are also highlighting two groups of people who are often overlooked and work behind the scenes, but whose work is vital to every aspect of the learning that takes place at John Wayland Elementary School each and every day: The Rockingham County School Board and our John Wayland Elementary School counseling team.  

We also want to give everyone a reminder that we are not in school on February 16th and 17th due to staff developement and parent teacher conferences.  Make sure to mark the calendar!

Have a great weekend!

Mr. Granger, Principal

No make-up days are scheduled and there have been no changes to the original school calendar.  At this point we have missed 8 full days of school in addition to several 2-hour delays.  The school division plans for missed days due to weather, so our calendar has a few days built in for just this sort of scenerio. 

We've noticed as the year has progressed that more and more car riders are being dropped off after the second bell at 8:20AM.  We know that getting young children to school can be a challenge some mornings, and we really want to accommodate as many car riders as possible.  But our staff have other duties in the building once the tardy bell rings and will no longer be able to stay in the car drop-off loop after 8:20AM.  Any child not inside at that time will need to be brought into the building and checked in through our office.

Rockingham County School Board Members:  Hilary Irons, Jackie Lohr, Sara Horst (chair), Ashley Burgoyne (Vice Chair), Hollie Cave

February is Virginia School Board Appreciation Month.  The theme this year is "From Strong Roots, Come Endless Possibilities."  The Rockingham County School Board ensures every student has the resources needed to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential.  School Board members are our neighbors, and as part of our community they have a strong interest in having schools that function well and provide an excellent education.  Serving on the school board requires a great deal of time, energy, communication, and hard work.  School board members voluntarily tackle the enormous job of governing a multi-million-dollar public school division while preserving the core of who we are as a community.

You can view a message from the Virginia School Board Assocaition President Jenny Nichols in which she shares a message to encourage participation in School Board Appreciation Month at this link:  https://youtu.be/03iyLscAvYw

If you would like to attend a school board meeting they are open to the public. You can find their meeting schedule at this link: https://www.rcps.net/o/rcps/page/school-board-meeting-schedule-2026

This week is National School Counselor Appreciation week.  The theme is "School Counselors Amplify Student Success." National School Counseling Week, presented by the American School Counsleor Association, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success.

Our school counselors help each and every student apply academic achievement strategies, manage their emotions, and apply interpersonal skills.  They can also provide short-term counseling to students and referrals for long-term support.  Our school counselors are often key members of support teams for students.

John Wayland Elementary School's counselors are Mrs. Angie Strite and Mrs. Emily Long.  Mrs. Strite has been at John Wayland Elementary School for 3 years and this is Mrs. Long's 2nd year at our school.  While both of our school counselors are availalbe to all of the students, in order to manage the work more efficiently they have divided their work by grade levels, switching grade levels every year so that they follow the same group of students as they advance through elementary school.

If you ever need to reach them or have any questions about how they can support your child you can reach them by email:

Mrs. Long (Kindergarten, 2nd Grade and 4th Grade): elong@rockingham.k12.va.us

Mrs. Strite (PreK, 1st, 3rd and 5th): astrite@rockingham.k12.va.us 

Here's a message about School Counselor Apprecaition week from our school division's Supervisor of Support Services, Emily Holloway:

This week, we proudly recognize National School Counselor Week and celebrate the incredible impact our school counselors have on students, staff, and families every day.
Our counselors truly "amplify student success" through their unwavering commitment to academic growth, social-emotional well-being, and postsecondary readiness. They are often the steady presence behind the scenes, listening, advocating, problem-solving, and guiding students through challenges big and small. Their work supports not only individual students but also strengthens our entire school communities.

We are grateful for the compassion, professionalism, and dedication our counselors bring to their roles. They collaborate closely with teachers, administrators, and support staff to ensure students feel supported, connected, and empowered to reach their full potential.

Please join me in taking a moment this week to thank our school counselors for all they do. A kind word, note of appreciation, or simple acknowledgment goes a long way in recognizing their vital contributions.

Thank you to our amazing school counselors for the difference you make every day.

Breakfast and lunch are available for purchase to every student at John Wayland Elementary School each day.  Daily menus and information about the cost of each meal can be found at: https://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/index.php?sid=1496945305215 

Monday-Friday, February 2-6: School Counselor Appreciation Week

Thursday, February 5: Wayland Singers performance

Monday & Tuesday, February 16 & 17: Teacher Workdays (No School) and Family Conferences

Need a new t-shirt?  Looking for a nice fitting hoodie?  Wondering where all those great looking John Wayland clothes come from?  Look no further.  The University Outpost has created a site you can use to order a number of great items that not only look great, but support the school as well.  The University Outpost will donate 15% of every purchase back to the school.

You can find t-shirts, hoodies, polos and more at this site: https://stores.inksoft.com/john_wayland_elementary_school/shop/products/all?page=1

We are working hard to make sure this year is a great one for your child. I’m energized by the opportunity to partner with you to support your child’s growth—academically, socially, and emotionally.

For updates, reminders, and celebrations throughout the year, be sure to follow John Wayland Elementary School on Facebook.  Also, Rockingham County Public Schools has an incredible new app called the RCPSApp that allows you to stay connected to the latest news and information about our school and the division.