Tappahannock Elementary School

🌟 Happy Employee Appreciation Day! 🌟 Today, we celebrate and express our deepest gratitude to the incredible team that makes Essex County Public Schools a place of learning, growth, and support for our students. To our teachers, paraprofessionals, staff members, school counselors, social workers, bus and car drivers, cafeteria workers, administrative assistance, custodians, psychologists, central office staff, school board members, and all other dedicated employees—thank you for your unwavering commitment, passion, and hard work. Your impact goes beyond the classroom, shaping the future of our students and community every day. We appreciate each of you and recognize the difference you make in the lives of our students and families. ECPS is stronger because of YOU! Again, Thank You!

Happy National School Social Work Week! This week, we celebrate and recognize the incredible work of our school social worker, Ms. Rachel Austria! Ms. Austria plays a vital role in supporting the well-being of our students and families, across all of our schools. Whether she’s providing resources, offering guidance, or advocating for students' needs, her dedication makes a lasting impact every single day. Thank you, Ms. Austria, for your compassion, commitment, and the countless ways you uplift and empower our school community. Your work does not go unnoticed, and we are beyond grateful for all that you do! Again, Thank you.

📢 Happy School Board Clerk Appreciation Week! 🎉 This week, we take a moment to recognize and celebrate the incredible work of our School Board Clerk Ms. Sharon Saunders. She goes above and beyond expectations every day, ensuring our school board, superintendent, and schools stay organized and supported. Her years of service, dedication, and countless acts of kindness do not go unnoticed. Thank you, Ms. Sharon Saunders, for your commitment, patience, and hard work! We truly appreciate everything you do to keep things running smoothly.

Good Evening, ECPS Families, We hope this message finds everyone well. Essex County Public Schools will be closed on Friday, February 21, 2025, and will operate with a Virtual Asynchronous Learning Day. Thorough assessments of the roads have been conducted throughout the day. Cheaney's Bridge Road, Bestland Road, Dunnsville & Johnsville Road and Southside Lane are still unsafe for traveling. Administrators and essential personnel are asked to report at 10:00 a.m., if possible. Thanks for your attention and please be safe.

Good evening, ECPS Families: We hope this message finds everyone well. Due to inclement weather and unsafe traveling conditions, Essex County Public Schools will be closed for in- person instruction on Thursday, February 20, 2025, and will operate with a Virtual Asynchronous Learning Day. Thanks for your attention and please remain safe.

Good Evening, ECPS Families: Please be advised that the following announcement is a change from the message that was sent earlier this evening: Essex County Public Schools will now be closed for in-person instruction and will operate with a Virtual Asynchronous Learning Day on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, due to updated inclement weather information that will make it unsafe for travel. Thanks for your attention and please be safe.

Good evening, ECPS Families: We hope this message finds everyone well and safe. Please be advised that Essex County Public Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay on Friday, February 14, 2025. Thanks for your attention and enjoy the rest of your evening.

Good Evening, ECPS Families: We hope this message finds everyone well. Thursday, February 13, 2025, will be a Virtual Asynchronous Learning Day for students of Essex County Public Schools. Administrators should report by 10:00 a.m. and essential personnel should be on site as soon as possible. Thanks for you attention and please stay safe.

The School Board Meeting will be held on February 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. A Work Session will take place at 5:00 p.m., followed by a Closed Session at 6:00 p.m. At 6:45 p.m., there will be a Public Hearing on the Proposed FY 2025-2026 Budget Calendar. All are welcome to attend.

Good Evening, ECPS Families: We hope this message finds everyone well. Due to inclement weather and dangerous road conditions, Wednesday, February 12, 2025, will be an asynchronous virtual learning day for all students and staff.of Essex County Public Schools. Thanks for your attention and please be safe!

Good evening, ECPS Families, We hope this message finds everyone well. Due to the inclement weather forecast, Tuesday, February 11, 2025, will be an asynchronous virtual learning day for all students and staff.of Essex County Public Schools. Thanks for your attention and please be safe.

Empowering Our Paraeducators! Today, Essex County Public Schools had the privilege of welcoming guest speakers from The College of William and Mary TTAC for an engaging and impactful professional development session tailored for our dedicated paraeducators. Through interactive breakout sessions, our paras explored High Leverage Practice : Providing Positive and Constructive Feedback and High Leverage Practice : Teaching Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategies. These essential skills equip our team with strategies to foster student success, reinforce learning, and create a more supportive classroom environment. We are grateful for the knowledge shared and the commitment of our paraeducators to continuous growth and excellence. Thank you, William and Mary TTAC, for an enriching learning experience!

🎉🏆 Congratulations to our Division Teacher of the Year! 🏆🎉 Essex County Public Schools proudly recognizes Ms. Michelle Dungee as our 2024 - 2025 Teacher of the Year! Ms. Dungee’s dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to student success make a lasting impact every day. Her extraordinary empathy and passion for education truly inspire both her students and colleagues. We are grateful for her dedication and the positive impact she makes in the lives of our students—thank you, Ms. Dungee!

Good Evening, ECPS Families: We hope this message finds everyone well. Please be reminded that Essex County Public Schools will dismiss students at 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 2025. Parent conferences will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and you may contact your child's school to schedule an appointment. Thanks for your attention and enjoy the rest of your evening.

🎉 Celebrating Our Incredible School Counselors! 💙✨ This week, we are proud to honor our amazing school counselors during National School Counseling Week! 🎉 Our counselors play a vital role in supporting our students academically, socially, and emotionally every single day. 🌟 Tappahannock Elementary School – Ms. Natalie Mitchell 🌟 James H. Cary Intermediate School – Ms. Anya Robinson 🌟 Essex High School – Ms. Kristin Aitken These dedicated professionals go above and beyond to guide, encourage, and advocate for our students, helping them navigate challenges and achieve success. Thank you for all you do to support, inspire, and uplift our students every day!

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff, Due to a significant increase in illness-related absences across our schools, Friday, January 31, will be an asynchronous virtual learning day for all students and staff. This decision allows those who are ill to rest and recover while also helping to prevent further spread of illness. As an example of the impact, today alone, the high school reported 100 student absences due to illness. In addition, this closure will provide our custodial teams the opportunity to conduct a deep cleaning of all school buildings to ensure a healthier environment when students and staff return. Each school has shared "snow day plans" with their students. Students should follow the "snow day" guidance they received from their teachers for any assignments. Staff will also be working remotely and will be available during normal school hours via email. Thank you for your understanding and support as we prioritize the health and well-being of our school community. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher. Sincerely, Dr. Cyndee Blount Chief Academic Officer

Good Evening, ECPS Families: We hope that everyone is well and had a good day. Please be advised that Essex County Public Schools will operate on a 2-hour delay on Thursday, January 23, 2025, due to unsafe road conditions in some parts of the county. Thanks for your attention and please be safe.

Good morning, ECPS Families: We hope this message finds everyone well. Please be advised that Essex County Public Schools will now be closed today, January 22, 2025, due to dangerous road conditions. Thanks for your attention and please be safe.

Good Evening, ECPS Families: We hope this message finds everyone well. Please be advised that Essex County Public Schools will be operating on a 2 hour delay on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, due to inclement weather and road conditions. Thanks for your attention and please be safe.

🎉✨ Congratulations to our amazing Teacher of the Year, Ms. Dungee! ✨🎉 We are so proud to celebrate Ms. Dungee, our incredible 4th-grade teacher, for her dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to her students. She goes above and beyond every day to create a positive, inspiring, and fun learning environment! 🌟 Thank you for making a difference in the lives of so many students, Ms. Dungee. You truly deserve this honor! 🙌📚👏