Ruskin Elementary School students, parents, and staff members enjoyed gathering at the Community Center at Garlington Heights to hold Parent/Teacher Conferences. Students were thrilled to see teachers and staff members from Ruskin arrive at the community center and enjoyed playing football with Coach Sharpe while Principal Donna Solomon students' homes and... READ MORE >
Families and students were treated to Thanksgiving Dinner, including all the traditional Thanksgiving delights, at Ruskin Elementary School. While there, they also visited the school’s book fair. Students were so excited to welcome their families to the special event. Students created special decorations for the cafeteria, and the festive atmosphere was enjoyed by... READ MORE >
Over 22 teams from Waycross Middle School competed in the Ware County Student Technology Competition hosted by Ware County Schools Media Specialists on December 7th. Nearly 25 Waycross Middle students placed 1st or 2nd and will advance to the regional competition on Friday, January 31, 2020 at South Georgia State College. "We are very proud of all of our students... READ MORE >
Ware County Middle School FFA members presented their projects at the December school board meeting. We are very proud of Zoe C., Lindsay C., Maddox L., and Caidyn G.’s achievements! READ MORE >
Ware County Middle School takes great pleasure in nominating Alicia Thornton for the classified Golden Achievement Award. She comes to work each day ready to tackle whatever tasks that may come her way. Although it is often messy, she never complains about cleaning up after each event. Appearance is very important to our athletic program staff members, and Ms.... READ MORE >
Ware County Middle School takes great pleasure in nominating Jessica Carter for the certified Golden Achievement Award. Mrs. Carter is known as someone who is always ready to lend a helping hand. She goes over and beyond to make sure new and aspiring teachers are well-trained, and she models best practice lessons for her colleagues. Mrs. Carter is the National... READ MORE >
The public is invited to attend the 3rd Annual Southeast Georgia First Lego League Robotics Tournament hosted by the Ware County School District STEM Department at the Waycross Middle School gym on Saturday, December 14th. Thirteen teams of ten students in 4th-8th grade will be competing from the following counties: Tift, Camden, Clinch, Pierce, Toombs (Vidalia... READ MORE >
DAFFODIL Pre-K registration for the 2020-2021 school year will soon be underway. Parents and guardians are invited to stop by the school, located at 1321 Buchannon St., Waycross, GA, January 13th – 24th to pick up a registration packet. Student registration will be held January 28 – 29, 2020 from 2:15PM to 3:30PM and will continue after the 29th from 2:15PM to... READ MORE >
The Ware County High School BETA club is hosting the 2nd Annual Lip Sync Battle on Friday, Dec. 13th during 4th block (1:35pm) in the Performing Arts Center, and the community is invited! Pre-sale VIP tickets, which include a snack and drink, are $5. Regular tickets are $2 when purchased in advance and $5 at the door. Pre-sale tickets will be available at all lunch... READ MORE >
Happy Thanksgiving from the Ware County Schools Family to yours! Friday, Nov. 22nd is an Early Release Day, followed by Thanksgiving Holidays the week of Nov. 25th. School will resume Monday, Dec. 2nd. We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday! READ MORE >
Friday, Nov. 22nd is an Early Release Day! READ MORE >
The Ware County Board of Education approved the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 Ware County Schools calendars at the November board meeting. The 2020-2021 calendar can be found at https://5il.co/bb0j, and the 2021-2022 is available for viewing at https://5il.co/bb0u. READ MORE >
The November 2019 Classified Golden Achievement Award Winner is Mr. Donnie Pittman from Waresboro Elementary School. Mr. Donnie has served the Ware County School System as a custodian since 1993 and Waresboro Elementary School since 2010; he has been an asset at each school he has served. He is a selfless person and a hard worker who arrives early to make sure the... READ MORE >
The November 2019 Certified Golden Achievement Award winner is Mrs. Patricia Robertson from Waresboro Elementary School. She has served the Ware County School System as a Special Education teacher since 2006 and is married to Lee Robertson, who serves as Academy Principal at Ware County High School. She has two sons, Joe and Jon, who attend Ware County High School.... READ MORE >
The Waycross Middle School football team was recognized at the Ware County Schools November Board Meeting as the Southeast Georgia Middle School Conference Champs. This is the 4th year running the Bulldogs have won the conference. Way to go! READ MORE >
Waresboro Elementary School students Millee D. and Kruz O., assisted by teacher Donna Rowe, presented a moving tribute to members of the Armed Forces at the November board meeting. Superintendent Bert Smith recognized all veterans attending the meeting. We are so grateful for the service of all of the armed forces members whose sacrifices allow us the freedoms we... READ MORE >
Progress Reports will be sent home to all students on Thursday, Nov. 14th. Please check your child's backpack. Thank you! READ MORE >
Micah M., a Culinary Arts student at Ware County High School, took away top honors in the Georgia National Fair's Peanut Recipe competition - for the second year in a row! Competitors came from FCCLA chapters across the state to develop a sweet, peanut-based dish for the competition. Micah experimented with several options before deciding to enter her original... READ MORE >
Mr. Sammy Daniels, a custodian at Williams Heights Elementary, is this month’s Golden Achievement Classified Award winner. Mrs. Smallwood, WHES principal, noted that Mr. Sammy always has a smile and a kind word to share with everyone. He works very hard to keep the school in tip-top shape. Congratulations, Mr. Sammy! We are glad you’re part of the Ware County... READ MORE >
Mrs. Heather Thigpen, media specialist at Williams Heights Elementary, is this month’s Certified Golden Achievement Award winner. Principal Staci Smallwood described Mrs. Thigpen as someone who works tirelessly to ensure the Media Center is a welcome haven for students and teachers alike. She is a vital member of the WHES staff, and we are proud of her... READ MORE >
Ware County Schools administrators representing every school were recognized at the October board meeting with a certificate acknowledging “Accreditation with Quality” from the Georgia Accrediting Commission, Inc. READ MORE >
Members of the Ware County Schools transportation staff were recognized at the October Board Meeting for Bus Driver Appreciation Week, which is Oct. 21-25, 2019. We ❤️ our transportation staff! Please let them know how much you appreciate the valuable service they provide. READ MORE >
Lily P. and Isabelle T. were part of a group of WHES students who presented information on the Williams Heights Elementary Lemonade Stand project held in September. The project raised $1991 for childhood cancer through the sale of lemonade and lemon-flavored treats. An anonymous donor at the October board meeting pushed the total earned over the $2000 mark!... READ MORE >
Report Cards will be issued October 10th. Please sign and return it to your child's teacher. READ MORE >
Friday, Oct. 11th is a professional learning day for staff members; students will not come to school. We will observe Fall Break Oct. 14th - 18th. Students will return to school Monday, Oct. 21st. We hope you enjoy Fall Break! READ MORE >
Members of the Ware County Board of Education will continue their practice of visiting school campuses throughout the year. The Board will have lunch with students and staff at Williams Heights Elementary School at 12:00 noon on Thursday, October 10th and then tour the facilities. No action will be taken. READ MORE >
Thirteen Ware County High students completed internships through a summer STEM internship program. In its fifth year, the program is a partnership between Ware County High School’s Work-Based Learning program and the Waycross-Ware County Chamber of Commerce. The program's goal is to provide students with relevant work experience in high-demand jobs related to... READ MORE >
Kindergarten students at Ruskin Elementary have been hard at work learning the letters of the alphabet. Students were particularly excited to learn about the letter Gg because it stands for Ware County Gators. As a Gg interactive project in Mrs. Heather Boggs and Mrs. Yvonne Lott's class, the students colored a gator, covered Gg’s with green glitter, wrote upper... READ MORE >
Ruskin Elementary is implementing a new and exciting House System to create a positive climate and culture for students and staff. The school is using the Ron Clark Academy's methods in hopes to build character, relationships, and school spirit. The students and staff at Ruskin Elementary are already seeing positive results. Students have noted that the House... READ MORE >
State School Superintendent Richard Woods has selected 130 Georgia students to serve on his Student Advisory Council. Five of the representatives are students in the Ware County School System, including Maddie P., Mcaully S., and Alexandra C. from Ware County High School and Stella K. and Amiyah E. from Waycross Middle School. Throughout the school year, these... READ MORE >
Whether you cheer for the Waycross Bulldogs or Georgia Bulldogs, Sunset T's has you covered with unique spirit gear designed by Waycross Middle School 8th grader Lauren M! Shop at this link through October 4th to support the Waycross Middle School Student Council: https://stores.sunsetts.com/waycross_middle_student_council/shop/home. Bulldog gear will be available... READ MORE >
Sunset T’s is offering online shopping for all of your Gator Gear needs! Orders are due Sept. 30th and can be picked up from Kim Callahan at Ware County High School during school hours October 9th-11th. Shop and pay right from the ease of your computer at https://stores.sunsetts.com/ware_county_high_school/shop/home! GOOOOO GATORS!! READ MORE >
Please join us for this year's Ware County High School Homecoming Parade in Downtown Waycross on Thursday, October 24th at 6:30 p.m. as the Gators prepare to take on the South Effingham Mustangs! We hope that you will consider joining us in this years parade! We would love to see all students, staff, clubs and teams from all of our schools as well as community... READ MORE >
Pre-K and Kindergarten students had a “grand” time at a special breakfast acknowledging Grandparents Day at Memorial Drive Elementary School. Students greeted grandparents with warm hugs, kisses, and cards. Kindergarten students enjoyed completing a Teddy Graham activity with their special guests. “We had such a great time getting to know all of our grandparents,”... READ MORE >
Mrs. Fostenia Cohen is the September 2019 Certified Golden Achievement Award Winner. Dr. Paul Callahan noted that she is always willing to help with any task asked of her. Additionally, her students had a 100% pass rate on end of the year tests last year. We are fortunate to have Mrs. Cohen on staff. Congratulations! Pictured: Principal Dr. Paul Callahan, Ms.... READ MORE >
Mrs. Debbie Wade, the friendly voice on the other end of the phone when you call Ware County High School, is the September 2019 Classified Golden Achievement Award Winner. Upon presenting the award, Dr. Paul Callahan noted that she is one of the most genuinely kind people he knows. Congratulations, Mrs. Wade!Pictured: Principal Dr. Paul Callahan, Mrs. Wade, and... READ MORE >
School resumes for all students and staff Friday, September 6th. Progress reports will be issued Monday, September 9th. READ MORE >
The latest track and timeline suggests that we will begin feeling the effects of Hurricane Dorian late Wednesday into early Thursday morning. Winds are expected to gust up to 50mph with sustained winds less than 39mph and rain accumulations less than 1.5in. All Ware County schools and the Central Office will remain closed on Thursday, September 5th. Staff members... READ MORE >
Due to Hurricane Dorian’s potential impact on portions of coastal Georgia, select Ware County Schools facilities will be in use as staging points or shelter for those under mandatory evacuation orders. At this time, all Ware County schools will be closed to students Tuesday and Wednesday. The current projected track suggests associated wind and rain may... READ MORE >
An Important Message from Supt. Smith9/1/199:05pmThe impact of Hurricane Dorian on our area is still unknown at this time. School officials are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to collaborate with EMA and public safety officials to make informed decisions. An official statement regarding the status of schools will be made early in the day on... READ MORE >
We are excited to announce the kick off our "Together, we're better!" series of daily tips designed to strengthen the parent/child and parent/school relationship. Look for daily tips coming your way beginning Monday, August 26th. They will be posted on our district and school websites in the Live Feed section as well as on our Facebook page. We look forward to... READ MORE >
Students and staff at Ruskin Elementary School are embracing “Kindness” as their school theme for the 2019-2020 year. An area has been designated in the hallway with the title, “Throw Kindness around like Confetti.” Students are encouraged to let others know how they are showing random acts of kindness by placing a piece of confetti explaining how they are showing... READ MORE >
The August Board Meeting of the Ware County Board of Education featured several presentations and recognitions.Mrs. Misty Burchett was recognized by Allen and Margaret McCook of the ValuTeachers organization for winning Honorable Mention in the LifeChangers competition. Mrs. Burchett is a counselor at Waresboro Elementary School and contributes much to the school's... READ MORE >
We’ve completed our first full week of classes for the 2019-2020 school year! Take some time to talk with your child about how his or her school year is going so far. Here are some questions to jumpstart the conversation so it doesn’t stall with the grunt parents often get when they ask, “How was your day?” See more at... READ MORE >
The 2019 Golden Gator Band invites you to join them for Band Day at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, August 8th from 6:00 - 8:00pm. The band will have an open rehearsal with a final performance beginning at 7:30pm. The performance will give you a preview of the 2019 show "Heroes Among Us." Concessions, Gator Cards, Gator sunglasses, and door prizes will be available.... READ MORE >
School resumes for Ware County students on Thursday, August 1, and motorists will be sharing the road with school buses once again. Please allow additional time in your daily commute to accommodate more traffic on the roadways. Our Transportation Department operates with our children’s safety as its number one priority. Help them reach their goal of delivering... READ MORE >
Click here to access our current 2019 property tax digest and 5 year history of levy READ MORE >
DAFFODIL Pre-K's Parent Orientation (for parents only, not students) will be held Wednesday July 30th and Thursday, July 31st from 4:30 - 5:30pm, according to the schedule below: July 30: Cox, Duncan, McGauley, Spradley, Strickland, A. Thomas, H. Thomas, and Tomlinson July 31: Beach, Deloach, Johnson, Locke, Moore, Taylor, and Young All sessions will take place... READ MORE >
The countdown to the 2019-2020 school year is officially on! Students will report to school on August 1, 2019. Ware County Schools will host Open House on Monday, July 29, 2019. We will continue to offer staggered times to help you get to as many school locations as needed. See the Open House flyer for times. Ninth graders are invited to attend a special... READ MORE >
Patsy Villiers, an employee of the Ware County Board of Education in the Finance Department, is the Golden Achievement Winner for the month of July. Her supervisor, Mrs. Mary Ann Chaney, noted, "Patsy is an asset to the Ware County School District and is very deserving of the Golden Achievement Award. She is hardworking, helpful and kind. We are thankful to have... READ MORE >
Congratulations to the Ware County Board of Education's Finance Department! They were recognized at the July Board Meeting with an Award of Distinction for Excellent Financial Reporting certificate, presented by Jess Woodard of the Georgia Department of Audits. Shown are (left to right) Jess Woodard, Mary Ann Chaney - Director of Finance, and staff members Alicia... READ MORE >
If you are a resident of Ware County/Waycross whose child attended home school or virtual school during the 2018-2019 school year and you would like to enroll your child in Ware County public schools in August of 2019, please contact Dr. Reginna Germano by email at rgermano@ware.k12.ga.us or by phone at 912-283-8656 to register for grade placement testing. The test... READ MORE >
Check out the latest edition of the CTAE Gator Futures newsletter at https://5il.co/80zv. Our students had an incredible school year, and we have much to celebrate! READ MORE >
The Ware County School District is proud to announce the achievement and status of the Georgia School Boards Association’s (GSBA) 2019 Exemplary School Board recognition. The recognition program is designed to showcase best practices in school governance and leadership. GSBA recognizes good school board governance to foster educational community cultures in... READ MORE >
Child Find and Proportionate Share Notice (Identification and Services for Students with Disabilities Ages 3-21) Attention: Parents of students who are educated at home or in private school settings Attention: Private School Providers in Ware County Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Ware County School... READ MORE >
Click here to view the tentative budget for all funds for July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The budget will be adopted at the Board of Education meeting on June 18, 2019 @ 6pm which will be held in the Board Room of the Central Office, 1301 Bailey St., Waycross, Georgia. READ MORE >
Ware County School Nutrition Program will be supplying free meals for children 18 and younger this summer at several locations. Serving times may vary.For more information call 912-287-2380 CLICK HERE FOR LOCATIONS AND INFORMATION READ MORE >
The Ware County School System archives and stores special education student records from the Department for Special Education for a limited time according to the Common Records Retention Schedules for school systems, under the Georgia Archives University System of Georgia. All special education records for students who have graduated in May are scheduled for... READ MORE >
Thursday and Friday, May 23rd and 24th, are Early Release Days and will mark the end of the 2018-2019 school year for students. Your child’s school will announce a detailed early release schedule for car riders and bus riders. We have enjoyed serving our families and stakeholders this year and wish for you and yours a wonderful and relaxing summer. See you in... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary School has been selected by the Student Support Team Association for Georgia Educators (SSTAGE) to receive the 2019 SSTAGE Star Award for Promising Practices at the elementary school level. In making this decision, the SSTAGE Board of Directors Site Team considered the following characteristics of effective implementation of the Pyramid of... READ MORE >
An Important Announcement from Superintendent Jim L. LeBrun and Ware County Schools Chief of the Department of Public Safety Danny Christmas: Earlier this school year, the Ware County School System implemented security checkpoints at Memorial Stadium. Please be advised that security screenings will be in force at all gates prior to and during this Saturday's... READ MORE >
Kindergarten and first grade students at Memorial Drive Elementary School recently had a visit from Miss Georgia Angus Princess, Nancy Murray. She is the daughter of Herbie and Becky Murray of Folkston, Georgia and a student at Charlton County High School. Crowned Miss Georgia Angus Princess in December, Nancy has since made it her mission to spread awareness of... READ MORE >
Three Ruskin Elementary kindergarten students have proven themselves to be Math Stars! Allie R., Trinity K., and Addie B. have earned a score of 100 on every Math Matters test for the third nine weeks grading period. Math Matters is a K-8 district-wide weekly assessment designed to build fluency and automaticity by requiring students to correctly compute as many... READ MORE >
Two teams of students from Ware County Middle School traveled to Macon, GA to compete at the Georgia State Student Technology Competition. Winning 1st place in the 5th and 6th grade Robotics competition were Evan P. and Cody G. Maddox G.and Connor C. took home first place honors in Robotics for the 7th and 8th grade competition. All four young men will be... READ MORE >
Kindergarten and first grade students at Memorial Drive Elementary participated in RadKIDS training, led by school counselor Tiffany Warren with assistance from Detective Taylor Luciano of the Waycross Police Department, Community Awareness and Education Coordinator Zina Ponsell of Magnolia House, and P.E. Coach Rebecca Kirkland. Through RadKIDS, students gained... READ MORE >
The Ware County Board of Education has selected Mr. Bert Smith as the sole finalist to fill the position of Superintendent of Ware County Schools. As prescribed by Georgia law, the school board will allow 14 days for public input. Official action will be taken at the May 23rd called meeting at 10:00am to move Mr. Smith from Principal at Ware County High School to... READ MORE >
The Ware County High School Gator Baseball Camp, designed for students ages 5-12, will be held May 30th and 31st from 9:00am - 12:00pm at Ware County High School. See details in the flyer. To register, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/yyr2lr5u. Contact Coach Jamie Ammons at jammons@ware.k12.ga.us if you have any questions. GOOOOO GATORS!! READ MORE >
The Waresboro Elementary School Science Olympiad Team is holding a fundraiser at Jerry J's on Corridor Z in Waycross, GA on Tuesday, April 30th from 5:00 - 8:00pm to raise funds to go to state competition. Tips will be taken in the dining room and drive-thru.Also, Jerry J’s will donate a percentage of profits to the Waresboro Science Olympiad Team. Please show up... READ MORE >
Students at DAFFODIL Pre-K were full of smiles for their annual Hop-a-Trunk Easter Parade, which was held last week. Students walked around the school and received eggs from each class. By the end of the walk, students had a bag full of eggs! According to DAFFODIL Pre-K teacher, Holly Thomas, “The students had a wonderful time, and the DAFFODIL faculty would... READ MORE >
After considering input from school administrators, parents, and community stakeholders, Ware County School System board members opted to discontinue the clear or mesh backpack requirement for the 2019-2020 school year. The decision was announced at the April 25th board meeting. Students may revert to using backpacks constructed of standard canvas material. Rolling... READ MORE >
An account has been created at Ameris Bank to assist the Buck Thigpen Family due to the recent storm that destroyed their home. Donations can be made at either bank location: 2110 Memorial Drive or 505 Haines Avenue. Pictured left to right: Buck, Chael, and Heather Thigpen READ MORE >
Due to the enhanced chance of high winds, tornadic activity, downed trees, and power outages, all Ware County Schools and the Central Office will be closed on Friday, April 19, 2019. Staff will not be required to report. Safety remains our top priority. READ MORE >
Kindergarten Transition Day is Monday, May 13th at 8:30am. Pre-K students and their parents are invited to visit the elementary school they will attend in the 2019-2020 school year for orientation. Please contact the elementary school your child will attend for more information. READ MORE >
You don’t want to miss the 1st annual Ware County High School Talent Show, happening April 25th at 6:30pm. Tickets are available for $2 pre-sale during all lunches or for $5 at the door. The talent show is sponsored by BETA Club; funds raised from the show will go towards reducing the expenses of 8 students who are going to BETA Nationals in Oklahoma City. The... READ MORE >
Mark your calendar to come see WCHS Gator Productions presents "SHREK The Musical". Come out and see SHREK and friends performing from the swamp to the land of Duloc! Concessions available. We’ll have popcorn, flowers for your favorite cast/crew member, "Shreklaces" (glow in the dark necklaces), raffle for a patio set with umbrella, and free pictures with the cast... READ MORE >
Autism Awareness Day is April 27th from 9am-12pm. Come join us for this important event. Details are available on the flyer. READ MORE >
Students who plan to participate in an extra-curricular activity during the 2019-2020 school year are required to have a physical on file. The school system will offer FREE physicals on Thursday, April 11th from 6:00 - 8:00pm in the Ware County High School gymnasium.Parents/guardians who are not able to bring their children at that time may have the physical... READ MORE >
The Ware County School System will observe Spring Break April 1 - 5, 2019. Students will be released early on Friday, March 29th. Buses will release at the following times:Ware County Learning Center - 11:00AMDAFFODIL Pre-K - 11:30AMCenter Elementary School - 11:45AMAll other Elementary Schools - 12:00PMWare County High School - 12:30PMWare County Middle School... READ MORE >
Registration for STEM Camp for students who have finished 1st - 7th grades by June 1, 2019 is now open. Check the flyers for more information. READ MORE >
Check out the latest edition of the Gator Futures newsletter featuring information about our CTAE programs! READ MORE >
Center Elementary Principal Tyler A. Bennett and his staff are grateful to have a new community business relationship to help support students. Mr. Earl Ellis, an agent with Colonial Life, is serving on Center Elementary's Parent Advisory Council. Mr. Ellis also made a generous donation to the school, which will be used to directly support students. Community input... READ MORE >
Principal Linda Houseal announced that registration is still open for DAFFODIL Pre-K for the 2019-2020 school year. Parents and guardians are invited to come by the school, located at 1321 Buchannon St., to pick up a registration packet. Completed registration packets may be returned between the hours of 2:15pm - 5:00pm daily until all classes are filled. Note:... READ MORE >
Principal Linda Houseal announced that registration is still open for DAFFODIL Pre-K for the 2019-2020 school year. Parents and guardians are invited to come by the school, located at 1321 Buchannon St., to pick up a registration packet. Completed registration packets may be returned between the hours of 2:15pm - 5:00pm daily until all classes are filled. Note:... READ MORE >
Ware County High School experienced its highest state competition participation to date, with a total of 12 students qualifying for the Georgia Student Technology Competition held on March 9 at Middle Georgia State University in Macon. Since the beginning of the district and regional level technology competition in 2015, the number of participants and winners from... READ MORE >
Kindergarten Registration for the 2019-2020 is open March 18 - 29, 2019 daily from 8:00am - 3:00pm. Parents and guardians should go to the school for which their child is zoned to complete the registration process. Please bring with you" Proof of Child’s Residence Child’s Certified Birth Certificate Child’s Complete Georgia Immunization Record ... READ MORE >
The Ware County Board of Education will meet in a Called Meeting on Friday, March 15, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. to discuss personnel items and any other miscellaneous items. The meeting will take place at 1301 Bailey Street. The public is invited. The meeting agenda is posted prior to the meeting and the minutes are posted as well on the system web page at... READ MORE >
Thirteen Ruskin Elementary fourth grade students were inducted into the National Elementary Honor Society, a prestigious organization that recognizes students' outstanding devotion to the four areas of excellence emphasized by NEHS: responsibility, service, scholarship, and leadership. Fifth grade NEHS members conducted the induction ceremony with assistance from... READ MORE >
Wacona Elementary School’s Vex IQ Robotics Team has had an awesome season! This year, the team attended four competitions, placing in the top 12 at each one. Wacona competed with four robots in the State Championship held recently in Cumming, Georgia. Out of 41 teams, Wacona Elementary was the only team hailing from south of Atlanta. Students competed in Skills... READ MORE >
Area superintendents and the Executive Director of Okefenokee RESA met with various legislators, the Lt. Governor, and other state dignitaries under the Gold Dome on Monday, March 4th to discuss important educational issues and pending legislation. They are pictured here on the interior steps of the Capitol. READ MORE >
8th grade students and their parents, guardians, or caregivers are invited to the 2019 Gator Prep Zone to be held on Tuesday, March 19 in the Performing Arts Center at WCHS. The first presentation will begin at 5:00 pm and a second will begin at 6:00 pm. This exciting event is the students' first step in their high school career! READ MORE >
On Friday, February 15th, Gov. Brian Kemp signed his first piece of legislation into law. Senate Bill (SB) 25 specifies when traffic should stop for school buses that are loading or unloading passengers. SB 25 reverses last year’s House Bill (HB) 978, which allowed oncoming traffic to continue on a four-lane divided highway if there was a painted turn lane dividing... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary would like to invite all former Wildcats to our 60th Anniversary Celebration! Former Wildcats include any past students, faculty, or stakeholders. Please join us Friday, March 1, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. for a walk down memory lane as we celebrate 60 years of excellence in education. If you are interested in participating, please call the front... READ MORE >
On January 17th, Ware County Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members traveled to Coffee County High School for the FBLA Region Leadership Conference, where 38 members competed in 23 events related to business and leadership. Thirty-four of the students placed in the top 10. Overall, WCHS FBLA had 11 first place winners, 11 second place winners, 6 third... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary School recently donated hygiene and canned food items to the House of Hope, a local charity that offers emergency assistance to the Waycross community. During the month of January, students brought in needed items, and the winning homeroom was awarded a pizza party. Bringing in the most items this year was Mrs. Trina Dill's first grade... READ MORE >
Dr. Shawanna Johnson and Mrs. Ann Nettles’ students enjoyed learning all about fairy tales and nursery rhymes during the month of January. A few of their favorite nursery rhymes and fairy tales were Humpty Dumpty, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Little Red Riding Hood, and Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Students participated in STEM activities, writing activities,... READ MORE >
Parents/Guardians looking to apply for Intradistrict Transfer to a different school within the district for the 2019-2020 school year must complete this form and submit it to the Ware County Board of Education by 4:30pm on Feb. 28th. https://5il.co/6evj READ MORE >
Willow D., a fifth grader at Wacona Elementary School, has won the district spelling bee and will advance to the regional tournament to be held later this month; the winning word was candidate. Sixth grader Dallas B., from Ware County Middle School, is first runner-up and will serve as the alternate in the event Willow is unable to compete. All contestants... READ MORE >
Center Elementary School hosted its annual school Spelling Bee on Friday, January 18th in the school's Media Center. Fifth grader Candace A. is the Spelling Bee Champion, while fellow classmate Rhianna D. is runner-up. Hector E. placed third in the school's competition. Candace will advance to the district's spelling competition to face winners from other schools... READ MORE >
The Georgia Deparment of Education's Parent Satisfaction Survey for parents/guardians whose children receive Special Education Services is now open. The survey helps the state determine perceptions of the success of parent engagement efforts. The survey will remain open through May 31st. Please click the link to access the survey. NOTE: This survey is only for... READ MORE >
The Response to Intervention (RtI) and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) teams from Memorial Drive Elementary School presented this past week in Athens, Georgia at the Student Support Team Association for Georgia Educators (SSTAGE) Conference.Presenting on academic, gifted and behavior RtI tiers and PBIS procedures were (L-R), Mrs. Tiffany Warren... READ MORE >
Guests were recently welcomed to the campus of the Ware County Learning Center to offer encouragement and support to students during report card conferencing. Volunteers were stationed at various tables throughout the cafeteria. As students entered the room, they were greeted by their assigned volunteer, who talked with the student about their grades, their goals... READ MORE >
Justin Wesson, Timber Marketing Forester with Rayonier, visited Mrs. Christa Wesson and Ms. Lisa Tyre’s third-grade classes at Center Elementary School. Mr. Wesson spoke to the classes about forests, how trees grow, timber as a renewable resource, and the many products that are made from trees. Mr. Wesson read the story Our Family’s Tree Farm and taught the class... READ MORE >
More than 100 elementary and middle school VEX IQ Challenge students and mentors from around Central and Southeast Georgia will unite at Ware County Middle School on February 2nd for the VEX IQ Challenge. The action-packed event will feature more than 15 teams who will collaborate with other schools in a series of back-to-back robot challenges, made possible by... READ MORE >
On January 9, over 8000 genetically improved pine seedlings were planted on approximately 12 acres at Ware County High School. The trees were planted on land that is part of the renovated school forest plot, a site that will be used to teach students many concepts related to forestry science and management. The entire planting process was accomplished with the... READ MORE >
During the month of December, students and staff at Williams Heights Elementary collected canned goods for the annual Salvation Army Canned Food Drive. Student members of the National Elementary Honor Society were responsible for class collection and counting of the donations. We are proud to announce in less than 1 month, Williams Heights Elementary was able to... READ MORE >
Ruskin Elementary School’s National Elementary Honor Society students coordinated their annual Holiday Food Drive to support the local Salvation Army's Christmas Assistance Program. This program provides assistance to local families in need during the holiday season. In a spirit of generosity, students throughout the school demonstrated their joy for giving to... READ MORE >
Williams Heights Elementary School hosted “Hibernate with a Good Book”, a literacy night for students and families. This event was held to encourage students to read outside the classroom, for families to get involved in their child’s education, and to provide parents with tools to help their child read at home. Families were greeted with a presentation on how... READ MORE >
Dallas B. (left) is the Ware County Middle School Spelling Bee Champion and will go on to compete at the District Spelling Bee in February. Clayton L.. (right) is the runner-up. Congratulations to these fine scholars! Dr. Darlene Tanner is the principal at WCMS. READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary School recently held a Cookie Dough fundraiser. Students in each grade level who sold the most cookies earned a special treat! Top sellers for the fundraiser were treated to lunch at Cracker Barrel. Winners were Damari B., Hosea W., Ally M., Rylee M., Cayla F., Reese W., Sadie W. and Summer C. Not pictured: Dylan C. and Bentley O. Dr.... READ MORE >
Ruskin Elementary Kindergartners celebrated Christmas by putting on a Christmas program for their families and friends. To set the stage for the evening, the students were read the story, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Then, a merry time was had by all as the kindergarten students sang such classics as Jingle Bells, Up on the Housetop, and We Wish You a Merry... READ MORE >
Waresboro Elementary recently held its School Spelling Bee. Participants included fourth graders Felipe C., Bailey D., Bryson M., Cade O., and Jermaine S. Fifth grade participants included Gage Be., Jharyn B., Dustin C., Nadya De., Martin E., and Collin P. The Waresboro School Spelling Bee came down to two fourth grade contestants, with Bailey D. ultimately coming... READ MORE >
Ruskin Elementary's Technology Team created an app in which students could interact and keep up to date with the latest technology. Students use the app to share ideas, tips, and tricks to enhance their learning. Media Specialist and Technology Team advisor Tonya Dixon congratulated the team for their success. “Our students put in several hours after school, and... READ MORE >
Fourth grade students from Memorial Drive Elementary School recently visited South Georgia State College for STEM DAY. The professors from SGSC held STEM classes for elementary students. The students went to 4 lessons where they were able to engage in a science activity, technology activity, engineering activity, and a math activity. Students worked in groups to... READ MORE >
It was the middle of the fall 2018 semester. Hailey Furman was sitting in her car on South Georgia State College’s (SGSC) Waycross Campus checking email to make sure she hadn’t overlooked anything in her classes for the week. That’s when she noticed an email from Harvard University. It was an acceptance letter into Harvard’s Extension School, the university’s... READ MORE >
A Christmas ornament designed by 8th grade Ware County Middle School student Andi H. has been sent to Georgia's School Superintendent Richard Woods. Andi created the design in response to Woods' invitation to design an ornament to go on the Christmas tree in his office at the Twin Towers in Atlanta, GA. The design was painted on an egg grown on her family farm.... READ MORE >
Following in the footsteps of George Washington Carver, Ware County High 9th grader Micah M. is working hard to find new uses for the peanut. Micah won first place in the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Peanut Recipe Competition sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and held in cooperation with the Georgia National Fairgrounds and... READ MORE >
The Ware County Technology Student Association (TSA) chapter recently attended the Annual Georgia TSA Fall Leadership Conference held on Jekyll Island, Georgia. TSA/Vex Robotics members attended the TSA rally, competed in the Cardboard Boat Armada, the Vex Robotics competition, and attended the Saturday night dance and social. The Cardboard Boat Armada is a TSA... READ MORE >
Several Ware County Middle School students placed in the Ware County Technology Competition held Saturday, December 1st at Waycross Middle School, Student projects included 3D Modeling, Robotics, Digital Photo Production, Animation, Graphic Design, Digital Game Design, and Video Production. Students will go on to compete in the regional technology competition to... READ MORE >
The 2018 Wacona College and Career Fair was a huge success with over 130 fifth grade students, Ware County High School CTAE students, and business leaders in attendance. Engagers shared career information about the education, training, and skills required for various positions in our community. All attendees enjoyed watching college virtual tours of two former... READ MORE >
Wacona Elementary counselor Dr. Kim Callahan presented at the Association for Career and Technical Education’s National Career Tech Vision Conference held in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Callahan was invited to present from a nation-wide group of educators and one of the few school counselors selected. She also served as a Georgia Delegate to the ACTE Assembly of... READ MORE >
Students enrolled in Mrs. Amanda Dial's art class at Ware County Middle School were selected to put their art on display at Memorial Satilla Health Hospital. The artists, shown proudly displaying their creations, include (front row, left to right) Ashlynn M., Bailey B., Dennise G., Kaleigh J., Elayna C., Alyssa C., Lillian G., (back row, left to right) Brian W.,... READ MORE >
Twenty one Ware Middle chorus students were selected to attend Joyful Noise Festival Honor Choir this year in Jekyll Island. Each student passed a rigorous sight-reading audition in order to attend. Choral Director Terri Parker traveled with the select choral students to Jekyll Island on November 2nd and November 3rd. Carole Parker was selected to accompany the... READ MORE >
Congratulations to the Quiz Bowl team from Memorial Drive Elementary School for winning 1st place at a recent tournament!Pictured (back row L-R) Drake S., Eli T., Rylee M., Kasen G., Micah T., Rudra P., Uriah B., Christian W., Joshua S., (front row L-R) Darah D., Hannah H., Ja’lia T., Lilah Brooke B., Molly F. READ MORE >
Eleven WCMS students entered the Arts & Crafts Youth Division at the annual Okefenokee Agricultural Fair. Students were awarded ribbons and cash prizes by the local Exchange Club. Carrie Vanderver with the Ware County Extension assisted with entry registration and art work displays. In addition to winning the art category, Jake C. won the Youth Division Grand... READ MORE >
James Willis, area manager for Georgia Power in Waycross, recently presented a check to Superintendent Jim LeBrun in support of the REACH Georgia Scholars program. REACH Georgia is a needs-based scholarship program that pairs middle school students (scholars) with mentors and coaches who work with the scholars to prepare them from college and careers. REACH stands... READ MORE >
Ware County Middle School Choral Director Miss Terri Parker celebrated with seven chorus students who passed the first round of GMEA All-State Chorus auditions. This is a considerable increase in the number of passing students; last year, only two students passed the first round. The representatives for Ware County Middle School Chorus include: Lilly G., Holly L.... READ MORE >
students at Memorial Drive collected items to Stuff the Turkey to assist needy families in the area during the holiday season. As a result, 519 items were donated to the Salvation Army. Congratulations to Mrs. Tabitha Barnard's first grade class on bringing in 220 items and being the winning class for a pizza party! Shown donating items are students from Mrs.... READ MORE >
Each year, DAFFODIL Pre-K students visit Poppell Farms. This year, the students participated in many fun and engaging activities on the trip. The students fed many different animals and learned facts about them. They also took a hay ride to the pumpkin patch and picked out a pumpkin to take home. According to DAFFODIL teacher Amber Thomas, “The students had a... READ MORE >
Center Elementary students led a Veterans Day Program recognizing all United States servicemen and women. After Tyler A. Bennett, principal, welcomed guests to the assembly, Center Elementary chorus member, Kenton M., led the audience in the invocation. Student Council Member, Tucker D., led the Pledge of Allegiance, and National Elementary Honor Society member... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Elementary School inducted 27 fourth and fifth grade students into the National Elementary Honor Society. The new inductees join 18 fifth grade members. The evening’s keynote speaker was Miss. Savannah Furman, former Memorial Drive Student and NEHS member. She encouraged the students by walking them through the four pillars of NEHS (Scholarship,... READ MORE >
Ware County Middle FFA had an awesome showing,= at the annual Waycross Fair FFA Contest Events. The Environmental Natural Resource (ENR) Team placed 2nd overall in their competition. The team consisted of (from left) Gavin C., Lane S., Landon D. & Garrett C. Students in the ENR competition must identify animals, trees and equipment associated with the area of... READ MORE >
“Madame Speaker: Will the Senator yield to a question?” With bated breath, the 2018 Junior Youth Assembly hears Waycross Middle School student Isabelle L. pose a question to another youth Senator from half-way across the state. In a heated debate to mandate vaccinations across Georgia, students of the Assembly are entitled to have their voices heard, opinions... READ MORE >
The Ware County High School Animation and Film Club recently visited Georgia Southern University for an engaging STEM field trip experience. The students visited the College of Engineering, where they enjoyed lab activities such as Science with Magic, Energy by Experiment, and 3D Modeling and Printing. A highlight of the trip was a multi-station activity and... READ MORE >
Slash Pine Electric Membership Corporation recently presented $5,335.81 to the Ware County Board of Education to help fund nutritional programs. House Bill 431 provides an alternative method for the disposition of abandoned capital credits, which previously had been returned to the state. HB 431 allowed electric membership corporations (EMCs) to donate funds for... READ MORE >
Wacona Elementary School’s National Elementary Honor Society (NEHS) students were excited to present Mattie's Mission with a donation check totaling $1,400!!!! The Honor Society group sponsored their 2nd Annual “Dodging Childhood Cancer” dodgeball game during Childhood Cancer Awareness month. Students paid to either participate in or watch the game. All monies... READ MORE >
Ruskin Elementary kindergarten students have been hard at work sharpening their STEM skills. Students combined math and writing skills in a special learning activity. Each student was given a set of different shapes, including squares, triangles, diamonds, hexagons and trapezoids. Students imagined what they might design with that particular set of shapes and then... READ MORE >
The Ware County Middle School Robotics Team competed in Covington, GA, in their first VEX IQ Next Level Robotics Competition of the school year. The ROBOGATORS brought home three trophies, and two of the six competing teams qualified for the state VEX IQ Middle School Championship. The competition was fierce, as thirty-seven robot teams competed in autonomous robot... READ MORE >
Students in Mrs. Ashley King’s 6th grade ELA class at Waycross Middle read Alan Gratz’s riveting novel, Refugee, which follows the stories of three refugees from three different eras. After reading, students were tasked with creating a painting that embodied a theme, symbol, emotion, or scene from the novel. To help with this task, local artist Roland Thurston... READ MORE >
September was a month of exceptional talent in the art department at Memorial Drive Elementary School. Students in grades kindergarten through fifth worked hard to learn different concepts of art. Artists of the month include: (FRONT ROW L-R): Ali S. (kindergarten), Kevin R. (second grade)(BACK ROW L-R): Mrs. Kim Smith - art teacher, Emilee B. (first grade),... READ MORE >
The Fair Bear Creative Writing Competition, sponsored by the Georgia National Fair, is a themed writing contest open to fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students throughout the state of Georgia. Students submit stories to compete for top honors and cash prizes. This year’s theme was “Fair Bear’s Family Reunion”. Stella K., a 6th grader in Mrs. Ashley King’s class... READ MORE >
Ware County High School DECA students collected donations from area schools for Hurricane Michael victims. DECA volunteers are shown here with Ruskin Elementary principal Donna Solomon. We believe learning to give back is as important as "reading, writing, and arithmetic!" READ MORE >
Center Elementary’s staff hosted its first-ever Back-to-School-Bash this school year for all parents and students. Center’s Parent Engagement Coordinator Aimee Mancil along with Instructional Coach Susie Tison planned a night of learning and fun to allow parents the opportunity to see how their child was progressing after the first four weeks of school had started.... READ MORE >
DAFFODIL Pre-K recently celebrated Georgia Pre-K Week. This year, DAFFODIL was fortunate enough to have numerous community leaders visit and read to the children, including Mr. Charles Eames, Mrs. Christy Jordan, Mayor John Knox and his wife, Police Chief Tony Tanner, and City Commissioner Marian Solomon-Gaines. According to teacher Holly Thomas, “DAFFODIL Pre-K... READ MORE >
Congratulations to Memorial Drive Elementary's 1st Nine Weeks Young Citizenship Award recipients. This award, given on behalf of the Waycross Exchange Club, recognizes fifth grade students Rudra P. and Destiny A., who are pictured with Principal Dr. Shawn Benefield. READ MORE >
Mrs. Anne Duncan and Mrs. Shalecia Nix’s class has been busy at DAFFODIL Pre-K learning about families and homes. Parents sent in a box which students used to create a house. They placed pictures of their families and pets inside and outside of their houses. Mrs. Duncan stated, “The students have been drawing and naming different shapes as they make windows,... READ MORE >
The Waycross Middle School Lady Bulldogs have had an amazing Cross Country season. They were undefeated in the regular season this year, and the Lady Bulldogs took the Conference Championship in Jesup.. This has not happened in recent school history, marking this a record-making season. The middle school cross country race increased in distance this year from... READ MORE >
Students in Mrs. Rachel Dowling and Ms. Judy Deen’s class participated in a team-building STEM activity called “Helping Harry.” Mrs. Dowling explained to her students that Harry was very short and was having trouble seeing. She asked her students to think of a way that they could solve Harry’s problem. The students suggested that they build a tall tower to help... READ MORE >
Memorial Drive Kindergarten students have been learning about community helpers. Students were visited recently by bankers from Waycross Bank & Trust. They learned about what a bank is and what a bank does. Each student received their own Waycross Bank & Trust piggy bank to begin saving their money. Thank you to Waycross Bank & Trust for supporting our students. ... READ MORE >
Students in Mrs. Brooke Thomas's class visited the media center to assist "Chef Maxwell" in preparing a story stew. The children helped substitute media specialist Gail Maxwell identify the story elements in the book “Officer Buckle and Gloria” in order to learn the value of each part of a story. The students had a wonderful time discovering the various story... READ MORE >
Ruskin Elementary School media specialist Mrs. Tonya Dixon has developed a challenge to help motivate readers. Through the Reading Belt Challenge, homeroom teachers and students compete as a class to see who can accumulate the most AR points every month. The class with the highest number of AR points with a test average of 85% or higher earns the “Reading Belt” and... READ MORE >
Students in Mrs. Kim Smith's Art Class at Memorial Drive Elementary School have been busy learning about elements of art. In an effort to celebrate their hard work, Mrs. Smith has developed an "Artist of the Month" program. One student is chosen from each grade level for each month throughout the school year; students earn the recognittion by conveying great... READ MORE >
Fifth grade WINGS students at Wacona Elementary participated in the Iditarod Quilt Project. The Iditarod is an annual dog sled race that occurs in Alaska on the Iditarod Trail. Schools that participate in the Iditarod Quilt Project receive one of a number of patchwork quilts that travel across the nation, teaching students about the race. The quilt Wacona... READ MORE >
Common Sense, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in a world of digital media and technology, has recognized Ware County High School as a Common Sense School. Ware County High School has demonstrated its commitment to taking a whole-community approach to preparing its students to use the immense power of digital media... READ MORE >