Registration is now open for the after school program provided by Right At School!

Right at School is hosted at Daniel Morgan Intermediate School (48 S Purcell Ave) and students will be bussed to DMIS from their elementary school. Open to grades K-6. The program is convenient and flexible – you can pick your child up any time after the school bell rings until 6 p.m., and choose the care you need from 1-5 days a week.

Check out all the options and register today: Right at School Registration

The Annual Verification Form must be completed EVERY YEAR for students in grades 1-12 returning to Winchester Public Schools. Please use the PowerSchool Parent Portal to complete the Annual Verification Form for each returning student in your household. 

DEADLINE: The Annual Verification Form must be completed prior to the first day of school. Students cannot access their Chromebooks until the Annual Verification Form is complete. For freshmen and new students at John Handley High School, the form must be completed by July 27 in order to pick up Chromebooks on July 28 at the JHHS Judges IX Freshmen & New Student Orientation. 

Please do not re-submit your form after it has been approved. 

This form should not be completed for new student registrations. 

The steps below are provided with more detail in these step-by-step guides: Annual Forms on Web Browser and Annual Forms on Mobile.  

Step 1: Visit the PowerSchool Parent Portal at https://pwrschl.wps.k12.va.us/public/ and sign in. If you forget your log in information, use the “Forgot Username or Password?” button. If you need additional assistance to set up a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, have your email address ready and contact your school’s Registrar by calling the front office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Step 2: Choose the child’s name in the top left corner. 

Step 3: Click on “Forms” in the left column.

Step 4: Complete the “RETURNING STUDENT ONLY (Grade 1-12): Annual Verification Form.” The status will say pending until reviewed by a Registrar.

Please Note: If you have moved and changed addresses, you will need to provide proof of residency. If you have an updated vaccine record, you will need to upload it to your Parent Portal.

Still need to register a new student? Start on our Registration Website. 

Annual Verification Form Flyer

Tuesday, July 28, 2026: JHHS Judges IX Freshmen & New Student Orientation, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Details: https://bit.ly/JudgesIXOrientation
-Self-paced, come anytime before 12:30 p.m. 
-Parents & guardians welcome but not required 
-Spanish liaisons available 
-Chromebook pickup for new students **Annual Verification Form must be completed prior to July 27 in order to pick up Chromebook.**

Wednesday, July 29, 2026: DMIS 5th Grade Orientation, 3-5 p.m. with a cookout from 5-6 p.m.  
-Parent or guardian must attend
-Please RSVP: https://bit.ly/DMIS5thGradeOrientation 

Wednesday, August 5, 2026: Back-to-School Open Houses at DMMS and JHHS, 3-6 p.m. 

Thursday, August 6, 2026: Sensory Friendly Back-to-School Open House for students attending the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) program, 12-2 p.m. at JKES

Thursday, August 6, 2026: Back-to-School Open Houses at DMIS, VACDES, GQES, JKES, and FDES, 3-6 p.m. 

Virginia's Medicaid and FAMIS programs (jointly called Cardinal Care) provide free, comprehensive health coverage to keep Virginia's families healthy and students learning. Children in a family of four with annual income up to $65,908 may qualify!

Apply or check your status at commonhelp.virginia.gov or call toll free 1-855-242-8282
(TTY: 1-888-221-1590) or contact your local Department of Social Services.

More Info: English / Spanish / Farsi 

Students in Intermediate, Middle, and High School should bring their charged Chromebook to school each day. Students in grades K-8 will receive Chromebooks during the first week of school. 9th graders and new JHHS students should pick up their Chromebooks during the JHHS Judges IX Freshmen & New Student Orientation on July 28. Details: https://bit.ly/JudgesIXOrientation

PLEASE NOTE: Anyone who did NOT return a Chromebook after the 25-26 school year must return their old device or pay the reimbursement cost before receiving a new device. 

Minimum Requirements:

1. Clothing must cover areas from one armpit across to the other armpit, down to 3 inches in length on the upper thighs (see image).  Tops must have shoulder straps. 
2. Shoes must be worn at all times and should be safe for the school environment (pajamas, bedroom shoes or slippers shall not be worn, except for school activities approved by the principal).
3. See-through or mesh garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meet the minimum requirements of the dress code.
4. Headgear including hats, hoodies, and caps are not allowed unless permitted for religious, medical, or other reason by school administration.
5. Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear.

For the full dress code, view the Student Conduct Policy. 

A Footwear Reminder from your School Nurses:

If possible, we are asking our WPS families to please send some type of athletic or closed-toe shoe with children for recess/gym. Although slides and flip-flops are popular footwear for students, we are seeing an increase in serious injuries, including broken bones and severe sprains during physical activity. We appreciate your support as we strive to protect our students’ health and safety!

JHHS Fall Sports Tryouts

All-Sports (fall, winter & spring) Player/Parent Meeting 
Wednesday, August 5
6-7 p.m.
Patsy Cline Theatre
 

• Golf / Coach Troy Mezzatesta / mezzatestat@wps.k12.va.us
  • July 27, 9am-11am at Appleland
  • July 28 & 29, 10am-2pm at Winchester Country Club
• Competition/Sideline Cheer / Head Coach Chyanna Jones / jonesc@wps.k12.va.us
  • July 30 & 31, 3:30pm-5:30pm at JHHS Secondary Gym
• Football / Coach Jake Smith / smithj@wps.k12.va.us
  • July 30, 4pm-8:30pm, JHHS Football Field
• Cross Country / Coach Mark Stickley / stickleym@wps.k12.va.us
  • August 3, 7:30am-9:30am, Meet at Handley Blvd Stadium Entrance
• Volleyball / Coach Kristen Larson / larsonk@wps.k12.va.us 
  • August 3, 10am-11:30am, Grades 9&10
  • August 3, 12pm-1:30pm, Grades 11&12
  • August 4, 3pm-5pm, Grades 9&10
  • August 4, 5:30pm-7:30pm, Grades 11&12

JHHS Fall Sports Tryouts Graphic

 

DMMS Fall Sports Tryouts

Student athletes must have a current VHSL Physical Form on file. This form expires 14 months from the date of the practitioner’s signature. 

• Girls Basketball / 8th Grade Head Coach: Carissa Phillips (phillipsc@wps.k12.va.us) / 7th Grade Head Coach: Hannah Long (longh@wps.k12.va.us)
  • Wednesday, August 12 - Friday, August 14, 3:30pm-5:30pm
• Boys & Girls Cross Country / Girls Head Coach: Jennifer Bruening brueningj@wps.k12.va.us / Boys Head Coach: Stephen Nelson (nelsons@wps.k12.va.us)
  • Practices begin Tuesday, August 11, 3:30pm-4:45pm
• Fall Cheerleading / Interim Head Coach: Sarah Brown (browns@wps.k12.va.us) 
  • Wednesday, August 12-Friday, August 14, 3:30pm-5pm 
• Football / Head Coach: Tim Mondell (mondellt@wps.k12.va.us)
  • Tuesday, August 11-Thursday, August 13, 3:30-5:30pm 

*Please pick athletes up at the Athletic Entrance near the rear of the school.
*Athletes should NOT purchase any specialized clothing or footwear prior to try-outs.

DMMS Fall Sports Tryouts Flyer

The first day of school is Tuesday, August 11, 2026. 

Daily Schedule:

• Elementary: 7:50 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
• Daniel Morgan Intermediate and Middle Schools: 8:25 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.  All students should arrive by 8:15 a.m.
• John Handley High School: 8:25 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Each school has specific arrival and dismissal procedures that will be communicated to families prior to the start of school.  

WPS Calendar: 

The WPS calendar can be found on our website: 2026-2027 Calendar

Closing, Delays, and Early Release: 

More information about closings, delays, and early release can be found on our website: School Closings and More

Meals are free for all students! 

Breakfast and lunch are provided for all WPS students at no charge through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Students may purchase additional a la carte items with cash or parents can use a credit card through www.myschoolbucks.com. 

School Menus can be found on the MealViewer website.

If you want to provide packed lunches for your student(s), they will need a lunch box. 

PIN Numbers

Students will need to provide their PIN numbers as they go through the cafeteria line. Students in grades 1-12 already have their PIN numbers and most already have them memorized. Kindergarten students will receive a letter approximately two weeks before school starts with their PIN number so they can start memorizing it. 

Questions? For questions regarding school meals, visit the Food & Nutrition Website or contact the Food Services Department at (540) 667-4258 ext. 16125 or ayersm@wps.k12.va.us.

In Winchester Public Schools, we do not want school supplies to be a barrier to learning for our students and families. School supplies can be provided for students; families are not required to buy supplies. 

Each school has a list of recommended items as well as items families can donate. Donations are appreciated but are never required. 

Please Note: Students do not use lockers in WPS schools. 

Items that Work Best with WPS Weapons Detectors 

Please keep these guidelines in mind when shopping:
-Three-ring binders should be 1.5 inches or smaller.
-If possible, choose plastic water bottles. If you buy a metal water bottle, please choose a small or medium size.
-If possible, avoid rolling backpacks.
-Please buy child-sized, blunt-tip scissors instead of adult-sized scissors.
-Pack plastic utensils in student lunches.

Recommended Items and Donations

• John Handley High School: Students will receive class supply lists from their teachers at Open House or on the first day of school.
• Daniel Morgan Middle School: DMMS Recommended Supplies and Optional Donations
• Daniel Morgan Intermediate School: DMIS Recommended Supplies and Optional Donations
• Frederick Douglass Elementary School: Teachers will share classroom supply lists at Open House.
• Garland R. Quarles Elementary School: GQES Recommended Supplies and Optional Donations
• John Kerr Elementary School: JKES Recommended Supplies and Optional Donations
• Virginia Avenue Charlotte DeHart Elementary School: VACDES Recommended Supplies and Optional Donations

TalkingPoints is a communication tool designed to help families and teachers stay connected. It provides two-way translation in 125 languages, so families can communicate with teachers in their preferred language. 

Families have three easy ways to use TalkingPoints: 

1. Text messaging (no opt-in required) 
2. The Talking Points for Families app (sign up with your phone number)
3. Online at http://www.talkingpts.org/ (login with your phone number)

Important: The phone number must be the same one listed in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Please update your contact information with your student’s school anytime it changes. 

Shared Messages: If you want to share teacher messages in a group format with another contact (like a second parent), be sure to follow these directions: Talking Point Shared Messages

To view or change your student's transportation information, log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal. Bus route information is also sent directly to each family via email and is available at Back-to-School Open House events. If you have questions about your bus route, please contact your student’s school directly. Information about Walk Zones can be found on our Walk Zone website.