Waianae High School Calendar 2024-25
Amherst school board OKs calendar for 2024-25, gets update on high school construction
A calendar for the 2024-25 school year received the Amherst County School Board’s unanimous approval Feb. 8.
The calendar puts the first day of school on Aug. 14 and includes 177 teaching days, 16 professional development/teacher work days and seven discretionary days. The elementary schools’ hours are 9:05 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and the high school and middle school hours are 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Gary Roakes, supervisor of maintenance and operations for Amherst County Public Schools, also gave the board a presentation on progress in construction of renovations and additions to Amherst County High School during the meeting. Roakes said up to 13,000 tons of stone have been brought to the building pad in the back of the school where the new addition will go to house a 1,400-seat auditorium.
He said infrastructure is being worked on the pad site and an additional parking lot. Work is also is moving forward on a new fieldhouse for the softball and baseball programs, Roakes said. The $32 million project broke ground in the fall and is anticipated for completion in September 2025, school officials have said.
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Also during the meeting, the board appointed members Abby Thompson and Dawn Justice to a newly formed committee that will review policy measures as needed and given recommendations and insight to the full board. The idea is for the committee to operate on a trial basis for a year and the board will reevaluate its functioning.
The board also was honored for School Board Appreciation Month in February. The Monelison and Amherst middle school choirs sang songs for the board at the start of the meeting in the Monelison gym.
“It’s like Christmas in February,” board member Priscilla Liggon said in remarks for the community. “We thank you for all the love you have shown to us tonight.”
Superintendent William Wells also recognized Black History Month during the meeting. Wells said each county school is honoring Black history.
“We are thankful to the many contributions to industry, science, civil rights, politics, education, athletics and more,” Wells said.
The board also recognized National School Counseling Week. Josh Neighbors, chief student services officer, said the division appreciates its counselors for their lasting impact on students and families.
“We are blessed to have such an excellent, committed group of school counselors,” Neighbors said. “We know they wear many, many hats in our school [buildings] and they are tasked with the important role of being a constant source of support to students often acting as an anchor in times of significant crisis and distress.”
The board also recognized February at Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. Craig Maddox, supervisor of CTE for ACPS, spoke of various activities students are engaged in and thanked the local businesses for supporting the program.
“We’re blessed to have some of the best instructors in the state,” Maddox said.
Chris Terry, the board’s chair, said not every student is college-bound and the CTE offerings are a positive resource for giving teenagers career opportunities immediately after high school.
“We absolutely have the best CTE program in the state of Virginia,” board member Lori Saunders added.
