Virginia

Bristol’s Virginia Intermediate School prepares for first student class

Published

1 year ago

August 3, 2024

Bristol’s Virginia Intermediate School prepares for first student class

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — The new Virginia Intermediate School is about ready to welcome its first class of students. This latest addition to Bristol Virginia Public Schools (BVPS) will house the school system’s second through fifth graders.

Virginia Intermediate School l is the result of a consolidation process. The school system closed three elementary schools: Highland View Elementary School, Washington-Lee Elementary School and Stonewall Jackson Elementary School.

“Over the past decade, as we’ve looked at the cost of keeping our aging schools renovated and up to standard, the decision was made several years ago to align our resources and work towards having a brand new school that would consolidate all of our students into one elementary campus,” said BVPS superintendent, David Scott.

Virginia Intermediate School is located in Sunset Park, next to Van Pelt Elementary School.

This elementary school is also undergoing changes. It has been renamed Virginia Primary School and houses the school system’s pre-kindergarten through first graders.

A brick from each closed school is in the corner of the new Virginia Intermediate School (Photo: WJHL).

The intermediate school will have pieces of the three former elementary schools in its framework, educating some former students and having brick pieces from the schools.

A brick from each school was placed at the corner of the new building.

“As we have come into this new building, one of the things that we wanted to make sure that we took stock of was the history that we’re bringing with us,” said Scott. “Even though we are beginning a new chapter, we’re very proud and very fond of the history that we’ve had in those other schools.”

The intermediate school is the first new school in BVPS in the last 50 years.

Scott is excited for students to experience the new building and have new learning opportunities, such as a rotation in the STEM lab. The intermediate school is handicap accessible, including the playground between grade wings. Plus, the building includes safety features such as a two-entrance process and special locks on the doors.

Sullivan County Schools launches virtual academy

Scott hopes the school can be seen as an opportunity to provide the best education to all students in the city.

“We have brought together so many resources,” said Scott. “We have such great new technology in place in our school. And I think there’s something special about walking into a new school and feeling that the community believes that your education is important.”

Teachers continue to put the final touches on their classrooms before students arrive for their first day on August 14. Scott said the school system is communicating with parents about the best traffic route to take to the school on the first day.

The city council decides on the future of the closed elementary schools. Council member Neal Osborne told News Channel 11 that the properties were discussed in a meeting Tuesday, but no decisions have been made yet.

Virginia Intermediate School will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 8 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.

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Virginia

VDH investigating another possible measles exposure in Northern Virginia

Published

9 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

VDH investigating another possible measles exposure in Northern Virginia

The Virginia Department of Health announced they are investigating a possible measles exposure that seemingly occurred on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.

The VDH stated that a confirmed case of measlestraveled through Washington Dulles International Airport on Saturday, Jan. 24. The person is a resident of another state.

The following dates, times, and locations are potential exposure sites listed by the Virginia Department of Health:

Dulles International Airport (IAD): in Concourse B, on transportation to the International Arrivals Building (IAB) and in the baggage claim area between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday, January 24.
Dulles shuttle bus to the rental car facilities between 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 24.
Other exposure sites will be listed here.

This comes after three measles cases have been reported in Northern Virginia this year.

The VDH has listed the following guidance for those who have or have not received a measles-containing vaccine:

If you have never received a measles-containing vaccine (either the measles, mumps, and rubella [MMR] vaccine or a measles-only vaccine which is available in other countries), you may be at risk of developing measles. Anyone who was exposed and considered to be at risk of developing measles should contact their healthcare provider immediately.
Watch for symptoms. If you notice the symptoms of measles, immediately isolate yourself by staying home. Contact your healthcare provider right away. Call ahead before going to your healthcare provider’s office or the emergency room to notify them that you may have been exposed to measles and ask them to call the local health department. This call will help protect other patients and staff.
Anyone with an immunocompromising condition should consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions or develop symptoms.
If you have received two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, or were born before 1957, you are protected and do not need to take any action.
If you have received only one dose of a measles-containing vaccine, you are very likely to be protected and your risk of being infected with measles from any of these exposures is very low. However, to achieve complete immunity, contact your healthcare provider about getting a second vaccine dose.

MMR vaccine rates are high in Virginia, with around 95% of kindergarteners being fully vaccinated against measles. This helps prevent major outbreaks of the virus in the Commonwealth. If you have not yet received a measles-containing vaccine, contact your healthcare provider.

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Virginia

Five Virginia localities awarded opioid settlement funds for new programs

Published

21 hours ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Five Virginia localities awarded opioid settlement funds for new programs

A committee of the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority approved more than half a million dollars in new grants this month, directing settlement funds to five localities for programs aimed at reducing opioid use, expanding access to treatment and strengthening community-based responses to addiction and overdoses.At a Jan. 20 meeting, the committee approved $545,429 in awards to Clarke, Franklin, Henrico and Patrick counties and the city of Fairfax. The grants will support a mix of new initiatives and expansions of existing programs, funded through Virginia’s share of national opioid settlements with manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

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