Wythe County principal highlights spelling bees, holiday events and 'Leaders and Learners' program

At the Wythe County Public Schools board meeting on Jan. 9, County Principal Ms. O'Dell summarized winter and holiday activities across the district, announced spelling-bee winners and described the Leaders and Learners after-school program.

Ms. O'Dell said elementary and middle schools held concerts, field trips and community events over the holiday season. She named Jackson Memorial, Max Meadows, Sheffey and other schools as participants in trips to Emory & Henry and the Barter Theatre and credited local volunteers and the county sheriff’s department for support during holiday gift drives. "We had a night out for our parents…served hot cocoa, had popcorn," Ms. O'Dell said, describing a family event tied to holiday activities.

Ms. O'Dell described Leaders and Learners as "a program open for our third to fifth grade" that runs about six weeks as an extension program with rotating weekly themes (for example: Food Around the World, technology/robotics), and aims to expose students to potential career and interest areas.

She listed spelling-bee winners who will represent their schools at the county-level competitions, and noted multiple schools ran music and choir programs. Ms. O'Dell thanked volunteer groups and churches — named in her report — that supported holiday donations and student gift drives.

The principal's report also named the Wyndham County Tech Center and district efforts to promote career and technical education with visits to local trade programs. Ms. O'Dell closed by noting the district's community engagement and the continuation of planned activities like the county spelling bee on Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. at the school board office.

The summary reflected reporting from the district's principal's presentation to the board; no formal action was taken on the items in this report.