Recovery and return update
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Good afternoon, Westwood Hills families, staff, and Waynesboro community:
We know this is an incredibly difficult time for our Westwood Hills community. Families and staff have important questions about what comes next, and we understand the need for clear, timely information following the tragic incident at Westwood Hills Elementary School.
Waynesboro Public Schools is committed to communicating openly with you as we work through recovery and determine the safest and most supportive path forward. We will continue providing updates.
For the latest information, please visit “Westwood Hills Elementary School Recovery and Return: Information and Resources” webpage. If you have a question that is not answered there, please use the form at the bottom of the webpage. Your questions are important and helps us understand what information our community needs most.
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School reopening
Westwood Hills Elementary School will NOT be open on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. We are determining a timeline for Westwood’s reopening, but are not yet ready to announce a date. The school division is consulting with local, state, and national partners to develop an appropriate timeline. We miss our students and know many of them want to see their teachers, classmates, and school community. We look forward to being back together again soon.
Supporting our Westwood Hills staff
Today's staff program, “A Day of Support, Connection, and Care,” was designed to meet employees wherever they are in their individual recovery process. It was supported by licensed mental health professionals from Valley Community Services Board, Victims Crisis Assistance Response, and the Southern Regional Education Board Crisis Network Program at Westwood Hills today. They will continue supporting our staff through the reopening of school and beyond.
We recognize that before our staff can help students with their return, the school division and our partners need to provide them with additional support. However, staff members who did not feel ready or able to return to Westwood Hills today continue to be excused and were not required to use leave.
Preparing to welcome and support our students
The school division, in collaboration with school based mental health professionals and local, state, and national partners, has developed additional resources and supports in trauma-informed care before students return. These communication tools are available to support families with age-appropriate language to support their children. Our staff will also use these communication tools to support students. Additionally, licensed mental health professionals will be available at Westwood Hills if additional support is needed. We will contact families if school staff perceive an additional need for a student and will reach out to the family to discuss specific supports available.
We know that the healing process takes time and are encouraging staff to prioritize their own mental health and well-being. When students return, we will have a network of licensed mental health professionals available to provide ongoing support for students and staff.
Children will have difficult questions. Some questions may not have simple or satisfying answers. Our goal is to help the adults in their lives respond with honesty, care, and reassurance.
Safety and security
An independent security assessment is being conducted by school security specialists from VACORP today, September 8, 2026. We are also consulting other school safety specialists for additional reviews at Westwood Hills and our other locations.
We are working on safety enhancements in the building and on school grounds to ensure that access to our school buildings is highly controlled. Our first step was to add additional interior door locks. While all doors have working door locks, contractors are currently on site installing single-cylinder deadbolts as an additional locking option. These locks allow staff to lock doors quickly from inside during an emergency and ensure no one from outside can gain access to the classroom. All Westwood Hills classrooms now have two options for locking the door. We will prudently share additional information about safety enhancements as recommendations are reviewed and decisions are made.
Learning options while school is closed
Every child and family is in a different place right now. Some students may be ready for schoolwork, while others may need more time. Our goal is to provide options and flexibility because you know your child best.
Waynesboro Public Schools provides a virtual option through Edmentum's EdOptions Academy, a program the school division has worked with for several years. EdOptions Academy provides virtual instruction for students in grades K–12.
Families interested in exploring this option may complete this linked form. There is no expectation or pressure for a family to choose virtual instruction.
We also provide laptops to families who need a device at home and can arrange drop-off for interested families.
Resources for students and families
We are deeply concerned about the emotional well-being of our students. Children may respond to traumatic events in very different ways and on very different timelines.
Please review the counseling and mental health resources available at the bottom of our “Westwood Hills Elementary School Recovery and Return: Information and Resources” webpage. We encourage families to use these resources whenever they are needed.
Community resources for Westwood families — Thursday, September 10, 2026
Our Central Office administrative team, school social workers, and community partners will host a drive-thru resource pickup on Thursday, September 10, from 3:00–6:00 p.m. in the front loop near the cafeteria at Westwood Hills. This is similar to the drive-through pickup we did on Saturday and during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Families can pick up student belongings, as well as receive non-perishable food boxes, fresh vegetables, school meals, hygiene supplies, diapers, and other community support.
An opportunity for families to return to Westwood Hills
We recognize that returning to the school building may be an important part of the recovery process for some members of our community. We also know people will approach that step differently. Dr. Harris and Mrs. Henry are working with school division leadership to develop an opportunity similar to an open house for families prior to when students return. We will share additional details as soon as plans are finalized.
Supporting our broader WPS staff and schools
As we are doing at Westwood Hills, the following actions are being taken across all other locations:
Additional licensed mental health professionals are supporting our staff and students in our other locations.
An independent security assessment is being conducted by school security specialists from VACORP. The school division is consulting other school safety specialists for additional reviews at Westwood Hills and our other locations.
Independent safety reviews will be completed in all locations. We will implement safety enhancements in all buildings and on school grounds.
Waynesboro Public Schools can provide a virtual option through Edmentum's EdOptions Academy, a program the school division has worked with for several years. EdOptions Academy provides virtual instruction for students in grades K–12. Families interested in exploring this option may complete this linked form.
Families from around the school division are able to access the mental health resources and supports linked on the “Westwood Hills Elementary School Recovery and Return: Information and Resources” webpage.
School Board meeting tonight
The Waynesboro School Board will meet tonight at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Waynesboro High School.
Community members who wish to address the School Board during public comment may sign up at the meeting. Each speaker has up to three minutes. Public comment provides citizens an opportunity to speak directly to the School Board and allows Board members to listen carefully to those concerns. Questions raised may involve student or personnel privacy, security procedures, legal considerations, or facts that need to be verified before an appropriate response can be provided. For those reasons, an immediate public exchange is not always the most responsible way to address complex or sensitive issues.
We know that an email cannot answer every question or ease every community concern. We also know that trust is built through our actions, not simply through our words.
Our priorities remain the safety, well-being, and recovery of our students and staff. We will continue listening, sharing information as it becomes available, and doing everything we can to support our school community.
We miss our students, and we look forward to welcoming them back.
Thank you for your patience, your questions, your support for one another, and your care for our children and staff.
