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Hanover County Public Schools has broken ground on another replacement elementary school, marking the fourth school constructed in Hanover County since 2008.
Students, families, faculty and staff, members of the Hanover County School Board and Board of Supervisors, county and school division officials, and other distinguished guests celebrated the groundbreaking of Washington-Henry Elementary School (WHES) on Thursday, March 12. The school is set to open for the 2027-28 school year.
“This new Washington-Henry Elementary is more than a modern facility. It honors the historic and meaningful legacy of George Washington and Hanover’s own Patrick Henry. Their names remind us that education has always been central to shaping informed citizens, courageous leaders, and strong communities. This new building will carry that legacy forward,” said Dr. Lisa Pennycuff, Superintendent of Schools.
She added: “We are creating a foundation for opportunity, for learning, and for a brighter future for the children of Hanover County. This moment symbolizes our belief in what is possible when a community invests in its young people.”
WHES Principal Ms. Shalone Morgan served as the host for the ceremony, which included remarks by School Board and Board of Supervisors representatives, Dr. Pennycuff, and Mr. Josh Bower of Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, the architectural firm that is leading the design of the school.
“Right now, this represents the beginning of a construction site. Before long, it will be a place where children learn to read, make friends, try new things, and begin to figure out who they want to be. That is what today is really all about,” said Mrs. Whitney Welsh, the Chair of the Hanover County School Board representing the Henry District. “This school building will sit in a community with a strong history and deep roots, and it honors and celebrates that legacy in its design. It is also forward-looking and about preparing students for a future they will help shape – just as George Washington and Patrick Henry shaped ours.”
“Today’s groundbreaking represents yet another meaningful step in our county’s investment in our school buildings, the students and staff who fill them, and our thriving Hanover community. From the opening of Ashland Elementary last school year to the ongoing construction of Battlefield Park and Beaverdam elementary schools, this is an exciting time for our county, our residents, and our families,” said Mr. Sean Davis, the Chair of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors representing the Henry District. “We are honored to be where we are today, beginning construction on another school that will serve generations to come.”
Construction on the school will take place over the next 17 months. The current school campus will remain operational during that time.
More information about the project can be found on
a dedicated construction page on the HCPS website.
March 11 Update:
Dear WHES Families, Faculty, and Staff,
We hope you are having a great week. We are writing today to update you on tomorrow’s groundbreaking ceremony for the replacement of Washington-Henry Elementary School.
As you may know, rain is forecasted for our area on Thursday.
While we will continue with the groundbreaking ceremony at 3:30 p.m., we are making an important change to the event. Please note the following:
-
The first portion of the groundbreaking ceremony (remarks) will take place inside the current Washington-Henry Elementary School gymnasium.
- Following remarks,
the groundbreaking portion of the event will take place outside on the site of the new school building, which is behind the current school building.
Please dress and plan accordingly.
- Families, staff, and local community members remain welcome to attend.
As a reminder,
to allow for the smooth operation of afternoon dismissal, please do not arrive at Washington-Henry ES until after 3 p.m.
Thank you for your continued support as we construct our newest school building!
Hanover County Public Schools
Original Message:
Dear Families, Faculty, and Staff,
We hope you are well. We are writing today to share some exciting news regarding the replacement of Washington-Henry Elementary School.
We will break ground on the replacement school on Thursday, March 12 at 3:30 p.m.! In a special ceremony with students, school and county leaders, and other distinguished guests, we will mark the beginning of construction on the new school building in a joyful way. The ceremony will be held on the site of the new school, which is behind the current Washington-Henry Elementary. We recognize the importance of this moment for our entire community.
Families, staff, and local community members are welcome to attend. To allow for the smooth operation of afternoon dismissal, please do not arrive at Washington-Henry ES until after 3 p.m.
We are extremely proud of the significant work that has been done to-date to get to this point and greatly look forward to the construction and opening of a new, state-of-the-art school building.
The March 12 groundbreaking is the latest step in a years-long effort to erect a new Washington-Henry Elementary. We will continue to update
this webpage with more information about this construction project.
Thank you for your continued support as we construct the new school building!
Hanover County Public Schools