Hanover celebrates new elementary school groundbreaking

Mar 25, 2026 - 16:25

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Hanover celebrates new elementary school groundbreaking

HANOVER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Hanover County Public Schools has broken ground on another replacement elementary school, the fourth school to be constructed since 2008.

On Thursday, March 12, faculty and staff, along with members of the community, came together to celebrate the groundbreaking of Washington-Henry Elementary School (WHES), which 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 Lisa Pennycuff, the superintendent of Hanover schools.

She also stated, "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.”

The principal of WHES, Shalone Morgan, hosted the ceremony, which featured speeches from the school board and board of supervisors representatives.

Josh Bower from Rohrbaugh & Associates, the architectural firm that has designed the new school, also spoke at the ceremony.

(Photo: Hanover County Public Schools)

“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 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.”

Construction will be underway for the next 17 months, and the current school campus will still be operational as crews work.

“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 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.”

For more information, visit the Hanover County Public Schools website here.