September 19 result: Wildcat Classic
Robert L. Bland Middle School Athletics says the RLBMS Lady Patriots placed third out of eight teams at the Central Preston Wildcat Classic on September 19. The official post does not provide match-by-match scores, a tournament start time or a displayed original posting time. The result is attributed to the school athletics account; no source image is republished here.
September 13 update: revised soccer dates, times and home venues
The school's September 12 updated soccer schedule changes information in the earlier fall calendars. The Liberty doubleheader is now Thursday, September 17, away at Liberty, with boys at 6 p.m. and girls at 7:15 p.m. The older schedule listed a September 16 home fixture; families should use the revised date and location.
Home games are split between the Jackson’s Mill Airstrip and Lewis County High School. Team order also changes: the boys play first on the remaining dates in the new graphic. The revised list includes an October 12 away match against Buckhannon, and the caption says it includes the rescheduled Buckhannon game.
Upcoming fixtures in the school-issued update:
| Date | Opponent and location | Boys | Girls | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | September 17 | Away at Liberty | 6 p.m. | 7:15 p.m. | | September 21 | Home vs. Buckhannon, Airstrip | 5:15 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | | September 22 | Home vs. Lincoln, LCHS | 6 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | | September 28 | Away at Elkins | 6 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | | October 5 | Away at Lincoln | 6 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | | October 7 | Away at North Marion | 6 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | | October 12 | Away at Buckhannon | 6 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | | October 14 | Home vs. Barbour County, LCHS; eighth-grade night | 6 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. | | October 21 | Home vs. East Fairmont, Airstrip | 5:15 p.m. | 6:30 p.m. | | October 22 | Away at Taylor County | 6 p.m. | 7:30 p.m. |
The graphic also retains the completed September 9 Bridgeport home doubleheader, with girls at 6 p.m. and boys at 7:30 p.m., consistent with the earlier specific home-opener correction below. No ending times or admission prices are supplied. Confirm exact away fields and any later changes with a coach before traveling.
Read the school's September 12 original announcement and updated schedule image. The image was reviewed for facts and is not republished here.
September 9: damaged-school decision remains unresolved
Lewis County School Superintendent Carolyn Long says the district still does not have a cost estimate for repairing or replacing the flood-damaged Robert L. Bland Middle School building.
Long told WAJR's *Talk of the Town* that a structural engineer had inspected the Weston building, which sustained structural damage, extensive damage to its electrical infrastructure and contaminated flood mud beneath it. She said the district was waiting for federal officials to evaluate the situation and clarify possible financial help. That does not establish a FEMA funding commitment, a repair plan, a demolition decision or a reopening date.
Meanwhile, classes began September 8 at WVU Jackson's Mill. WV MetroNews reported that staff adapted cabins and existing instructional spaces, created a portable library and arranged two lunch sittings. Families should continue planning for students to walk outdoors between buildings in rain and winter weather.
September 8 schedule clarification: soccer home opener
The RLBMS Athletics home-opener graphic posted September 6 at 9:28 p.m. lists separate starts for the Wednesday, September 9, matches against BMS at the Jackson’s Mill Airstrip: girls at 6 p.m.; boys at 7:30 p.m.
This specific game notice resolves the ambiguity in the September 5 weekly plan, which listed 6 p.m. for both teams. The portal previously repeated that weekly-plan time for the boys; it is corrected here using the school’s later graphic. Check the school’s home-opener notice for subsequent changes before leaving. No match ending time or admission price was supplied.
September 8: classes are now underway
More than 400 Robert L. Bland Middle School students began classes at WVU Jackson’s Mill on Tuesday, September 8. A same-day university statement confirms that the temporary-campus plan is now in operation, rather than simply approaching an opening date.
The arrangement covers the 2026–27 school year after July flooding displaced the school. WVU says teachers are working with Jackson’s Mill’s educational team on history, STEAM and outdoor learning opportunities. Superintendent Carolyn Long confirmed the return to in-person learning and credited preparations by school and university staff. Long-term decisions about the damaged middle-school building remain unresolved; this is not an announcement that the original campus has reopened.
Read the WVU statement republished by the West Virginia Press Association and WDTV’s first-day report. The school-issued practical information below is retained with its original context; this update does not independently change any bus route, arrival procedure or sports schedule.
After-school athletes: where to leave equipment
Robert L. Bland Middle School athletes who need gear for a practice or game after classes should take their equipment bags to the main office at the Ag Hall of Fame when they arrive in the morning. Bags can be collected at dismissal.
The school's athletics program issued the instructions September 7 and asks students to attach an identification tag so they can find their bag quickly. This applies to equipment brought for after-school activities; the notice does not announce any change to practice times or team transportation. See the original athletics notice.
Updated school drop-off route, effective September 9
Robert L. Bland Middle School changed its parent drop-off options at WVU Jackson’s Mill after the first day of classes. Principal Julie Radcliff’s September 8 school notice, effective Wednesday, September 9, allows families to enter through the pool gate, drop students at the pool, then turn immediately right to leave through the Jackson Mill Fire Department gate.
Families may still drop students beside the Dining Hall. The principal asks drivers using that option to pull aside if the stop will take longer than expected so other traffic can move. Morning drop-off still begins at 7:20 a.m.
This updates the earlier September 8 first-day instructions, which directed departing traffic to the Lodge gate. Use the revised pool-drop-off exit described above and follow subsequent school directions. The change concerns parent drop-offs; it does not revise the bus stops below.
The school’s September 1 notice lists 304-406-7029 as its new telephone number at Jackson’s Mill.
The arrival notice is record 13059215 in the school’s official live feed.
In-town bus 31-17 schedule
A transportation notice circulated Sunday gives in-town RLBMS families an approximate morning route for bus 31-17 before classes begin at Jackson's Mill on Tuesday. Students who already rode a bus in prior years are expected to keep their existing bus number, although times may change by a few minutes because of the temporary campus location.
Bus 31-17 is scheduled to stop at Kitsonville School at 6:35 a.m.; First Street and Court Avenue at 6:37; CVS at 6:39; the RLBMS gate at 6:42; East Seventh Street and Court Avenue at 6:43; Center Avenue and Seventh Street at 6:45; Bob's Auto at 6:47; the Hailville 7-Eleven at 6:50; Fornash Road at 6:52; Ridgeway at 6:53; Peas in a Pod at 6:55; and Jackson's Mill at 7:03.
All listed times are approximate. After dropping off the middle-school students, bus 31-17 is expected to reverse the route and begin collecting high-school students. A parent asked in the Facebook discussion about service to the Jane Lew apartments, but the captured material did not include a verified answer. Families whose stop is not listed should confirm their assignment directly with Lewis County Schools rather than guessing from this route.
Lewis County Schools has added about eight bus stops in Weston for Robert L. Bland Middle School students who previously walked to class. Existing routes otherwise remain broadly similar, although ride times will change depending on each student's distance from the temporary WVU Jackson's Mill campus.
The details were presented to a standing-room-only family meeting at Lewis County High School on August 26. At that meeting, roughly 400 students were expected to attend Jackson's Mill beginning September 8 because the July 21 flood left their middle-school building unavailable for the 2026-27 year. The state is fronting $400,000 from the Governor's Civil Contingency Fund for the temporary relocation.
Preparation extends beyond classroom assignments. School leaders have worked with the Division of Highways on school-zone signs, consulted WVU safety staff, and completed a fire-marshal review. Families were also advised that students will move between buildings outdoors and should dress for the weather.
The pre-opening plan called for Lewis County JROTC students to simulate a complete school day to identify problems with arrivals, class changes, walking routes, meals and departure. That preparation plan is background, not an upcoming event.
Athletics transportation, meals and seating
RLBMS Athletics has now published the first detailed game-day plan for the temporary campus. Teams traveling to away events will be picked up at Jackson's Mill after school and returned to the RLBMS building after the game. Families should plan pickup around the middle-school drop-off rather than Jackson's Mill unless a coach gives team-specific instructions.
The athletics program says students will have an opportunity to eat before away games. Small concession stands will also be available at games. At the Airstrip fields at Jackson's Mill, temporary bleachers will be installed and spectators may bring their own chairs.
Home soccer locations now vary by fixture: the September 12 revised schedule lists the Jackson’s Mill Airstrip for September 21 and October 21, and Lewis County High School for September 22 and October 14. The October 3 home cross-country meet is at Jackson’s Mill; volleyball home matches use the Lewis County High School gym, and football home games are at Lewis County High School.
Published fall schedules (including earlier dates)
Cross-country's remaining posted meets are September 12 at Apple Valley Golf Course, September 26 at West Taylor Elementary, October 3 at Jackson's Mill and October 10 at East Fairmont. The October 3 Lewis/RLBMS Stonewall Jackson Invitational is also eighth-grade night; girls run at 11 a.m. and boys at 11:30 a.m.
Volleyball is scheduled at Liberty September 1, Bridgeport September 11, Taylor County September 14, Buckhannon September 15, the Central Preston tournament September 19, Lincoln at home September 28, Barbour County September 29, Elkins September 30, Liberty at home for eighth-grade night October 5, Gilmer at home October 6, East Fairmont at home for Pink Out October 7 and Elkins at home October 13. Most two-team match nights begin at 6 p.m., with the second match at 7:30 p.m.; the Bridgeport match begins at 5:30 p.m., and the Central Preston tournament time remains to be announced.
The September 12 revised soccer graphic supersedes the earlier date, team-order and venue list. Use the updated schedule at the top of this guide and confirm subsequent changes with the school.
Middle-school football is scheduled to host Liberty September 12, Elkins September 16 and Taylor County September 23, travel to East Fairmont September 30 and North Marion October 7, host Preston County for eighth-grade night October 15, and finish the posted regular-season schedule at Lincoln October 21. Home games begin at 6 p.m.; the listed away kickoffs begin at 6:30 p.m. Playoff details are still to be announced.
Because these schedules were issued while the school relocation was still being organized, families should check the official RLBMS Athletics Facebook page or confirm with a coach before travel, especially if weather or field conditions could force a change.
Athletics plan for September 7-12
The official weekly plan lists no Labor Day practice Monday for cross-country, volleyball, football or either soccer team. Cheer practice is scheduled Monday from 9 a.m. to noon.
Cross-country practices Tuesday through Friday from 3:30 to 5 p.m., then travels to Apple Valley Saturday; the girls run at 8:30 a.m. and the boys at 9 a.m.
Volleyball has hallway agility training Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m. and practices Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday's match at BMS begins at 5:30 p.m., with the bus scheduled to leave Jackson's Mill at 4:15 p.m.
Football practices Tuesday through Friday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The Patriots' home opener against Liberty Middle is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Lewis County High School. Cheer practices Tuesday through Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will support Saturday's opener.
The September 9 home doubleheader against BMS at the Jackson's Mill Airstrip starts with the girls at 6 p.m. and boys at 7:30 p.m., as clarified by the school's September 6 home-opener graphic. Girls practice Tuesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; boys practice Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Thursday and Friday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. The athletics notice asks soccer spectators to bring chairs for extra seating if possible.
The older weekly schedule's boys kickoff has been corrected above using the later school-issued game graphic. Families should still check the official RLBMS Athletics page or their coach for any subsequent changes before traveling.