Powhatan County Public Schools -

Pocahontas Elementary’s Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Altizer were recently named the first recipients of the Instructional Technology Team’s new Innovative Learning Shout Out award for their work designing instruction to develop creative communicators. For a culminating activity, students acted as historians to research a notable figure from the Civil War era and write a mini-biography. The students used their knowledge of the person and era to create a book cover. They designed the book cover using Canva design tools and practiced being artificial intelligence (AI) prompt engineers to create unique images. Congratulations to these awesome educators! #wearepcps #teampowhatan #elevateeducatorsva

In March, each PCPS elementary school sent two young competitors to participate in the Future Chefs Culinary Challenge. Students had to submit a recipe and be chosen to compete in the live competition held at Powhatan High School. With the help of assigned assistants, the students prepared their dishes and presented them to a panel of judges for consideration. All of the students did an amazing job. Congratulations to: • Quinn Ellis – First Place • Pierce Ward – Second Place • Lanie Jastram – Third Place • Charlotte Smith – Best Decorated Hat contest winner • Charlotte Smith, Holden Cooper, and Levi Luck – Chef Finalists Special thanks to: • Judges: Vicki Hurt, Susan Smith, Jeanne Wade, James Taylor, Michele Ward, Beth Teigen, Mark Robertson, and student judge Lea Butler. • Sodexo Chef Helpers: Mary Smith from Powhatan Elementary; Suzanne Johnson, manager at Flat Rock Elementary; and Shawna Highsmith, manager at Pocahontas Elementary. • Student Chef Helpers: Abbie Mills, Jackson Roop, and Kenley Dalton • All of the staff of Powhatan High School’s food service team who also lent a hand: cafeteria manager Ashley Sharp, Sharon Brown, Chakita Langhorne, Kristy Hall, Jessie Wheless, and Donna Stewart. #wearepcps #teampowhatan #SDXFutureChefs

The Powhatan Education Foundation (PEF) presents its 8th annual Golf Tournament on June 6, 2024, at Mill Quarter Plantation Golf Course. Shotgun start is at noon. Proceeds benefit Powhatan schools. Register now at PEF’s website, which can be found in the first comment. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Each year, the Powhatan Education Foundation (PEF) awards Innovative Classroom Grants that present ideas for achieving the county’s curricular goals, enhancing students’ personal development, and/or encouraging links with the community. This year, PEF fully or partially funded six grants for a total investment of $16,146.28, and we have been highlighting how those projects are going. Next up is a grant that purchased an upgraded 3D printer for the engineering classroom, which was submitted by Marcellus Beasley, Cody Seibel, and Elaina Buczkowski. With its increased speed, more students division-wide can use this upgraded 3D printer. With the higher quality and ability to print with a wider range of filament types, students in grades 4-12 will build better parts for their projects with the capability to create, print, and revise their designs as quickly as a single class period (PHS) or a single day in summer camp. Shown here, a student talks about using the 3D printer (in the back) to print parts for SPEAR Robotics Club’s competition robot. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Powhatan County Public Schools is now hiring! The 2024-2025 instructional openings include: Middle School Math, Computer Technology, Foreign Language, CTE – Welding, Elementary, Special Education, Secondary Math, and Secondary English. The non-instructional openings include Instructional Assistants and Bus Drivers. Contact Human Resources for more information: (804) 598-5700. The link for current job openings is in the first comment. Join PCPS where your career, family, and community come together.

Powhatan County Public Schools is now hiring! The 2024-2025 instructional openings include: Middle School Math, Computer Technology, Foreign Language, CTE – Welding, Elementary, Special Education, Secondary Math, and Secondary English. The non-instructional openings include Instructional Assistants and Bus Drivers. Contact Human Resources for more information: (804) 598-5700. The link for current job openings is in the first comment. Join PCPS where your career, family, and community come together.

Because of spring break, we missed the opportunity to recognize the division’s amazing assistant principals as part of National Assistant Principals Week (April 1-5, 2024). So, we wanted to take a moment to fix that by highlighting the awesome men and women who help lead our schools and keep them running well so we can educate and help our students grow. Thank you for all you do! Flat Rock Elementary School: Meghan Ellis Pocahontas Elementary School: Amanda Johnson Powhatan Elementary School: Karen Gobble Powhatan Middle School: Chris Pearson, Kevin Socha, and Heather Storrie Powhatan High School: Aaron Boughner, Alecia Clements, Kami Louth, and Courtney Talbott #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Save the date! Prepare for an incredible evening featuring the Powhatan High School JV and Varsity Winter Guard performances on Tuesday, April 16 at 6 p.m. in the Powhatan High School gymnasium. Come watch and support our Varsity Indoor Drumline as they gear up for the WGI Sport of the Arts -2024 Percussion World Championships in Dayton, Ohio! #wearepcps #teampowhatan #WinterGuard #IndoorDrumline #WGI2024 #DaytonOhio #PHSProud #PHSBandBoosters

Because of spring break, we missed the opportunity to recognize the division’s wonderful library staff when National School Librarian Day fell on April 4. We want to rectify that now by recognizing the amazing men and women who keep our school libraries organized and provide the fun, creative, and educational environments that nurture our students. Thank you all! Flat Rock Elementary School: Kelly Terry and Rosanne Rini Pocahontas Elementary School: Tiffany Ray and Kathy Duty Powhatan Elementary School: Michelle Ball and Mary Jones Powhatan Middle School: Bucky Webb and Julie Benkovitz Powhatan High School: Paul Smartschan

Red Rover, Red Rover, let the Class of 2037 come over! Kindergarten registration kicks off on Thursday, April 11, and we are thrilled to meet our future students. Appointments will be held April 11 and 12 at your rising kindergartner’s future elementary school. We are asking for your help in reminding anyone with a child that will be age 5 by September 30, 2024, to begin enrolling now. This is a special time for schools to welcome their newest students. It is also important to get students screened and on the rosters as soon as possible to be better prepared for the start of the new school year. In addition, the preschool (VPI/ Head Start) application process for children turning age 3 and 4 by September 30, 2024, is also now available online. Check the Powhatan County Public Schools website for information or contact your local school with Kindergarten Registration or Preschool Application questions. We are so excited and cannot wait to get these students on the PCPS team! #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Mrs. Hall took her kindergarten class at Powhatan Elementary for a Story Walk around the school. The pages of “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover!” by Lucille Colandro were posted along the halls and the students read the story as they went along. At each station, Mrs. Hall also gave the kids a cut-out illustration related to the story. Back in the classroom, the students completed workbooks based on the book. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

The Powhatan County School Board workshop and meeting will be held at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at their regular location in the School Board Meeting Room at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway. The room has a maximum capacity of 160 seated people. If the room reaches capacity, an overflow location has been arranged in the cafeteria of Pocahontas Elementary School, 4294 Anderson Highway, which has a 300-seat capacity. A video conference will be set up to allow people in the overflow space to view the entire meeting and speak during the designated public comment periods. The meeting will be live and archived on the school division’s YouTube channel.

Powhatan County Public Schools is ready to welcome the parents of the Class of 2037 for a Rising Kindergarten Parent Information Night. We invite you to equip yourself with the knowledge to help your child succeed at the information meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, April 17 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Flat Rock Elementary School. Presentations will focus on: What to expect in kindergarten, how to prepare your kindergartener over the summer, helping your child work through big emotions, and community resources for family support. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Earlier this semester, Mr. Mullins and Mr. Bird showed their World History I students at Powhatan High School how awesome the ancient city of Constantinople was and modern-day Istanbul is as part of the Byzantine Empire and Russia Unit. The Byzantine Empire and Russian Empire were continuations of Western Roman/Greco culture. This time period started in 476 CE/AD. The teachers took students to Istanbul/Constantinople to virtually visit the Walls of Constantine, the Hippodrome, and the Hagia Sophia. In addition, Constantine had one of the longest aqueducts ever built at 150 miles in length. Students were able to see how the modern city of Istanbul has built around and incorporated these ancient wonders. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Before spring break, Flat Rock Elementary kindergartners took turns enjoying a Community Day that saw them visiting important sites in the county. In these photos, you can see Mrs. Moss and Mrs. Proffitt’s classes visiting the Powhatan County Courthouse, Food Lion, Bailey’s Café at Powhatan High School for lunch, New Horizon Bank, and Company 2 Fire Station. The goal of this day is to introduce students to our community friends and places that we go when we live in an area. It also introduces them to real-world experiences, such as being presented a bill for their lunch and being responsible for using money they brought to pay for the meal. PHS Culinary teacher Mark Robertson said he views including a visit to Bailey’s Café in the Community Day as a win for both the elementary and high school students. “It’s really fun to watch the kindergartners come in and see the bigger kids at lunch and see what their class looks like. It’s a lot of fun for my students to interact with the kindergarteners and you know they learn a whole different way of conversing with customers because it’s not adults,” Mr. Robertson said. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

We know it's been everywhere, but we care about your eyes, so we are going to issue one more reminder ahead of today's eclipse about timing and staying safe: Today, parts of North America will be treated to a total solar eclipse! Although Powhatan won't be in the path of totality, we'll still get to enjoy around 86% coverage. PCPS will be celebrating the day with age-appropriate activities to help students understand the phenomenon. Rest assured, safety is our top priority, and we'll be providing proper eye protection and guidance on safe viewing practices for everyone involved. Peak coverage will be at 3:19 p.m. We ask for your patience as elementary school buses may be running slightly behind schedule. Secondary students will receive glasses they can bring home to safely view the eclipse. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when viewing the eclipse. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Reminder ahead of the eclipse on Monday, April 8: On April 8, there will be a solar eclipse! On April 8, 2024, parts of North America will be treated to a total solar eclipse! Although Powhatan won't be in the path of totality, we'll still get to enjoy around 86% coverage. PCPS will be celebrating the day with age-appropriate activities to help students understand the phenomenon. Rest assured, safety is our top priority, and we'll be providing proper eye protection and guidance on safe viewing practices for everyone involved. Peak coverage will be at 3:19 p.m. We ask for your patience as elementary school buses may be running slightly behind schedule. Secondary students will receive glasses they can bring home to safely view the eclipse. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind when viewing the eclipse. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Powhatan High School club Morgan’s Message recently invited @uvafootball Head Coach Tony Elliott to speak to students about the importance of mental health and athletics and his personal experience with mental health. @morgansmessage_phs is a nonprofit that amplifies stories, resources, and expertise to confront student-athlete mental health issues. Peyton Wirt, the PHS club president, said she was excited for students to hear Coach Elliott, who spoke about the power of positive thinking and the importance of understanding the difference between their role and their identity. Coach Elliott pointed out how many people let themselves be defined by external factors, including what people say about them on social media or the challenges they face and must overcome. “My identity is my thoughts, my character, who I really am,” he said. #wearepcps #teampowhatan @phsindians.athletics

All six Flat Rock Elementary first grade-classes recently held Book Cafes to celebrate reading. Students were treated to “book tastings,” where they got to experience four different authors and their types of writing. They decided based on the author if they would like the book and then they read the books and reviewed them to say whether they enjoyed the experience. Each Book Café culminated with tasty treats. #wearepcps #teampowhatan #elevateeducatorsva

Pocahontas Elementary turned the spotlight on reading on the Friday before Spring Break – or at least a flashlight. For Flashlight Friday, kindergartners had guest readers come visit and share their love of reading. We are so proud of our kids we're beaming! #wearepcps #teampowhatan