Flat Rock Elementary School

Powhatan High School Appoints George Bland, Jr. as New Varsity Head Football Coach and Teacher Powhatan, VA – Powhatan High School is excited to announce George Bland, Jr. as the new Varsity Head Football Coach and a member of the teaching staff. He will begin his transition in the spring and officially join Powhatan County Public Schools (PCPS) on July 1, 2025. With over 12 years of coaching experience, including both head coaching and assistant coaching roles, Coach Bland brings valuable leadership and a proven track record to Powhatan High School. He is recognized for his success in recruitment, staff retention, fundraising, and team performance. As former Head Coach at Douglas Freeman High School, he led the varsity football team to an impressive 35-17 overall record. In addition to his coaching experience, Coach Bland has a strong background in education and administration. He has taught Social Studies, served as an administrator, and co-owned RockIT Sports, LLC, where he managed a 65,000-square-foot facility, oversaw a $1.3 million budget, and worked with approximately 1,200 young athletes. Most recently, he served as the Director of Student Activities at Deep Run High School, where he was responsible for overseeing athletic teams and extracurricular programs. Coach Bland is a strong advocate for multi-sport participation, encouraging student-athletes to engage in diverse activities and training to achieve peak performance on the field. Reflecting on his new role, Coach Bland stated, “It is an incredible honor to step into this position and follow in the footsteps of two legendary coaches who have established such a strong tradition. I have the utmost respect for the foundation built by past Powhatan players and coaches, and I am committed to carrying that legacy forward while forging a new path for the future. Together, we will build on the past and aim for even greater success. Go Indians!”

Since kicking off in September, the POCA Stride Run Club has been getting our kids moving before school! With 105 students signed up, club sponsor Mrs. Brtiz said they’ve having a blast, earning awards for reaching distances like the 5K, 5 miles, and even 20 miles. 😱🏅 The club just had 2 students earn marathon status (26.2miles)!! But it’s not just the kids—parents are joining the fun too, running alongside their children! 👟💨 Big thanks to Sports Backers for supporting our club with a $500 mini grant and for showing up one morning with awesome color-changing sunglasses for all participants! 😎✨#wearepcps #teampowhatan

Today is National Education Support Professionals Day, and PCPS wants to thank the support staff members who play a vital role on the education team and in students' lives inside and outside the classroom. They help keep our schools running and our students safe, healthy, and ready to learn every day. The day honors a long list of professionals, including all secretaries, classroom aides, cafeteria workers, maintenance workers, bus drivers, and the others who support educators, school leadership, and the students, too. These professionals do their part in making PCPS exceptional for every child so they can be safe, learn, grow, and achieve. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

REMINDER! PCPS is hosting a Powhatan Child Check until 4 p.m. today, Nov. 20 at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway. This is a free community event hosted by PCPS and Goochland Powhatan Community Services to give families information on their child’s current developmental skills ahead of entering kindergarten. Requirements to participate are: Children ages 0 to 5 years, Powhatan residents, and parent/guardian must be present. Can't make it? For questions, or to schedule a private screening on another day, please call: Jeanine Vassar, 804-657-2010, EL Local System Manager, GPCS, for children birth-2 years old. Call Dr. Lynn Clayton-Prince, 804-370-9807, Director of Special Education, PCPS, for children 3-5 years old. What is a Child Find? Each local school division shall, at least annually, conduct a public awareness campaign to: 1. Inform the community of a person's, ages two to 21, inclusive, statutory right to a free appropriate public education and the availability of special education programs and services; 2. Generate referrals; and 3. Explain the nature of disabilities, the early warning signs of disabilities, and the need for services to begin early. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

🧡 Although we missed the official dates of National School Psychology Week, we still want to take a moment to recognize and appreciate the incredible work our school psychologists do to support the mental health and well-being of our students and staff. A big thank you to Dianne White, Kirsten Lightner, and Katie Barnard for their dedication and expertise in creating safe, supportive, and thriving school environments. Your hard work truly makes a difference! ✨ 🧡 #wearepcps #teampowhatan

PCPS will host a Powhatan Child Check from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway. This is a free community event hosted by PCPS and Goochland Powhatan Community Services to give families information on their child’s current developmental skills ahead of entering kindergarten. Requirements to participate are: Children ages 0 to 5 years, Powhatan residents, and parent/guardian must be present. For questions, or to schedule a private screening on another day, please call: Jeanine Vassar, 804-657-2010, EL Local System Manager, GPCS, for children birth-2 years old. Call Dr. Lynn Clayton-Prince, 804-370-9807, Director of Special Education, PCPS, for children 3-5 years old. What is a Child Find? Each local school division shall, at least annually, conduct a public awareness campaign to: 1. Inform the community of a person's, ages two to 21, inclusive, statutory right to a free appropriate public education and the availability of special education programs and services; 2. Generate referrals; and 3. Explain the nature of disabilities, the early warning signs of disabilities, and the need for services to begin early. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

The latest School Board Recap Newsletter is now available! Catch up on the highlights from the November 12 school board workshop and meeting and stay informed about the important decisions shaping our schools. Your voice matters, and we invite the entire community to engage with the information that affects us all. Read the newsletter to learn more and join the conversation about our students' futures! The link to the newsletter is in the first comment. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Mrs. Durrbeck's first graders at Flat Rock Elementary enjoy exploring new phonics skills. They learned all about the “wh” digraph (two letters making one sound), practiced blending it into words, and got hands-on with magnetic letters and Elkonin boxes to build their new words. 📚✨ #teampowhatan #wearepcps

Clara McComb, a PHS student, had her paper, "Effects of Blocking Brain Estrogen Synthesis on the Expression of Extracellular Matrix Genes in the Mouse Cortex," published on the VCU website. Clara attended the VCU Summer Neurology Internship Program. She was recognized by the School Board on Nov. 12. #teampowhatan #wearepcps

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student excel. A nonprofit national education association, SkillsUSA serves middle-school, high-school, and college/postsecondary students preparing for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. SkillsUSA held the competition at the State Fair. There were 36 competitors in the Electrical Wiring Competition, and two of our students placed: Mason Heckel, PHS Senior, placed 2nd, and Carter Estep, PHS Senior, placed 3rd. Both students were recognized by the School Board on Nov. 12. #teampowhatan #wearepcps

Powhatan High School and Middle School Future Farmers of America (FFA) students received outstanding recognition for their achievements in state-level Career Development Events (CDEs), which are designed to allow students to develop career skills in each associated area. On Nov. 12, the School Board recognized the following: Powhatan Middle School FFA State Forestry Career Development Event: 3rd Place Team; Joseph Arnold (3rd High Individual), Taylor Shenk, Hunter Smith (10th High Individual), and Hayden Columbo-Powell. Coach: Tom Walton. Middle School Plant Science Career Development Event State Convention: 4th in State; Aurora Yates (10th individual), Joseph Arnold (12th individual), and Casey Luna. Coach: Jen Baker. Middle School Ag Mechanics and Technology Career Development Event: 6th in State; Joseph Arnold (20th individual), Hayden Columbo-Powell, Aurora Yates, and Taylor Shenk. Coach: Jen Baker Middle School Small Animal Care Career Development Event: Madelyn "Madi" Chaffins (13th individual). Coach: Jen Baker. State Dairy Judging Career Development Event: Madelyn "Madi" Chaffins (4th High Individual FFA Reasons). Coaches: Albert Tucker and Johns Bailey. Powhatan High School Agricultural Mechanics: Team Members - Carter Estep, Sam Fens, Parker Smith, and Jonah Davidson. Team Award: 3rd Place Team in VA. Individual Award: Carter Estep (10th Place Indiv. Overall). Coach: Chris Whitlow. Horse Judging: Team Members - Anna Franklin, Kennedy Martin, Reghan Kerns, Savannah Morris, and Sarah Kunze. Team Award: 3rd Place Team in VA. Individual Awards: Savannah Morris (7th Place in Halter, 7th Place in Reasons, 7th Place Indivi. in VA) and Anna Franklin (7th Place in Reasons). Coach/Sponsor: Caitlin Smith and Emilee Meinhard. Horse Hippology: Team Members - Sarah Kunze, Savannah Morris, Kennedy Martin, and Regan Kerns. Team Award: 4th Place Team in VA. Individual Award: Reghan Kerns (6th Place Individual in VA). Coach: Caitlin Smith. Floriculture: Team Members - Jadyn Palka, Ava Tucker, Caris Grell, and Casey Grell. Team Awards: 11th Place Team in VA. Coach: Emilee Meinhard. Soil Team: Marilyn Robinson.Team Award: 2nd in State. Coach - Tommy Walton.

The Virginia Association of Agricultural Educators (VAAE) awarded the Agriculture Teacher State Recognition to this group based on the number of agriculture students they taught who have now become agriculture teachers. Chris Whitlow - VAAE Teacher of Teachers- Gold for teaching 6+ agriculture teachers. Caitlin Smith (not pictured) - VAAE Teacher of Teachers- Bronze for teaching one agriculture teacher. The School Board recognized these two outstanding teachers on Nov. 12. #teampowhatan #wearepcps

VAST (Virginia Association of Science Teachers) recognizes exemplary contributions to science education through its annual Recognition in Science Education (RISE) awards program. The RISE awards are presented to outstanding educators at all levels. In addition, school administrators and businesses are eligible to be recognized for their support of and contributions to quality science education. The VAST Awards Committee selected Powhatan County Public Schools teacher Jill Dewey to receive a VAST RISE Award. Mrs. Dewey was recognized at the School Board’s Nov. 12 meeting. #teampowhatan #wearepcps

During the Nov. 12 Recognitions, the School Board honored three Helping Hands Award recipients. With these awards, anyone (student, parent, colleague, or supervisor) can nominate any PCPS staff member who Inspires, Empowers, or Innovates to receive recognition. The following staff members were recognized as Helping Hands Award winners: Annmarie Horne, Counselor, Flat Rock Elementary, nominated for Empowering; Arla Thompson, Nursing Supervisor, Pocahontas Elementary, nominated for Empowering; and Sergeant Major Blakely, JROTC Instructor, Powhatan High School, nominated for Inspiring. #teampowhatan #wearepcps

One of the highlights of each month’s School Board meeting is recognizing the amazing students, staff, and community members during the Recognition portion of the meeting. The November 12 meeting’s Recognition time was packed, and we are going to take today to honor all of those men, women, and students for their achievements. Let’s start with the 2024-2025 PEF Classroom Innovation Grant Award Winners. The Powhatan Education Foundation (PEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the learning experience for the students, teachers, and staff of Powhatan County Public Schools by promoting innovative educational opportunities, recognizing outstanding achievements, and developing community partnerships. Each year, the 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 received 14 grant requests. Eight grants were fully or partially funded for a total investment of $15,922.90. The recipients are: • Kimochis - Helping Educators and Families help kids manage difficult feelings and challenging behaviors. Kirsten Lightner, Dianne White, Jennifer Lavimodiere, and Taileah Rich, $2,964.01, POCA. • Turning Tables: Bringing CWD and the Performing Arts Together Through Engineering and Stagecraft. Bilal Z. Raychouni, $3,000, PHS. • Orff Instrument Xylophone Exploration. Helena Nuckols, $1,750, POCA. • POCA Pulse News. Zannatul Ferdous and Samantha Martin, $363.23, POCA. • Real World Coding in the Library. Tiffany Ray, $1,348.66, POCA. • From Crime Scene to Courtroom. Cheri Ashman and Amanda Wilson Henderson, $2,260, PHS. • Sphero Indi Coding Cars. Katy Osborne (Tech Resource), Kelly Terry (Library Resource), and Kristen Bentzen (Inn. Learning Coach), $3,000, FRES. • Unlocking Student Success with Breakout EDU, Kelly Terry and Mary Lisa Watts, $1,237, FRES. For the descriptions of each project, we will provide a link in the comments. #teampowhatan #wearepcps

Today, we pause to recognize and thank all of the brave men and women who have served in our nation's military. Your sacrifices, dedication, and courage have protected the freedoms we hold dear, and we are forever grateful for your service. As a school division, Powhatan County Public Schools is proud to teach the next generation about the importance of service, sacrifice, and patriotism. On this Veterans Day, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all veterans, past and present. Thank you for your service and your commitment to our country. #teampowhatan #wearepcps

Don't forget! Tuesday, November 5 is a Student Holiday/Staff Workday. If you have scheduled a parent-teacher conference, make sure you know what time it starts.

🎉 It's Red Ribbon Week at Powhatan High School! 🎉 This week, students signed the pledge to live drug-free during lunch and listened to important announcements about the campaign. A huge shoutout to HOSA for their fantastic door decorations and for helping out during lunches! From October 23 to 31, students nationwide are celebrating the importance of living drug-free, and this year’s theme, “Life is a Movie. Film Drug Free™,” encourages everyone to take control of their story with positive, healthy choices. Let’s keep the momentum going, Powhatan! ✨#wearepcps #teampowhatan

🌟🎉 Happy National Principals Month! 🎉🌟This October, we celebrate the incredible leaders who inspire our students and staff every day! Our dedicated principals not only guide our schools with vision and passion but also motivate everyone to reach their full potential. We asked our amazing principals to share their favorite inspirational quotes, and their responses are truly uplifting! 📚✨ Swipe through to see the words that inspire them and remind us all of the impact of great leadership. Thank you to all our principals for your hard work and commitment to excellence in education! #wearepcps #teampowhatan

🚍✨ As National School Bus Safety Week comes to a close, let’s take a moment to give another kudos to the incredible PCPS Transportation Department! 🙌 Their hard work and dedication ensure that all our school vehicles are running smoothly and safely transporting our students every day. Their efforts truly make a difference in our community! 🧡#wearepcps #teampowhatan