During art class with Mrs. Webster, Mrs. Beach’s fourth graders at Powhatan Elementary glazed ceramic animal bowls they made. In a previous class, the students started with wet clay they shaped into an animal bowl that was later fired in a kiln once. When they finished with this glazing, the figurines headed back to the kiln to be finished. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
During Black History Month, Mrs. Erie’s third graders at Pocahontas Elementary School took time every day during their morning meeting to read “28 Days: Moments in Black History That Changed the World” by Charles R. Smith Jr. Each day, the class learned about a different African American who made his or her mark on history. The class also read about important Black Americans in books like “The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read” by Rita Lorraine Hubbard (a beautiful story of a woman that lived a 120 years and learned to read at age 116 ) and “Ron’s Big Mission” by Rose Blue and Corinne Naden (future scientist and Challenger astronaut Ron McNair, then 9 years old, takes on the mission of acquiring a library card in segregated South Carolina in the 1950s). #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) advisor Ms. Detrick recently invited Jackie Wilkens, Powhatan County’s Economic Development Assistant, to give tips to a group of PHS students in the club about making a social media campaign for a competition at their leadership conference. FBLA competitive events recognize and reward excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas. They also prepare students for successful careers in business by providing opportunities to apply classroom concepts in a workforce-simulated competitive environment and receive feedback from business professionals. Thank you to Ms. Wilkens for sharing her time and expertise. #wearepcps #teampowhatan @visitpowhatanva
Pocahontas Elementary School kicked off National Reading Month last week by celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday. In addition to dress-up days and treats delivered to all of the classrooms, the preschool and kindergarten classes welcomed a special visitor – The Cat in the Hat! The day also featured a number of guest readers who came to read to POCA students, which will continue all month long. #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 are going to take time over the next few weeks to highlight how those projects are going. First up is Cheri Ashman’s project, “Clay in the Classroom: Shaping a New Future for High School Anatomy Education.” ANATOMY IN CLAY® reimagines how Powhatan High School students learn human anatomy by using tactile clay models, allowing access to the subject matter in a way that flat, 2D diagrams simply can't achieve. Ms. Ashman pooled resources from the PEF grant and her Curtis funds to provide enough materials to thoroughly pilot the program. The materials were also a big hit at the recent PCPS STEM Expo, where they were used to introduce children to the human anatomy. #wearepcps #teampowhatan @anatomyinclay
Bright Star Theatre visited @powhatanelementary_pcps last week and staged an informative production of “George Washington Carver & Friends” for Black History Month. All children from prekindergarten to fifth grade attended one of two shows, learning about African Americans who laid the groundwork for some of the most amazing discoveries of the modern era, especially when it comes to science, technology, engineering, and math. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
“Whooo’s Reading a Good Book?” This beautiful owl at Flat Rock Elementary asks an important question! In honor of March being National Reading Month, we would love families to share photos of their children reading or showing a book they recently read and loved. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
While participating in the American Heart Challenge, Mrs. Woodson and Mr. Daniels had second graders in Mrs. Severson and Mrs. Simon’s classes rotate between seven Kids Heart Challenge stations. Students got their hearts pumping with the long rope, short rope, hands only CPR, ninja belt challenge, jump rope, target throwing, and The Impossible Shot. Powhatan Elementary School also showed kindness by raising money for the American Heart Association. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
In November 2023, the PCPS School Health Advisory Committee sponsored a panel discussion called “Unmasking the Hidden Threats of Vaping.” The school division continues to hear from parents asking about vaping, so we thought it would be good to reshare the Youtube link to the recording of that panel discussion again as an additional source of information. The link is in the first comment.
Young (Ms. Robinson's Early Child Education class) and old (Powhatan High School students) celebrated Black History Month together in style with a prize-winning wheel spin after viewing documentaries and QR code videos featuring influential figures in U.S. history. The event was made possible with the help of the PHS Readers and Writers Club and the high school library's new iPads, which were provided by a Powhatan Education Foundation grant. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Virginia Preschool Initiative and Head Start Applications for the 2024-2025 school year are available on the PCPS homepage as of March 4, 2024. When considering applying for these programs, children must be 3 or 4 years of age by September 30, 2024. See the division website for additional information. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Prince at 804-598-5700. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Monday, March 4 kicks off Kindergarten Registration in Powhatan and around the region. Registration forms and parent sign-up for appointments and screening go live on this date. Appointments will begin April 11 and 12. 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
Just a reminder that Powhatan Middle School students will attend class remotely on Tuesday, March 5, because the school will be used as a polling precinct. PMS staff members will work onsite. All other PCPS schools will report as normal.
Today is National Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day. We are so very grateful for all of our facilities staff here at Powhatan County Public Schools. PCPS is fortunate to have such a dedicated team working to keep our buildings running and ready for students, staff, and community members. Not pictured is Director of Facilities Bob Benway, who leads this amazing crew. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
For its fourth year, PCPS’s biggest pop culture event, the PCPS Comicon, was a huge success. In addition to being the largest event yet, the Comicon held on Feb. 24 at Powhatan High School also had the highest turnout of patrons and cosplay contestants. The exciting costume contest drew a wide variety of entrants recreating their favorite characters in pop culture. A total of $400 earned for PCPS’s five school libraries came from attendees and donations. It was a great day for literacy! #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Youth Art Month kicks off today, and to celebrate, PCPS is holding a Youth Art Month Art Exhibit opening from 2 to 4 p.m. this Sunday, March 3 at the Pocahontas Landmark Center. Come see beautiful artwork created by students from all five schools and curated for this year’s show, Experience PCPS. This exhibit, which shows the new generation of artists and creatives, will be on display through April 30 and is open to the public during PLC hours. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Flat Rock Elementary School welcomed Bright Start Theatre’s production of “George Washington Carver & Friends” on Thursday for Black History Month. All children from prekindergarten to fifth grade attended one of two shows, learning about African Americans who laid the groundwork for some of the most amazing discoveries of the modern era, especially when it comes to science, technology, engineering, and math. Hosted by the incredible scientist, George Washington Carver, a man who invented thousands of uses for the lowly peanut, this show introduced the students to other incredible scientists, entrepreneurs, and groundbreakers, including Madame CJ Walker, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, Booker T. Washington, and Dennis W. Weatherby. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Will it stick or not? Mrs. Manna brought the science lab to her classroom to do a magnetizing lab for her second graders at Pocahontas Elementary School. The students were given a list of items and asked to make a prediction about whether each one would stick to a magnet. Then they tested each item to see if their prediction was correct. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Community Based Instruction teacher Mrs. Anderson and two students traveled around Powhatan Middle School last week picking up canned food items that will be donated to the Powhatan Food Pantry. The food drive runs through this week at the school. We love seeing our students working to help others in their community. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Sixth grade World Cultures classes with Mr. Baker and Mrs. Arnold visited the Innovation Lab at @powhatanmiddle_pcps to imagine, design, and create models of Alebrijes. Alebrijes are fantastical and colorful sculptures that originated in Oaxaca, Mexico and have become associated with the Day of the Dead. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
