Powhatan Education Foundation -

St. Patrick’s Day-themed shenanigans were had by all last week when Miss Katie’s preschool class at Flat Rock Elementary learned how to draw pots of gold, followed by a little fun with light and rainbows. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Powhatan Elementary students put on a fantastic show last night when they proved Powhatan’s Got Talent. The talent show allowed students to show off their skills with performances of gymnastics, dancing, singing, comedy, cup stacking, cheerleading, and even playing the kazoo. What an all-star lineup! A special thanks also goes out to the event coordinators who put in so many extra hours to help make this show a reality and a success: Joy Daniel, Gina Dickerson, Amy Hintz, Brittany Kellaway, Erin Woodson, and April Mount. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

One day of musical celebration down and two more to go! You still have two days to come and enjoy some amazing chorus groups in the Powhatan Diamond Classic, a musical competition at Powhatan High School featuring almost 50 groups from around the state. The competition continues today with Day 2 featuring 16 Treble Show Choirs. Come back again on Saturday for Day 3 featuring 17 Mixed Show Choirs. The Powhatan choirs will also perform their competition shows this year. Come cheer on these multi-award-winning choirs!! Get your tickets at the door: $15/Friday | $20/Saturday | $30/3-Day VIP Pass. Click on the link in the first comment to access this year's digital program, which includes daily performance schedules, cafe and coffee bar menus, and so much more! #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. Next up is “Let’s Explore CoDrone EDU: Drones Made for Learning,” a project spearheaded by Katy Osborne, Kelly Terry, and Kristen Bentzen at Flat Rock Elementary. CoDrone EDU is the latest in coding drones made specifically for classroom learning featuring the safety, flexibility, and durability needed for student learning. In these photos, Mrs. Osborne and Ms. Terry work with Mrs. Beemer’s fifth graders to first code the drones using Blockly and then test their coding by having the drones fly an obstacle course. #wearepcps #teampowhatan @RobolinkInc

February was so much fun for @powhatanelementary_pcps as the school participated in the Kids Heart Challenge. The school focused on the importance of taking care of their hearts by being physically active every day, eating fruits and vegetables, sleeping at least 10 hours at night, and staying away from smoke. They also learned the warning signs of a stroke, practiced how to do hands-only CPR, and completed a bunch of cardiovascular activities like jump roping. The month culminated with an Awards Ceremony that saw the students from each grade level with the highest fundraising totals honored, followed by the opportunity to throw a pie in Mrs. Deal’s, Mrs. Gobble’s, Mr. Daniels’, and Mrs. Woodson’s faces. In all, 100 students registered for the challenge, which raised a total of $16,704.32 for the American Heart Association. In addition, 39 families learned hands-only CPR, and all students K-5 learned hands-only CPR in class. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Miss Southward’s second grade class at Flat Rock Elementary School did a research project on famous Americans. The kids created poster boards and gave an oral presentation in the first person. Having the cut out to put their faces through during the presentation allowed them to put more expression into their presentations. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Powhatan High School’s FFA and Horticulture program are back with their annual Spring Plant Sale. Come out and support our students by purchasing the plants they have grown from April 15-20 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-12 p.m.in the PHS Greenhouse. Take Judes Ferry Road to Old Church Road. Turn by the tennis courts and follow the road to the greenhouse behind the school. Plants for sale include: tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, peppers, marigolds, coleus, geraniums, petunias, impatiens, thunbergia, pentas, verbena, sweet potato vine, and assorted herbs. Payment is by cash or check only. Contact emilee.meinhard@powhatan.k12.va.us with any questions. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Mr. Roberts’ Energy and the Environment class at @powhatanmiddle_pcps completed a wind turbine project where they learned how to convert energy from wind into electrical energy. The class discussed how energy, electricity specifically, is generated and how to continue to produce electricity in a sustainable and responsible manner. When the wind blows, it pushes against the blades causing them to spin. As the blades spin, they cause the generator to turn. The turning of the generator generates electricity (moving electrons), which can be used to turn on lights, play music, as well as power many other devices. For this project, students designed “rotor blades” for the pre-assembled wind turbine. They tested their designs, recorded data, and modified their rotor blades in an attempt to achieve the greatest generation of electricity possible. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

Mrs. Hintz’s kindergarten class at Powhatan Elementary recently became magnet detectives. The students donned the lab coats they use for science lessons and went on a science walk exploring the school, inside and out, to discover what objects all around them are magnetic. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

We are going to take a minute to feast our eyes on the amazing Powhatan High School Culinary program run by Mr. Robertson. As you can see by these photos, this program offers students a wide variety of opportunities to learn and practice new skills. In addition to their creations in their regular classroom time, (in the class photos here, students in Culinary 3 made classic risotto, chicken parmesan, tiramisu, meatballs, and a gorgeous charcuterie board all in one class!) students have opportunities to shine through programs like Bailey’s Café and catering events (they were the dinner part of the PHS Choral groups’ Dinner and a Show). Regardless of whether the students choose to pursue a career in the culinary arts, they are learning how to prepare food safely and efficiently and honing skills such as customer service, time management, attention to detail, and more. #wearepcps #teampowhatan #elevateeducatorsva

Based on current information, PCPS is anticipating a large turnout at tonight’s School Board meeting at Powhatan High School. We want to provide a safe environment for anyone attending the meeting in person. The capacity in the auditorium is 950 people. Capacity in our remote broadcasting overflow space in the cafeteria is 250 people. If the two meeting spaces reach capacity, the front doors of the high school will be closed for new attendees. For those who cannot attend in person or would prefer to watch from home, the meeting will be live-streamed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZZdGcV2JfM. Once visitors enter the school, please move directly to one of the two meeting spaces and have a seat. Should you wish to speak, the sign-up for the public comment period will be located in the hallway outside of the auditorium doors. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. with approximately 15 minutes of board business before the public comment period begins. The school board chair will provide instructions for those participating in public comment.

Reminder PCPS School Board Meeting Start Time: 6:00 PM on Monday, March 18, 2024 Location: Powhatan High School Parking: Front Parking Lot Building Access: Enter the front doors beginning at 5:30 PM Business Meeting: Approximately 15 minutes followed by public comment period

We are back again with another installment of the Powhatan County School Board Recap. As always, the goal of this newsletter is to help people who don't have the time to come to or watch full school board meetings still stay abreast of what is going on in our school division. The newsletter link is in the first comment.

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. Next up is “From Seed to Fruit,” awarded to Barbara Adcock. The grant money paid for an indoor grow tent and materials so students at Pocahontas Elementary and Flat Rock Elementary could see the complete growth cycle of a variety of vegetables. They will also experiment with different types of soils, lighting, and methods of pollination. In these photos, Mrs. Adcock introduces the grow tent to Pocahontas second graders in Mrs. Reese’s class, who planted mini cucumber, mini tomato, and cucamelon seeds. We give these experiments two green thumbs up! #wearepcps #teampowhatan

PHS teacher Penny Robertson receives regional leadership award POWHATAN, VA – Powhatan High School English teacher Penny Robertson was recently honored with a leadership award at a ceremony recognizing educators from across the region who received or renewed National Board Certification (NBCT). Robertson, who has worked for PCPS since 1999, was surprised to be named the third annual recipient of the Terry Dozier Teacher Leadership Award at the Feb. 28 NBCT pinning ceremony, hosted by the Metropolitan Educational Training Alliance VCU School of Education. The award, which was created to recognize an educator who exemplifies teacher leadership and the characteristics of the NBCT process, was presented by Dozier, who was the former Director for the Center of Teacher Leadership at VCU. At the same ceremony, Powhatan High School Fine Arts teacher Stephanie Wirt and Flat Rock Elementary Library Media Specialist Kelly Terry received their NBCT pins as the culmination of two years of hard work. Wirt received certification in Art: Early Adolescence through Young Childhood, and Terry received certification in Library Media: Early Childhood through Young Adulthood. Both credited Robertson with being integral to helping them through the rigorous process. Over the course of her career, Robertson has attended many professional development seminars and workshops and earned a Master's Degree in 2003. While all of those experiences were valuable to her and her craft, she said none of them came close to what she gained by completing the NBCT process from 2019 to 2021. A National Board Certificate attests that a teacher has met the highest standards established for the profession. Teachers complete a four-component process that includes three classroom-based portfolio entries and one assessment center exercise. The process taught her not only about instruction and the impact it can have, but made her analyze how and why she implements instruction the way she does. “I know there are other teachers like me, regardless of the season of their career, and I encourage colleagues to consider NBCT,” said Robertson, who was PHS Teacher of the Year in 2004. “I pursued becoming an NBCT late in my career, and it helped to renew my spirit in the profession that I love so much. To be a teacher is to be a lifelong learner, especially regarding the teaching profession.” Inspired by her own experience, Robertson added to an already heavy workload, which includes being the high school’s English department chair and gifted resource teacher, by deciding to help other teachers complete the NBCT process. Last spring, when the division decided to form its own cohort for NBCT, Dr. Samantha Martin, Coordinator of Innovative Learning and Professional Development, invited Robertson to co-coordinate the program. Together the pair coordinates work sessions and meetings, coaches, and backreads for the current NBCT candidates. “The writing for the NBCT portfolios is intense in that all questions must be fully answered with sufficient evidence in a clear, concise, and convincing way. Dr. Martin and I, along with other Powhatan NBCT coaches, direct new candidates through the process,” she said. Being honored for that work with the Terry Dozier Teacher Leadership was even more special because the award’s namesake announced it, Robertson said. She went through the NBCT process as part of the VCU cohort when Dozier was still the Director of the Center of Teacher Leadership at VCU. “She was there every session with us as the director and one of the facilitators. I gained so much respect for her knowledge of the NBCT process and her passion for the teaching profession during that time. So, back in 2019 when I started the NBCT process, I was already saying, ‘I want to be like her’ in regard to Dr. Dozier. I truly admire her,” Robertson said. In announcing the leadership award, Dozier commended Robertson for being committed to her students, colleagues, and school division in the various roles she has assumed, especially co-coordinating the first internal NBCT cohort in Powhatan County. “The goal for the initial cohort was five candidates, and this professional learning community has now doubled in size. And the increase in interest and the strong start for this professional learning community is directly related to (Robertson’s) relationships with and leadership among colleagues,” Dozier said during the ceremony. “The growth of National Board Certification in the district would not be possible without this lifelong teacher leader.”

From sea to shining sea! In the last few weeks, Powhatan Elementary School’s library has been collecting Valentines and postcards from across the nation. A last-minute push to get a card from 12 unrepresented states paid off, and the map is complete! Thank you to everyone who liked and shared the post to support our children in this fun activity that also increased their knowledge of other states. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

A larger-than-expected number of community members attended the Powhatan County School Board meeting last night, Tuesday, March 12, ready to share their views with the Board members. The meeting was adjourned early at the direction of the fire marshal. The rescheduled meeting will be held on Monday, March 18th at 6:00 p.m. It will be held in the Powhatan High School auditorium to accommodate the turnout. Members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend this meeting. The auditorium can accommodate 950 seated participants. Spillover seating will be available in the cafeteria/commons area, if needed. A live feed will be provided for viewers seated in this area. According to School Board policies KD and BDDH, Powhatan residents or PCPS employees wishing to provide public comment to the School Board must sign up upon arrival. Individuals are allotted 3 minutes to speak. Those representing a pre-approved group are allotted 5 minutes; however, groups must be registered with the School Board clerk prior to the day of the meeting. Groups wishing to be registered should contact the clerk at sheila.eggleston@powhatan.k12.va.us. For more information, including the modified agenda, please visit https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/powhatan/Board.nsf/Public.

We missed posting this awesome activity, but we still want to share it. In February, the PHS School Based Job Skills Class students ran their own Valentine delivery business over two weeks. The students collected orders from staff members, organized and created the orders, collected the payments, and delivered the orders to the customers. The business was a success and all of their customers were pleased with the service. The class looks forward to offering more opportunities like this in the future. #wearepcps #teampowhatan

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