The PHS Helpers treated the high school staff to lunch last week as a show of support and appreciation, and C&F bank provided dessert and drinks. We are grateful for all of the love and support we get from our parent groups. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Sixth graders in Mrs. Minnix’s history class at Powhatan Middle read “You Wouldn’t Want to be an American Colonist!” and used Google slides in the library to learn about Colonial America. #wearepcps #teampowhatan #elevateeducatorsva
When math meets mixing bowls! Seventh graders in Mrs. Antosiak’s math class at Powhatan Middle celebrated Thanksgiving by putting their fraction knowledge, measuring skills, and following directions skills to good use by making individual, no-bake pumpkin pies in math class. #wearepcps #teampowhatan #elevateeducatorsva
From the PCPS family, wishing you a harvest of blessings, a season of thanks, and a day filled with warmth and joy. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Powhatan Middle school students created thankful notes to their teachers that were posted near the front entrance of the school to show their appreciation. Today and every day, we are thankful for the wonderful individuals who contribute to the success and vibrancy of Powhatan County Public Schools. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Each child and teacher at Powhatan Elementary wrote what they were thankful for on a feather that combined to make a gorgeous and festive school Thanksgiving Turkey. A special thank you to Deputy Tovar, PES school resource officer, for helping put the feathers on the turkey. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Mrs. Fields’ VPI-4 class at Pocahontas Elementary enjoys Center Time, which allows them to choose and learn how they want to play and be social. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
The Flat Rock Elementary School Kindness Klub sponsored a Thanksgiving-themed food drive to benefit the Powhatan Food Pantry. The school collected 499 food items to donate to the community. Way to go, FRES kiddos! #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Powhatan County Public Schools will be closed: Wednesday, Nov. 22; Thursday, Nov. 23; and Friday, Nov. 24. We hope your day is full of happiness.
An estimated six million skeletons are housed in underground tunnels in the Catacombs of Paris. The site of endless skulls stacked on top of each other lining the walks is a striking one and one recently waiting for Mrs. Arnold’s French classes and Mr. Baker’s World Cultures class at Powhatan Middle School. Over several days, the students studied the Catacombs and the Père Lachaise Cemetery as part of a cultural exploration of All Saints’ Day. After studying the Catacombs and their history and purpose, the students got to explore a recreation in Mrs. Arnold’s classroom and learn about five famous French historical figures. #wearepcps #teampowhatan #elevateeducatorsva
Mrs. Bates’ second grade class at Pocahontas Elementary took advantage of a beautiful day to have a picnic outside to help bid farewell to a classmate who was moving away. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
The following staff members were nominated and selected for Helping Hands Awards. They were first honored at their workplace and then invited to be honored again by the School Board on Nov. 14.
* PCPS Transportation employees Robin Hendel and Laura Livingston were nominated by Katie Wojcicki, Director of Student Services and Interventions, and Cheryl Thomas, Director of Elementary Instruction for Inspiring.
* Pocahontas Elementary teacher Gwynn Johnson was nominated by a parent for Inspiring.
* Powhatan Elementary employee Noah Inglish was nominated by a staff member for Inspiring.
In 2021, 35 employees became members of our first cohort for LETRS Training. The Lexia LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) is a comprehensive professional learning opportunity designed to provide early childhood and elementary educators and administrators with deep knowledge to be literacy and language experts in the science of reading. This is an intensive training in which teachers had to complete extensive readings and online modules while also attending eight virtual trainings ranging from half days to whole days. Individuals who completed the 132 hours of training: Stephanie Adam, Katie Bates, Paula Bean, Melinda Brooks, Carla Crump, Jill Dewey, Julie Garner, Tiffany Green, Robyn Hall, Amy Hintz, Angela Innerbichler, Bailey Johnson, Gwynn Johnson, Jenny Johnson, Lisa McCue, Sarah Moore, Samantha Morton, Riley Mosher, Molly Moss, Traciann Paden, Tiffany Proffitt, Melissa Rama, Lisa Richter, Colleen Schwartz, Amy Senger, Laura Simon, Kate Southward, Julia Stech, Tia Stout, Mark Thompson, and Ellen Valcourt. These educators were recognized at the Powhatan County School Board meeting on Nov. 14. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Powering Up! ⚡⚡Today is Electricity 2 PHS senior Bradley Wade’s last day apprenticing with the school division’s electrician, Fred Long, an arrangement that allowed him to get experience and work around his football schedule. Next up, Bradley starts his apprenticeship with R J Wade Electric on Monday. Watt a journey! #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Powhatan County Public Schools and County staff are joining forces to help spread a little cheer with a Holiday Silent Auction to benefit the Powhatan Christmas Mother program.
The Powhatan community is invited to attend a silent auction filled with gift baskets, baked goods, handmade gifts, and gift certificates from 3 to 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1 at the Pocahontas Landmark Center.
Now in its second year, the event brings together school and county employees to give back to the Christmas Mother program, which supports the Powhatan community all year long.
Suzanne Cline, 2023 Powhatan Christmas Mother, said she appreciates the enormous show of support from community partners, including local government, businesses, civic groups, and individuals. The way the Powhatan community can join together in such fun and imaginative ways to spread joy and kindness to others in need only reinforces the genuineness of Cline’s theme for this year, “A Village of Blessings.”
“We are 100% funded by donations. Without community partnerships, we wouldn’t be able to provide the magic of Christmas to over 500 Powhatan children and seniors,” Cline said.
The Powhatan County School Board had a full night of recognitions at its regular Nov. 14 meeting. To start, congratulations to our Powhatan Education Foundation winners!
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 received 21 grant requests. Six grants were fully or partially funded for a total investment of $16,146.28.
* Droning Across the Curriculum: ($3,000) Amanda Henley, Jordan Nutt, and Cara Alexander -Grant money will be used at Powhatan Elementary to purchase drones to give students a hands-on learning approach to concepts students struggle with for example, computational learning.
* From Seed to Fruit: ($2,544) Barbara Adcock - A grow tent indoors at Pocahontas Elementary will allow students to not only see the complete cycle of a variety of vegetables, but also allow them to experiment with different types of soils, lighting, and methods of pollination.
* Let’s Explore CoDrone EDU: Drones Made for Learning: ($2,999.99) Katy Osborne, Kelly Terry, and Kristen Bentzen - CoDrone EDU is the latest in coding drones made specifically for classroom learning featuring the safety, flexibility, and durability needed for student learning and classroom usage.
* Upgraded 3D Printer for the Engineering Classroom: ($2,106.90) Marcellus Beasley, Cody Seibel, and Elaina Buczkowski - Grant will upgrade 3D printer for engineering classroom at Powhatan High School and allow for transfer of existing 3D printer to the library.
* Clay in the Classroom: Shaping a New Future for High School Anatomy Education: ($2,891.69) Cheri Ashman - ANATOMY IN CLAY® is an innovative educational approach that reimagines how human anatomy is taught by using tactile clay models, allowing students to grasp the subject matter in a way that flat, 2D diagrams simply can't achieve. The system is expensive, so Ms. Ashman proposes to pool resources from the PEF and her Curtis funds to provide enough materials to thoroughly pilot the program.
* High School library iPads for classroom collaboration: ($2,603.70) Loren Jacobs and Paul Smartschan - Powhatan High School Library will purchase iPads for collaboration.
PCPS received a $30,000 grant from the VDOE RARS Grant Program, which will be distributed throughout the school year. The intent of the Recruitment and Retention Support (RARS) Grant is to provide public school divisions with a structured framework upon which they can systematically develop plans to support the recruitment and retention of employees through hiring incentives and continuing education funds. This is our first group of recipients: Colleen Chinnis, Flat Rock ES (SPED); Lauren Hockaday, Flat Rock ES (SPED); Amy Tucker, Flat Rock (SPED); Katie Humphrey, Powhatan ES (fourth Grade); and Bonnie Lambert, Powhatan HS (CTE – Health Sciences). Recipients were recognized at the Nov. 14 Powhatan County School Board meeting. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
SkillsUSA is an organization for technical, skilled, and service career students. During the State Fair of Virginia, three Cosmetology students and one Electricity student from Powhatan High School showcased their skills and performed well in their respective SkillsUSA categories. Mrs. Hazelwood’s Cosmetology 1 students Olivia Benton (model), Addison May, and Brielle Walters were competing for the first time and brought home fourth place in the Total Fantasy Look Competition. Mr. Payne’s Electricity 2 student, Bradley Wade, placed fifth out of 25 at the SkillsUSA State Fair Electricity Competition.The Powhatan County School Board recognized the students at the Nov. 14 meeting. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Barbara Adcock, PCPS STEM coach, has been selected as a recipient of the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) Grant from the Office of Environmental Education within the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The MWEE Grant, in the amount of $7,480, has been awarded to support our efforts to purchase Enviroscapes for each of our elementary schools for our students in fourth grade while conducting their MWEE. Mrs. Adcock was recognized by the Powhatan County School Board on Nov. 14. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
During its Nov. 14 meeting, the Powhatan County School Board recognized Betty McCracken for 17 years of exceptional service in the Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District and for her invaluable contributions to PCPS. They commended her unwavering dedication to environmental education, conservation, and advocacy, which have enriched the lives of countless students and community members. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
