Flat Rock Elementary School

🏈 Goal Line Food Drive: Powhatan vs. Cosby! 🥫
This Friday’s matchup isn’t just about touchdowns – it’s about tackling hunger! Powhatan and Cosby fans are going head-to-head in a friendly food drive competition to help local families in need. Bring nonperishable food items to the game and drop them off at your team’s collection area. Let’s show that Powhatan’s heart is as strong as its spirit.
📅 Friday, Nov. 7
📍 Powhatan High School
🕖 Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.

🗳️ Leading up to Election Day, kindergarten students in Mrs. Senger’s class at Pocahontas Elementary were introduced to important new vocabulary words about voting, laws, and government through their All About Voting workbooks. The age-appropriate social studies lesson helped the students approach really big concepts through examples they could understand. When the lesson was over, they made the books even more special by coloring them. 🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

🗳️ It’s never too early to learn about the importance of voting! Kindergarten students at Pocahontas Elementary participated in their own class election, casting ballots to decide between two beloved candidates – Duck and Clifford. Mrs. Pilkenton’s students were thrilled to cast their votes. And the winner is...Clifford! ❤️ #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

📅 Don’t forget!
There’s no school for students on Monday, November 3 and Tuesday, November 4.
• Monday: Student and staff holiday (excludes 12-month employees)
• Tuesday: Parent-teacher conferences
Enjoy the long weekend, and we’ll see everyone back on Wednesday! 🧡
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Fourth graders in Ms. Hopkins’ class at Flat Rock Elementary recently had fun learning about homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings. Students shared examples of their own, and let’s just say a homophone of “but” got the biggest laugh of the lesson! 😄🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Every great plan includes reflection. PCPS is reviewing the division's strategic plan, Charting the Path to 2030, to measure our progress and ensure we remain on the right path. We are looking for people to join the Strategic Plan Steering Committee to help guide this next phase of our work. Applications are due November 10.
Steering committee dates:
12.8.25 9:00 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.
1.16.26 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
2.17.26 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
7.28.26 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Scan the QR code or use the link in the comments to apply. #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

October is National Principals Month, and we’re celebrating the incredible leaders who guide our schools every day! Our principals do so much more than manage buildings – they inspire teachers, support students, build community, and help make Powhatan County Public Schools a place where everyone can learn and grow. From morning greetings to late-night events, our principals go above and beyond. Thank you for making a difference every single day with your leadership, compassion, and commitment! #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

🎃 It’s almost time for Trunk or Treat at Powhatan High School! 🎃🍬 Join us tonight from 5:00–6:30 p.m. in the bus loop for candy, games, music, and fun with our student-run trunks. Costumes welcome! 👻
Stick around after for the football game. It’s going to be a great night of community and school spirit. 🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Good afternoon PCPS Community. 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. We wish you a safe and happy weekend!
Link to School Board Recap: https://secure.smore.com/n/m6bjw
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

✨ Love working with little learners? Powhatan County Public Schools is hiring a VPI Teacher for 3-year-olds! 🧡 Join us in helping our youngest students grow, explore, and shine. Must hold a valid Virginia teaching license. Apply today at on the PCPS website. #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Watershed program receives statewide award
POWHATAN, VA – Powhatan County Public Schools (PCPS) is proud to announce that its Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) has been named a 2025 Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) Achievement Award winner. This award recognizes innovative programs that make a lasting impact in communities across the Commonwealth.
Since 2018, the MWEE program has engaged all fourth-grade students – about 350 each year – in a two-day outdoor learning experience at Fighting Creek Park. The annual MWEE event for the 2025-2026 school year will occur this fall.
What makes this initiative unique is its peer-led model: Powhatan High School students from AP Environmental Science and Ecology classes serve as instructors.
Through hands-on science stations, fourth graders explore watershed health, human impacts on ecosystems, and environmental stewardship, while their high school mentors develop leadership, confidence, and communication skills.
This impactful experience is made possible through strong partnerships with the Powhatan Extension Office, Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District, James River Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, and the Virginia Department of Forestry.
PCPS extends a special thank-you to Mrs. Stump and Mrs. DeHart for preparing high school students to lead this award-winning program.
PCPS is proud that the MWEE program reflects the division’s Strategic Plan by advancing Academic Excellence through authentic, hands-on learning and strengthening Family and Community Engagement through meaningful partnerships.
PHOTOS: Photos were taken during the 2024 MWEE event in Fighting Creek Park.

Fifth graders in Ms. McArtan’s class at Flat Rock Elementary recently enjoyed snack time with a good book. 📖 As their teacher read aloud, a couple of students even helped act out the actions in the story, making reading time interactive and fun! 🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Powhatan County Public Schools would like to share an important update regarding the structure of School Board meetings.
Until now, the board has held two separate monthly meetings: a workshop session at 4:00 p.m. used primarily for closed session items and a regular business meeting at 6:00 p.m. Beginning with the October 14, 2025, meeting, the board will move to a single combined meeting format.
The meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m. with time reserved for closed session (from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted). At 6:00 p.m., the board will reconvene in open session and continue with the remainder of the meeting.
This change is intended to improve transparency, clarity, and the overall flow of the School Board’s work. With one meeting instead of two, the agenda will use an improved structure designed to make it easier to follow discussions and decisions.
Agendas will continue to be posted the Thursday before each regular Tuesday meeting, and moving forward there will also be a single YouTube recording of the meeting, which we hope will reduce confusion.
We appreciate your attention to this change and your continued engagement with the important work of the School Board.

First graders in Ms. Wood’s class at Flat Rock Elementary explored depth during Mrs. Kunka’s art lesson. 🖌️ Students created fish paintings with seaweed in the foreground and background, helping them see how layering adds dimension to their artwork. 🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

The Powhatan County School Board will hold a closed session meeting on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at 4290 Anderson Highway, Powhatan, VA. The board will enter into closed session, pursuant of Section 2.2-3711(A)(8) of the Code of Virginia 1950, as amended, to consult legal counsel regarding the Pocahontas Landmark Center.

📚🍌 Who needs bananas when you’ve got BOOKS? The new Minion book drop at Flat Rock Elementary has arrived, and it’s hungry for stories! 🟡💙 Third graders in Ms. Waller’s class were all smiles as they fed it its very first reads. 🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Every day in class is a step toward the future. 📚✨ Strong attendance builds the consistency and skills students need to succeed in Career and College Readiness programs and beyond. We love having our students in class!🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

We couldn’t help it. We love parachute day! First graders in Mrs. Ingalsbe’s and Mrs. Durrbeck’s classes at Flat Rock Elementary had a blast with Mr. Ellison and Ms. Leslie in a recent P.E. class as they worked together, moved, and laughed their way through fun parachute activities. 🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Earlier this month, the local chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization of women educators, surprised our new teachers with a little treat as a welcome. Pictured here, office assistants delivered goodie bags to a few Powhatan High School teachers. 🍎 Since its charter in 2005, the Powhatan chapter has carried out a variety of service projects, including raising funds each year to provide a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating senior pursuing a degree in education. The goodie bags are a special tradition to recognize new teachers and share a little encouragement as they begin their journey in PCPS. 🧡 #WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

🌟 REMINDER 🌟
Join us for Non-Traditional High School Options Night on Sept. 23 at Powhatan Middle School.
Meet representatives from Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School, Appomattox Regional Governor’s School, CodeRVA High School, and the Powhatan HS/Reynolds Community College Advanced College Academy.
Learn about programs, applications, and opportunities beyond the traditional high school path. Applications are limited to current 8th graders enrolled in Algebra 1, but the information night is open to students in grades 5–8 and their families. *
Applications open: Oct. 1 on the PCPS website
Application deadline: Dec. 1
* Private and homeschool families seeking applications will need to schedule an appointment with Ms. Antone to come to Powhatan Middle School and provide proof of residency for their student’s application to be verified and accepted.