🌟 Happy Monday everyone! We just wanted to take a moment to celebrate the amazing connections between our community and our classrooms. It’s always a joy to have community members visit and share their experiences with our students. Last week, we were thrilled to have former PCPS teacher Gail Timberlake visit Mrs. Dillon's fifth-grade social studies classes. She shared her fascinating story, “The Rescue of the Lady Slipper,” and talked about the history and rediscovery of bateau boats—such an important part of Powhatan’s local history! Thanks for being a part of our learning journey Mrs. Timberlake!
As you might know, community engagement is a big deal for us at PCPS, so much so that it’s one of our Strategic Plan goals. Last year, we revamped our curriculum to fill the gap left when we moved the Virginia Studies course down a grade. Now, our fifth graders are diving into a rich geography curriculum that includes a mandatory unit on local history, all aligned with state standards.
We’re still super proud that this new curriculum received a 2024 Achievement Award from the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) in August! 🎉 #wearepcps #teampowhatan
🔥🎉 We’re gearing up for Homecoming at Powhatan High School, and we’d love for you to join us for a Community Bonfire! Bring your own chair and come enjoy a fun evening on Tuesday, October 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the high school. It’s going to be a great night with performances by the PHS Band, appearances from our JV and Varsity football teams, cheerleaders, and dancers. Plus, there will be food and games for everyone to enjoy! Just a quick note: all middle and elementary students need to be accompanied by an adult. Can’t wait to see you there! #wearepcps #teampowhatan
🌍✨ In honor of International Day of Peace, which takes place on Saturday, September 21 this year, Flat Rock Elementary School participated in the Pinwheels for Peace project. This project is sponsored by the FRES Equity and Diversity committee. Students were encouraged to self-reflect on the importance of peace in our world and how we can contribute to a peaceful society. Each class in grades 1-5 was provided with enough pinwheel templates, push pins, and pencils for each child to complete a pinwheel customized to fit their personality. Preschool, CBI, and Kindergarten were provided with premade pinwheels for this project. These beautiful creations were proudly displayed today in front of the school and inside, reminding us all of the importance of peace. It’s wonderful to see our students embracing this meaningful day! 💖 #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Morning and afternoon students in Ms. Penny and Ms. Tonya’s 2- and 3-year-old classes at Flat Rock Elementary were learning about the letter Mm, and engaged in an experiment involving M&M candies and water. After many predictions about what might happen when the water touched the M&M’s (including melting, getting wet, exploding (!) and making a rainbow), the students took turns adding water to the middle of a circle of candies using an eyedropper. They patiently watched the colored coating dissolve when the water touched the candies and were excited to see the “rainbow” of colors that grew! #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Here you see Mr. Ford, a site substitute at Flat Rock Elementary School, working with a student in Mrs. Schwartz’s kindergarten class. While our schools do best when our staff members are there, we know life can throw some curveballs and substitutes are needed. PCPS partnered with ESS to manage our substitute program beginning July 1, 2024. The seasoned educational personnel and management firm has more than two decades of experience providing trained and qualified substitute staff to school districts. If you are interested in being a substitute, please visit the ESS website linked in the first comment.
🌟 September is Attendance Awareness Month, and we want to highlight the key role healthy habits and good choices can make in helping students be present and succeed in school. Regular attendance plays a huge role in academic success, social development, and building those lifelong skills. 🌟 Let’s keep encouraging our students to show up and shine! ✨#wearepcps #teampowhatan
Powhatan County Public Schools is hiring. We are looking for a Middle School Special Education teacher (math endorsement preferred). To learn more about becoming a valued member of our team, contact Human Resources at 804-598-5700 or visit the school division's website.
We want to give a huge shoutout to the staff, volunteers, and organizations who helped put on a great “First Responders Night” and tailgate party before Friday’s varsity game. Thank you to Old Powhatan Baptist Church, Red Lane Baptist Church, and the Powhatan Rotary Club, who teamed up and mobilized their volunteers into action to support the evening with a pre-game tailgate. Also, a huge thank you also to the military personnel who attended the tailgate and game to be recognized. We appreciate your service. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Miss Fran, the children’s librarian at the Powhatan County Public Library, visited the pre-kindergarten classes at Flat Rock Elementary to read to our youngest students. Her theme this month was a delicious topic - pizza! #wearepcps #teampowhatan
🌟 September is Attendance Awareness Month, and we want to highlight just how important it is for our students to be present in school every day. Regular attendance plays a huge role in academic success, social development, and building those lifelong skills. 🌟 When kids are here, they get to engage in enriching activities, build strong relationships with their peers and teachers, and make the most out of their learning experiences. 💪📖 Of course, we understand that sometimes illness or other issues come up, and that’s okay! 🤒💔 But for those days when students can be here, let's make the most of them! Attendance is a team effort, and we’re all in this together. Let’s keep encouraging our students to show up and shine! ✨#wearepcps #teampowhatan
🏈 Powhatan High School has some really exciting things planned tonight at the varsity football game against Manchester. The student theme for the night is “USA,” and the school and community are celebrating “First Responders Night.” Old Powhatan Baptist Church, Red Lane Baptist Church, and the Powhatan Rotary Club have teamed up and mobilized their volunteers into action to support the evening with a pre-game tailgate that begins at 5:30 p.m. at the high school. All are invited. After the tailgate, the game begins at 7 p.m., and it should be a really good one. 🏈 Our team is the 7th rated team in the area after beating Mechanicsville 46-13. 🌟 First responders, veterans, and active military get free admission to the game. Donations are being accepted to support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Ms. Katie and Ms. Kim’s preschool class at Flat Rock Elementary rocked the red, white, and blue on Wednesday for Patriot Day. Their outfits served as a thoughtful tribute to the significance of Patriot Day. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Our School Board Recap newsletter is back to keep you updated on the latest highlights and decisions from the School Board meetings. Check out the newsletter link in the first comment so you can stay informed and engaged with what’s happening in our schools! #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Today, Powhatan High School's JROTC cadets held a solemn and respectful 9/11 remembrance flag ceremony. 🎖️ Their dedication and poise honored the memory of those we lost and the heroes who stepped up. A powerful reminder of unity and service. 🌟 #wearepcps #teampowhatan
This morning, Powhatan Middle School honored 9/11 with a heartfelt remembrance flag ceremony. 🎖️ The event, beautifully led by members of Scouting Troops 1833 and 1832, was accompanied by a moving performance from our eighth-grade chorus. 🎶 It was a touching tribute to those who serve and remember.
📚✨ September is Attendance Awareness Month! 🌟 From the first day of school to our students’ future careers, showing up consistently can help pave the way for success at every stage of life. Let’s make every day count! 💼🎓 #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Do you know a Powhatan County Public Schools employee who is Inspiring, Empowering, or Innovating? We want to hear from you. Tell us about any staff member who is making a difference in the lives of our children by inspiring, empowering or innovating. Just click on the link in the first comment to tell us about a Powhatan Schools staff member who deserves to be recognized. We welcome suggestions from students, families, co-workers or community members. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
PCPS wins statewide award for history curriculum
POWHATAN, VA – Powhatan County Public Schools’ (PCPS) efforts to develop a dynamic, in-house geography and local history curriculum for fifth graders were recently recognized with a 2024 Achievement Award from the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo).
PCPS was among 45 recipients across Virginia to receive this prestigious honor, which highlights excellence in local government programs. The award-winning curriculum, developed during the 2023-2024 school year, emphasizes local history to ignite community pride, honor our heritage, celebrate our future, and inspire future generations.
The VACo Achievement Awards are highly competitive, showcasing innovative solutions to challenges faced by counties. The winning entries announced on Thursday, August 29 addressed issues ranging from housing and recreation to communication strategies and beyond.
“Thank you to all who participated in the 22nd year of the Achievement Awards,” VACo Executive Director Dean Lynch said. “Last year we received 135 submissions, which was then our highest total ever. This year 145 entries were submitted. The program continues to grow because our member counties continue to do innovative work and find solutions to problems. The VACo Achievement Awards is a celebration of the hard work, good decision-making, and problem-solving skills of county staffs and leadership.”
The new curriculum was developed after the division moved the Virginia Studies course down a grade level, reducing the testing burden on fifth-grade teachers and students. This shift left a gap in the fifth-grade instructional program, which PCPS addressed by creating a comprehensive geography course aligned with Virginia Department of Education standards, including a mandatory unit on local history.
The curriculum was primarily crafted by Toni Kilpatrick, former K-12 History and Social Studies Curriculum Specialist, with valuable contributions from retired specialist Carol Simopoulos.
Superintendent Beth Teigen praised their efforts, stating, “I am so proud of the work Toni Kilpatrick and Carol Simopoulos spearheaded to create a unit of study focused on the geography and history of Powhatan County for all fifth graders. The noticeable boost in students' understanding and enthusiasm for local history speaks volumes about the quality and effectiveness of the program these educators have developed."
Dr. Teigen also highlighted the collaboration with the Powhatan County Historical Society, which offered resources and insights that enriched the curriculum to help bring Powhatan County’s history to life for students.
PCPS will honor the innovative work behind this award-winning curriculum at an upcoming School Board meeting.
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Students in Mrs. Hannaford’s fifth-grade class at Flat Rock Elementary School work in teams to create imaginative maps that have a title, three regions, three geographic features, examples of absolute and relative locations, and one industry. The students are learning new vocabulary they will see throughout the year in the division’s new fifth-grade geography curriculum. #wearepcps #teampowhatan #elevateeducatorsva
Are you ready for some football? !? So are we, but before the season officially kicks off, we need to share important information as we prepare to host our Varsity Football Team and guests at James W. Woodson Stadium for our first home game against the Mechanicsville Mustangs on Friday, September 6th. Please take a moment to review our updated guidelines and procedures for attending this and other PHS events. Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you on Friday night. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Flat Rock Elementary is fully living up to its name! It was decided this summer that the school should indeed have a flat rock. School staff reached out to the Powhatan Luck Stone site leadership to see if they could possibly make this happen. The Luck Stone associates carefully selected the boulder to donate, and on Tuesday, August 13, Darren Prince, plant manager, and long-time Luck Stone associate Randy McMasters delivered a beautiful boulder to FRES. It's a perfect addition to the school grounds and a great example of PCPS embracing the Family and Community Engagement goal of the division’s Strategic Plan. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
