Quick Updates

• 25-26 Parental Opt Out Booklet

• 2025-2026 Student Rights and Responsibilities

• Cardinal Care Coverage - Back to School!

• Solving Problems Together: Who to Contact?

• Updated PCPS Cell Phone Policy

• Welcome Back Newsletter from Resource Teachers

• Helpful Emails & Links for Parents

  • For any transportation changes, email pocespass@powhatan.k12.va.us and your child’s teacher.

  • To report absences, email pocesattendance@powhatan.k12.va.us and your child’s teacher.

  • Parent Volunteer Sign Up Link to assist teachers with prep and special projects

  • Parent Lunch Sign Up to come eat with your child. Please review the detailed information at the top of the sign up link. 

  • Parent Guide

  • Breakfast & Lunch Menus

  • MySchoolBucks for lunch accounts

  • SchoolCashOnline for field trip and other payment

• Mark your calendars. At the December 11, 2025 School Board meeting, the Board approved changing April 6, 2026, from a designated snow make-up day to an instructional day for students and staff. This change was made in response to the four instructional days already missed due to snow.

• Even though it is getting cold outside, it is important for students to get time outside daily during recess. Please send your child with clothing to stay comfortable in the cold temperatures. We use the “feels like” temperature to account for wind chill and students are outside for the full 30 minutes of recess for 32 degrees and above. Below 32 degrees, recess is limited to 15 minutes. In the rare case that the temps are 15 degrees or below, we would stay inside. 

Staff Raffle Baskets

• We are collecting donations to create raffle gift baskets for staff. If you would like to donate, here is the link Staff Raffle Baskets

Winter & Holiday Dress Up Days!

• We love to see the kids and staff in the holiday spirit to end the year!

  • 12/15 - Grinch Green Day

  • 12/16 - Festive Flannel Day

  • 12/17 - Winter Wonderland Snow-Theme Day

  • 12/18 - Holiday Happenings (Headgear, Characters, Sweaters)

  • 12/19 - Polar Express Pajama Day

December Music Programs

•  3rd Grade Musical: Please practice with your child for at least 5 minutes each day. The 3rd grade musical will be in the Powhatan High School auditorium on Wednesday December 17th, students should arrive at 6:45 for a 7pm start time. A little practice each day will make a big difference in helping your child feel confident and ready for the stage. Here is the link with everything you’ll need to help our 3rd graders prepare: A Holiday Moosical - Lyric Slides

• 5th Grade Choir Caroling: Our 5th grade Chorus Group will go Christmas caroling in Scottsville December 18th at 5pm. Please bring flashlights, festive holiday hats and dress warm! A sign up genius will be sent out for christmas cookies and cocoa.

Powhatan Strong Family Connection Series

• Powhatan County Public Schools Student Services Department welcomes you to our monthly Virtual Coffee Chats titled Powhatan Strong Family Connection Series. Each month, Student Services will present a different topic with strategies to support your students from home, policies and procedures at the division and school levels, and opportunities to ask questions of our Student Services Department members and guest panelists. Previous Coffee Chats can be found at the links below:

  • August Session- Attendance

  • September Session- School Safety

  • October Session- Bullying

• To log in, scan the QR Code link below or visit bit.ly/PowhatanStrong25-26.

• If you are unable to make it to the Coffee Chat, we encourage you to submit your questions via the Coffee Chat Google Form.

Announcements and Additional Information

• Helping Hands Awards. 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. CLICK HERE to nominate someone! We welcome suggestions from students, families, co-workers or community members.

• Calling All Substitute Teachers! - Join our dynamic team of substitute teachers and help shape the future of Pocahontas Elementary School. Enjoy a flexible schedule, weekly pay, and free training. Visit www.ESS.com to join our team today!

• School Messenger: If you do not currently receive text messages from the school messenger program and you would like to OPT IN to receive TEXT messages. Text the words OPT IN to 67587.

• Parent Pick-Up/Drop-Off Reminders: A reminder for all of our parents who pick up or drop off your student, please remember to pull forward as far as possible to the cone/person standing at the front of the drop off line and do not pass vehicles in the drop off area for any reason. Make sure you are following the directions of the adults in the drop off area for the safety of all of our students and staff. 

• Christmas Mother Donations: We are collecting donations to support stockings for the Christmas Mother. Please see the list of items here. All donations can be brought to the front office. Christmas Mother Stocker Donations

  • Applications are available for families to get support from the Christmas Mother. Families can find more information and applications here: Christmas Mother Applications for Support

• Only One Week Left! The Fall 2025 Tab Contest is underway! Join us in collecting aluminum pull tabs to benefit our local Ronald McDonald House. The contest runs through December 15th. Students bring their tabs to turn into their classroom. This is a competition between schools and we are the reigning champions. Let’s work to keep the trophy while supporting the community.

Volunteer With Us!

• The Lunch Buddies Mentoring Program has been in place in Powhatan County Public Schools for over 10 years. The goal of the program is to help foster strong relationships among our students and the positive adult role models in the community. Whether at any of our 3 elementary schools or our middle school, you would meet with a student once a week and ultimately act as another advocate for them. It can be anything from academic support to conversation, playing games, making crafts, and so much more. The program is planned to begin the first week of October and will last until mid-May, when SOL testing begins in our upper grade levels. If you are interested in participating as a mentor for the Lunch Buddies Program, we would be happy to have you!

  Please reach out to lunchbuddies@powhatan.k12.va.us for any questions.If you are interested in applying, please visit this page to apply.  Feel free to share the flyer with others.  We appreciate your support with our schools. 

• Are you interested in participating in the Pocahontas ES WatchDOGS (Dads Of Great Students) program this year? WatchDOGS are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and other father-figures who volunteer for at least one day each year at an official WATCH D.O.G.S.® school. During the day, WatchDOGS may read and work on flash cards with students, play at recess, eat lunch with students, watch the school entrances and hallways, assist with traffic flow and any other assigned activities where they actively engage with not only their own students, but other students as well. Many school principals have reported that the mere presence of a WatchDOG dramatically reduces reports of bullying. On the day of their participation, WatchDOGS are given a brief review of their involvement and they wear a disposable ‘Dog Tag’ identifying them as WatchDOGS. For more information visit: https://dadsofgreatstudents.com/about/

  To sign up look for the WatchDOGS Information table at Back to School Night!