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

• Students brought home The Heartwood Hotel: A True Home to read as a family during Reading Month. A big thank you to the PTO for funding the books for the whole school read! A calendar came home and you can also find all of the festivities and reading schedule here. If you would like to read to your child’s classroom during the month of March, please reach out to our reading coach, Carla Crump, via email carla.crump@powhatan.k12.va.us. We look forward to seeing many parents and grandparents as guest readers! Be sure to mark your calendar for the evening of March 26th for Family Night. 

• 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. 

Family Life Education Notice for Fifth Grade Parents

• March 16th - 23rd, your fifth grade child will have the opportunity to participate in a health activity about, “The Changes of Adolescence.” The unit will be during your child’s Health and Physical Education class. The students will explore the physical, emotional, and social changes of adolescence by viewing a video of physical development and participating in classroom instruction and discussion.

• The classes will be taught by the Health/Physical Education staff. Boys and girls will be in separate classes for the lesson. 

• Parents may preview the materials on our PCPS website: PCPS Website -> Menu -> Departments -> Instruction -> Family Life Education or https://www.powhatan.k12.va.us/page/family-life-education

• An opt out letter will be coming home with students and is due back on March 11th.

Yearbooks Available Now!

• Purchase your yearbook today! Yearbooks are on sale through March 27th. The yearbooks are hard cover this year and the cost is $32. Yearbooks can be ordered through SchoolCashOnline or by sending in cash or check. 

Upcoming Events

• 4th Grade Recorder Concert!  Date Change due to snow!   

  Fourth Grade students will perform for parents and families on

  April 7th at 6:00 PM in the POCA Gymnasium. (This date was changed from the original March 3rd date.)

  Please arrive by 5:45 PM with students dressed in their RED grade level shirts, and of course, don't forget your recorder!

• Electric Youth Talent Show Try-outs!

  Students in 1st–5th grade are invited to try out for our annual Electric Youth Talent Show after school on March 11th! If your child is interested, they must turn in the attached:

  Electric Youth Talent Show Form 25-26 by March 10th or submit using this link: Talent Show Performance Submission Form

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

  • November Session- Parent Burnout / Stress

  • January Session- Family and Community Volunteering Opportunities in PCPS

  • February Session - Emotional Regulation Ideas for Families

• Our next session will be held on March 19 @ 12:00 pm: Understanding Student Anxiety (virtual)

• To log in, scan the QR Code link below or visit bit.ly/PowhatanStrong25-26. If you are unable to make the Coffee Chat, please submit your questions via the Coffee Chat Google Form.

POCA's PTO - Save the Date!

• Spring Picture Day - Monday, March 9th

• The Spring Book Fair is here! Students have started creating wish lists. If you would like to volunteer your time and help make the book fair a success, Click Here.

Announcements and Additional Information

• Lost and Found: Please remind your child to check lost and found for missing jackets, coats, sweaters, hoodies, shirts, and water bottles. Items will be removed and donated on Friday, March 27.

• POCA Stride Morning Run Club is starting up again on February 19th. Here is a link to the permission slip that will be coming home with students this week. 

• Girls on the Run Registration is Open for 3rd through 5th grade girls. It is a fun, evidence-based program that inspires participants to recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, imagine their possibilities, and confidently stand up for themselves and others. Here is a link to the flyer with more information: GOTR flyer

• The Spring Tab contest is on! Can POCA continue to keep the trophy? The contest runs through the end of April. All donations benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond. Tab Contest Flyer

• 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.