Quick Updates

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
February is Black History Month. Each morning, we are learning about important contributions from notable and famous African Americans during the morning announcements. We will play schoolwide trivia on Fridays. Other classroom activities and displays around the school celebrate Black History Month.
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.

Kindness Week

Our School Counselors are excited to highlight Kindness Week at Pocahontas Elementary, taking place February 10–13. This special week encourages students to practice kindness, empathy, and respect at school, at home, and in our community.
Students will participate in fun activities such as Caught in Kindness (earning extra POCA tickets for kind actions), creating a Kindness Canvas with sidewalk chalk during recess, and completing Kindness Bingo. Students who complete a full row on their Bingo card may turn it in for a chance to win a sweet treat, with daily drawings held throughout the week.
- Thursday, February 12: Color Your World with Kindness — wear your class color and add extra color to show kindness.
- Friday, February 13: Wear red and pink to spread love and kindness.
We encourage families to talk with their children about kindness and support them as they complete their Bingo cards. Thank you for helping make Pocahontas Elementary a caring and welcoming school community.

Hello, Heart Heroes! Are you ready?!

We are kicking off the Kids Heart Challenge on February 10th! We have exciting things planned this year to get us moving, help others and have fun. Get a head start by signing up today at http://www2.heart.org/goto/PocahontasES or download the AHA Schools app!
Also, complete Finn’s Mission to earn a chance to win two tickets to Super Bowl LXI in 2027. For every 18 participants who complete Finn’s Mission, our school will also be entered to win a $10,000 fitness equipment makeover.
Here is a link to the flyer.

100th Day of School!

With the snow days and calendar changes, please note the 100th and 101st days of school. The 100th day of school is now February 18th and the 101st day of school is February 19th. We celebrate 100 and 101 days of learning with dress up days.
See the 100 & 101 Days of School Flyer.

Kickstart the Transition: Middle School Prep for 5th Graders

5th Graders will be receiving 6th grade scheduling forms. These forms are due back to school on February 20th. You can find more information about middle school scheduling on the PMS Scheduling Website.
Powhatan Middle School is hosting a parent event on Wednesday, February 11th at 6:00pm at the middle school with general middle school and scheduling information. (This night is for parents only, please.) Students will enter their course requests into the PowerSchool portal with their 5th grade teachers and middle school counselor starting in mid-February. Check out available middle school classes at our Powhatan Middle School Scheduling Website for more details.
Save the date for May 28th at 10:00 for the 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony

Upcoming Music Events

2nd Grade Kindness Concert! Second Grade students will perform for parents and families on February 17th at 6:00 PM in the POCA Gymnasium. Please arrive by 5:45 PM with students dressed in pinks, reds, and Valentine’s Day accessories—the more festive, the better! We can’t wait to celebrate kindness with you!
4th Grade Recorder Concert! Fourth Grade students will perform for parents and families on March 3rd at 6:00 PM in the POCA Gymnasium. 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 permission slip: Electric Youth Talent Show Form 25-26 by March 10th. The permission slip was handed out to interested students during music class. We are so excited to see the talents our students will share this year!

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 - Ways to Become Involved and Engaged in PCPS
To log in, visit bit.ly/PowhatanStrong25-26. If you are unable to attend the Coffee Chat, we encourage you to submit your questions via the Coffee Chat Google Form.

POCA's PTO - Save the Date!

February 20th: Boots and Bows dance! Father/father figures shine up those cowboy boots and spend the evening dancing with your Poca girl! Ticket forms went home last week and are due back to the school by February 16th! See the boots and bows ticket form if your form got misplaced in the snow week mess!! The Boots and Bows dance needs volunteers to make it magical! Please consider volunteering your time to decorate, make popcorn or work the event itself ( and get to peek in on your cowgirl) see this volunteer sign up to help! Thank you in advance.
Attention 5th grade families!!! Yearbook shoutout orders are being collected now until March 2nd. Order forms already went home and all proceeds will fund end of year activities for the 5th grade class! Click this Shout Out link to print and return to school by the deadline.

Announcements and Additional Information

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.

Pocahontas Elementary School