PCPS received a $30,000 grant from the VDOE RARS Grant Program, which will be distributed throughout the school year. The intent of the Recruitment and Retention Support (RARS) Grant is to provide public school divisions with a structured framework upon which they can systematically develop plans to support the recruitment and retention of employees through hiring incentives and continuing education funds. This is our first group of recipients: Colleen Chinnis, Flat Rock ES (SPED); Lauren Hockaday, Flat Rock ES (SPED); Amy Tucker, Flat Rock (SPED); Katie Humphrey, Powhatan ES (fourth Grade); and Bonnie Lambert, Powhatan HS (CTE – Health Sciences). Recipients were recognized at the Nov. 14 Powhatan County School Board meeting. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
During its Nov. 14 meeting, the Powhatan County School Board recognized Betty McCracken for 17 years of exceptional service in the Monacan Soil and Water Conservation District and for her invaluable contributions to PCPS. They commended her unwavering dedication to environmental education, conservation, and advocacy, which have enriched the lives of countless students and community members. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Barbara Adcock, PCPS STEM coach, has been selected as a recipient of the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEE) Grant from the Office of Environmental Education within the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The MWEE Grant, in the amount of $7,480, has been awarded to support our efforts to purchase Enviroscapes for each of our elementary schools for our students in fourth grade while conducting their MWEE. Mrs. Adcock was recognized by the Powhatan County School Board on Nov. 14. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
The Powhatan County School Board had a full night of recognitions at its regular Nov. 14 meeting. To start, congratulations to our Powhatan Education Foundation winners!
Each year, the Powhatan Education Foundation (PEF) awards Innovative Classroom Grants that present ideas for achieving the county’s curricular goals, enhancing students’ personal development, and/or encouraging links with the community. This year, PEF received 21 grant requests. Six grants were fully or partially funded for a total investment of $16,146.28.
* Droning Across the Curriculum: ($3,000) Amanda Henley, Jordan Nutt, and Cara Alexander -Grant money will be used at Powhatan Elementary to purchase drones to give students a hands-on learning approach to concepts students struggle with for example, computational learning.
* From Seed to Fruit: ($2,544) Barbara Adcock - A grow tent indoors at Pocahontas Elementary will allow students to not only see the complete cycle of a variety of vegetables, but also allow them to experiment with different types of soils, lighting, and methods of pollination.
* Let’s Explore CoDrone EDU: Drones Made for Learning: ($2,999.99) Katy Osborne, Kelly Terry, and Kristen Bentzen - CoDrone EDU is the latest in coding drones made specifically for classroom learning featuring the safety, flexibility, and durability needed for student learning and classroom usage.
* Upgraded 3D Printer for the Engineering Classroom: ($2,106.90) Marcellus Beasley, Cody Seibel, and Elaina Buczkowski - Grant will upgrade 3D printer for engineering classroom at Powhatan High School and allow for transfer of existing 3D printer to the library.
* Clay in the Classroom: Shaping a New Future for High School Anatomy Education: ($2,891.69) Cheri Ashman - ANATOMY IN CLAY® is an innovative educational approach that reimagines how human anatomy is taught by using tactile clay models, allowing students to grasp the subject matter in a way that flat, 2D diagrams simply can't achieve. The system is expensive, so Ms. Ashman proposes to pool resources from the PEF and her Curtis funds to provide enough materials to thoroughly pilot the program.
* High School library iPads for classroom collaboration: ($2,603.70) Loren Jacobs and Paul Smartschan - Powhatan High School Library will purchase iPads for collaboration.
SkillsUSA is an organization for technical, skilled, and service career students. During the State Fair of Virginia, three Cosmetology students and one Electricity student from Powhatan High School showcased their skills and performed well in their respective SkillsUSA categories. Mrs. Hazelwood’s Cosmetology 1 students Olivia Benton (model), Addison May, and Brielle Walters were competing for the first time and brought home fourth place in the Total Fantasy Look Competition. Mr. Payne’s Electricity 2 student, Bradley Wade, placed fifth out of 25 at the SkillsUSA State Fair Electricity Competition.The Powhatan County School Board recognized the students at the Nov. 14 meeting. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
We are thankful for staff at Powhatan Elementary giving back to the community at one of the school division's great local partners, Backpacks of Love. One small act of kindness goes a long way. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Powhatan County Public Schools is hiring homebound instructors and substitute teachers. Be the guiding star in our students' education journey. Join us now! #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Powhatan County Public Schools wishes to say thank you to all of those men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and a special thank you to all of our employees who served. We honor your sacrifice. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Real Money. Real World. is a financial program that introduces a dose of real life to money management for our eighth graders. Virginia Cooperative Extension is seeking adults to assist students at each of the booths where they will "purchase" homes, vehicles, groceries and many other monthly needs. If you enjoy working with young people, please consider signing up to help us with this upcoming program at Powhatan Middle School on Monday, Nov 13. Register to volunteer at this link: https://forms.gle/cbkSr2YcpuDNUzHb8
The smiles on the faces of students in Mrs. Hintz and Mrs. Hall’s kindergarten classes at Powhatan Elementary lit up the room as they learned and played under neon lights on “Glow Day.” As part of a Halloween Escape room using language and math skills, the students could earn “glow wear” – glow bracelets, pens, necklaces, glow glue, glow markers – when they completed a task. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Local Veterans are cordially invited to attend an amazing music performance celebrating their service at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10 at Powhatan Elementary School.
During the week of Nov. 6-10, 2023, schools throughout the United States will celebrate National School Psychology Week (NSPW) to highlight the important work school psychologists and other educators do to help all students thrive. This year's theme is "Let's Grow Together," inspired by the importance of both personal and shared strengths in our growth as individuals and school communities in every season of life. The theme recognizes every aspect of growth, as fundamental to effective learning environments and to school psychologists' role in supporting student well-being and learning. Powhatan County Public Schools wants to honor our three school psychologists: Dianne White (PMS, PES); Kirsten Lightner (PocES/PHS); Katie Barnard (FRES/PHS). #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Second graders in Mrs. Cheatham’s class at Powhatan Elementary worked on math stations where they had to make numbers add up to 10 while playing Go Fish, count money, use balancing scales, and make numbers four different ways. It’s wonderful to see these young mathematicians exploring math concepts in such a fun and engaging way. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Third graders at Powhatan Elementary recently learned about the importance of soil by making observations of the soil components, testing the soil in the schoolyard to determine what it contained, and learning about vermiculture - composting with worms. They will use worms to compost their food scraps throughout the year. The day ended with them creating their own soil mixture to grow microgreens. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Central Office staff members and school board members were invited to donate items to make up the Thanksgiving Complete Meal bags given out by the Powhatan Food Pantry for Thanksgiving. The food pantry is still accepting donations through Nov. 30. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Powhatan Elementary School’s kindergarten classes recently had a Nursery Rhyme Day. Not only are nursery rhymes fun to sing, read, and act out, they’re great for building upon many literacy and listening skills. The kids got to explore new vocabulary, count syllables, match rhyming words, and begin recognizing known and unknown words. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Over the next few months, Powhatan County Public Schools will be spotlighting the awesome employees who joined our staff this year. Please join us in welcoming them to the PCPS family. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Speaking of dogs... All About Dogs 4-H SPIN Club has been rescheduled!
It will take place on Wednesdays, Nov 1, 8, and 14, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Powhatan Landmark Center in Parks & Rec’s training room. If you are thinking about getting a pet, especially with the holidays coming up, or already have one and want your little ones to learn about the responsibility involved, this class is for you. You may register your child for this session at the following link: https://forms.gle/PxQtiYGfN7CGYSg67, or scan the QR code in the ad. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Extension Office with questions, (804) 598-5640.
Powhatan County Public Schools welcomes Ron Henley to the team as the New Director of Transportation. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Powhatan Elementary School recently welcomed Michael J. Corman, who came to talk to the school’s first graders as part of Disability History and Awareness Month. Mr. Corman talked to the students about living without sight, stressing it doesn’t stop him from living life, including becoming an attorney, an accomplished pianist, a family man with two children, and speaking several languages. Accompanied by his seeing eye dog, Elton, Mr. Corman performed a few songs for the children, read a book in braille, and answered some thoughtful questions from the students. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
