Powhatan High School

Help PHS Name the 78th Volume of the Big Chief Yearbook!
The Powhatan High School Yearbook Staff is getting ready to create Volume 78 of the Big Chief, and this year, they want our entire community to be part of the process!
The PHS yearbook is a collection of the memories, moments, people, and experiences that make up a school year. Yearbook staff believe the name should be chosen by the people who make those memories possible.
** The link to vote is in the comments. **
Here’s how they’ve chosen the pieces so far:
* Students voted on the theme for this year’s book.
* The yearbook staff voted on the cover color.
* Now, they want our community to help choose the title!
They have several title options that connect to our Powhatan Indian identity while also capturing the scrapbook-inspired theme of this year’s book.
Parents, families, students, staff, alumni, and community members are all invited to vote.
Voting ends Friday, September 25 at 3:00 p.m.
Your vote will help give Volume 78 its name and make this year’s Big Chief truly a book created by our community.
Thank you for helping us make Volume 78 of the Big Chief one to remember!

📚 Literacy for the Littles! 🖍️
Preschool-age children ages 3 to 5 are invited to join Powhatan County Public Schools, Powhatan County Public Library, and local preschools for a fun evening of storytime, themed goodies, and a coloring activity designed to encourage a lifelong love of reading!
📅 Monday, October 5
⏰ 6–7 p.m.
📍 Powhatan County Public Library
And there’s an extra treat: The first 50 preschoolers will receive a free book to take home! 📖
Come celebrate the joy of reading and help us promote literacy for everyone, everywhere. We hope to see you there!
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

As a new school year gets underway, the Powhatan County School Board joins VSBA and school divisions across Virginia in celebrating students, educators, and communities that are Rooted in Public Education.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan #BacktoSchoolVA

Our open house photo sharing continues with a look back at Powhatan High School before the start of the school year! Families came out to meet teachers, visit classrooms, learn more about the year ahead, and get settled in before students returned. Thank you to all the families who joined us and to the PHS staff members and volunteers who helped make the evening a success. 🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Sometimes the best way to learn about government is to see it in action. 🏛️ A group of Mr. Cook’s students from Powhatan High School attended the Sept. 8 School Board meeting as part of their study of local government. Students from both the ACA Dual Enrollment Government and non-ACA Dual Enrollment Government classes had a firsthand look at how the School Board operates, the types of decisions made during meetings, and the ways community members can participate in local government. 🧡🖤
Their visit was especially timely, as Chief Academic Officer Dr. Angela Stewart also highlighted updates to instruction at the meeting, including the expansion of dual enrollment opportunities to all PHS students, not just those in ACA.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Today is National IT Professionals Day, and it’s a great opportunity to recognize the PCPS Technology team! 💻 From keeping our networks and devices running to troubleshooting tech issues and supporting staff and students, our IT team does a lot behind the scenes to keep PCPS moving forward. Thank you to our technology team for all you do to keep us connected, supported, and working! 🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Could science finally explain senior-itis? Mrs. Vallent’s AP Biology students at Powhatan High School recently put their lab skills to work with an immunology lab from Virginia Tech’s Fralin Life Sciences Institute through its Biotech in a Box program. Students used the ELISA technique to test samples for the highly contagious “disease” known as senior-itis. 😄 Behind the fun was some serious science. Students practiced experimental design and laboratory techniques while learning about the important role of positive and negative controls in an experiment. 🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Good morning PCPS Community. The Powhatan County School Board Recap for last week’s School Board meeting is ready to view. As always, the goal of this newsletter is to help people who don't have the time to come to or watch full School Board meetings still stay abreast of what is going on in our school division. You can find the link to the recap in the comments.
#TeamPowhatan #WeArePCPS

📚 Pages, Possibilities & Potential: Welcome to Literacy Night!
Families are invited to join us Tuesday, September 15, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. at Powhatan Middle School for an evening celebrating literacy, learning, and the possibilities that come with a good book.
There will be food trucks starting at 5:30 p.m., a Scholastic Book Fair, family activities, opportunities to sign up for a Powhatan County Public Library card, and information sessions designed especially for parents.
📖 Parent Sessions
• 6:30 p.m. | So Your Middle Schooler Hates to Read
• 7 p.m. | Surviving Middle School: 101
And don't forget: Come out and win points for your class!
We hope to see you there!
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

The Never Forget 343 Run is underway at Powhatan High School.
This morning’s opening ceremony brought together students, staff, runners, first responders, and community guests to begin the 343 laps in honor of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Principal Michael Pierce shared a brief history of the tragic events of 9/11, while Powhatan High School JROTC cadets presented the colors and participated in the event. Students from several classes came out to watch and learn.
The three runners taking on all 343 laps are Pocahontas Elementary PE teacher Bethany Britz, along with Russ Holland and Stan Edwards. During the opening ceremony, Mr. Holland shared the history of the Never Forget Run and its purpose not only to remember those who were lost, but to educate young people about the importance of that history.
The run continues throughout the day and is open to community members coming to run or walk laps. The community is especially invited to join in from 3:00–6:00 p.m., after the high school dismisses and when parking is more accessible.
A special lap for first responders will take place around 6:00-6:15 p.m., leading into tonight’s Powhatan vs. Midlothian football game at 7:00 p.m.
Come out, take a lap and help Powhatan remember, honor and never forget. ❤️🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

A few moments from this morning’s September 11 ceremony at Powhatan Middle School.
As we shared in our earlier video, members of Scouting America Troops 832 and 1833 led the flag-raising ceremony, shared the meaning of the Freedom Flag, and reflected on the significance of September 11, 2001. Eighth-grade chorus students performed the National Anthem, and invited social studies classes gathered to respectfully take part.
Twenty-five years later, we continue to remember, honor, and help the next generation understand the history of September 11.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

On November 3, our community will vote on a proposed 1% local sales tax referendum for Powhatan County Public Schools.

​​This tax could generate approximately $5 million annually, depending on retail activity, with an estimated $1 million of that coming from visitors and non-residents. That revenue could support more than $60 million in debt capacity over 20 years and help fund a significant portion of the division’s identified capital needs.
Learn more and find answers to FAQs: https://www.powhatanfuture.org.

🤖 Ready to build something awesome? PCPS 8th through 12th graders are invited to the Robotics Kickoff Meeting on Saturday, September 12, at Powhatan High School! Students will have the opportunity to build robots, learn computer design, and meet others who are interested in robotics. And yes, lunch is included! The kickoff runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 1038. Enter through Door 4 near the bus loop. For more information, contact Mr. Beasley at marcellus.beasley@powhatan.k12.va.us.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

Getting a learner’s permit is a big step, and Ms. Spotts’ Driver Education students at Powhatan High School are getting a chance to practice the process before they head to the DMV. Students recently moved through mock DMV stations designed to helped them understand what they’ll encounter when applying for their learner’s permit, from presenting their credentials and completing knowledge and vision testing to having their photo taken. It’s a practical way to take some of the mystery out of the process and help students feel prepared for the real thing. 🚗🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

REMINDER: The next regular School Board Meeting will be held on September 8, 2026, at Pocahontas Landmark Center, 4290 Anderson Highway, Powhatan, VA 23139. At 4:00 p.m., the regular meeting will begin with a scheduled closed session. At 6:00 p.m., the regular open meeting begins. It will also be streamed live on the PCPS YouTube channel.

☕ You’re invited to Powhatan Strong!
Join the PCPS Student Services Department for the monthly Powhatan Strong Coffee Chat on Tuesday, September 8, at 9 a.m. This month’s conversation will focus on PCPS attendance guidelines and how families and schools can work together to support students toward great attendance.
📱 Join online: Scan the QR code in the graphic or use the link in the comments.
We hope you’ll join the conversation!
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

After all the freshman excitement during their first day at Powhatan High School, Day 2 saw Mrs. Hudson’s English 9 students getting to work in the PHS library in a fun, book-filled orientation, scavenger hunt, and book tasting! Hopefully, everyone found a few books that were just their “flavor” and left hungry for more. 📚🧡🖤
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

REMINDER: Powhatan County Public Schools will be closed Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. Classes will resume on Tuesday, September 8.

What did painting look like before there was written language? 🎨 On Monday, students in Ms. Wirt’s ACA Art History class at Powhatan High School stepped back in time to explore how prehistoric people documented their world through painting on stone. Students mixed egg yolks with local dirt to create their own natural painting medium, then used it to create simple images inspired by their environment. The experience helped to reinforce the origins of painting before written language existed.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan

We’re continuing our first-week photo collection with Powhatan High School! 📸 These photos capture some of the people, smiles, and moments that helped kick off the new school year. We loved easing our ninth graders into their new environment by having them in on Monday by themselves, but there’s nothing quite like seeing the halls filled with all of the students again! More first-week photos from across PCPS are still to come. 🧡🖤 See more photos on the division's Facebook page.
#WeArePCPS #TeamPowhatan