Across the division, students and staff were asked to wear orange on Oct. 18 for Unity Day, a day that aims to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying. A banner at the high school made by students promoted the event, and students were asked to sign the Kindness Acceptance and Inclusion Pledge during lunch. #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
The Emerging Leaders group at Powhatan High School recently conceived of and presented to district and school leaders a thoughtful way they want to have an impact at their school. The group is creating the Indian Inventory, which will be a supply closet that can provide PHS students with essential needs necessary for meeting academic success. The students researched the project to see how and why it should operate; interviewed key stakeholders to find out the greatest needs among their peers; problem solved to plan for potential issues; strategized how to fundraise and work with local businesses, community groups, and local leaders to build relationships aimed at keeping the closet stocked; created plans to promote the closet; designed a way for students in need to access supplies discretely; and began to make plans about how to make the closet sustainable. Excellent job all around by Mrs. Wilson’s students. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
We need to catch up on a recognition we missed. Mr. Payne’s Electricity 2 student, Bradley Wade, placed fifth out of 25 at the SkillsUSA State Fair Electricity Competition held Sept. 26. We are extremely proud of Bradley and other students who competed for their strong showing at the State Fair and their representation of the division’s Career and Workforce Development programs. #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
Last Thursday, ecology students from Powhatan High School had the opportunity to explore the Robins Nature Center at Maymont, a 29,000-square-foot attraction that holds close to 30,000 gallons of aquaria showcasing animals of the James River and Chesapeake Bay. During their visit, the students delved into the fascinating world of Virginia's native wildlife and gained insights into the intricate dynamics of ecosystems. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Mrs. Farrell and Mrs. Lambert recently taught the seniors in the Nurse Aide Program at Powhatan High School how to administer CPR so they could be CPR certified. The certification is required both by the Board of Nursing and so the seniors can start their first clinical rotations. The program, which is part of the division’s Career and Workforce Development offerings, sends the students to work in units with patients. “If something were to happen, it’s very important that the students know how to respond correctly and accordingly,” Mrs. Farrell said. “Of course, they’re students so the staff would quickly take over, but they need to know how to respond. Also, just out in the community being good citizens. Every year, we have students in this program that volunteer with the Rescue Squad. And this training is required for all of that.” This class is a state-accredited nurse aide course and meets all course requirements necessary for students to receive their CNA certificate. “If they pass the State Boards they are fully certified, and, honestly, they are instantly employable as nurse aides,” she added. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Powhatan County Public Schools kicks off its Let’s Pull Together Tab Collection today. Now through Dec. 11, bring your aluminum pull tabs to your child’s school. The tabs will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond, which provides a "home away from home" for families traveling to the Richmond area while their children receive medical treatment in local hospitals. By collecting the pop tops from aluminum cans and bringing them to RMHC Richmond, PCPS can help RMHC continue to carry out its mission of keeping families close. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Mr. Payne’s Electrical 2 class at Powhatan High School works on their wiring comps, which involves installing different kinds of switches and learning different circuitry. One student is shown using geometry to calculate the bends on a pipe. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
School bus transportation plays a critical role in the education of our nation's students, and is the direct link between a neighborhood and the classroom. More than 25 million children ride the yellow bus every school day, and National School Bus Safety Week serves as a reminder for students, parents, teachers, and the community to keep school bus safety in the forefront. Here are tips from PCPS to keep our children safe at the bus stop and riding the school bus. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Twinsies! It can be fun when co-workers are on the same wavelength and inadvertently show up to work dressed the same. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Oct. 16-20, 2023 is National School Bus Safety Week, and we want to give a huge thank you to the men and women who make it possible to transport our kids to and from school, field trips and extracurricular activities. We are sharing photos of many of the awesome PCPS Transportation employees who keep us rolling forward, including School Bus Drivers, Car Drivers, Bus Aides, Mechanics, Dispatchers, and our Transportation Office Staff. Thank you for all you do! #wearepcps #teampowhatan #schoolbussafety
Powhatan County Public Schools is recognizing Bullying Prevention Week from Oct. 16-20. We are asking our students to “pledge to support others that have been hurt or harmed and treat others with kindness.” #wearepcps #teampowhatan
A recent $50,000 donation to Powhatan High School’s Electricity program by a former industry nonprofit organization has sparked a great deal of joy.
Mike Payne, the high school’s electricity and building trades teacher, was notified in September that one of The Builders’ Exchange of Virginia’s last acts as an industry organization would be to donate its remaining funds to local schools and organizations, including the program in Powhatan.
Adam Foege, treasurer of The Builders’ Exchange of Virginia, presented the check at the high school during the Electricity 2 class, where he toured the facilities and spoke with students. Foege also represented the former trade group at a meeting of the Powhatan County School Board on October 10 and was recognized for the generous donation to the program.
The organization, which lasted more than 100 years, used to raise money to help offset blueprint costs for contractors making bids on jobs, Foege said.
Career and workforce development programs like the electricity program at PHS are instrumental in furthering trade industries, said Foege, who is also the president of the Central Virginia Electrical Contractors Association. He applauded the work the program does in preparing students who want to pursue a career in the electrical field and said donating to it was an excellent legacy for The Builders’ Exchange to leave behind.
“It lays the foundation for not only their work for the employers but it also sets them up with the right tools that they are going to need in the trade,” he said.
When Foege first called to tell him about the donation, Payne said he was blown away by the large amount. He hopes to use part of the money for requests that don’t fit into the program’s allocated budget.
However, the use he is most excited about is setting up scholarships that will offset the startup costs graduates face when going into apprenticeships.
“I am hoping it will benefit as many students going into the trades as it possibly can. What we have done here in Powhatan in the last few years with the partnerships, I think this shows how important those partnerships are with business and industry,” Payne said.
Kathryn Garrett, the division’s Career and Technical Education Coordinator, expressed deep gratitude to Foege and The Builders’ Exchange of Virginia for the generous donation.
“These funds will be used to support students in their pursuit and training of a career in the electricity field, and the benefits of this donation will impact our electricity programs for many years to come. We appreciate this partnership immensely,” she said.
Zachary Durrbeck has chosen to build tab collection boxes for his Eagle Scout project. Pop-top tab collections are an easy way to support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond. We are hopeful having collection boxes throughout the community will encourage more participation. He presented the school principals with the boxes for their school at the Oct. 10 school board meeting, where school board members thanked him for his thoughtful gesture. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
Join us for Unity Day! PCPS will celebrate Unity Day by wearing ORANGE
for KINDNESS on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.
School bus transportation plays a critical role in the education of our nation's students, and is the direct link between your homes and the classroom. More than 25 million children ride the yellow bus every school day, and National School Bus Safety Week serves as a reminder for students, parents, teachers, and the community to keep school bus safety in the forefront. Here are tips to keep our children safe at the bus stop. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
School bus transportation plays a critical role in the education of our nation's students, and is the direct link between your homes and the classroom. More than 25 million children ride the yellow bus every school day, and National School Bus Safety Week serves as a reminder for students, parents, teachers, and the community to keep school bus safety in the forefront. Here are tips to keep our children safe at the bus stop. #wearepcps #teampowhatan
