Dates to Note
Tuesday and Wednesday, February 25th and 26th - Asynchronous Assignments from February 11th and 12th are due
Wednesday, February 26th - Rising 7th Grade Vaccine Clinic at Pocahontas - See Clinic Updates for Details
Wednesday, February 26th -HCPS Black History Month Poetry Slam
Friday, February 28th - Cookie Dough Delivery for music students
March 3rd - March 26th - 20 minutes added to the instructional day
Wednesday, March 5th - Spring Picture Day
Friday, March 7th - Sunday, March 9th - Pocahontas Theatre Program presents Little Mermaid
Wednesday, March 12th - 7th Grade Field Trip to Marine Corp Museum
March 21st - End of Quarter 3 - Full Day of Instruction
Friday, March 21st - Huskie Hawk Egg Hunt for PreK and Kindergarten students
Updates Due to Inclement Weather Days - Changes to School Day
March 3rd - March 26th our school day will be extended by 20 minutes.
The 20 minutes will be used for academic support on Q3 materials, intervention, and/or remediation.
During this window of time, our dismissal time will be 3:35 PM.
Early dismissals will end at 3:10 PM. Please pick your student up by 3:10 if they need to be released before dismissal.
We will communicate our updated bell schedule this week.
Friday, March 21st is now a FULL instructional day. This is a change from the original HCPS calendar. The 21st will be a Day 2 as planned. We will dismiss at 3:35.
Because of school closures last week, the due dates for asynchronous assignments from February 11th and 12th have been extended. To receive attendance for the days, students should adhere to these dates:
Tuesday, February 25th - work from February 11th (Blocks 5, 6, 7, and 8) is due for attendance credit
Wednesday, February 26th - work from February 12th (Blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4) is due for attendance credit.
Please check with your student and verify they have completed the asynchronous assignments.
If your student needs assistance with the asynchronous work, please reach out to the teacher or grade-level administrator. We are happy to help!
Thank you again for your continued support and flexibility!
Pocahontas Book Study
I am so excited to share that we had significant interest in our Anxious Generation Book Study! We have reviewed the interest survey data, and we are ready to move forward with our plans. For now, please SAVE THESE DATES:
Tuesday, March 18th from 4:45 – 6:00 PM – In-person at Pocahontas – Book Focus = Introduction and Part 1
Tuesday, April 8th from 4:45 – 6:00 PM – Virtual – Book Focus = Part 2
Tuesday, April 29th from 4:45 – 6:00 PM – In-person at Pocahontas – Book Focus = Part 3 and 4
We will create a pretty visual and official RSVP with all of this information soon, but we wanted to get the dates to you ASAP. If you are unable to attend one or two of the sessions, please still join us when you can. We will share information after the discussions with anyone who is interested.
From the survey, participants are hoping to gain:
Resources and Ideas about how to support their students in their mental and emotional development
Ideas of how to limit screen time/social media interaction to limit the impact on mental health
Ways to reduce anxiety and ways to develop students’ coping strategies
Community and connection with other parents/families
The purpose of our study will be to learn from the author’s research, share ideas amongst participants, and connect about how to support teenagers as technology becomes a bigger and bigger part of their lives. Members of our school-based mental health team will be present to participate and offer school-specific guidance where possible.
Your next step – pick up a copy of Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt and begin reading! If you need assistance with purchasing the book, please do not hesitate to reach out as we can provide financial assistance, as needed.
7th Grade Field Trip
We are excited to announce that the 7th grade field trip to the National Museum of the Marine Corps is coming up on Wednesday, March 12th, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM! This will be a fantastic opportunity for our students to explore Marine Corps history, interact with museum volunteers, and engage with hands-on exhibits.
Permission slips and payments should be returned before March 3rd.
HCPS Survey
Each year, Henrico County Public Schools surveys families, staff members and students about their experiences in their school and within the school division. Your input is important to help us identify what we are doing well and what we can do better.
The survey window is now open! We want each family to complete the survey so your voice can be heard. You can also complete the survey directly by going to the Surveys page on the HCPS website.
Students in grades 3-12 will have the opportunity to complete a student version of the survey during the school day.
If you don’t wish for your student in grades 3-12 to participate in the survey, please contact our main office.
When you complete the survey online, you can choose to enter a drawing for prizes! At the end of the survey, parents can enter their contact information to be entered in a prize drawing. At least one family from each magisterial district will be randomly selected for a prize bag from the HCPS Division of Family and Community Engagement.
Thank you in advance for completing the survey and for your continued support of our school!
Career Day Volunteers Needed
Pocahontas Middle School’s Annual Career Day offers a unique opportunity for parents and community members to visit our school and talk to 7th grade students about their jobs. Parents, if you are willing to spend a couple of hours with us the morning of Thursday, May 15th (from 8:30 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.), we would love to hear from you.
Career Day speakers are asked to talk for approximately 20 minutes to three different groups of students. Topics to share may include: your journey & what led you to this career, the degree/schooling required, responsibilities of a typical day, your challenges, your favorite perks, and how information students are learning now relates to the world of work.
If interested or need more information, please contact Ms. Debra Milby, 7th grade School Counselor drmilby@henrico.k12.va.us
Support Our Library w/ Pizza Purchases
Pizza for you = Money for the Pocahontas Library with POCAPIZZA!
Treat yourself to Papa John’s pizza and enter the code POCAPIZZA. A portion of your purchase will benefit the Pocahontas Library.
Use the POCAPIZZA code when ordering online at any Papa John’s in Central VA, and don't worry – the code still works with all Papa John's coupon codes and discounts.
Thank you for supporting our library!
Clothing for Cash
As you are cleaning out closets this winter, we encourage you to bring donations to our Clothing for Cash Bin.
Do you have clothing items you are ready to donate? Please use the Clothing to Cash bin located in the Pocahontas Middle School parking lot. The Clothing to Cash School Program is designed to fundraise for our school by collecting new and gently used clothes, shoes and textiles. For each pound of materials donated to the program, the school earns money that is put towards student and staff recognition and incentives.
HCPS Partnership with Care Solace
When you, your child, or a family member needs help, it’s hard to know where to turn. In an effort to ease the burden of finding the mental health care and/or substance use treatment services you need, HCPS has partnered with Care Solace, your new confidential mental health care coordination service.
With a network of over 560,000 providers and services, Care Solace will help you find the right help at the right time, 24/7/365, at no cost to you. They will connect you with providers accepting all medical insurances, including Medicaid, Medicare, and sliding scale options for those without insurance.
You can access Care Solace services in three ways:
Call 888-515-0595 at any time. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments, and follow up to make sure it is a good fit.
Search the Care Match website anonymously to get matched with an extensive list of care providers at https://caresolace.com/site/henricocps
Contact a school-based mental health professional at your school (school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker), and they will submit a referral on your behalf.
No matter what you’re experiencing, there is hope and help. We are confident that our new partnership with Care Solace will help us build a healthier, more vibrant school community.
If you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider.
Immunizations Clinic - Rising 7th Grade Students
As required by Virginia law for attendance at a public school, all students must have the Tdap vaccine and a dose of the meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine before they are permitted to attend the first day of their 7th grade school year.
To support families in meeting this requirement, HCPS will hold a one-time school-based immunization clinic at Pocahontas Middle School on Wednesday, February 26th. Both vaccines will be available to any rising 7th-grade student who returns a signed consent form (regardless of insurance status). If students participate in the clinic, the vaccines are free of charge. If the consent form is signed, parents/guardians do NOT need to be present when the immunizations are administered to the student.
A consent form and related information were sent home with 6th graders on Thursday, February 13th. Please review, sign, and return to the nurse at your child’s zoned school as soon as possible. To participate, consent forms must be returned to our clinic by Monday, February 23rd.
Additional information can be located on the HCPS School Health website at Henricoschools.us/page/health. Or, click the links below for information about the vaccinations
The PTA encourages you to consider becoming a member of our Parent Teacher Association (PTA) today. Today kicks off our Spring membership drive. Please (click here) to join.
With a contribution of just $8.50 for one parent, or $15.50 for a family membership, you will be helping us deliver programs that enhance the cultural, social, artistic, and educational experiences for all children at Pocahontas Middle School!
You can also combine your PTA membership with a tax-deductible donation to our Hawk Fund. This is our whole-school fundraiser that helps fund classroom grants, educational technology, parent programs, and teacher appreciation events.
Suggested donations start at $50 per child per year, and this year all donors of $100 or above will be entered in a raffle to win prized parking for an event of your choice! Is your child in the band? Parking for the spring concert can be hard to find but with your donation, you will be entered to win front row parking! We will be raffling off parking spaces for the school play, spring music concerts, and sporting events!
We hope you will consider a membership and a gift to the Hawk Fund. CLICK HERE TO MAKE DONATIONS!
Pocahontas Game Night - Postponed
For a variety of reasons, the Game Night has been postponed. We will try to reschedule for later this spring!
Cookie Dough Delivery Reminders
The music department's Cookie Dough Deliver day is Friday, February 28th!
Families, please review these reminders!
No cookie dough can go on the bus, everything must be picked up in a car.
Students can have a car ride pick them up at 3:30pm on 2/28. They can take several trips in and out of the building to get their orders out.
If possible, cookie dough participants should be picked up beginning at 3:30 PM. This will clear clear the normal car rider traffic.
If you have a cookie dough order and can't be at Pocahontas at 3:30, please do not stress! Any student who can not get a car ride at 3:30 should take their regular ride home. Families can come back anytime between 4:00-6:00 pm for pick-up.
Any cookie dough not picked up after 6:00pm will be disposed of.
We make reminder calls to families who haven't picked up starting at 5:30pm.
Please reach out to Ms. Spruill, Ms. Breeden, or Ms. May with questions specific to your student! Thanks so much for the support! Our music department benefits greatly from this fundraiser!
Pocahontas Players Present - The Little Mermaid
Tickets for The Little Mermaid Jr. are now on sale! They can be purchased online at our.show/PMSMermaid.
This year we are doing four performances, and the Saturday afternoon show features our understudy cast. Please come support the hard work and talent of the Pocahontas Players on March 7, 8, and 9!
Over half of our tickets have been sold! Please purchase tickets soon so you can be sure to enjoy the performance!
Godwin Chorus Information
The Godwin Music Department invites all of our Hawks to the rescheduled date for the Godwin Show Choir!
Wednesday, February 26th 6 – 8 PM: Show Choir Auditions at Godwin - Students who want to join show choir can come to Godwin at 6 PM to learn a short dance and sing 30-45 seconds of any song of their choosing.
Students do not need to have prior experience in Chorus to audition for show choir. Show Choir at Godwin is a great opportunity for students to practice collaboration, critical and creative thinking, citizenship, communication, and building character.
Supporting Pocahontas's PACK Club
There’s a new coffee shop in town and it wants to support Pocahontas and our humane education club, The PACK, and its mission of helping animals in our community. Starting on January 19th, Foxtail Coffee in West Broad Village will be raising funds for Richmond Animal Care and Control. To participate, just bring your pup into the shop, the staff will take their picture and put it up on our Pup Board, and for each picture, Foxtail will donate $5 until we reach $1,000. Simply share with us that your pup is part of the Pocahontas family. We need a lot of pups! There is absolutely no purchase necessary. Thanks for helping out! Contact Ms. Milby, PACK sponsor, with any questions. (drmilby@henrico.k12.va.us)
This is the link to their Instagram reel announcing it: Foxtail Coffee (West Broad Village) (@foxtailwestbroadvillage) • Instagram photos and videos
Spring Picture Day - Wednesday, March 5th
Due to the weather, our Spring Picture Day was postponed to Wednesday, March 5th. Preorders are required for Spring pictures; all orders must be placed before picture day.
To review order information and pay online, go to www.strawbridge.net. Click Order Pictures and enter code: FM459354.
Save the Date - Huskie and Hawk Egg Hunt and Crafts
Our Pocahontas FCCLA is teaming up with Holman's FCCLA to host an Egg Hunt and Craft Event for PreK and Kindergarten students! The special event will take place on Friday, March 21st at 5:30 PM at 600 Concourse Blvd.
Spread the word! Families attending with PreK and Kindergarten students should RVSP at tiny.cc/hmsegg
We are looking for donations of candy, eggs, and baskets. If you are able to donate, please sign-up here! Donations should be delivered to the main office at Pocahontas by Wednesday, March 19th. THANKS FOR HELPING!
