Dates to Note
April 4th - April 11th - Spirit Week; Spring Fling Tickets on Sale (Monday - Wednesday)
Friday, April 11th - Senior Walk at Pocahontas
Friday, April 11th - Rally Day (alternative schedule) and Spring Fling
Monday, April 21st - Schools Closed
April 15th - Integrated Reading and Writing SOL (8th Grade only)
Thursday, April 17th - Spring Sports Pictures
Wednesday, April 23rd - Reading SOL (all students)
Wednesday, April 30th - Math SOL (all students)
Thursday, May 1st - Science SOL (7th and 8th graders in Physical or Earth Science)
Friday, May 16th - 8th Grade Dance at Pocathonas
Monday, May 19th - May 22nd - Final Exams for Students in High School Credit Classes
Thursday, May 29th - 8th Grade Soar Ceremony at Godwin High School
SPRING FLING DETAILS
Friday, April 11th we are hosting our annual Spring Fling Dance.
Time: 6-8 pm
Pocahontas Cafeteria
Cost per ticket - $10
Tickets will be on sale during advisory in the cafeteria, Monday, 4/7 – 4/9, 2025.
Tickets are on sale until they are sold out or until the end of the Advisory on Wednesday, April 9th.
All school and HCPS expectations are in effect during the dance!
Pocahontas Book Study
Tuesday evening is our second discussion in our book study of Anxious Generation. The discussion will be virtual. We would love for you to join. Don't forget to RSVP to make sure you receive the Teams Link!
SAVE THESE DATES:
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
For our second session, please RSVP using this Anxious Generation Book Study Form. The TEAMS link will be sent to anyone who RSVPs. Even if you cannot attend, the form allows for you to request information to be shared after the discussion.
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.
8th Grade End-of-the-Year Preparations
8th grade families, as we prepare for the end of the year festivities that celebrate our 8th graders, we need your help!
Please submit pictures of your 8th grader. See the ParentSquare message linked here for details.
We want to make sure all names are pronounced correctly at the SOAR ceremony. Please share name pronunciation information using the ParentSquare form linked here.
Opportunity for 8th Graders - Online Dual Enrollment - Econ and Personal Finance
Economics and Personal Finance is a required class for high school graduation. This option allows a student to take the course online over the summer
Longwood’s Summer 2025 Dual Enrollment Economics and Personal Finance course will run from June 23 to July 26.
Registration is scheduled OPEN and closes on June 6. Summer 2025 Longwood Dual Enrollment Flyer (includes a registration link and contact information).
Dress Code Reminders
With Spring comes warmer temperatures. Please review the following dress code requirements and discuss them with your student.
1) In regards to shorts/skirts/skorts - "Clothing must reach the tip of the thumb when hands placed at the sides (arms straight with palms flat)"
2) Open back/backless tops are not to be worn as they expose undergarments.
The code of code says students cannot wear "Clothing that is see-through, revealing the midriff (while sitting or standing), or resembles undergarments."
3) Sunglasses, hats, and pajama pants cannot be worn in the building unless it is a part of a school-wide spirit week.
Clothing for Cash
As you are cleaning out closets during Spring cleaning?!?! 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 SolaceWhen 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.
Celebrating Our Strings Program
Huge congratulations to our Strings program. Several members of our program recently participated in All-County Strings. Their performance was BEAUTIFUL. Additionally, over 40 of our Strings students participated in Fiddle Fest last week! Congrats to EVERYONE involved! Thanks for representing Pocahontas so well!
Life Ready '25
Thank you to all of the students and teachers who represented Pocahontas at HCPS's Life Ready Learning Expo last week. Ms. Coleman, Ms. Snyder, and Ms. Ozolins worked with groups of students to showcase the great learning happening in our building!
RVA Middle and High School Tech Showcase
Is your student interested in a career in the technical field? Check out this FREE event! Details at bit.ly/ACHSTech
Summer Camp Offerings
Visit tinyurl.com/HenricoSCC for information of Henrico CTE Summer Career Camps.
Visit https://cte.henricoschools.us/o/hwcd/page/teen-summer-fire-academy for more information of the Henrico Teen Summer Fire Academy.
Virginia State University hosts the US Army Educational Outreach Program's Unite STEAM L.I.T. (Leaders in Training) program, a four week experience for rising 9th-11th grade students. Its purpose is to encourage students to pursue college majors and careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) related fields. Visit the USAEOP website for details, and to find the information on how to apply. Applicants will need to provide an academic transcript and a short essay.
Virginia State University also hosts the Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers program, which aims to empower middle school students in under-resourced communities to explore STEM subjects, learn problem-solving skills and gain exposure to career opportunities in technology fields. Participating students will receive mentorship, access to next-gen technology and hands-on training connected to real-world challenges. The initiative provides engaging programming where 6th-8th grade students can learn design thinking, 3D printing, augmented reality, and social entrepreneurship. No prior knowledge or experience is required. Register here.