Dates to Note
April 15th - Integrated Reading and Writing SOL (8th Grade only)
Thursday, April 17th - Spring Sports Pictures
Monday, April 21st - Schools Closed
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)
Saturday, May 3rd - HCPS Opportunity Fest at Advanced Career Education Center (ACE) at Hermitage
Thursday, May 15th - Career Day
Friday, May 16th - 8th Grade Dance at Pocathonas - 7-9 PM
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
Snacks for Teachers during SOL Testing
The Pocahontas PTA Hospitality Committee has surveyed the teachers to get their favorite snacks, so let's give our teachers a brain break and a burst of energy during SOL's! In addition to the snacks, the Hospitality committee will provide fresh fruit and drinks during testing days. We need your help! Check out this sign-up for the donations our committee needs - Pocahontas Middle School - SOL Snacks for Teachers.
Feel welcome to let your student(s) bring in snacks when they're able, our team will put the snacks together so each teachers lounge will be well stocked and easily accessible to all Faculty and Staff during SOL testing days. The date associated with your item is when they should be brought to school.
Thank you for all of your support, we can't support the Pocahontas Team without your help!
Pocahontas Book Study
Thank you to everyone who has been joining our Anxious Generation book discussions. We hope you are gaining ideas, connections, and support that helps in taking care of your student's mental, emotional, and social development.
Final Discussion
Tuesday, April 29th from 4:45 – 6:00 PM – In-person at Pocahontas – Book Focus = Part 3 and 4
For our third session, please RSVP using this Anxious Generation Book Study Form. 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.
8th Grade Dates to Note:
8th Grade Celebration - Friday, May 16th from 7PM - 9PM at Pocahontas - dance and fun hosted by the PTA - invitation and permission slips coming this week!
8th Grade Cookout - Tuesday, May 27th during lunchest at Pocahontas. Thank you for your support in providing snacks and chaperones!
8th Grade SOAR Ceremony Practice - Thursday, May 29th in the morning at Pocahontas. 8th graders MUST participate in the practice.
8th Grade SOAR Ceremony - Thursday, May 29th at 7PM at Godwin High School. Families will be given four tickets for the event.
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) Backless/open back 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.
Food and Drink Reminders
Just a reminder that students cannot receive food deliveries from restaurants/fastfood chains during the day. If they are arriving to school late, we ask they finish drinks and food before coming into school.
Additionally, please remind your student that if they consume a beverage in a classroom, it should be from a container with a lid. There has been an increase of spills in classrooms because students are drinking out of cans that cannot be closed securely.
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 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
HCPS Opportunity Fest
The Office of Equity, Diversity, and Opportunity, in collaboration with the Office of Family and
Community Engagement, is excited to announce the upcoming HCPS Opportunity Fest 2025, a resource fair aimed to provide students and families with meaningful resources and materials while promoting authentic learning opportunities and connectedness as we prepare for the summer break.
Event Information
● Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
● Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
● Location: Advanced Career Education Center (ACE) at Hermitage, 8350 Hermitage High
Blvd., Henrico, VA 23228
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.