Dates to Note

Monday, October 13th - Student Holiday; Staff Professional Learning Day

Monday, October 20th - Student Holiday - Dinwali

Wednesday/Thursday, October 22rd/23rd - School Picture Day (students will take pictures during their Health/PE Block)

Thursday, October 23rd - Spirit Night at Panera and Strings Concert

Friday, October 24th - End of the First Quarter; Student Half Day

Monday, October 27th - Friday, October 31st - Spirit Week

Thursday, November 6th - Fall Parent Teacher Conferenes

Tuesday, November 11th - Veterans Day Assembly and Veteran Reception

End of Quarter 1 Reminders

The first nine weeks ends on Friday October 24th. Between now and then, students will demonstrate their knowledge of content material through a variety of class projects and/or assessments. Check out the Hawk Boards for details about what is occurring in each class.

Now is a great time to check in with your student and discuss their grades. Parents are encouraged to use PowerSchool Parent Portal to review their student's grades. If you have questions about scores or comments in the gradebook, please reach out to the teacher.

Advisory is a great time for students to check their grades, complete assignments, and study for assessments. Please encourage your student to use Advisory time in a manner that increases their academic performance in their classes.

Support to Succeed

Included in the syllabi is the revised HCPS Support to Succeed. Teachers will be in communication with families of students who qualify for remediation/retesting.

Support to Succeed Policy

The School Board of Henrico County is committed to ensuring the success of all students in grades PK-12. The Board recognizes circumstances may arise that prohibit students from functioning at their highest level. Therefore, Support to Succeed has been created to help students understand the impact of failure and how to correct mistakes.

1. Retest for Success

Any student in grades 2-12 who earns a D or an F on a test can remediate with the teacher and opt to be reassessed one time per test. The reassessment can be done in a multitude of developmentally appropriate ways as determined by the teacher. Reassessment methods may include, but are not limited to, taking a different test, submitting a project/alternative assignment or a writing sample, conducting a formalized test correction procedure, etc. This re-test procedure does not apply to diagnostic assessments (which are not counted as part of a student grade), semester and/or final exams.

2. Marking Period Success: Middle and High School

In an effort to keep students from becoming discouraged and succumbing to failure, students who approach the end of the marking period with an overall grade of less than 65% will have the option to raise their marking period grade based on the remediation plan that is established by the teacher. Students transferring within and into HCPS schools and programs mid-course are eligible for this opportunity.

There are limits on how many marking periods students may avail themselves of this option, which are as follows:

a. In high school credit-bearing courses in middle or high schools, students successfully completing remediation requirements may raise their course grade to 65% in one marking period per course.

b. In non-high school credit-bearing courses in middle school, students successfully completing remediation requirements may raise their course grade to 65% in up to two marking periods per course.

WATCH DOGS Interest Survey

We would LOVE to reinstitute a Watch Dogs program at Pocahontas. Take a look at the information below to learn more about how and why WATCH DOGS is beneficial to schools. If you are interested in serving our school community as a WATCH DOG, please complete this interest form.

From WATCH DOGS:

The Dads of Great Students, WATCH D.O.G.S.®, program is one of the nation’s largest and most respected school-based, family, and community engagement organizations designed and developed by educators, experts, and parent & guardian volunteers over more than two decades.

Our programs for Elementary and Secondary School campuses help provide positive male role models for the students, demonstrating by their presence that education is important. Meanwhile, we provide extra sets of eyes and ears to enhance school security, reduce bullying and provide a greater sense of campus safety allowing students and teachers to focus on learning and instruction.

Fundraiser Incentives

Thank you again to everyone who registered, shared, and donated to our fundraiser. Students will receive their prizes and the incentive events throughout October/November

Kona Ice Truck - October 30th
Glow Party - November 13th

Save the Date - Fall Growth Assessment Testing

All students will participate in Fall Growth Assessment Testing on October 29-30 from 9:00-12:00 (please try to avoid early dismissals and late arrivals during this time). Details coming soon!

Clothing for Cash

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.

8th Grade Specialty Center Information

Check out the HCPS Specialty Center Website for LOTS of details and information.

HCPS High School Applications

Applications for HCPS High School programs/specialty centers are OPEN!

Specialty Centers – Online application opens Mon., 9/29
ACE Center Programs – Online application (Google link) opens Mon., 9/29
Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School – Online application opens Wed., 10/1

Specialty Center Open House Dates

The calendar below outlines the dates for individual Specialty Center Open Houses. Events are 6:30-8 p.m. unless noted in parentheses.

HCPS high school specialty centers, ACE centers, I.B. programs and regional high schools:

2025 DATE	CENTER
Sept. 30	Maggie L. Walker Governor's School: virtual introduction (5:30-6:30 p.m.)
Oct. 1	Advance College Academy for Business Administration at Highland Springs H.S.
Oct. 1	Center for Education and Human Development at Glen Allen H.S.
Oct. 7	Center for Engineering at Highland Springs H.S.
Oct. 8	Center for Environmental Studies and Sustainability at Varina H.S.
Oct. 9	Center for Leadership, Government and Global Economics at Douglas S. Freeman H.S.
Oct. 9	Center for Cybersecurity at Henrico H.S.
Oct. 14	CodeRVA open house (6-8 p.m.) repeated on Dec. 9
Oct. 14	Center for Information Technology at Deep Run H.S.
Oct. 15	Advance College Academy Social Sciences at J.R. Tucker H.S.
Oct. 22	Center for Communications and Media Relations at Varina H.S.
Oct. 23	International Baccalaureate at J.R. Tucker H.S.
Oct. 25	Maggie L. Walker Governor's School open house at 10 a.m.
Oct. 27	Center for Spanish Language and Global Citizenship at J.R. Tucker H.S.
Oct. 28	ACE Centers (all campuses) open house at ACE Center @ Hermitage
Oct. 28	Center for Allied Health and Human Services at Hermitage H.S.
Oct. 29	Todd A. Phillips Center for Medical Science at Mills E. Godwin H.S.
Oct. 30	International Baccalaureate at Henrico H.S.
Nov. 5	Center for the Humanities and Civic Engagement at Hermitage H.S.
Nov, 6	Center for the Arts at Henrico H.S.
Dec. 9	CodeRVA open house (6-8 p.m.) same content from Oct. 14

Sports, Clubs and Extracurricular Activities

Come watch our teams in action! Games start at 5 PM (subject to change depending on when teams/officials arrive)

Football:

Tuesday, October 7th vs. Tuckahoe @ Tuckahoe

Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball, and Girls Tennis:

Monday, October 6th vs. Quioccasin @ Pocahontas

Wednesday, October 8th vs. Brookland @ Brookland

Wrestling Coach Needed

Pocahontas Middle School needs a wrestling coach for our team. The wrestling season runs from about November to January. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Felcia Schooley at faschooley@henrico.k12.va.us and/or Leah Wiedenhoft at ldwiedenhoft@henrico.k12.va.us

Annual Page Program

The Virginia House of Delegates administers an annual page program for youths aged 13-14, focusing on civics education, the legislative process, and leadership development.

Applications for the 2026 House Page Program open August 1, and close Friday, October 17, at 5 PM. Each applicant must submit a recommendation letter from their Delegate.

Please see the FAQ provided by the House Clerk’s Office.

PTA Panera Spirit Night

Our Next Spirit Night is Thursday, October 23rd at Panera Bread! Visit the 11703 W Broad St location from 4:00-8:00 and use the code FUND4U when placing your order at panerabread.com, on the app, or at the in-store kiosk. Panera will donate 25% of the proceeds back to Pocahontas.

The proceeds from this event will all go to our Strings Department at Pocahontas to offset costs for Instrument Stands and other needs so go warm up your soul and the music room with soup from Panera :)

School Picture Day - October 22nd and 23rd

Students will take their school picture during their HPE class on October 22nd or 23rd. Ordering information will be sent prior to the event.

*8th graders who are on the Mission Tomorrow Field Trip on October 22nd during their HPE block will take their picture upon return.

Save the Date

SAVE THE DATE -

Our annual Pocahontas Veterans Day Assembly will be held on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 11th. We are inviting veterans who are family members of our students and staff to attend the event. Details will be shared soon!

3:3 Basketball Tournament

Glen Allen Girl’s Basketball Program presents our first annual 3 on 3 basketball challenge. This event is open to all 2nd - 8th grade boys and girls.

Girl’s Division: Elementary (2nd/3rd)

(4th/5th), Middle (6th -8th)

Boy’s Division: Elementary (2nd/3rd)