Dates to Note
Monday, October 27th - Friday, October 31st - Spirit Week
--Monday 10/27 - Pink Out
--Tuesday 10/28 - Pajama Bottoms
--Wednesday 10/29 - Dress Alike Day
--Thursday 10/30 - Grade Level Colors
--Friday 10/31 - Costume Day
October 29th and 30th - Fall Growth Assessment Testing
Monday, November 3rd - Wellness Day for students and Staff - Schools Closed
Tuesday, November 4th - Clerical Day - No school for students
Thursday, November 6th - Fall Parent Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, November 11th - Veterans Day Assembly and Veteran Reception
Fall Growth Assessment Testing
On Wednesday and Thursday, October 29th and 30th, all students will participate in the fall administration of our growth assessments. Please see the message sent in ParentSquare on Monday, October 13th, for assessment details.
We will have an altered schedule on these days. Students will attend Advisory, and then move to their designated testing room. We will remain in the testing location from approximately 8:55 - 11 AM. The schedule is subject to change, depending on the number of students still testing. If a student needs additional time, it will be provided. If you are scheduling appointments for your student, please be mindful of when testing will occur.
While testing, students cannot have access to any personal electronic device. This includes cell phones, headphones, and smart watches. Students will be asked to turn in their electronic devices to ensure they are not accessed while testing is occurring.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences will occur on Thursday, November 6th, from 4:30-7 PM. To select a time to meet with a teacher, please click this link. After the page opens, enter the teacher's name with whom you would like to meet. On the calendar, find November 6th, and you will see which timeslots are available. Sign-ups will be close at noon on Monday, November 3rd.
Each 10-minute conference occurs with one teacher and the parent/guardian. If you wish to meet with multiple teachers, you will need to schedule multiple conference times. When registering for a conference time, parents/guardians will choose an in-person or virtual option.
We hope the parent-teacher conferences are helpful and productive. See you on November 6th!
Costumes on Halloween Reminders
We are excited to continue our tradition of students and staff being able to wear costumes on Halloween (Friday October 31st). All costumes must meet the HCPS Dress Code expectations. People who wear costumes are reminded that masks, inflatables, and props are not allowed. Student IDs must still be worn, and all parts of the costume must be appropriate for school. We are looking forward to the fun!
Digital Citizenship Week
Digital Citizenship Week has wrapped up, but our work is just beginning! The digital world is where our students live, learn, and socialize each and every day. Since they are constantly navigating new platforms and resources online, our job as a school and family partnership is to consistently guide their choices. To keep building your knowledge and confidence for parenting in this Digital Age, we encourage you to explore this YouTube playlist from Common Sense Education!
Veterans Day Assembly
Pocahontas will honor veterans on Tuesday, November 11th during a school-wide ceremony beginning at approximately 2:00 PM. We will have a guest speaker, performances from all three of our music programs, and an opportunity to recognize veterans in our community.
To make the event as meaningful as possible, please take a moment to complete this form. We would love to include the names and pictures of veterans who are family members of our school's students and staff.
Thank you in advance for adding to our collection of names and pictures! We hope this personalization brings meaning and honor for all those who are participating in the program.
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.
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.
Gifted Referral Window
The gifted referral window will be open from Monday, October 27, through Monday, November 10, at 4PM. During this time, students may be referred to the gifted identification process by an educator, parent/guardian, community member, peer, or self. By submitting a referral, you are requesting your student be evaluated to determine eligibility for gifted services. To begin a referral, contact your Gifted Identification Coordinator with your student’s name, teacher, grade, and area of referral (Math, Language, Both). Gifted referrals will not be accepted after 4PM on Monday, November 10. Contact our Gifted Identification Coordinator, Ella Bandy, (eebandy@henrico.k12.va.us) with questions.
Please review the following information:
Henrico Schools Gifted Services Website
HCPS High School Applications
Parents of 8th Graders: Is your student still thinking about applying to a Specialty Center or an ACE Center?
If so, see the step-by-step directions below!
Deadline to apply - November 14
Note: Those applying to Maggie Walker Governor's School should visit the Schoology group for all directions.
As a reminder, students may visit Ms.Milby with any questions.
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 |
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 |
Words Matter - Be Kind. Be Positive.
As you are discussing school with your student, please speak with them about the importance of kind, non-judgmental language. Students must think before they speak, being sure their words are respectful and free from negativity and/or harm. Even as jokes, words can be hurtful, and we want all students to be comfortable and at ease while at school.
Thank you for your continued support as we work to build our Hawks into kind, contributing citizens of our world!
ID Reminders
Most of our students are doing a wonderful job of meeting our expectation of having their IDs visible daily. The IDs are being used as the students enter and exit buses, as they pay for their lunch, and as they checkout library resources.
Important information about IDs:
Each student will wear their ID on their HCPS lanyard for the entirety of every school day.
Students should have their IDs visible throughout the school day. IDs/lanyards are removed for PE, science labs, and at the teacher's discretion during other activities.
If a student needs a new lanyard, they should visit our main office to request a new lanyard.
If a student needs a new ID, the first replacement is free. Any ID replacements beyond the first one are assigned a five-dollar, non-refundable charge.
ID replacements will be requested during Advisory in the library. Any student needing a new ID will be directed to the library. The replacement ID will be given to the student on the nearest Wednesday or Friday to when it was requested.
When a new ID is printed for a student, their old ID is no longer active. If the old ID is found, it should be confiscated.
If a student does not have their ID for four consecutive days, they will be sent to the library to order a replacement.
Winter Sports Information
As fall sports draw to a close, it is time to start thinking about our Winter sports season. Winter sports include boys basketball and wrestling. Gymnastics is also a winter sport, but their season does not begin until the new year.
Winter sports tryouts start Thursday, November 6th. The boys' basketball and wrestling season run until Jan 21st. Students MUST have a current physical and all athletic forms signed to tryout.
If you have questions, please reach out to our Athletic Director, Ms. Felicia Schooley. at faschooley@henrico.k12.va.us.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
Did you know that you or your child can submit an anonymous alert about bullying? The link can be found on the Pocahontas Website.
Information about bullying for families can be found at this link. Bullying Prevention 101: A quick guide for adults