Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!
Happy New School Year to you all! We are so excited to welcome our 6th graders on Monday, August 24th, and for all of our Hawks (6th, 7th, and 8th) to report on Tuesday, August 25th.
Tomorrow, Monday, August 24th, our 6th graders will report to Advisory, and then they will attend each of their classes. We will have staff stationed around the building to assist students in finding their Advisory. While in Advisory, students will receive a hard copy of their schedule. We encourage students to continue bringing the hard copy of their schedule until they are familiar with their classes, teachers, and room numbers.
6th graders DO NOT need to bring all of their supplies for each class on the first day.
Tuesday, August 25th, is a Day ONE. All students will report to Advisory, followed by blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4. 7th and 8th graders will receive a hard copy of their schedule in their Advisory.
Here's to a wonderful year! Together, we will SOAR! Go Hawks!
-Dr. Leah Wiedenhoft, Principal
Meet our Admin Team
Our administrative team is ready to support you and your student as you move throughout the school year. Reach out with questions or concerns - we are happy to help!
Dr. Leah Wiedenhoft, Principal - ldwiedenhoft@henrico.k12.va.us
Mr. Brad Alston, Associate Principal - 7th-grade administrator - wbalston@henrico.k12.va.us
Ms. Jackie Hunt, Assistant Principal - 8th-grade administrator - jbhunt@henrico.k12.va.us
Dr. Amanda Flanagan, Assistant Principal - 6th-grade administrator - agflanagan@henrico.k12.va.us
This year, we have four Administrative Aides who are assisting with a wide variety of tasks. Our Admin Aides are:
Ms. Elizabeth Bearer
Mr. Chris Mazella
Mr. Megan Sherwood
Ms. Briana Smith
Building Hours
Our school hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Instructional hours for students are 8:35 AM - 3:15 PM.
The building opens to students at 8:05 AM.
Attendance Reminders
Attending school on a daily basis is a critical piece of academic success. Missing even one day of learning can cause a setback. Please take a minute to review the
and these
from Attendance Works.
If your student needs to stay home for the day, please report the absence to the school by calling 804-364-0830.
Students who are car riders are reminded to arrive to school with enough time to enter the building and report to Advisory before the 8:35 AM bell. Students arriving after 8:35 AM are considered tardy and will need to report to the main office to sign-in and receive a pass to class.
Early dismissals for students will end at 2:50 PM.
If your student needs to leave school early, please arrive at the main office to sign them out before 2:50 PM.
Main Office Reminders
No Outside Food Deliveries -
Students cannot have outside food (ex: McDonalds, ChickFilA, etc) delivered during the school day. Please do not bring take-out items to the main office for students.
Walker/Bike Rider Permission Form -
If your student has permission to walk or bike to/from school, we need you to complete
.
For safety precautions, the main office keeps the information on file to ensure we have documented permission for students to walk or ride their bike to/from school.
Early dismissals for students will end at 2:50 PM.
If your student needs to leave school early, please arrive at the main office to sign them out before 2:50 PM.
If you need to drop off an item for a student, please leave the item with our SSOs at the front of the building.
Online Fees and Forms
Henrico County will continue to utilize online systems to complete school division forms, including the Code of Conduct and Laptop/Charger Agreement. Forms are available now in PowerSchool.
Please take a moment to log into the Parent Portal to complete the required forms.
The form completion site, eCollect Forms, is free of charge and can be accessed using Parent Portal within Powerschool. Directions for accessing PowerSchool Parent Portal and/or creating an account are
Looking to pay school fees? Head to our
website. When you log in, you can access both required fees (based on a student's schedule) and optional fees (yearbook, etc).
If you don't have an account, the
Information sight has a tutorial and directions.
Families can access their student's lunch account through
. If you need assistance with your account, please visit our
Cell Phone Expectation
For the 2026-2027 school year, all students are prohibited from using cell phones and personal smart devices on school property from the time they arrive until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the school day, including during lunch and in between class periods.
Smart devices include any personal electronic device that can connect to the Internet and wirelessly collect, process, and transmit data, including cell phones, smart watches, and tablets. In accordance with the Code of Conduct, smartwatches may not be worn.
Students must store their devices in their backpacks or in a locked storage container that is available in each classroom. In accordance with their agreed-upon plans, students with an Individualized Education Program, Section 504 Plan, individualized health care plan, or Limited English Proficiency plan, may possess and use a cell phone or smart device on school property.
If a student fails to follow these guidelines, the following steps will be taken in alignment with the 2026-2027 Code of Student Conduct.
Student ID Cards
Students will be given a Student ID Badge on Monday, August 24th (6th grade) or Tuesday, August 25th (7th and 8th grade) during Advisory.
Newly enrolled students may not have an ID ready on the first day, but we will work to get them one ASAP.
Each student will have to bring their card to school every day and wear their lanyard to keep their card clearly visible during activities on school grounds.
The cards bring together a handful of processes that students encounter every day and make them all accessible with a quick scan or tap.
Students will use their cards to: ride the bus to and from school, check out a book or other materials from the library, get lunch in the cafeteria, sign-in/out in the main office if arriving or leaving school early, and access specific technology services
Students will be given instructions on the proper use and handling of their ID cards.
Please remind your student they must have their student ID daily!
Dress Code
As you prepare for your student to return to school, just a few dress code reminders. The entire dress code can be found in the
Shorts/skirts/dresses must reach the tip of the thumb when hands placed at the sides
Clothing that is see-through, reveals the midriff, or resembles undergarments is not permitted
Pajamas and/or slippers should not be worn to school
Grade Level Student Behavior Meetings
During the first two weeks of school, each grade level with gather with their administrator to review school-wide behavior expectations. Topics to be discussed include: respectful treatment of students and staff, hallway behaviors, lunchroom and Hawk Huddle reminders, electronic devices, safety reminders, attendance expectations, and more.
HCPS Acceptable Use Agreement
Students will receive their HCPS Laptop throughout the first few days of school. Please review the HCPS Acceptable Use Agreement as it outlines important details about safe behaviors with the laptop. The form is located in the HCPS Code of Conduct and in PowerSchool ParentPortal under forms. Students should charge their laptop each evening so it is prepared for use the next day.
Students should ony use their laptops when the teacher gives specific direction for the laptop to be out and in use.
Arrival Information
Car Riders Arrival
The building opens to students 8:05 AM. Students must wait in the car until 8:05.
Please follow the directions of staff who are directing traffic in the lot.
Vehicles must pull as far forward (to the stop sign) in the line before having your student exit.
Please do not stop in front of the building if you can continue pulling forward to the stop sign.
Parents/guardians, please do not walk your student to the front door unless you need to complete a task in the building.
No cars should enter the front loop outside the main office unless there is a medical need.
Bus Riders Arrival
Bus riders should be at their assigned stops approximately 10 minutes before the assigned pick-up time.
When arriving to Pocahontas, buses will deboard from the bus loop in the back of the building.
Dismissal Information
Car Riders/Walkers
We will begin releasing students around 3:15 PM. All car riders and walkers exit the building through the main doors at the front of the building.
If you are picking your student up, you should park in a parking spot in our main lot and wait for them to walk to you. Please do not walk to the doors of the building.
Once your student arrives at your car, follow the circle around the lot to exit.
Please do NOT park and wait for your student anywhere other than a lined parking space.
No cars should enter the loop outside the main office.
Patience and caution are critical to keeping our lot safe and secure.
Bus Riders
Please review your student's bus number and bus stop location with your student before the first day of school.
The time for dismissing bus riders depends on when buses arrive at the building.
Once most buses have arrived, students will be released via an announcement. Additionally, teachers will display a PM bus board that indicates the order the buses are lined up.
Bus riders must move swiftly to their assigned buses. Please review your student's bus information with them so they know exactly which bus to ride.
Please work with your student so they have memorized their bus number.
We anticipate delayed buses for the first few days of school. Please be patient as our buses will not arrive until after they have completed elementary school runs.
Weapon Scanners
The safety of our students and staff remains the highest priority of everyone at our school. Beginning on the first day of school, students will pass through weapon scanners as part of our daily arrival process.
The scanners were a part of our daily routine last year. As we begin the year, morning arrival may be a bit slower during the first few days, but we know that will improve quickly as we develop routines with our students.
During arrival, students should have their laptops, large binders, umbrellas, and glasses cases outside their bags. A staff member will check all instrument containers and athletic bags.
Additionally, any guest entering the building during school hours must walk through the weapon scanners with their belongings.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students, employees, and school community safe.
Volunteering Form
We LOVE when parents/guardians volunteer at Pocahontas. In order for any person to volunteer, they must complete the Volunteer Link form.
If you have students in other Henrico schools, the form only needs to be completed once but you must check off each school you wish to volunteer/chaperone for.
Securly Home
As we continue the discussion of Digital Wellness, Henrico County Public Schools is using Securly to keep students safe on their school-issued devices. As part of our commitment to your child’s safety, we are giving all HCPS parents access to the free Securly Home app.
Securly Home is a family engagement app that extends digital safety beyond the school day by giving families greater visibility into and control over their child’s online activity on their school-issued device.
Looking for more information? Check out the resources below! Thank you in advance for your partnership!
Securly Home in HCPS: Overview and Access Directions - A one-page overview of Securly Home and ways for parents to access the Securly Home parent portal.
Securly Home Directions for Parents - Directions to sign in to the Securly Home app
and
)
- A sample welcome email that parents receive from Securly. Please note: Parents do not need the welcome email to access Securly Home.
Medication Reminders
All pain medications need to have a parent authorization form signed, and all medications are stored in the clinic. Even medications that are taken "as needed" must have forms submitted and must be stored in the clinic.
Students should not have medications in their possession on school property unless medically necessary, with parent and physician-authorized forms in the clinic.
Fall Tryout Information
Fall Sports are Girls Tennis, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, and Football.
Tryouts for all sports start the first week of school.
Football tryouts begin Wednesday, August 26th.
Girls Tennis, Girls Basketball, and Boys Soccer tryouts begin Thursday, August 27th.
Students participating in tryouts will report to the Pocahontas cafeteria at dismissal.
When students report to tryouts, staff will verify that their required forms are completed, and then the coaches will begin their sessions.
Tryouts are closed; no spectators, please.
All tryouts end at 5:30 PM, and students should be picked up in the Pocahontas parking lot.
Required Forms
Students must have all five forms submitted by August 26th to participate in tryouts.
Please bring paper copies of physicals to the office or Ms. Schooley’s classroom (room 1603). Other forms can be signed online or printed and turned in. Please do not send in scanned copies of physicals or forms.
Physicals last for 14 months from the date they were given. Please be aware that your physical may be good from last year, but may expire in the middle of a season now and not last an entire school year.
All 6th graders will need a physical form filled out by a doctor, and their physical must be within the last 14 months. The clinic does not have your athletic physical form on file.
Links to Forms
The
(3 pages turned in) will now be used in Middle School, too. Physicals must be signed by a doctor and parent and must include insurance.
Esports Tryouts
Is your student interested in Esports as a way to compete, connect with other students, and demonstrate leadership? If so, they should plan to tryout during the times below! Information will be shared via morning announcements and Schoology.
Monday, August 31 3:30-4:45 = Smash Brothers competitive Pocahontas Team Tryouts (location: café)
Tuesday, September 1st 3:30-4:45 = Mario Kart competitive Pocahontas Team Tryouts (location: library)
Join our PTA
By joining the Pocahontas PTA, you become part of our community focused on encouraging student achievement and enriching the learning environment. We foster a partnership between families and the school, so that every Hawk benefits.
Become a member to say informed about school events, make connections to other families and our staff, and have your voice matter.
Membership Cost -
$8.50 (1 adult)
$15.50 (Family Membership - 2 adults)
Optional Hawk Fund Contribution
Join online at Pocahontas.memberhub.com
First Week Pep Rally
We will have our first whole-school pep rally on Friday, August 28th at the end of the school day. This will be a time for fun, connection, and celebration. We can't wait to show our 6th graders our Pocahontas Pride.
Students are encouraged to wear their grade level color (6th - gray, 7th - blue, 8th - black).
Back to School Night
Join us on Wednesday September 16th, from 6-8 PM to meet your student's teachers and learn about their classes.
Dates to Note
Monday, August 24th - First Day of School for 6th Grade
Tuesday, August 25th - All students report to school
Wednesday, August 26th - Football tryouts begin
Thursday, August 27th - Boys soccer, Girls tennis, and girls basketball tryouts begin
Friday, August 28th - Pep Rally (we will follow a pep rally schedule)
Friday, Sept. 4th and Monday, Sept. 7th - No School - Student/Teacher Holiday and Labor Day
Thursday, September 10th and Monday, September 14th - PTA Sponsored 6th Grade Hawk Hangout (sign-up coming soon)
Wednesday, September 16th (6-8 PM) - Pocahontas Back To School Night