Dates to Note
Wednesday, October 21st - Mission Tomorrow Field Trip, 8th Grade
Wednesday, October 21st - Unity Day (wear orange)
Thursday, October 22nd - Wednesday, November 11th - Gifted Referral Window Open
Friday, October 23rd - Pocahontas Boo Bash @ Pocahontas, 6 - 8 PM (See Ticket Information Above)
Monday, October 26th - Friday, October 30 - Spirit Week
Wednesday, October 28th - End of Q1; Student Half Day (Dismissal at 12:15 PM)
Wednesday, October 28th - PTA Spirit Event at Qdoba, 12:00 - 8:00 PM
Thursday, October 29th - Battle Across Broad, Henrico Christmas Mother Canned Food Drive Begins
Thursday, October 29th - Kona Ice Truck Incentives for students who qualified through the Pocahontas Fundraiser
Friday, October 30th - Quarter 1 Pep Rally (alternative bell schedule)
Monday, November 2nd - Wellness Day, HCPS Schools Closed
Tuesday, November 3rd - No School for Students, Professional Learning Day for Staff
Thursday, November 5th, 4:00 - 7:30 - Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, November 11th - Veterans Day Assembly at 2PM
Friday, December 4th - Make-Up Picture Day
Half-Day Permission To Walk Form - Wednesday, October 28th |
As a reminder, if students will be walking home on our upcoming half-day (Wednesday, October 28th), we need to know ahead of time, so we can identify those students. If your student will be walking home, please either write a note and have your student turn it into the main office by the end of Advisory on Tuesday, October 27th, OR complete this electronic permission form. Only students given parental/guardian permission will be allowed to walk home on Friday, October 24th.
Safety Reminders:
If your student walks home from school, we ask you to discuss safe walking reminders with them. Safety reminders include:
Stop at all major intersections and follow all traffic signals.
Only cross the road at designated intersections and/or within the pedestrian crosswalks
Before crossing roads and/or parking lot entrances/exits, stop and look both ways to ensure there is no traffic.
Please also remind students of safe and respectful behaviors to exhibit while visiting local stores/restaurants after the early release. We want our students to be excellent stewards in our community. Your help in communicating expectations is very helpful!
End of Quarter 1 |
The first nine weeks ends on Wednesday, October 28th. 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.
Parent Teacher Conferences |
Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, November 5th from 4:00-7:30 PM.
Parents/Guardians can sign-up for a 10-minute conference slot with as many of their student's teachers as they wish. Each conference will be individual - so just the parents/guardians and the content teacher. If you wish to meet with multiple teachers, you will need to schedule multiple conference times. When they register for a slot, parents/guardians will be able to choose an in-person or virtual option for the conference.
On Monday, October 19th, we will release a sign-up link through Bookings. Specific sign-up instructions will be included in that message. Additionally, teachers will share their individual links on the 19th. Sign-ups will be closed on Monday, November 2nd at 9 AM.
Veterans Day Assembly
Pocahontas will honor veterans on Wednesday, 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.
Mission Tomorrow |
8th graders, who returned a permission slip, will attend the Mission Tomorrow field trip on Wednesday, October 21st from about 10:00 AM - 12:4 5PM. Mission Tomorrow is an awesome opportunity for students to explore a wide variety of career fields, and we are excited for our 8th graders to learn from and engage with employers.
Prior to the trip, Advisory teachers will be reviewing behavior expectations with 8th graders! Students are reminded to be respectful, kind, and engaged throughout the event! All HCPS and Pocahontas behavior expectations are in place while on the trip.
Watch Dogs Interest
Last year, we reintroduced WatchD.O.G.S. at Pocahontas. We look forward to continuing this community and school partnership again this year.
If you are interested in learning more about WatchDOGS or would like to be added to our list of WatchDOG volunteers, please complete this Watch Dogs Forms Interest Survey
Additionally, we have a need for volunteers at some October events. If you are a WatchDOG and would like to volunteer, sign up here - October Sign Up Genius
Gifted Identification Window |
The gifted referral window will be open from Thursday, October 22, through Thursday November 12, at 11:59 PM. 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 child be evaluated to determine eligibility for gifted services. To learn more about the gifted identification process, please click here: 26-27 Gifted Identification Information. To begin a referral, login to PowerSchool and click on forms. Follow this guide for instructions. Additional information about gifted programs can be found on our website: Henrico Schools Gifted Services Website
Gifted referrals will not be accepted after Thursday, November 12. Contact Catherine Kelly, Divisional Gifted Coordinator—Middle School Programs, with any questions at cekelly@henrico.k12.va.us.
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 29th
Glow Party - November 5th
Digital Citizenship Week
This week is Digital Citizenship Week, and we are dedicated to equipping our Hawks with the skills they need to thrive in their complex, digital worlds. We recognize that guiding middle schoolers through the challenges of screen time, social media, and online identity requires a strong home-school partnership. Attached is a weekly outline providing links to the videos our Hawks will watch each morning on the announcements, along with suggested resources (like Carpool Conversations and family tip sheets) for you. We encourage you to watch these daily themes and use them as a starting point for meaningful, low-pressure conversations with your Hawk.
Take a look at our Digital Citizenship Calendar to see topics that will be discussed and resources you can access to follow up with your student. We hope the family resources are helpful! Thank you for partnering with us to help our Hawks learn to stay safe online.
Fall Sports Informaiton |
It has been so fun to watch and cheer for our Pocahontas Fall Sports Teams! This week girls basketball, girst tennis, and boys soccer wrap up their seasons with their final compatible game! Come watch on Thursday to cheer on our awesomely talented Hawks!
Football continues its season with a big game against Holman this week. Event details are below! Go Hawks!
Football:
Tuesday, October 20th vs. Holman at Glen Allen High School. Start time is 6:00 PM.
Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball, and Girls Tennis:
*Wednesday, October 21st @ 5:15 - Compatible 2
Girls Basketball @ Henrico Events Complex
Boys Soccer vs. Oak Knoll @ Pocahontas
Girls' Tennis vs. Liberty @ Godwin
PTA Spirit Night at Qdoba - Oct. 28
Need a fun way to celebrate the end of the quarter with your HAWKSOME students? Qdoba will host a Pocahontas Spirit Day from 12-8pm and nothing says, “You did a great job!” like queso and tacos. Enter the code QDOBAGIVES when you order online, or scan the QR Code below in the restaurant, and 25% of the sale will go to the Pocahontas Middle PTA.
Pocahontas Boo Bash - Oct 23
Join us for a frightfully good time at Pocahontas's Boo Bash on Friday, 10/23 from 6-8pm. Tickets on sale 10/19-10/22 in the cafeteria during advisory for $10 (first come, first served). Participants must be Pocahontas students. Costume attire is strongly recommended, but no masks, face covering, or props that look like weapons. Light concessions will be available at the dance for $1 each (cash only)