Pocahontas School District

🎉 Reminder! Redskin Academy will have Fantastic Friday tomorrow (Oct. 31)!
Parents are invited to join the fun at 4:30 PM. Students will bring home a reminder note today. ❤️

Students will go to Redskin Academy as usual unless a transportation change is sent to the office.

Attention Home School & Private School parents in Pocahontas School District

Please be advised that the Special Education Department will hold a consultation meeting with parents and private school officials regarding students who meet the following criteria:

· live within district boundaries
· has or had an IEP in a public school setting
· has or had a service plan as a private school or homeschool student and
· are currently homeschooling and/or attending a private school

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 5th from 1:00 pm-1:30 pm in the administration building.

If you have questions or are interested in attending, please contact Courtney Throesch, Special Education Coordinator at (870) 892-4573 ext. 5011

Calling All Career Day Speakers! Pocahontas Junior High is looking for community members who would like to speak at our Career Day on Thursday, November 21, from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM! We’re seeking individuals from a variety of professions who can share their career experiences with our 7th–9th grade students. Each speaker will present for about 15–20 minutes to three rotating groups of students. Hands-on activities, demonstrations, or visuals are encouraged — our students love to see careers in action! If you’re interested in participating or learning more, please email Allison Swann or Bridget Phelps. allison.swann@pocahontaspsd.com bridget.phelps@pocahontaspsd.com Let’s work together to inspire the next generation of leaders, innovators, and professionals!

We’re excited to celebrate our students’ hard work and achievements at our PHS Academic Assembly on Monday, November 3 at 9:00 AM in the high school gym! We’ll begin with a Band Send-Off at 8:55 AM, followed by recognition for: 🏅 Character Trait Award nominees 📚 All A’s and A/B Honor Roll 🎓 Senior Academic Award recipients ✅ Perfect Attendance Parents and guardians are welcome to attend as we celebrate these outstanding students and their accomplishments!

🇺🇸 M.D. Williams Veterans Day Program 🇺🇸 Our school community is proud to come together once again to honor those who have served. This student-led program features our own students, the PHS Band, and special guest speakers Mr. Kevin Rhodes and Sergeant Leslie Barnett Sr., who will also share a special display for guests and students to enjoy. We’re grateful to the VFW 4556 Color Guard, Gold Star Families, and the Five Rivers Daughters of the American Revolution for joining us in this meaningful event. 📅 Tuesday, November 11 | 8:30 a.m. 📍 M.D. Williams School A reception will follow the ceremony to honor our veterans. Our goal each year is simple: that every veteran leaves knowing how deeply we appreciate them. ❤️🤍💙

🌟 Celebrating Excellence in Education! 🌟

We are proud to recognize three outstanding Pocahontas School District educators who were recently honored at the Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet:

🏆 Classified Staff Member of the Year: Daija Heavin
🏫 Secondary Teacher of the Year: Dedra Riggs
🍎 Elementary Teacher of the Year: Tracy Ballard

Each of these incredible educators represents the heart of our district — showing daily dedication, compassion, and excellence in serving our students and community. Please join us in congratulating them on this well-deserved recognition!

📣 Reminder! Sign-ups for the Little Redskin Cheer Clinic are due Wednesday, October 29! The clinic is open to students in grades K–6 and will be held November 3 & 5 after school until 5:00 PM at the PJHS Gym. Cost is $25 per participant. Participants will perform with the PHS Cheerleaders at the home football game on November 6 at Schoonover Stadium! ❤️🖤 👉 Forms are available in all school offices. Questions? Contact Kim Nead at 870-892-4573 (ext. 4012).

🍂🎯 PES Fall Festival & Family Game Night! 🎯🍂 We’re teaming up with the Junior Auxiliary of Pocahontas for a night of family fun! Join us Tuesday, October 28, from 5:30–7:00 PM at PES for games, laughter, and fall festivities. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All PES families are invited! 🚪 Please enter through the third-grade hall — parking will be available on the east side of the building. We can’t wait to see our students and families come together for this favorite fall tradition!

📣 Join us this evening! As you plan your Monday, make time to stop by Pocahontas High School for a Public Tour from 6:00–7:00 PM! This drop-in event is part of our 2025 Millage Campaign and gives our community a chance to see firsthand the needs and opportunities within our high school facilities. We invite you to come walk the halls, ask questions, and learn more about how these proposed improvements would impact students, staff, and our entire community. 🗓️ Monday, October 27 📍 Pocahontas High School ⏰ 6:00–7:00 PM (Drop-in style)

🏐 State Tournament Send-Off! ❤️🖤

Our Pocahontas High School Volleyball Team received a warm send-off this morning as they hit the road for the State Tournament! They’ll take on Baptist Prep at 2:00 PM in Wynne — and we’re cheering them on all the way! 🙌

Let’s show our support for these hardworking student-athletes and wish them the best of luck as they represent Pocahontas with pride and heart!

Last week, Pocahontas students competed in the Northeast Arkansas Education Cooperative Chess Tournament, showcasing focus, strategy, and determination!

🏆 Dar Burger won 5 matches
🏆 Scarlett Collins won 4.5 matches

We’re so proud of these students for representing Pocahontas with skill and Redskin pride!

As you plan your week, make plans to join us for a public tour of Pocahontas High School!

We invite our community to stop by on Tomorrow, October 27, for a drop-in style tour from 6:00–7:00 PM.

This is a great opportunity to see firsthand the areas of our campus connected to our 2025 Millage Proposal — and to learn more about how these updates would impact our students, staff, and community.

📸 Honoring Decades of Redskin Pride 📸 New decorative screens at Schoonover Stadium now showcase a visual walk through Redskin football history — beginning with the early years of the 1920s–1960s and continuing through the 1970s. ❤️🤍 Each panel captures unforgettable moments, proud traditions, and the community spirit that has filled our stands for generations. From vintage black-and-white photos to snapshots of Friday nights under the lights, these images remind us that Redskin pride runs deep. 🏈 Be sure to take a look next time you’re at the stadium — and stay tuned! Additional screens featuring more decades of Pocahontas football history are coming soon.

Congratulations to our PHS Marching Redskins for qualifying for the State Marching Assessment! 🥁 They’ll represent Pocahontas at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock on November 3rd. We’re so proud of their hard work, dedication, and Redskin pride—let’s cheer them on as they prepare for the big stage!

🏫 You’re Invited: High School Tour Night 🏫
The Pocahontas School District invites our community to join us for a Public High School Tour on Monday, October 27, 2025, from 6:00–7:00 p.m.

This will be a drop-in style event, so feel free to come by anytime during that hour. Tour our current facilities, ask questions, and see firsthand the spaces where our students learn, grow, and lead each day.

We value transparency and community partnership — this tour is a great opportunity to learn more about our high school and the needs driving future facility planning.

When people think of a new school gym, they often think only of games and practices. But here in Pocahontas, our gym will be so much more than that.

Every year, between 9,100 and 10,300 students should fill that space — not for sports, but for the moments that truly define their school experience. It’s where we would celebrate achievements, gather for assemblies, sing and play in concerts, cheer at pep rallies, and watch seniors cross the stage at graduation. It’s where our students come together to belong.

Currently, our students’ choices are limited and experiences like senior awards, the athletic banquet and even prom are held at the elementary school. A new gym isn’t just about new floors or seats - it’s about belonging. It’s about giving our students and families a safe, welcoming space to create memories that last far beyond the final bell.

🎉 Arkansas State Fair Results Are In! 🎉

We’re proud to celebrate several Pocahontas students who represented our district with excellence at the Arkansas State Fair!

🏆 State Champion Katahdin Ram – Dallas Gossett Jr.
🏅 Reserve State Champion Katahdin Ewe – Dallas Gossett
🏅 Reserve State Champion Southdown Ram – Kelsey Maple
🏅 Reserve State Champion Angus Bull – Roxy Shoe
🏅 Reserve State Champion Angus Heifer – Addyson Forrester
🏅 Reserve State Champion Landrace Gilt – Jerrett Sweeney

Congratulations to these hardworking students for their outstanding achievements and dedication!

This 2025 proposal is more focused — with a smaller millage increase, less state funding, and higher construction costs than in previous years.

It reflects today’s financial realities while maintaining our commitment to facilities that meet student needs — including Redskin Assembly Hall, a new gymnasium, and updated academic spaces that ensure safety and opportunity for every student.

Because our community’s strength begins in our schools.

This week, our faculty and staff participated in an additional Capturing Kids’ Hearts Traction Visit — a time for reflection, growth, and continued learning focused on strengthening relationships and building positive school culture.

Through this visit, our team explored new strategies to connect with students, reinforce social contracts, and create classrooms where every child feels valued and heard. We’re proud of our staff’s commitment to continuous growth! ❤️