PHS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tuesday, April 26th
Lunch Menu: Taco Burger w/Cheese, Shredded lettuce/tomato, Refried Beans, Baked Chips, Fruit & Milk
*Student meals (Breakfast & Lunch) are free through the end of the year w/t exception of extra milk or extra items.
April Character Trait: Patience
“Patience is a form of wisdom. It demonstrates that we understand and accept the fact that sometimes things must unfold in their own time.” - Jon Kabat-Zinn
-DAILY NEWS-
REMINDER: Students always be sure to sign in at the office if you come in anytime after the first bell. You must also always sign out in the office if you leave campus at any time other than the end of the day.
ABSENCES: Students should bring notes for absences to the office first thing in the morning the day they return. Faxed notes come in at the administration office, so please allow a day for delivery to the high school before inquiring about the receipt of faxed notes. There are often times that faxes are not received due to a transmission error. Students/parents are encouraged to check with the office or HAC to verify the note has been received/put in attendance. As students acquire 5 or more absences (excused or unexcused), they will be called to the office so that an administrator can go over the attendance policy, review notes and advise guidance based on the circumstances of their absences.
Arkansas Public School Choice Application
In order to provide more options to parents and students with respect to where a child attends school, the Pocahontas School District is accepting students under the Arkansas Public School Choice Act. Per Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) guidelines, students must file a School Choice Application with the nonresident district on or before May 1, 2022 to attend school for the 2022-2023 school year. Applicants will be notified, by July 1, as to whether the student’s application has been approved or rejected. Applications may be found on the Pocahontas School District’s website at www.pocahontaspsd.com or picked up at the administration office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. If additional information is needed, please call 892- 4573, ext. 5002.
Seniors… The Arkansas Department of Education has released the awards for the Arkansas Challenge, Governors, and Workforce Scholarships. Please log into your YOUniversal account and accept these as soon as possible. You may access the YOUniversal login page at this link https://www.ark.org/adhe_financialaid/Login.aspx
If you cannot remember your email or password, there is a "forgot username or password" link you can click on to retrieve them. While in your account, make sure you have selected the correct college that you will be attending in the fall.
If you log in and your scholarships still says "Eligibility Pending", it is because of one of the following reasons:
You do not have an ACT superscore of 19 or 246 ACCUPLACER average OR
You have not completed your FAFSA; This must be completed before July 1st or you will not receive any scholarship money from the state
If neither of these are correct, it's possible there is a glitch in the system and something is not populating like it should. See Mrs. Stewart if that is the case.
**** ACT Aspire testing for 10th grade this week. Students report to your testing rooms at the bell. Juniors and seniors will go to the gym for guest speaks in regards to college and career readiness during 1st and 2nd periods. Attendance will be taken so be sure you sign in!
Tuesday, 4/26
Baseball - Blytheville @ Home DH 4:00/7:00 … release at 2:40
Softball - Blytheville @ Home DH @ 4:00/6:00… release at 2:40
STUDENTS: This is just a reminder that the deadline for all BRTC SUMMER AND FALL BRTC applications is tomorrow! You must already have the required scores from the 10th grade ACT Aspire, Accuplacer, or ACT. If you plan to take AP Lang/Comp (11th grade), AP Literature (12th grade), or AP U.S. History next year, you must complete a BRTC application to receive college credit for it.
- Your AP scores at the end of the year may also qualify you for college credit, but if you want to make sure, complete an application!
- You can pick up a paper copy of the application in my office or Mrs. Stewart's, or you can complete it electronically and email it to me. BRTC Course Information and Applications
Wednesday, 4/27
Summer I & II 2022 BRTC Course Information, Schedules, and Applications
TODAY is the deadline to submit all BRTC Applications (summer & fall) to Mrs. Hampton!
Thursday, 4/28
Baseball - Nettleton - Away V/JV @ 4:30 … release at 2:20
Track - 4A-3 Sr Conference Meet @ (Home) dismiss @ 8:00 am
Friday, 4/29
Softball - Batesville - Away V/JV @ 4:00/6:00… release at 1:30
Sunday, 5/1
Pocahontas Jr. High/Sr. High Art Exhibition and Auction will be held from 2-4 at the Jr. High Gym. All proceeds go toward a scholarship to be awarded to a graduating senior who will be pursuing a major/minor in the visual arts.
-GENERAL NEWS-
"PlayVS NBA 2K22 Spring Invitational Tournament. Open to 9-12 grade students. Competition Dates: May16 - May28, 2022. Free. No cost. For more information or to sign up to play, please contact redskin.esports@pocahontaspsd.com"
Esports - ***NEW GAMES!!*** *Redskin Esports is looking for talented gamers for our program. Titles offered are NBA 2K22, Madden22, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Mario Kart 8, Splatoon 2, Rocket League and League of Legends. Must be 13 years old. Must be in 9-12 grades (Varsity) for competitive play against other schools during the school year. We meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays afterschool. Year round program. For more information, email redskin.esports@pocahontaspsd.com.
Are you interested in what it takes to become a firefighter?? BRTC is hosting its 2nd annual FireFighter Games on Tuesday, May 3rd from 9:30 - 2:30 pm. All 10th -12th graders are invited to attend. This will be something you do on your own, not a school sanctioned field trip. You must see Mrs. Dianna in the office prior to attending to discuss whether this will be an excused absence or not. This is based on your attendance. The link to register is below. You must register in order to attend. Please see the attached flier for additional information.
Nurse Camp 2022 - This is a free program held June 22nd -24th for students with an interest in a career in the medical field open to high school students grades 10-12. Information and applications are in your email from Mrs. Stewart. Applications due May 25th.
Reminder - No Phone Zone: It is illegal and unsafe to talk or manipulate a phone while operating a vehicle in a school zone. Officers will be on the lookout for this offense and will write citations if seen.
TUTORING SCHEDULE:
Math Tutoring will be in the Student Center Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday weekly from 3:30-4:30. We can also help with ACT prep.
Tuesday: Mrs. Murray and Mrs. Huffman
Wednesday: Mrs. Murray and Mr. Steele
Thursday: Mrs. Murray and Mr. Steele
Literacy Tutoring will be in the Student Center with Mrs. Bass on Tuesday and Thursday weekly from 3:30-4:30. She can help with anything text-based: Science, History, English, ACT Prep, etc.
As we get this school year underway please keep school dress code policies in mind:
1. Students are not to wear hats, caps, sock hats, sweatbands (head), pajamas, house shoes, hoods of hoodies, blankets, bandanas and/or sunglasses in the buildings. Exceptions must be approved by the principal.
2. Tops, shirts, blouses (boys and girls) must cover the front, back, and sides of the upper body. Clothing deemed distracting, revealing, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise disruptive is not permitted. This includes: exposed midriffs, halter/tank tops, spaghetti straps, and see-through shirts, tops or blouses even with a camisole worn underneath. Sleeveless top straps must be at least 2 inches in width (short side of a credit card).
3. Shorts, skirts and dresses must be of sufficient length. Sufficient length is defined as six inches above the knee (length of a dollar bill) or at a length in which the longest finger does not touch skin while the arms rest naturally at one’s side.
4. Form fitting pants/shorts (i.e. Spandex, leggings, yoga pants, etc.) may be worn under, or as clothing, as long as the top/shirt is no shorter than the acceptable length for shorts, skirts, or dresses.
5. In clothing with rips, holes, or tears, the rips, holes and tears should be at a level equal to or below the level for skirts, dresses, and/or shorts. See above for the required length.
6. Pants are to be worn at the waistline, “sagging” is not allowed.
7. Clothing, accessories (book bags, jewelry, hats, etc.), or body art that displays vulgar, obscene or otherwise inappropriate symbols, language, double-meaning, or makes reference to alcohol, tobacco, or other illegal substances are not permitted.
8. During the regular school day, students’ athletic attire such as tennis, track, cheerleading, etc. must conform to all other regulations of the dress code.
Parking for students is first come first served. ALL students who drive and park on campus must purchase a parking pass for $3.00 from the office. Student parking is the area between the softball and baseball fields, the lot next to the business building and the row with the curb that is front and back. Please do not park by the sidewalk in front of the building, the small lot on the side of the business building or next to the cafeteria; those areas are for faculty parking and for visitors.
Students: At no time should you take food to the bathroom to eat. Second chance breakfast should be taken back to the classroom and lunch should be eaten in the cafeteria or other designated areas for lunches.
Attention Band Students: You are not allowed to eat lunch in the band room. You may only go to the band room at lunch with written permission and AFTER you have eaten lunch.
Lunch Group 1: 10:50 - 11:30 - Classes dismissed to lunch listed below:
A. Baltz, Blalock, Bradley, Brooks, Crismon, Crutcher, Hackworth, D. Hall, Henderson, Hudson, Huffman, Lange, A. Lynch, Moffett, Sullinger, Wardlow, Washburn
Lunch Group 2: 11:50 - 12:30 - Classes dismissed to lunch listed below:
S. Baty, Coach Baty, Coach Brewington, Casillas, Melanie Inman, Kazzee, Murray, Nead, Phelps, Shelton, Stewart, Welch
Covid Point of Contact: If you have any questions or covid related information to report please contact Charla Cusson @ 870-810-7409 (primary #), 870-892-4573 ext. 5035 (secondary #) or by email at Charla.cusson@pocahontaspsd.com If she is unable to answer your call please leave a voicemail and she will return your call as soon as possible.
Please remember if a person is under quarantine or tests positive for covid, you may not attend any school events on campus.
**In an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus within our staff and student body we are asking all parents/guardians, and all employees to notify our designated Point of Contact immediately when the following occurs:
Someone in the household has tested positive for COVID-19.
Someone in the household has been identified as a Close Contact to a positive case of COVID-19 and is requiring quarantine and/or recommended to be tested for COVID-19.
Students attending on-site and employees who are being tested for COVID-19. If symptomatic, student/staff should remain in quarantine pending results of their COVID-19 test.
Please call Charla Cusson at 870-810-7409, or email information to charla.cusson@pocahontaspsd.com
As of 2/11/22, after careful consideration and review of Governor Hutchinson’s statement on February 1, 2022, the Pocahontas School District has made the decision to change our Covid-19 guidelines to the following: If an individual tests positive, they will need to isolate for a minimum of five (5) days and they are permitted to return on day six (6) with a mask (worn appropriately at all times) for the remainder of their ten (10) day isolation period. Preschool students who test positive will continue to isolate for ten (10) days. If a student is considered a probable close contact (PCC), their parents will be contacted so they may monitor for symptoms. Should they develop symptoms, they are to stay home and get tested at an appropriate time. Individuals who are considered as possible close contacts (PCC’s), but who do not have symptoms, will no longer be immediately quarantined. This approach aligns with long-standing practices and policies that districts have used when responding to our other contagious diseases. We will continue to focus on mitigation strategies and practices that have worked in our district so far. This will include social distancing, isolating positive cases, and additional cleaning and disinfecting. We will also continue to monitor positive case numbers and update the Board each week in case a change is needed.
Masks are optional as of 2/11/22 with the exception of circumstances as noted above.
-COUNSELOR & CAREER COACH NEWS-
Stephanie Hampton, PHS Counselor- stephanie.hampton@pochahontaspsd.com (870) 892-4573 ext. 4004
Lindsay Stewart, PHS Career Coach - lindsay.stewart@pocahontaspsd.com (870) 892-4573 ext. 4013
ALL STUDENTS: Please visit the PHS Counselor and Career Coach Webpage for regularly updated information! You can also find this link on the Pocahontas School District Website>Schools>Pocahontas High School>Menu>Staff>Stephanie Hampton or Lindsay Stewart. PARENTS: If you would also like access to the PHS Counselor and Career Coach Webpage, please click on this link and request access or send an email to Mrs. Hampton or Mrs. Stewart requesting access.
Add Mrs. Stewart on Instagram and/or Facebook for updates on college and careers! Follow at brtc_phscareercoach. Install the app to follow photos and videos. https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1nsx0g0qh4g7o&utm_content=mix63fl
https://www.facebook.com/BRTCCareerCoachPHS
College Days!!! Seniors are allowed two college days and Juniors are allowed one college day (during 2nd semester). Students must meet attendance criteria, meet with the counselor prior to visit, obtain a college day form from the office prior to the visit and provide written verification from the visit to the high school office upon their return to school the following day.
ACT Test Date | Regular Registration Deadline | Late Registration Deadline ($36 FEE APPLIES) |
June 11, 2022 | May 6 | May 20 |
July 16, 2022 | June 17 | June 24 |
** 2021-2022 ACT cost is $60 (no writing) and $85 (with writing). Juniors or Seniors who receive Free/Reduced lunches qualify for ACT fee waivers. Please see Mrs. Hampton.
Juniors… If you took the ACT on March 1st at PHS, your scores are now available to view in your act.org account! Just click on 'MyACT Sign In' at the top right corner of the page.
If you already have an ACT account, or if you linked the March ACT with your previous account (with Mrs. Phelps during 7th hour on the day of testing), you will use that login information.
If you can log in, but your March scores are not there, see Mrs. Hampton.
If you have never logged into or created an account, you will use your school email address as your login. Just click on 'Forgot Password' and enter your PHS email address. It will email you a link to reset your password.
DO NOT create a new account! That will create multiple accounts (that will not show all of your scores), and it will require you to contact ACT to request a merge of the two accounts.
-SENIOR NEWS-
Be sure you check your email DAILY. This is how Mrs. Stewart, Career Coach and Mrs. Hampton, Counselor, will update you with any important dates and scholarship information.
Seniors - This is a reminder that there are several scholarship opportunities available for you on our PHS Counselor & Career Coach page. Check our regularly updated PHS Scholarship Spreadsheet to apply for as many as you can. Once the spreadsheet loads, use the scroll bar at the bottom of the page to view scholarships by upcoming deadlines. For example, the January tab has links to all scholarship applications with a January deadline.
FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and YOUniversal (www.scholarships.adhe.edu) are open. These applications will need to be completed to qualify for ANY state or federal aid.
**If you have not used a college day this semester, AND you are not over on absences, you may speak to Mrs. Dianna about a College Day form to possibly attend an appointment with an excused absence. You must do this prior to attending the appointment.
*****Applications process: Mrs. Hampton will make copies of your application (exactly as submitted), your PHS transcript, and your ACT scores to distribute to each local scholarship committee for review. Scholarship recipients will be announced during the 2022 Senior Awards Ceremony on the evening of Tuesday, May 17th.
-UPCOMING EVENTS-
May 10th - Choir Concert & Awards @ PJHS Gym
May 12th - Band Spring Concert & Awards @ PJHS Gym
May 16th - Annual SpEd Track & Field Day @ Schoonover Stadium
May 17th - Senior Awards Night @ MD Williams Gym at 7:00
May 19th - Athletic Awards @ MD Williams Gym at 6:00
May 20th - GRADUATION @ Schoonover Stadium at 8:00
AP Testing Dates:
May 2nd - AP Chemistry Exam... Noon - 4:00 pm
May 4th - AP Literature Exam... 8:00 am - Noon
May 6th - AP US History Exam... 8:00 am - Noon
May 9th - AP Calculus Exam... 8:00 am - Noon
May 10th - AP Language Exam... 8:00 am - Noon
May 11th - AP Biology Exam... Noon - 4:00 pm
May 12th - AP World History Exam... 8:00 am - Noon
-BASEBALL-
5/5-5/7 Regional Tournament V TBA
5/14 - 5/17 State Tournament V TBA
-SOFTBALL-
5/5 - 5/7 Regionals Tournament
5/12 - 5/14 State Tournament