Pocahontas Junior High

📝🐝 PJHS Spelling Bee This Friday! 🐝📝

The Pocahontas Junior High Spelling Bee will be held this Friday, December 12 in the Junior High gym.

📚 Schedule:
• 7th Grade: 9:00 AM
• 8th Grade: 10:00 AM

We are still experiencing issues with the phone system. Our technology team is working to restore service as quickly as possible. In the meantime, please feel free to contact us by email or through our website. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

🎄 Christmas Spirit Days at PJHS Next Week!🎄 December 8-12 🎄
Get ready to spread some holiday cheer! Each day next week will have a fun festive theme for students and staff to enjoy. We can’t wait to see everyone show their PJHS Christmas spirit! 🎅✨

Pocahontas School District is implementing its second year of the Cart of Kindness initiative, offering grocery support to a limited number of families during this season. With help from our local Harps, we’ve been able to expand the program this year and nearly double the support provided. Together, we’re helping spread kindness throughout the Redskin community.

✨ We're excited to share a refreshed visual identity across our website, district app, Facebook page, YouTube channel, and more. This updated look reflects our continued commitment to clear communication and a unified, modern brand for our schools.

While the visuals are new, our mission remains the same—supporting students, staff, and families with purpose and pride. You may also notice continued refinements as we update each platform to ensure a consistent experience across the district.

👉 Stay connected: follow PSD on our website, app, Facebook, and YouTube to keep up with district news and updates.

✅ 💯 📝 UPDATED PJHS Semester Test Information 📝💯 ✅
This year, PJHS is implementing semester test exemptions for students who meet specific academic, attendance, and behavior criteria. Students who qualify for an exemption will be notified by the school, and teachers will communicate which tests—if any—the student is required to take.

Please encourage your student to check their exemption status and test schedule so they know which classes require their participation during semester testing. If a student is exempt from a particular test, they will receive instructions from the school about expectations for that time period.

📚✨Professional Learning Spotlight✨📚 A number of staff members have been participating in voluntary, ongoing professional learning sessions focused on academic rigor, grading practices, and assessment data. These discussions have provided valuable insight and collaboration as we continue to strengthen our collective approach to teaching and learning. We appreciate the thoughtful engagement from those involved and look forward to continuing this important work together.

🎄✨ PJHS at the State Capitol! ✨🎄
We are proud to share that Gabriella Smith represented Pocahontas Junior High School with her beautiful ornament design for the State Capitol Christmas Tree display!
Way to go, Gabriella — you’ve made PJHS and our entire district proud! 🌟

🎯💛 Big congratulations to our Pocahontas FFA trap shoot team! 💛🎯
Our students represented Pocahontas incredibly well at their recent competition!

Team Members:
(L to R) Blaine Russell, Alex Tyler, Abram Hibbard, Wade Zitzelberger, Jackson Vanwinkle, Colton Vanwinkle, Peyton Amos

🏅 Team Results:
• 13th out of 93 teams in the state
• 4th out of 29 in our FFA District

🔥 Individual Highlights:
Abram Hibbard and Peyton Amos both placed 9th out of 421 shooters with an impressive 47/50 score!

We’re proud of their hard work and strong performance — and even more excited to share that a school trap team will officially begin in January! Way to go, students!

📚✨ The Scholastic Book Fair has arrived at Pocahontas Junior High! ✨📚

Our PJHS library is stocked and ready for a great week of reading adventures! Students can browse new books, pick out favorites, and help support our school library.

Check out details, preview books, or add to a student eWallet here:
👉 https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/pocahontasjrhighschool

Wishing all students and staff a joyful and restful Thanksgiving Break! Enjoy this time being with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on December 1st.

Canoe Bus Update for Friday, November 21 -- The Canoe bus will be double routed this afternoon, which means it will run approximately 45 minutes later than usual. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

Pocahontas Junior High is crushing their i-Ready lessons! Our students have been working hard and it shows — they’re making big gains, meeting goals, and pushing themselves every day. We’re so proud of their effort, focus, and progress! Keep it up, PJHS! ❤️👏

Canoe Bus Update for Friday, November 21 -- The Canoe bus will be double routed tomorrow afternoon, which means it will run approximately 45 minutes later than usual. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

🚨 Food Drive Update! 🚨 You all are incredible! Here are the current class totals as of today: 7th Grade: 526 items 9th Grade: 321 items 8th Grade: 51 items Our GREATEST NEED is currently breakfast items and snack items. Tomorrow is the last day for the official class count! However, we will continue accepting donations all the way up until Christmas break to help even more families. Thank you for your amazing kindness and generosity! ❤️

‼️Reminder for Redskin Academy‼️

Notice of Special School Election🗳
Pocahontas School District

Early Voting: Nov. 12–14 & Nov. 17, 2025
🕗 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
📍 First Baptist Church on Thomasville

Election Day: Nov. 18, 2025
🕢 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
📍 Black River Technical College – Randolph County Development Center

When Property Values Rise, State Support Falls - Here's Why
Rising assessments change who pays - not how much schools receive. As the local tax base grows, the state adjusts its contribution, meaning the overall funding level stays nearly unchanged.