Poca Middle School

Good evening Poca Middle School families. This is a reminder that this Friday, February 18 will be a 2 hour early dismissal. Please discuss early dismissal plans with your student prior to Friday if they are different than their normal dismissal plans. This week our 8th grade Youth & Government representatives will travel to Charleston to learn the operation of state government, strengthen their understanding of the three branches of government, better understand the Constitution, and learn the responsibilities of citizenship. Our 8th grade History Bowl team will compete against teams from around the state on Friday. We would like to wish our Math Field Day participants good luck as they compete against the other Putnam County middle schools tomorrow at Hurricane Middle. Congratulations to the students that will be participating in these opportunities this week! Finally, we would like to introduce our Poca Parent Series. The first speaker of the series will be for 8th grade parents only. Mr. Glass, Counselor from Poca High, will be at PMS on Tuesday, February 22 at 6pm to discuss high school scheduling, registration and personalized education plans or PEP's. This will be a great opportunity to learn and ask questions about your child's upcoming transition to high school! We hope you will plan to attend this meeting on February 22 at 6pm in the PMS Cafeteria.

Good evening Poca Middle School families. This is a reminder that this Friday, February 18th will be a 2 hour early dismissal. Please discuss early dismissal plans with your student prior to Friday if they are different than their normal dismissal plans. Also, we would like to wish our Math Field Day participants good luck as they compete against the other Putnam County middle schools tomorrow at Hurricane Middle. Thank you!

Good evening Poca Middle School families. Due to the delay today and potential for additional weather issues this week, report cards will now go home with your student on Monday, January 24 instead of this Friday as originally planned. This will provide teachers and administration additional time to ensure the accuracy of your student's 1st Semester grades. Also, our main phone line is still down. Frontier is working to make the necessary repairs, but in the meantime, you should be able to reach the main office by calling 304-755-4576. Thank you for your understanding!

The FBI Pittsburgh Division's Charleston, WV Resident Agency in partnership with the United States Attorney's Office of the Southern District of West Virginia, FBI Charleston WV Citizens Academy Alumni Association, and West Virginia Child and Human Trafficking Task Force are hosting a virtual presentation for parents, guardians, teachers, and community members to learn how to keep children safe online. The event will take place via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, December 2nd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The link to access this Microsoft Teams call can be found on the PMS and Putnam County Schools Facebook pages, Schoology and the PMS Webpage.

Good evening Poca Middle School families. This is a reminder that there is no school tomorrow, November 11, in observance of Veteran's Day. We would like to thank all of our military veteran's and their families, past and present, for the tremendous sacrifices they've made to secure the freedoms we have today!

Parents: Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, November 9 from 5-7pm. If you would like to schedule a conference with your child’s team to discuss any concerns, please contact their team leader to be added to a time slot. Team Leaders: 6th—Stephen Reedy (sreedy@k12.wv.us) 7th—Teresa Forbis (tforbis@k12.wv.us) 8th—Louann Godbey (lrgodbey@k12.wv.us) You may also reach out through Schoology or call the school at 304-755-7343.

Good afternoon Poca Middle School families. It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that Mrs. Sherill Morris, a beloved teacher at Poca Middle, passed away yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Morris was a special education teacher at our school, going on six years. She was a wonderful teacher, colleague and friend who cared very deeply about the success and wellbeing of all of our students. To help support the students and staff, as we process this loss to our Poca Middle Family, we have arranged to have our Putnam County Schools Crisis Team and Counselors on hand tomorrow. Please do not hesitate to contact the school, should you need additional assistance navigating this loss with your child. Thank you!

Hello Poca Middle families! This is a reminder that you are not permitted to park in the Fire Lane at any time when you are on campus. If you pick your student up at the end of the day you must park your vehicle in a parking spot, and wait on your student in your vehicle. In accordance with State Fire Marshall code, the Fire Lane is for emergency vehicles only and you can be written a citation should you be found parked in or blocking the Fire Lane at any time. Also, please remember not to block or park in Handicap Parking spots unless you have an actual Handicap Parking permit; fines can be issued for this violation as well. We will have our quarterly Local School Improvement Council meeting in the school cafeteria on Tuesday, November 9 at 4:30pm. Please look for your student's 1st 9 weeks report card to come home on Tuesday, November 2. If you have any questions or concerns about your student's current progress, please reach out to their team leader or individual teacher through Schoology or call the school to schedule a time to discuss those concerns. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!

Parents, We have several bus changes today. These changes are being announced at school and are posted to our school Facebook page for reference. Please understand that due to sub bus driver shortages, runs have been doubled up, which may delay drop off times for your student. If your student rides Bus #1306 toward Rock Branch, they will ride Bus # 1107. If your student rides Bus #1306 and are dropped toward Red House, they will ride Bus #204. If your student rides Bus #1409, they will ride Bus # 1101. And finally, if your student rides Bus # 1602, they will be delayed by about 10 minutes at the school and then ride Bus #2304. Thank you for your understanding and have a great day!

Good evening Poca Middle School families. This is a reminder that there is NO SCHOOL for students this coming Friday, October 22. This is one of our regularly scheduled Professional Learning and Faculty Senate Days for Staff. Thank you!

Good evening 7th grade families. This is reminder that all 7th grade students must have received the T-dap and meningococcal (MCV4) immunizations. If you have shot records to turn in to the school, this must be done first thing tomorrow morning. If we do not have shot records for your student, showing proof these two immunizations have been administered, or an appointment card from the health department or your physician, your student will not be permitted to remain at school. These absences will not be excused. You may call the Putnam County Health Department or your student's pediatrician to schedule these shots. Shot records may be turned in to the main office or faxed to 304-755-8930. If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse at 304-755-7343. Thank you!

Good evening Poca Middle families. We will begin offering our after school tutoring program to all Poca Middle students on Tuesday, September 7. Tutoring is offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week from 3:15-5:15 pm. Students that need extra help in any subject are encouraged to attend. They do not have to attend all three days in order to participate. Students that plan to stay will sign up each morning as they enter the building. They will receive a snack and bus transportation home is available if you are unable to pick your student up at 5:15. In order to stay after school for tutoring, your student must have the After School Tutoring permission form, found in the student handbook, filled out, signed and turned in to the school. If you have any questions, please contact the main office. Thank you!

Good evening 7th grade families. This is reminder that all 7th grade students must have received the T-dap and meningococcal (MCV4) immunizations. If you have shot records to turn in to the school, this must be done no later than Tuesday, September 7. If we do not have shot records for your student, showing proof these two immunizations have been administered, your student will not be permitted to return to school after September 7 until they have received both shots. These absences will not be excused. You may call the Putnam County Health Department or your student's pediatrician to schedule these shots. Shot records may be turned in to the main office or faxed to 304-755-8930. Thank you!

Good evening Poca Middle families. This is a reminder that the delayed schedule that we used on the first day of school was only for that day. Doors open at 7:15 and classes begin at 7:50 for students in all three grade levels. Buses will only run their routes one time in the morning for the remainder of the school year. Please make sure your student arrives to school prior to 7:50 so they are not marked tardy. Dismissal is at 3:05. All students that are walkers and parent pick-up will exit the building to the side parking lot. Parents, please park in a parking space and wait for your student in your car. Remember not to park in the fire lane or in the grass--you will be asked to move. If you have any questions about the starting or ending times for the school day at Poca Middle, please call the office.

We are looking forward to starting the new school year tomorrow! This is a reminder that we will have an alternate schedule for the first day of school. The buses will run their normal routes at normal times to pick up sixth graders and deliver them to school by 7:50 for WEB activities. There will be a delayed arrival time for all seventh and eighth graders. The buses will run their same routes again 3 1/2 hours later to pick up seventh and eighth graders and deliver them to school by 11:20. School will end at the regular time for all students at 3:05. Thank you!

Attention Poca Middle Students. This year, the Poca Middle School doors will open at 7:15 and classes will begin at 7:50; however, we will have an alternate schedule for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 24. There will be a delayed arrival time for all returning seventh and eighth graders. The buses will run their normal routes at normal times to pick up sixth graders and deliver them to school for WEB activities. The buses will run their same routes again 3 1/2 hours later to pick up seventh and eighth graders. School will end at the regular time for all students at 3:05.

Poca Middle School will be having Open House on Wednesday, August 18, from 6:00-8:00. Sixth grade students are encouraged to attend 6:00-7:00 and seventh and eighth grade students are encouraged to attend 7:00-8:00. The PMS Athletic Director will be available 6:00-6:30 to discuss Concussions, Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Heat illness. Student schedules will not be available at open house, but we encourage you to come tour the school and meet the PMS teachers and staff. We hope to see you there!

8th Grade Step-Up Day is Friday, June 4. Students will ride their bus to Poca High. Parent's who drop off students in the morning will drop directly to Poca High. All 8th graders must be at PHS no later than 8:30am. Breakfast will be available. Students will be brought back to PMS on buses after step-up day events conclude around 9:15am.

The last day of school for students is Friday, June 4. This day is a 3-hour early dismissal. Poca Middle will dismiss at 12:05pm.

Reminder—8th graders will begin state testing tomorrow morning. They will test Monday through Thursday of this week. Please remember to have laptops fully charged and bring the charging cable to school each day. Students need to be in the building by 8:15 so they have time to eat breakfast and we may begin testing on time. Have a great evening!