POMS Weekly Patriot Post
Week of January 3 - 7, 2022
From the Principal:
Hello Post Oak Families –
Happy New Year! I hope that all of our Post Oak Families have enjoyed the holiday season and wish each of you a healthy and happy 2022!!
Our school team looks forward to welcoming our Post Oak Patriots back to school on Tuesday, January 4th, for the start of the 2nd semester. Please make note of the following dates as we begin this semester:
- January 3 = Student Holiday/Virtual Teacher Workday - **Please note that all buildings and offices will be closed on Monday, January 3rd due to the potential for inclement weather. The teacher workday will now be held virtually.
- January 6 = Report Cards available in ParentVUE and StudentVUE
- January 12 = Early Dismissal at 11:35 a.m.
- January 17 = Student/Staff Holiday
- February 9 = Early Release @11:35
- February 15 = Remote Learning Day for all students due to Spotsylvania County Board of Supervisors Special Election (multiple school sites used as polling places)
The start of the new semester is a good time to check on consumable school supplies for your student. Students may need to restock their bookbags with new pencils, pens, glue sticks, etc.. Thank you in advance for your educational support!
Post Oak Health and Physical Education Department will be teaching the Family Life Education unit starting at the beginning of January 2022. The girls' classes will be taught January 4 -18, 2022 and the boys' classes will be taught January 18-28, 2022. A letter has been sent home with all students by their Health and Physical Education teachers. This letter has also been emailed and is attached. The letter includes the Family Life Standards of Learning and "Opt Out" procedure. Please contact your student's Health and PE teacher with any questions about Family Life Education.
Please make note of the following reminders per the SCPS ReEngage Plan as we all work to remain safe and healthy during the winter months.
- We will continue to do all we can to implement mitigation strategies to reduce the number of students that are impacted due to COVID and required quarantines. Please note that it is extremely important that students remain home if they are sick. This will reduce the number of staff and students that have to quarantine. Please understand that we want ALL of our students to be in school. However, both staff and students who are not fully vaccinated are required to quarantine per the SCPS ReEngage Plan.
- Masks/Face Coverings – Recent CDC guidance and Virginia Public Health Order still require all students, staff, and visitors to wear a mask/face coverings in public indoor spaces (schools). We greatly appreciate everyone’s cooperation as we work together to remain safe and healthy!
- Additional information may be found in the reminder section below.
Inclement Weather Remote Learning Days - The school division may call for students to work remotely in the event of inclement weather. Therefore, we are gathering the need for hotspots that students may use from home if needed. Please complete this Google Form or contact the main office to request a hotspot by January 7, 2022. Please note that hotspots require a cellular signal to function properly.
We continue to recognize our students for demonstrating responsible, respectful, and productive behaviors. The week of December 13th our Patriots turned in over 3,000 Pride Cards! Sixth grade earned 502, seventh grade earned 1,339 and eighth grade earned 1,134 Pride Cards for exhibiting positive behavior! Students names were randomly drawn for the special raffle for BIG Candy prizes prior to break. Students also have the opportunity to submit Patriot Pride Cards if they would like to wear a hat or pajama pants each Friday. We look forward to continuing to recognize our students for being responsible, respectful, and productive throughout the 2ns semester!
Congratulations to our December Students of the Month - please see the attached list of students being recognized for demonstrating 'Compassion'.
We are looking forward to a strong start to this semester and appreciate your continued support and educational partnership!
Happy Holidays!
Scott Belako, Principal
December POMS Recognitions
POMS Staff Member of the Month
POMS Teacher of the Month
POMS Bus Driver of the Month
Reminders & Announcements
Is your POMS student planning on applying for Advanced High School Programs? If so, the application window is now available! The application deadline for the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) and Commonwealth Governor's School (CGS) is January 21, 2022. The 2022-2023 SCPS Advanced Programs Online Application link has been added to the division SCPS Advanced Programs Website.
- VDOE Assessment Parent Portal - students participated in the Virginia Fall Growth Assessment for reading and math earlier this fall. The Virginia Department of Education has now released the Virginia Assessment Parent Portal to view your child's test results. Please see the attached letter containing more information as well as links to create your Parent Portal account.
- POMS Yearbooks may be ordered in advance online at yearbookforever.com! Email Mrs. Olinger at kolinger@spotylvania.k12.va.us if you have any yearbook related questions. Yearbook prices will increase after Spring Break.
- SCPS Employment Opportunities - Long Term Substitutes, Daily Substitutes, Bus Drivers, Custodians, and Food Service employees are still needed. Please contact our school office and apply online if are interested in any of these employment opportunities. Your consideration is appreciated as we work to support our amazing school community!
COVID 19 Mitigation/Quarantine Reminders - We continue to do all we can to implement mitigation strategies to reduce the number of students that are impacted due to COVID and required quarantines. Please note that it is extremely important that students remain home if they are sick. This will reduce the number of staff and students that have to quarantine. Please understand that we want ALL of our students to be in school. However, both staff and students who are not fully vaccinated are required to quarantine per current guidance.
Students that are quarantined may be invited to join their classes virtually by their teachers. All of our English, history, math, science, and world language teachers recently received OWL Cameras that allow students to view instruction virtually from home. Teachers will also provide work electronically and/or by hard copy for those students that are quarantined.
Additional quarantine information can be found in the SCPS ReEngage Plan. Your understanding and support is appreciated as we work together within the current operational procedures to remain safe and healthy.
Classroom Canopy Donation Drive - We have partnered with the Belmont Foundation to begin a donation drive to purchase a permanent canopy for our outdoor classroom. Please use the following links for more information and if you (or an organization you know of) are interested in supporting this effort: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/100002533940837/posts/4413488282078926/ or the Belmont Foundation website - https://belmontfoundationva.org/donations
- Bus Transportation – Our bus drivers are going above and beyond to cover multiple routes due to the driver shortage. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding when buses are later than expected. Please note that requests for students to ride a different bus (bus passes) will not be accepted due to mitigation strategies and transportation challenges. All students are required to wear a face covering/mask while riding the school bus to and from school.
- Masks/Face Coverings – Recent CDC guidance and Virginia Public Health Order requires all students, staff, and visitors to wear a mask/face coverings in public indoor spaces (schools). We greatly appreciate everyone’s cooperation as we work together to remain safe and healthy!
The 2021-2022 Instructional Calendar is available on the SCPS website and can be viewed using this link.
Directions for ParentVue - can be viewed using the following links: Directions in English and Directions in Spanish.
- POMS PTO - Be sure to LIKE and FOLLOW the POMS PTO Facebook Page.
POMS Athletic Information
Boys Basketball and Wrestling tryouts will be held on January 4, 5, 6, 7. To try out, students must have a completed VHSL Physical Form and complete Concussion Education. All forms and trainings are found on the POMS Athletic webpage. Please contact Ms. French with questions.
Please contact Sarah French, Athletic Director, at sfrench@spotsylvania.k12.va.us, or 540-582-7517, ext. 6417 with any questions.
Post Oak Middle Schools
6959 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22551
(540) 582-7517