Powhatan Today, June 9, 2021
Page 4A
Habitat for Humanity to hold Juneteenth celebration Contributed Report Juneteenth Powhatan 2021 will celebrate culture, commerce, and history from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, on the lawn next to the Habitat for Humanity-Powhatan ReStore. The Habitat ReStore also will be open. Participants include local author and historian Sandra Morris Kemp; some of Powhatan’s Black entrepreneurs and artisans, and vintage cars from the Powhatan Cruizers. There will also be three food vendors: Power Ice, Favour Cookies, and Elegant Cuizines. Elegant Cuizines will serve some of the traditional red
SCHOOLS Continued from pg. 1
turning to normal,” Jones said. “The mask mandate was lifted for most settings other than public transportation and schools. Until that is lifted, we won’t know what it will look like next year, and the same with social distancing requirements. “Our hope in Powhatan and our goal would be to not have social distancing and have classrooms
look as normal as possible next year. But we need to make sure we can do that safely and legally,” he continued. Jones said his staff is planning to have a normal school year with students in classrooms without masks and without social distancing guidelines if they are able to do so. PCPS also intends to have “full and robust” extracurricular and co-curricular activities unless it is prohibited from doing so,
Hello my name is Beans. I am a friendly, loving cuddle bug. I am around 2 years old, and up to date on my shots and I am spayed. I was an owner surrender due to the fact I love my people so much that I was always around Beans them, and they were afraid I would trip them. They really did care about me, but sometimes things just aren’t meant to be. So, Here I am searching for my perfect family. I like to have free roam of my home, and lots of love, and cuddles from my family. If you would like to meet me please contact 804-598-5672, and the staff will be happy to assist in scheduling an appointment for you to meet me. If you would like to help the animals in our care, you can do so by donating to our medical fund at Claws and Paws, 4313 Anderson Hwy., Powhatan, VA 23139 Powhatan Sheriff’s Office | Division Of Animal Control Phone: 804-598-5672 | Fax: 804-598-5109
foods and drinks associated with the day: red velvet waffles, cranberry biscuits, Hibiscus tea (cold and hot), and raspberry limeade. Elegant Cuizines will offer breakfast fare from 9 to 11 a.m. and then switch to lunch fare. Juneteenth — the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States — became a state- observed holiday this year. “Juneteenth has been a missing puzzle piece in the telling of America history,” says Habitat board and ReStore committee member Vernell Straughter. “By recognizing it, we provide a fuller story of our nation.” At the Powhatan event, learn more about the origins he added. As far as transportation, while the school divisions haven’t gotten permission to run routes as normal, it would be best for everyone involved if the school buses are allowed to run at or near capacity, he said. While restrictions may be lifting, the school divisions’ commitment to cleanliness and maintaining a safe atmosphere for students will not, Jones said. Many of the methods implemented to combat the risk of COVID-19 are just good practices to prevent the spread of germs that school staff appreciated and want to see continued. PCPS did administer standards of quality (SOL) tests at the end of the latest school year. While those will not count toward accreditation, they will be helpful in determining if students need extra support and assistance, Jones said. The schools also did end-of-year assessments to see where students stand after a full year of instruction, he added. Staff will be analyzing that data over the coming and making determinations about instructional programs based on students’ needs. “We are doubling the size of our summer program by offering full day for elementary students, and we are really pleased with the response that we have had in terms of stu-
dents signing up for summer school,” he added. “I think that will help us start off next year more normal because those students who need it are going to be getting basically twice the amount of instruction they would get in a normal summer.” COVID concerns Data is showing that as more and more people across the country are getting one of the COVID-19 vaccinations, the number of positive COVID-19 cases is decreasing, Jones said. For the benefit of public safety, PCPS is recommending that people who are eligible be vaccinated, including students who are old enough. PCPS even held a vaccination clinic on June 2 that had 218 people signed up to receive the Pfizer vaccine. The primary target age was students ages 12 to 17. However, the school division also recognizes that it is a family decision and has no plans to mandate that students or staff be vaccinated before they come back to school, Jones said. “If we did that, it would be something that would be dictated by the state and not by Powhatan Schools. At least that is our current thinking,” he said. Some school divisions in the state are running pilot programs offering rapid testing when they think
of Juneteenth, the history of Pocahontas High School, plans for the new Drexel-Morrell Center, and the legacy of the St. Francis/St. Emma school campus. Habitat for Humanity International annually recognizes Juneteenth as a day of reflection, action, and solidarity — a way to mark the nation’s aspiration of liberty and justice for all. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to Habitat for Humanity’s historical and theological imperatives, from its spiritual birthplace at Georgia’s Koinonia farm to its worldwide nonprofit, ecumenical housing ministry today. Visit habitatpowhatan.org. someone might have COVID-19 or have come in contact with someone who tested positive, but Powhatan is currently not participating in that program, Jones said. “That is what is being piloted in areas across the state that we are not currently doing. But it is unknown if that is going to be a recommended practice or even a required practice,” he said. Virtual learning Those families who wish to have their students learn virtually will need to demonstrate they have a medical reason, they have demonstrated success in a virtual environment previously, or they have some other extenuating circumstance that necessitates them being in virtual instruction, Jones said. “This year was voluntary – you could decide to be virtual or not. We did have some students who chose to be virtual who weren’t successful at it, so we want to make sure we provide as much support in a face-to-face environment as we can for students,” he said, The school division is also taking away the requirement that those who sign up for virtual have to commit to a whole semester, as staff would hope they would transition back more quickly. “I talked to a few parents who are concerned
CHURCH DIRECTORY
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
SUNDAYS 8:00 AM in person service in the church 10:30 AM in person service in the church (livestreamed) www.stlukespowhatan.org All are Welcome For more information visit www.stlukespowhatan.org Route 711 at Three Bridge Road 794-6953
EVERGREEN COMMUNITY CHURCH (PCA) Proclaiming & Practicing the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Outdoor Worship Service at 10:00 AM Meeting at 2895 Lower Hill Road ECCPCA.ORG
598-8844
Rev. Robert Barnes
The Bridge
Genito Church Presbyterian “Building a Bridge of Hope” Isaiah 58:12 Church 2910 Genito Rd. Powhatan, VA
372-9074 Worship with us this Sunday Church service @ 9:30 AM Sunday school @ 10:30 AM
Sundays: Morning Worship 10:00 AM Wednesday: Family Life Night 7:00 PM 2480 Academy Road 598-7159 Pastor: Johnathan M. Whichard
Providence Presbyterian Church “Worshiping and Witnessing in Western Powhatan since 1825”
Powhatan Christian Fellowship Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
Sunday School 10:00 a.m. Wednesday Night 7:30 p.m. Worship Service 11:00 am All Are Welcome! 3308 Pleasants Road, 598-4970 1/4 mile off of Route 711 Located 1950 Ridge Road Russ Cress, Pastor (Rt. 627) 598-0733
Worship Service 10 AM Meeting in the gym
Rev. Walter G. Lewis, Pastor Living As Christ’s Disciples Within Our Hearts and Beyond Our Doors 2253 Rosson Rd.
Just off Rt. 13 in the Village
598-4438
Worship: 8:30 & 10am
www.powhatanumc.us Weekday Preschool (ages 2-5)
598-6090
Mount Calvary Baptist Church 2020 Red Lane Road
Powhatan, VA 23139 1801 Huguenot Trail Sunday School 9am Pastor, Larry B. Collins Sunday Worship 10am Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study 6:45pm Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study Bryan M. Holt, Pastor 7:30 p.m. 378-3607 www.EmmausChristianChurch.org Office 804-598-2398
Community Church Dr. Cavell W. Phillips, Pastor Where there is Unity, there is always Victory. A church “Where you are welcome” Wednesday: Bible Study Join Us For Sunday Worship 6:30 – 7:30pm (60 Minute 11:00AM – 12:30PM Warm Up To Sunday) Powhatan Village Building 3910 Old Buckingham Road ucc4me.org Powhatan, VA 804-256-4411
Advertise in Church Directory.
St. John Neumann Catholic Church Meeting Sundays in Amelia, Farmville, Fork Union, Midlothian, Powhatan and Online. Visit pccwired.net for services times & locations. 598-1174 pccwired.net
with students who are under the age of 12 that haven’t had a chance to be vaccinated yet. They may want to start them on virtual until they have access to a vaccine and then they want to move them back to a face-to-face environment after they have been vaccinated,” he said. With the smaller number of students expected to learn virtually, Jones said the school division is committing not to have any teachers teaching both virtual and face-toface unless they choose to do so. To maximize PCPS resources, virtual secondary students are more than likely going to receive their instruction from an online private provider that specializes in virtual instruction, such as Virtual Virginia. They would still be considered Powhatan students, he said. At the elementary level, the division is still looking at numbers. There may be a designated teacher for each grade level teaching students from all three elementary schools, he said. “Until we get the final numbers, we don’t know what that will look like. If it doesn’t make sense for us to do it in terms of staffing, then we will be doing Virtual Virginia at the elementary level,” he said. Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@powhatantoday. com.
Saturday - 5 p.m. Sunday - 8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. 598-3754 www.sjnpowhatan.org Located behind Flat Rock Village Shopping Center
Call 804-746-1235 ext. 2 for details.
