H.H. Poole - Mustang Updates

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We will welcome our 6th grade students ONLY, for their first day of school/transition day on August 11, 2026. Students should plan to leave backpacks/book bags at home that day as there will be building tours and activities planned for that day.

The first day of school for our 7th and 8th grade students will be August 12, 2026.

Families, do NOT release students from your vehicles until 8:55 AM. If students are walkers/bike riders, they should not arrive to the school until 8:55 AM. This is for the safety and security of students. There are no staff on duty until 8:55 AM. HHP is not responsible for students until that time. In addition, please be sure to follow the directions of staff members. Including driving all the way down for drop off. Thanks for your cooperation.

Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your student is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia as soon as possible. If your student needs a vaccine, please make an appointment with your healthcare provider or visit the Rappahannock Area Health Department website for a list of immunization clinics. Most pharmacies in the area also provide these immunizations. Rising 7th graders are required to have a TDAP booster and their first meningococcal vaccine PRIOR to the first day of school or they will not be permitted to attend school.

Remember to request your student’s immunization record and bring that to your school’s front office or email to the school nurse at judgebb@staffordschools.net

Immunizations - Rappahannock

Families may complete this form to indicate a religious exemption from immunizations. The form must be notarized and returned to your school nurse. Religious Exemption Form

If your student will need medications during the school day, please contact your healthcare provider to have the appropriate forms completed. This includes the need for emergency medications such as inhalers or epipens. Medication forms are required for each SCHOOL YEAR. They do not carry over. All forms can be found on the Health Services Website.

- Parents are highly encouraged to sign up for the Lightspeed Parent Portal. With this tool, you will have access to a weekly Student Online Activity Report, sent to your email summarizing your child’s web browsing activity for the week. You will also have access to a full, web-based portal delivering in-depth visibility over your child’s online activity. Please follow these directions to opt-in to this program.
- Chromebook distribution for 7th and 8th graders will take place August 18th-21st during English classes. Please be aware, if your student did not return a missing item and has not paid the replacement fine, they will not be issued a new one until it is paid or the old item is accounted for (e.g. Student returned their chromebook but not their charger. Over the summer, the replacement fine was not paid for. During distribution, they will receive a chromebook, but not a charger).
- Starting this school year, Chromebook chargers are to remain at home until End of Year collection or student withdrawal from school. Chromebook batteries should last the entire school day if the device is fully charged and used when required. Students are expected to charge their devices nightly.
- Outstanding fines for missing chargers, devices, and outstanding fines have been sent out. Please make all payments can be made through the online portal on the school's website. Bills for the repair of returned damaged devices will be sent out as they return from the shop. Please pay these as soon as possible.

Tryouts for the 2026 Mustang Football Team are only for 7th & 8th grade students. No 6th graders are allowed to participate in Football. Tryouts for the 2026 Mustang Girls Volleyball & Field Hockey are for any girl in grades 6-8. Tryouts are Monday 8/17/26, Tuesday 8/18/26 and Wednesday 8/19/26. Click HERE for more information on VOLLEYBALL season.

Students should stay after school for each day of tryouts and must have a ride to pick them up, promptly at 6:15 PM. Students MUST have a current VHSL physical on file. The exam must be dated after May 1, 2026. There is a new VHSL physical form (please see attached) that will need to be used moving forward, and each of the 6 pages must be filled out. Students trying out for sports should bring athletic wear for tryouts and a water bottle along! Please be on the lookout for more information as the school year draws closer.

There will be a parent/student Football Meeting for any 7th or 8th grade student interested in playing Football this season. This includes all athletes, new and old, looking to try out, even if you were previously on the team The meeting will be held on August 10th from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM in the large cafeteria. Any athlete returning and wants to tryout for Football should attend the meeting as well. Please make sure you have a current VHSL physical before tryouts. No student will be permitted to stay for tryouts if they do not have a VHSL physical. Please note that attending this meeting is informational and does not guarantee a spot on the football team.

Our daily bell schedule is attached. Students will not be allowed to enter the building until 9:00 AM. Dismissal begins at 3:50 PM.

This school year, Stafford Schools looks forward to continuing the implementation of SchooLinks, a platform designed to help students in grades 3-12 discover interests, explore opportunities, connect learning to future goals, and prepare for life after graduation. Click the SCHOOL LINKS link for more information and sign-up.

The Chief of Communications distributed an email communication with BACK TO SCHOOL FORMS links on Thursday, July 30. Please check for that information.

We are kicking off the school year with Snap Raise! We need a total of 75 families to register to help us to get to the donation portion of this fundraiser. This fundraiser supports the PTO budget, dances, events AND our 8th grade end of year Poole Party. Don't worry we learned from the previous year and have a rain date scheduled as well as a indoor contingency plan. Please sign up today! CLICK HERE!

Get your Mustang Gear! Spirit wear available for purchase. Show your Mustang pride. New designs for the 26-27 school year. CLICK HERE!

PTO Volunteers Needed! Please fill out THIS FORM for volunteer interest.

Join the PTO! Dues are $10.00. Cash, check or use the cheddar up link by CLICKING HERE. Our first meeting is Sept 9th at 6:30 PM in the school's library. Come join us and see what we have planned for the 26-27 school year!

Take advantage of our back to school sale on yearbooks- grab your copy at the lowest cost of the year! Yearbooks are on sale for $30. After August 17, the price will increase to $35, and will go up to $40 after winter break. Last year we completely sold out of yearbooks, so order now to guarantee your copy. Click HERE to order.

As we look ahead to the new school year, we want to remind families that Stafford County Public Schools prohibits student cell phone use during the school day. Our goal is to keep the focus entirely on instruction and minimize distractions.

What this looks like at Poole:

• Arrival: Students must turn off their phones and put them away in their backpacks before entering the building.

• During the Day: Once inside, all devices—including cell phones, headphones, earbuds, and AirPods, Meta Glasses/AI/Smart Glasses must be stored in student lockers.

• Hallways & Classrooms: Device use is strictly prohibited in hallways and classrooms during both arrival and dismissal. Students may only use their devices once they have exited the building at the end of the day.

Please continue ongoing conversations with your child about these expectations so they are set up for success on day one. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our learning environment focused and engaged!

No backpacks or large purses are allowed during the school day. Those items must be stored in student lockers. Permitted items should not be larger than a student’s agenda (which students will receive by the end of the second week of school).

For the safety and security of our students, certain drills must take place. We will conduct an evacuation and lockdown drill within the first month of school.

All students will be issued lockers by the end of the 2nd week of school. Student visit their lockers at arrival, midday, and dismissal. Additional times require students to use our electronic hall pass system.

Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Please call the school to schedule any appointments/meetings. 540.658.6190