By CHARLES OWENS
POCAHONTAS, Va. — At approximately 1:41 p.m. Thursday afternoon, the final school bell tolled throughout the historic halls of Pocahontas High School.
Although the school is now closed, students will return one final time this evening at 7 p.m. for the 99th commencement exercises of the Pocahontas Indians. An all-night project graduation celebration will follow.
Although tears were shed, the last day of school proved to be fun.
“We had kind of a fun day,” Principal Chris Stacy said. “We had an exam period until 10 a.m. Then we released all of the kids to the football field. They had a cookout put on by the school boosters. They had dunking booths. I took part in the dunking booth. They had badminton and horseshoes. We just had a fun day to close out the school year and to close out the school. I won’t tell you there haven’t been some tears shed, but overall it’s been a very upbeat day. We’ve tried to end it on a high note, and send the kids out with a happy feeling.”
Members of the Pocahontas Mens and Women’s Booster Clubs provided the big outdoor cookout for the kids. Members of the community also were on hand Thursday to join in the outdoor celebration.
“Lots of parents have been at the cookout,” Stacy said. “Mr. (David) Woodard, the school board member, also attended. It was very well attended. For all of the stress of the last couple of months, it was good to end it with a good positive day.”
Stacy said several former principals of PHS will be invited to speak on the history of the high school at tonight’s final commencement program.
An open house for the community will be held on Thursday, June 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
“It’s just for people to come in if they want to walk down the halls again, or just be in the building one last time,” Stacy said. “If they want to take pictures they can come on Thursday.”
The school’s closure prompted widespread community outrage with hundreds packing recent meetings of the Tazewell County School Board. A lawsuit filed by five parents against the School Board is set for trial before a Russell County judge in August.
— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com
