Pence Press
January 12, 2024
Parents: Talking Points for Success
Pence parents and guardians-
As we wrap up this semester and begin the second semester, I would like to encourage you to continue to communicate with your students regarding a few key topics regarding middle school:
1. Please check PowerSchool regularly. Ask your student specific questions about assignments in each class. Inquire about lunch, recess, the bus, etc. Stay up to date and read the newsletter. Encourage them to be involved in school activities. Talk to them about their friends and peer relationships. As always, you are welcome to call the school with questions.
2. Monitor your student's cell phone usage, social media accounts, amount of time they're on their phone, and who they are communicating with online. I would recommend that you consider having your student place their device(s) in a secure location at a certain time each night to restrict nighttime usage. (Please also see technology tips)
3. As you are aware, vaping has become an epidemic across secondary schools in America and teen use or ideation often starts in middle school. We encourage you to have regular conversations about this and other things that students are tempted to do or try during this transitional time of their lives.
Life is a journey and we are here to partner with you during this stage in the journey. It certainly takes a village.
Sincerely-
John Childs
Spelling Bee
The Rockingham County Spelling Bee took place last evening at Montevideo Middle School. Our Pence spellers did a wonderful job representing our school! 8th graders - Kaden Snipes,Benjamin Kiser and Jordan Rinehart all qualified for the Rockingham District Ruritan Bee which will take place on March 2nd at Skyline Middle!
Congratulations to Kaden, Benjamin and Jordan!
Calendar Reminders
The End of the 1st Semester was Friday, January 12th. New classes will start on Wednesday, January 17th so check your schedules for Quarter 3 or Semester classes.
No school for students on Monday, January 15th (holiday) and Tuesday, January 16th (teacher workday).
Next Club Days during school hours are Monday, January 22nd and Tuesday, January 23rd.
Winter Growth Assessments will be on Wednesday, January 24th (math) and Thursday, January 25th (reading).
8th Grade Stock Market Game
Each year Virginia Commonwealth University sponsors Stock Market Game which is an online simulation of the global capital markets that engages students in grades 4-12 in the world of economics, investing and personal finance and has prepared nearly 20 million students for financially independent futures. Teams compete in the state competition along with our local regional competition. The Wilbur Pence 8th grade Stock Market Game teams did very well in the Fall game. The Silly Billies team placed 2nd in the JMU region by earning $16,485.52 on their investments. The team members are Judah Napotnik and Rye Miller. The Starbursts team placed 3rd in the region by earning $16,247.24 on their investments. Team members are Melany Zaldivar, Lia Dulo, Cherish Matthews, and Hayley Kenney. Ms. Glick and Mrs. Dove are the school sponsors of this program. Congratulations Teams!
4-H and FFA members
Reminder to all 4-H and FFA members: Steer Entries are due Friday, January 19, 2024 in FairEntry.
Link: https://fairentry.com/Fair/SignIn/19519 Paper forms are available at the Extension Office.
New Handicapped Accessible Ramp
We would like to thank our county's school board and maintenance department for the approval and installation of our new handicapped accessible ramp located next to the main access to the school and the front office!
TAHS - Attention 8th Graders
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are excited to welcome the class of 2028 to Turner Ashby High School! We will begin scheduling presentations on January 18 with our current 8th students. All 8th graders will come to Turner Ashby the morning of Thursday, January 18 for an elective fair followed by a presentation from the TA counselors. Counselors will go over graduation requirements and 9th grade required classes. Students will then be given the opportunity to select their classes in PowerSchool. Once scheduling presentations are complete, counselors will begin meeting with individual students to answer questions and go over course requests for accuracy and alignment with diploma requirements starting on January 25. We will begin with 11th grade students and work down through 10th and 9th graders before visiting 8th graders at Wilbur Pence. With nearly 1000 students and 3 counselors, this process will take most of the month of February to complete.
We invite parents to be involved in the scheduling process in two ways:
Please plan to attend the Parent Elective Fair on Thursday, January 18 beginning at 6:45PM in the auditorium. There will be a brief presentation for parents to explain diploma types and requirements for each followed by a time to visit all the elective classes in the large and small commons. Elective teachers will be present to answer questions and provide detailed information about their classes.
In addition, parents will be able to view their child’s course requests in PowerSchool after January 18 by clicking on the “Class Registration” icon on the left side of the screen in your student’s PowerSchool account. You will be able to edit these choices up until the time 8th grade students meet individually with TA counselors (near the end of February) by clicking on the edit button next to each subject and selecting new courses. Once complete, hit submit to lock in the choices.
These will be preliminary course requests and students will have the opportunity to make changes in the last weeks of May. Requests can also be amended prior to the student coming to meet with a counselor in February by clicking on the icon and editing the choices before clicking submit. Students are encouraged to come to their individual meeting with questions for the counselor. Feel free to email your child’s counselor with any specific questions.
Best,
Candy Martin
School Counselor
TAHS
Students A-G Sharon Cunningham scunningham@rockingham.k12.va.us
Students H-M Lanae Mehegan lmehegan@rockingham.k12.va.us
Student N-Z Candy Martin cmartin@rockingham.k12.va.us
Congratulations to Ms. Deason: Theatre Recognition
Ms. Deason was recognized as the Virginia Thespian Middle School Teacher of the Year last weekend! We're thankful to have her working with our students as she splits her time between WSPMS and TAHS pomoting the love of theare.
Homework Help
Our Homework Help Program begun and continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 - 4:30. Assistance is given with homework assignments, late or missing work and difficult learning areas. If you are interested, please print the following form for your students:
Bus transportation is available on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. If transportation is needed, please print this form:
After School Transportation Form
Hard copies of both forms are available in the office.
Yearbook Preorders - ends March 31st
WSPMS Sports Information
Winter Sports Pictures - Wednesday, Jan 17th
3:30-Girls Basketball
3:45-Boys Basketball
4:00-Cheer
Pictures will be taken in the front gym.
Winter Cheer
Cheer will participate in all HOME basketball games.
Winter Basketball
Games begin at 4:30 PM.
1/11 - AWAY @ JFHMS
1/18 - HOME vs. MMS
1/22 - AWAY @ SKMS
1/25 - HOME vs. EMS
1/29 - HOME vs. THMS
2/1 - HOME vs. JFHMS (Red Out Game / Special Olympics Fundraiser)
2/5 - AWAY @ MSS
2/8 - HOME vs. SKMS
2/13 - AWAY @ EMS
2/15 - AWAY @ THMS
2/17 - Tournament
Questions? Contact Boys Coach Eye at josheye@rockingham.k12.va.us or Girls Coach Arbogast at varbogast@rockingham.k12.va.us
Wrestling
Matches begin at 4:30 PM.
1/16 - HOME vs. MMS & JFHMS
1/23 - AWAY @ SKMS
2/3 - District Tournament
Questions? Contact Coach Brant Weller brant.w.weller@gmail.com, Coach Josh Powers jd.powers03@gmail.com or Coach Bryce Farley bfarley470@gmail.com.
Hello, and Happy New Year!
I wanted to share that again this year, The GIANT Company is partnering with Rockingham County Public Schools to support students facing food insecurity. From January 1 through March 31, everyone who shops at Martin's in Harrisonburg will be invited to "round up" at the register and donate the round-up amount of their bill to support Feeding School Kids. The GIANT Company will directly support customers' generosity by matching all donations up to $100,000.
Last year, RCPS Food & Nutrition Services received a generous $6,985.67 to reduce outstanding student meal debt and received numerous non-perishable food donations donated by Martin's customers that were distributed to families in need around the district.
Thank you for your support!
Jennifer Williams, MPH, RD
Supervisor of Food and Nutrition Services
Rockingham County Public Schools
540-434-7783
Attendance
Our office/attendance email is wspmsattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us
Email us when your student is on vacation.
Email us when your student is sick or has an appointment.
Email us notes about early dismissals or late arrivals.
Email us changes in bus/transportation needs.
Just email us to keep us informed!
KNIGHT’S CAFÉ
Counseling & Administrative Support
Change of Schedule Request Forms and Check-In or Appointment Request Forms can be found online on our School Counseling page: https://wspms.rockingham.k12.va.us/o/wspms/page/school-counseling
Which counselor works with you?
Lisa Holsinger-Thomas, Counselor / Teresa Shank (Assistant Principal)
Works with all students with last names A-K
Matt Nyce, Counselor / Jody Randolph (Assistant Principal)
Works with all students with last names L-Z
Sandy Hackbarth, Part-time Counselor - available on even days
Information for Parents, Guardians & Students
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