Pence Press
August 23, 2024
Thanks for a great 1st week, Pence Knights!
Pence Families ~
Our Pence Press will come out every week on Sundays. I recommend you read each edition in full when it comes out so you can keep up to date with what’s happening at Pence Middle.
We have had a terrific start to the school year. Our students have come each day ready to learn, excited to engage with their peers and happy to meet their new teachers. Feedback from our staff has been very positive and we are all excited for a fabulous school year! Please check in with your child about how the start of the school year has been going. Ask them how they can be their best self each day. We are all in this together!
It is important to me that all students feel safe and included at Pence Middle. With that, I recommend that you have open and honest conversations with your child throughout the school year. Make sure to ask questions about situations that your student may mention, even the hard questions. If any concerns come up, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, our assistant principals, Mr. Forry or Ms. Randolph, or any other staff member.
Thank you to our PTO Hospitality and all of the parents who donated for their support at the beginning of the school year. Your support makes a difference for our staff and students. I look forward to an excellent school year with your young learner!
Have a fantastic week.
Teresa Shank
Reminders:
Cell phones: If a student brings a cell phone to school, it must be silenced (powered off) and kept in his/her backpack throughout the school day. Earbuds, headphones, and SMART watches will also be kept in backpacks throughout the day.
Attendance: This is simple. Students are most successful when they arrive on-time and attend school regularly. This is especially important in middle school and this time of their social and emotional development, along with their academic growth. Additionally, the state has made it part of each school’s accreditation process. We want to work with you through this process. However, please know that state code and RCPS policy both require us to address attendance concerns.
Chromebooks: Please have your student(s) charge his/her Chromebook each and every night so it’s ready for the next day. Chargers should remain at home. Also, we appreciate your help in encouraging appropriate care and use of the Chromebook.
KNIGHTS REPresent
Our school has always strived to create a safe and stimulating learning environment for all students. We believe each and every student has value and deserves to be treated as such. Regardless of our differences, at Pence, We ALL Belong. Middle school is not a perfect place, nor are we perfect people in an imperfect world. However, these are the values that we hold important. Middle school students are full of energy, life, questions, anxieties, struggles, changes, excitement, kindness, and caring. We embrace them all and are here to walk with them side-by-side during their years “in the middle.”
In an effort to continue improving our school climate, our staff has worked together to form a Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Plan called Knights REPresent. The focus of this plan is to create a positive school climate that fosters respect, engagement, and presence!
To help students remember our expectations, we will display posters around the building and in the classroom and create videos, skits, and announcements to remind students of expectations. All staff will teach the students the positive behaviors they are expected to demonstrate at school. We will acknowledge and reward all students, classes, teams, and grade levels who consistently demonstrate these positive behaviors.
Ask your child to make sure he/she understands the expectations in different environments around the school. Please discuss the importance of these concepts and encourage your student to be Knights REP.
With your continued support and involvement, there is no question that our school will continue to be a place where students can excel in a safe and stimulating environment. Research shows that when the home and school work together, student learning is more successful. We look forward to working with you as true partners in your child’s education!
Pence Administration:
Mrs. Shank, Mr. Forry, and Mrs. Randolph
Home Games at Pence Middle or TAHS
The athletic season has begun. We have sports teams that we can be proud of. It is equally important that we can be proud of the behavior of our fans at these events, even the youngest ones.
1) Middle school students must be accompanied by an adult to attend TAHS home games. If an administrator or school employee talks to a middle schooler who is not accompanied by an adult, a parent will be contacted to come pick that student up.
2. Students are expected to sit in the stands during all Pence and TAHS athletic contests and watch the game. They are not to " hang out” behind the stands, in the hallways, or on the adjacent grassy areas.
3. Students are advised not to bring footballs, projectiles, or other distracting “toys” to school facilities.
4. Games like tag or touch football are not allowed on adjacent fields or play areas. This is a safety concern for our students and could become a liability if someone gets hurt.
5. Students should not be on the playing court or field at any time. These areas are only for competitors, coaches, and officials.
6. Students are expected to show good sportsmanship to everyone involved in the competition: players, fans, and officials. Taunting and booing will not be tolerated.
Thanks for all your help and your support of Knights athletics!
KNIGHT’S CAFÉ
On behalf of RCPS Food and Nutrition Services staff, welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. We look forward to seeing you and your child(ren) in the cafeteria this year! Please see below for important information related to the start of the school year:
- Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications for the 24-25 school year are now available. You may submit an application online now at www.myschoolapps.com or by returning a paper application to your child(ren)'s school. Paper applications will be distributed to all households, as well as be available at your child(ren)'s school main office. A new application must be submitted each school year.
- Student Meal Prices: Breakfast $1.50 and Lunch $2.50
- Our online payment system is now active for the 24-25 school year. Parents and guardians may deposit money into their child(ren)'s meal account online at www.myschoolbucks.com. Check and cash is also accepted at each school.
Please reach out to the Food and Nutrition Services Office at 540-434-7783 with any questions.
Thank you,
Jennifer Williams, MPH, RD
Director of Food and Nutrition Services
Rockingham County Public Schools
WSPMS Bell Schedule
Highlighted Items from the Rockingham '24-'25 Parent - Student Handbook
Prearranged Absences
A written request for a pre-arranged absence must be given to the principal at least fourteen days prior to the planned absence. The school administrator has the discretion to excuse or unexcused the prearranged absence request, based on the student’s prior school absences, whether or not the student has a current attendance improvement plan and the academic standing of the student. The student is responsible for securing any and all make-up work from their teachers prior to the pre-arranged absence(s).
Due to varied demands on the teachers with respect to preparing and assigning make-up work for pre- approved absences, teachers shall have the discretion to decide the type and amount of such work and schedule for its completion. Teachers shall not be required to provide assignments in advance of the absences, but may do so at their discretion. Parents/guardians and students are encouraged to work with the teaches prior to the absence to develop a plan for doing the assignments virtually, project-based, packet work or other “means” agreed upon by the teacher, including expected deadlines. Parents/guardians and students are expected to access
assignments and class materials through the Learning Management System to the extent possible.
Parents are encouraged to consider scheduling vacations around school holidays and breaks.
Make-Up Work Needed Due to Absences
Any student absent from class is required to make up all work missed whether the absence is excused or unexcused. Students may choose to obtain all homework assignments prior to leaving the building on the day before a known or preplanned absence will occur. It is the responsibility of the student and the parent to request assignments for the day the student is out. A student and parent’s failure to request make up work and to schedule make up work timeframes with his or her teacher for excused and unexcused absences can result in the student receiving a zero grade for the assignments not completed.
Extracurricular Activities on the Day of the Absence
Students must be in attendance, at a minimum, half of the school day in order to participate in any extra-curricular activity that day. For over the weekend school activities, students must be in attendance for the last four hours of the school day on Friday. However, exceptions may be made if the specific absence has been discussed with and approved by the school principal or designee prior to the student missing any time in school.
Questions about Lockers
Why aren’t students assigned lockers? I am glad you asked. There are multiple reasons:
We do not have enough lockers for each student in the main academic halls for each grade level. Moving students to other parts of the building to try and get them a locker results in supervision problems. Additionally, students tend to have problems with their lockers (in which there are many) and it is very difficult for staff to try and help troubleshoot locker issues.
The hallways are crowded and the lockers are stacked one on top of the other or are very narrow with no spacing between them. Students struggle to access their lockers and get them open as they are overcrowded and students are trying to get to move to their classes. Historically, this has led to a tremendous amount of frustration, tardiness to class, and loss of instructional time.
Since we have started having students carrying their items with them from class to class, the amount of student conflict has gone down significantly as they are not crowded on top of each other and as they now move quickly from class to class.
Removing an aspect of conflict and “drama” in middle school (at this stage in their lives) allows for more content students, which also allows them to be in a better space to focus and learn.
Class changes are very brief and students have their backpacks on for a very short time. If a student simply takes his/her chromebook out of the backpack and carries it by hand, it does alleviate a good portion of the weight.
We have worked with our teachers to require the minimum number of supplies to cut down on both the weight and the cost to parents.
With all of that being stated, we are always willing to work with parents if there is a health concern to help determine a plan to lighten the load. Thank you!
Morning Drop-Off and Afternoon Pick-Up
Remember, please do not block entrances or streets along Ashby Street while waiting in the pickup line.
-Morning drop-off may not occur prior to 8:00 AM. If you arrive sooner, please have your student wait in the car until prompted by a school staff member.
-Students may exit the car along the sidewalk area in front of the school, allowing us to have as many as 6-7 students exits at once.
-We ask that all families dropping off their student(s) approach the school from the south along Ashby Street. In working with the Dayton Police Department, we have identified that this is the safest way to practice and prevents traffic backups along Bowman Rd.
-Please move forward with traffic to keep our traffic flowing.
-Please see the map below.
-In the afternoon, the procedures will be the reverse of the morning, with students loading into their cars anywhere along the sidewalk. We again ask that you approach the school from the south along Ashby Street.
-All cars will need to turn right out of the school onto Bowman road as they exit the school.
-While our dismissal bell is scheduled to ring at 3:18 PM each day, we may hold the bell if buses are late to arrive at Pence to ensure the safety of our students.
TAHS Activities
Dressing Out For Physical Education
School Attendance Information!
Parents, we are asking you to partner with us to help regularly get your students to school. In short, attendance matters! That said, we realize that there are times when your student(s) may need to be out.
-If your student is absent or late to school, please call the school (879-2535) or email the school (wspmsattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us) before 9:00 AM.
-If your student will be picked up early, please send a note or email the school (wspmsattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us) that morning AND then call us (879-2535) when you are 5-10 minutes away so we can have your student in the office ready to go. Your student will sign themselves out and head out when they see your vehicle.
Please try to schedule all vacations around the school calendar. We have seen an increased number of parents pulling their students out of school for vacations over the last couple of years. While family time is valuable, missing an extended amount of time from school leads to student frustration and anxiety as they fall behind on missed concepts. If you plan to take a vacation, requests must be submitted at least ten school days in advance. There will be circumstances where we may not be able to "excuse" each and every request. Students will be responsible for making up any missed work.
Sport Information
Check out our Student Activities Page on our website!
- Tickets to athletic events are $4 for students and adults.
Concessions will be available for sale at most athletic events.
Current physicals run from May 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. A current physical is required by RCPS for all athletes to tryout and participate.
There is a Fall Sports Parent Meeting on Tuesday, August 27th at 5pm.
Fall Sports Pictures are on Friday, August 30th after school.
Volleyball
Volleyball matches on Tuesdays and Thursdays begin at 4:30pm.
9/3 HOME vs Montevideo
9/5 AWAY @ Thomas Harrison
9/10 HOME vs J. Frank Hillyard
9/12 HOME vs Skyline
9/17 AWAY @ Elkton
9/19 AWAY @ Montevideo
9/24 HOME vs Thomas Harrison
9/26 AWAY @ J. Frank Hillyard
10/1 AWAY @ Skyline
10/3 HOME vs Elkton
10/5 Tournament
Cross Country
Practice is daily from 3:30pm-4:30pm. Meets begin at 4:30pm.
UPDATE: 9/4 AWAY @ Montevideo
9/12 AWAY @ Montevideo
9/19 AWAY @ Thomas Harrison
9/26 HOME vs Elkton and J. Frank Hillyard
10/3 AWAY @ Thomas Harrison
10/10 District Meet
Yearbook Pictures - Save the Date!
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 / Kevin Forry (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
Cafeteria Menus
WIlbur S Pence Student Handbook
Information for Parents, Guardians & Students
Do you want to know more about the polices and procedures at Pence? Check out the school website: http://wspms.rockingham.k12.va.us/
The "Parent Resources" & "Student Resources" tabs are especially useful. I recommend that all Pence families take some time to review the Student Handbook.
Bookmark this page to access a wealth of information: //www.rcps.net/page/families-students
RCPS AI / ChatGPT / Plagiarism Statement
Regarding generative artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT, the current RCPS policy for all content areas is as follows:
ChatGPT is blocked on student Chromebooks
Teachers may use digital means and/or identification of inconsistency from a student’s prior work to determine AI/ChatGPT use in student assignments
Teachers may require access to student drafts and revisions to ensure academic integrity throughout an assignment
If a student uses AI/ChatGPT to complete all or part of an assignment, it will be considered plagiarism (see plagiarism policy below):
Plagiarism encompasses, but is not limited to, the following:
presenting as one's own the works or the opinions of someone else without proper acknowledgement.
borrowing of the sequence of ideas, the arrangement of materials, or the pattern of thought of someone else without proper acknowledgement.
using artificial intelligence and/or ChatGPT to produce or guide content
copying answers to a worksheet or class assignment from another student
sharing answers to an assessment or class assignment with another student who has not yet completed that assignment
Some examples of plagiarism are:
using sentences from a work or the internet and only changing a few words or using synonyms;
having a parent or another person write an essay or do a project which is then submitted as one's own work;
using AI assistive tools such as Photomath to complete an assignment
using the internet to locate prepared essays or papers to submit as original work;
copying and/or paraphrasing writing from artificial intelligence or ChatGPT;
AND/OR failing to use proper documentation and bibliography.
VDOE/ VDH Information
Fentanyl Education and Awareness Resources
The VDOE and the Virginia Department of Health worked collaboratively to develop information and resources for fentanyl education and awareness (HB 1473). The Fentanyl Awareness informational one-sheet was created through that partnership. Additionally, the webpage includes resources for educators on substance use prevention. Read more from VDOE.
STOCK THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE
Calling all Pence Families!
Please help us stock the teachers lounge with coffee, snacks, and treats! We want to make the teachers feel loved and supported since they do so much for our kids! They'll be excited to start the school year off with a lounge full of treats!
Two options for easy drop off:
• Leave your items at the front office of Pence Middle.
- If items are to be delivered or shipped to the school (375 Bowman Road), please have them delivered to Door #1 and call the school to let the office staff know the items are on their way.
Pence Middle PTO Hospitality Committee
