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Pence Press
May 17, 2024
WSPMS Music Celebration
Spring Pictures - Online orders only now
Spring pictures can be ordered online at any time. . Information is on your child's proof to order.
Store Bought Cupcake Donation Request
STORE BOUGHT CUPCAKES are needed for the cupcake walk on June 6th as part of the Pence Pride Celebration. Please bring your cupcake donations to Pence by no later than 8:30 am the day of the event! Thank you so much for your support!
SOL Testing Days
Please remind your child to charge their Chromebook. Get a good night's sleep. Eat breakfast.
5/21 ALL grades (6th-8th) Math SOL
5/20-5/31 - Make-up SOLs and Expedited Retakes
WSPMS: End of Middle School Philosophy
Pence Families-
I want to take a moment to explain our Pence philosophy on recognizing students for their accomplishments as each of the middle schools do things a little differently based upon their school culture and community. First, we try to recognize as many students as we can throughout the entirety of the school year for demonstrating acts of character. Students are awarded positive referrals and Knight Spotlights on a continuous basis as they are “caught being good.” Each instance, students are given a copy of their recognition and are awarded with a small reward. Furthermore, at the end of each 9-weeks, we recognize our students who most consistently demonstrate the pillars of character as our “Knights of the Roundtable.” These students receive a certificate and an ice cream sundae. Simply put, we place a high value in trying to encourage trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Therefore, we recognize these achievements on an ongoing basis. Our Kelly Cogsdale Character Counts and Rotary Code of Ethics award winners are also recognized during the school year at special events.
On Friday, May 31st, students meeting certain criteria will also receive certificates of recognition for various achievements. All students who have earned straight A’s through the first 3 terms will receive an A Honor Roll Certificate. Eighth grade students who have an equivalent GPA of a 3.5 and at least one pass advanced score on an SOL in middle school will receive the Presidential Gold Award for Educational Excellence. The school will also recognize select students who have achieved despite personal hardships with the Presidential Silver Award. Every 8th grade student will receive a personalized token of remembrance highlighting their career at Pence. Yearbooks will also be distributed on this day. Additionally, some of our elective classes, clubs, and organizations choose to hold their own after school programs to recognize students on various dates.
Instead of having an awards ceremony or 8th grade graduation, we choose to have a school-wide celebration with our Pence Pride field day on the last day of school. We do this for several reasons. First, the middle school years are times of change. They are times of excitement, maturation, fun, struggles, and transition. We feel it is important to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of all. Second, students generally have 5th grade celebrations in their elementary schools and will be graduating from high school in just four short years. We believe in keeping those ceremonies special, especially the high school graduation as it is a culmination of many years of education, including the middle school years. Finally, we believe that awards ceremonies where all students are present and only 5% of the students receive awards can actually be detrimental to our students’ self-esteem based upon their ongoing maturation process while they are in “the middle.”
In summary, we do believe that we should educate, advocate, and celebrate! And this is the path we choose to take at Pence at the end of the year. Because we are truly Better Together!
Go Knights-
John Childs
Sports Information
We are currently accepting sports physicals dated after May 1, 2024 for rising 6th-8th graders.
Current 8th graders (rising 9th graders) need to take their updated physicals directly to TAHS.
Lunch Balances
PENCE KNIGHTS - Sideline Store
20% Off on Orders $100+ While Supplies Last. Code: ENJOY20
https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/virginia/dayton/wilbur-s-pence-middle-school
Rising 7th Grade Immunizations
Current 6th Grade Pence Families- Please see the attached information regarding immunization requirements for students prior to entering 7th grade.
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. We need to hear from both sets of families when a student is riding the bus with another student.
Just email us to keep us informed!
Early Dismissals
If you are picking up your student early, please call the school 5-10 minutes beforehand so we can have them ready for pickup. If students are outside, in PE class, or at lunch, it takes us a little longer to have them ready. If you come to pick up near the end of school, you may need to safely come in the exit if the pick up line has blocked off the entrance. Once in the exit, pull around the parking lot and park parallel to the first car in the pick up line. Thank you.
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
Please bookmark these pages for your reference:
You can also visit us on Facebook & Instagram:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/penceknights
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theknightspotlight/?hl=en
"Rooms" - New Communication Platform
Families likely received a text message this past week with information about a new communication platform called “Rooms.” Please see the message below from RCPS for more information about this new tool:
We're thrilled to introduce a new feature in our district app called Rooms! This platform is designed for seamless communication between staff and families, making it easier than ever to stay informed about school updates and activities. As we roll out this new tool, we're starting with a small group of teachers, all spring sports coaches, and our Middle School and High School Principals. While not all staff members will immediately transition to using Rooms as their primary communication tool, we're moving in that direction and aim to have full implementation by the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. Stay tuned for more information and resources as we continue the rollout. Effective communication is essential to our school community's success, and we're excited to embark on this journey with you through Rooms!