Pence Press

There will be no school for students on Friday, October 25th. This is a teacher workday.

Reminder: Thursday is the last day of our first nine weeks! Time has flown by! And we are SUPER PUMPED to celebrate our students and have some fun!

1. All missing and late work need to be turned into teachers no later than 3:18 on Thursday unless otherwide stated by the teacher.

2. Thursday will be our first REP event. Students will be following a 1:00 release schedule with our event taking place from 1:18 - 3:18. At 1:18, students will participate in fun activities within their grade level. By 2:30ish, all students and faculty will move to the gym to celebrate student accomplishments and to participate in some REP rally games.

3. In order to be eligible to participate in our first nine-week celebration, students need to have 90 or more REP points and have no missing assignments resulting in Ds or Fs. Student should be in good academic and behavior standing to particpate.

4. REP points reset back to 100 starting on Monday, October 28th! A fresh start!

It's as simple as this: Good school attendance correlates to student success! 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.

Students will be responsible for contacting their teachers directly and making up any missed work.

Administrators will be creating attendance plans for students numerous days. Excessive tardies and early dismissals will also be documented and may require an attendance plan. Please note that for every three unexcused tardies students will lose one REP point.

Tabletop Gaming met for the 1st after school club this week. The next after school club dates for 2024 are scheduled for November 13th (Uno tournament) and December 11th (holiday party / freeplay). Rides need to be at the school promptly at 4:30pm on club days. If you have any questions, contact the club advisor, School Counselor Mr. Myce, at mnyce@rockingham.k12.va.us.

Attention 8th-grade Parents: The deadline for collecting payment and forms for the field trip to Washington, D.C., is approaching. You may access the permission form here. The cost is $50/person. The deadline is Monday, October 28. There will NOT be a deadline extension. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Dove at kdove@rockingham.k12.va.us.

Pence Family- Does your child play the violin, viola, cello, or double bass? Do they have their own instrument? If so, we have a string ensemble that rehearses on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 7:30- 8.

Please email Mrs. Harper (mharper@rockingham.k12.va.us) for more information and questions. This ensemble is for students who have previous experience playing string instruments.

On October 30th, all 7th grade students will be traveling by bus to the Augusta Expo Center for the Worlds of Work field trip. This is an annual field trip that helps to meet the state requirements for career exploration for all students in RCPS. Students will be leaving at 8:20am and will be returning to WSPMS around 11:15am.

Students will be leaving promptly after morning announcements. Students who arrive after the buses have departed will have a study hall until we return. Please make every effort to have your student to the school on time on this day.

We have begun our annual citrus fruit sale. Orders and money are due October 31. FFA members are getting forms today and tomorrow. If you purchase, please pay by check made to Pence FFA or you can order online at www.floridafruitstore.com/PenceFFA. Make sure to put the name of the seller when ordering online. Fruit will arrive the week of December 2nd.

Thank you for your continued support of our Ag students!

Our Homework Help Program takes place Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 - 4:30. It began last week. Assistance will be given with homework assignments, late or missing work and difficult learning areas. If you are interested, please complete the Homework Help Permission Form and return it to Mrs. McAvoy (room 229).

*There will not be bus transportation at this time.

There is no bus transportation for after school activities. Please have rides at the school promptly at the end of tryouts/practices/games. To participate in school sports, students must be passing 3 out of 4 core classes.

Update: Cheer tryouts will be November 11th-13th from 5:15pm to 6:30pm. Students will need to head home after school and return by 5:15pm. Cheer is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

Boys Basketball Open Gyms: November 6 and 7 after school until 5:00

Update: Tryouts: November 11, 12, 13 after school until 5:30.

Boys basketball is open to 7th and 8th graders.

Questions? Contact Coach Eye at josheye@rockingham.k12.va.us

Update: Tryouts: November 11, 12, 13 after school until 5:00pm.

Girls basketball is open to 7th and 8th graders.

Questions? Contact Coach Arbogast at varbogast@rockingham.k12.va.us

Fun Club Soccer

Fun Club starts on Monday, October 21st. Rides must be at school at 4:30pm. For Fun Club, students will need athletic clothes (no jeans). Please be sure to check the weather to be prepared for cooler days. Cleats are recommended, but tennis shoes are okay as well. Students will not be able to play in crocs or other slip on shoes. Club Dates: Oct 21, 22, 28, 29 and Nov 6, 7, 11, 12

Questions? Contact Coach A at maswani@rockingham.k12.va.us

Please see all the following information about wrestling. Practice starts the week of October 28th.

Questions? Contact Coach Weller @ brant.w.weller@gmail.com

https://wspms.rockingham.k12.va.us/o/wspms/page/student-activities

• Tickets to athletic events are $4 for students and adults.

• Concessions will be available for sale at most athletic events.

• Students and Guardians must sign a After School Activity Agreement and be on good academic standing in order to attend after school sporting events. Grades are checked the day of HOME games. If your student has any Fs or 2+ Ds then they need to ride the bus home.

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.

Attention! You can preorder your copy of the yearbook TODAY! This year, you will have the option to preorder online ONLY, except for a short time frame in March. Please keep your email receipt as refunds will not be given this year for accidentally purchased extra copies. The cost is $20.

Visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter the code 13754.

Limited Time Only! 15% OFF $75 | Code: FALL15

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/virginia/dayton/wilbur-s-pence-middle-school

As a reminder, students are not to consume commercial restaurant fast food while in the

cafeteria area prior to, or during lunch periods. This is part of the food and nutrition handbook.

Student Meal Prices: Breakfast $1.50 and Lunch $2.50

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

Katie Swartzendruber, Part Time Counselor

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

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 throughout the year since they do so much for our kids!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0845A5AA2CA0F58-50575995-stock

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.

Thank you so much! We couldn't do it without you!

Pence Middle PTO Hospitality Committee

Ideas: Kcup coffee, Kcup hot cholocate, individual bags of chips, individual bags of trail mix/peanuts, small individually wrapped beef sticks, granola bars, protein bars, individually packaged cookies, small individually wrapped candies/chocolates - basically anything that is a GRAB and GO item!

More information at https://www.rcps.net/o/rcps/page/calendars

Email: tshank@rockingham.k12.va.us

Website: http://wspms.rockingham.k12.va.us/
Location: 375 Bowman Road, Dayton, VA, USA
Phone: 540-879-2535