Pence Press

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!

The online link to order pictures will remain open until Friday, Oct 11th now. Go to strawbridge.net, click on the red "Order Pictures" button, and enter the online code FM457941 to proceed with ordering pictures. Fall Picture Retakes are scheduled for Tuesday, November 19th.

Our Homework Help Program takes place Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 - 4:30. It will begin on Tuesday, October 8th. 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.

School is a Student's Job!

Reminder:

1. Unexcused tardies to school will result in the lose of REP points (1 point for every 3 unexcused tardies to school.) An attendance plan may be developed for your student and additional requirements for made-up time for missed instruction may be put in place.

2. Absences can add up fast, and sometimes parents are unaware of just how many days their student(s) have missed. If a student misses 18 or more days in a school year, he/she is considered chronically absent. To put that into perspective, if a student misses two days a month, he/she would be close to reaching this threshold. You are always welcome to call and ask how many days your student(s) has missed if you are unaware.

3. Parents frequently have to make appointments for their student(s) during the school year, and at

times, the only appointments available are during the school day. Please, if you can, make as many

appointments after school as you can. We have a lot of students who go to the orthodontist, and

there are several offices that offer early morning or Saturday appointments so that students do not

need to miss school. Look into these options as well. Also, if your student(s) has an appointment, in

the morning, please bring him/her in after the appointment, so he/she does not miss the whole day. If the appointment is in the afternoon, then please send him/her to school for morning classes.

Please see additional information on attendance below!

There is no bus transportation for after school activities. Please have rides at the school promptly at the end of tryouts or practices.

Tryouts will be after school until 5:30pm on October 28, 29, and 30 for 7th and 8th grade boys.

Practice for Fall Team starts on October 31.

Practice for Winter Team starts on January 6.

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

For 7th and 8th grade girls interested in playing basketball this year, there will be a meeting on October 9th at 11:25 in the new gym.

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

10/9 District Meet

Questions? Contact Coach Beck @ rbeck@rockingham.k12.va.us

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

Competitive Club Soccer

10/7 - CC Scrimmage 4:30-6:00pm at Rockingham Park

10/14 - CC Scrimmage Make Up Date

10/16 - CC Scrimmage Make Up Date

Fun Club Soccer - soccer is until 4:30pm at WSPMS

10/16, 10/17, 10/21, 10/22, 10/28, 10/29, 11/6, 11/7, 11/11, and 11/12

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.

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 beginning on September 1! This year, you will have the option to preorder online ONLY, except for a short timeframe 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.

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

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.

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.

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