Pence Press

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.

WOW! The Cafeteria had amazing Ag students as helpers during the Farm to School week at Pence!

There are two new opportunities to take part in creating art for our community! Students were able to pick up papers last week to design a community snow plow and create a mural idea for the North River bridge at Riverwalk. Both submissions are due this TUESDAY, October 15th to Ms. Guido!

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.

Testing Solar Radiation- Mrs. Scott's class worked today to measure the heat transfer to water over time. Comparing a dark-colored base to a light-colored base, as to which absorbed the radiation faster. Then students collaborated in a group to create a new design for better solar collection.

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

CORRECTION to TRYOUT INFO: Cheer tryouts will run the week of November 11th 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.

There will be a wrestling informational meeting on Wed., Oct. 16 for students during 5th block. Wrestling is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

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

CORRECTION to TRYOUT INFO: November 11, 12, 13 after school until 5:30

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

CORRECTION to TRYOUT INFO: Girls basketball tryouts will begin on November 11th right after school until 5:00 in the new gym. Please have rides at school by 5:00. Girls basketball is open to 7th and 8th graders.

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

Competitive Club Soccer

We will play a makeup game against Hillyard next Wednesday, October 16th. To help get ready for the game, there will be an added practice day that was not originally on our calendar on Tuesday, October 15th until 4:30. Please make plans to be there.

Fun Club Soccer

Due to the makeup game being rescheduled for our competitive club, Fun Club will not start until Monday, October 21st. An updated schedule will be shared by the end of next week with all those that have signed up.

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

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

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.

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