Pence Press

Rockingham County Public Schools will be closed for Winter Break from

December 23, 2024 through January 3, 2025.

School will reopen on Monday, January 6, 2025.

We wish all of our students and families a safe and happy holiday season!

All shirts/sweatshirts that were not picked up last week will be sent home with students Monday afternoon (12/16). Thank you for your support!

The Art and Ag Departments (led by Mrs. Wheelbarger, Ms. Guido, and Mrs. Barb) have collaborated on a 7th-grade project where students are building birdhouses. This project is funded by the Blue Ridge Career Pathway Consortium. Thanks to this funding, students are learning to combine shop safety and new woodworking skills with artistic creativity!

WSPMS Music Department Calendar '24-'25

WSPMS Music Department "notes"letter

There is a full band rehearsal on Monday 12/16 for ALL BAND students. The students need to remember to bring their instruments to school on Monday

Please join us for our Winter Band Concert on December 18 at 7 pm in the WSPMS auditorium.

The first semester will conclude on January 16, 2025.

PowerSchool is an excellent way to get a current snapshot of your student’s progress. If you do not have an established PowerSchool account, instructions for setting up an account can be found HERE.

Our next Growth Assessments are scheduled for January 22nd and 23rd. Testing will take place in the morning and students will follow the 2hr delay schedule. Please be mindful of student appointments because we are unable to call into classrooms during testing.

• Wed., January 22nd - Reading
• Thurs., January 23rd - Math

Dear RCPS Families and Staff,

We want to share some important information from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) regarding a recent increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases in Rockingham County, including some within Rockingham County Public Schools.

Attached to this email, you will find:

• A letter from the health director with additional details.

• A fact sheet about whooping cough, including symptoms, prevention, and steps to take if exposure is suspected.

Both documents are provided in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Russian.
English
Spanish
Arabic
Russian

Thank you for your attention to this matter as we work together to keep our schools and community safe and healthy.

Sincerely,

Larry Shifflett, Ed.D.
Division Superintendent
Rockingham County Public Schools

All students have received a "Draw the Line/Respect the Line" opt-out form from their PE teacher. This is a health program created by JMU and taught during health and PE classes. Parents have the option of opting their student(s) out of the course if they wish. Students who opt out of the class will complete an alternative health assignment in another classroom. Forms do NOT need to be returned if you would like for your student to remain IN the course.

Course information is found on the opt-out form. Please email your child's PE teacher if you have any additional questions or if you would like to come in to view class materials.

Fall Cheerleading uniforms need to be turned into the front office before Winter Break (12/20). Basketball uniforms need to be turned into the coaches before Winter Break. Thank you!

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.

Save the Date: January 15th will be picture day for Winter Girls Basketball, Winter Boys Basketball, and Winter Cheerleading after school.

12/17 - AWAY @ Skyline MS

12/18 - Duals w/ TAHS at Wilson Memorial High School

12/20 - TA Tournament at 5:30pm

12/21 - TA Tournament at 9:30am

01/04 - Reel WC youth & middle tournament

01/14 - HOME vs THMS & JFHMS

01/25 - District Tournament

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

Cheerleaders perform at all HOME basketball games.

Questions? Contact Coach Davis-Argabright at danielle@heritagerealestateco.com or Coach McAbee at hmcabee@rockingham.k12.va.us

Boys basketball practice daily until 5:30pm. Girls basketball practice daily until 5:00pm. Basketballl games are at 4:30pm.

12/16 - HOME vs THMS

12/19 - AWAY @ JFHMS

Questions? Contact Boys Basketball Coach Eye at josheye@rockingham.k12.va.us / Girls Basketball Coach Arbogast at varbogast@rockingham.k12.va.us

Boys basketball practice daily until 5:30pm. Girls basketball practice daily until 5:00pm. Basketballl games are at 4:30pm.

01/13 - HOME vs MMS

01/16 - AWAY @ THMS

01/23 - HOME vs JFHMS

01/27 - AWAY @ SKMS

01/30 - AWAY @ EMS

02/03 - AWAY @ MMS

02/06 - HOME vs THMS

02/10 - AWAY @ JFHMS

02/13 - HOME w/ SKMS

02/20 - HOME w/ EMS

02/22 - Winter Boys' Basketball Tournament hosted by SKMS @ Rocktown H.S. / Winter Girls' Basketball Tournament hosted by WSPMS @ Pence

Questions? Contact Boys Basketball Coach Eye at josheye@rockingham.k12.va.us / Girls Basketball Coach Arbogast at varbogast@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.

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.

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.

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.

Students who are not at school for at least a half day should not be in attendance at afterschool activities, including both Pence and Turner Ashby athletic activities and/or extracurricular activities.

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