Pence Press

WSPMS Mission and Vision Statements '25-'26

Mission Statement

Our mission is to empower students to reach their full potential by fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment. We strive to inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking while promoting values of respect, responsibility, and resilience. Through innovative teaching and a commitment to excellence, we equip students for success in a diverse and rapidly evolving world.

Vision Statement

To ignite passionate curiosity, foster a love of learning, and cultivate respect, responsibility, and resilience—empowering every student every day.

No School - Monday, May 25th - Memorial Day Holiday

Go Knights! - '25-'26 School Year

Dear Pence Families,

I’d like to take a moment to share how we at Pence Middle School celebrate and recognize our students in ways that reflect our school’s unique culture and values.

At Pence, we are committed to recognizing as many students as possible throughout the year for demonstrating strong character. Through positive referrals and Knight Spotlights, students are regularly celebrated for being “caught doing good.” Each recognition includes a personalized note and a small token of appreciation.

At the end of each nine-week term, we honor students who consistently exemplify the six pillars of character—trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship—by naming them Knights of the Roundtable. These students receive a certificate and enjoy a celebratory ice cream sundae.

Throughout the year, we’ve also acknowledged student accomplishments with 100-Point Club rewards, Honor Roll Certificates, and both mid-term and end-of-term REP reward events. As we plan ahead, we are exploring even more ways to celebrate our students next year.

In addition, we recognize special honorees through our Kelly Cogsdale Character Counts Award and the Rotary Code of Ethics Award, both presented during meaningful events.

On Wednesday, June 3rd, at 8:30 AM, we will host a Celebration Ceremony in the auditorium to honor our 8th-grade students. Families are warmly invited to attend.

During the ceremony:

Students who have earned straight A’s through the first three terms will receive an A Honor Roll Certificate.
Eighth graders with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and at least one Pass Advanced SOL score will be awarded the Presidential Gold Award for Educational Excellence.
Selected students who have demonstrated perseverance in the face of personal challenges will receive the Presidential Silver Award.
Additional student-centered awards will also be presented during the event.
Not every student will be given an award.

On Wednesday, June 3rd, we will close the year with our Pence Pride Field Day, a school-wide celebration for all students in good standing. This end-of-year celebration is our way of showcasing our pride in ourselves and our accomplishments for the 2025 - 2026 school year.

At Pence, we believe in educating, advocating, and celebrating—values that guide everything we do. We are proud of our students, and we are proud to walk this journey together.

Go Knights!

Warm regards,
Teresa Shank

Donation Request - End of the Year Celebration

On June 3rd (the last day of school), we will have our Pence Pride Event. This is our way of showing pride in ourselves and our many successes this school year. If you would like to help donate to the event, please sign up at the following link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0845A5AA2CA0F58-49798283-pence

In addition, STORE BOUGHT CUPCAKES are needed for the cupcake walk. Please bring your cupcake donations to Pence by no later than 8:15 am the day of the event! Thank you so much for your support!

Counselor’s Corner

As part of preparing for high school and beyond, 8th grade students began working on their Academic and Career Plan (ACP). An ACP is a student-driven, adult-guided process designed to help students identify their skills, interests, and passions while exploring future career and postsecondary goals.

Using Xello (an online, K-12 college and career readiness program designed to help students build self-knowledge, explore career options, and create actionable, personalized future plans) students created a working plan that is reviewed and updated each year to help align high school coursework with college and career pathways. Please note that the courses students select in their ACP are for planning purposes only and do not officially register them for high school classes. The ACP is simply a guide to help students explore options and begin thinking about their future pathway.

We encourage you to ask your student to review their ACP with you and use it as an opportunity to discuss their interests, goals, and plans for high school and beyond.

If you need to reach the Counseling Department, email: wspmscounseling@rockingham.k12.va.us

Student Last Names A-K

Assistant Principal: Mr. Kevin Forry: kevinforry@rockingham.k12.va.us
Counselor: Mrs. Lisa Holsinger-Thomas: lholsinger-thom@rockingham.k12.va.us

Student Last Names L-Z

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Michelle Campbell: mcampbell@rockingham.k12.va.us
Counselor: Mr. Matt Nyce: mnyce@rockingham.k12.va.us

Additional Support

Counselor: Katie Swartzendruber: kswartzen@rockingham.k12.va.us

WSPMS Medication Pickup

Dear Parent/Guardian,

This letter is to inform you that you will need to pick up your students medications from Wilbur S Pence Middle School at the end of the school year. Please be aware that any medications that are not picked up will be discarded per RCPS guidelines. Medications must be picked up by a Parent/Guardian as students are not allowed to transport medication to and from school.

Medications may be picked up during school hours through June 4, 2026. If you have any questions or need to schedule a different time to pick up medication please contact Nurse Weaver at 540-879-2535.

Sincerely,

Nurse Weaver

Enrollment & Registration

Snapcodes for '26-'27 School Registration were emailed. Please complete those now so you don't forget later.

Below are some examples of documents that can be used to show proof of residence.

Rental/Purchase agreement for a house/apartment within your school’s attendance area.
Recent utility bill (electric, gas, water, etc) with your name and address. Note: This can not be a cell phone bill.
Current car insurance or property insurance policy with your name and address listed.
Automobile registration form with current name and address listed.
Recent income tax W2 form or property tax statement with current name and address listed.

Questions? Refer to RCPS's website: Enrollment & Registration

WSPMS's Registration Day for the '26-'27 School year will take place on Thursday, August 6th from 10am-7pm. Student class schedules will be distributed. Nurse Weaver will be available to accept updated vaccine records, assist with medication forms for the new school year and accept medication.

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2026-2027 School Calendar _English

2026-2027 School Calendar _Spanish

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Attention All Rising 7th Graders!!

Note from Nurse Weaver.

Reminder for ALL rising 7th grade students' parents. Your child must have their Virginia State required immunizations before entering school in Aug of 2026-2027 school year. Please see attachment for requirements. Rising 7th graders are to have their Tdap, Meningitis, and HPV. Please make appointments with your family doctors, health department or local pharmacies now to discuss your child's options. Appointments will fill up quickly and there are no exceptions. If your child does not have proof (copy of records from the provider sent to the school or dropped off) of their immunizations or exemptions before the first day of school they are not able to come to school. Please call or email Nurse Weaver with any questions. mweaver@rockingham.k12.va/us.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oc0iF56dYTeesz3nkAm9GA90jIXgweBtpqrtEvjpL1s/edit?usp=sharing

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Rising-7th-Grader-Parent-Letter.pdf

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TAHS Shuttle Buses

As a reminder, Bus 28, Bus 42, and Bus 209 shuttle students from Pence to TA after school. Only students involved in TA activities or sports should utilize the shuttle buses.

Summer Camps

Interested in a summer camp program? Check out RCPS's new Summer Camp webpage for information on the variety of programs available.

School Attendance

Consistent, on-time attendance is one of the most important factors in a student’s academic success. Being at school every day, from the first bell to the last, ensures students receive full instruction, participate in classroom discussions, and stay connected to their learning community. Even small amounts of missed time—such as tardies or early dismissals—add up and can result in lost learning and gaps in understanding. While we recognize that occasional absences for medical appointments are sometimes unavoidable, it’s essential to prioritize full-day attendance whenever possible. Being present all day, every day helps students build strong habits, stay on track academically, and grow with confidence.

-If your student is absent or late to school, please call the school (540-879-2535) 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 that morning AND then call us 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.