Pence Press

Pence Families ~

Welcome to a new school year! We are excited to share that The Pence Press will be sent to families each Sunday. We encourage you to take a few minutes each week to read the newsletter in full. It will be one of our primary ways of sharing important announcements, upcoming events, reminders, and all the great things happening at Pence Middle.

We are looking forward to a fabulous start to the 2026–2027 school year! We hope our students arrive each day ready to learn, excited to connect with their peers, and eager to build relationships with their teachers. As we settle into the new year, please take time to check in with your child. Ask how things are going, what they are enjoying, what may be challenging, and how they can work toward being their best self each day. We are all in this together!

One of our highest priorities is ensuring that every student feels safe, supported, and included at Pence Middle. Open and honest communication between home and school plays an important role in making that happen. We encourage you to have regular conversations with your child and to ask questions about the situations and experiences they share—even when those conversations may be difficult. Middle school comes with plenty of changes, challenges, and opportunities for growth, and strong communication helps us support students along the way.

If a concern arises, please do not hesitate to reach out. I, along with our assistant principals, Mr. Forry and Ms. Campbell, and the entire Pence staff, am here to listen, answer questions, and partner with you to make this a successful year for your child.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and school community. We are excited for a wonderful year ahead!

Have a fantastic week!

Teresa Shank
Principal

Rockingham County Parent-Student Handbook

WSPMS Student Handbook

Link to Schedules (1:18 Early Dismissal, 1hr and 2hr Delay)

PowerSchool is the district's Student Information System (SIS). It is the central repository for various student records such as schedules, attendance, grades, report cards, and transcripts.

Resources

How to Create A Parent Portal Account for Powerschool

Checking Grades in PowerSchool

Student and Parent Sign In

Wilbur Pence is a community school located in the town of Dayton. We are appreciative of our partnership with the town. With our building and grounds located in the town and over 700 students arriving and leaving school in a short window, we ask for your cooperation regarding morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up procedures.

Our warning bell rings at 8:15 a.m., and classes begin at 8:20 a.m. Students may not be dropped off, wait in front of the building, or enter the building before 7:57 a.m. If arriving before 7:57 a.m., students should stay in the car until a staff member prompts them to exit the vehicle. Students may exit the car at any point along the sidewalk in the designated drop-off zone. Please do not pull around other cars or have students cross from different areas of the parking lot. The pickup zone is located in the exact location in the afternoon, adjacent to the sidewalk. The pick-up line can become congested, so we again ask for your patience.

Approach the school from the south on Ashby Street. For the safety of our students, please do not have your students walk to other areas/streets around the school to pick them up to avoid the line. Waiting just 5-10 minutes before arriving at school to pick up your student can help alleviate frustration and congestion around the school.

Remember, please do not block entrances or streets along Ashby Street while waiting in the pickup line.

-Please see the map below.

In the afternoon, the procedures will be the reverse of the morning, with students loading into their cars anywhere along the sidewalk. We again ask that you approach the school from the south along Ashby Street. All cars will need to turn right out of the school onto Bowman Road as they exit the school. While our dismissal bell is scheduled to ring at 3:18 PM each day, we may hold the bell if buses are late to arrive at Pence to ensure the safety of our students.

All parent and visitor parking is restricted to the parking spaces in the front parking lot. Parents may not use the staff parking lot off of Ashby Street to drop off or pick up students. Driving through the bus lot is prohibited from 7:57 - 8:20 and 3:00 - 3:30. There is no parking allowed in the bus lot.

New this year:

If you wish to pick up your student prior to 3:18, arrive before 3:00 to sign your student out. After 3:00, you will need to wait until 3:18 pm (regular dismissal) to retrieve your student.

Students are expected to dress appropriately for a school setting. We ask that parents and students use good judgment when selecting clothing. Clothing should not be distracting or disruptive to the learning environment.

School Attire Guidelines:

• You must have tennis shoes every other day for PE class.
• Clothing, which includes jewelry and accessories, should be free of messages that are violent, relate to drugs or alcohol, and/ or discriminate.
• Clothing must cover the torso - your belly. Clothing must conceal undergarments, and tops must have armholes. Tank top straps must be three fingers wide. Rips and tears must not fall in the torso area.
• Clothing can not be see-through.
• No hats or hoods can be worn in the building (unless it is a recognized hat day)
• Dresses, shorts, pants, and skirts must be mid-thigh length.
• Sunglasses may not be worn inside the building
• Blankets are not to be brought to school.

Be in the Right Place, at the Right Time, Doing the Right Thing!

KNIGHTS REPRESENT:

-Be Respectful of Yourself, Others, and Property

-Be Engaged

-Be Prepared

Our school has always strived to create a safe and stimulating learning environment for all students. We believe each and every student has value and deserves to be treated as such. Regardless of our differences, at Pence, We ALL Belong. Middle school is not a perfect place, nor are we perfect people in an imperfect world. However, these are the values that we hold important. Middle school students are full of energy, life, questions, anxieties, struggles, changes, excitement, kindness, and caring. We embrace them all and are here to walk with them side-by-side during their years “in the middle.”

In an effort to continue improving our school climate, our staff has worked together to form a Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Plan called Knights REPresent. The focus of this plan is to create a positive school climate that fosters respect, engagement, and presence!

To help students remember our expectations, we will display posters around the building and in the classroom and create videos, skits, and announcements to remind students of expectations. All staff will teach the students the positive behaviors they are expected to demonstrate at school. We will acknowledge and reward all students, classes, teams, and grade levels who consistently demonstrate these positive behaviors.

Ask your child to make sure he/she understands the expectations in different environments around the school. Please discuss the importance of these concepts and encourage your student to be Knights REP.

With your continued support and involvement, there is no question that our school will continue to be a place where students can excel in a safe and stimulating environment. Research shows that when the home and school work together, student learning is more successful. We look forward to working with you as true partners in your child’s education!

Pence Administration:

Mrs. Shank, Mr. Forry, and Mrs. Campbell

Students are expected to follow our “Away for the Day” expectations. Cell phones and other personal electronic devices should be turned off and stored away for the school day. “Away for the Day” begins when students walk into the school building until the final bell at the end of the school day and students have exited the building. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds, and other personal electronic devices. Keeping devices away allows students to focus on learning, engage with their teachers and classmates, and be fully present during the school day.

If a student needs to contact a parent, there is a phone available in the main office for student use.

If your student did not pass the Reading SOL assessment last school year, they will be required to participate in reading remediation using Lexia PowerUp. Beginning-of-year assessment results will help determine the frequency and level of remediation needed for each student. In addition, a Student Reading Plan (SRP) will be developed to outline your student’s specific reading needs and supports and will be shared with families this fall.

Our Back-to-School Online Spirit Gear Drive is OFFICIALLY OPEN! Use the link below to gear up early and show your school spirit!

Shop now: https://www.spiritgeardirect.com/GearDrive/Store.aspx...

Order deadline: September 1st

Deliveries of flowers, balloons, or other such gifts that arrive at school for students are not allowed. Food vendor deliveries are not allowed. Parents are not allowed to bring/ have delivered outside “commercial” food for their child or other students. See more information in the Cafeteria/ Food Service Section on Page 11 of the WSPMS Student Handbook.

Dressing out for physical education will be required this year. All students will be assigned a lock and a locker. We do not have a traditional Pence PE uniform for sale. Students wishing to dress out typical bring a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt to change into (or sweats). Tennis shoes are required for PE class.

Yearbook pictures will be taken on October 8th. More information will come out closer to that date.

RCPS Food and Nutrition Services is excited to welcome your student back to the cafeteria this school year! Our team is committed to serving healthy, quality and affordable meals every day - helping fuel your child's learning and well-being.

Please read below for information on school year 2026-2027.

Meal Prices for Students: Breakfast $2.00, Lunch $3.25

In order to qualify for free or reduced price meals at all RCPS schools for the 2026-2027 school year, families must submit a free and reduced price meal form, or qualify automatically through participation in certain programs such as SNAP. If your family automatically qualifies for free or reduced price meals, you will receive notification by email or mail prior to the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Of note, no charge for those qualifying for reduced price meals as this fee is waived by state funding.

Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications are now available for the 2026-2027 school year. Reminder - A new application must be filled out each school year. Online applications are available at www.myschoolapps.com. More information on applications can be found by clicking on the Meal Application button to the left.

Payments for meals may be made at www.myschoolbucks.com or by cash or check at your child's school.

New this school year - Please click here for updated guidelines regarding sales of extra items in elementary schools, and for additional pricing of extra food items in all schools.

Please contact the Food and Nutrition Services Office at 540-434-7783 with any questions.

Students will need to memorize their student number for cafeteria purchases. Their student number is listed on their printed schedules. Lunch money (cash or check to WSPMS only) brought to school is given directly to the cafeteria employees. The salad bar will not open up until the second week of school starting on August 24th. PB&J kits will be an option on the 1st day of school.

Change of Schedule Request Forms and Check-In or Appointment Request Forms can be found online on our School Counseling page. If you need to reach the Counseling Department, email: wspmscounseling@rockingham.k12.va.us

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 / Michelle Campbell (Assistant Principal)

Works with all students with last names L-Z

Additional Counseling Staff:

Leah Tripp, Part Time Counselor

Jill Hoover, Counseling Secretary

Good attendance is vital to the success of our students. We kindly request that you schedule appointments and vacations around the school calendar whenever possible. If a student is absent, please let us know by email (wspmsattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us) or phone call (540-879-2535) before 9:00 a.m. If you plan to take a vacation during the school year, a written request for a pre-arranged absence must be submitted to the principal at least ten days before the scheduled absence. The school administrator has the discretion to excuse or unexcuse the pre-arranged absence request based on the student’s prior school absences, whether or not the student has a current attendance improvement plan, and the student's academic standing. The student is responsible for securing all make-up work from their teachers before the pre-arranged absence(s).

Please turn in these forms to the front office or email them to wspmsattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us.

Check out our Student Activities Page on our website!

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

• Tickets to athletic events are $5 for students and adults.

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

A current physical is required by RCPS for all athletes to tryout and participate.

Fall Sports Pictures for Volleyball and Cross Country will be on Monday, August 31st.

Information about Student Accident Insurance can be found HERE. Student accident insurance must be purchased if the student doesn't have insurance to complete the sports physicals for tryouts, open gyms, and participation in sports.

Please contact Turner Ashby High School concerning all questions about JV sports.

9/1 HOME vs JFHMS

9/3 HOME vs SKMS

9/8 HOME vs THMS

9/10 AWAY @ MMS

9/15 AWAY @ EMS

9/17 AWAY @ JFHMS

9/22 AWAY @ SKMS

9/24 AWAY @ THMS

9/29 HOME vs MMS

10/1 HOME vs EMS

10/3 District Volleyball Tournament hosted by Elkton @ East Rock High School

Questions? - Contact Coach Anderson at tanderson@rockingham.k12.va.us

9/3 AWAY @ MSS

9/10 AWAY @EMS

9/17 HOME (Rockingham County Fairgrounds) vs JFHMS & MMS

9/24 AWAY @ EMS

10/1 AWAY @ THMS

10/8 District Cross Country Meet hosted by WSPMS @ Rockingham County Fairgrounds

Questions? - Contact Coach Hardner at phardner@rockingham.k12.va.us

There are 3 shuttle buses that transport to students to TAHS for activies such as marching band, JV sports, etc. The buses are Bus 28, Bus 42, and Bus 209. Students will head right out to the buses when the end of the day bell rings.

Our PTO, school, and other clubs or groups may sponsor activities throughout the year, which will include a variety of activities for our students. These school activities are open to Pence Middle School students only.

Students will follow school rules and regulations at socials (These are no-drama zones). Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the activity and possible prohibition from attending future activities or other after-school activities.

Students & Parents must sign the Pence Afterschool Student Agreement in order to stay for all events.

The athletic season has begun. We have sports teams that we can be proud of. It is equally important that we can be proud of the behavior of our fans at these events, even the youngest ones.

1) Middle school students must be accompanied by an adult to attend TAHS home games. If an administrator or school employee talks to a middle schooler who is not accompanied by an adult, a parent will be contacted to come pick that student up.

2. Students are expected to sit in the stands during all Pence and TAHS athletic contests and watch the game. They are not to " hang out” behind the stands, in the hallways, or on the adjacent grassy areas.

3. Students are advised not to bring footballs, projectiles, or other distracting “toys” to school facilities.

4. Games like tag or touch football are not allowed on adjacent fields or play areas. This is a safety concern for our students and could become a liability if someone gets hurt.

5. Students should not be on the playing court or field at any time. These areas are only for competitors, coaches, and officials.

6. Students are expected to show good sportsmanship to everyone involved in the competition: players, fans, and officials. Taunting and booing will not be tolerated.

Thanks for all your help and your support of Knights athletics!

Regarding generative artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT, the current RCPS policy for all content areas is as follows:

• ChatGPT is blocked on student Chromebooks

• Teachers may use digital means and/or identification of inconsistency from a student’s prior work to determine AI/ChatGPT use in student assignments

• Teachers may require access to student drafts and revisions to ensure academic integrity throughout an assignment

• If a student uses AI/ChatGPT to complete all or part of an assignment, it will be considered plagiarism (see plagiarism policy below):

Plagiarism encompasses, but is not limited to, the following:

1. presenting as one's own the works or the opinions of someone else without proper acknowledgement.

2. borrowing of the sequence of ideas, the arrangement of materials, or the pattern of thought of someone else without proper acknowledgement.

3. using artificial intelligence and/or ChatGPT to produce or guide content

4. copying answers to a worksheet or class assignment from another student

5. sharing answers to an assessment or class assignment with another student who has not yet completed that assignment

Some examples of plagiarism are:

• using sentences from a work or the internet and only changing a few words or using synonyms;

• having a parent or another person write an essay or do a project which is then submitted as one's own work;

• using AI assistive tools such as Photomath to complete an assignment

• using the internet to locate prepared essays or papers to submit as original work;

• copying and/or paraphrasing writing from artificial intelligence or ChatGPT;

• AND/OR failing to use proper documentation and bibliography.

The VDOE and the Virginia Department of Health worked collaboratively to develop information and resources for fentanyl education and awareness (HB 1473). The Fentanyl Awareness informational one-sheet was created through that partnership. Additionally, the webpage includes resources for educators on substance use prevention. Read more from VDOE.

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 since they do so much for our kids! They'll be excited to start the school year off with a lounge full of treats!

Stock the Lounge: https://www.signupgenius.com/.../10C0845A5AA2CA0F58

Two options for easy drop off:

1. Leave your items at the front office of Pence Middle.
2. If items are to be delivered or shipped to the school (375 Bowman Road), please have them delivered to Door #1 and labeled Pence Staff Lounge.

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

Pence Middle PTO Hospitality Committee

Why aren’t students assigned lockers? I am glad you asked. There are multiple reasons:

1. We do not have enough lockers for each student in the main academic halls for each grade level. Moving students to other parts of the building to try and get them a locker results in supervision problems. Additionally, students tend to have problems with their lockers (in which there are many) and it is very difficult for staff to try and help troubleshoot locker issues.

2. The hallways are crowded and the lockers are stacked one on top of the other or are very narrow with no spacing between them. Students struggle to access their lockers and get them open as they are overcrowded and students are trying to get to move to their classes. Historically, this has led to a tremendous amount of frustration, tardiness to class, and loss of instructional time.

3. Since we have started having students carrying their items with them from class to class, the amount of student conflict has gone down significantly as they are not crowded on top of each other and as they now move quickly from class to class.

4. Removing an aspect of conflict and “drama” in middle school (at this stage in their lives) allows for more content students, which also allows them to be in a better space to focus and learn.

5. Class changes are very brief and students have their backpacks on for a very short time. If a student simply takes his/her chromebook out of the backpack and carries it by hand, it does alleviate a good portion of the weight.

6. We have worked with our teachers to require the minimum number of supplies to cut down on both the weight and the cost to parents.

With all of that being stated, we are always willing to work with parents if there is a health concern to help determine a plan to lighten the load. Thank you!

Wilbur S. Pence Middle School: https://wspms.rockingham.k12.va.us/

Facebook: Wilbur S. Pence Middle School

Instagram: theknightspotlight

Rockingham County Public Schools: https://www.rcps.net/

Download the RCPS app today!

More information at https://www.rcps.net/page/school-calendar-2026-2027

Missed Day Procedure

Q: After a missed day due to inclement weather or other unplanned circumstance, what happens to the even/odd schedule?

A: Students return to whatever day (Odd or Even) is scheduled on the calendar for that date. Regardless if they miss one day or multiple days.

For example, if an even day was missed due to snow, the next day the students would return to school on an odd day because that is what is posted on the RCPS Odd/Even calendar.

Office Email: wspmsattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us

Principal Email: tshank@rockingham.k12.va.us

Website: https://wspms.rockingham.k12.va.us/

Location: 375 Bowman Drive, Dayton, VA 22821

Phone: 540-879-2535

Fax: 540-879-2179