Pence Press

Pence Families ~

Thank you so much for your help in making the first seven days of school such a huge success. Our Pence Knights have been real ROCK STARS!

On Tuesday, our administration team worked through student expectations and handbook guidelines with all three grade levels.

Some of the topics we covered were:

• Chromebooks
• Cell Phone Policy
• Digital Citizenship
• Dress Code
• REP Points
• Attendance

I have included the slideshow with a narrative for parents to review. This will give you an idea of our school expectations. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PVohDMpfUo9qZTAH2cGAAR1Vfc-e3xpL/view?usp=sharing

These topics are reviewed with students often through lunch announcements, our hallway news, morning and afternoon announcements, and in their R Block classes.

Many of the same reminders will appear in our weekly newsletter, Pence Press, which is sent on Sundays.

We encourage you to chat with your student about making good choices to be successful in their middle school year.

We appreciate the opportunity to partner with you

Pence Administration

Our spirit gear drive ends September 1st. Don't forget to order something today! Shop NOW!

Starting Tuesday, September 8th, all 7th and 8th grade students will have the opportunity to try out for Competitive Club Soccer at Wilbur Pence!

September 3rd is the deadline to return soccer registration forms. Forms are located in the front office. A current sports physical must be on file to tryout and participate.

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

At Pence Middle School, we are committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment where every student belongs. We value and support our students as they navigate the challenges and opportunities of the middle school years.

Through Knights REPresent, our Positive Behavior framework, we teach and reinforce three schoolwide expectations:

• Be Respectful
• Be Engaged
• Be Prepared

Staff will teach, model, and recognize these expectations throughout the school year. Students, classes, teams, and grade levels will be celebrated for demonstrating positive behaviors.

Families are important partners in this work. We encourage you to talk with your student about what it means to Knights REP each day. Together, we can ensure Pence remains a place where We ALL Belong and every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Pence Administration:

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

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.

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.

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, you must complete the prearranged absence form at least 10 days before the scheduled absence. Please turn in these forms to the front office or email them to wspmsattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us. Admin have the discretion to excuse or unexcuse the prearranged absence.

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

Practices are 3:30-4:30pm Monday - Thursday.

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.

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

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/

Rockingham County Parent-Student Handbook

WSPMS Student Handbook

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