Pence Press
May 2020
Farewell Pence 8th Grade Students
A Few Parting Words
In parting, we want you to always remember that your Pence faculty and staff loves you and cannot wait to see what wonderful things you will accomplish as you grow in life.
Sincerely-
WSPMS Faculty & Staff
Go Knights!
Congratulations TAHS Freshman Class Officers
Easton Crockett
Jackson Curry
Kendall Simmers
Mia Flory
Closing Out '19-'20 and Getting Ready for '20-'21
This week, teachers will be working on closing out the school year and the administration will be preparing for next year throughout the summer. Students will be receiving their report cards in just under two weeks along with some additional information. We will keep you informed regarding back to school dates & information for the '20-'21school year with a summer mailing as well as electronic communications as things progress. In the meantime, you are always welcome to reach out to the school with any questions.
Retrieving Student Belongings
Pence Families ~~
We are excited to inform you that you will be able to pick up your student belongings from the school building starting on Friday, May 29th. Please understand that we will be adhering to the Phase 1 guidelines for social distancing so know that patience with this process is greatly appreciated. Students will not be allowed in the building, so belongings will be brought out to a table where you may retrieve it. Please be ready to give our volunteers the following information when you get to the school: student name, grade, PE teacher, and class period the student had PE. If your student has items that need to be returned for the summer (instruments, library books, textbooks, teacher library books, uniforms, etc.), there will be a bin next to the table for you to place these items. Please check the dates and times below for when your students can pick up their belongings. To make the process easier for everyone involved, please only come at the time assigned for your student. Be on the lookout for more details coming to you on Wednesday, May 27th.
Friday, May 29th - 8th grade
8:30 - 12:00 (Last names starting A - L)
12:00 - 4:00 ( Last names starting M - Z)
Monday, June 1st - 7th grade
8:30 - 12:00 (Last names starting A - L)
12:00 - 4:00 ( Last names starting M - Z)
Tuesday, June 2nd - 6th grade
8:30 - 12:00 (Last names starting A - L)
12:00 - 4:00 ( Last names starting M - Z)
4:00 - 6:00 Any student unable to come at their regular time. (all grades)
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (June 3rd - June 5th) -- Please call the office (540-879-2535) from 8:00 - 4:00.
We know that this process will be a learning experience for us all. Please understand that everything we do is for your safety and the safety of our faculty and staff. We look forward to seeing your smiling faces (even if it’s behind a mask).
If you have any questions, please contact the office from 8:00 - 4:00 Tuesday through Thursday this week.
Chromebooks
Yearbooks
Track Uniforms
As the end of the school year approaches, we have some school reminders that may be helpful:
REGISTRATION
• The snap codes to register returning students for the 20-21 school year have been sent to parents. Parents can register their students now or during the summer using the included link: Registration Link Please call school counseling (540-879-2535) if you have any questions regarding registration. We will be happy to help!
• While we are currently unable to provide a computer lab for families to complete registration for families that don’t have access to a laptop at home, online registration can be completed on smartphones or tablets.
• If your summer entails moving to a new home, please be sure to contact the school counseling department (Jill Hoover: jfhoover@rockingham.k12.va.us) with updated address information so that we can help make the beginning of next year as seamless as possible for you and your student(s).
Fun Things to Do This Summer While You’re Social Distancing
Author: Lisa Milbrand
But that doesn’t mean summer 2020 has to be a bummer. Don’t focus on all the summer activities that have been canceled or put on the unsafe list—instead, think about the positive, and all the wonderful things you can still do at home or while social distancing this summer.
If you’re looking for fun things to do in the summer at home—or simply want to focus on the simple pleasures of the season—try some of these stellar summer activities and staycation ideas that are just as wonderful as your traditional summer vacation plans.
As with spring activities during coronavirus, adjusting expectations to these socially distant or at-home summer activities may take some mental gymnastics, but by the end of summer, you’ll still feel like you got your fill of warm-weather activities—while keeping yourself, your family, and your community safe.
1. Make homemade ice-cream in a bag (Click for recipe)
2. Run through a sprinkler
3. Have a watermelon seed spitting contest
4. Camp out in the backyard
5. Make S’mores
6. Have a water balloon fight
7. Go stargazing
8. Nap in a hammock or under a shaded tree
9. Make Slushies (click for DIY Slushy recipe)
10. Make Popsicles (click for 50 healthy popsicle recipes)
Vaccination Requirements for the Next School Year
Summer School
July 13 - 31
Summer Reading
Feeding the Knights
Days & Times
Meal distributions will continue through the summer months on the same days (Monday & Wednesday), but with slightly shortened hours from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.
Meals Card: Pandemic- EBT Card Information
Band Information
Calling all 8th grade band members, please see the TAHS Band website to see the audition information.
Uprising 8th graders and 9th graders if you are interested in Marching Knights including guard, please visit the TAHS Band website for more information.
https://turnerashbyband.weebly.com
Feel free to contact Melissa Harper for more information mharper@rockingham.k12.va.us
Athletics for 2020-2021
We are hopeful that we will be able to offer our normal middle school athletic programs during the 2020-2021 school year. However, nothing is definite at this time as we are all having to adjust to various guidelines and regulations. We plan to communicate with families as updates become available.
In the meantime if your student is interested in playing sports at Pence, we do require a VHSL physical dated after May 1, 2020.
Here is a list of athletic opportunities based of grade levels:
Fall: Cross Country - 6,7,8
Fall: Volleyball - 7,8
Winter: Basketball - 7,8
Winter: Cheer - 7,8
Winter: Wrestling - 6,7,8
Spring: Track - 6,7,8
Please call the school if you have any questions.
Chromebook Help!
Pence Families-
I wanted to share the plan for providing ongoing technology support to students for the next couple of months. Students/families can request remote tech help using this Google Form. It is linked at technology.rockingham.k12.va.us. Tech staff will reach out to families via email or phone and try to troubleshoot remotely. If tech staff deems that a replacement charger or device is needed, then they will direct families to call the school's main office to arrange a device and/or charger pick up.
Sincerely-
Pence Administrative Team
Counseling Hotline Number
Many of us may be struggling more with our mood during this time. A wonderful resource became available this week that allows people to call counselors in the Shenandoah Valley anonymously. The information is included below:
Counselors in the Shenandoah Area have created a hotline to help support those of us who are struggling with our mood and emotions. Calls can be made anonymously. The hotline is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 7 p.m., until 10 p.m., and from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. for Spanish speakers.
Hotline Number: 540-820-5762
About Us
Wilbur Pence Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1j84fxh9NC/?igshid=1ugnqkq1hn27l
WSPMS WEBSITE including "Parent Resources" & "Student Resources"
http://wspms.rockingham.k12.va.us/
Email: jchilds@rockingham.k12.va.us
Website: http://wspms.rockingham.k12.va.us/
Location: 375 Bowman Road, Dayton, VA, USA
Phone: 540-879-2535
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/penceknights/