Pence Press
February 22-28, 2021
Scheduling for '21 - '22: Due Prior to Tomorrow!
Current 6th and 7th Grade Students (Rising 7th and 8th Graders)
Last week, R Block teachers provided students with instructions on how to enter their elective choices for next year. The instructions for entering elective choices into PowerSchool are included below. Please review the instructions and encourage your student to submit their elective choices by the end of the week. Course requests must be registered in Power School no later than Sunday, February 21.
Although the specific number of electives required varies some by grade, every student must choose enough classes to fill 8 class periods as well as 3 additional alternative electives in case of a schedule conflict. The counselors will begin going over the requests on February 22 and will contact any student with insufficient or inaccurate course requests. If students have questions about courses or the course selection process, they can email their counselor. Counselors' emails are included below.
There will be the opportunity to make changes to course requests prior to finalizing schedules.
Rising 7th grade course presentation
Rising 8th grade course presentation
Program of Studies Links
https://www.rcps.net/instruction-ecc36371
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B_9mdEDnu7INQTVhZ3BueXBKYWs
Lisa Holsinger-Thomas (lhols-thomas@rockingham.k12.va.us) - School Counselor for Upcoming 8th Grade students
Meg Helbert (mhelbert@rockingham.k12.va.us) – School Counselor for upcoming 7th Grade students
Current 8th Grade Students (Rising 9th Graders)
Hello 8th Graders!
I'm Mrs. Martin, one of the counselors at TA and it is time to select your classes for next year! We have a short time to get your classes into Power School so please read this email carefully. In this email you have several videos and documents to help you make your decisions....
Please watch this video first as it will go over classes you need to take in 9th grade.
8th grade course registration for Pence - Google Slides - Watch Video
8th grade course registration for Pence - Google Slides - Watch Video
Next, watch this How-To for instructions on putting your classes into Power School!
Registering in Power School for 9th Grade Classes
Now that you know how to request your classes and have an idea of how many elective spaces you have open, check out this video about electives that we have at TA. Remember, some electives are only open to certain grade levels!
Need more information about what we do in certain classes at TA? (This is the one Ms. Whiston-Dean mentions in the video above)
Check out this TAHS Courses webpage
Need to know the EXACT name of a course in Power School? Here is a list of "official course names" organized by subject.....Course Selection Sheet for TA 9th Graders
AND FINALLY....here is a link to help you with requirements for your diploma:
IMPORTANT: FEB 22 is the DEADLINE for entering requests!!!
Questions or problems with loading your requests? Use this Google form to tell us about the issue: Scheduling Notes for my TA Counselor
Thanks, and WE CAN'T WAIT to see YOU at TA!!!
Counselor for Students N-Z
FFA Week Spirit Days
LanSchool In Classrooms
Pence Families-
We are once again using LanSchool in the classrooms this year. This is a great resource for teachers to use to guide and manage student Chromebook use in their classrooms. When students log into their chromebooks in the classroom, their screens are shared with their teacher. The software allows teachers to keep students on task, check on their progress during classroom projects, manage which websites they should be on, and provide instructional feedback on projects as they can monitor student use while in their classrooms. This feature can only be used within the school (while on the school network) and will not be operational outside of the school/in the home.
Below are a couple of FAQ's for students:
Can school personnel (teachers, administrators, technology staff) see my screen when I am at home?
No. Lanschool ONLY works when your Chromebook is on the school's network. No monitoring or control outside school is possible. (Internet filters, as always, do remain in place when you use your RCPS Chromebook at home.)
Students, teachers, administrators -- ALL RCPS employees abide by the same privacy rules. There's no expectation that any information on an RCPS device is private. Important to understand is that accounts are typically only searched when there are compelling reasons to do so. During class, you are expected to share your screen when prompted.
Why are we using this?
This is a tool that helps teachers in two ways: 1 - assists classroom management and 2 - provides extra tools to use during classroom instruction, especially during a pandemic where we are trying to maintain appropriate distancing.
You can visit the LanSchool website using the following link: https://lenovosoftware.com/lanschool/
Picture Day(s) TBD
At www.strawbridge.net you will be able to purchase a picture package if you wish, but as with our normal fall pictures, there is no option to view them before purchase. Should you order a picture package which you are unsatisfied with, you are welcome to return that package and your student can retake pictures on picture make-up days (TBD) in March.
Here are the instructions to order your child’s pictures online:
Go to: www.strawbridge.net
Click: Order Pictures and Yearbooks (red box near top)
Enter school code: FM356112 and click Find (green box under code)
Enter information for your student
Purchase a picture package if desired.
Picture money envelopes are available for pick up in the office if you would prefer not to pay online.
Order Your WSPMS Yearbook!
You do NOT want to miss out on the memories of this school year. It is a year like none other! The 2021 yearbook IS your answer! You can reserve your copy today for ONLY $20! You can order online https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=13754 (Use code 13754). Until the end of February, you can also order with cash or check. Payment can be brought to Mrs. Dove in room 201. For your convenience, order forms will be sent home beginning Monday, 2/15. Please email Mrs. Dove at kdove@rockingham.k12.va.us with questions.
Random Acts of Kindness week
Random Acts of Kindness week is coming up! Next week we will be celebrating kindness at Pence! Look out for Positive Sticky Notes, a Thank You Note Station as well as a Kindness activity during Advisory. We also know during the pandemic, communicating kindness may look different. In an effort to keep everyone safe, many gestures that communicate kindness, such as smiles, hugs, high-fives/fist-bumps, are no longer possible. Can you think of a creative, safe way to show kindness to one another in school during the Pandemic? If so, share your ideas with your Advisory teacher! Ideas will be shared with the PBIS committee and at each grade level the student who comes up with the most creative way to communicate kindness in school during the pandemic will win a prize!
Community
While students are spending more time at home...
Below is a link to a good article for parents now that we are having our children home more during the pandemic.
Remote Area Medical
RAM Clinic (Remote Area Medical)
Rockingham County Fairgrounds
April 10-11, 2021
Free dental, vision and medical services are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Due to time constraints, patients will have to choose between DENTAL and VISION services. Medical services are offered to every patient attending the clinic.
All services are free and open to the public. No ID required. Patients will be required to wear a face covering and must undergo a COVID-19 screening before entering the clinic. Please check RAM’s clinic FAQ page for more information.
Attachments:
child by nominating him/her for the Inspire Award. This award
aims to recognize teachers who go above and beyond in the
classroom. Parents, students, pre-service teachers, or classroom
volunteers may submit nominations.
The Inspire Award allows the School Board and community to
regularly and publicly celebrate the impact that RCPS teachers make
each day, whether on a particular child or class, or by encouraging a
future teacher.
A teacher may be recognized once during a school year and
submissions must be received ten days prior to a board meeting.
The person making the nomination will be invited to share his/her
nomination essay of up to 200 words with the school board, and will
make the presentation of a certificate to the honored teacher.
The nomination form can be found on the RCPS website under “Parents”.
Athletics
Volleyball: Games Scheduled for Monday/Wednesday at 4:30 PM
Directions to Pence Live Stream:
Go to the Wilbur Pence homepage: http://wspms.rockingham.k12.va.us/
Click on 'Student Activities'
Click on 'Live Stream'
Enjoy!
Please note, there is about a 35 second delay in the live feed.
If you wish to watch previously recorded events:
Go to the Wilbur Pence homepage: http://wspms.rockingham.k12.va.us/
Click on 'Student Activities'
Click on 'Historical Recordings'
Enjoy!
The following direct link may also work:
https://live.myvrspot.com/player?udi=cm9ja2luZ2hhbQ%3D%3D&c=d3NwbXM%3D
Cross Country
Homework Help Is Available!
Our Homework Help Program takes place Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 - 4:30. It began on Tuesday, January 19th for our B students and on Thursday, January 21st for our A students. Assistance will be given with homework assignments, late, or missing work and difficult learning areas.
Interested?
Please complete the Homework Help Permission Form and return it to Mrs. McAvoy. Transportation is also available! If transportation is needed, please complete the Transportation Form and return it to the office. Make plans now to join the Homework Help Program 2021!
Share your pictures for the yearbook.
Share your photos of you and your pet during our "bring your pet to school" day or take one after the fact. You can upload your photos directly to the yearbook site: http://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=pencems ! (If it asks your for a code, it's pencems)
Also, be sure to preorder your copy today! https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/general/homepage?portal=true (if it asks you for a code- it's 13754)
Grab Some New Pence Gear!
RCPS Revised Calendar for 2020-2021
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/