Pence Press
February 15-21, 2021
Scheduling for '21 - '22
On the week of February 15th, R Block teachers will be providing 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 Friday, February 19.
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.
Please have your students enter their course choices to the best of their ability by Friday, February 19th. There will be the opportunity to make changes to course requests prior to finalizing schedules.
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
WSPMS Picture Days Continue
https://strawbridge.fotomerchanthv.com/clients/wilbur-s-pence-middle-school/fall-pictures-2-11-2021-12/optIn This link will allow parents to sign up to receive updates via email regarding their child's school portraits. These updates include promotions, additional deals and the ability to order more pictures at a later time. When entering student information, parents should be sure to enter the student's name as it is on file at the school.
There will also be a make-up day which will be announced later.
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.
Order some Strawberries!
Fresh Strawberries!!!
If you are interested in purchasing fresh strawberries from the Pence FFA, you can pay with a credit card at the link below or reply to this email and pay by check made to Pence FFA by Feb. 19.
http://floridafruitstore.com/PenceFFA
Thanks for the support!
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!
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”.
Download your BOXTOPS with this New APP!
Here is a Box Top video about the App, it's 44 seconds.
https://live.myvrspot.com/iframe?v=fMzU5MzBlMjM0NTE4MTU3YjhhMWVjMGVmMWIxZmZlZmQ
From the Community...
Student Health & Safety Reminder
Just a reminder, please be in communication with your students daily about their health. If they are experiencing any symptoms, do not send them to school. Also, if an immediate family member of someone they've been in close contact with is being tested for COVID, we ask that you err on the side of caution and keep your student at home until those results are determined. Please continue to use the screening tool (below). If you have any doubt about what to do, please call the school and we will be happy to help you with the decision making process.
Athletics
Volleyball
Cross Country
Cross Country begin on Monday, Feb 15. You must have a current VHSL physical on file to participate. Meet Coach Lambert in the new gym at 3:20pm. Practice ends at 4:30pm.
Cheer
Cheer Open Gyms begin on Monday, Feb 15. You must have a current VHSL physical on file to participate. Meet Coach Danielle in the new gym at 6:00pm. Open Gym ends at 7:00pm.
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/