Wilbur Pence Middle School celebrated Family Literacy Night on September 29th with record attendance! Our special guest author this year was Will McIntosh, author of the nominated award-winning book, Watchdog. He told our students the “story behind the story” and participated in book signings and meet and greet sessions. Will McIntosh is a Hugo award-winning Science Fiction author. His Middle-Grade book Watchdog was a finalist for the Virginia Reader’s Choice Award, and his newest book, The Classmate, was optioned for TV by ABC/Disney. Will has published ten novels, many short stories, and lately has been collaborating with one of the creators of the Netflix series Dragons: Race to the Edge on a TV adaptation of his Young Adult book, Burning Midnight. What else happened during Family Literacy Night? Massanutten Regional Library and Therapy Dogs International provided interactive sessions. Our families jump-started their winter reading with a special shopping experience at our Scholastic Book Fair. We gave away exciting door prizes graciously donated by the community. Our families played games featuring book giveaways, enjoyed technology break-out sessions, and learned about wonderful books through book talks. Six lucky Pence students participated in the “Get Caught Reading” program and were drawn as Kindle Fire Tablet winners during our giveaway extravaganza. Our Wilbur Pence family celebrated an incredible night of literacy on September 29, 2022.

Mark your calendar for our fall school yearbook pictures. They will take place during the student's PE class. To pay online, go to www.strawbridge.net. Click order pictures and enter the following code: FM403944

Friday, October 7

Monday, October 10

Fall picture makeups - Thursday, December 1

Over-the-counter medications (Tylenol, Tums, Cough Drops, etc.) can be given at school. The new policy is those medications must be brought into the school by a parent/guardian in the original pharmaceutical package with student’s name on the bottle. The parent/guardian must provide the school with a completed medication authorization/parental consent form.

The medication authorization form is attached for your convenience. Please reach out to your our school nurse, Mrs. Weaver, with further questions. Call (540-879-2535) or email mweaver@rockingham.k12.va.us to reach her.

Last Monday night, the RCPS School Board approved an update to the Policy JZK about student-owned personal devices. For RCPS middle school students, the guidelines detailed in the policy were already in place, and students have been following them since the first day of school. The administration put these guidelines in place at the beginning of the school year to ensure our students' opportunity to participate in content instruction with fewer distractions.

Below is a quick overview of the guidelines:

1. Cell phones must be muted and put into backpacks until they exit the school building.

2. Students may only use wired headphones to connect to RCPS-issued electronic devices.

3. Smart watches fall under policy JZK and are not to be used for communication.

4. The building principal must approve exceptions for medical reasons.

November 2-Movie-3:30-4:30 PM*

November 14 & 15-Audition Workshops 3:30-5:00 PM*

November 28-December 1-Auditions-by Appointment*

March 2-5, 2023-SHOW!

*Students need to be picked up promptly!

10/10 - HOME vs. Hillyard -4:30pm

10/13 - HOME vs. Montevideo -4:30pm

10/17 HOME vs. Skyline -4:30pm

10/20 - HOME vs. Elkton -4:30pm

10/24 - HOME vs. Thomas Harrison -4:30pm

10/27 - AWAY @ Hillyard - girls at 4:30 pm, boys game to follow

10/31 - AWAY @ Montevideo - boys at 4:30 pm, girls' game to follow

11/3 - AWAY @ Skyline -girls at 4:30 pm, boys game to follow

11/9 - AWAY @ Elkton -4:30pm (they have two gyms)

11/10 - AWAY @ Thomas Harrison - girls at 4:30 pm, boys game to follow

Home Game Reminders for Students:

• Students gather in the auditorium until ticket sales begin.
• Our Pence Knights are expected to be in the right place, at the right time, and doing the right thing!
• Tickets to athletic events are $2 for students and $3 for adults.
• Concessions will be available for sale at most athletic events.

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/virginia/dayton/wilbur-s-pence-middle-school

Students should be picked up at the front of the school for afternoon dismissal. Afternoon dismissal will usually start around 3:18ish. Adults will be at the front of the building to assist in the dismissal process. Please help us keep the flow of traffic moving by moving forward when asked and by treating our faculty and staff in a respectful manner.

We appreciate your help and understanding with this.

Everfi is a platform that many of our teachers use in their classrooms. Please pass this information on to teachers and students. This is a good chance for students to earn scholarship money and is open to students k-12.

EVERFI Scholarship Contest

Scholarship Deadline: 12/2

This year, Rockingham County Public Schools was awarded the Empowered District Seal from EVERFI for our exemplary commitment to whole-child education. Because of that, our students are eligible to earn 10 scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000. Click here for the student application. Please encourage your students to enter by December 2nd. Students can enter in any grade level K-12!

Here's a list of all of EVERFI'S contests and scholarship opportunities.

If you are not using EVERFI, check out what they have available by contacting:

Erin Dlott

K12 Implementation Specialist, Virginia & DC

C 703.501.9975

edlott@everfi.com

Your student’s interim report is now available in PowerSchool by logging in at https://ps.rcps.net/public/home.html. You will find “Secondary Interim Report” by clicking on the Student Reports tab along the left side navigation bar and looking under the “Currently Published Reports” heading. Please check back here throughout the year for Interim Reports and Report Cards. Paper copies will be distributed next week to students whose families requested them during the online registration process in the fall.

Thank you,

Pence Administration

Our Homework Help Program takes place Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 - 4:30. Assistance is given with homework assignments, late or missing work, and challenging learning areas. If you are interested, please print and complete the following form:

Homework Help Permission Form

Bus Transportation is available on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Please print and complete this form if transportation is needed: Homework Help Transportation Form 22 - 23

Hard copies of both forms are available in our office. Return all completed forms to the office. Thank you!

It's never too early to start thinking about yearbooks! Beginning in September, the ability to Pre-order will be available. Don't miss out on the fun when they arrive at the end of the year! The cost of the yearbook will be $20.

Online ordering is available again this year (beginning on September 1), but please do note that a credit card processing fee will be added to your order (and will cost you more). This cannot be refunded. The website is https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=13754 and use code 13754. You may also scan the QR code.

You also purchase a yearbook by bringing cash or a check beginning September 6. Yearbooks orders will only be accepted on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the week. No order forms will be sent home. Students will bring their payment to Mrs. Dove in Room 201 and complete an order form at that time.

If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Dove at kdove@rockingham.k12.va.us.