Pence Press
February 1-6, 2021
Snow Day Schedules
If...
...School is closed on Monday and Tuesday, then "A" Day students will return on Thursday for the first day of the second semester.
Second Semester Class Schedules
Pence Families:
Second semester schedules have been mailed to each student. Individual students and families were emailed with schedule updates if changes were necessary after paper copies were mailed.
Schedules are also available to view through the PowerSchool Parent/Student Portal.
Schedules are not able to be viewed in the PowerSchool App until the schedule goes live next week.
To view, go to the RCPS PowerSchool login page at https://ps.rcps.net/public/home.html and log in.
Track information is located on the Grades and Attendance opening page. Track A students will attend school on Mondays and Thursdays. Track B students will attend school on Tuesdays and Fridays. Track C students have selected the Home Learning Academy (HLA) option. HLA students with last names A-K will attend virtual classes on A-Days, Mondays and Thursdays. HLA students with last names L-Z will attend virtual classes on B-Days, Tuesdays and Fridays. All students have asynchronous activities on the three days of the week they are not in school or attending classes virtually.
To view class schedule, click on the "My Schedule" section of the navigation menu. (If you are using a mobile device, click the small gray arrow along the left side of the screen to reveal the menu.) Then, select the Matrix View tab. Blocks 2.1 - 2.4 indicate second semester classes.
If you have questions regarding second semester schedules, please call the school.
Thank you, and we look forward to another great semester at Pence!
Daily Schedule
Second Semester Transportation Information
We are excited to begin a new semester! With National Dark Chocolate Day, National Pizza Day (yes, it’s a thing), Superbowl Sunday and Give a kid a smile day, there are all kinds of things that are great about February! We want to celebrate the beginning of our second semester together with kindness. So be on the lookout for fun activities that focus on Kindness throughout the month. To start, check out the Friendly February Action Calendar Below!
Pence Picture Days
Thursday, February 11 - A Day in person students and HLA students last names A - K
Friday, February 12 - B Day in person students and HLA students last names M - Z
HLA students should plan to have pictures taken between 11:30am - 1:30pm.
If an HLA student cannot make it during this time, please call the school to make an appointment for Thursday or Friday Only. Thank you!
Attention Yearbook Lovers!
Be sure to reserve your copy today! The cost is $20. From Monday, February 8 through Friday, February 19, you may order using cash or check. Simply send the payment to school and bring it to Mrs. Dove in room 201. Correct change only, please. You can also still order online with a credit card (the cost is the same), by visiting https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=13754. If you are asked for a school code, it is 13754.
Any student interested in FCCLA Competition should please see Ms. Kramer in room 115. Registration is due February 12th.
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.
PE second semester
Mr. Smiley and Ms. Linthicum will meet their classes in the big gym across from the main office.
Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Arbogast will meet their classes in the back gym.
If you are a student attending virtually (HLA) please use the link at the top of your Schoology Course labeled HLA Zoom Link at the beginning of your class period.
Athletics
Volleyball
Any 7th or 8th grade girl interested in playing volleyball this season at Pence:
Practice will begin on February 8 at 5:30 - 7:00 at Pence. We will have a zoom meeting on Thursday, February 4 at 6 pm. Please email Coach Anderson at tanderson@rockingham.k12.va.us with a student and parent email address to get the meeting link. Thank you!
All athletes must have a completed VHSL physicals to participate, dated after 5/1/2020 to be eligible to participate.
Cross Country
Any 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student interested in cross country at Pence:
Practice will begin on February 15th 3:30 - 5:00 at Pence. We will have a zoom parent meeting on Wednesday, February 10th at 6 pm. Please email Candice Ray at cray@rockingham.k12.va.us with a student and parent email address to get the meeting link. Thank you!
We are attempting to gauge interest in cross country at Pence.
Coach: Delan Lambert
When: Beginning February 15, 2021 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at Pence from 3:18pm-5:00pm.
If your student athlete is interested in this opportunity, please fill out the form. Thank you!
https://forms.gle/ZJ213qx63FG5w43JA
All athletes must have a completed VHSL physicals to participate, dated after 5/1/2020 to be eligible to participate.
Meet our New Cross Country Coach!
Delan Lambert joins Pence as our new cross country coach this year! Coach Lambert competed as a long distance runner in both Indoor and Outdoor Track seasons during his junior and senior years of high school. He competed as a member of the Cross Country team his senior year. He competed in several races outside of school since graduating as well. Coach Lambert has been an assistant coach at Turner Ashby High School on the Indoor Track team for the past two years and was an assistant on the Pence Outdoor Track team last season. We are very happy to welcome Coach Lambert to the Pence family!
Cheer
Middle School Athletics certainly look different this year, and cheer is no exception! At this time we have a plan for cheer and wish to gauge interest using a google form. Details are listed here:
Coach: Danielle Davis-Argabright
When: Beginning February 15, 2021 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the new (back) gym at Pence from 6:00pm-7:00pm. End date TBD.
Cheer Open Gym:
We will be learning cheers as well as jump & motion techniques. We will also be completing work outs for strength training. At this time we are not able to stunt. Masks & distancing will be required.
There is not a plan for a performance at this time, but we are hopeful that an opportunity will develop.
If your student athlete is interested in this opportunity, please fill out the form. Thank you!
https://forms.gle/m9q7piHS8n8MTSpXA
All athletes must have a completed VHSL physicals to participate, dated after 5/1/2020 to be eligible to participate.
Band Students
All first semester Band students:
We started collecting all borrowed band room equipment Jan 25/26.
This includes instruments (Modern Band and wind instruments), folders, and PPE. Please wash the bell covers, masks, and instrument bags (DO NOT DRY). If you were unable to bring your equipment back, please do so this week.
We will do inventory and will keep your name on your instrument and PPE so it will be available in the Spring. We are hoping to gather once the weather is warmer to do more outside playing.
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!
8th Grade SOL Tests
8th grade Fall SOL schedule and information
*students will only be tested in classes that were just completed this semester.
Wednesday 2/3 HLA Math 8/Algebra
Bus arrives at 8:30am
Bus departs at 12:15pm
HLA info
Students should report to the library by 8:30 on days they test
Students must wear a face covering while in the building at all times
Please bring a charged chromebook, a charger, pencil(s), and a book to read (if finished early)
Students may bring a water bottle and a snack if desired
Cell phones may be brought, BUT they CAN NOT be on the student or within reach during the test.
If a student tests later in the day, a packed lunch will be available and a lunch break will occur.
If a student is riding the bus, but needs to keep testing past pick up time, a parent/guardian will be notified to arrange a later pick up time
Car riders will be able to call for a ride when they finish their test
Blended Students who were scheduled to take their SOL last Tuesday when school was cancelled, are currently scheduled to make that SOL up on this Tuesday. If school is cancelled again, then they will take it on Friday.
Civics and writing tests will be local this year and organized by your child’s classroom teacher.
Algebra 1 is a verified credit course which counts toward a student’s graduation requirements in the state of Virginia. A score of 350 will be considered passing given the current circumstances.
Chromebook Home Support information
The county has updated the at home support links on our RCPS webpage which now point directly to the Help Desk. Moving forward parents/students will login to the Help Desk with student Google credentials and should be submitting tickets with the *Student Ticket* help topic.
Students/parents will provide the exact same information as before and the only other information they will need is their child's password. (They should have this on the beginning of the year student account information sheet.).This change should help our staff more efficiently manage at home support requests will allow for two way communication between our staff and families that can be referenced even after tickets are closed.
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/