Pence Press
March 14-21, 2021
RCPS Transition April 12th
Message from Dr. Scheikl
Dear RCPS Community,
At the March 8, 2021, Rockingham County School Board Meeting, I presented information about the current COVID-19 data trends within our community. The 7-day number of new cases in Rockingham County is the lowest since late August 2020 and is less than 10% of the peak number from January. I also shared information from the Virginia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics that expressed their concern over the social-emotional strain that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on students. The pediatricians, along with many other medical professionals and the Virginia Department of Education, have asked school divisions to return more students to in-person learning where this can be done safely. In order to increase the number of students who can attend school in person, we would have to relax the six-foot physical distancing rule that remains the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lab research reviewed by the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that while reducing the minimum distance to three feet would be irresponsible without masks, proper masking, combined with improved ventilation, can make a smaller distance safe. These lab results were confirmed by a study published just a few days ago in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. In a review of COVID-19 cases among half a million students and almost 100,000 staff members in Massachusetts schools, the researchers found no significant difference in infection rates when three-foot distancing and six-foot distancing were compared, particularly when universal masking and proper ventilation were in place. The three-foot minimum distancing rule also remains the standard set by the World Health Organization.
This past Thursday, the RCPS reopening committee that has been in place since the beginning of the pandemic reviewed concerns raised by staff and families in the recent surveys we conducted. The committee spent more than three hours considering a multitude of scenarios before determining the best option for each school level.
As part of the survey, parents were asked to what extent they supported the return of students to four days of in-person learning after spring break on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest level of support. At the elementary level, 81.7% of parents responded with a level of 4 or 5 (high support) while 11.2% responded with a 1 or 2 (low support). At the middle school level, high support was 73.3%, while low support was offered by 20% of parents. At the high school level, 70.8% responded with high support, with low support reaching 20.4%. Although we did not treat questions of preference as votes that would decide the outcome, the high level of support, with an average value of 4.2 out of 5, certainly provides a key piece of information, along with the fact that the COVID-19 vaccine has been available to K-12 education staff at a high level of priority. The committee also worked on solutions to issues raised by staff and families.
After reviewing the data and exploring the options, RCPS has decided to transition to four days of in-person learning for the students who are currently attending school two days per week in a hybrid model. This transition will go into effect on Monday, April 12, 2021. Students who are attending school in the Home Learning Academy (HLA) will remain in the HLA and transition to four days of synchronous, virtual instruction each week instead of two days. Students are expected to remain in their current mode of instruction, either hybrid or HLA. When families were surveyed for the second semester education preference, the decision was for the entire spring semester. Due to staffing and scheduling issues for space, those choices remain in effect. Massanutten Technical Center will also transition to four days of in-person learning. More detail will be forthcoming from MTC as well as RCPS schools, but I wanted to let you know as soon as possible that a decision has now been made in consultation with the RCPS school board.
Again, students in RCPS classrooms will be seated no closer than three feet apart, with everyone wearing masks at all times. We will strive for six feet of physical distance whenever possible, and a distance of three feet will remain the exception. During indoor lunch, students will need to remain at least six feet apart as they are eating, with a slight reduction being possible for some outdoor lunch options. Additional opportunities to remove masks will be provided during mask breaks. As temperatures allow, students and teachers may spend more time outside where the risk of infection is particularly low and masks can be removed when six-foot distancing can be maintained. By making the transition to four days of in-person learning, RCPS is hopeful that students will be able to make greater gains academically and improve their social-emotional well-being. As part of this change, we are also working on more field trip opportunities and events to recognize students. We also continue to advocate for higher attendance limits at outdoor events and hope that this will lead to a change in the relevant executive orders by early April.
Again, please expect additional communication over the next few weeks.
Sincerely,
Oskar Scheikl
RCPS Superintendent
Upcoming Spirit Wear Days!
Students: Please Join Us By Wearing...
-In conjunction with the start of the NCAA Basketball Tournament
Your Favorite Band or Music Apparel on March 22nd & 23rd
-In celebration of Music in Our Schools Month
Your Pence or Knights Gear/School Colors on March 25th and 26th
-In Celebration of our Community and our School
Your College/University Apparel, Military, or Other Career Attire on April 1st and 2nd
-In recognition of the choices that our high school seniors will be making as they prepare for graduation in June
We hope you choose to join in the fun!
Greetings from the Knight's Cafe Manager
I am so glad to have your student eating lunch with us this year. We will continue to offer FREE lunch and FREE breakfast for your child until June 10th. I am excited to let you know.
On March 1st we began to offer two choices of entree for their FREE lunch. The menu is attached at the bottom of the newsletter. This way you can share this with your child. The next exciting addition is for students to be allowed to purchase chips, bottle water, and can Izze drinks. Chips will be 75 cents, bottle water is $1.00 and can drinks are $1.25.
This will require your student to have a positive lunch account. You may have the student add money to their account by bringing money to school. Please write the check to WSPMS. I am sorry to say Cafe Prepay is NOT working. Please feel free to call if you have any questions.
Student Picture Information
Friday (March 12) was picture day for B Day students. There will be one final make up day planned in the near future for any student who has not yet taken pictures or needs to retake pictures. As soon as a date is finalized, we will communicate with families. We appreciate your patience and flexibility throughout picture scheduling and rescheduling this year.
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 day (TBD).
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: FM356705 and click Find (green box under code)
Enter information for your student
Purchase a picture package if desired.
You will be able to view and order pictures through Friday, March 19, 2021.
Please note, we realize some families may not wish to pay online. Picture order envelopes are available in the office.
From the Ag. Dept.
Ruriteens made blankets
Interim Grades
Attention WSPMS Parents: Your student’s interim report is now available in PowerSchool by logging in at https://ps.rcps.net/public/home.html. You will find “WSPMS 2nd Semester Interim 1 (20-21)” by clicking on the Student Reports tab along the left side navigation bar. If you would like a paper copy mailed to you, you may request one by calling the school.
Remember that teachers will be available to discuss your student’s progress during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, March 17 from 12:00-7:00. To schedule an appointment with a teacher, please call the school.
This also serves as a reminder that our school calendar has been updated so Thursday, March 18 will be a regular length school day for A Day students and Friday, March 19 will be a regular school day for B Day students. Students should complete asynchronous work on days they do not attend classes as usual.
PowerSchool is an excellent way to get a current snapshot of your student’s progress. If you do not have an established PowerSchool account, instructions for setting up an account can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17tPGWvHnyBSPFrRgl_kpwoHFIdnFNKze4l10dnUKt1g/edit
Along with a video showing how to navigate the site:
https://live.myvrspot.com/iframe?v=fZjc2MGFmMmUwZWU5M2U0Yjg4OWI3M2JiY2Q2YTUwOGY
Immunizations
NEW guidelines
- Please read carefully the RCPS immunization/Physical Examination Schedule for 2021-2022. Under sections Grade 6th and Grade 7th, ALL rising 7th graders will need to have their Tdap-booster (must be 11 years old) that is required for entry into 7th grade regardless of the interval since the last dose of tetanus-containing vaccine by this fall 2021-22 school year.
- They now also require all males and females to get their first dose of HPV and Meningococcal vaccine before entry of the 7th grade as well. We would like for you to start planning ahead on this and get your doctor's appointment scheduled now so this will be done prior to Augusta 2021.
The Health Department is still closed for these types of appointments and it will not be easy to make these appointments at the last minute.
If you have any questions please call and speak to the school nurse or ask your doctor.
Check out the Art Webpage
In honor of March being Youth Art Month, Wilbur Pence’s artist would like to show off the awesome work they are completing in art class!
Check out the Art Webpage to see some beautiful creations and learn about the art program: http://intheartroomwithmsguido.weebly.com/
We would also like to congratulate some artists who were chosen to be part of the artVISION-Rockingham County Public Schools Youth Art Month Exhibit" in the virtual Smith House galleries of the Arts Council of the Valley. These artists are: Aidan Johnston, Lucy Clouse, Dennise Mendez-Soto, Sofia Garber, and Daryana Padilla.
You can view the art show on Facebook through these links:
Athletics
8th grade students interested in playing Baseball for TA
8th grade students interested in playing baseball for TA:
Off season workouts begin on Monday, March 15th.
- Monday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:30-5:00.
- You need to provide your own transportation to and from practice.
- Bus 127 is a shuttle bus from Pence to TA on Mondays.
- You have to wear a mask at all times.
- You need to bring baseball pants, a hat, cleats, a glove, and a bat if you have one.
- You must have a current VHSL physical on file to participate.
7th Grade Basketball
Tryouts begin Tuesday
You must have an up-to-date physical in order to compete.
Sports Schedules
Track
WSPMS Track season starts April 12!
Volleyball
Homework Help Is Available!
Our Homework Help Program takes place Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30 - 4:30.
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!
Community
School Bus Driver Training
Rockingham County Public Schools has a need for bus drivers. If you are interested or know someone else that may be, please see the information below.
School Bus Driver Training
April 20th-22nd
Contact Chris Sours for more information (540)433-2458
Military Children Poetry Showcase
This March, the Virginia War Memorial is accepting submissions for our first ever Military Children Poetry Showcase, open to all Virginian students (K-12) who have a parent or parents serving in the military, or who are veterans. April is both the Month of the Military Child and National Poetry Month, so we will be posting all poems to our website beginning April 1 to celebrate the creativity of Virginian students and to acknowledge the sacrifices made by children of our service members. Note that this is a showcase, not a contest, so all entries that follow the guidelines will be posted!
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:
Share your pictures for the yearbook.
Help our yearbook include pictures you have taken!
Do you have pictures of our students playing in the snow?
Do you have pictures of sporting events?
Do you have pictures of students working asynchronously or HLA students zooming into class?
We would love to consider them for our 2020-2021 yearbook! Please visit http://www.hjeshare.com/eShare/?code=pencems to upload photos of our WSPMS students!
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!
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/