Wilbur S. Pence Middle School
375 Bowman Road • Dayton, VA 22821
(540) 879-2535 • Fax: (540) 879-2179
Easy Ways You Can Support WSPMS
The WSPMS Library collects the UPC codes from Campbell's Soup labels. Clip the UPC off the labels (the entire label is no longer needed). Deposit the UPCs in containers found in the main office and library. Visit the Campbell's web site to see a list of qualifying Campbell's products.
The WSPMS Library also collects Box Tops for Education. View the Box Tops site for a complete list of participating products. Parents, please send Box Tops and Campbell's UPCs in separate envelopes.
Our school plans to use proceeds from these donations to purchase resources for our library.
Character Counts at Pence!
Faculty members reward students' behavior with tokens which can be 'spent' on a variety of goods and services at school.
Students nominated by teachers as good citizens receive small prizes and are eligible to win a second prize from a drawing at the end of the six weeks. Six Pillars of Character Counts: Citizenship, Responsibility, Caring, Respect, Trustworthiness, and Fairness. Students with no broken pillars participate in Acknowledgement Days during the school year.
Directions to Pence Middle School
From I-81, take Exit 240 (Bridgewater). Proceed on Rt. 257, 3.4 miles west to the Town of Bridgewater. At stop light at Rt. 257 and Main Street (beside Hardee's), take a right turn and proceed north on Main Street (Rt. 42). Stay on Rt. 42 north to the town of Dayton (approx. 4 miles). In Dayton, turn left onto Rt. 732 (Eberly Road & Bowman's Road). WSPMS will be on the left in 1/2 mile.
Dress and Appearance
Clothing worn by students that, in the opinion of the school administration, causes distraction or inhibits learning is forbidden.
For health and safety reasons, proper dress and good grooming are expected of all students. Dress and grooming must not disrupt the educational process or learning environment.
Parents have the responsibility to aid and encourage students in selecting proper clothing and keeping good grooming habits. Some examples of un-acceptable clothing at school include, but not limited to: pants worn below the waist, exposed underwear, mini-skirts, short shorts, cut-off shirts or blouses (no bare stomachs), tank-tops, spaghetti straps, hats, see-through blouses or mesh shirts, and tee shirts or other articles of clothing with unsuitable words, phrases or pictures on them promoting alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, profanity, or sexual connotations. Skirts worn should be mid-thigh length or longer. Shorts should be sufficiently long to enable the fingertips to reach the end of the leg length when standing in a relaxed manner. Students wearing inappropriate clothing will be directed to change and parents will be notified.
Dress Code for Rockingham County Schools adopted July, 2007
The following dress/attire, for example, are unacceptable under the terms of Rockingham County Schools Code of Responsible Student Conduct:
- Clothing which exposes undergarments, is immodest, or is worn in an unconventional manner.
- Dog collars and chains.
- Dress that inflames or defames.
- Dress promoting or depicting a drug, tobacco, alcohol, violence,or sexually explicit message.
- Dress with profane statements or meanings.
- Dress which promotes or proclaims gang activities.
- Hats or caps shall not be worn inside schools during regular school hours.
- See-through apparel, tops exposing the midriff, cleavage and strapless or spaghetti string tops, body piercing--only customary earrings worn in the ear are allowed
- Grills on teeth
- Stud fillers
- Heel wheels
The following sanctions are provided to promote uniformity in the interpretation of rules to follow when students violate specific Dress Code regulations:
- First Offense: request change of clothes, alternative clothing, and notification of parent
- Second Offense: One (1) day BIP, notification of parents
- Third Offense: 3 days out of school suspension, notification of parents
- Fourth Offense: 10 days out of school suspension with recommendation to the Superintendent of Schools for suspension for the remainder of the semester or school year with required notification of parents
The Superintendent may issue Administrative Directives and Regulations as deemed necessary or appropriate for the implementation of this policy.
A Little History About WSPMS
In 1986, the Rockingham County school board, voted to build a new Turner Ashby High School, convert the old high school to a middle school and convert the old middle school to an elementary school. The plan would close the old elementary schools at Bridgewater and Dayton. By the fall of 1989, the new Turner Ashby High School opened and the old high school was converted to a middle school and named Wilbur S. Pence Middle School. The school was named after long-time superintendent Wilbur S. Pence (1950-1971) who had lived a short distance from the school. Brownie Cummins, a long-time coach and athletic director at Harrisonburg High School, was named as the first principal at the converted middle school. In 1992, Brownie Cummins left Wilbur S. Pence to become principal at Spotswood High School. He was succeeded by Jo Anne Wenger, who had been a former principal in the county (Bergton-1972-74) and had taught math at John C. Myers Middle School. She resumed her administrative career in Shenandoah county and returned to Rockingham County in 1991 as a central office elementary supervisor. Mrs. Wenger served the school until 1997, when she became principal at Linville-Edom Elementary school. James Slye, who had been a central office supervisor, was named the new principal at Wilbur S. Pence Middle School. He served as principal until 1999 when he was named as the principal of Spotswood High School. Mary Shifflett was named principal and still serves in that position.
School Report Card
See our accreditation status at Virginia School Report Card