CH CH CH CHANGES
David Bowie song, or local weather forecast?? The approaching weather system is keeping Meteorologists on their toes - and one constant has been Southeastern North Carolina is right on the edge of taking a punch or getting a slap on the hand. We will remain in close contact with the National Weather Service and our local partners as this storm moves from west to east. We are working to make a decision on Saturday regarding Monday’s schedule, and will share updates through our normal channels. Our corner of the world isn't the best at handling winter weather, so if we do get something please be safe but if possible have fun! There's something about snow and being a kid that just seem to go hand and hand.❄⛄
A MORNING THAT SHOWED THE STRENGTH OF OUR PCS TEAM
Earlier this week, a school bus serving Heide Trask High School was involved in a serious morning traffic accident when a vehicle crossed the center line and struck Bus 243 head-on. Tragically, the driver of the other vehicle — a Marine, a son, a husband, and a father — lost his life. We extend our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time. We are grateful to share that everyone riding on the bus walked away without any serious injuries. A major reason for this was the calm, steady actions of our staff who, out of respect for privacy, will not be named. Our driver showed steady leadership in a moment that could have become much worse. They remained calm, quickly checked on students, and helped guide them to safety. These actions played a critical role in protecting the students in their care. Support arrived quickly from across our school system. A fellow driver brought another bus to the scene and transported students to the hospital. Another employee went directly to the site after learning her son was involved and assisted our transportation director with tracking students and supporting communication. We are thankful for the entire Pender County Schools Transportation team for their professionalism and teamwork throughout the response. We also appreciate the care provided by the staff at Pender Memorial Hospital, as well as the professionalism of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Pender County Sheriff’s Office, and Pender County EMS. This was a difficult day for many. We are grateful for the students who remained calm, the staff who stepped up without hesitation, and the community partners who helped ensure a safe outcome while honoring the seriousness of the loss involved.
PENDER COUNTY SCHOOLS PRESCHOOL APPLICATION WINDOW IS OPEN
Pender County Schools is currently accepting applications for our preschool program, offering families access to free, full-day, high-quality early childhood education for eligible children. Families who live in Pender County and have a child who will be three or four years old by August 31, 2026, are encouraged to apply. The program is designed to support early learning, social development, and school readiness in a structured and nurturing environment. Click HERE to read more or apply.
January Pillar of Practice Award Recognizes Outstanding Teaching
This month, we are proud to recognize West Pender Middle's Ms. Alexis Christoff as our PCS Pillars of Practice recipient for January. Ms. Christoff is a passionate 6th-grade Social Studies teacher whose heart for students shines through in everything she does. Originally from metro Detroit, Michigan, Ms. Christoff graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2023 with a degree in Secondary Education, focusing on Social Studies and Political Science. In 2024, she took a brave leap of faith—moving to Wilmington, North Carolina, all on her own (along with her three cats!)—to begin her teaching career and make a difference in the lives of students. Click HERE to learn more about Ms. Christoff.
WELCOME OUR NEW SCHOOL COUNSELOR TO TMS
We are excited to welcome Mr. Ryan Einspahr to our school community. Mr. Einspahr brings 11 years of experience in education and school counseling and will be splitting his time between Topsail Annandale Elementary School and Topsail Middle School this school year. He is looking forward to working with TMS students and becoming an active part of our school community.
Mr. Einspahr is committed to supporting students’ academic success, social-emotional growth, and overall well-being, while also partnering closely with families and staff. If you need to contact him, he can be reached at ryan_einspahr@pender.k12.nc.us. We are glad to have him on our team and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our students.
C.F. Pope Elementary 5th Graders Shine at Science Fair
C.F. Pope Elementary School is proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of three fifth-grade students—Callie, Isaiah, and Genevieve—who earned top honors at this year’s school-based Science Fair. Their hard work, curiosity, and dedication to scientific inquiry set them apart among their peers and resulted in all three students being selected to advance to the district-level Science Fair. Click HERE to read more about their achievements.
SURF CITY MIDDLE STUDENTS EARN REGIONAL HONORS IN ART-OLINA SHOWCASE
Students from Surf City Middle School are being recognized on a regional stage for their creativity and talent. WonderWorks Myrtle Beach has announced the winners of the 2026 ART-OLINA, a juried youth art gallery featuring standout K–12 student artwork from across North and South Carolina. This year’s theme, America the Beautiful, invited students to reflect on what makes the nation special as the country approaches its 250th anniversary. Out of just 10 pieces selected for the 2026 gallery, four were created by Surf City Middle students — an impressive accomplishment. Congratulations to Mason Boone (6th grade), Aurora Fluke (6th grade), Maddie Siemon (8th grade), and Dahlia Kuchta (8th grade. Their artwork will be displayed at WonderWorks for a full year, and each student will receive complimentary tickets to visit the attraction and see their work on exhibit. We are proud to celebrate these students for representing Surf City Middle School and Pender County Schools with creativity and pride.
JOB SHADOW DAY SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 27, 2026
Pender County Schools is excited to share details about our upcoming districtwide Job Shadow Day, scheduled for Friday, February 27, 2026. This initiative reflects our continued commitment to career exploration, workforce development, and meaningful real-world learning experiences for students. Last year, more than 700 students participated, and the district is looking forward to an even greater impact this year. On February 27, students in grades 7–12 will have the opportunity to spend the day shadowing a professional in a career field of interest, either in person or virtually, while earning an excused educational opportunity absence.
Student Participation Requirements
Students who wish to participate must:
- Secure a job shadow placement with a family member, family friend, or business contact (virtual options are available)
- Complete the Job Shadow Parent/Student Agreement
- Submit the completed agreement to the school counselor by Friday, February 20, 2026
- Join the Job Shadow Day Google Classroom (Code: w337uydp)
- Attend the experience and take a photo with the host/mentor
- Complete the post-experience Google Form in the Classroom and upload the photo for attendance verification
Interested in Hosting a Student?
Business owners and community partners who would like to host a student for the day may participate by completing the Host Interest Form.
Event Schedule
- Middle School: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (full day optional)
- High School: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Pender County Schools appreciates the support of families, businesses, and community partners in making Job Shadow Day a meaningful experience for students as they explore future career pathways.
PENDER COUNTY SCHOOLS JOB FAIR MARCH 31, 2026
Pender County Schools will host a Career Fair on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and we invite job seekers and community members to attend and learn more about employment opportunities throughout our district. The Career Fair will be held at Heide Trask High School Gym from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This event is a great opportunity to meet district representatives, ask questions, and explore career pathways that support students, schools, and the overall success of Pender County Schools. Read more OR APPLY HERE
2026 GRADUATION SCHEDULE
Pender County Public Schools is proud to honor our graduating seniors. Find all the details you need for commencement ceremonies, including dates, times, and locations for each high school.
🍎SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS🍕
You can find school lunch menus for each grade level by following THIS LINK
WEEKLY ATHLETICS SCHEDULE
Pep rally vibes = season hype activated!
Girls Basketball | Boys Soccer Maroon & Gold. Heart. Hustle. Let’s make this season unforgettable, Hornets!
From Heide Trask High - We are ONE week away from our Special Olympics Registration Night! Please come out next Wednesday from 5:30 - 7:30 to register your athletes! Don't forget to come out on April 24th for the 2026 Special Olympics Games at Heide Trask High School!
From Surf City Elementary - Ms. Emery's first graders are mastering addition and subtraction using dominos. A perfect activity to build number sense and stay engaged.
AND…Have you ever seen a small act make a big difference? After reading "The Hat" by Jan Brett, each of Ms. Meadows Pre-K students got to choose a hat to take home — all donated by a kind neighbor in our community. Watching their faces light up reminded us how powerful community support can be for kids.
From Cape Fear Elementary - In honor of our building study, we welcomed a special guest today! One of our parents visited to talk about his job as a welder. The students asked great questions and learned about welding tools, safety, and the structures he helps create. We loved learning how welders help build our community and the world!
AND…Congratulations Hannah Miller. She is our December Reader of the Month. Keeping turning those pages!
From Pender Early College - Congrats to PECHS student Aiden Kurre who won the American Legion Oratorical Contest at Post 10 in Wilmington Wednesday. He received a monetary award of $500.00 and he will continue on to the next level on January 24 in Southport!
From West Pender Middle - Students in Mrs. Smith's 8th grade social studies class are using a different way to interact with the text - sticky notes! Each color sticky note represents something different students are looking for in the text. Hooray for engagement!
From Topsail Middle - Our TMS Theatre students were invited to perform at the Wilmington curtain call youth theatre awards at the Wilson Center this past weekend. The cast members of “Topsail's Got Talent” were recognized and then performed a number from the show. Theatre students from all over New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick county were in attendance and we are so happy that our TMS theatre pirates got to be there!! Way to go TMS Theatre!!!
AND…we are starting literary circles in 7th grade. Teachers Ms. Kennedy and Mrs. Czepiel are sharing the joy of reading with their class during homeroom. What are you reading over the weekend?
From Burgaw Middle - Miss Foster's students read a memoir and completed an artistic literary project about characters that connected to specific literary themes. The kids even got to enjoy working with magazines!
AND…BMS students enjoying their field trip to The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Hospital!
From Topsail Annandale Elementary - Our kindergarteners brought history to life during their America Has Changed Over Time unit! After seeing an illustration in their Wit & Wisdom book, students wondered what it was like to shell peas long ago—so they gave it a try themselves. Their conclusion? “It sure was a lot of work for just a few peas!” Experiences like this help our youngest learners see how inventions have made everyday life easier over time.
AND…Our 1st and 2nd graders had a wonderful time today seeing Beanstalk performed by Pied Piper Theater at Thalian Hall! Smiles, laughter, and lots of excitement made for a magical field trip experience. We love bringing learning to life through the arts!
From Malpass Corner Elementary - Kindergarten is working on understanding part-part- whole concepts! Today they put their knowledge to the test by trying to figure out different ways to make shape puzzles. Way to go Kinder Eagles!
From Cape Fear Middle - LET'S GO, ALAINA! Congratulations to Alaina for being CFMS December Reader of the Month! She read the MOST minutes and showed us what true Grizzly dedication looks like! Way to lead by example, Alaina! We're so proud of you! Grizzlies, let's follow Alaina's lead! Keep reading, keep logging those minutes, and let's work together toward our MILLION MINUTE goal! Every minute matters! Let's go, Grizzlies!
From South Topsail Elementary - A HUGE congratulations to our Pender County Science Fair participants!!! Jane and Deklin are moving on to Regionals at UNCW in February.
Credits:
Created with images by Harry Collins - "Northern Cardinal in the Snow" • STOATPHOTO - "Whats New.,Communication, business and knowledge concept.,Wooden table" • Uuganbayar - "What else word written under torn paper concept." • manit - "Hand of young business using smartphone, Social media concept."