DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME...
Happy May, PCS family! 🌼 We are officially in the final stretch, with just three weeks left in the school year. This week’s newsletter is full of the kind of moments that make this time of year feel busy, meaningful, and worth celebrating. From Purple Star recognition and staff spotlights to student performances, senior celebrations, art, athletics, service projects, and classroom activities across the district. As we head into these last few weeks, thank you for helping keep our schools focused, supported, and moving forward. There is a lot happening in May - graduations, testing, end-of-year events, field days, recognitions, and plenty of chances to cheer on our students and staff. Take a few minutes to look through this week’s updates, mark your calendars, and enjoy seeing the good work happening across Pender County Schools. 🎓📚✨
NATIONAL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS DAY
Today is National School Principals Day. We want to take a moment to thank our principals across Pender County Schools for the work they do each day to support students, staff, and families. They help keep schools running, respond to needs as they come up, and work with teachers and staff to make sure students have what they need to learn and grow. 📚
Being a principal comes with long days, a lot of decisions, and many responsibilities that people may not always see. We appreciate the care, time, and steady leadership our principals give to their school communities. Please join us in saying thank you to our PCS principals today. 👏💙 Below is how they did it at Burgaw Middle where Brian Allen was the BMOC today!! 🔥
PENDER COUNTY SCHOOLS EARNS PURPLE STAR RECOGNITION FOR SIXTH TIME
Pender County Schools has once again been recognized for its support of military-connected students and families, earning the Purple Star Award distinction for the sixth time. The annual Purple Star Award ceremony was held at the North Carolina National Guard Base in Raleigh, where nearly 600 schools across the state were designated as military-friendly by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The Purple Star Award was launched by NCDPI in 2019 to recognize schools and districts that provide strong support for military-connected students. North Carolina is home to many active duty, guard, reserve, and veteran service members, and public schools play an important role in helping military families feel welcomed and supported during school transitions. You can read the full story HERE
PCS LITERACY LEADERS JOIN SOUTHEAST NETWORK FOR CLASSROOM VISIT
Pamlico County Primary School recently welcomed literacy leaders from across the Southeast, reflecting a shared commitment to ongoing collaboration around high-quality, impactful literacy instruction. Director of Elementary Education Dr. Sonya Oates, along with North Topsail Elementary Principal Jill Robertson, Rocky Point Elementary Principal April Perkins, and Topsail Annandale Elementary Principal Jessica Bellflower represented Pender County Schools. What began several years ago with a small group engaged in the science of reading has grown into a strong network of districts dedicated to sharing ideas and resources, while engaging in meaningful reflection and feedback to continue growing as literacy leaders. During their visit, the group spent time in classrooms observing the impact of strong instructional practices in action, where intentional, research-based strategies are helping students build confidence and skills as readers. They also participated in a PLC session, gaining insight into how lessons are thoughtfully planned and aligned across grade levels to ensure consistency, rigor, and student success.
Beginning Teacher of the Month: Sonya Burgess
Topsail Middle School
Sonya Burgess is our Beginning Teacher of the Month from Topsail Middle School. Sonya is originally from Alexandria, Virginia, but North Carolina has been home since she was three years old. She has lived in Hampstead for more than 20 years and has deep roots in the community. After having her first two children, Sonya made the decision to go back to school and later graduated from Guilford College in Greensboro. Before joining Topsail Middle School, she taught preschool for many years. She has now been part of the TMS family for five years. Sonya is also a proud mom of three. Her two adult children live and work in Charlotte, and her youngest son, who has special needs, graduated early from Topsail High School this past December. When reflecting on her time as a beginning teacher, Sonya shared an important lesson:
“Growth does not always look the way the world expects it to, but it is always happening.”
That perspective says a lot about the kind of educator Sonya is. She understands that students grow in different ways and on different timelines. Her patience, experience, and care make a difference for the students and staff around her.
Mentor of the Month: Hannah Falk
C.F. Pope Elementary School
Our Mentor of the Month is Hannah Falk from C.F. Pope Elementary School. Hannah is from Rocky Point and is a proud graduate of Pender County Schools. Family has always been an important part of her life, and she grew up in the same neighborhood as many of her relatives, including her older brother, Greg, and her cousin, Lexie. After high school, Hannah attended East Carolina University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Science Education. In 2021, she returned home to begin her teaching career at C.F. Pope Elementary. While completing her Beginning Teacher program, Hannah continued her own learning and earned her master’s degree in Science Education through ECU’s online program in 2023. Hannah enjoys helping students build curiosity, especially in science. She wants her classroom to be a place where students are comfortable asking questions, trying new things, and learning from mistakes. The biggest lesson Hannah has learned as a teacher is that growth comes from embracing imperfection. She believes that when teachers acknowledge mistakes openly, students see that learning is a process for everyone. As Hannah shared, mistakes are not something to fear. They are opportunities to grow. Thank you, Hannah, for supporting students and fellow educators with that mindset each day.
Pillar of Practice for Engagement & Community Builder: Karla Smith
Principal, Surf City Elementary School
This month’s Pillar of Practice for Engagement and Community Builder is Karla Smith, principal of Surf City Elementary School. Karla is a native of Goldsboro, North Carolina. She began her career in education after earning her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from East Carolina University in 1994. She later earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education in 1996 and a master’s degree in School Administration in 2009. Karla spent 31 years in Wayne County Public Schools, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal across five schools. In July 2025, she joined Pender County Schools as principal of Surf City Elementary. She is now completing her 32nd year in education. Karla’s connection to education began early. Her mother was a teacher for 30 years, and that example helped shape Karla’s own path. Over the years, she has continued to focus on leading in a way that supports both students and staff. Her purpose is simple and important: to make a positive impact on the lives of others. As a principal, that means creating a school where students feel safe, cared for, and ready to learn. It also means building a staff culture where educators feel valued and supported in their work. Karla and her husband, Rob Shand, live in Hampstead. Together, they have a blended family of five adult children, ages 20 to 29. Thank you, Karla, for your leadership and for the work you are doing to help build a strong school community at Surf City Elementary. Please join us in congratulating Sonya Burgess, Hannah Falk, and Karla Smith. Each of them reminds us that growth happens in many ways: through patience, through mistakes, through leadership, and through the daily work of showing up for students and colleagues.
Order of the Patriot
Pender High School celebrated another round of Order of the Patriot Award winners today! These students were recognized for their hard work, growth, and the everyday choices that show integrity and effort—stuff that doesn’t always get seen but definitely deserves to be celebrated.
Huge congrats to this semester’s recipients: McKenzye Allen-Murphy, Andrew Robinson, Reyna Orellana Ramirez, Terrence O'Neal, Judith Garcia Bautista, Messiah Darden, Makenzie Barnhill, Logan Weaver, Adam Arreola, Iliana Lopez-Jimenez, Emma Giddeons, Cody Rivenbark, Yarinet Leon-Quiroz, Travis Newkirk, Mariah Garner, Noah Hockensmith, Kamya Stringfield, Gerardo Sanchez-Cruz.
SPARKLAB NC DEMO DAY AT HTHS
The SparkLab at Heide Trask High School was buzzing with energy during our first Demo Day, as students stepped into the spotlight to showcase a year’s worth of innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. Guests and classes rotated through the lab, engaging directly with student creators as they demonstrated coded games, interactive Makey Makey projects, 3D designs, and digital portfolios. More than just a showcase, Demo Day highlighted the power of hands-on, high-tech learning. Students didn’t just present finished products, they told the story behind their work, explaining challenges, iterations, and the thinking that brought their ideas to life. From first concepts to final builds, each project reflected growth in both technical skills and confidence. The event offered a glimpse into the future of education at Heide Trask, where students are not only consumers of technology but creators, innovators, and leaders.
HTHS NAMED A CFNC FINANCIAL AID CHAMPION FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR
Heide Trask High School has once again been recognized for its commitment to helping students and families navigate the financial aid process. The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority has named Heide Trask High School a 2026 CFNC Financial Aid Champion, marking the second consecutive year the school has earned the designation. The recognition honors schools, districts, and college access organizations that follow financial aid best practices and help students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, better known as the FAFSA. Read more about the accomplishments of Heide Trask High School HERE
TOPSAIL HIGH STUDENT NAMED NC HOSA STATE PRESIDENT
Topsail High School is proud to celebrate Cina Huston, who has been named North Carolina HOSA State President for the 2026–2027 school year. Cina stepped into the role following the close of North Carolina HOSA’s 50th Anniversary State Leadership Conference on March 27. She will serve as part of Team 51 after spending the past year as President-Elect. HOSA, also known as Future Health Professionals, is a global student-led organization focused on preparing students for careers in health care. In North Carolina, HOSA includes more than 11,000 members, giving students opportunities to build leadership skills, explore health professions, and serve their communities. Cina has already represented North Carolina HOSA in several important ways. As a member of the State Officer Team, she has served as an ambassador at professional events, attended leadership conferences and trainings, promoted HOSA growth across the state, supported communication between chapters, and modeled professionalism in her work with other students and advisors. Her service and leadership also extend beyond Topsail High School. Cina attended the Washington, D.C. Leadership Academy, where she advocated for Perkins funding, which supports Career and Technical Education programs. She represented North Carolina at HOSA Internationals in Nashville last summer and will represent the state again this year in Indianapolis. She has also received the HOSA Barbara James Service Award, which recognizes students for outstanding community service. Along with her HOSA accomplishments, Cina has received early admission to Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering. She was also recently named a recipient of both the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship and the B.N. Duke Scholarship. Congratulations to Cina on this well-earned honor. Topsail High School and Pender County Schools are proud of her leadership, service, and continued commitment to making a difference.
C.F. Pope Elementary Celebrates the Reinstatement of National Beta Club with 22 New Inductees
After several years of dormancy, C.F. Pope Elementary School proudly celebrates the reinstatement of its National Beta Club, marking a renewed commitment to academic excellence, leadership, and service. Originally chartered on December 31, 1969, the Beta Club has long stood as a symbol of student achievement and character within the school community. Today, that legacy is revived with the induction of 22 outstanding students who now carry the torch forward. This milestone represents more than just the return of a student organization—it reflects a collective effort to restore a culture that honors scholarship and leadership among young learners. Principal Brittany Moore shared her excitement about the club’s return, noting that the vision and dedication behind its reinstatement were largely driven by Assistant Principal Monica Ruffin, who serves as the lead sponsor. Read what Principal Brittany Moore had to say about the initiative HERE
Allison Dapper Chosen for Prestigious 2026 Teachers Trip to Poland
Surf City Middle School is proud to announce that Allison Dapper has been selected to attend the 2026 Teachers’ Trip to Poland. This program brings North Carolina educators who teach about the Holocaust to an intensive eight-day educational seminar in Poland. This year, more than 360 teachers applied for just 40 available spots. More than 100 teachers from across North Carolina have participated in the program, representing more than 70 of the state’s 100 counties. The trip was created in 2022 and is led by Rabbi Fred Guttman, a retired rabbi and Holocaust educator. This summer’s trip will mark the twenty-fifth journey he has led to Poland, including four specifically designed for North Carolina teachers. You can read more about the upcoming trip HERE
2026 Azalea Festival Youth Art Contest Middle School Division Art Show Exhibitors
Congratulations are in order for our talented middle school student artists who have been selected for the 2026 North Carolina Azalea Festival Youth Art Contest Art and Writing Show: Israel Driver, Lily Haynes, Savannah Hinkle, and Malashia Shaw. This exciting achievement highlights their creativity, dedication, and artistic growth. Their selected artwork will be proudly displayed in the Community Gallery at the Community Arts Center, located within the historic Hannah Block USO Building. The exhibit will be open to the public from April 4th through May 4th, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the impressive work of these young artists firsthand. Check out more of the artwork HERE
C.F. Pope Elementary Awarded American Heart Association Staff Wellness Grant
C.F. Pope Elementary School has been selected as one of only three schools in the North Carolina's southeast region to receive a $2,500 Staff Wellness Grant sponsored by the American Heart Association. This competitive award recognizes schools that prioritize the health, well-being, and overall wellness of their staff communities. The grant proposal was written by PE teacher Mrs. Tina Croom, whose commitment to securing meaningful opportunities for students and staff has been evident throughout the school year. In addition to this recent award, Mrs. Croom has successfully obtained multiple grants that continue to support both instructional initiatives and school-wide enrichment experiences. Read more about the grant HERE
👀PHISHING SCAM ALERT ⚠
From our IT department. NCDPI has received multiple alerts about a growing social engineering campaign in which threat actors are requesting payments for test-related items by posing as WIDA or ACCESS representatives, The ACT, or a test prep company acting on their behalf. Under no circumstances will NCDPI ask for payment regarding these tests. NCDPI has also made The ACT aware of the situation. The ACT does not use email, postal mail, or telephone campaigns to sell third-party test prep resources or services. The threat actor(s) have been contacting parents, students, and districts in various ways, including, but not limited to, email, phone, and SMS. In some cases, they have been aware of information such as the student’s name, address, and grade level. Please carefully investigate any test prep offer and be on the lookout for common signs of scams, including:
- Sense of urgency
- Suspicious domains, links, or attachments
- Unexpected payment requests
Please reach out to Fallon Fuller if you have any questions regarding the legitimacy of a test-related communication.
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
From Surf City Elementary - 🎶 What an amazing performance by our talented students! 🎶 We are so proud of the incredible voices showcased during the All-County Elementary Chorus performance. If you missed it — or just want to enjoy it again — you can watch the full performance here: 🎤✨
AND...A HUGE congratulations to Alexander in 3rd grade. His artwork was selected for the Superintendent's Art Award and will represent SCE this weekend at Spring Fest. Alexander, your school is proud of you! 🥳✍🏻
From Topsail Middle - From page 1 to state finals — our Battle of the Books team finished 4th in the state! 🏆 Reading all 20 books shows true dedication, teamwork, and heart. We’re so proud of every student who pushed through and represented our school.
AND...Proud to spotlight local partnership and student service in action. Carol Sue Farms generously donated strawberries that our Culinary Arts students (led by Mrs. Schlegel) used to create strawberry shortcakes—an excellent hands-on learning experience. Meanwhile, our TMS sewing group, Threads for Kindness, designed and donated baby blankets and toiletry bags to Safe Haven Home & Thrift, demonstrating student-led community impact.
From Cape Fear Middle - 🐻 What an Amazing Night — THANK YOU! 🐻 A huge heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful families who came out last night for Transition Night and our Spring Band Concert! 🎒🎶 Your support means the world to our students, staff, and the entire CFMS community. It was incredible to see so many familiar and new faces filling our hallways, connecting with teachers, and cheering on our talented Grizzly band members. 🎺🌸 Evenings like this remind us why we love being part of such an amazing school family! We are so proud of our students and excited for everything the next school year has in store. Here's to a bright future ahead — Go Grizzlies! 🌟✏️
From West Pender Middle - Huge shoutout to Amistad’s top point earners for the month of March! 🎉👏 Your hard work, positive attitude, and dedication are shining bright—keep it up! 💪✨
AND...Before Chapter 8 of Touching Spirit Bear, Ms. Cliffe's 7th grade ELA students explored real bear paws and claws 🐻 to better understand the attack and Spirit Bear’s strength, then used text evidence to complete an incident report.
From Burgaw Middle - We loved cheering on our Red Devils from last week's Special Olympics games! We are so proud of you!!! 💜
From Heide Trask High - HTHS adaptive students (& friends) and Theatre for All brought "The Lorax" to life with music, laughter, and pure joy! From scientists, to athletes, to thespians, these kids are unstoppable! Watching them shine on stage reminded us how powerful inclusive arts can be!
AND..."You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose." Our senior awards ceremony is underway! We are so proud of our Titans for what they have already accomplished, and we can't wait to see the other places they'll go!
From Pender High - 👀Look at our seniors, moving forward! Congratulations!
From Pender Innovative Learning Academy - Oliver the otter is super excited to announce yet more Otters have met all requirements for graduation. May 29 is going to be a day of CELEBRATION!!!
From Surf City Middle - SCMS 8th grade A Day Theatre class performed an adaptation of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". Students created set pieces and props to represent the Chocolate Factory. The students performed amazingly well. They had the crowd laughing and clapping. One audience member said, " That was so awesome!" Another audience member said, " I loved it!" Mrs. Council, the theatre arts teacher, was so very proud of her students. Way to go!
AND...Surf City Military Kids Ball….Thank you for all the community support for our Military Connected Families! Special thanks to Mrs. Childress, Mrs. Mathias, and Mrs. Oliver!
From Topsail Annandale Elementary - Mrs. Charity, Mrs. Hulsey and Mrs. Haraway’s students all had a blast at their foam party!
From North Topsail Elementary - What an unforgettable day at the Special Olympics held at HTHS! 🥇❤️ Seeing our dolphins shine, laugh, and support each other made every moment special. We’re so proud of every athlete, volunteer and staff member who made this possible. Thank you to everyone who cheered us on!
From South Topsail Elementary - Sunshine, sneakers, and smiles – Field Day magic for our 2nd-5th graders! ☀️ 👟. From relay races and obstacle courses to tug-of-war and wet sponge contests, every student found a moment to shine. Thank you to all the parents and volunteers that came to support our Stingrays!
From Cape Fear Elementary - Full Circle Moment! Our very first kindergarten class at CFE is graduating this year! What a beautiful morning celebrating their accomplishments and reminiscing on where it all began. Receiving their kindergarten yearbook photos made it even more special—look how far they’ve come! Congratulations Class of 2026.
AND...Shoutout to CFE’s Stride Team for their amazing work on their spring community service project! 🌹 They planted beautiful rose bushes generously donated by Tinga Nursery and truly helped brighten and beautify our campus. We’re so proud of their hard work and teamwork!
From Malpass Corner Elementary - 🌱🥕 Third Grade Plant Part Feast! 🍓🌿 This week, our third graders wrapped up their plant science unit with a fun and tasty “Plant Part Feast!” After reviewing the external parts of plants, students explored learning in a whole new way—by sampling stems, fruits, seeds, roots, and leaves (with a little ranch on the side if needed! 😄). By experiencing plant parts firsthand, students deepened their understanding of how plants and people are connected within the food web. Plus, a healthy snack gave their brains the boost they needed to stay focused and ready to learn! Way to grow, Eagles! 🌱🦅
From Penderlea School - Mrs. Umphress' class had two special guest readers today! 📚 Our very own, Olivia & Sam, joined to read a bilingual story, Moon Rope, in English & Spanish. This story is from Peru, South America and portrays indigenous South American folktales. 🌕 🦊 Kindergarten is currently learning about our fascinating world! 🌎
From Rocky Point Elementary - We want to give a huge "Thank You!" To the Assistance League of Greater Wilmington, as they donated books for each 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grader to take home! Students had the opportunity to pick their book & we hope they'll read them over the summer! But that's not it! Author Bill Shomo visited to read his book "Topsy's Big Escape" to our students. This true story is about the time in 1922 that an elephant escaped from the circus that was visiting Wilmington and caused havoc and damage all over downtown Wilmington! There is even a building downtown that still has a crack in the wall from where Topsy crashed into the building. Ask your students about what other craziness ensued! We're also thankful to Ms. Stewart for reading the story to us!
From C.F. Pope Elementary - Panther Family, we are still in need of Proctors to help with our EOG testing that starts next week. (May 8, 12, 14) If you can help for a few hours with monitoring testing, please fill out the form here so Mrs. Borders can contact you! We need another 6 or so people with background checks to help out! https://forms.gle/qGAdBb92Y9ghpbge7
From Pender Early College - Special congratulations to PECHS students Abigail Blick and Dayleen Maldonado Murillo who were honored last night during the CFCC Student Recognition Ceremony.
AND...PECHS Prom 2026
Credits:
Created with images by yanadjan - "Flowering acacia tree in the garden.,Selective focus." • Vitalii Vodolazskyi - "Speech bubble with the phrase What is new.,Curiosity and communication." • fizkes - "Close up of frown Latina woman hold credit card smart phone experiences problems with e-payment, feels annoyed due lack of money, payment insecurity, insufficient funds.,Victim of fraud, scam concept" • mnirat - "Close-up photos of black graduates hats" • Uuganbayar - "What else word written under torn paper concept." • manit - "Hand of young business using smartphone, Social media concept."