A little spring, a little basketball, and a lot of good work to share. 🌷🏀
As March Madness gets underway and spring officially begins, this week’s newsletter reflects a busy time across Pender County Schools. There is a lot happening in our schools, from classroom learning and student activities to athletics, events, and recognitions. This edition also has a strong focus on the people who help make that work possible each day—our teachers. You’ll notice there are many mentions of teachers throughout this week’s newsletter, and that is well deserved. Schools across the district are recognizing Teachers of the Year, Beginning Teachers of the Year, and other staff members whose work continues to make a difference for students and school communities. That is a big part of this week’s update, and it is good to be able to share those recognitions alongside everything else going on across PCS. 🍀
BURGAW MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER NAMED NCCAT BEGINNING TEACHER OF THE YEAR RUNNER-UP
Pender County Schools shares that Sophia Foster, a sixth grade ELA teacher at Burgaw Middle School, has been named runner-up for the NCCAT 2026 Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Beginning Teacher of the Year. The award, presented by the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, recognizes beginning teachers across North Carolina public and charter schools. At Burgaw Middle School, Ms. Foster is known for creating a classroom where students are expected to work hard and know they are supported. “Sophia fosters a classroom environment where students feel both challenged and supported,” one of her instructional coaches said. “She is encouraging yet firm, maintaining consistently high expectations while ensuring that every student feels seen, valued, and cared for.” You can read more about Ms. Foster HERE
LUKE SMITH IS THE NCCTE TEACHER OF THE YEAR
We are proud to celebrate Luke Smith for being named Pender County NCCTE Teacher of the Year! Mr. Smith is truly an outstanding educator who goes above and beyond to make learning meaningful, engaging, and impactful for his Public Safety and Law & Justice students. His classroom is a place where students don’t just learn—they experience what it means to serve their community. Through hands-on training, scenario-based activities, and innovative projects, students build critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills that prepare them for careers in law enforcement, emergency services, and beyond. From engaging field trips to powerful guest speakers who bring real-world insight into the classroom, Mr. Smith ensures his students are constantly exposed to authentic experiences. Whether practicing emergency response scenarios, analyzing case studies, or participating in leadership-focused activities, his students stay active, involved, and excited about learning every single day. One of the many ways Mr. Smith stands out is through his commitment to school safety. His classes take an active role in conducting monthly safety inspections—checking exit lights, monitoring fire extinguisher dates, and reporting potential violations to administration. This not only provides authentic learning opportunities but also helps ensure our entire school community remains safe.
Celebrating Our Beginning Teacher of the Year
West Pender Middle School is proud to recognize Ms. Christoff as the Beginning Teacher of the Year for the 2025–2026 school year. Teaching 6th and 7th grade social studies, she has quickly made a meaningful impact on students, colleagues, and the school community. Read more about Ms. Christoff HERE
SCM Teacher of the Year
Surf City Middle School is proud to recognize Sherrie Turner as our Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Turner exemplifies what it means to be an outstanding educator. She is caring, kind, and deeply committed to helping students discover their interests and begin exploring possible paths for their future careers. Her passion for Career and Technical Education (CTE) shines through in her classroom as she connects learning to real-world opportunities for our students. You can read more about Ms. Turner HERE
MICHELLE LEE REPRESENTS PCS AT NCCAT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE 🌟📚
Pender County Schools is proud to celebrate Michelle Lee for representing our district at the NCCAT Leadership Institute as a Teacher of the Year participant. During this inspiring week of professional growth, Michelle engaged in meaningful learning and discussions focused on leadership, teacher leadership in schools, group dynamics, coaching strategies, and building stronger connections between classroom, school, and district priorities. She also developed an action plan to strengthen her leadership in education and is excited to bring what she learned back to her classroom and colleagues. We are grateful for educators like Michelle who continue to grow, lead, and make a positive impact across PCS! 🍎✨
Bibby Blood Drive
Pender High School will once again host its annual blood drive in honor of Corporal Mark Bibby, continuing a tradition that has been taking place for over a decade. This year is no different, as our JROTC cadets have spent weeks promoting the event with posters and flyers to encourage both teachers and students to donate. With a goal of collecting 60 units of blood, the JROTC program is trying several new ways to spread the word and boost participation. Donors will receive a $15 gift card and a free T-shirt as a thank-you for supporting the drive. You can find more information HERE
GRIZZLY DRONE TEAM SOARS IN SEASON FINALE
Cape Fear Middle School’s Grizzly Drone Team wrapped up its season on a high note this past Saturday at Sandhills Community College, where students and their families started the day bright and early for the final local competition of the season. While the team did not bring home a trophy this time, their hard work, determination, and growth were on full display throughout the event. A special shoutout goes to Gabby Gold for earning the team’s highest Piloting Skills Score of the season, an exciting accomplishment! 🚁🎉 The Grizzlies are already looking ahead to next season’s new competition with enthusiasm, ready to keep building their skills and aiming for even greater success. 🐻💙
Rocky Point Pre-K Fashion Stars Shine
Our Pre-K Ram classes recently wrapped up their exciting Clothing Study with a creative and colorful celebration. After learning all about clothing, students designed and created their very own shirts. They carefully planned their designs and decorated them using a variety of materials, turning each shirt into a unique masterpiece. To celebrate their hard work, the students participated in a special fashion show in the gym. One by one, they proudly walked the runway and modeled their shirts for their classmates. It was a joyful moment as students showed off their creativity and confidence. You can read more HERE
Community Support Scores Big with New Soccer Benches
The soccer field has received a welcome upgrade with the addition of new benches, made possible through the generosity of two local families. The benches were donated by the families of WPMS soccer players Faith Moore and Jakobi Branch, who worked together to support the project. The project was made even more special through the hands-on work of Elliott Moore, who built the benches himself. You can read more about the community effort HERE
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION EVENT CELEBRATES A GREAT TURNOUT 🎉📚
Pender County Schools was excited to welcome families to our recent Kindergarten Registration and Preschool Information Event at Heide Trask High School! With a fun Carnival theme, games, entertainment, and helpful support from PCS staff and community partners, the event created a warm and welcoming experience for families preparing for the school year ahead. We are proud to share that 46 families were able to register through this event, helping make the transition to kindergarten smoother and more exciting for our youngest learners. 🎡🎈📚 We are grateful to everyone who helped make the event such a success and look forward to welcoming these new students to PCS!
🍎SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS🍕
You can find school lunch menus for each grade level by following THIS LINK
WEEKLY ATHLETICS SCHEDULE
AND THE AWARD GOES TO...
Chris Blake was awarded the NCADA Citation Award at the NCADA annual conference in Asheville. The Citation Award is presented to individuals who have made a significant impact in their school, conference, and/or region in the past year. The nominee must have less than five years of experience in athletic administration and be a member of the NCADA. Chris Blake has served Topsail High School in Pender County Schools for 13 years in Region 2. He holds RAA and NFHS Levels 1-3 certifications and began his career at THS as an assistant and interim baseball coach before moving into athletic administration. Chris has provided leadership as Assistant Athletic Director and has stepped in multiple times as Interim Athletic Director to ensure program continuity. His work focuses on managing budgets, overseeing eligibility, and improving processes to support coaches and student-athletes with efficiency, consistency, and fairness, and he was named Topsail High School Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026. Please join us in congratulating Coach Blake!
Pender County Athletic Director Matt Davis was also recognized with the NCADA Leadership Award of Merit. A product of Pender County Schools (so is his wife Brittany!) Matt also sat in on over 10 of the Board of Directors Meetings and was an Instructor for a four hour LTC 508 Legal Issues class. Thank you Mr. Davis for all you do for Pender County Schools!
SURF CITY SEVENTH GRADER TRIATHLON SUCCESS 🏊♀️🚴♀️🏃♀️
Surf City Middle School is proud to celebrate 7th grader Anna for her outstanding performance in the Azalea Sprint Triathlon in Wilmington this past Sunday! Competing in the event for the second year in a row, Anna improved her time by an impressive 20 minutes from last year. She moved smoothly through each transition, from swim to bike to run, and her dedication to training all year long clearly paid off. With practice through 5K runs, swim sessions, and bike rides, Anna showed tremendous commitment, perseverance, and growth. We are so proud of her accomplishment and can’t wait to see what she does next! 🏊♀️🚴♀️🏃♀️🎉
From Cape Fear Middle - TEACHER OF THE YEAR — 2026–2027 We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Mrs. Mills has been named Teacher of the Year! This honor is one of the highest a teacher can receive, and Mrs. Mills has earned every bit of it. Year after year, she brings excellence, dedication, and a genuine love of teaching that inspires students and staff alike. Her commitment to her students goes far beyond the classroom — she shapes futures, builds confidence, and leaves a lasting mark on everyone she meets. Cape Fear Middle School is incredibly honored and blessed to have Mrs. Mills as part of our Grizzly family. This recognition is well-deserved, and we couldn't be more proud! Grizzlies, let's come together and celebrate one of the BEST in the business! Drop your congratulations in the comments and show Mrs. Mills just how much she means to our school community!
From Heide Trask High - our HTHS 12th grade Adaptive Curriculum students visited UNCW to tour two of their post-secondary programs for students with intellectual disabilities, the Inclusive Futures Program and Transition Works! Our students participated in a student-led campus tour, enjoyed lunch in the student union with the Transition Works! students, and learned about opportunities available to them after high school. Kendy Walker and Summer Mills both joined us for the day to support our students and learn more about these post-secondary programs.
From Burgaw Middle - Saint Patty’s Fun! STEM Integrated Learning in ELA
From Malpass Corner Elementary - St. Patrick’s Day fun is in full swing at MCE! The halls are flooded with green and plenty of cheer as our Eagles celebrate the day together. Students and staff showed up in their festive green, bringing lots of smiles and excitement throughout the building. It has been a great day filled with learning, laughter, and a little St. Patrick’s Day spirit here at the Nest!
From Cape Fear Elementary - CFE had such a great time and wonderful turnout at the PCS Kindergarten Registration event. We got to meet some pretty amazing kiddos who will be attending our school next year! Class of 2039, here they come!
From South Topsail Elementary - We love celebrating incredible teachers and here at South Topsail, we are sure blessed with the very best. Congratulations to our Teacher of the Year, Sara Comperry, and our Beginning Teacher of the Year, Brennon Register! Thank you for your passion, dedication, positivity, and the difference you make for our students every single day.
From North Topsail Elementary - Celebrating Excellence at North Topsail Elementary! We are proud to announce our 2026 North Topsail Elementary Teacher of the Year and Instructional Assistant of the Year! Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Stephanie White Instructional Assistant of the Year: Mrs. Valeria Gallagher Both of these incredible educators represent the very best of what it means to be a Dolphin. Their dedication to students, commitment to learning, and positive impact on our school community make North Topsail Elementary a place where students truly thrive. Every day they demonstrate our SWIM expectations by creating classrooms that are safe, engaging, and full of opportunity for students to grow and succeed. Please join us in congratulating these outstanding members of our Dolphin family!
From Topsail Annandale Elementary - Celebrating Our Outstanding Teachers! Topsail Elementary is proud to recognize two incredible educators for their dedication, passion, and commitment to our students! Beginning Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Couty Mrs. Couty has made an amazing impact in her first years of teaching. Her enthusiasm, creativity, and care for her students make her a wonderful addition to our TAES family. We are so proud of the positive difference she is making every day! Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Watkins Mrs. Watkins exemplifies excellence in education. Her dedication to student success, leadership among colleagues, and passion for teaching truly make her shine. We are grateful for the many ways she supports and inspires our students and school community. Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Couty and Mrs. Watkins on these well-deserved honors!
From Surf City Middle - From Mrs. Farmer's class... PI Day Friday activity, students measuring diameter and circumference to see how close they come to 3.14.
AND...8th Grade Business and Entrepreneurship: Students are learning why we take notes in business, which includes the Cornell Note-taking strategy. Students received their EverFi Financial Literacy certificates and will now begin modules in Entrepreneurship. We had 41 students certify in EverFi Financial Literacy! Students have been learning about AI and workplace trends. They are reading an article and learning how to take Cornell notes for better class notes and for notetaking in the workplace. 7th Grade Career Explorations and Employment: Students have been simulating Job Shadowing Career Modules from Microburst. We have also been de-scrambling career occupations and researching what various careers entail. 6th Grade Keyboarding and Employment: Students worked on Microburst Job Shadowing modules to get ready for their opportunity next year to job shadow. Students continue to do warm-up cursive daily. Students have continued to learn about Google Office productivity, saving documents, naming documents, and uploading screenshots appropriately for assignments.
From Surf City Elementary - Ms. Brevan, Ms. Montaruli's field experience teacher from UNCW and a wonderful EC IA from Pre-K taught her first lesson today in Kindergarten. Students learned about communication from the past and present! Students sorted images of items from the past and present and were able to tell about their favorite type of communication.
From Pender Innovative Learning Academy - Oliver the Otter is proud to announce that the 2026-2027 PILA Teacher of the Year is Mrs Donna Springfield. She is one of a very special team of educators that work together to bring the very best educational experience to all the otters in grades K-12.
From Topsail Middle - Celebrate with us! Huge congratulations to Topsail Middle’s Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Crate, and our Beginning Teacher of the Year, Mr. B. Your hard work, heart, and classroom dedication inspire us all. So proud of you both. Well deserved!
AND...Ms. Burgess and Mrs. Dinkins' classes enjoyed a day of horseback riding at Russell's Reach. The students gained confidence, teamwork, and a memorable real-world experience. What an unforgettable day for them!
From Pender High - 50th Pender High School Teacher of the Year: Mr. Wes High We are proud to announce Mr. Wes High as our Teacher of the Year, a recognition selected by his peers in honor of his outstanding dedication to our school community. As a Multilingual Learner teacher, Mr. High supports our entire school through impactful literacy strategies that engage every learner and strengthen classroom instruction across grade levels. In addition, he leads our thriving Juntos programming, building meaningful connections with families and helping students succeed both academically and personally. A true team player and master educator, Mr. High consistently exemplifies our school’s vision and mission in action. As a previous Order of the Patriot recipient, his commitment to service, collaboration, and excellence continues to inspire both colleagues and students. We are grateful for Mr. High’s leadership and proud to have him represent our school as Teacher of the Year. Our faculty was proud to celebrate alongside his wife and children in a surprise ceremony prior to the start of the school day. We invite our community to celebrate him in your own meaningful way. Pender High is a great place to work and learn, with direct causation tied back to Mr. High's impact on student outcomes.
From C.F. Pope Elementary - Congratulations to Our 2026 Teacher Honorees! C.F. Pope Elementary is proud to celebrate two outstanding educators who continue to make a powerful impact on our students and school community. 2026 Beginning Teacher of Promise – Ms. Davis Our 4th Grade Social Studies, Science, and ELA Support Teacher, Ms. Davis, has already made an incredible impression in her first year of teaching. She has done an amazing job creating engaging learning experiences while building strong, positive relationships with students. Her dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to student success truly embody the spirit of a Beginning Teacher of Promise! C.F. Pope Elementary Teacher of the Year – Mrs. Croom Our phenomenal P.E. teacher, Mrs. Croom, continues to go above and beyond for our school. She is a strong advocate for C.F. Pope and has helped build meaningful community partnerships that positively impact our teachers, students, and families. Mrs. Croom also does an outstanding job integrating core curriculum into her P.E. classes, ensuring that learning happens both in and out of the classroom. Please join us in congratulating Ms. Davis and Mrs. Croom for their dedication, leadership, and commitment to our Panther family!
From Topsail High - CONGRATULATIONS to Ms. Papke , Ms. Setzer, and our entire Math Team for earning 2nd place at the UNCW math competition! Three students placed in the Top 10!! Way to go Pirates!
From West Pender Middle - Guess what bloomed at the Arboretum last Saturday? Students from Mrs. Happy's art classes had their Camellia drawings on display at the Tidewater Camellia Club show in Wilmington!
From Pender Early College - Our Anatomy class had a special guest today: Eden Briley, from UNCW's College of Health and Human Services stopped by to teach us about health science majors at UNCW, future careers, and a summer camp that students can participate in. If students are interested in the free 2 week camp, they can check out the flyers around school or on our Wolf Lounge google classroom. Thank you, Eden, for spending time with us today!
Do you want to be a part of the most fun event of the year? Well, we need you! Volunteers are needed for our annual Field Day. If you're interested, please fill out this form. Volunteers will help run stations to make sure that everything runs smoothly and that our students have maximum fun! Thanks in advance for your help! ¿Quiere ser parte del evento más divertido del año? ¡Pues, necesitamos voluntarios para nuestro Día de Campo anual! Si usted está interesado/a, por favor rellene este formulario. ¡Los voluntarios ayudarán a manejar las estaciones para asegurar que todo funcione sin problemas y que nuestros estudiantes se diviertan al máximo! ¡Gracias por su ayuda!
🎉 We may be on break, but Penderlea Day is Almost Here! 🎉 Mark your calendars for April 11th from 10 AM – 2 PM and join us for a day of fun, food, and community spirit—all while supporting our students! All proceeds from this event will go directly back to Penderlea School to benefit our students. 🌭 Delicious food – hot dogs, wings, snacks & more! 🎯 Games, Crafts, & a fun kids' zone 🎶 Live entertainment 🚜 Touch-a-Truck 🛍️ Vendors 🎨 Student Art Display We need YOUR help to make this event a success! If you're interested in: ✅ Volunteering ✅ Being a vendor ✅ Performing on stage 📧 Contact us at pls_info@pender.k12.nc.us for more details. Come out, bring your family, and have fun! We can’t wait to see you there! 📍 Penderlea School 11 Garden Rd, Willard, NC 28478
We (Surf City Elementary) are planning our First Annual Military Kids Ball!💜 To make this event truly memorable, we need your support. How You Can Help 🍪 Desserts & Drinks Needed. Items may be dropped off anytime on Thursday, April 23rd OR if you know of a business willing to sponsor or donate food, please let us know. 🎁 Gift Basket Donations 🔗 http://bit.ly/4sptUys 🤝 Volunteers Needed 🔗 https://bit.ly/4slRGv4 🎀 Decorations & Special Donations. Our color theme is Purple, and the symbolic flower is the Dandelion. We welcome any decoration donations that align with this theme. 🎶 DJ Needed. Know “that guy” who would love to DJ for a great cause? We are seeking donated or discounted DJ services for the evening.
Pender-Topsail Post - Front Page
StarNews Online - Wilmington area schools announce schedule changes due to severe weather
Port City Daily - Remote-learning, school closures due inclement Monday weather
WHQR - Severe weather, potential tornadoes forecast for SENC; many schools closed or operating remotely
WECT - SENC schools announce changes due to threat of severe weather WECT - Topsail High School sewage backups prompt environmental health visit, district response
WWAY - Pender County Board of Education proposes new idea for Topsail Booster Clubs WWAY - Several school closures announced due to severe weather
Credits:
Created with images by Marc - "(Narcissus pseudonarcissus) Blüte mit Gelbe Narzissen oder Trompeten-Narzisse 'Dutch Master' im April" • Uuganbayar - "What else word written under torn paper concept." • manit - "Hand of young business using smartphone, Social media concept."