MARCH'ing RIGHT ALONG
March is here (you may have noticed the pollen) 🤧, and for a change it feels like it, after weeks of cold mornings, we’ve had a stretch of 70-degree days that’s been a welcome shift across the district ☀️🌷. As we move into a busy month, there’s a lot to look forward to and a lot to celebrate in our schools 🏫✨. In this issue, you’ll find reminders about the upcoming Board of Education meeting 🗓️🧑💼, highlights from Elementary Battle of the Books 📚🏆, and scenes from Read Across America Week happening in classrooms across Pender 🇺🇸📖. We’re also recognizing Social Worker Week 💛🤝 and the steady work our student support teams provide each day. And as the month gets underway, we’re proud to share news of a national championship appearance 🏅🎉 that reflects the effort and preparation our students continue to bring.
READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK: READING ALL AROUND OUR DISTRICT!
Oh, look at our readers—just look what we found! From buses to benches to beanbags so round, Across the whole district, great books do abound. In classrooms and hallways, in sunshine and shade, With giggles and gasps at the faces we made! Some read with a buddy, some read all alone, Some read with a whisper, some read with a tone. So here’s a big cheer for Read Across America Week— Keep turning those pages… and take another peek! 📚✨
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 10, 2026
The Pender County Board of Education will meet for a regular meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at the Dr. Katherine Herring Resource Center. The meeting will begin in closed session at 5:00pm with the open session to follow at 6:00pm. For those who are unable to attend, the meeting will be live on our YouTube channel.
Pender County Schools Educator Presents at NCTIES Conference
RALEIGH, NC – Pender County Schools Digital Learning Specialist Kayla Davidson presented at the 2026 NCTIES Conference on Friday, March 6, sharing innovative strategies for integrating artificial intelligence tools into classroom instruction.
Davidson’s session, “Wannabe Creative? Spice Up Your Classroom with Canva AI,” explored how educators can use Canva’s emerging AI tools to enhance student engagement, creativity, and collaboration. During the session, participants experienced hands-on activities using tools such as Design for Me, Create Student Activities, and Code for Me, learning how these features can support interactive lessons and save teachers valuable planning time. The presentation incorporated a fun 1990s theme and encouraged attendees to first step into the role of students by experimenting with the tools themselves. Participants then shifted to a teacher perspective to explore how AI-powered features in Canva can be used to foster collaborative learning environments and empower students to become active creators of digital content. Educators attending the session left with classroom-ready activities, a curated collection of AI-powered Canva templates, and practical strategies for responsibly integrating AI into K–12 instruction. NCTIES is one of the largest educational technology conferences in North Carolina, bringing together educators, technology leaders, and innovators from across the state to share ideas and explore new tools that support teaching and learning. Pender County Schools leaders noted that Davidson’s presentation reflects the district’s ongoing commitment to innovative instructional practices and supporting educators as they thoughtfully integrate emerging technologies into the classroom.
PENDER HIGH SCHOOL JROTC TEAM ADVANCES TO NATIONAL JLAB CHAMPIONSHIP
Four cadets from Pender High School have earned a spot in the 2026 JROTC Leadership & Academic Bowl (JLAB) Championship after advancing through two competitive online rounds. The team—Tyson Gelner, Nevasha Bonds, Aiden Anderson, and Esme Segers—started in a field of 5,163 JROTC teams worldwide and finished among the select group moving on to the national stage. They will travel to Washington, D.C., to compete June 12–16, 2026, at The Catholic University of America. The competition includes academics such as math, science, and language arts, along with leadership topics like citizenship, values, and decision-making. Teams are also tested on current events, financial literacy, and critical thinking under time pressure.
BOOKS WERE READ, BATTLES WERE HAD
South Topsail Elementary played host for the 2026 Elementary School Battle of the Books competition. In the weeks leading up to the competition, teams spent time reading and preparing, working their way through the selected titles and getting familiar with the characters, plots, and details from each book. During the event, students answered questions from a total of 16 books. Teams were given a short amount of time to talk through each question, agree on an answer, and respond before time ran out. The format moves quickly and keeps everyone working together. Between rounds, teams checked in with their coaches, talked through strategy, and got ready for the next set of questions. When the scores were finalized, South Topsail Elementary defended its title, finishing in first place for this year’s competition. Congratulations to all of the students who participated in this years event, your passion for reading shows!! Thank you to the staff at South Topsail Elementary for hosting, as well as the coaches and volunteers who helped with timing, scoring, and organizing the event. It was a great day for students who enjoy reading and working as a team. You can find a link to the complete picture gallery HERE
🚍🏁 Roadeo day = skills, precision, and a whole lot of pride!
This week Pender County Schools hosted the School Bus Roadeo at Heide Trask High School, with teams rolling in from Pender, Brunswick, and New Hanover counties. Shoutout to our Pender County top 3 finishers: 🥇 Teresa Coston 🥈 Kevin Whaley 🥉 Arthur McIntyre We’re cheering you on as you head to the District Roadeo on April 21 in Cumberland County! 💙💛
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE
Communities in Schools (CIS) is looking for volunteers for their PaSS Third Grade Reading Program, and we’d love your help spreading the word, especially to support our Pender County schools. Volunteers are matched one-on-one with a third grader at the school of their choice and meet for just 30 minutes a week during the weeks leading up to the End-of-Grade (EOG) test in May. Anyone can participate, including high school students who have transportation, and CIS makes it easy: we provide all materials, the curriculum, and volunteer training—volunteers simply show up to read. If you or someone you know can give a half hour a week, please consider signing up and sharing this opportunity with friends, coworkers, and community groups across the county line. Reach out to Kendall McGee Englehart if interested - 910-343-1901, kendall@ciscapefear.org
Pender County Schools Launches Parent ProTech Digital Safety Resource
Pender County Schools is excited to officially launch Parent ProTech, a free digital safety and technology resource for all PCS families. Parent ProTech offers an on-demand library of short, easy-to-understand videos and guides designed to help families navigate today’s digital world together. Topics include:
- Online safety and digital citizenship
- Social media, gaming, and streaming platforms
- Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
- Healthy screen time habits and device use
The platform also includes conversation starters to support meaningful discussions between parents and children about the technology they use every day. Click HERE to read more about how to get started.
🍎SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS🍕
You can find school lunch menus for each grade level by following THIS LINK
WEEKLY ATHLETICS SCHEDULE
From Penderlea School - This week, we proudly celebrate School Social Worker Appreciation Week! 💛 We want to give a heartfelt thank you to our incredible school social worker, Ms. Pullen, for the compassion, dedication, and unwavering support she provides to our students, families, and staff each and every day. Ms. Pullen is a constant source of encouragement, guidance, and care. Whether she’s helping students navigate challenges, celebrating their successes, or simply being a listening ear, she makes a lasting difference in our school community. Her commitment to the well-being and growth of every student does not go unnoticed. We are so grateful for the positive impact she makes daily! Please join us in thanking Ms. Pullen for all she does — we appreciate you today and always! ✨
AND...🐝🏆 Celebrating Excellence at Penderlea! 🏆🐝 We are proud to officially introduce our 2025–2026 honorees: 🌟 Teacher of the Year – Mrs. Paula Finn 🌟 Beginning Teacher of the Year – Ms. Emma Hensley Mrs. Finn exemplifies instructional excellence, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to student success. She consistently builds strong relationships, sets high expectations, and works tirelessly to ensure every student grows academically and personally. Ms. Hensley has made an incredible impact early in her career. Her passion for teaching, dedication to continuous improvement, and strong connection with students make her a rising leader at Penderlea. Both of these educators represent the very best of our mission and vision — empowering students to become lifelong learners and leaders! Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Finn and Ms. Hensley for this well-deserved recognition!
From Cape Fear Middle - 🐻 WE CELEBRATED OUR AMAZING GRIZZLIES TODAY! 🐻 What an INCREDIBLE day! 🎉🏅 Today we honored all the hard work and dedication you put into our Winter Olympics Attendance Challenge! You showed up, you stayed committed, and you EARNED those medals! 🥇🥈🥉 🍨 Ice Cream Sundae Bars 🍿 Popcorn & Candy 🎯 Concession stand treats Thank you for proving that when Grizzlies set their minds to something, NOTHING can stop us! Your commitment to being here every day makes our school stronger! 💪 We are SO PROUD of each and every one of you! Keep up that Grizzly Pride! 🐻💙
AND...☕ Thank You! Thank you to all the parents and guardians who came out to Coffee with the Principal yesterday! You are such an important part of our Cape Fear Middle School community, and we truly appreciate you taking the time to join us. Your feedback, questions, and ideas help make our events and our school community better. 🎓💙 Together, we're building something special at CFMS! ✨
From Surf City Elementary - The Master gardeners taught a lesson on plants today. Ms. Curry's first graders also planted lettuce and will water it each day. Once it is fully grown, they will harvest it to take to the sea turtle hospital for the sea turtles to enjoy.🐢🥬👩🌾
From Surf City Middle - 🦈🎨 Shark Artists Shine at the 2026 YMTS T-Shirt Design Contest! 🦃🎡 Congratulations to two incredible Shark artists for their turk’riffic success in the 2026 Youth Market Turkey Show T-Shirt Design Contest! This statewide contest invited artists ages 5–18 to design bold, original T-shirts celebrating: 🦃 Turkeys & poultry 🎡 The North Carolina State Fair 🌾 Youth in agriculture 🌎 North Carolina pride & culture 🥈 2nd Place – Dahlia Kuchta (8th Grade) Dahlia earned 2nd Place overall with her stunning and richly detailed design! Her artwork features a beautifully colored turkey standing proudly on North Carolina’s state flower, the dogwood. The turkey wears a “State Winner” sash, symbolizing excellence in youth agriculture and competition. Bold lettering reading “NC State Fair 2026” completes the design, making it eye-catching and perfect for a T-shirt graphic. 🥉 3rd Place – Ethan Wagner (8th Grade) Ethan’s bold and playful design earned him 3rd Place overall! His cartoon-style turkey marches confidently across the design while proudly holding the North Carolina state flag. “North Carolina State Fair” appears in large, dynamic lettering above and below the character. Bright colors, strong outlines, and expressive details made this design clear, energetic, and T-shirt ready — and it certainly captured the judges’ attention! We are beyond proud of both artists' creativity, hard work, and artistic talent. Both represented our school and community with excellence! Let’s give these Shark artists a huge round of applause! 👏👏
AND...Season 2 of Survivor Surf City Middle is in the books! 6th and 7th graders competed in challenges, found hidden idols, strategized with fellow competitors, and generally worked hard to outplay, outwit, and outlast everyone else to become the sole Survivor. Congratulations to Caroline (6th) and Max (7th) for their wins in 2 tough final 3 fields. Great job to all of the competitors!!
From Topsail High - The Pirate Post’s own Emma Rose set out on a mission to produce a video where students and teachers shared what they were thankful for as they passed by the microphone in the hallway before and after school. Emma shared the idea after seeing similar videos on social media, and Mr. Adams guided her through the filming and editing process. Enjoy the video here!
From Malpass Corner Elementary - 🎒📚 **A Sneak Peek into Middle School!** 📚🎒 Our 5th grade Eagles recently had the opportunity to visit West Pender Middle School to get a taste of what middle school is all about. Students toured the campus, learned about classes and activities, and had the chance to ask questions about what they can expect next year. It was an exciting experience that helped our Eagles begin preparing for the transition to middle school. Visits like this help build confidence and excitement for the next step in their academic journey. We are proud of our 5th graders as they continue to SOAR and get ready for the next chapter! 🦅✨
AND...🎨✨ 21st CCLC in Action! ✨🎨 Today our 21st CCLC students tapped into their creativity and participated in a fun painting activity! The room was filled with bright colors, big smiles, and lots of imagination at work. Not only were our Eagles creating beautiful pieces of art, but they were also making lasting memories with their friends. We love seeing our students express themselves, build confidence, and enjoy hands-on learning experiences after school. Afterschool is truly a blast at MCE! 🦅💛
From Rocky Point Elementary - Storyteller and musician Zak Morgan is entertaining and teaching our students today with his program, "Read & Bloom!" Students are listening, singing, and learning while having a great time!
From West Pender Middle - Exciting classroom collab alert! 🎉Mrs. Monk (7th grade math) and Mrs. Diggs (media coordinator) partnered to have students create a bright, easy-to-use math formula poster in Canva — a go-to reference for the formulas they use most.
AND...Hooked on chapter one! 📖Mrs. Smith brought her 8th grade students to the library— new books in hand, and pages turning like magic ✨Be sure to log those minutes!
From Burgaw Middle - Miss Foster's classroom is in full bloom! 🌷 Students just finished their Unit 4 Infographics. Check out her new bulletin board showing nine reasons why we are so lucky at BMS!
AND...Cambree did an amazing job at the Regional Spelling Bee on Sunday! She represented BMS well and we are so proud of her. Thanks to Mrs. Mobley for being such a great coach! 💜
From Cape Fear Elementary - 5th graders enjoyed a book “tasting” today to help prepare for an upcoming book project! Students walked around the room and had the opportunity to sample several different books.
From South Topsail Elementary - 🎉 Huge congratulations to Mrs. Coston — 1st place in Pender County’s Bus Rodeo! 🚍🏆 Her skill, dedication, and calm under pressure make our students safer and our community proud. Thank you for all you do, Mrs. Coston! 👏💙
From North Topsail Elementary - School Social Workers Week!
AND... Nicole Spencer and Mr Mike Spencer of Fresh Start Reptile Rescue visited the 48 children present of North Topsail Elementary's PACES and thrilled and delighted them with REPTILES!
From Topsail Annandale Elementary - Our 4th grade students had an incredible time last week visiting Moore’s Creek National Battlefield! Throughout the day, students rotated through hands-on colonial activities including candle making, writing with a quill, dressing like a colonial child, woodworking, and cloth dyeing. They truly stepped back in time and experienced history in action! One of the highlights of the trip was watching a short Revolutionary War reenactment at the battlefield featuring muskets and cannons. It was an exciting and memorable way to bring their learning to life. What a fun and educational day for our 4th graders! ✨
From Heide Trask High - This week the SparkLab Titans leveled up 🎮⚡ Spark Scholars from Heide Trask High School traveled to explore the University of North Carolina at Greensboro campus and learn about their growing UNCG Esports Academic Program, where students can now pursue both a minor and a major in Esports. They heard from two professors about careers in game design, production, and esports management, toured campus, tested their skills in the esports arena, and yes… sampled the legendary cafeteria fuel. Moments like these help our scholars see real pathways from the SparkLab to college and careers. Ideas sparked, dreams upgraded, Titans inspired.
From Pender High - 🎉Super proud of our Seniors college acceptances - time to celebrate!
AND...Our Juntos Club had a fantastic time in the lab yesterday! 🧪💧 Students explored an important science concept: just because water looks clean doesn’t mean it actually is clean. Hands-on experiments like this help build critical thinking and real-world awareness!
Topsail High School's Student Council is hosting a fundraiser at the Surf City Phroyo on Thursday, March 12. From 2 PM to close, 10% of all sales will be donated to Student Council to help pay for this spring's events: Senior's Last Recess, Movie Night in the Stadium, and Teacher Appreciation Week! Everyone in the Pender County community is invited to come pick up a sweet treat and support THS students!
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 (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
WECT - Pender County Schools warns of phishing emails sent from staff accounts
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Created with images by Inna - "Spring blooming tree in May with festive mood" • 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."