TURNING THE CALENDAR TO DECEMBER 📆
We hope everyone made it through the long weekend in one piece and maybe even got a little extra rest 🦃😅. Thanksgiving always seems to fly by, and now we’re suddenly back in the routine, trying to remember what day it is and catching up on everything that didn’t get done last week. It’s that weird in-between stretch where some folks are still finishing leftovers and others already have their holiday lights plugged in. As we roll into December, things pick up quickly—events, reminders, and all the little end-of-year tasks that sneak up on us 🎄✨. This week’s updates should help keep everyone on track as we make the switch from Thanksgiving mode to the full holiday season. Thanks, as always, for taking a minute to read through everything and stay in the loop. Let’s just ease our way into the rest of the season together.
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING TUESDAY, DEC. 9
The final Pender County Schools Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Closed session is scheduled to begin at 5pm with the regular session to follow at 6pm. If you're unable to attend the meeting it will be streamed live on our YouTube channel. The public notice, agenda, and board packet information can be found using this link.
PCS RANKS SECOND IN NC FOR CTE CREDENTIAL ATTAINMENT
Pender County Schools just made a major leap in Career Technical Education, climbing to #2 in the state with an impressive 88.28% credential attainment rate—coming within one-one hundredth of a point of taking the top spot 🎓💼. The announcement was made at this year’s CTE Director’s Conference in Greensboro, and the momentum behind PCS’s programs continues to grow. Want to see what pushed us forward and how close we came to being number one in North Carolina? ⭐📊 Read more HERE
THIS!!!
Cape Fear Middle kicked off its 12 Days of Perfect Attendance this week, and they’ve already got students fired up about it 🎉. The idea is pretty straightforward: show up on time, stay all day, and keep it going each day of the challenge. It’s a fun way to keep kids focused during a time of year when routines start to slide a little, and the staff has been doing a great job keeping the energy up.
And yes—there is a prize at the end. Students who make it through all 12 days will earn a voucher for a Hot Chocolate Bar on December 19th ☕🎄. It’s a small reward, but honestly, kids love it, and it adds just enough motivation to keep attendance steady as we head into the break. We’ll see how many Grizzlies stick with it, but the enthusiasm on day one was definitely a good sign.
ORDER OF THE PATRIOT
Pender High held another Order of the Patriot Award ceremony today, and it was a good reminder of how many students are quietly putting in the work day after day. This award is still pretty new starting in 2024, but it’s become a solid way to highlight kids who show consistency, growth, and just plain doing the right thing, even when it’s not easy.
Teachers nominate students throughout the semester, and each department chooses its final recipients. It’s a pretty selective group, and the students recognized today definitely earned their spot. Big congratulations to them and their families—this is something to be proud of. Today’s recipients (in no particular order): Chloe Moore, Jackson Kestler, Gianina Orwat, Malcolm Baldwin, Abigail Pate, Aiden Anderson, Gicel Sanchez-Cruz, Jared Sanchez-Cruz, Jasmine Ramirez Hernandez, Holly Smith, Keirisson Brown, Grace Stutts, Anthony Corbett, Yarinet Leon Quiroz, Johnah Murphy, Jenna Charlton, and Avery Lewis 👏✨ #PatriotPride
Here's a video from today's ceremony - YouTube
ROCKY POINT RAMS ON A MISSION
Rocky Point Elementary 3rd graders have been making some big connections lately—both in and out of the classroom—and their recent trip to the Museum of Coastal Carolina and Ingram Planetarium was a huge part of that 🚀🌙. From seeing moon phases come to life to spotting ideas they’ve been learning in Wit & Wisdom and Social Studies Weekly, students had plenty of “wait, I know this!” moments. It was a hands-on, high-energy day that really showed how classwork ties into the real world. 👀✨ Read more about the trip and what students discovered HERE
SCM BAND DIRECTOR SELECTED TO MARCH WITH NATIONAL ENSEMBLE
Surf City Middle’s own band director, Trevor Judy, is getting some major recognition—and a spot marching with Saluting America’s Band Directors, a national ensemble that honors music educators across the country 🎺🇺🇸. This is a big deal, and it shines a light not just on his talent, but on the steady support and encouragement he brings to students every day. Want to see how he earned this opportunity and where he’ll be performing next? 🎶✨ Read more HERE
CFM’S PAUL ODOM AWARDED $1,700 BRIGHT IDEAS GRANT FROM FOUR COUNTY ELECTRIC
Cape Fear Middle’s STEM teacher and TSA advisor Paul Odom just earned another Bright Ideas Grant—this time for $1,700—and it’s going to bring some seriously cool upgrades to the school’s robotics, engineering, and rocketry programs 🚀��. With new micro FPV drones on the way, students will get hands-on experience with real-world tech skills like first-person piloting, autonomous navigation, and creative video production. Want a closer look at what students will be able to do with this new equipment—and how it connects to emerging careers? ✨📡 Read more HERE
CFE RECEIVES $1,000 GRANT FOR SCHOOL GARDEN AND BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT👩🌾👨🌾
C.F. Pope Elementary just received a $1,000 grant to boost its school garden and campus beautification efforts, and students are going to see some great changes outdoors 🌱🌼. With help from the Master Gardener volunteers and the NC Cooperative Extension team, the school is gearing up to expand its garden spaces and build hands-on learning opportunities tied to gardening, nutrition, and environmental stewardship. Want to see how this grant will shape outdoor learning for students? 🌿✨ Read more HERE
🍎SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS🍕
You can find school lunch menus for each grade level by following THIS LINK
WELCOME ABOARD! 🏴☠️
From Topsail High - Our Athletics Department is excited to announce our new Women's Lacrosse Coach! Madison is an outgoing coach with 6 years of experience coaching competitive high school and middle school girls lacrosse programs in Maryland. Madison played Division 1 lacrosse at Longwood University where she was on the Big South all conference team, was a Scholar athlete and team captain. As a four year starting midfielder she racked up 85 career goals and 104 total points. She was first team all area choice and all conference at her high school where she still holds the schools single season record for most draw controls. She moved to North Carolina in 2020 and loves spending her free time with her Husband, baby Gus and two dogs.
From Cape Fear Middle - 🎨🐻Creative Grizzlies at Work! 🐻🎨 Amazing artwork in progress! 🎨 Ms. Patrick's art students are mastering the grid method this week by enlarging their favorite cartoon characters. So proud of our creative Grizzlies! 🐻
From North Topsail Elementary - Big smiles and big achievements! 😄🐬 Our 5th graders finished DARE and walked away with t-shirts and certificates—what a proud moment! Huge thanks to Deputy Cobb, Deputy Perdicho & Sergeant Kittlaus for guiding our Dolphins and teaching important lessons.
AND...Our NTE staff knows how to bring the spirit! 💙🐬We celebrated “67” today with lots of smiles, laughter, and pride in being part of this amazing school community. Thank you to everyone who joined in the fun — our Dolphins make 67 shine! 🌟
From Malpass Corner Elementary - 🎄✨ The 12 Days of Holiday Fun have begun at Malpass Corner Elementary, and our Eagles are soaring into the season in style! 🦅❤️💚 Just look at all of our students and staff showing off their favorite holiday colors—the halls have never looked brighter or more joyful! 🎅🎁 We love seeing the smiles, the spirit, and the excitement building each day as we countdown to winter break. ❄️ Stay tuned—there’s more fun to come, and we can’t wait to share every magical moment with you! 📸✨
From Cape Fear Elementary - 📚💙 Help us celebrate Kenna Arnold, our Million Minute Reader for the month. She had the highest reading minutes in the whole school. Amazing job, Kenna! Keep reading!
AND...Day 6-7: books opened, minds growing, and hearts full. Here’s to another great day at CFE! 💛📚
From South Topsail Elementary - Happy 67th day of school, Stingrays!
From Surf City Elementary - ♟️ Checkmate Champions in the Making! ♟️Mrs. Gray's students have been sharpening their minds with chess in library class! From planning strategic moves to practicing patience and good sportsmanship, these kids are showing off some serious brainpower. 🧠 👏🏽♟️
AND...Happy 67th Day of School! 🥳 Yes, we said it! 6-7! Our teachers showed up in full spirit today with their "6-7" shirts.
From Topsail Annandale Elementary - Ospreys are SOARing at Topsail Annandale Elementary! 💙 Our December PBIS focus is Organization, and we are so proud of our students for working hard and showing what it means to be organized learners. Organization is key to success, and our kids are proving it every day! Today, students used a graphic organizer/box method to tackle division—and just look at those smiling faces! They love dividing, and it’s wonderful to see their enthusiasm as they master new skills.
AND...🎉 Happy 67th Day of School! 🎉We celebrated being 6–7 days smarter, and our halls were full of learning and laughter! Students hunted for hidden 6s and 7s around the building, staff battled it out in some hilarious 6–7 trivia, and prizes were popping up all day long. 🤩It was such a fun way to celebrate all the growth and hard work our kids have put in so far this year. Here’s to the next 67! 💙📚✨
From Burgaw Middle - 7th grade students visited the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher!
AND...BMS thanks author Dusti Bowling for a great author visit! Students received a personal presentation, signed stickers and books, and even got to view some amazing artifacts from her personal life! It's a great day to read! 📚🌵
From Topsail Middle - TMS 8th graders in Mr. Brittain’s and Mr. Chase’s classes spent time this week working through another piece of their NC Career Development Plan, and it was a solid step toward helping them think ahead. They dug into what high school courses look like, how to make thoughtful choices, and how their interests can shape the path they take. Students even drafted a first version of their high school course plan, with plenty of conversation about how those plans might shift as they learn more about their options. Big thanks to the TMS teachers, counselor Ms. Wood, THS counselors Mr. Buchanan and Ms. Ward, and the middle school career development coordinator for supporting this work and giving students a clearer picture of what’s ahead.
From West Pender Middle - Art adventure day! 🎨✨ 7th grade art students visited the Cameron Art Museum for a career chat and gallery tour, enjoyed a picnic lunch, then explored CFCC’s campus, the Wilson Center, and the Daniels Art Gallery—ending the day sketching along the Riverwalk.
From Surf City Middle - We've had so much rain, this seagull thinks he's at the beach!
From Pender Early College - Congrats to PECHS student Dayleen Maldonado Murillo for finishing in the top 3 of the CFCC Student Math League Exam.
AND...Congrats to Maritza Mendoza for being PECHS' top reader in Pender County School's Million Minutes Reading Challenge! Challenge is still running so let's get those minutes!
Credits:
Created with images by Vera Kuttelvaserova - "red, yellow and green led christmas lights and artistic bokeh" • Vitalii Vodolazskyi - "Speech bubble with the phrase What is new.,Curiosity and communication." • Thomas - "Green metal lockers along a nondescript hallway in a typical US High School.,No identifiable information included and nobody in the hall." • Dusan Kostic - "kids soccer team" • Robert - "Dynamic collaboration in a professional workplace: Creative brainstorming and project management, colourful sticky notes." • Memed ÖZASLAN - "Newspaper and magnifying glass on the table, news wiritng on the cubes" • NaMong Productions - "hand holding smart phone with application icons interface and globe networking system. concept technology social network communication."