So much for April showers. It has been a dry week across our area, but there is still plenty to keep up with across Pender County Schools. This week’s update includes school board news, student and staff recognitions, upcoming events, and reminders for families as we move through the spring semester. From classroom projects and student accomplishments to graduation information and community events, there is a lot happening across our schools. ✏️🎓 You’ll also find a few important dates and reminders in this week’s issue, including immunization information for families, the Choose Love event at Topsail High, PECHS transfer application deadlines, and upcoming transition nights and school events. Thanks for taking a few minutes to stay informed and connected to what’s going on across PCS. 📅🏫
WPMS Teacher Chosen for Prestigious 2026 Teachers Trip to Poland
West Pender Middle School is proud to announce that Ms. Christoff 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 Ms. Christoff's adventure HERE
APRIL 14, 2026 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING RECAP
The Pender County Board of Education met April 14 for its regular monthly meeting. After closed session, the board approved the personnel report and moved into the public portion of the agenda, which included recognitions, the superintendent’s report, information items, and action items. Board members received an update on draft calendar options for the 2027-2028 school year, reviewed the first read of proposed Policy 9005 related to mascot naming and trademarking, and heard construction updates on the J.H. Lea Elementary and Middle Schools project. The board also approved the consent agenda, change orders for J.H. Lea, MBP Pay App #7, and Bordeaux Pay App #21. The meeting also included student and staff recognitions, a performance by the Topsail Annandale Elementary chorus, and comments from board members about recent school visits, district events, and the service of former school leader Caroline Godwin who recently passed away. The next scheduled meeting is the Committee of the Whole on April 28, 2026.
CHOOSE LOVE
Topsail High School's Pirate Strong, Youth Advisory Council, and Student Council are committed to Filling the Bleachers on Monday, April 20 at 5:30 PM for Scarlett Lewis's Choose Love Movement. Ryan Kusinitz (12), George Calvillo (11), Molly Hasinski (11), and Sydney Ledermann (12) met up with the "Foz in the Morning!" talk show host, Jason Fowsdick, to challenge the community to "Fill the Bleachers" on Monday, April 20 - the 27th anniversary of the Columbine Shooting.
"We want our community to know that we are choosing love to stop the pathway to violence here at Topsail High School," George shared.
Topsail High School student leaders are committed to accepting the challenge of "Choosing Love to Stop the Pathway to Violence." Everyone is invited to attend this free community event Monday, April 20, from 5:30 - 6:30 PM at Topsail High School's Gymnasium.
IMMUNIZATION REMINDERS
As we approach the upcoming school year, Pender County Schools would like to remind you about the critical importance of ensuring your child's immunizations are up-to-date, in accordance with North Carolina state regulations. Immunizations play a crucial role in safeguarding the health and well-being of our students and the broader school community. As you may be aware, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has specific immunization requirements for students entering various grades. North Carolina law also provides for two types of exemptions from required immunizations. To ensure your child is ready for the upcoming school year, please take a moment to review their immunization records and schedule any necessary vaccinations. This is especially important for students entering kindergarten, seventh grade, twelfth grade, and those who may be new to our school district. If your child has already received the required immunizations, kindly provide updated records to the school's health office before the start of the school year. Failure to comply with immunization requirements may result in your child being excluded from school until the necessary vaccinations are completed. We want to ensure a smooth and healthy start to the school year for all students, and your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. For your convenience, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services provides a detailed guide to immunization requirements, which you can access at- https://immunization.dph.ncdhhs.gov/schools/k-12.htm If there are any concerns or questions regarding immunizations, please feel free to reach out to our school nurse or the health services department. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to a safe and successful school year. HELPFUL LINKS Kindergarten Requirements (English) Kindergarten Requirements (Spanish) 7th Grade Requirements (English) 7th Grade Requirements (Spanish) 12th Grade Requirements (English) 12th Grade Requirements (Spanish) CDC Recommended Immunizations birth-6 yrs CDC Recommended Immunizations 7-18 yrs Vaccine Information NCDHHS Immunization Exemptions
BMS Student Secures 2nd Place in Statewide Holocaust Writing Contest
There is a major reason to celebrate at Burgaw Middle School this week! One of our very own sixth-graders, Caroline Borders, has achieved a remarkable feat by winning second place in the NC Council on the Holocaust Writing Contest for the 2025-2026 school year. Caroline’s success is a testament to her dedication and the support of her teacher, Sophia Foster, who inspired and encouraged her throughout the submission process. Read more about her accomplishment HERE
Month of the Military Child
Surf City Elementary School and Surf City Middle School proudly kicked off April: Month of the Military Child with a spirited parade celebrating the strength, resilience, and sacrifices of students from military families. Students, staff, and community members lined the campus walkways to show their support for military-connected children. The parade brought together both schools in a celebration of pride, gratitude, and community as students cheered and recognized the important role military families play in our community. You can read more about what's happening at Surf City Middle HERE
SOUTH TOPSAIL ELEMENTARY EARNS THIRD PLACE AT REGIONAL BATTLE OF THE BOOKS
South Topsail Elementary represented Pender County Schools well at today’s regional Elementary Battle of the Books competition, earning a strong third-place finish against an impressive field of schools from across the region. Hosted at John J. Blair Elementary School in New Hanover County Schools, the competition featured teams from Union Elementary in Brunswick County, Bellamy Elementary in New Hanover County, Pink Hill Elementary in Lenoir County, Parkwood Elementary in Onslow County, Spring Creek Elementary in Wayne County, and South Topsail Elementary from Pender County. Students competed by answering detailed questions based on 16 selected book titles, a format that called for careful reading, quick thinking, and strong teamwork. The North Carolina Elementary Battle of the Books program is part of a statewide reading initiative coordinated through the North Carolina School Library Media Association, and the competition is designed to encourage students to engage deeply with high-quality literature while building both literacy and collaboration skills. You can read more about their accomplishment HERE
C.F. Pope Elementary Awarded Grant for Garden of Inquiry and Learning Project
C.F. Pope Elementary School is once again celebrating excellence and achievement, as its 2026 Teacher of the Year and Physical Education teacher continues to make a lasting impact both inside and outside the classroom. The school proudly recognizes its outstanding PE teacher, Tina Croom, recently named 2026 Te acher of the Year, for her leadership, dedication, and commitment to student wellness and engagement. In addition to this well-deserved honor, Mrs. Croom has played a key role in securing yet another grant opportunity that will benefit the entire school community. C.F. Pope Elementary was recently notified that it has been selected as a recipient of the Spring 2026 Going Local Grant. This funding will support the school’s innovative Garden of Inquiry and Learning Project, an initiative designed to provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities for students across all grade levels. You can read more about the project HERE
Volunteers Needed for BMS End-of-Grade Testing
Volunteers will serve as proctors to help ensure a smooth and successful testing environment. If you are interested, please contact Assistant Principal Ms. Shanika Murphy at shanika_murphy@pender.k12.nc.us for more information. Please note that all volunteers must complete a background check and proctor training prior to testing. Your time and support make a difference—we appreciate your help!
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 - Can paper become a roller coaster? Our Grade 5 AIG team said YES — months of teamwork, sketches, and test runs led to paper marble coasters that kept marbles rolling for impressively long times. This morning they tested them to see which design kept the marble rolling the longest — and the results were amazing! Congratulations to Carter, Henry & Elijah with a time of 42.79 seconds.
From Pender Early College - Congrats to all our students and their presenters at the PECHS House Fair! PECHS Houses chose different nonprofits to support and today they presented to community members how they supported their nonprofits. Thank you all our judges as well.
From Topsail High - This year, the faculty started a new initiative to honor the quintessential characteristics of a Topsail Pirate by nominating students in the senior class who most exhibit each of the six qualities. This week, we are focusing on the Attentive trait. Attentive Pirates work hard to understand and meet the needs of others in the school and community. Listening, showing appropriate focus in and out of class, and using positive and alert body language are all ways that Topsail students show their skills of attentiveness. The 25-26 winner for the Attentive Pirate Award is Andrew Kraus. Link to Andrew's video - https://bit.ly/41DIirl
AND...Please join us in congratulating April's Pirates of the Month! These teachers exceed expectations in helping every single student "Find Their Fit!" Go Pirates!
From Cape Fear Middle - 🌟 APPRECIATION TO OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL🌟 Last week during our spring break was Assistant Principal Appreciation Week, so we want to give a HUGE shoutout to our very own Mr. Bryant at Cape Fear Middle School! 🏫💙 Mr. Bryant works tirelessly behind the scenes every single day to keep our school running smoothly — and so much of what he does goes unnoticed! 👀✨ From serving as our Testing Coordinator 📝, to tackling bus questions and issues 🚌, to leading our incredible Student Athlete Leadership Team 🏆 — he does it ALL with dedication and heart! ❤️ We see you, Mr. Bryant, and we are SO grateful for everything you do for our students, staff, and community! Thank you for showing up every day and going above and beyond! 🙌👏 We are proud to call him a Grizzly! 🐻
From West Pender Middle - We are so grateful for everything our staff does each day to support, inspire, and make a difference. You are truly appreciated! 🧡
AND...Our 6th and 7th grade art students had a great day of creativity and inspiration! 🎨✨ They visited Cameron Art Museum and Cape Fear Community College, then wrapped up the trip by sketching the beautiful riverfront downtown!
From Burgaw Middle - Our sixth grade team sporting different shades of purple in support of Military Spirit Week! 💜
From Pender Innovative Learning Academy - Oliver the otter is SUPER proud of this elementary otter for his Honorable Mention in the Pender Springfest Logo contest! We love it when our otters step out of their comfort zones and expand their horizons!!
From Surf City Middle - Happy Assistant Principal’s Week!
From Topsail Annandale Elementary - 💜 Today we proudly “Purpled Up” in honor of the Month of the Military Child! 💜 Our school community came together for a special military parade to celebrate and recognize the strength, resilience, and sacrifices of our students from military families. We are so proud of our military-connected Ospreys and grateful for the unique experiences and perspectives they bring to our school. A special thank you to the JROTC at Topsail High School for supporting our celebration and helping make this event so meaningful.💜 We stand with and celebrate our military children today and every day! 💜
AND...TAES fourth-graders got a sneak peek of middle school life today as they toured TMS! From the gym to the cafeteria and hallways in between, students explored their future campus and asked great questions along the way. We loved seeing their excitement (and a few nerves!) as they prepare for the next big step.🖤💛
From North Topsail Elementary - 💜 April is the Month of the Military Child 💜 At North Topsail Elementary, we are proud to honor and celebrate the strength, resilience, and sacrifices of our military-connected students. With 160 military children in our school community, their impact is felt every single day. Military children face unique challenges. Frequent moves, new schools, and time apart from loved ones, yet they continue to show courage, adaptability, and kindness in all they do. Throughout the month of April, we recognize and appreciate these incredible students for their service and sacrifice alongside their families. 💜 Thank you, military children, for your strength and for being such an important part of our NTE family!
AND...National Assistant Principal Week!
From South Topsail Elementary - South Topsail celebrated World Autism Day with our amazing stingrays — a reminder to honor every beautiful, different way of being. Today and every day, let's continue to foster a more inclusive world that celebrates the unique strengths and perspectives of these awesome kiddos. 🌊✨
From Cape Fear Elementary - Our Cubs showed up for wear Purple Day and it was a wonderful reminder of the strength and resilience of our military families. Thank you to everyone who showed their support today! Tomorrow, we invite everyone to wear RED to Remember Everyone Deployed. Let’s continue to show our love, appreciation, and support for the brave men and women serving our country and their families.
AND...CFE celebrates Ms. Biersbach as our April Crystal Apple Award recipient.
From Malpass Corner Elementary - Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Reaves to MCE! We are excited to have her join our Eagle family and can’t wait for the great things ahead! 🦅✨
AND...Even though we are currently out of school, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to recognize Assistant Principal Week! 💙 We are so grateful for Mrs. Locklear and all that she does each and every day to support our students, staff, and families. Her dedication, leadership, and heart for our school truly make a difference! When we return next week, we will celebrate her in a special way. Be sure to help us show Mrs. Locklear some love and appreciation! 🎉 It truly takes a team to make the dream happen, and we are so thankful she is part of ours! 🦅
From Penderlea School - The 6th grade had an awesome field trip recently to High Tides and Good Vibes in Surf City. Students enjoyed bowling, arcade games, laser tag, and a simulation ride before picnicking at the park on the waterway.
AND...Happy Assistant Principal Appreciation Week to Dr. Goodlett! 💛 We are so thankful for the bright, charismatic, and positive energy she brings to Penderlea School each and every day. Dr. Goodlett has been such a wonderful addition to our school family, always leading with kindness, encouragement, and dedication. Her passion for students, support for staff, and commitment to making Penderlea the best it can be does not go unnoticed. She goes above and beyond to create a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Shout out to Dr. Goodlett for all that she does for our school, students, and community. We appreciate you more than words can say! 💛🐝🍎
From Rocky Point Elementary - Today we celebrated our April Golden Ram Awards. This celebrates our staff members who go above and beyond for our students every single day! These teachers consistently show up with heart, high expectations, and a whole lot of loves for our kids. Help us give them a BIG congratulations. Child Advocate: Ms. Barnette Leadership: Ms. Cramer Curriculum: Ms. Cotton Creativity: Ms. L. Black
AND...Happy Assistant Principals Week to our lovely Mrs. Cramer! This is Mrs. Cramer's 2nd year as Assistant Principal at Rocky Point Elementary. Students and staff love her cheerful smile, positive attitude, and her ability to get ANYTHING done (really, she's a miracle worker!). Thank you for all you do for our Ram Fam, Mrs. Cramer!
We are excited to invite all families to our Transition Night on April 20th! Our two sessions will be: Session A - 4:00pm - 4:45pm Session B - 4:45pm - 5:30pm This special evening will begin with an introduction to an exciting change for our school as we become a Leader in Me School next year. Families will learn how this approach will help develop leadership, responsibility, and strong character in our students. After the presentation, families will have the opportunity to: • Visit the next grade level your child will be entering • Meet teachers • Learn about expectations for the upcoming school year • Enjoy light snacks together We hope you will join us for this important and engaging evening as we prepare for a successful year ahead!
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 - Pender County school board weighs new rules after booster's alleged theft
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