VALENTINES DAY EDITION💘
Today, we’re sharing the love—for our amazing students, dedicated staff, and all the exciting things happening across the district! ❤️ From celebrating our hardworking bus drivers 🚌 to spotlighting our incredible CTE educators 🔧📚, there’s a lot to ❤️ in this edition. So grab a sweet treat 🍫, enjoy the latest updates, and remember—PCS is better because of YOU! 💌✨ #OnePender
SPEAKING OF LOVE🚌
🚌💛 We LOVE Our Bus Drivers! 💛🚌This Valentine’s week, we’re sending extra love to the amazing bus drivers who keep our students safe and on the move every day! ❤️ From early mornings to late afternoons, they go the extra mile 🛑🚦—rain or shine—to make sure our schools run smoothly. Scroll through to see some of the smiling faces behind the wheel and join us in saying THANK YOU! 👏💙 #LoveTheBus #OnePender
🔧📚 FEBRUARY IS CTE MONTH! 🚜💻
All month long, we’re celebrating Career & Technical Education (CTE) and the incredible people who make this program shine in Pender County Schools! 🎉🏫 From future engineers to culinary masters, CTE is shaping the workforce of tomorrow, and Director Dominique Bates is spotlighting the dedicated teachers, students, and programs that bring it all to life. 👩🏭👨🍳💡
Stay tuned as we showcase the hands-on learning, real-world skills, and career pathways that make CTE such a game-changer for our students! Don’t miss it! 👀➡️ #CTEMonth #OnePender
SURF CITY MIDDLE’S MS. SMITH SHINES ON STATEWIDE PANEL 🎤🌟
Surf City Middle School’s very own Ms. Christine Smith recently represented Pender County Schools on a statewide DPI panel discussing the new NC Career Development Plan (CDP) legislation 📄✨. PCS and Johnston County were invited to share how they’ve implemented the plan this year, helping other districts navigate this important initiative.
Dr. Kisha Bryant from DPI Student Services facilitated the discussion, emphasizing that CDP is not just a CTE initiative—it’s for ALL students! Ms. Smith and other PCS counselors provided valuable insights on classroom implementation, shared successes and challenges, and highlighted the real impact on students 🎓📚. With 51 participants from at least 15 districts, her voice helped shape the conversation on this statewide effort.
👏 Huge shoutout to Ms. Smith for her dedication and leadership! She continues to inspire and advocate for our students, proving that PCS is leading the way in student success! 🚀💙
🧮✨ PENDER COUNTY STUDENTS SHINE AT MATHCOUNTS COMPETITION! ✨🧮
Students from Burgaw Middle and Topsail Middle put their math skills to the test at the Southeastern NC Chapter MATHCOUNTS Competition on February 8, delivering outstanding performances against some of the region’s best young mathematicians. A huge congratulations to Cavan Mastro from Topsail Middle, who finished first overall and will represent Pender County Schools at the MATHCOUNTS State Finals! 🏆🎉 Read more about their achievements here: 🔗 Click to learn more!
🐏📚 WHAT DOES HOME REALLY MEAN?📚🐏
Third graders at Rocky Point Elementary have been diving into the powerful stories of immigration, exploring what it takes to build a sense of belonging in a new place. Through books like Grandfather’s Journey, Coming to America, and The Keeping Quilt, students are making real-world connections, growing their empathy, and thinking critically about the challenges and hopes of those who move to a new home. 🏡✨ Read more about their journey here: 🔗 Click to learn more!
C.F. POPE PANTHERS ARE READING CHAMPIONS! 📚🐾
C.F. Pope Elementary is celebrating an incredible reading achievement as students embrace the Accelerated Reader (AR) program! Designed to motivate young readers, the program allows students to set personalized reading goals, track progress through interactive quizzes, and earn rewards for their accomplishments. In just one month, students have already logged an impressive number of words read, showcasing their enthusiasm and commitment to literacy. With ongoing support from teachers and parents, the AR program is fostering a love of reading and helping students build essential comprehension skills. Keep up the great work, Panthers! 📚🐾
CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS!
Are you a 4-year athlete and want to be recognized in the yearbook? Use the QR code below and send us your information. Go Pirates!
Sports Picture Day is next week! 🏆💪 Order online and get free name and year on prints in packages. To order go to www.strawbridge.net and enter the code FM471019
OLD SCHOOL HOOPS
Join us for a nostalgic trip down memory lane! We will be hosting a Throwback Alumni Night at the old Penderlea School gymnasium on Friday, February 28th! There will be an Alumni cheer squad and basketball team! Please contact Mrs. Umphress if you are interested! (ashley_umphress@pender.k12.nc.us)
From Topsail High - 🚀 It’s been a busy and exciting first week of CTE Month! 🎉Our students have been fully engaged in hands-on learning across all CTE classes:
🍞 Foods classes whipped up delicious French toast.
🩺 Health Science students prepped for their midterm with fun, interactive review games.
🚒 Public Safety teamed up with our Fire Marshal for safety inspections and collaborated with the Theater program for an interactive triage/mass casualty training event.
🎓 In addition, our students visited Surf City Middle School and Topsail Middle School to promote CTE programs and other electives to rising 9th graders. Later in the week, these students registered for their classes for the next school year! 📚
To wrap up the week, we celebrated our amazing CTE teachers with a special treat from the snack cart! 🙌
We also recognized our incredible School Counselors for National School Counselor Week. 💙 We couldn’t do what we do in CTE without their support and dedication.
From Malpass Corner Elementary - Malpass Corner Elementary held their 24-25 Elementary BETA induction ceremony last night. National BETA has 4 pillars: academic achievement, character, leadership and service. These Eagles have worked hard to meet the National BETA requirements for induction and we are so proud of them. (BETA students - service starts tomorrow after school - 3:00 - 4:00 in the library).
From Cape Fear Elementary - Ms. Coleman’s class has started their Buildings Study where they are learning literacy, mathematics, science, arts, writing, social studies and so much more through buildings in their community and around the world!
From Topsail Annandale Elementary - Congratulations to our 4th grade all county choir students. They performed two songs at the school board meeting and did a phenomenal job. Way to show how our Osprey's SOAR!
From West Pender Middle - 🌟 Cheers to Our 6th Grade January Warrior of the Month, Brenda! 🏅 Brenda is consistently a great student, and a respectful participant in her advisory! Keep up the great work, Brenda!
AND...🎉 Congrats to our 7th Grade January Warrior of the Month, Giselle! 🏆Giselle is a great example of a WPMS P.O.W.E.R. student! Keep up the great work! 💙
AND...🎉 Applause for our 8th Grade January Warrior of the Month, Isaiah! 🏆Isaiah always takes ownership of his work, and is hard working and dedicated to being a great student. Keep up the awesome work, Isaiah!
From Pender Innovative Learning Academy - Mr Brooks taught the elementary and middle school students an important lesson today on just how much soap water and scrubbing it takes to wash germs off when you are washing your hands!! Thanks Mr Brooks for finding a fun way to teach a valuable lesson!!
From Cape Fear Middle - Congratulations to our 8th grade Students of the Month: Noah, Dustin, Peyton, and Madi (not pictured)
AND...Congratulations to our 7th grade Students of the Month: Freddy, Aniyah, Amari, and Genesis (not pictured)
AND...Congratulations to our 6th grade Students of the Month: Charles, Camila, Mariela, and Jase
From Topsail Middle - 7th Grade Earth and Environmental Class: Mining for chocolate chips! But is it worth it? Our students are exploring the cost/benefit analysis of resource extraction in a fun and delicious way!
From Pender Early College - Mrs. Melton's Anatomy and Physiology class participated in making wounds to study the layers of skin and how the body is effected by different types of injuries.
From North Topsail Elementary - 2nd grade celebrated the 102nd day of school on Monday! They participated in stem challenges, making structures or designs with 102 pieces, making pyramids with 102 cups and tried to build a float that could hold 102 pennies. They also did an experiment to figure out how many licks it would take to get to the center of a blow pop!
From Surf City Elementary - Mrs. Curry's 1st grade class earned 15 SURF points and celebrated by choosing tent day. They had a fun day of learning. ⛺️ Keep up the great work!
From Surf City Middle - Mrs. Buckley's Threshers share the love with notes!
From Burgaw Middle - BMS Celebrates Black History Month✨! Mrs. Messick's inspirational bulletin board celebrating prominent figures throughout black history.
From Pender High - SGA and the theater department partnered up for a Pre-Valentine Fundraiser today. Anyone at PHS could purchase a Crush drink for their Boo, their friend, or a faculty member and they would get a singing telegram from the Theater Chorus. Happy Valentine’s Patriots!
🌟 Pender County Schools is seeking dedicated educators to join our team! ✏️ Be part of our mission to inspire and educate young minds. Retirees (meeting NC Return to Work laws) are also welcome to join us! #ExperienceTheExcellence 📚 APPLY HERE
🚍Join the team at Pender County Schools as a valued school bus driver! 🚌 Experience the pride of safely transporting students to and from school while playing a vital role in their educational journey. 🌟 With competitive pay and the opportunity to make a positive impact on young lives, driving with us is more than just a job—it's a rewarding experience! - APPLY HERE
Join our team! We're searching for a dedicated 3rd Grade ELA teacher who is ready to inspire and engage our young learners!!
8th grade Open House is coming soon!
HELP SUPPORT THE TITANS!! It's that time of the year again! HTHS Annual BBQ Plate Fundraiser. Don't pack your lunch! Sign up and pay for your plate here!
We will add some of Mama Lou's famous BBQ sauce to enjoy with your BBQ for our Trask family!
The day is here! You can now sign up for our Surf City Elementary Fun Run! Our goal is to raise $60,000 for SCE. Signing up is easy and free on MYBOOSTER.COM ️
Key Dates to Remember: Fundraiser Kickoff in school – 02/11/2025 | Event Day – 02/21/2025
Capture the memories of the 2024-25 school year with the Surf City Elementary Yearbook! Order online at www.strawbridge.net using code YB29984. Get yours for $25 before 2/1 or $30 before 4/15—don’t miss out!
Topsail High School Band is hosting our 6th Annual Mattress Fundraiser on Saturday, March 22nd, from 10am - 4pm. Please forward this coupon flyer to family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and anyone else you can think of. We need your help to find just one person who is already planning on buying a mattress and get them to come to the event. Watch this video to see how it works. Many faculty and community members have purchased mattresses from us in the past. More information can be found here: FB EVENT LINK
🔥 Pender County Schools is committed to engaging students in exciting experiential learning activities that will prepare them for their futures. These experiences are designed to equip our students with the skills needed for enrollment, enlistment, or employment upon graduation. We're proud to offer incredible opportunities in Career and Technical Education! 🛠️👩🔬👨🎓 Click HERE for the latest from CTE Director Dominique Bates #CTEforNC #ExperienceTheExcellence
PENDER-TOPSAIL POST & VOICE - Front Page
WECT - CIS Cape Fear applies for grant for afterschool programs in Pender County
WHQR - Pender County asks key state lawmakers to raise teacher pay
Credits:
Created with images by sosiukin - "Top view of red textile heart in a wooden house decorated with small hearts on colorful background. Shape of heart. Home sweet home. Valentine's day concept" • madredus - "Red heart bokeh background. Valentines day texture." • Sebastian Duda - "Sports balls with equipment" • Andrii Zastrozhnov - "Address mailing of news by e-mail. Advertising message on red background."