“It’s a tradition unlike any other…”⛳🌺
As we head into mid-April, there's no shortage of excitement across Pender County Schools! This week’s edition highlights our talented student artists at Surf City Middle, some notable coaching changes at Topsail High, and a heartfelt wrap-up of Assistant Principal Week as we recognize the leadership that keeps our schools running strong. From classrooms to competitions, there have been countless proud moments throughout the district—and we’re here to celebrate them all. 🎉📚
Please note that there will be no school next Friday, April 18, in observance of Good Friday, and no newsletter next week as our newsletter staff (who live in a neighboring county) will be on spring break. We’ll be back the following week with more good news from PCS.
And finally… yes, it’s Masters Week! Whether you're all-in on Amen Corner or just enjoying the return of spring greens, we hope you find time to unwind this weekend. If you see someone whispering while wearing a pastel polo—they're just doing their part to honor tradition. 🏌️♂️⛳ Enjoy the break, recharge, and may your weekend score under par in all the best ways!
👥 SUPERINTENDENT'S PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL WRAPS UP YEAR WITH FOCUS ON FINANCE💼
The Superintendent’s Parent Advisory Council recently gathered for its final meeting of the year, bringing together engaged families from across Pender County Schools 🏫. This council serves as a valuable platform for parents to connect directly with Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove and discuss key topics impacting our schools and students.
The focus of this session was school finance, with Chief Financial Officer Lisa Nowlin leading a detailed presentation titled “Budget Planning with Stakeholders” 💵📈. Parents gained meaningful insight into how school funding is allocated, the challenges of managing a growing district budget, and the importance of community input in the financial planning process. ✨
“Our parents play a crucial role in the success of Pender County Schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove. “Their feedback helps guide our decisions, especially when it comes to planning for the future. I’m grateful for their engagement and partnership as we work together to provide the best possible education for our students.”
👏 We extend our sincere thanks to all the parents who participated in this year’s council. Your input is a powerful asset in shaping the future of Pender County Schools! 🎉🌟
🐟 SURF CITY MIDDLE STUDENTS MAKE A SPLASH IN STATE FISH ART & ESSAY CONTEST🎨✍️
We’re proud to celebrate some fin-tastic achievements by our talented Surf City Middle students in the 2025 State Fish Art & Essay Contest—a nationwide program that inspires youth to connect with nature through art, science, and writing! 🎣🌿
🏆 Essay Winners
Presley Thompson (6th Grade) – "Help Me" on the Coastal Cutthroat Trout
🥇1st Place | 4th–6th Grade Division
Madelynn Hill (8th Grade) – "Untitled" on the Largemouth Bass
🥇1st Place | 7th–9th Grade Division
🎨 Art Winner
Alexandra Ware – Calamus (Watercolor & Mixed Media)
🥈2nd Place | 4th–6th Grade Division
Since 1997, this contest has connected over 85,000 students around the world to aquatic conservation. Through their creativity and research, our students are showing how art and science can help protect our planet. 🌊🌎💙
👏 Way to go, Sharks! You’re making waves in conservation and creativity!
🌍 PENDERLEA KINDERGARTENERS EXPLORE THE WORLD!🧭✨
Kindergarten students at Penderlea School have launched into an exciting adventure with Module 4: The Continents as part of their Wit & Wisdom curriculum! With curiosity and enthusiasm, these young learners are exploring all seven continents using colorful maps, globes, and even stunning photos from space. 🌎🗺️📸
A standout favorite has been a large World Map that has sparked big conversations and even bigger imaginations. Students gather around it daily, pointing out new places and connecting what they learn through stories and hands-on activities.
As they continue their journey, our Kindergarteners are building a strong foundation in geography and cultural awareness—one continent at a time! 🌏📚👏
WEEKLY SCHEDULES
🏈 TOPSAIL HIGH ADDS TWO VARSITY COACHES ⚽
The Topsail High School Athletics Department is proud to announce the appointments of two outstanding leaders to guide our student-athletes—Coach Max Jensen as Head Varsity Men’s Soccer Coach and Coach Chris Schmidt as Head Varsity Football Coach.
⚽ Coach Max Jensen brings experience, dedication, and leadership to the soccer program. He recently completed his NFHS Levels 1, 2, and 3 National Coach Certifications, further strengthening his ability to lead our Pirates on and off the field. In addition to his new role, Coach Jensen continues to serve our school as an Exceptional Children’s Teacher and Head JV Women’s Soccer Coach. We are confident in his ability to carry on the tradition of excellence within the THS Men’s Soccer program.
🏈 Coach Chris Schmidt, who had been serving as Interim Head Coach, has officially been named the 9th Head Football Coach in school history. He previously served as the Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator for the Pirates, as well as an Assistant Athletic Director and English/Journalism teacher. Coach Schmidt’s coaching background includes a successful tenure at Cleveland High School in Clayton, NC, where his JV teams went 26-1 over three seasons.
Coach Schmidt and his family—wife Danielle, son Brock, and their three dogs—live in Hampstead and are proud members of the Pirate community.
🎉 Please join us in congratulating both Coach Jensen and Coach Schmidt as they begin their new roles leading our student-athletes with pride, purpose, and Pirate spirit!
From Surf City Middle - Day 2 of Life Size Samurai project in Mrs. Hanusiak's 6th Grade Class!
From Cape Fear Elementary - The 21st CCLC students did an excellent job painting the planter boxes. Today, the wind made it a bit challenging. Well done to them! We still have two more planter boxes to paint.
AND...The students of the 21st CCLC Program wish to honor our exceptional librarian in recognition of National Library Week. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Taylor for her unwavering commitment to the library. Your efforts are truly valued!
From Topsail High - It's Monday and time to recognize an outstanding senior who exhibits the six qualities of a Topsail Pirate - Positive . Involved . Responsible . Attentive . Thoughtful . Empowered. This week, we are focusing on the Responsible trait of a Topsail Pirate. Responsible means to be accountable, prepared, and honest. The student that exhibits traits of responsibility shows great integrity and reliability as they never fail to show up to class organized and on-time, showing their true care for their classmates and their assignments. The 24-25 Responsible Pirate is Tyler Holder. Tyler Holder takes initiative and completes tasks often before others even think of them. He uses his leadership skills in several of our school organizations. He is one of our student council leaders, editor of the yearbook, and president of the Red Cross Club. It is amazing to consider the amount Tyler can do in any given week. He takes his roles and responsibilities very seriously and follows through on all tasks, academic and extra-curricular, with dependability and skill. Congratulations Tyler! We are so proud of you!
AND...🎉 Yesterday we celebrated our Pirates of the Month! 🏴☠️ These incredible staff members consistently go above and beyond in their duties, and we’re so proud to have them on our team. 💛💪 Thank you for all you do to make our school a better place!
From C.F. Pope Elementary - 🎉✨ Celebrating Excellence in Leadership! ✨🎉
This week, we proudly honor Ms. Monica Ruffin, the incredible Assistant Principal at C.F. Pope Elementary, in celebration of National Assistant Principals Week! 👏👏
Ms. Ruffin is a true champion for our students and staff. Her unwavering dedication, leadership, and passion for education inspire everyone around her. She works tirelessly to ensure a positive and nurturing environment where our students thrive academically and socially.
Thank you, Ms. Ruffin, for all that you do! Your hard work and commitment make a lasting impact on our school community. We are so lucky to have you leading the way! 🌟📚💼
AND...🌱 Shoutout to Mrs. Manning’s 3rd Grade Science Class! 🌱
These amazing students have been diving deep into the world of plants! 🌸 They explored plant parts and how each part helps the plant live and grow. From studying roots to discovering pollen inside flowers, and even examining seeds inside fruits, they’ve been hands-on and curious every step of the way! 🧑🔬💡
The best part? They wrote down their evidence and observations, connecting what they learned to the real world! 📓✨ Keep up the fantastic work, future scientists! We can’t wait to see what you’ll discover next! 🔬🌍
From South Topsail Elementary - Please join us in celebrating National Assistant Principals Week by showing appreciation for our hard-working, dedicated, caring AP at South Topsail, Christina Eames! Thank you, Mrs Eames, for taking such good care of our Stingray Family!
AND...South Topsail has the BEST and most talented cafeteria staff! Stingrays love walking through the lunch line each day and seeing what creations are there to greet them 🐥 🦋 ❤️
From Malpass Corner Elementary - Ms. Stewart's third grade class got to enjoy the nice weather by having their Fundation's lesson outside on the brand new picnic tables! Third grade students are learning about R-Controlled Vowels! Thank you Mrs. West for writing the grant for these picnic tables for the Eagles to enjoy outside learning!
From Penderlea School - 🎉 It’s National Assistant Principal Week! 🎉
Join us in celebrating Dr. Ashley Goodlett, our incredible Assistant Principal here at Penderlea! 🐝💛
Dr. Goodlett does it ALL—from supporting students and staff to keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. Her dedication, leadership, and heart for all people make a huge impact every single day. 💪📚💛 We are so lucky to have her as part of the Penderlea family!👏🎉
From Topsail Annandale Elementary - 4th grade visiting Moore’s Creek using their knowledge they gained about the American Revolution in Module 3 The Redcoats are Coming!
From West Pender Middle - The Beta Club Tat the Teacher fundraiser was a hit! Big thanks to Ms. Miller for bringing fun and laughter to our week, and to everyone who participated and helped make it a success.
AND...🎵 Mr. Galyean's 6th-grade students are thriving under his leadership. With quick, direct feedback, they’re embracing challenges, persisting through mistakes, and refining their musical pieces with confidence.
From Cape Fear Middle - This week is Assistant Principal week. Mr. Bryant does so much that is unseen from dealing with the buses to testing to everything in between. We are so appreciative of everything you do for our school, seen and unseen. Thank you Mr. Bryant!!!! We are so glad you are a Grizzly!!!
From Topsail Middle - Twinsies! 👯♂️ We love when our students and teachers show up dressed alike!
From Pender Early College - PECHS shadow day! Shoutout to all our future Seawolves! Can't wait to see you next fall!
AND...Senior Lily Walters has been volunteering with afsp.org to spread suicide prevention awareness and we got to hear the presentation today at Burgaw Middle School.
From North Topsail Elementary - We are so proud of our Dolphins that were recognized at the PCS Board of Education meeting tonight! Our students that were selected for All County Chorus led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem and also sang "Beautiful Rain." They did an AMAZING job and sounded beautiful!! Our dynamic data manager, Melanie Jordan was also recognized for her efforts in making the transition from Power School to Infinite Campus. We are thankful for your hard work and for the joy you bring to our school!
From Heide Trask High - In 1940, the Pittsburgh Pirates team changed its name to “Steelers” in tribute to Pittsburgh’s main industry at the time. Fast forward to 2025, and HTHS names one of the Pittsburgh Steelers' biggest fans as their 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year! Congratulations to Mr. Zachary Rudisin on your most recent, and well deserved, accomplishment. Similar to steel's impact on a building, your teaching talents, photography gifts, and coaching skills all help provide a strong foundation for our students and staff here at HTHS. We are proud to have you on our Titan Team!
From Surf City Elementary - Let’s hear it for Mrs. Johnson & Mrs. Smith 🙌 We’re celebrating our amazing Assistant Principals during National Assistant Principals Week, April 7–11! 🎉Your leadership helps shape the success of our school, and we’re so grateful for all you do. Thank you for your constant support, guidance, and impact on Surf City students
AND...Mrs. Clark's second graders are busy on this Monday morning. They're brainstorming real life examples and non examples of cooperation and then comparing those with examples and non examples from their Wit and Wisdom text, Bone Button Borscht.
From Pender Innovative Learning Academy - A unicorn has been defined as something that is highly desirable but difficult to find or obtain. PILA celebrated National Unicorn Day by honoring our very own unicorn, Ms Beveridge. She is the ONLY testing and student support coordinator in the district and spends time with EVERY otter on campus making sure all needs are met. We don't know what we do without her!!!
From Rocky Point Elementary - Mrs. Batten came to Mrs. Romero’s 3rd grade class at the end of the day and completed an art project with the kids, creating art like the artist Jackson Pollock. Students read the book “Action Jackson” in Wit & Wisdom, and then got to experiment with his style of painting. They had so much fun, especially after a long morning of testing!
From Burgaw Middle - Ms. McCaleb was a special guest in Ms. Rohm’s class today. She taught the students about eyes and they had a chance dissect a real eyeball. 👀
From Pender High - Here are some highlights of the great things happening at Pender High School. Students in Ms. McCoy's class participate in CERT projects. These three students earned high marks in this endeavor! Weston Kitzman won 1st place with his CERT project on Wildfires, Brianna Behal took 2nd place with her project on Tornadoes, and Sevastian Sanchez with his project on tornadoes. CERT helps in the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters. They will all leave PS2 with their CERT certification and become listed Volunteers.
🌟 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 North Topsail Elementary PTA & make a difference in 2025-2026!
🎉 Penderlea Day is Almost Here! 🎉
Mark your calendars for April 12th 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 & a fun kids' zone
🎶 Live entertainment
🚜 Touch-a-Truck
🛍️ Vendors
🎨 Student Art Display – just announced!
🎸Guitar Lessons – don’t miss this exciting opportunity!
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
Interested in joining Color Guard? Check out the flyer for more information!
On Tuesday, April 15, Ms. Graham & Ms. Balderson's students will host an adaptive science fair in the HTHS library.🧪Staff & students can view the projects on April 15 after 9:30am
Topsail High School Pirates Athletics - Military and First Responder Appreciation Night! Tuesday, 4.15.25 - Home Events in Baseball, Softball, and Women's Soccer vs South Brunswick. "Free" Admission for all Members of the Military and First Responders!
🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 Join us (C.F. Pope Elementary) for Duke Energy Science Night on April 16th from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM at C.F. Pope Elementary School! 🧑🔬🔬 It’s going to be a night full of fun and discovery with hands-on experiments, interactive displays, and exciting science demos. This is a perfect event for students, families, and science lovers of all ages! 🌍✨ 🔹 Explore cool science exhibits 🔹 Fun activities for kids 🔹 Free event – bring the whole family! Mark your calendars and bring your curiosity! Let’s get ready to spark a love for science! 🔥🌟
rpe - Save the Date! Our Kindergarten and 1st grade students will be presenting their Spring Concert on Thursday, April 17th at 7:45am. All families are invited to attend! Please contact Mrs. Black with any questions.
¡Guarda la fecha! Nuestros estudiantes de Kinder y 1er grado estarán presentando su Concierto de Primavera el jueves, 17 de abril a las 7:45am. ¡Todas las familias están invitadas!
Reminder! Please join us for Coffee with the Principal. Please RSVP at: https://bit.ly/4hHxZrW
¡Recordatorio! Únase a nosotros para tomar un café con el director. Por favor confirme su asistencia al: https://bit.ly/4hHxZrW
Pizza, Prep, and Perform! 🍕🕺 Save the date for West Pender Middle EOG parent night and the spring band concert!
Get ready to strut down the red carpet at this year's 8th Grade Dance!
🔥 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 - Pender County asks for feedback on proposed 5-year strategic plan
WWAY - Pender county schools provides updates on new K-8 school; tables new bell system
PORT CITY DAILY - Feedback welcome on Pender County 5-year Strategic Plan
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