MARCH GLADNESS
🌷 As we close out another week in Pender County Schools, this edition of the newsletter gives us plenty to celebrate. Across the district, we continue to see the impact of strong teaching, student support, and staff members who are willing to step up and serve in new ways. These are the kinds of moments that remind us how much good work is happening each day in our schools. 🎉 In this week’s newsletter, you will find highlights that recognize dedication, growth, and the everyday effort that helps keep our schools moving forward. From classroom leadership to professional learning and service beyond the district, these stories reflect the care and commitment that make PCS such an important part of our community. We hope you enjoy taking a few minutes to read and celebrate with us.
PENDER COUNTY SCHOOLS JOB FAIR MARCH 31, 2026
Pender County Schools will host a Career Fair on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and we invite job seekers and community members to attend and learn more about employment opportunities throughout our district. The Career Fair will be held at Heide Trask High School Gym from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This event is a great opportunity to meet district representatives, ask questions, and explore career pathways that support students, schools, and the overall success of Pender County Schools. Read more OR apply HERE
CAREER DAY BRINGS CFE, COMMUNITY PARTNERS TOGETHER
Career Day at Cape Fear Elementary was such a special day for our Cubs! ☀️🐻 On this beautiful spring day our students got to hear from a great group of folks who took time out of their day to share about their jobs and experiences. From law enforcement and attorneys to agriculture and news media, our Cubs got a closer look at all kinds of career paths and the many opportunities that are out there for them. 🚓🌾📰 We sure are thankful for everyone who came out and poured into our students today. ❤️ Events like this mean so much in a small community, and it was a joy to see our Cubs asking questions, making connections, and getting excited about their futures. We appreciate each of our community partners for helping make today so meaningful. Those from our community included Four County Electric, McNally's Farm, Pender EMS, Pender County Sheriff's office, Ladybug Removal, and Pollock & Pollock.🐾✨
Topsail Middle School Advances to State Battle of the Books Competition📚
Topsail Middle School won the regional middle school Battle of the Books competition on March 25 in New Bern. With this win, the team will move on to the state Battle of the Books competition on April 7 in Statesville. Pender County Schools also recognizes Amy Engle, media coordinator at Topsail Middle School, for her work supporting the students and helping prepare the team. Battle of the Books is a statewide reading competition that gives students the opportunity to read selected titles, work together as a team, and compete with other schools. “Congratulations to the students at Topsail Middle School on this achievement,” said Dr. Brad Breedlove, Superintendent of Pender County Schools. “Advancing to the state competition is a reflection of the time they spent reading, preparing, and working together. We are proud of the way these students are representing their school and Pender County Schools.” “This team has put in a lot of steady work over time, and it was good to see that effort pay off at regionals,” said Dr. Alan McNaughton, principal of Topsail Middle School. “Battle of the Books asks students to stay committed, support each other, and be ready on competition day. I’m thankful to Ms. Engle for the leadership she provided and proud of our students for the way they handled themselves throughout the event.” We are proud of the students and staff at Topsail Middle School and wish them well as they prepare for the state competition. State Battle of the Books Competition April 27, 2026 Statesville, NC
Laura Beth Payne Named Finalist for NC Symphony Educator Award
Topsail Annandale Elementary music teacher Laura Beth Payne has been named a finalist for the North Carolina Symphony’s Music Educator Awards. The Symphony has worked with music educators for more than 75 years and now reaches more than 150,000 elementary students through its music education program each year. The awards recognize educators who are helping inspire students and strengthen music education in their schools. In addition to a monetary award, honorees receive recognition at a North Carolina Symphony concert, concert tickets, a school visit from Symphony musicians, and registration to the NC Music Educators Association Conference. We are glad to see Ms. Payne recognized in this way. It is a nice honor for her and for the Topsail Annandale school community.
👏 PCS EC Coordinator Recognized for State Literacy Training Work
🎉 We are proud to share that Sheryl McFadden, one of our EC Coordinators, was recognized this week at the NCSIP Spring Network meeting for becoming a new instructor for the Reading Research to Classroom Practice course. This is an important accomplishment and a reflection of the strong work happening in Pender County Schools. The course is grounded in the science of reading and helps educators use student data, apply research-based practices, and provide effective support for students with reading difficulties. 📚 The North Carolina State Improvement Project (NC SIP) is part of the Exceptional Children Division of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and is funded by the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education. For nearly 25 years, NC SIP has supported schools across North Carolina through professional development in evidence-based literacy and math instruction for students with disabilities. We are grateful to have staff members like Sheryl contributing to this work and helping strengthen support for students here in Pender County and across the state.
Burgaw Middle School Celebrates Two Outstanding Educators 🎉
Burgaw Middle School is proud to recognize Mrs. Freda Messick as Teacher of the Year and Mr. Nolan McDonald as Beginning Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Messick, an 8th grade social studies teacher, brings a deep love of history and a wide range of life experiences to her classroom. Her path to teaching included studies at East Carolina University, work in several different fields, and later earning graduate degrees in history and teaching before entering the profession. Mr. McDonald, the school’s band director and music teacher, joined Burgaw Middle in 2025 after graduating from East Carolina University with a degree in Music Education. Even as a beginning teacher, he brought several years of experience working with band programs across the region. Both educators have made a strong impact on the Burgaw Middle School community. Mrs. Messick is known for helping students connect with history in meaningful ways, while Mr. McDonald has brought energy and leadership to the music program in his first year on campus. We congratulate Mrs. Messick and Mr. McDonald on these well-deserved recognitions and thank them for the work they do each day for our students and school community.
Rocky Point Rams Tee Up for Science
Our students recently had the opportunity to take their science learning beyond the classroom during an exciting field trip to Jungle Rapids for a round of mini golf. This experience connected directly to our science standards focused on force and motion, allowing students to see the concepts they have been studying come to life. Over the past few weeks in science class, students explored how objects move and how forces affect that movement. They learned that an object can be put into motion when a force is applied, such as pushing or striking an object. Students also investigated how forces can change the direction and speed of an object. You can read more HERE
PCS Bands Earn Strong Marks at MPA
Several Pender County Schools band programs took part in Music Performance Adjudication this year and earned strong results. Five of the district’s eight schools with band programs participated. Cape Fear Middle School Band attended MPA for the first time in seven years. Although the group performed for comments only, returning to the event is an important step for the program. Topsail Middle School Band and Surf City Middle School Band each received an Excellent rating. At the high school level, Heide Trask High School Symphonic Band earned a Superior rating. Under the direction of Ally Smith, the band reached that mark for the first time in school history. Topsail High School’s Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble also earned Superior ratings, with both groups receiving straight Superior marks from every judge in both stage performance and sight-reading. The Wind Ensemble also performed a Masterworks Grade 6 program, the highest level of difficulty available. These results reflect steady work from students and directors across the district. We are proud of all of the schools that represented Pender County Schools this year.
Curiosity + Community = magic ✨🧪 (HTHS 2nd Annual Adaptive Science Fair)
Heide Trask High School held our 2nd Annual Adaptive Science Fair on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 in the HTHS Media Center. The heart of the library was pumping with "egg-citement," joy, and inclusion. With such colorful displays, happy music, and the sweet smells of citrus, the only cloud in sight was one that happened to be "in a jar!" Students, parents, HTHS staff, district leaders, and even Dr. Breedlove supported our students yesterday by attending the fair, judging projects, or simply cheering on our young scientists! We are so grateful for the community spirit not only in Titan Town, but throughout Pender County Schools (#onepender), and we are certain this event will live in our memories for a very long time! You can read more about the event HERE
Students Encouraged to Read Big for March “Road to the Championship” Challenge
Teachers at C.F. Pope Elementary School are rallying their students to turn pages and log reading minutes as part of the exciting March “Road to the Championship” reading competition across Pender County Schools. 📚🏆 Throughout the month, schools across the district are competing to see which students can read the most minutes. At C.F. Pope Elementary, teachers are encouraging every student—from Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade—to read as much as possible each evening and carefully record their minutes. Read more about their efforts HERE
Cape Fear Elementary Hosts Glow Wild Art Show
Cape Fear Elementary recently held its Glow Wild Art Show, giving students and families a chance to enjoy an evening of student artwork, musical performances by third- and fourth-grade students, art activities, and food trucks. One of the most unique parts of the event was the use of black lighting, which helped highlight many of the student pieces and gave the show its “glow.” The setup gave families a different way to experience the artwork and see the creativity of students on display. If you were unable to attend, here's a bit of what you missed.
🍎SCHOOL LUNCH MENUS🍕
You can find school lunch menus for each grade level by following THIS LINK
WEEKLY ATHLETICS SCHEDULE
From Penderlea School - 🐝 New K–2 Playground at Penderlea! 🐝 We are excited to share that our new K–2 playground is ready — adding to the great spaces we already have for our students! This new addition gives our youngest Hornets a space designed just for them to play, explore, and build relationships while developing important social and physical skills. At Penderlea, we believe every detail matters when it comes to creating a positive student experience — and this is another step in making sure our students have the environment they deserve. 💛 We can’t wait to see the joy, growth, and memories that will come from this space! 🐝
AND...🌟🐝 Great Things Happening at Spring Intersession! 🐝🌟 Learning doesn’t stop at Penderlea! During Spring Intersession, our students are continuing to grow through targeted support, hands-on activities, and engaging lessons designed to meet their needs. From strengthening key skills to building confidence, our Hornets are making the most of this time and showing what it means to put first things first and take ownership of their learning. 💪📚 We are proud of the effort from our students and grateful for our staff who are making this opportunity meaningful and impactful each day. At Penderlea, we are committed to ensuring every student has the support they need to succeed — because Everything matters. 💛🐝
From Pender Early College - Congrats to PECHS student, Amanda Brunjes, who will have her art on display at the CFCC Student Art Exhibition from 3/9 to 5/1 in the Wilma Daniels Gallery. Amanda is a perfect example of PECHS students taking art classes on the college level through CFCC.
AND...Congrats to Mackenna and Erica for winning the month of February's Million Minutes Challenge! So proud of both of you!
From Topsail High - Topsail’s Student Services is proud to recognize our Shining Scholars for their positivity and encouragement toward others! We would like to thank Hunter Lanier for always having kind words to share, and Colten Campbell for being such a ray of sunshine wherever he goes! Your positivity makes a difference, and we’re so proud of you both! Keep spreading the good vibes! Also, thank you to Jersey Mike’s for supporting our students and helping us celebrate their efforts! Let’s give a big shoutout to our amazing students!
AND...Topsail High School’s PTSO and Student Council have partnered with our teachers and staff to recognize students who exemplify being THOUGHTFUL the P.I.R.A.T.E. Way during the month of March. Students were nominated for consistently demonstrating exceptional thoughtfulness in all areas of school life. They show genuine care and consideration for others, listen attentively, offer encouragement, and respond with empathy and respect in their daily interactions. Both inside and outside the classroom, they contribute positively to the school community by supporting peers, participating in school initiatives, and modeling kindness through their actions. Their awareness of others’ needs and commitment to fostering an inclusive, supportive environment reflect outstanding character and inspire those around them.
From Cape Fear Middle - 🐻 Student Led Conferences — Grizzlies in Action! 🐻 Cape Fear Middle School held our Student Led Conferences earlier this month! 📚 We know some families were unable to attend, so our dedicated teachers and support staff have been working closely with students to walk through their goals, progress, and achievements. 🎯 We are so proud of our Grizzlies for taking ownership of their learning journey! 💪🌟
From West Pender Middle - Students in Ms. Christoff's 6th grade social studies class brought Ancient Greek city-state governments to life by electing table representatives and casting their votes in the great cupcakes vs. cookies debate!
AND...Spirit Week was a huge success! Students and staff showed amazing school spirit each day with creative outfits, big smiles, and tons of participation. Thanks to everyone who made the week so much fun!
From C.F. Pope Elementary - 🌱💪 Growing Strong—Inside and Out! 💪🌱 Shoutout to an amazing student in Mrs. Croom’s PE class who took the initiative to help get our garden beds ready as part of a school beautification project! 🌼🌿 This is what Panther Pride looks like—teamwork, responsibility, and taking ownership of our school environment. We love seeing our students go beyond the classroom and make a positive impact on our campus! Keep up the great work—we are proud of you! 🐾💚
From Burgaw Middle - Mr. Alvin & two BMS cheerleaders welcomed the toddlers & their teachers as they arrived from Little Town Learning Center! They went onto the bus, played “The Wheels on the Bus,” & had them sing along. Students learned bus features! 🚍
From Heide Trask High - And the winners are....*drumroll please* 🥁 Kelly Cromartie is our 2025–2026 HTHS Teacher of the Year! ✨ From powerful classroom discussions to creative writing sparks, Ms. Cromartie turns learning into something unforgettable. Fabianna Seri is our 2025-2026 HTHS Beginning Teacher of the Year!✨ As an ESL teacher, she turns language into confidence and classrooms into communities. Congratulations to you both! We are so blessed to have you in Titantown!
From Surf City Middle - Thanks, once again, to our amazing PTA for an incredible breakfast this morning! Y'all are the BEST!!
From Pender High - 🎉🎉Excited for our seniors and their future plans! It looks like they are on a pathway to success!
AND...Math in the real world! A big thank you to Mrs. Brown for helping students connect math to real-life careers and showing its importance across different fields. We also appreciate our special guests from the Rocky Point Fire Department—Zack Brown and Chris Daw—for taking time out of their day to share their knowledge and experiences with our students. What a great learning opportunity!
From Topsail Middle - 5th grade students had so much fun learning all about Fort Fisher and the role it played during the Civil War. Students got to do their own reenactment, which helped them understand the challenges soldiers faced when attacking the fort.
From Pender Innovative Learning Academy - It is that time of year!!! Oliver the Otter is starting to add names to the end of year graduation program! We are super excited to say that this otter has met all graduation requirements.
AND...Today has been all about achievement at PILA!! Oliver the Otter is AMAZED at how many minutes everyone is reading, especially one of our youngest otters!
From Surf City Elementary - 🎶 The band director at SCM, Mr. Judy, came to visit our SCE 5th graders today to talk about being in band class next year. ALL students are able to be in band class if they would like. There will be an in person interest meeting on April 22nd & 29th at 6pm in the SCM Cafeteria. At this meeting parents and students will be able to decide which instrument they will play and start renting their instrument. Please email Mr. Judy if you have any questions at trevor_judy@pender.k12.nc.us 🎺
AND...Half of our second graders took their field trip to Ecological Marine Adventure yesterday. They got to try net fishing, see a fish dissected and pet snakes and turtles. We love exploring where we live! 🎣🌊🐢
From Topsail Annandale Elementary - Our 3rd graders had an amazing day exploring Airlie Gardens! 🌿🌼 Students learned all about pollinators, soil, and the important role nature plays in our world. They loved getting hands-on, observing, and discovering new things along the way. It was a fantastic trip full of learning, curiosity, and fun! 🐝🌱✨
AND...Kindergartners are busy learning about the needs of living things. From planting radish seeds to watching the metamorphosis of caterpillars, there have been many magical moments this week.
From North Topsail Elementary - Our students have had wonderful guidance lessons with our amazing counselor, Mrs. Garrison! During SWIM time, they explored the importance of kindness and love, learning how even small acts can make a big difference in our school community. We are so proud of our students for practicing empathy, showing compassion, and helping make NTE a place where everyone feels valued and cared for.
From South Topsail Elementary - Socks on, smiles up! 🧦✨ Stingrays honored World Down Syndrome Day by wearing mismatched, CRAZY socks today to celebrate a superstar in our STE family. Bright colors, big grins, and even bigger love 💙💛
From Cape Fear Elementary - The 21st Century students put some unexpected “weeding skills” to work today in the planter boxes—turns out they’re pretty good at it! They’re also very excited about getting to paint birdhouses for the school garden (future artists in the making 🎨). More garden greatness to come!
AND...Storm chasers at work! Our 21st CCLC students ran a temperature experiment to practice using scientific tools and making evidence-based predictions. Through hands-on activities, they explored evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, investigated what causes wind, and even built tornadoes-in-a-bottle. To finish, they watched a thrilling air-pressure demonstration—the can crusher.
From Malpass Corner Elementary - 🌾 Southern Farm Days at Lake Waccamaw! 🚜 Our Eagles had an amazing time experiencing Southern Farm Days at Lake Waccamaw! This hands-on field trip gave students a meaningful look into the history and importance of agriculture in our community. From exploring antique tractors and farming equipment to watching live demonstrations like sawmill operations, our students were fully engaged in learning. They also enjoyed interacting with animals, experiencing pieces of early farm life, and discovering how farming has evolved over time. This experience helped our Eagles gain a deeper appreciation for local heritage, community involvement, and the important role agriculture plays in our everyday lives. It was a fun, engaging, and enriching day for all—our Eagles were learning, exploring, and SOARing! 🦅
From Rocky Point Elementary - Today we celebrated our March Golden Ram Awards. This celebrates lur staff members who go about and beyond for our students every single day! These teachers consistently show up with heart, high expectations, and a whole lot of love for our kids. Help us give them a BIG congratulations. Leadership: Ms. Peters Curriculum: Ms. Bartlett Creativity: Ms. Marino Child Advocate: Ms. Bishop
AND...Rocky Point Rams Cook Up Success! Monday our 21st Century after-school program students participated in a special Camp Cook session. They made their own smoothies, received their Camp Cook Completion certificates, and took home goody bags. It was a great way to celebrate their effort and learning—students had a really good time.
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 may be on break, but Penderlea Day is Almost Here! 🎉 Mark your calendars for April 11th 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, Crafts, & a fun kids' zone 🎶 Live entertainment 🚜 Touch-a-Truck 🛍️ Vendors 🎨 Student Art Display 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
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 - How Pender County's strategic plan could impact you and future growth
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