Pender County Schools -

🌟🏆 Pender County Shines at the Regional Science Fair! 🏆🌟 Our amazing students showcased their innovation and creativity at the Regional Science Fair held at UNCW! 🎉🔬 A huge congratulations to our winners: 🏅 New Hanover Education Ventures Award: Aubrianna Lewis (MCE), Carson Breisacher (STE) 🔬 Future Promise Award: Joseph Watts (PILA), Frances Jane Wilgis & Bella Porter (TAES) 🎖 Honorary Mention for Science Fair: Carter McKinley, Elijah Milbourne & Gage Sierleja (SCE) 🚀 Exemplary Projects Advancing to State Science Fair in Raleigh: Harper Henry, Hailey Keller, Audrina Loftus (SCE); Reyden Bryant, Lane Jackson, Weston McGowen (PLE) 👏 We are so proud of our students for their hard work and dedication📸✨ #OnePender

🌶️🍲 National Chili Day Celebration at Pender High School! 🍲🌧️ Last Thursday, we embraced the rainy day with a warm and hearty bowl of our house-made chili—just in time for National Chili Day -- at all high schools! ☔🔥 Our teams crafted a delicious, comforting meal packed with rich flavors and just the right amount of spice to keep everyone cozy. #NationalChiliDay #HouseMadeGoodness #RainyDayComfort #OnePender

🌱✨ CTE Month Appreciation: Celebrating Our PCS Agriculture Education Teachers! 🚜💙 This CTE Month, we’re shining a spotlight on our incredible Agriculture Education teachers who cultivate knowledge, leadership, and hands-on experiences for our students every day! 🌾🐄🔧 👏 Tom Herren – Pender High School 👏 Joanna Rogowiecka & McArthur Mitchell – Heide Trask High School 👏 Emily Jameson – Topsail High School Through their dedication, our students gain real-world agricultural skills, industry certifications, and leadership opportunities with FFA programs that prepare them for success beyond the classroom. From livestock management to agribusiness and sustainable farming, these educators are shaping the future of agriculture in Pender County! 🌿🐓🚜 Join us in thanking these amazing teachers for their hard work and the incredible impact they have on our students and community! 💛💙 #CTEMonth #ThankATeacher #FFA #AgricultureEducation #PCSCTE #GrowingTheFuture

Weekly PCS Newsletter - https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/pBv6cfwhZtJKb - Have a great weekend!!

🎉 Employee Spotlight on Joanna Boyles! 🎉 Joanna Boyles is the heart and soul of Topsail Middle School, going above and beyond for both students and staff. She juggles countless responsibilities with competence, humor, humility, and compassion. Last year, in addition to serving as assistant principal, she took on roles as testing coordinator, bus coordinator, and dean of students—all while leading the school in the absence of a principal. Her impact is felt in every corner of the school, from supporting struggling students to chaperoning the 8th grade field trip to Raleigh. She leads with trust, flexibility, and an unwavering commitment to doing what is best for students. 💬 “She trusts in us to do our jobs well and matches it with the conviction to do her own even better.” Thank you, Ms. Boyles, for your dedication and leadership!

🚨 REMINDER! 🚨 🗓️ Friday, Feb. 14 Schedule: 📌 No School – Traditional Calendar & Pender Early College (Teacher Workday) 📌 Half Day – Penderlea School Check your schedules and enjoy the extra time off! ⏰✨ #OnePender

🚀 CTE Month Spotlight: Dr. Mae Jemison! 🌟 Today, we celebrate Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel in space! 🛰️✨ A physician, engineer, and former NASA astronaut, Dr. Jemison’s passion for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) has inspired generations of students to reach for the stars. Her groundbreaking journey reminds us that curiosity, determination, and education can open doors to endless possibilities. 🌍🔬🔭 Let’s continue to encourage and support our students as they explore careers in STEM! 🚀 #CTEMonth #WomenInSTEM #FutureInnovators #PenderCTE

🎉 CTE Month Shoutout! 🎉 A huge shoutout to our Business, Finance, and Marketing teachers at Topsail High School—Mr. Huston, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Hoch, and Mr. Durivage! These outstanding educators go above and beyond every day to equip students with essential skills for success in business, finance, and marketing. From teaching financial literacy and business strategy to guiding students in hands-on marketing projects, these teachers inspire innovation, critical thinking, and real-world application. Their dedication prepares students to become future entrepreneurs, financial leaders, and marketing professionals. Thank you, Mr. Huston, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Hoch, and Mr. Durivage, for your passion, commitment, and impact on our students' futures! 💡📈📊 #CTEMonth #BusinessLeadersOfTomorrow #PenderCTE

📣 CTE Month Shoutout! 🎉 We are thrilled to celebrate Mrs. Delane Mitchell and Mrs. Alicia Watkins, the incredible Family and Consumer Science teachers at Heide Trask High School! 🙌💙 🌟 Mrs. Watkins is shaping the future by guiding our students through Early Childhood Education, helping them develop the skills and knowledge to nurture and support the next generation. Her passion for teaching and dedication to student success is truly inspiring! 👏🍎 🌟 Mrs. Mitchell brings creativity and real-world skills into the classroom, teaching Food & Nutrition and Apparel & Textile Production. Whether it's mastering the art of cooking nutritious meals or designing fashion-forward creations, her students are gaining hands-on experiences that will serve them for life! 👗👨‍🍳 We are beyond grateful for these two phenomenal educators who go above and beyond to prepare our students for successful careers and bright futures! Thank you for your dedication, passion, and unwavering support of our students. 💪✨ #CTEMonth #HeideTraskHS #FACSExcellence #CTEWorks #ThankATeacher 🍎💙

🌟 Student Spotlight: Ruben 🌟 Meet Ruben, a student recognized by Andrea Gingrich for his kindness, positivity, and incredible sense of humor. 😊 Ruben has a heart full of sunshine and is always looking out for his friends and teachers. Whether it’s opening a door, offering words of encouragement, or bringing laughter to the classroom, he makes every day brighter for those around him. At the end of each school day, he says goodbye to each of his friends and teachers with a big smile and an "I love you." ❤️ 🍽️ Favorite Food: Chips, eggs, and chicken 🎨 Favorite Color: Blue ⚽ Hobbies: Dancing, playing basketball, and hanging out with friends 🐱 Pets: A cat named Waffles 🤩 Fun Fact: Ruben loves to play dentist and even enjoys his own trips to the dentist, where his smile shines bright for everyone to see! Keep spreading joy, Ruben! 🎉👏

📚TEACHER TUESDAY - Jessica Feit, 4th Grade Teacher at Rocky Point Elementary!🌟 From an early age, Jessica Feit had a passion for teaching—so much so that she would come home from kindergarten and “teach” her newborn baby sisters and even her pets! 🍼🐶 As she grew older, that passion turned into a commitment to helping students, especially those who needed extra support. Her favorite subject to teach is math, where she thrives on witnessing that "ah-ha" moment when a difficult concept finally clicks for a student. One of her most memorable teaching moments was working with a student who struggled with confidence in math. Through a personalized study plan and encouragement, she watched him transform into a top math student—ultimately scoring a 4 on the EOG! Seeing students gain confidence and unlock their potential is what drives her every day. 🔢✨ Outside the classroom, Jessica enjoys reading, running, going to the beach, and dining out. She has recently taken up crafting as a way to unwind after a long day of teaching. 🎨🏖️ At home, she has two adorable kittens, Scout and Piper. Scout is the mischievous one, always getting into trouble, while Piper is more reserved—but both love their belly rubs and head pats. 🐱🐾 Jessica is also an avid traveler! Her favorite destination so far has been Madrid, and she’s looking forward to exploring Prague and Vienna this year. ✈️🌍 This school year has had its challenges, but Jessica’s personal mottos—"You're doing great, sweetie" and "Just keep swimming"—keep her motivated and remind her to take things one step at a time. 💙🐠 Thank you, Ms. Feit, for your dedication, passion, and the incredible impact you make on your students! 💛👏

🌟 CTE Month Teacher Spotlight: Middle School Superstars! 🌟 Today, we are celebrating our Middle School CTE Teacher Extraordinaires! These dedicated educators work tirelessly to expose our students to career opportunities, sparking their curiosity and laying a strong foundation for high school success and beyond. The impact they make in our classrooms is immeasurable—guiding students toward bright futures! 🎉 Topsail Middle School 🎉 💻 Mr. Collins – Computer Science 📈 Mr. Altergott – Business & Entrepreneurship 🏡 Mrs. Schlegel – Family & Consumer Sciences 🔬 Mr. Hewitt – STEM 🎉 Surf City Middle School 🎉 🔬 Mrs. Smith – STEM 💻 Mr. Northrop – Computer Science ❤️ Mrs. Keller – Health Sciences 📈 Mrs. Turner – Business & Entrepreneurship 👏👏👏 Thank you for all that you do to inspire, educate, and prepare our students for the future. Your passion and dedication make a lasting impact every single day! PCS is lucky to have you! 💙💛 #CTEMonth #MiddleSchoolCTE #FutureReady #OnePender #CTETeachersRock

🌟 Spotlight on Mrs. Jessica Sanabria Brown! 🌟 We are so proud to celebrate Mrs. Sanabria Brown, our incredible Business & Marketing Education Teacher at Burgaw Middle School! She is dedicated to helping her students develop professionalism and explore career opportunities. Through her hard work, she ensures that every student is equipped with the knowledge and skills to become enrolled, enlisted, or employed upon graduation. Thank you, Mrs. Sanabria Brown, for inspiring and empowering your students every day! 👏🎉 #CareerReady #CTEWorks #FutureLeaders #BurgawMiddleProud

🌟 Shoutout to Mr. Ken Smith! 🌟 We’re celebrating our amazing Business Education Teacher at West Pender Middle School, Mr. Smith, for his dedication to meeting students where they are and preparing them for the future! Through his Future Friday initiative, every other Friday, guest speakers visit his classroom to share career insights and inspire students.

🚍💛 Celebrating Our PCS Bus Drivers! 💛🚍 February is Love the Bus Month, and School Bus Driver Appreciation Week kicks off Monday, February 10! 🎉 Our bus drivers are the first friendly faces students see in the morning and the last ones to send them home safely each day. They navigate every turn, rain or shine, with dedication and care. 🛑🚌 Join us in saying THANK YOU! Drop a comment below to share a shoutout for your child's bus driver or a favorite bus memory. Let’s show them how much we appreciate their hard work! 💙💛 #LoveTheBus #ThankYouBusDrivers #OnePender

📸 LAST WEEK’S LUNCH RECAP! 🍽️✨ We served up some seriously delicious meals last week, and here’s a little photo dump to highlight some of the pictures we captured! 😍 We’re looking forward to another week of delicious and nutritious meals served fresh just for you! 😋 Stay tuned for more flavor, variety, and healthy choices coming your way! We can’t wait to serve up another week of great food! 🍎🥗🌯

Weekly PCS Newsletter - https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/gVEfnAOZF9HbQ Have a great weekend!

🌟 FEATURE FRIDAY - Elizabeth Gardner!🌟 This week, we’re recognizing Elizabeth "Beth" Gardner, Executive Administrative Assistant for the Superintendent, for her kindness, dedication, and unwavering support of the PCS family. Beth is described as one of the most compassionate and welcoming individuals at Pender County Schools. From her first interactions with colleagues, she makes them feel valued, supported, and part of the team. Her ability to find solutions, encourage others, and brighten the workplace with her uplifting spirit is truly unmatched. 💬 Beth is ALWAYS willing to help find answers or a solution to a problem. She is an amazing listener and dedicated to her job like no other.” Thank you, Beth, for your positivity, hard work, and the kindness you share with everyone around you! 💙✨

🎉 Celebrating Our JROTC Instructors at Heide Trask High School! 🎉 This CTE Month, we want to take a moment to give a huge thank you to our JROTC instructors at Heide Trask High School! Their dedication, leadership, and commitment to shaping the next generation of leaders and responsible citizens cannot be overstated. 🫡🇺🇸 Through their guidance, our students are not only learning the principles of military service and discipline, but also developing vital life skills such as teamwork, respect, communication, and problem-solving. These lessons are preparing them for success, whether they choose to enlist, pursue higher education, or enter the workforce. 👨‍🏫🌟 Our JROTC instructors go above and beyond every day to instill a sense of pride, responsibility, and confidence in their students. They are role models who lead by example, helping students understand the importance of integrity, service, and perseverance. 💪🏅 From leading physical training sessions to organizing leadership-building activities, our JROTC instructors are creating an environment where students can thrive—both in and outside of the classroom. They are dedicated to supporting every student, encouraging them to push past their limits and strive for excellence. Thank you to our incredible JROTC instructors at Heide Trask High School for all they do! Their hard work and commitment to our students are shaping the leaders of tomorrow. We are so grateful to have such a dedicated team of educators. Let’s celebrate their passion, leadership, and service this CTE Month! 🎉🎖️ #CTEMonth #JROTC #Leadership #HeideTraskHigh #FutureLeaders #ServiceAndDiscipline #ThankYou

🚨 Reminder! 🚨 High school families, don’t forget to join our Virtual Office Hours to learn about course options, college pathways, and academic planning! 📅 Schedule Link - https://5il.co/36nh6 This is your chance to ask questions and set your student up for success! See you there! 🎓💻 #OnePender 🚨 ¡Recordatorio! 🚨 ¡Familias de la escuela secundaria, no olviden unirse a nuestras Horas de Oficina Virtuales para conocer las opciones de cursos, caminos hacia la universidad y planificación académica! 📅 Horario: https://5il.co/36nh6 ¡Esta es su oportunidad para hacer preguntas y ayudar a su estudiante a tener éxito! ¡Los esperamos! 🎓💻 #OnePender