🚀 Today, Pender County Schools’ CTE Program hosted an impactful Business Advisory Council Power in Partnership Meeting! Industry leaders, educators, and workforce development partners came together for a dynamic day of collaboration and career pathway reviews. A huge thank you to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) for their insightful presentation on career pathways, sparking meaningful discussions on the future of workforce readiness.
Highlights included tours of Cape Fear Community College’s state-of-the-art dog grooming, barbering, and nursing facilities, showing our teachers firsthand the training environments our students may one day call home! With over 1,100 years of combined experience in the room, our partners and educators are united in one mission: to ensure every PCS student is Enrolled, Enlisted, or Employed upon graduation.
Together, we're setting our students up for success with valuable skills, strong support, and clear pathways. Thank you to everyone who participated—your dedication and passion make all the difference!
#PowerInPartnership #PCSCTE #EnrolledEnlistedEmployed
Meet Kaylee Champ, K-5 Math & Science Teacher at PILA! ✏️📚✨
With 15 years of teaching experience, Ms. Champ brings her passion for elementary math and science to PILA! She spent 12 years teaching in Illinois before moving to North Carolina, where she’s now in her third year. Growing up, Ms. Champ always dreamed of being a teacher, following her passion even though career tests suggested other fields! 🌟
Her favorite subject? Math! 🧮💡 Ms. Champ loves guiding students through those rewarding “ah-ha” moments that make challenging problems click.
Special teaching accomplishment? She has developed a unique skill in teaching multiple grade levels of math within the same classroom—both in Illinois and here in NC. This approach allows her to impact a diverse group of students all at once! 💪✨
Outside the classroom, Ms. Champ enjoys spending time with her daughter and grandson, relaxing at the beach 🏖️, and visiting family back in Illinois ✈️. She’s also a fan of crafting, especially making mesh wreaths when inspiration strikes! 🎨
Her two beloved cats, Princess (11) and Waffles (2), keep her company at home 🐾. She hopes to visit Hawaii one day for the ultimate dream vacation. 🏝️
Guided by her motto, “On the hard days, focus on what is going well,” Ms. Champ continues to create a positive impact for her students, one “ah-ha” moment at a time! 🌟
🌟 Feature Friday: Celebrating Melissa Yarborough, Cost Clerk in Transportation! 🌟
This Friday, we’re shining a spotlight on Melissa Yarborough, our dedicated Cost Clerk in the Transportation Department, whose commitment to the students and staff of Pender County Schools goes well beyond her job description. Ms. Yarborough consistently steps up to make sure our students are safe, demonstrating her care in countless ways—even in tasks she isn’t asked to do. Her initiative and dedication show just how much she values our school community’s well-being.
Ms. Yarborough’s colleague, Brenda Flynn, a Data Manager in Transportation, shares that Melissa’s influence extends far beyond her own work. She motivates her colleagues to do their best and proves every day that dedication and teamwork can achieve great things. Brenda remarks that Melissa’s positive example encourages her to aim higher and believe in her own potential.
We’re truly grateful for Ms. Yarborough’s positive impact and her selfless support of students and colleagues alike. Thank you, Melissa, for all that you do to make PCS a better place! 🌟 #OnePender
It's not Tuesday, but....Meet Laura Black, Music Teacher Extraordinaire at Rocky Point Elementary! 🎶🎻✨
With 18 years of teaching under her belt, Ms. Black brings music to life for students in grades K-5 at Rocky Point Elementary. Her journey to teaching began back in 6th grade when she first picked up the violin, and since then, she’s known that sharing music is her calling! 🎼💫
Ms. Black's favorite subject? Music, of course! 🎤🥁 She especially loves teaching improvisation units, where her students' creativity truly shines. 🌈✨ Watching a child play a new instrument for the first time—and seeing the joy in their eyes—is a priceless experience for her!
Special accomplishments? Ms. Black was named NCMEA Elementary Music Teacher of the Year last year! 🏆🎉 She’s also presented at professional development sessions across several states, sharing her expertise with fellow educators. 🌍🎓
Outside the classroom, Ms. Black enjoys baking 🧁, playing the violin🎻, and sewing for her daughter 👗. Her family pet, Colonel Whiskers the cat, comes with his own backstory of battles fought in the "Fur War"—a family favorite! 🐱💼
Her top travel destination is Disney World! 🌟🏰 She’s been twice with her family and can't wait to return for more magical memories.
Guided by her motto, "Every moment matters," Ms. Black makes every day in her music classroom a memorable experience for her students! 🎶🌟
It's been a busy week - better late then never for our Student Spotlight
💙 Spotlight on King! 💙
Say hello to King, a standout 1st grader at CF Pope Elementary known for his amazing leadership and kindness! King shows up every day ready to learn and always eager to help, whether it’s setting up the classroom or lending a hand to his teacher. His kindness makes him a wonderful role model for his peers!
Get to Know King:
Favorite Food: Pepperoni Pizza 🍕
Favorite Color: Blue 💙
Hobbies: Football 🏈
Pets: His dog, Cardi 🐕
Interesting Fact: King has been riding dirt bikes since he was 3, and he’s also a great big brother! 🏍️
We’re proud to celebrate King’s positive impact at CF Pope!
Parent Information Sessions for new students is coming up! Please attend to learn more about Pender Early College High School!
Huge thanks to NC Teacher of the Year @teach_hsmith for visiting Cape Fear Middle today! Your passion and insight left a lasting impact on our students and staff. @bradbreedlove90 @ncpublicschools #NCTOY
📢 Help shape the future of Pender County Schools! Join our Parent & Family focus groups for strategic planning. 🗓️
Upcoming Dates:
Nov. 12, 6:30 PM @ Pender HS
Nov. 14, 5:00 PM @ Rocky Point Elem
Nov. 14, 6:30 PM @ Heide Trask HS
Nov. 19, 6:30 PM @ Topsail HS
#OnePender
Good afternoon. Bus 249 has been involved in an accident on the PM route near Hwy 117 and Woodhaven Dr. No students have been reported injured. Emergency services have been notified and are accessing the accident site. A spare bus will continue to transport students home as soon as they are released by emergency services.
THS Bus 282 has been delayed this afternoon after leaving the campus. It is back on the road now. It is estimated to be running about 45 minutes behind schedule.
📢 PCS is gathering student input for our Strategic Plan! Starting Nov. 6, middle & high school students can join an optional survey via ClassLink. An opt-out form is attached and will be sent home with students (due back by Nov. 4). Let’s shape PCS together! 🌟 #OnePender
https://bit.ly/student-survey-opt-out
Principal Spotlight: Crystal Hall 🌟
This National Principal Month, we proudly shine the spotlight on Crystal Hall, the dedicated principal of Surf City Middle School! With 15 years of experience in education, Ms. Hall has spent the last 2 years leading her school with passion and commitment.
A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, University of Phoenix, and Arizona State University, Ms. Hall was inspired to become an educator by her high school culinary arts teacher, Mrs. Judy Jones. Her unique background includes working as a chef and manager for Houlihan's Restaurant Group, showcasing her leadership and creativity early on. 👩🍳
Outside of school, Ms. Hall enjoys boating, hiking, gardening, and cooking—especially Mexican food. 🌮 A lover of all music genres, she also has a hidden talent for singing! 🎤 When she's not at school, you might find her relaxing on the sandbar with her family and dogs. 🐶 Excitingly, she and her family are expecting two grandbabies in the coming months! 👶👶
Ms. Hall cherishes the strong community support at Surf City Middle School and finds joy in celebrating student achievements during graduation and promotion ceremonies. 🎓 One of her favorite school traditions is Frenzy sorting day, where students come together for fun and teamwork. 🎉
Join us in recognizing Principal Crystal Hall for her hard work, dedication, and the positive impact she has on her students and community! 💖 #OnePender #PrincipalSpotlight #PCSFamily
📣 Attention, PCS Families! Join us for the next SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee) Meeting! This is a great opportunity for parents of children with disabilities to connect, share, and learn about important topics in special education. We hope to see you there! Your voice matters! 📣 ¡Atención, familias de PCS! Únanse a nosotros en la próxima reunión del Comité Asesor de Padres de Educación Especial (SEPAC). ¡Es una excelente oportunidad para que los padres de niños con discapacidades se conecten, compartan y aprendan sobre temas importantes en educación especial! ¡Esperamos verlos ahí! ¡Su voz es importante!
Power has been restored to all of the affected schools. Thank you for your patience.
La energía ha sido restaurada en todas las escuelas afectadas. Gracias por su paciencia.
We’ve been informed by Four County Electric about a power outage currently affecting several schools in the Rocky Point area. The following schools are experiencing outages:
Rocky Point Elementary, Cape Fear Middle, Cape Fear Elementary, Pender Innovative Learning Academy, Heide Trask High.
Our teams are closely monitoring the situation, and Four County Electric is working to restore power as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
🌟 Feature Friday: Heather McKay, Math Teacher at West Pender Middle 🌟
This Feature Friday, we are proud to highlight Heather McKay, a dedicated math teacher at West Pender Middle. Ms. McKay consistently goes above and beyond for her students and colleagues. She not only creates and distributes valuable Advisory lessons for the staff but also steps in to support her West Pender family, whether through sharing materials or offering words of encouragement.
Kayla Cliffe, a reading teacher at West Pender Middle, emphasizes how Ms. McKay is always there to help and inspires others with her positive attitude. She sets a great example for others and encourages everyone to look for the wins, even in tough situations.
Ms. McKay’s contributions make her a valued part of the team at West Pender Middle. Thank you, Ms. McKay, for all that you do! 💙 #OnePender
Today is the day! Join us and afterschool programs throughout North Carolina to celebrate Lights On Afterschool! Help us shine a light on the impact afterschool programs are making – inspiring learning and helping youth realize their full potential. Share your support! #LightsOnAfterschool #AfterschoolWorks
Our folks are already busy helping restore some normalcy in Western NC - we're proud of the work you're doing!!
YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yV78N8Camo
Pender County Schools is honored to join 44 school systems in sending help to Buncombe County as they prepare to reopen schools following the impact of Hurricane Helene. We’ve deployed five of our own staff members to assist in this important effort. Having been on the receiving end of such support after Hurricane Florence, we know just how vital it is to have friends to lean on during difficult times. 💪🌍
As Buncombe County Schools expressed, “Words cannot express our gratitude and relief to know that we will have friends to lean upon as we welcome back our students and staff.” We’re proud to stand with them and all the districts lending a hand to ensure a safe and smooth return to school for their students. 💙
