Pender County Schools -

Convocation is underway at Heide Trask High School! #OnePender

🌟 First Week of School Highlights! 🌟 We want to see your student’s special first-week moments! Share their smiles and excitement with us by emailing photos and caption to pictures@pender.k12.nc.us or using #FirstWeekPCS on social media. Your pics might be featured on our website and socials! Let’s celebrate this new school year together! 📸💫 #OnePender

📣 Important Announcement 📣 All Pender County Schools buildings will be closed on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, as our staff gathers for the Convocation event. Normal operating hours will resume on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Thank you for your understanding and support as we prepare for a great school year ahead! 🎓✨ #OnePender

Our Health Science students at Pender High School will be stepping into their future careers—literally! 🩺👩‍⚕️ Thanks to our annual scrub drive, students will be dressed in medical scrubs as they learn essential skills that will prepare them for a bright future in healthcare. Help us make this year’s drive the best yet! If you have gently used scrubs to donate, contact us today. Let’s make sure every student looks the part and plays the part! #OnePender

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zYUu51ugxj8 📢 EC Boot Camp 2024: Empowering Our Educators! EC Boot Camp 2024 is underway at Heide Trask High School. This dynamic and interactive training event is designed to strengthen our Exceptional Children (EC) teachers and Instructional Assistants (IAs). This year's Boot Camp is all about going back to basics, with a renewed focus on the fundamentals that make a difference in our classrooms. Kendy Walker, our EC Coordinator, shared her enthusiasm: "We're going back to basics—focusing on things we know, not too many changes, but really giving people some engaging training and takeaways, they can implement right away." The Boot Camp features six rotations with a variety of breakout sessions, covering everything from mindset and belief in student growth to the do's and don'ts of IEPs. Unlike previous years, where we were all seated in an auditorium for long hours, this year's format is designed for active participation. Sessions are broken into 30-minute segments with opportunities for movement and hands-on activities, reflecting the way we believe students—and educators—learn best. "We're super excited about this change," adds Walker. "Last year, we were in an auditorium all day, and that's not who I am. I wanted to break this up into smaller, more engaging sessions. Just like we tell our students, we don't expect them to sit still for hours, and we need that movement and interaction as adults too." This is more than just a training day; it's a chance to reconnect, refocus, and recharge as we head into a new school year. By focusing on improved communication, student engagement, and effective IEP meetings, we're setting the stage for success. 🚀 #OnePender

🌍 English as a Second Language Classes at CFCC! 🌍 Looking to improve your English skills? Cape Fear Community College is offering English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to help you succeed. Whether you're a student or community member, this is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your language abilities.📚 🌍 ¡Clases de Inglés como Segundo Idioma en CFCC! 🌍 ¿Buscas mejorar tus habilidades en inglés? Cape Fear Community College está ofreciendo clases de Inglés como Segundo Idioma (ESL) para ayudarte a tener éxito. Ya seas estudiante o miembro de la comunidad, esta es una oportunidad fantástica para mejorar tus habilidades lingüísticas. 📚

🎒📚 Celebrate the First Week of School with Us! 📚🎒 We’re excited to see all the smiling faces as we kick off a new school year! 📸 Share your child’s first week of school moments with us! Whether it’s their first day or any special moments throughout the week, we’d love to feature them across our social media platforms and district website. 📧 Email your photos and a brief caption to pictures@pender.k12.nc.us 📲 Or post them on your social media with the hashtag #FirstWeekPCS Let’s make this first week unforgettable together! 💙 #OnePender

A story of courage, faith, and community. Pender High’s Laura Eakins gave more than just a kidney; she gave hope. Thank you @wectnews for sharing this amazing journey. #OnePender 💙 https://bit.ly/3YMnoWW

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4RGav_XWY9Y Pender County Schools is thrilled to welcome back our "homegrown" Beginning Teachers, who are stepping into classrooms where they once sat as students! These dedicated educators are bringing their passion and commitment back to the community that shaped them. Meet Hannah Strickland, who will be teaching 2nd grade at Malpass Corner Elementary School. Hannah is a proud graduate of South Topsail Elementary, Topsail Middle, and Topsail High School. Her biggest inspiration? Her mother, Wendy Strickland, a teacher at South Topsail Elementary. "I remember seeing my mom's students run up to her with big hugs when we'd see them in the grocery store," Hannah shares. "It showed me the kind of impact a teacher can have on their students' lives." Now, Hannah is excited to make the same positive impact on her own students. We are incredibly proud of Hannah and all our Beginning Teachers who are returning to their roots. Their journey from student to educator is a testament to the strength of our Pender County community. Here’s to Hannah and all our new teachers as they start this exciting chapter, shaping the future right where it all began. 🏫🍎 #OnePender

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/fGGos8Z80mc Pender County Schools is excited to celebrate our Beginning Teachers who are not just educators but also proud Pender County graduates! These amazing individuals have returned to their roots to inspire and guide the next generation, bringing their unique experiences and dedication back to our community. Take Veronica Lewis, for example, who is starting her journey as a science teacher at Pender High School. A former student at Malpass Corner Elementary, West Pender Middle, and Pender High, Veronica shared, "I love seeing the new generation coming up. It makes me feel a little bit old, but I do love seeing them grow into working citizens." Veronica remembers Coach Eccles, who stood by her during a tough time, providing supplies and support when she needed it most. Now, she's eager to give back to the school that shaped her. We’re so proud of teachers like Veronica, who are bringing their passion and heart back to where it all began. Welcome home, Veronica, and all our Beginning Teachers! 🏫🍎 #OnePender

https://youtu.be/V2WRzPWMLiE 🎉 Today is a big day at Pender County Schools! We’re excited to kick off our 2024 Beginning Teacher Orientation with more than 70 new teachers joining us for the 2024-25 school year. Many of these teachers aren’t starting their careers—they’re bringing their experience from other districts and even other states, ready to make a difference in our classrooms! 🌟📚 This orientation is their chance to get to know Pender County, learn about our schools, and connect with their new colleagues. It’s not just about filling out forms; it’s about preparing for a fantastic year ahead and feeling right at home in our community. We want every new teacher to feel welcomed and excited to start this journey with us. 🏫🤗 We’re thrilled to have such a talented group joining us and are confident they’ll bring fresh ideas and energy to our schools. Let’s give them a warm Pender County welcome and show our support as they begin this new chapter. Here’s to a great school year ahead! 🎓👏 #OnePender

Penderlea School and Pender Early College will reopen for in-person classes on Monday, August 12. Buses will operate safely. All schools and the central office will follow their normal schedules. We’re excited to welcome our students back! #OnePender

Due to flooding, Pender County Schools will be closed for students on 8/9. Penderlea and Pender Early College will continue virtual learning. Staff can report if safe; contact your supervisor if working virtually. All after-school activities are canceled. Stay safe! #OnePender

There are no changes to our current status at this time. Virtual learning continues tomorrow for Penderlea and Pender Early College. No decision has been made yet for Friday. Stay safe! Updates will be provided via email, website, and social media. #OnePender

Due to severe weather, all PCS facilities will close and after-school events are canceled starting at 4 PM today, August 6. This includes schools and admin buildings. Penderlea and Pender Early College students will dismiss on time. Emergency staff will be contacted if needed.

Due to Tropical Storm Debby, all PCS will be closed for students and non-emergency staff on 8/7 & 8/8. After-school activities and athletics are canceled. Emergency staff will be notified individually. Stay safe! Updates via email, website, and social media. #OnePender

Pender County Schools will operate on a normal schedule tomorrow, 8/5/2024. We are closely monitoring Tropical Storm Debby. Student safety is our top priority. Any updates will be shared via email, our website, and social media. Stay safe! #OnePender

Excited to see our students in PCS gaining real-world experience through summer internships! They're developing valuable skills, exploring career pathways, and making meaningful connections. A big shoutout to our local businesses and partners for supporting their journeys!

https://youtu.be/dyAZBIjSBJw Pender County Schools is proud to announce a new partnership with Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) and the University of North Carolina Pembroke (UNCP) to address the need for more qualified teachers in Pender County. 📚🤝 This exciting collaboration creates a clear and easy path for CFCC students to transfer into UNCP's Educator Preparation Program, helping us build a strong future for education in our region. This partnership includes several key components to support aspiring teachers. PCS students can take classes at both CFCC and UNCP, receive priority admission to UNCP if they qualify, and get access to advising from UNCP. These supports will help our students be well-prepared for their teaching careers. 🎓📖 Additionally, students will have the chance to complete their practice teaching in Pender County Schools, gaining valuable hands-on experience in our local classrooms. This agreement highlights our commitment to providing excellent education in Pender County by ensuring our schools have dedicated and highly qualified teachers. 🍎🏫 #OnePender

Excited to see our students in PCS gaining real-world experience through summer internships! They're developing valuable skills, exploring career pathways, and making meaningful connections. A big shoutout to our local businesses and partners for supporting their journeys!