What an incredible day of professional learning with our Pender County Schools Middle School CTE Team! 💙💚
Today was all about building the people who build our students. We laughed, learned, connected, collaborated, and reminded ourselves just how powerful Middle School CTE can be in helping students discover who they are and who they can become.
🎤 Anthony Johnson brought an AMAZING keynote that challenged, encouraged, and inspired our teachers to continue showing up with purpose and believing in the potential of EVERY student.
🤝 Our local business and industry partners joined us at the table, strengthening the bridge between our classrooms, our community, and the careers waiting for our students.
🎯 And of course, we had FUN! Our teachers participated in engaging activities designed to build relationships, strengthen our team, and get us ready for an incredible school year.
Middle school is where so many students get their first opportunity to discover a career, develop a skill, and begin imagining their future. That makes this work BIG.
If you knew who I would become, you’d help me build it.
And that is exactly what this team is committed to doing…
🧱 One student. One opportunity. One experience. One BRICK at a time.
The foundation is being built.
The momentum is REAL.
And PCS CTE is just getting started! 🚀
#BrickByBrick #PenderCountySchools #PCSCTE #MiddleSchoolCTE #CareerAndTechnicalEducation #BuildingFutures #BusinessAndIndustry #ProfessionalLearning #CTEWorks
Today, our Pender County Schools high school CTE teachers came together to launch a new year of building brighter futures—BRICK BY BRICK!
The energy was high, the conversations were meaningful, and the momentum was undeniable! Our day included:
🧱 Connecting and strengthening our CTE team
🧱 Learning, collaborating, and preparing for a year of excellence
🧱 Hearing directly from our NCDPI consultants during content-area sessions
🧱 Asking questions, gaining clarity, and building teacher confidence
🧱 Welcoming and celebrating members of our CTE family
🧱 Recognizing teachers, CTSO advisors, and team members who consistently go above and beyond
🧱 Reconnecting with our purpose: “If you knew who I would become, you would help me build it!”
We were also honored to have our business and industry partners in the room! Their presence reminds our teachers that they are not building alone. Together, we are connecting classrooms to careers, strengthening workforce pipelines, creating economic mobility, and giving students a competitive advantage after graduation.
A heartfelt thank-you to our partners, NCDPI consultants, school leaders, and every CTE educator who helped make today impactful. Our teachers left motivated, informed, supported, and ready to teach with excellence!
The foundation is strong. The blueprint is clear. The team is ready.
Great momentum! LET’S GO, PCS CTE! 🧱🚀
#PenderCountySchools #PCSCTE #BrickByBrick #CTE #CareerAndTechnicalEducation #BusinessAndIndustry #StudentSuccess #BuildingFutures #WorkforceDevelopment
Today’s Convocation brought staff from across the district together to reconnect 🤝, celebrate our progress 👏 and look ahead with a shared sense of purpose. Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove and PCS Teacher of the Year Caitlyn Bachman reminded us that strong relationships ❤️ and a strong team are at the heart of everything we do.
🎤 Guest speaker Leah Marone helped make the day even more memorable. A special thank-you to Equitable Advisors for making her appearance, lunch 🍽️ and a special gift for staff 🎁 possible!
We’re recharged, reunited and ready for the year ahead! 🚀 One Pender—let’s go! 💪
https://youtube.com/shorts/NCX8RDP4gkc
With the first day of school for our traditional-calendar students coming up August 24 📅, Pender County Schools bus drivers gathered on the Cape Fear Elementary/Middle/PILA campus for the annual bus driver meeting.
The session covered important information for the year ahead, including pay and finance updates 💵, employee benefits 📋 and other topics designed to help our drivers prepare for the start of school.
Our bus drivers are often among the first PCS team members students see in the morning ☀️ and the last they see in the afternoon — and preparations are already underway for another safe and successful school year. 💛🚌
Staff members gathered at the Cape Fear Elementary/Middle/PILA campus for a Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) refresher course 🏫, reinforcing strategies for preventing, recognizing and safely responding to challenging situations.
Refresher training helps keep important skills top of mind 💡 while giving staff an opportunity to revisit approaches that emphasize safety 🛡️, de-escalation 🤝 and supportive responses.
It’s all part of the work happening across PCS as our teams prepare to welcome students back for another school year. 🎒✨
From above, it’s easy to see just how much is happening on the Cape Fear Elementary/Middle/PILA campus as Pender County Schools prepares for the new school year. 👀🏫
With staff trainings, meetings and preparations underway, a packed parking lot is a pretty good sign that our teams are hard at work behind the scenes before students return. 💼📚✨
August 24 will be here before we know it! 🎒
🚨 Final reminder!
The last summer meal pickup is this Wednesday, August 12.
Families can pick up 7 days of FREE breakfast and lunch for children and teens.
🕧 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
📍 All pickup sites
✅ No application needed
Thank you for helping us support Pender County families this summer. 💙
🚨 ¡Recordatorio final!
La última entrega de comidas de verano será este miércoles, 12 de agosto.
Las familias pueden recoger 7 días de desayuno y almuerzo GRATIS para niños y adolescentes.
🕧 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
📍 Todos los sitios de entrega
✅ No se necesita solicitud
Gracias por ayudarnos a apoyar a las familias del Condado de Pender este verano. 💙
On August 18, Team PCS will come together to reconnect, recharge and get ready for the 2026–27 school year.
Educators are experts at showing up for others. During our Employee Convocation, licensed psychotherapist, speaker and author Leah Marone will challenge us to consider what it means to show up for ourselves, too — strengthening our well-being, recognizing burnout and building habits that can sustain us throughout the year.
A strong school year begins with supported employees, renewed connections and a shared sense of purpose. We’re ready to bring Team PCS together! 💙💛
📅 August 18, 2026
🕣 8:30–11:30 a.m.
📍 Heide Trask High School
👥 PCS employee event
New energy-efficient LED lighting is being installed in the cafeteria dining hall, creating a brighter and more welcoming space for students and staff to gather and enjoy meals together. ✨🍎
It’s another summer improvement helping our schools shine for the year ahead!
Our Maintenance Department is removing and replacing the decks, ramps and steps serving the mobile classrooms behind the school. These upgrades will help provide safe, reliable access for students and staff.
Crews are working to complete the project in time to welcome students back on the first day of school — August 24, 2026! 🏫✨
At Malpass Corner Elementary School, 180 meal bags were handed out today—and across the program, a total of 13,944 meals were distributed! That brings our summer total to an amazing 169,768 meals served. 🥪🥛🍊
A huge thank-you to the dedicated staff members and volunteers who continue to make this program possible! 💙
📅 Next week is the final week of summer meal distribution, so be sure to stop by!
🚌 Need school bus transportation on day one?
All students who need bus transportation for the first day of school must be registered by August 10.
Requests submitted after the deadline cannot be guaranteed service during the first 10 school days. Register by August 10 to help ensure your student has transportation available when school begins.
Thank you for helping us prepare for a safe and successful start to the school year!
Enroll - https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/enroll
🚌 **¿Necesita transporte en autobús escolar desde el primer día?**
Todos los estudiantes que necesiten transporte en autobús escolar el primer día de clases deben estar inscritos a más tardar el **10 de agosto**.
No se puede garantizar el servicio durante los primeros 10 días de clases para las solicitudes recibidas después de la fecha límite. Complete la inscripción antes del 10 de agosto para ayudar a garantizar que su estudiante tenga transporte disponible cuando comiencen las clases.
¡Gracias por ayudarnos a prepararnos para un inicio seguro y exitoso del nuevo año escolar!
Inscribirse - https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/enroll
Before the first bell rings, students and families are invited to meet their teachers, explore their schools and get ready for a great 2026–27 school year! 📚✏️
📅 Middle Schools/PILA: Wednesday, August 19
📅 Elementary and High Schools: Thursday, August 20
Check the graphic for times and additional details. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back! 👋🌟
🏫🎉 ¡LAS JORNADAS DE PUERTAS ABIERTAS YA CASI ESTÁN AQUÍ! 🎉🏫
Antes de que suene la primera campana, invitamos a los estudiantes y sus familias a conocer a sus maestros, recorrer sus escuelas y prepararse para un excelente año escolar 2026–27. 📚✏️
📅 Escuelas intermedias/PILA: miércoles 19 de agosto
📅 Escuelas primarias y preparatorias: jueves 20 de agosto
Consulte la imagen para ver los horarios y detalles adicionales. ¡Qué emoción recibirlos de nuevo! 👋🌟
Take a look at the latest progress from the J.H. Lea Elementary and Middle School construction site! With each update, our newest campus moves another step closer to welcoming students for the 2027–28 school year. 🏫✨
These are just a few of the newest views from the site. See the complete collection of photos and continue following the build here:
🔗 https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/bond-referendum
The halls are buzzing, the classrooms are ready and the 2026–27 school year officially begins TODAY at Pender Early College High School! 🎉✏️
Here’s to new opportunities, big goals, lasting friendships and a year filled with learning and success. We hope our students and staff have an amazing first day! 🌟🙌
Let’s make it a great year, PECHS! 🤍💗
🎓Interested in serving your country while pursuing a college education?
Students and families are invited to attend the Military Academies Fair to explore opportunities at U.S. service academies, senior military colleges and ROTC programs.
📅 Wednesday, September 9
⏰ 5:30–8:00 p.m.
📍 Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center
Representatives are expected from West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, The Citadel, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Norwich University Corps of Cadets and Navy ROTC.
Whether you’re beginning to explore your options or preparing to apply, this regional event is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn about pathways to college, leadership and military service. Please see the attached flyer for additional details. 📚
⏰ Only a few weeks left!
Free summer meals for children and teens are still available in Pender County.
Families can pick up 7 days of breakfast and lunch every Wednesday.
🕧 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
✅ No application needed
📝 Pre-register online or fill out the form onsite
🔗 https://forms.gle/RUijeuPKJLp1HboW6
Let’s finish the summer strong! 💪🍎
⏰ ¡Quedan pocas entregas!
Las comidas gratis de verano para niños y adolescentes todavía están disponibles en el Condado de Pender.
Las familias pueden recoger 7 días de desayuno y almuerzo cada miércoles.
🕧 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
✅ No se necesita solicitud
📝 Preinscríbase en línea o llene el formulario en el sitio
🔗 https://forms.gle/RUijeuPKJLp1HboW6
¡Terminemos el verano con fuerza! 💪🍎
