Pender County Schools -

🎉Summer Celebration🌞Congrats to the PHS Raider Team who received their rings for sweeping the Mixed Raider Best of the Best Competition during the 2024-25 school year. This program has become the standard to which others are measured, and it's an extremely high bar - well done Patriots!!

🥣🥪 Need meals for your kids this week? We’ve got you covered! Our Summer Meals Program continues Wednesday from 12:30–2:00 PM at locations across the county.
🆓 A week's worth of FREE breakfast & lunch for children 18 and under. We hope to see you at any of the locations - rain or shine ☔🌞

🥣🥪 ¿Necesitas comidas para tus hijos esta semana? ¡Nosotros te ayudamos!
Nuestro programa de comidas de verano continúa este miércoles de 12:30 a 2:00 PM en varios lugares del condado.

🆓 Desayuno y almuerzo GRATIS para toda la semana para niños y jóvenes de 18 años o menos.
¡Esperamos verte en cualquiera de los lugares, llueva o haga sol! ☔🌞

📢 We’re excited to share that our Summer Meals Program is being extended through August 13, 2025 — that’s TWO more weeks of free breakfast 🥣 and lunch 🥪 for children across the county!
Each Wednesday, families can continue picking up a week’s worth of meals for children 18 and under — no ID or registration is required. 🙌
At the pace we’re on, with the extended dates we could approach 40,000 meals distributed to families across the county! 💪🍎

🎉 Pender County Schools is shining bright at the NC CTE Summer Conference this week! 💡 Our incredible CTE team is diving into best practices, gaining fresh strategies, and bringing home inspiration to elevate learning for all PCS students this school year! 👩‍🏫🧠💼 ✨ Highlights from this week: 📚 New CTE teachers are wrapping up their licensure requirements and preparing to make a powerful impact in the classroom. 🎤 Alicia Watkins, FACS teacher at Heide Trask High School, presented on Early Childhood Education—sharing her expertise and passion with educators from across the state. 🤝 Dominique Bates, PCS CTE Director, was officially sworn in as President-Elect of the NCACTE Administrators Division—leading the way for CTE excellence across North Carolina! 🩺 Cina Houston from Topsail High School is proudly serving on the HOSA State Board, representing PCS and future health science leaders. We’re proud of our educators for continuing to grow, lead, and represent PCS on a statewide stage. Amazing things are happening—and we’re just getting started! 💪📈 #OnePender #PenderCTE #CTEWorks #FromClassroomsToCareers #NCACTE #PCSStrong

📢Over the first month, Pender County Schools has provided more than 15,000 meals to folks across the county ✨ and we're not done yet! Our next Summer Meals Pickup is tomorrow from 12:30 - 2PM 🚗🚙 While not required, registration is helpful. Use this link if you would like to register - https://bit.ly/3UdXuHT See you Wednesday!! 💙💛

📢 ¡Durante el primer mes, ¡las Escuelas del Condado de Pender han entregado más de 15,000 comidas a familias en todo el condado! ✨ ¡Y aún no hemos terminado! Nuestra próxima distribución de comidas de verano es mañana de 12:30 a 2:00 PM 🚗🚙 No es obligatorio registrarse, pero nos ayuda mucho si lo haces. Puedes usar este enlace para registrarte: https://bit.ly/3UdXuHT ¡Nos vemos el miércoles! 💙💛

📢 Before-School Care Coming for 2025-26!
Starting this August, PCS will shift to a three-tier bell schedule to improve transportation and reduce delays. To support families impacted by these changes, before-school care will be offered for students at the Topsail and Surf City campuses.
🕒 New Bell Schedule Times:
✔ High School: 7:10 AM – 2:05 PM
✔ Elementary: 7:55 AM – 2:50 PM
✔ Middle: 8:40 AM – 3:35 PM
🏫 Before-care is available at:
📍 Topsail Campus
📍 Surf City Campus
💲 $22/week per student
📅 Registration opens July 28 — details coming soon!
📲 Read more: https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/article/2308349
🚙 Topsail Campus Traffic Pattern Map: https://5il.co/3lrrj
🚗 Surf City Traffic Pattern Map: https://5il.co/3lrrm

YouTube Link - https://youtu.be/XHX7RyO2lUc
👕🧺 Three Topsail High School students in the Pender County Future Leaders Internship Program are stepping up for their community with Tote & Take, a countywide clothing drive happening Wednesday, July 31, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donation boxes are already out — so start gathering those gently used clothes and help make this student-led project a success! 📦
📍Drop-off locations include:
➡️ Pender County Human Resources, Social Services, Health Department & Administration Buildings (Burgaw)
➡️ Burgaw & Hampstead Libraries
➡️ Hampstead Annex Building
➡️ Brown Dog Coffee (Burgaw)
➡️ Steadfast Nutrition (Hampstead)
There’s a convenient location near you — let’s fill those boxes! 👟👖
🌟 This drive is part of the Future Leaders Internship Program, a paid summer opportunity from Pender County Government that gives students hands-on experience in local government, mentorship, and civic engagement. These students aren’t just learning — they’re leading. 💙💛

Mark you calendars

YouTube Link - https://youtu.be/2wY69T5YF6s
📚 The 2025 Pender County Citizens Leadership Academy continued this week with a focus on education, highlighting how Pender County Schools and Cape Fear Community College are shaping the future of our community. Participants gained insight into programs, partnerships, and the shared commitment to student success across all grade levels.

🏫 Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove spoke about PCS’s efforts to create strong academic foundations, offer enriching extracurriculars, and plan for growth. Attendees also visited the construction site of the new J.H. Lea Schools campus, where the project is now 34% complete—a powerful look at progress in action.

🎓 Tammy Parris of the Pender Education Partnership and CFCC President Jim Morton shared how local partnerships are expanding opportunities for students beyond high school. Together, these institutions are helping to build a brighter, better-prepared Pender County.

📢 Superintendent Message: 3-Tier Bell Schedule Update 🚌⏰

📍 Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove explains why the new 3-tier bell schedule, approved by the Board of Education on June 3, 2025, is being implemented for schools on the east side of Pender County:

🏫 Affected schools:

Topsail High School
Topsail Middle School
Surf City Middle School
South Topsail Elementary
Topsail Annandale Elementary
North Topsail Elementary
Surf City Elementary

Here’s what the change means for students and families:

✅ Fewer late buses and more consistent classroom time
✅ Less congestion and safer campuses 🚗
✅ Efficient transportation using available drivers
✅ Supports continued growth in Hampstead, Topsail & Surf City 📈

🎥 Hear directly from Dr. Breedlove on why this matters and how it will benefit our PCS community - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5KObWmG9lY

Thank you for your trust and support as we move forward together. 💙💛

🎆 Fireworks, flags, and family fun!
Happy 4th of July from all of us at Pender County Schools!
We hope your day is filled with laughter, celebration, and appreciation for the freedoms we enjoy.
Stay safe and enjoy the summer break! ☀️🎉

☔ Rain or shine, we’re here for our kids! Despite the weather, Pender County Schools gave out 6,050 free meals to children across the county today — our third summer meal pickup of the year! Last week it was the heat, today it was the rain… and next week, we’ll be right back at it. 💪🍎🥪 📅 Mark your calendar for next Wednesday — free, nutritious meals for all children 18 and under. No cost, no ID, no registration. Just show up!

🌟 Week 2 of Pender County Schools’ 21st Century Summer STEM Camp = SUCCESS! 🌟 From building 🔋 Acebott Solar Houses and coding 🤖 Dash Bots to exploring culture and history through hands-on learning 🧠—our students dove into a world of discovery and creativity! 💡✨ 🎒 Field Trip Highlights: 🌳 Nature & tree planting at Penderlea Park 🌊 Marine science with Carolina Ocean Studies 🐠 Ocean life up close at Fort Fisher Aquarium 🏛️ A journey through history at Tryon Palace Our campers aren’t just learning—they’re experiencing, exploring, and engineering their way through summer! 🚀🔬📚

YouTube Link - https://youtube.com/shorts/8y09A4wO7Fc 🔥 More than 7,600 meals served — in 100° heat! 🥵💪 Week 2 of our Summer Meals Program was a scorcher, but that didn’t stop our amazing staff and school resource officers from getting it done! 🙌🍽️ 📣 On Wednesday, we handed out 5 days of breakfast 🥣 and lunch 🥪 to families across the county — and we’ll do it all again next week with a fresh menu! 📍 South Topsail Elementary 📍 C.F. Pope Elementary 📍 Malpass Corner Elementary 📍 Rocky Point Elementary 🕧 Wednesdays | 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM 💙💛 Huge thanks to our PCS team for braving the heat and supporting our students — all summer long! https://youtube.com/shorts/8y09A4wO7Fc

📣 Reminder! Free Summer Meals Continue TOMORROW! 🍎🥪 Pender County Schools is back for Week 2 of our Summer Meals Program — providing 5 days' worth of breakfast 🥣 and lunch 🥪 for children 18 and under! 📅 Wednesday, June 25 ⏰ 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM 📍 South Topsail Elementary 📍 C.F. Pope Elementary 📍 Malpass Corner Elementary 📍 Rocky Point Elementary ✅ No application needed — just bring your child’s name and age. ✨ New menu items are on the way, so don’t miss out! Let’s keep the summer strong with healthy meals and community support. 💛💙

📣 ¡Recordatorio! ¡Las comidas gratis de verano continúan MAÑANA! 🍎🥪 🌞 ¡Pender County Schools regresa con la segunda semana del programa de Comidas de Verano! Se ofrecerán 5 días de desayuno 🥣 y almuerzo 🥪 para niños y niñas de 18 años o menos. 📅 Miércoles, 25 de junio ⏰ 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM 📍 South Topsail Elementary 📍 C.F. Pope Elementary 📍 Malpass Corner Elementary 📍 Rocky Point Elementary ✅ No se necesita solicitud — solo diga el nombre y edad de cada niño/niña cuando llegue. ✨ ¡Y esta semana tenemos nuevos platillos en el menú! 🍽️ ¡Seguimos apoyando a nuestras familias este verano! 💛💙

📚 Walk to Read Camp is Reading Camp—reimagined! ✨ Under the leadership of Dr. Oates, Director of Elementary Education, and Meagan Winstead, Early Literacy Specialist, reading camp was transformed into a dynamic and engaging experience where students imagine, explore, and discover their path to excellence. 🧭 With a theme centered around exploration and discovery, students are immersed in literacy through books, art, and project-based learning that bring reading to life. 🎨📖 🔍 Our mission: Imagine, explore, and discover while mapping the path to excellence. 🌟 Our vision: Through Walk to Read and hands-on adventures, we explore new paths and discover exciting places—leading students to success. 🚀 Students across the district arrive each day energized and eager to learn—and families are noticing! 💬 One parent shared: “I’ve seen such a huge difference in his confidence in reading and writing. He comes home excited to share about his day—which hasn’t always been the case. I was nervous about taking away from his summer, but this has been the best decision. I’m so thankful he got this opportunity.” 💖 Walk to Read is more than just a camp—it’s a celebration of learning 🎉 and a spark for lifelong readers. 🔥

📍 RALEIGH VISIT | ADVOCATING FOR PCS 📍 Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove, Board of Education Chair Beth Burns, and Board Members Tom Reeves, and Jennifer Hansen visited the state capitol in Raleigh to meet with Representative Carson Smith (REP) and State Senator Brent Jackson (REP). The team discussed critical issues impacting Pender County Schools, including: ✔️ Increasing pay for teachers and staff ✔️ Providing local flexibility with the school calendar ✔️ Securing capital funding to meet growing facility needs We appreciate the opportunity to share the voices of our students, staff, and community—and thank our legislators for their time and attention. 💙💛#OnePender