🚨 Weather Update 🚨
We continue to monitor the evolving weather forecast.
✅ Tuesday, January 21: Early release for students. All after-school activities, including PACES and athletics, are canceled.
✅ Wednesday, January 22: Schools will operate on a two-hour delay at minimum.
We will provide an update on Tuesday if further changes, including remote learning, are necessary.
Thank you for your understanding as we prioritize safety. Stay tuned for updates via email, phone, our website, and social media. Stay safe!
🚨 Actualización del clima 🚨
Seguimos monitoreando el pronóstico del clima que continúa cambiando.
✅ Martes, 21 de enero: Salida temprana para los estudiantes. Todas las actividades después de clases, incluidas PACES y deportes, están canceladas.
✅ Miércoles, 22 de enero: Las escuelas operarán con retraso de dos horas como mínimo.
Se proporcionará una actualización el martes si se requieren más cambios, incluyendo el aprendizaje remoto.
Gracias por su comprensión mientras priorizamos la seguridad. Manténgase atento a las actualizaciones a través de correo electrónico, llamadas telefónicas, nuestro sitio web y redes sociales. ¡Manténganse seguros!
Today, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of equality, justice, and unity. His dream inspires us to strive for a brighter, more inclusive future. Let’s reflect on his words and take action toward positive change. 🕊️
🚨 Important Weather Update 🚨
Due to the forecasted winter weather, Pender County Schools will move to an early release schedule on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
👉 Early release schedule: https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/school-bell-schedule
Additional updates:
All after-school activities for Tuesday, including athletics and PACES, will not take place.
We will monitor the weather and announce Wednesday’s schedule on Monday.
Stay informed: Check the PCS website and social media for the latest updates.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we prioritize student safety.
🌟 Feature Friday: Marlene Barrett, Exceptional Children's Teacher! 🌟
This week, we’re excited to recognize Marlene Barrett, an Exceptional Children's (EC) teacher at Rocky Point Elementary, for her outstanding contributions to both her students and colleagues.
In her fifth year at RPES, Marlene has consistently gone above and beyond in her role. Her journey in education began as an instructional assistant at Topsail High School before transitioning into her teaching position at RPES. Over the years, Marlene has inspired countless students, helping them develop academic skills, build confidence, and improve their social abilities. Her unwavering dedication extends far beyond the classroom as she works to help students overcome personal challenges and thrive both in school and in life.
Marlene’s leadership shines through as well. When the previous EC team leader transitioned to a coordinating role, Marlene stepped up without hesitation to support her colleagues. She now serves as the current team leader, helping her team navigate compliance demands with her tireless dedication. Additionally, she is a valued member of the RPES data team, consistently working to improve outcomes for all students.
Marlene’s positive impact on both students and colleagues makes her an invaluable part of the RPES family. Thank you, Marlene, for your exceptional service and commitment to our school community! 🌟 #OnePender
Today, staff from across the district came together to launch the Pender County Schools Career Development Plan Implementation Team! The CDP focuses on equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and experiences they need to succeed in their chosen paths after graduation. From career exploration to hands on learning opportunities, we are thrilled to see this vision come to life and help prepare our students for a bright future. #OnePender #AllHandsonDeck #CareerReady
⏳ Don't miss your chance to help name our new schools in Hampstead! 🏫✨ Share your ideas or vote on suggested names that reflect our community, history, or geography. 🌳💙
🗓️ Deadline: Feb 2, 2025
👉 Form Link: https://forms.gle/cV11wSUob6iJxKyY6
#OnePender
Cape Fear Middle School 8th Grade Preps for High School
Students in Mr. Barbour and Mr. Strong's 8th grade classes hosted their high school and middle school counselors along with their high school career development coordinator and social worker to help them prepare for upcoming registration. Students learned about elective classes, GPA, credentials and much more. They created a flexible plan in a high school Google classroom to prep for actual registration. The plan meets another requirement of the NC state career development plan. Ask them to show you!
🎓 Attention all 8th-grade students and families! 🚨
The deadline to apply for Pender Early College High School (PECHS) for the 2025-2026 school year is quickly approaching! All applications are due by Wednesday, January 29th, 2025. #OnePender
Bus 310 is experiencing mechanical issues this morning. The route is running approximately 1 hour behind schedule. Bus 199 will be transporting these students for the AM route.
👷♂️🛠️ Our hardworking Carpentry students at Topsail High School are pushing through day 5 of the semester with determination and skill! Today, they’re honing hands-on skills that will help them thrive in their future careers, whether it’s enrolling in further education, enlisting in the military, or entering the workforce directly after graduation. These students are building more than just projects — they’re building their futures! 💪 #TopsailHigh #CarpentrySkills #BuildingFutures #HandsOnLearning #HardWorkPaysOff
🎉 A huge thank you to Miranda Wells, Spot Festival School Liaison, for presenting checks totaling $36,000 to Pender County Schools! We’re so grateful for the Spot Festival’s generous support of our students and schools. 💙 #OnePender
🌟Student Spotlight: Marvin!🌟
Marvin is being recognized by his teacher, Happy Jones, for his exceptional leadership, kindness, and responsibility.
Marvin is a standup student who shines in class discussions by actively participating and encouraging his peers to do the same. He works hard, respects everyone, and goes the extra mile to help classmates who face language barriers. His willingness to step up creates a positive and supportive classroom environment.
Here’s more about Marvin:
🍝 Favorite food: Spaghetti
💙 Favorite color: Blue
⚽ Hobbies: Playing soccer
🐶 Pets: A dog
🎤 Interesting fact: Marvin loves to sing!
Thank you, Marvin, for being a role model and inspiring your peers to learn and grow!
#OnePender
🎉 Congratulations to Jennifer Hansen, who was sworn in as the District 1 Board of Education member during Tuesday’s meeting! Welcome aboard, Ms. Hansen! 👏 Read more here: https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/article/1964449 #OnePender
🎉 Shoutout to Denise Pollock, who was recognized at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting by Dominique Bates, Director of CTE!
Ms. Pollock played a key role in making Pender County Schools one of the top 10 NC public school units in both total credentials earned and highest credential attainment rate. She managed over 8,000 credentials during the 2023-24 school year—an incredible achievement! 👏
Thank you, Ms. Pollock, for your dedication to student success! 🙌 #OnePender
🍏✨ Health Science students at Topsail High School are getting hands-on with a fascinating project: mummifying apples! In this unique experiment, they’re learning about preservation techniques and the science behind decomposition. The students are carefully following the steps to create their very own apple mummies, providing a fun and interactive way to explore biology and chemistry. Stay tuned for the results — who knew apples could last thousands of years with the right techniques? #TopsailHigh #HealthScience #MummifyingApples #HandsOnLearning
Teacher Tuesday - Mary Andrea Gingrich, EC Adaptive Teacher at Burgaw Middle School! 🌟📖
With six years of teaching experience, Mary Andrea Gingrich has dedicated her career to supporting students with disabilities in her EC Adaptive classroom at Burgaw Middle School. Her passion for this work was sparked in high school when she took an elective that allowed her to spend time in a self-contained classroom. That early experience ignited her desire to work with students with disabilities, and her student teaching at Malpass Corner Elementary solidified her calling to combine that passion with classroom teaching.
Mary Andrea's favorite subject to teach is social skills and communication. She finds immense joy in helping students—whether verbal, non-verbal, gestural, or using sign language—connect and communicate with the world around them. Watching her students care for and interact with one another is a constant source of inspiration. These moments, filled with love and compassion, are some of the most rewarding parts of her teaching journey. 💬💞
Outside of school, Mary Andrea enjoys spending time with her friends and family, soaking in the natural beauty of her coastal home, and frequenting the beach. Her hobbies include reading, taking cycling classes, and paddle boarding. 🌊🚴♀️📚
At home, she shares her life with Penelope, her loyal, sassy, and playful pug. Her love for pugs carries into her classroom, where she enjoys reading the Pig the Pug books to her students. 🐾📘
Her favorite travel destinations are places near the ocean, especially Murrell's Inlet, South Carolina, where she has fond memories of visiting as a child.
Mary Andrea lives by a personal teaching philosophy:
"All the little moments count. Celebrate all victories, no matter how big or small."
Her dedication to creating a supportive and nurturing environment for her students makes Mary Andrea a cherished member of the Burgaw Middle School community! 🏫✨
🎨✨ The Rising Stars exhibition at the Cameron Art Museum will showcase the creative talents of high school students from across Southeastern NC, including 10 artists from Pender County Schools!
📅 Opening Weekend: Saturday, February 1 | 11 AM - 2 PM
Highlights include gallery tours, a collaborative art-making station, and opportunities for students to exchange artist trading cards with fellow young artists.
We’re proud to see our students shining alongside peers from an eight-county region in this inaugural event! #OnePender
VIDEO - https://bit.ly/3PxAy46
🌟 Celebrating Science and Innovation in Pender County Schools! 🌟
On Monday, January 13th, Cape Fear Elementary School hosted the Pender County Schools District Science Fair, bringing together our brightest young minds! 👩🔬🧑🔬 Sixty-one students competed after excelling at their school-level fairs, presenting impressive projects based on science experiments or engineering principles. We are so proud of their hard work and creativity! 🌱🚀
A huge thank you to our judges from GE, PECHS, and the community for helping us select the winners! 🏆✨ These outstanding projects will represent Pender County at the Regional Science Fair at UNCW on February 15th. 🎉 Best of luck to our winners:
📌 The Heat Trapper by Emmalyn Brock and Abigail McMenamin
📌 Launching Marshmallows by Josie Coleman, Emma Outlaw, and Clara Trochelman
📌 Slime Recipes by Aubrianna Lewis
📌 Fruit that Browns, Makes You Frown by Lane Jackson, Weston McGowen, and Reyden Bryant
📌 Plant Power: The Impact of Soil pH on Growth by Carson Breisacher
📌 Macaron Time Machine by Claire Taggart
📌 Cold Wash Challenge by Audrina Loftus, Hailey Keller, Harper Henry
📌 Get Your Groceries Home by Julia Leasillagi and Brynn Powell
📌 A Whiter Smile by Gage Sierleja, Elijah Milbourne, Carter McKinley
📌 Cerebral Keyboard by Bella Porter and Frances Jane Wilgis
📌 Cold as Ice by Peyton Hunter, Ava Zimmerman, and Finley Nelson
📌 Which Dynamic is Faster by Joseph Watts (middle school)
Let’s cheer on these young scientists as they take their incredible ideas to the next level! 🙌✨ #OnePender
