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! 💪🍎
📅 Thursday, August 6
⏰ 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
📍 Black River Health Services
301 S. Campbell St., Burgaw
❤️ Free and open to the entire community! School supplies will be available while supplies last.
🎒✏️ ¡Prepárense para el nuevo año escolar! Black River Health Services invita a las familias a un evento GRATUITO de regreso a clases con útiles escolares, actividades para niños, recursos familiares y organizaciones comunitarias.
📅 Jueves, 6 de agosto
⏰ 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
📍 Black River Health Services
301 S. Campbell St., Burgaw
❤️ ¡El evento es gratuito y está abierto a toda la comunidad! Los útiles escolares estarán disponibles hasta agotar existencias.
On August 18, Pender County Schools employees will come together for our 2026–27 Convocation — an opportunity to reconnect, recharge and gear up for the school year ahead.
This year’s featured speaker is Leah Marone, a Charlotte-based licensed psychotherapist, speaker and author. Drawing on 20 years of experience, Ms. Marone will encourage employees who spend so much time supporting others to also make space for their own mental health and well-being.
Because preparing for a strong school year isn’t only about what we do, it’s also about taking care of the people who make it possible. 💙
📅 August 18, 2026
🕣 8:30–11:30 a.m.
📍 Heide Trask High School
👥 PCS employee event
Follow us for district news, school highlights, important updates, student and staff achievements, videos and more - https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/social-media-directory
🔵 Facebook: @penderschools
❌ X: @penderschools
📸 Instagram: @pendercountyschools
🧵 Threads: @pendercountyschools
💼 LinkedIn: Pender County Schools
▶️ YouTube: @pendercountyschools
Follow along and help us celebrate what’s happening across PCS!
Cape Fear Middle School’s new flooring has been installed, giving the school a fresh look for the year ahead. Work is also underway at Cape Fear Elementary School and will be completed before students return. 🏫🛠️
These upgrades are part of ongoing efforts to provide welcoming, well-maintained learning environments for our students and staff. Take a look at the progress! 📸👀
🏀 A new place to play, connect and recharge is ready at Pender Innovative Learning Academy!
More than two years of planning and teamwork have transformed PILA’s outdoor recreation space. After the fencing was relocated, the area doubled in size—making room for a new blacktop and basketball equipment students can enjoy during recess. 🎉
Principal Nikki Braune says she is ecstatic with the results, although she may need to squeeze in a few practice shots before students return and challenge her to a game! 😄
▶️ Watch the video to see the new space and learn how the project came together - https://youtube.com/shorts/hkMrZCgJ5wo
Pender High School will host its 2nd Annual Car Show on Saturday, August 22. All years and makes are welcome, with awards, food vendors, raffle prizes and plenty of impressive vehicles to enjoy.
Last year’s event brought together more than 100 cars—help PHS make this year’s show even bigger while supporting the PHS Alumni Scholarship Fund!
📅 Saturday, August 22, 2026
📍 Pender High School, 5380 NC Highway 53 West, Burgaw
⏰ Registration: 8–11 a.m.
💵 Entry fee: $20
For questions, contact Tina Welborn at 910-663-5570.
Penderlea School, Pender Early College High School and our traditional-calendar schools begin the year at different times and follow different schedules. Our 2026-27 Family Break Planner brings their major breaks and extended weekends together in one easy-to-use graphic.
Save it to your phone or share it with another PCS family as you plan appointments, travel and family activities throughout the school year.
Time-off totals include weekends. Please refer to the approved academic calendars for complete schedule details.
📅 Tres calendarios. Un solo lugar para planificar.
Penderlea School, Pender Early College High School y nuestras escuelas de calendario tradicional comienzan el año escolar en diferentes fechas y siguen distintos calendarios. Nuestro Planificador Familiar de Recesos 2026-27 reúne los principales recesos y fines de semana largos en una sola imagen fácil de consultar.
Guárdela en su teléfono o compártala con otra familia de PCS mientras planifica citas, viajes y actividades familiares durante el año escolar.
Los totales de días libres incluyen los fines de semana. Consulte los calendarios académicos aprobados para obtener todos los detalles del calendario escolar.
📣 Families, we want to hear from you!
As Pender County Schools prepares for the 2026–27 school year, we’re asking families to complete a brief Communication Preferences Survey.
Your feedback will help us better understand:
📱 How you prefer to receive information
📅 What information matters most to your family
🌐 Whether there are barriers that make communication difficult to access or understand
The survey takes about three minutes to complete. Please submit one response per household.
🔗 https://forms.gle/BtdyMRbm7U6S2B3X6
Thank you for helping us strengthen communication with families!
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📣 ¡Familias, queremos escuchar su opinión!
Mientras las Escuelas del Condado de Pender se preparan para el año escolar 2026–27, les pedimos a las familias que completen una breve Encuesta sobre Preferencias de Comunicación.
Sus comentarios nos ayudarán a comprender mejor:
📱 Cómo prefieren recibir información
📅 Qué información es más importante para su familia
🌐 Si existen barreras que dificultan el acceso o la comprensión de la comunicación
Completar la encuesta toma aproximadamente tres minutos. Por favor, envíe una respuesta por hogar.
🔗 https://forms.gle/BtdyMRbm7U6S2B3X6
¡Gracias por ayudarnos a fortalecer la comunicación con las familias!
📣 There’s still time to take part in the Summer Meals Program!
Pender County Schools is still offering FREE breakfast and lunch for children and teens.
🗓️ Every Wednesday through August 12
🕧 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
🔗 https://forms.gle/RUijeuPKJLp1HboW6
We hope to see you this week! 🍽️
📣 ¡Todavía hay tiempo para participar en el Programa de Comidas de Verano!
Pender County Schools todavía ofrece desayuno y almuerzo GRATIS para niños y adolescentes.
🗓️ Cada miércoles hasta el 12 de agosto
🕧 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
🔗 https://forms.gle/RUijeuPKJLp1HboW6
¡Esperamos verlos esta semana! 🍽️
🌞 We’re halfway through summer, and free meals are still available!
Families can pick up 7 days of breakfast and lunch for children and teens every Wednesday.
🕧 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
📍 Multiple pickup sites
✅ No application needed
📝 Pre-registration encouraged
Help us make sure no child goes hungry this summer. ❤️
🌞 ¡Ya vamos a mitad del verano, y las comidas gratis todavía están disponibles!
Las familias pueden recoger 7 días de desayuno y almuerzo para niños y adolescentes cada miércoles.
🕧 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
📍 Varios sitios de entrega
✅ No se necesita solicitud
📝 Se recomienda preinscribirse
Ayúdenos a asegurar que ningún niño pase hambre este verano. ❤️
📚 The countdown is on—just 38 days until students on our traditional calendar return to school on Monday, August 24!
As we prepare for the 2026–27 school year, families are asked to complete their student’s Beginning of Year Information Update. This update is not required for newly enrolled students.
Keeping contact and emergency information current helps ensure a safe, smooth and successful start from day one.
We can’t wait to welcome our students back! 🚌✏️🏫
With the heat index nearing triple digits ☀🌡today, our team distributed 15,848 meals to children and families across Pender County, bringing this summer’s total to 123,260 meals served! 🥪🥛
Thank you to our dedicated staff, volunteers, community partners and families who continue to make this program a success each week. 💙💛 We'll see you again next Wednesday.
🔬 Campers took part in hands-on STEM activities focused on:
⚡ Alternative Energy
🏗️ Architecture
🌊 Aquatics
🏔️ Landforms
From designing and building to investigating the world around them, students strengthened their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills — while having plenty of fun along the way! 🧠💡
Weekly educational field trips brought those STEM lessons to life through memorable, real-world experiences. 🚌
👏 Thank you to our dedicated staff, community partners and families for helping make this summer of curiosity, creativity and learning possible! ☀️📚
YouTube Link - https://youtube.com/shorts/Aev05Ylfx-k
🍎 Kids still need meals in the summer — and we’re here to help.
Pender County Schools is offering FREE breakfast and lunch for children and teens every Wednesday through August 12.
✅ 7 days of meals
🕧 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
🔗 https://forms.gle/RUijeuPKJLp1HboW6
Please share this post with families in our community. 💙
🍎 Los niños todavía necesitan comidas durante el verano, y estamos aquí para ayudar.
Pender County Schools ofrece desayuno y almuerzo GRATIS para niños y adolescentes cada miércoles hasta el 12 de agosto.
✅ 7 días de comidas
🕧 12:30 PM–2:00 PM
🔗 https://forms.gle/RUijeuPKJLp1HboW6
Por favor comparta esta publicación con familias de nuestra comunidad. 💙
Learn more and apply: https://bit.ly/pcs-jobid694
