A Sweet Preschool Lunch Conversation at Cape Fear Elementary School 🍎
Ms. Moore: What are you eating for lunch today?
Preschooler: I have a cheese stick, grapes and a banana !
Ms. Moore: Oh, that sounds delicious! What is your favorite fruit.
Preschooler: Bananas ! They are tasty and sweet.
Ms. Moore: I love bananas too! Can you tell me why it is important to eat healthy food?
Preschooler: So I can grow big and strong!
Ms. Moore: That's right! You are growing and learning every day. What do you want to learn about today?
Preschooler: Dinosaurs!
Ms. Moore: Dinosaurs? That sounds like a wonderful idea. Maybe we can read a dinosaur book after lunch!
🏃♀️💙 Teacher Tuesday: Ms. Kelly Lanier — Penderlea School
Ms. Kelly Lanier serves as the PE teacher at Penderlea School. She is known for building connections with students and families and working to make sure every student feels welcome and valued at school.
What stands out about Ms. Lanier is her flexibility and willingness to step in wherever she is needed. This year, she moved into the PE role and quickly began looking for ways to build a program that reflects the needs and interests of her students.
One example is her work with the Penderlea community to secure donations of additional PE equipment. Those donations are giving students more opportunities to participate in activities and try new things during class.
Thank you, Ms. Lanier, for your flexibility, your connection with families, and the work you do for students at Penderlea School. 💛🏃
Ms. Kelly Lanier serves as the PE teacher at Penderlea School. She is known for building connections with students and families and working to make sure every student feels welcome and valued at school.
What stands out about Ms. Lanier is her flexibility and willingness to step in wherever she is needed. This year, she moved into the PE role and quickly began looking for ways to build a program that reflects the needs and interests of her students.
One example is her work with the Penderlea community to secure donations of additional PE equipment. Those donations are giving students more opportunities to participate in activities and try new things during class.
Thank you, Ms. Lanier, for your flexibility, your connection with families, and the work you do for students at Penderlea School. 💛🏃
📅 Save the date! Pender County Schools will hold a community forum on future growth and school planning.
📍 Topsail High School
🗓️ Tuesday, September 29
🕕 6 p.m.
Join us to learn more about the planning process and share your perspective. The forum will also be streamed live on the PCS YouTube channel for those unable to attend.
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@PenderCountySchools
📅 ¡Reserve la fecha! Las Escuelas del Condado de Pender llevarán a cabo un foro comunitario sobre el crecimiento futuro y la planificación escolar.
📍 Topsail High School
🗓️ Martes 29 de septiembre
🕕 6 p.m.
Acompáñenos para conocer más sobre el proceso de planificación y compartir su perspectiva. El foro también se transmitirá en vivo a través del canal de YouTube de PCS para quienes no puedan asistir.
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@PenderCountySchools
📍 Topsail High School
🗓️ Tuesday, September 29
🕕 6 p.m.
Join us to learn more about the planning process and share your perspective. The forum will also be streamed live on the PCS YouTube channel for those unable to attend.
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@PenderCountySchools
📅 ¡Reserve la fecha! Las Escuelas del Condado de Pender llevarán a cabo un foro comunitario sobre el crecimiento futuro y la planificación escolar.
📍 Topsail High School
🗓️ Martes 29 de septiembre
🕕 6 p.m.
Acompáñenos para conocer más sobre el proceso de planificación y compartir su perspectiva. El foro también se transmitirá en vivo a través del canal de YouTube de PCS para quienes no puedan asistir.
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@PenderCountySchools
Our Child Nutrition Staff got cheesy with it celebrating National Cheeseburger Day in cafeteria's across Pender County today! Cheeseburgers were served alongside fresh fruit and vegetables....and silly hats :)
#NationalCheeseburgerDay
#AramarkStudentNutrition
#cheeseburgerinparadise
Weekly PCS Newsletter - https://new.express.adobe.com/webpage/yYSsXtmjMpEb2 - Have a great weekend!!
🌟 Feature Friday: Employee Spotlight 🌟
This week we’re recognizing Dr. Brandy Sawyer, Chief Academic Officer for Pender County Schools.
Dr. Sawyer works closely with staff across the district to support teaching and learning and, ultimately, the students we serve. Her role comes with a lot of responsibility, and she works hard to provide both direction and support to the people on her team.
Those who work with Dr. Sawyer know she is committed to her staff. She provides structure when it’s needed, works through challenges alongside her team, and keeps student needs at the center of the work.
💛💙 Thank you, Dr. Sawyer, for the time and effort you put into supporting our staff, schools, and students across Pender County Schools.
This week we’re recognizing Dr. Brandy Sawyer, Chief Academic Officer for Pender County Schools.
Dr. Sawyer works closely with staff across the district to support teaching and learning and, ultimately, the students we serve. Her role comes with a lot of responsibility, and she works hard to provide both direction and support to the people on her team.
Those who work with Dr. Sawyer know she is committed to her staff. She provides structure when it’s needed, works through challenges alongside her team, and keeps student needs at the center of the work.
💛💙 Thank you, Dr. Sawyer, for the time and effort you put into supporting our staff, schools, and students across Pender County Schools.
🚨 Today is the final day to complete the PCS Community Priorities Survey!
Help ensure community priorities and values guide future planning for Pender County Schools.
📝 Complete the survey today: https://bit.ly/4d0Q3O0
Thank you to everyone who has already shared their feedback! 💬
Recordatorio final de la encuesta — 18 de septiembre
🚨 ¡Hoy es el último día para completar la Encuesta sobre las Prioridades de la Comunidad de PCS!
Ayúdenos a garantizar que las prioridades y los valores de la comunidad orienten la planificación futura de las Escuelas del Condado de Pender.
📝 Complete la encuesta hoy:https://forms.gle/sgWCWu8F1rXrxboTA
¡Gracias a todos los que ya compartieron sus comentarios! 💬
🩺💙 OVER 200 PARTICIPANTS EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE! 💙🩺
What an incredible evening at Scotts Hill Medical Center for our Healthcare Career Explorers Program, sponsored by Novant Health!
More than 200 students, parents, CTE staff members, and Novant Health professionals came together for an evening focused on helping students discover the incredible possibilities available within the healthcare industry.
A special thank you to the Novant Health team, led by Kapica Davis and Julian Williams, for making tonight’s experience possible! Their leadership and commitment brought together Novant professionals from departments throughout Scotts Hill Medical Center to give students an authentic, firsthand look at the many people and careers it takes to operate a healthcare system.
🏥 Students weren’t just hearing about healthcare careers—they were exploring them! They had opportunities to interact directly with professionals, ask questions, learn about different career pathways, and discover roles they may have never considered before.
And our parents were exploring right alongside their students! That is what made tonight especially meaningful. When students, families, educators, employers, and community partners come together in the same space to talk about the future, career exploration becomes something much bigger than an event—it becomes an opportunity to see what is possible.
A HUGE thank you to Kapica Davis, Julian Williams, and the entire Novant Health team for investing your time, expertise, and energy into our students. Thank you to every department that participated, our PCS CTE staff members who supported the event, and the families who showed up ready to explore!
This is what strong education + industry partnerships look like. We aren’t simply telling students about careers—we are putting them in the environments where those careers happen and connecting them with the professionals doing the work every day.
🩺 Over 200 participants.
🏥 Healthcare professionals across multiple departments.
🤝 Schools, families, industry, and community together.
🚀 Countless possibilities for our students.
This is career exploration in action, and we are continuing to build pathways that prepare every PCS student to graduate Enrolled, Enlisted, or Employed!
🧱 BRICK BY BRICK, we are building the future workforce of Pender County and beyond!
#PCSCareerAndTechnicalEducation #NovantHealth #ScottsHillMedicalCenter #HealthcareCareerExplorers #HealthcareCareers #CareerExploration #CTE #WorkforceDevelopment #EnrolledEnlistedEmployed #BrickByBrick
🌟 PCS VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT 🌟
For our first PCS Volunteer Spotlight, we’re recognizing Sara Cotten, whose time, energy and creativity make a difference throughout her school community! 💙💛
From supporting classrooms and decorating bulletin boards to leading the PTA, organizing fundraisers and helping keep families connected, Ms. Cotten is always finding ways to support students and staff. She also makes a point to encourage teachers, whether that means providing supplies, sharing a special treat or simply helping make their day a little brighter.
One example of Ms. Cotten’s impact came during the school’s Boosterthon fundraiser. She kept students, staff and families engaged with daily updates, prizes and creative schoolwide incentives, including administrators kissing farm animals 🐷 and a staff inflatable race! 🏃♀️ The activities were fun, but behind them were countless hours of planning and coordination that helped bring the entire school community together.
Much of Ms. Cotten’s work happens behind the scenes, but its impact can be seen and felt throughout the school.
👏 Thank you, Ms. Cotten, for giving your time and talents to support PCS students, staff and families!
For our first PCS Volunteer Spotlight, we’re recognizing Sara Cotten, whose time, energy and creativity make a difference throughout her school community! 💙💛
From supporting classrooms and decorating bulletin boards to leading the PTA, organizing fundraisers and helping keep families connected, Ms. Cotten is always finding ways to support students and staff. She also makes a point to encourage teachers, whether that means providing supplies, sharing a special treat or simply helping make their day a little brighter.
One example of Ms. Cotten’s impact came during the school’s Boosterthon fundraiser. She kept students, staff and families engaged with daily updates, prizes and creative schoolwide incentives, including administrators kissing farm animals 🐷 and a staff inflatable race! 🏃♀️ The activities were fun, but behind them were countless hours of planning and coordination that helped bring the entire school community together.
Much of Ms. Cotten’s work happens behind the scenes, but its impact can be seen and felt throughout the school.
👏 Thank you, Ms. Cotten, for giving your time and talents to support PCS students, staff and families!
🎶 ARTS IN EDUCATION WEEK 🎶
Music education gives students much more than the opportunity to learn an instrument. It builds confidence, discipline, teamwork and a sense of connection with the people around them. 🎺🥁🎷
As we continue celebrating Arts in Education Week, hear from Mr. Trevor Judy, Band Teacher at Surf City Middle School, as he shares his perspective on the importance of arts education and what students gain through their experience in band. 💙💛
Thank you to Mr. Judy and all of our PCS music educators for helping students find their sound, work together and grow through music.
🎥 Hear more from Mr. Judy in the video! - https://youtube.com/shorts/g8K_n5aZlFs?feature=share
Music education gives students much more than the opportunity to learn an instrument. It builds confidence, discipline, teamwork and a sense of connection with the people around them. 🎺🥁🎷
As we continue celebrating Arts in Education Week, hear from Mr. Trevor Judy, Band Teacher at Surf City Middle School, as he shares his perspective on the importance of arts education and what students gain through their experience in band. 💙💛
Thank you to Mr. Judy and all of our PCS music educators for helping students find their sound, work together and grow through music.
🎥 Hear more from Mr. Judy in the video! - https://youtube.com/shorts/g8K_n5aZlFs?feature=share
🌟 Student Spotlight 🌟
Sophia is a Pre-K student at Cape Fear Elementary School, recognized for her kindness and leadership.
Sophia looks for ways to help her classmates, including students who are learning English. When a classmate is upset and speaking Spanish, Sophia will sometimes help translate so her teachers can better understand what the student needs. She also sets a good example by following school expectations and helping remind her classmates of classroom routines.
Her teachers have noticed the care Sophia shows for others and her willingness to help classmates feel understood and included. 💙
Outside of the classroom, Sophia enjoys drawing 🎨, playing with Play-Doh, and just about anything involving art. She also loves spending time outside with her friends. Her favorite foods are chicken nuggets and cheese pizza 🍕, and her favorite color is pink 💗.
One interesting fact about Sophia—she loves hugs, especially when she’s having a tough moment, and often shows that same care for others through hugs and drawings. 🫶🎨
💗 Thank you, Sophia, for the kindness and leadership you show at Cape Fear Elementary School.
Sophia is a Pre-K student at Cape Fear Elementary School, recognized for her kindness and leadership.
Sophia looks for ways to help her classmates, including students who are learning English. When a classmate is upset and speaking Spanish, Sophia will sometimes help translate so her teachers can better understand what the student needs. She also sets a good example by following school expectations and helping remind her classmates of classroom routines.
Her teachers have noticed the care Sophia shows for others and her willingness to help classmates feel understood and included. 💙
Outside of the classroom, Sophia enjoys drawing 🎨, playing with Play-Doh, and just about anything involving art. She also loves spending time outside with her friends. Her favorite foods are chicken nuggets and cheese pizza 🍕, and her favorite color is pink 💗.
One interesting fact about Sophia—she loves hugs, especially when she’s having a tough moment, and often shows that same care for others through hugs and drawings. 🫶🎨
💗 Thank you, Sophia, for the kindness and leadership you show at Cape Fear Elementary School.
🎵 ARTS IN EDUCATION WEEK 🎵
For many students, elementary school is where a lifelong connection to music begins. 🎶🥁🎻
As we continue celebrating Arts in Education Week, hear from Ms. Laura Black, Music Teacher at Rocky Point Elementary School, as she shares why arts education matters and what music can bring to a student’s educational experience. 💙💛
Through music, students have opportunities to create, perform, work together and build confidence — skills that reach far beyond the music room. 🎼✨
🎥 Hear more from Ms. Black in the video! - https://youtube.com/shorts/kuLT9wqcSUQ?feature=share
For many students, elementary school is where a lifelong connection to music begins. 🎶🥁🎻
As we continue celebrating Arts in Education Week, hear from Ms. Laura Black, Music Teacher at Rocky Point Elementary School, as she shares why arts education matters and what music can bring to a student’s educational experience. 💙💛
Through music, students have opportunities to create, perform, work together and build confidence — skills that reach far beyond the music room. 🎼✨
🎥 Hear more from Ms. Black in the video! - https://youtube.com/shorts/kuLT9wqcSUQ?feature=share
🎨💙 Teacher Tuesday: Ms. Lily Buckley — Heide Trask High School
Ms. Lily Buckley is an art teacher at Heide Trask High School and is in her third year of teaching. She is known for the energy she brings to her classroom and her willingness to support students and colleagues throughout the school.
Ms. Buckley’s enthusiasm for art comes through in her teaching. She works to create a classroom where students can express themselves, develop their skills, and feel comfortable being who they are. She also contributes to a number of programs and activities at Trask, often helping behind the scenes wherever she is needed.
What stands out most is the attention Ms. Buckley gives to her students as individuals. She notices when someone may be having a difficult day and takes time to check in. By building relationships based on respect and understanding, she helps students work through challenges while encouraging them to set their own goals and recognize what they are capable of accomplishing.
Thank you, Ms. Buckley, for the care and enthusiasm you bring to your students and the Heide Trask High School community. 💛🎨
Ms. Lily Buckley is an art teacher at Heide Trask High School and is in her third year of teaching. She is known for the energy she brings to her classroom and her willingness to support students and colleagues throughout the school.
Ms. Buckley’s enthusiasm for art comes through in her teaching. She works to create a classroom where students can express themselves, develop their skills, and feel comfortable being who they are. She also contributes to a number of programs and activities at Trask, often helping behind the scenes wherever she is needed.
What stands out most is the attention Ms. Buckley gives to her students as individuals. She notices when someone may be having a difficult day and takes time to check in. By building relationships based on respect and understanding, she helps students work through challenges while encouraging them to set their own goals and recognize what they are capable of accomplishing.
Thank you, Ms. Buckley, for the care and enthusiasm you bring to your students and the Heide Trask High School community. 💛🎨
🎨 ARTS IN EDUCATION WEEK 🎨
Art gives students a chance to create, explore and see things from a different perspective. 💙💛
As we continue celebrating Arts in Education Week, hear from Ashley Berdeau, Visual Arts Teacher at Surf City Middle School, as she shares her perspective on arts education and the role it plays in the student experience. 🖌️🖼️
Thank you to Ms. Berdeau and all of our PCS arts educators for giving students opportunities to discover their creativity and develop their own artistic voice.
🎥 Hear more from Ms. Berdeau in the video! https://youtube.com/shorts/tScCbfVfcYc
They keep us connected, protected and running, usually while THEY'RE running from one school to the next! 💻🔧
Getting our entire Technology team together for a photo is nearly impossible because they’re always busy solving problems and supporting our students and staff. On National IT Professionals Day, we’re sending a big thank-you to every member of this behind-the-scenes team for keeping Pender County Schools powered up and moving forward!
Hispanic Heritage Month begins today! 🎉 From Sept. 15-Oct. 15, we celebrate the cultures, histories, traditions, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Across Pender County Schools, we are grateful for the students, families, and staff who enrich our schools every day. 🌎📚
Get ready for bold, fresh flavor.
The Pesto Chicken Flatbread brings together savory roasted chicken, colorful vegetables, basil pesto, and melty mozzarella on a warm flatbread. Served with a side of pizza sauce for dipping fun!
Aramark's Chef Jeff was all smiles while in schools last week sampling this fresh & flavorful entree with
Pender County students.
It's a limited-time flavor experience happening THIS WEEK that you don’t want to miss!
HIGH SCHOOLS - available this Tuesday and Thursday
Pender Early College High School - Wednesday and Thursday
MIDDLE SCHOOLS - available this Friday
#PestoChickenFlatbread #LimitedTimeOffer #AramarkStudentNutrition
#CulinaryAlliance #FlavorOfTheMonth #NSLP #FreshFlavors #AramarkFoodies
The Pesto Chicken Flatbread brings together savory roasted chicken, colorful vegetables, basil pesto, and melty mozzarella on a warm flatbread. Served with a side of pizza sauce for dipping fun!
Aramark's Chef Jeff was all smiles while in schools last week sampling this fresh & flavorful entree with
Pender County students.
It's a limited-time flavor experience happening THIS WEEK that you don’t want to miss!
HIGH SCHOOLS - available this Tuesday and Thursday
Pender Early College High School - Wednesday and Thursday
MIDDLE SCHOOLS - available this Friday
#PestoChickenFlatbread #LimitedTimeOffer #AramarkStudentNutrition
#CulinaryAlliance #FlavorOfTheMonth #NSLP #FreshFlavors #AramarkFoodies
🎨🎭🎶 ARTS IN EDUCATION WEEK 🎶🎭🎨
This week, Pender County Schools joins communities across North Carolina in recognizing Arts in Education Week!
From visual art and music to theatre, dance and more, arts education gives students opportunities to create, perform, collaborate and find new ways to express themselves.
We appreciate our PCS arts educators who encourage creativity and help students discover talents and interests that can stay with them well beyond the classroom. 💙💛
⏰ There’s still time to share your voice!
The PCS Community Priorities Survey is open through Friday, September 18. Your feedback will help guide planning for school assignment, future facilities and the continued growth of our district.
✅ Take the survey: https://bit.ly/4d0Q3O0
Please participate and share the survey with others across Pender County! 📲
Recordatorio de la encuesta — 14 de septiembre
⏰ ¡Todavía está a tiempo de compartir su opinión!
La Encuesta sobre las Prioridades de la Comunidad de PCS estará disponible hasta el viernes 18 de septiembre. Sus comentarios ayudarán a orientar la planificación relacionada con la asignación escolar, las futuras instalaciones y el crecimiento continuo de nuestro distrito.
✅ Complete la encuesta: https://forms.gle/sgWCWu8F1rXrxboTA
¡Participe y comparta la encuesta con otras personas en todo el condado de Pender! 📲
