It's been a busy week - better late then never for our Student Spotlight
💙 Spotlight on King! 💙
Say hello to King, a standout 1st grader at CF Pope Elementary known for his amazing leadership and kindness! King shows up every day ready to learn and always eager to help, whether it’s setting up the classroom or lending a hand to his teacher. His kindness makes him a wonderful role model for his peers!
Get to Know King:
Favorite Food: Pepperoni Pizza 🍕
Favorite Color: Blue 💙
Hobbies: Football 🏈
Pets: His dog, Cardi 🐕
Interesting Fact: King has been riding dirt bikes since he was 3, and he’s also a great big brother! 🏍️
We’re proud to celebrate King’s positive impact at CF Pope!
Parent Information Sessions for new students is coming up! Please attend to learn more about Pender Early College High School!
Huge thanks to NC Teacher of the Year @teach_hsmith for visiting Cape Fear Middle today! Your passion and insight left a lasting impact on our students and staff. @bradbreedlove90 @ncpublicschools #NCTOY
Good afternoon. Bus 249 has been involved in an accident on the PM route near Hwy 117 and Woodhaven Dr. No students have been reported injured. Emergency services have been notified and are accessing the accident site. A spare bus will continue to transport students home as soon as they are released by emergency services.
📢 Help shape the future of Pender County Schools! Join our Parent & Family focus groups for strategic planning. 🗓️
Upcoming Dates:
Nov. 12, 6:30 PM @ Pender HS
Nov. 14, 5:00 PM @ Rocky Point Elem
Nov. 14, 6:30 PM @ Heide Trask HS
Nov. 19, 6:30 PM @ Topsail HS
#OnePender
THS Bus 282 has been delayed this afternoon after leaving the campus. It is back on the road now. It is estimated to be running about 45 minutes behind schedule.
📢 PCS is gathering student input for our Strategic Plan! Starting Nov. 6, middle & high school students can join an optional survey via ClassLink. An opt-out form is attached and will be sent home with students (due back by Nov. 4). Let’s shape PCS together! 🌟 #OnePender
https://bit.ly/student-survey-opt-out
Principal Spotlight: Crystal Hall 🌟
This National Principal Month, we proudly shine the spotlight on Crystal Hall, the dedicated principal of Surf City Middle School! With 15 years of experience in education, Ms. Hall has spent the last 2 years leading her school with passion and commitment.
A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, University of Phoenix, and Arizona State University, Ms. Hall was inspired to become an educator by her high school culinary arts teacher, Mrs. Judy Jones. Her unique background includes working as a chef and manager for Houlihan's Restaurant Group, showcasing her leadership and creativity early on. 👩🍳
Outside of school, Ms. Hall enjoys boating, hiking, gardening, and cooking—especially Mexican food. 🌮 A lover of all music genres, she also has a hidden talent for singing! 🎤 When she's not at school, you might find her relaxing on the sandbar with her family and dogs. 🐶 Excitingly, she and her family are expecting two grandbabies in the coming months! 👶👶
Ms. Hall cherishes the strong community support at Surf City Middle School and finds joy in celebrating student achievements during graduation and promotion ceremonies. 🎓 One of her favorite school traditions is Frenzy sorting day, where students come together for fun and teamwork. 🎉
Join us in recognizing Principal Crystal Hall for her hard work, dedication, and the positive impact she has on her students and community! 💖 #OnePender #PrincipalSpotlight #PCSFamily
📣 Attention, PCS Families! Join us for the next SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee) Meeting! This is a great opportunity for parents of children with disabilities to connect, share, and learn about important topics in special education. We hope to see you there! Your voice matters! 📣 ¡Atención, familias de PCS! Únanse a nosotros en la próxima reunión del Comité Asesor de Padres de Educación Especial (SEPAC). ¡Es una excelente oportunidad para que los padres de niños con discapacidades se conecten, compartan y aprendan sobre temas importantes en educación especial! ¡Esperamos verlos ahí! ¡Su voz es importante!
Power has been restored to all of the affected schools. Thank you for your patience.
La energía ha sido restaurada en todas las escuelas afectadas. Gracias por su paciencia.
We’ve been informed by Four County Electric about a power outage currently affecting several schools in the Rocky Point area. The following schools are experiencing outages:
Rocky Point Elementary, Cape Fear Middle, Cape Fear Elementary, Pender Innovative Learning Academy, Heide Trask High.
Our teams are closely monitoring the situation, and Four County Electric is working to restore power as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
🌟 Feature Friday: Heather McKay, Math Teacher at West Pender Middle 🌟
This Feature Friday, we are proud to highlight Heather McKay, a dedicated math teacher at West Pender Middle. Ms. McKay consistently goes above and beyond for her students and colleagues. She not only creates and distributes valuable Advisory lessons for the staff but also steps in to support her West Pender family, whether through sharing materials or offering words of encouragement.
Kayla Cliffe, a reading teacher at West Pender Middle, emphasizes how Ms. McKay is always there to help and inspires others with her positive attitude. She sets a great example for others and encourages everyone to look for the wins, even in tough situations.
Ms. McKay’s contributions make her a valued part of the team at West Pender Middle. Thank you, Ms. McKay, for all that you do! 💙 #OnePender
Today is the day! Join us and afterschool programs throughout North Carolina to celebrate Lights On Afterschool! Help us shine a light on the impact afterschool programs are making – inspiring learning and helping youth realize their full potential. Share your support! #LightsOnAfterschool #AfterschoolWorks
Our folks are already busy helping restore some normalcy in Western NC - we're proud of the work you're doing!!
YouTube link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yV78N8Camo
Pender County Schools is honored to join 44 school systems in sending help to Buncombe County as they prepare to reopen schools following the impact of Hurricane Helene. We’ve deployed five of our own staff members to assist in this important effort. Having been on the receiving end of such support after Hurricane Florence, we know just how vital it is to have friends to lean on during difficult times. 💪🌍
As Buncombe County Schools expressed, “Words cannot express our gratitude and relief to know that we will have friends to lean upon as we welcome back our students and staff.” We’re proud to stand with them and all the districts lending a hand to ensure a safe and smooth return to school for their students. 💙
Principal Spotlight: Brittany Moore 🌟👩🏫
Brittany Moore has been in education for 11 years, with 2.5 years at her current school. She holds degrees from Guilford College and Grand Canyon University and enjoys traveling, reading, and event designing 📚✈️.
Her favorite book is Infinite Jest, and she’s a fan of crab boils from The Red Crab 🦀. Before entering education, she worked in medical records and as a PBIX operator for Cone Health. A hidden talent? Event designing!
Brittany's most memorable career moment came when she had the highest ELA test scores in her district. She was inspired by her third-grade teacher, turning a negative experience into a passion for uplifting students and communities. She also credits her former principal, Tanya Smith, for shaping her leadership path 🌟.
She loves the diversity at her school and enjoys the Proud Panther tradition, where students are celebrated each Friday 🎉.
Fun fact: Michael Jordan is her biological uncle! 🏀
We are grateful for passionate leaders like Brittany Moore, who dedicate their careers to uplifting and inspiring their students and communities! 🌟👏
THS bus 310 is not running this morning. Bus 313 will be running late to pick up the students.
🎉 Student Spotlight: Adalee! 🎉
We’re excited to recognize Adalee, an 8th grader at Cape Fear Middle School, for her incredible enthusiasm and participation! Adalee has been a standout student in Mr. Paul Odom's STEM class since 6th grade, always bringing joy and energy to every project. Whether it's Robotics, TSA, or the new Rocketry team, Adalee is all in!
Her dedication to STEM activities has even inspired her friends to join in, and she helped her TSA team earn 3rd place in last year's Robotic Skills competition. 🌟
Fun Facts About Adalee:
Favorite Foods: Spaghetti, Shrimp, Crab Legs, and Macaroni & Cheese 🍝🦐🦀
Favorite Colors: Green & Black 💚🖤
Hobbies: Drawing, Baking, Gaming, and Listening to Music 🎨🍪🎮🎧
Pets: None yet!
Interesting Fact: Adalee was crowned Queen of the Tournament at Medieval Times when she was almost 8! 👑
Thank you, Adalee, for spreading your passion and enthusiasm everywhere you go! 🌟
Principal Spotlight: Avery Ellington 🌟👩🏫
In celebration of National Principal Month, we are thrilled to spotlight Avery Ellington, who has been leading her school for 9 years and has an impressive 23 years of experience in education! 📚✨ A proud graduate of UNC Wilmington, Avery enjoys reading, listening to music, and traveling in her free time 🌍🎶📖.
A lover of psychological thrillers and detective series, Avery finds it hard to choose just one favorite book 📖🔍. When it comes to food, she’s equally diverse in her tastes, but if she had to pick one cuisine to eat forever, it would be Mexican 🌮. Before becoming an educator, she volunteered in a nursing home at 15 and worked at a retirement community during high school—showing her care for people of all ages ❤️.
Avery has a passion for decorating and hosting gatherings, and when she has the time, she loves to cook and entertain 🏡🍽️. Music is another love of hers, and like her book preferences, she enjoys a wide variety depending on her mood 🎵. Her go-to pizza topping? Sausage! 🍕 She also finds joy in the simple things, like reading and spending time with her close-knit family, who all live within 20 minutes of one another 👨👩👧.
One of Avery’s most memorable career moments came when a student once told her, "You are not black or white. You love every one of us and want the best for all of us." 💕 This moment encapsulates her dedication to creating an inclusive environment for all students. Her inspiration to become an educator began with her 3rd-grade teacher, and she knew from an early age that this was her calling 📚🍎.
What does Avery enjoy most about her current school? The family atmosphere and teamwork that makes every day special 🤗. Her favorite school tradition is "Read Across America Week," a celebration that brings the joy of reading to life for her students! 📚🇺🇸
We are so thankful for dedicated leaders like Avery Ellington, who inspire and uplift their school communities every day! 🌟👏
