Greetings Panther Families,
This school-home communication includes important information about school events, expectations, processes, and reminders. If you are not already, we encourage you to follow us on Facebook and visit our school’s website frequently.
Links to our school’s Facebook and website can be found below:
Facebook Link : https://www.facebook.com/CFPopeElementary
School Webpage Link: https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/o/cfpe/
Be sure to review the ‘Important Dates’ section below, as we have outlined family engagement activities and celebrations that are planned through the end of this school year.
Announcements
As a reminder, this Friday, February 13 is an OPTIONAL TEACHER WORKDAY and there is NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS.
Please continue to read with your students each night and encourage them to take AR tests at school.
Help us rise to the top of the Million Minute Challenge by documenting the amount of time your child(ren) reads each night! Use the provided link to share how many minutes your child read at home. Bookmark the link to visit daily until May 21, 2026.
Link- tinyurl.com/CFPreads
Join us for our annual Panthers, Pages, and Pajamas Literacy Night on February 10 from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Families will have an opportunity to visit grade-levels and departments to engage in hands-on activities associated with a selected book or story. Students can complete AR tests and the Media Center will be open for circulation.
Link to English Flyer
Link to Spanish Flyer
February 2026 – CTE Month Celebration: Schools invited to participate
CTE Spirit Week (Feb 9–13):
Mon: Hats Off to CTE
Tue: Hooked on CTE (Fishing Gear)
Wed: CTE Rocks (CTE Colors/Rock Gear)
Thu: Enrolled, Enlisted, Employed Day
Fri: Teacher Workday – Wear CTE Gear
All Month: CTE Alumni, Black History in CTE, and Teacher Spotlights.
SHED & VOLT Competition (Feb 17–19): Topsail High School.
Mr. Nethercutt, our Music teacher, will be hosting auditions for All County Chorus on Thursday, February 19 and Friday, February 20 of next week.
Audition Details: All interested students in 4th and 5th grade.
Audition Date: Thursday, 2/19 & Friday, 2/20 directly after school (2:35) to 3:00pm.
Audition Location: Music Classroom
Virtual Audition Details: Alternatively, students can record a 1-2 minute video and email it to me at jackson_nethercutt@pender.k12.nc.us
Audition Material: Students will sing a portion of a familiar song of their choosing (school appropriate), as well as a major scale (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti, do).
Selected students will be notified on Monday, February 23rd. For All Participants: Every student who auditions will be recognized for their effort and encouraged to continue building their musical skills.
Due to the early start schedule for the 26-27 school year, the Reassignment Application is open earlier. The application window is from January 5th to February 28th. Notification letters will go home on May 1st.
In an effort to accommodate the educational preferences of families in the Pender County School District, officials have opened the reassignment request period for the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year. Parents who wish to enroll their students in a Pender County school outside of their designated zone, with the exception of Pender Early College and Pender Innovative Learning Academy, are encouraged to participate in the application process.
Due to schools in the Topsail and Surf City school districts being over capacity, no new applications will be accepted. However, students who currently attend these schools on reassignment will have the opportunity to complete an application. Specific guidance on completing this application process will be provided by your student’s school.
Link to Reassignment Application- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFMHu1ENb6-I-34_u3yNWQBM519PQ4s1IiTt0Bv5BIsk22hQ/viewform
The Kindergarten Enrollment Application is now open for the 2026-2027 school year. Visit the provided link to register!
Pender County Schools is currently accepting applications for our preschool program, offering families access to free, full-day, high-quality early childhood education for eligible children.
Families who live in Pender County and have a child who will be three or four years old by August 31, 2026, are encouraged to apply. The program is designed to support early learning, social development, and school readiness in a structured and nurturing environment.
Use the provided link to apply for the PCS PreK program: https://www.childplus.net/apply/es/B3560075B74AA67CE42CAAA6D6B06B75/EF79B549292EFF6700A9876921562DFA
Important Dates
February
February 3- Progress Reports Go Home
February 6- Valentine’s Dance at 6:00 p.m. and Valentine’s Gram Orders Due
February 10- Panthers, Pages, and Pajamas Literacy Night (5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.)
February 13- Teacher Workday- NO SCHOOL for Students
March
March 3- Teacher Workday- NO SCHOOL for Students
March 4- A Day in the Classroom
March 13- End of ACCESS Testing
March 17- Report Cards Go Home
March 24- 3rd-5th Grade EOY Math NC Check-in
March 26- 3rd-5th Grade EOY Reading NC Check-in
March 31- 5th Grade EOY Science NC Check-in
April 3- Holiday- NO SCHOOL
April
April 2- Duke Energy Science Night (5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.)
April 6-10- Spring Break- NO SCHOOL
April 14- Progress Reports Go Home
May
May 1- Kindergarten- 5th Grade Field Day
May 7- Rising Kindergarten-4th Grade Transition Night (4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.)
May 8- 3rd-5th Grade Reading End-of-Grade (EOG)
May 12- 3rd-5th Grade Math End-of-Grade (EOG)
May 14- 5th Grade Science End-of-Grade (EOG) and 3rd Grade Read-to-Achieve (RtA)
May 18- 1st-4th Grade End-of-Year Awards Assembly
May 20- Kindergarten & 5th Grade Promotion Ceremonies
Kindergarten- 8:30 a.m.
5th Grade- 10:00 a.m.
May 21- Last Day of School/Report Cards Go Home
Reminders
Our goal is to maintain a daily attendance rate of 95% or higher! We ask that you assist us in making sure that students are present and on time each day. In the event that your child is going to be absent, please make sure that documentation is provided and you have communicated with your child’s teacher the reason for their absence.
All students entering the school’s front office entrance should be escorted to the front door by an adult at all times. Student check-in is required after 7:35 a.m.
We ask that parents of car riders not arrive before 2:30 in the afternoons to alleviate cars being backed up on N Wright St. School dismisses at 2:35 and students are prepared to leave campus by car at 2:45. Cones to the car lane should only be moved by school personnel to ensure and maintain the safety of students.
All parents and visitors will be required to present a valid ID for checkout and school visitation.
Any individual checking a student out or visiting the campus must be listed in Infinite Campus.
In our attempt to maximize instructional learning, student checkout will not be permitted after 2:00 p.m. Special circumstances will be evaluated on an individual basis by administration.
If you have any questions or concerns, call C.F. Pope Elementary at 910-259-0145. We look forward to seeing our students tomorrow, and have a wonderful evening.