They put their math skills to work, reviewed strategies, and got ready to show what they know! 🧠⭐






🍂🔬 Leaves in STEM! 🔬🍃
Our 2nd graders took their learning about why leaves change colors from their Wit & Wisdom lessons into STEM this week! After learning about chlorophyll earlier in the week, students got to experiment with leaves, make observations, and explore the science behind those beautiful fall colors! 🍁💛🧡❤️
We love seeing our Dolphins connect their learning across subjects and get hands-on with science!
Who knew leaves could teach us so much?! 🍂✨



















Mrs. Haynes’ 2nd graders are diving into Wit & Wisdom Module 1, Lessons 20–24, and exploring the question:
🍃 How does weather impact leaves in fall? 🍃
Using Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Betsy Maestro, students are discovering the science behind those beautiful fall colors and learning how changes in weather affect the leaves we see all around us! 🌳🍂🔎
They are identifying the details and the main topic!
We LOVE when reading, science, and curiosity come together! 📚❤️🍁








We had the BEST time celebrating Dolly Parton! ✨👢📚
From her beautiful stories to her big heart and love of reading, there was so much to celebrate! Students had fun learning about Dolly, enjoying activities inspired by her books, and, of course, bringing a little Dolly sparkle to the day! 🌈📖✨
What a fun day celebrating a true champion for children, books, and literacy! 🎀🎶💕








On Saturday, Appalachian State University hosted the 10th Annual North Carolina Access and Inclusion Summit, bringing together nearly 300 attendees from North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee including some of our folks from Surf City Middle and North Topsail Elementary.
💬 Educators, administrators, families, individuals with disabilities, researchers, service providers and advocates shared strategies, discussed current practices and explored ways to strengthen inclusion—from childhood through adulthood. The conversations brought different experiences and perspectives together around a shared goal: creating more opportunities for everyone to participate and belong.
The summit was co-sponsored by the North Carolina Council for Exceptional Children, App State’s Scholars with Diverse Abilities Program and partner organizations. 💛


📍 Topsail High School
🗓️ Tuesday, September 29
🕕 6 p.m.
Can’t attend in person? Watch the forum live on the Pender County Schools YouTube channel. ▶️
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/@PenderCountySchools
Your participation will help shape the future of our schools! 🏫
📣 ¡Acompáñenos mañana por la noche en el primer foro comunitario de PCS sobre el crecimiento futuro y la planificación escolar!
📍 Topsail High School
🗓️ Martes 29 de septiembre
🕕 6 p.m.
¿No puede asistir en persona? Vea la transmisión en vivo a través del canal de YouTube de las Escuelas del Condado de Pender. ▶️
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/@PenderCountySchools
¡Su participación ayudará a dar forma al futuro de nuestras escuelas! 🏫


Through informational texts and thoughtful discussions, students are learning about the many ways the ocean impacts people, animals, our environment, and our planet. 🐋🐠🌊
As coastal Dolphins, this topic hits especially close to home! 🐬🏖️
Students are building knowledge, asking questions, and discovering why protecting our oceans matters.
Learning about our ocean today so we can help care for it tomorrow!








Ms. Braswell’s class had some fun with Silly Categories during their Heggerty lesson!
Ms. Braswell would say a name in a silly way, and students had to repeat it exactly as they heard it... then correct it to the right way!
It was a fun way to practice careful listening, attention to detail, and language skills, all while sharing lots of laughs! 😂



Cape Fear Community College is offering FREE English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at Cape Fear Middle School for adults ages 18 and older.
📅 October 5 – December 10
🗓️ Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays
⏰ 6:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 Cape Fear Middle School
Registration orientation is by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, contact Cindy Fischer at 📧 cfischer@cfcc.edu or 📞 910-362-7184.
Please share this opportunity with family, friends and community members who may be interested! 💙📖
📚 ¡CLASES GRATIS DE INGLÉS PARA ADULTOS!
Cape Fear Community College ofrecerá clases GRATIS de inglés como segundo idioma (ESL) en Cape Fear Middle School para adultos de 18 años en adelante.
📅 5 de octubre – 10 de diciembre
🗓️ Lunes, martes y jueves
⏰ 6:30–8:30 p.m.
📍 Cape Fear Middle School
La orientación para la inscripción es solo con cita previa. Para programar una cita, comuníquese con Cindy Fischer al 📧 cfischer@cfcc.edu o 📞 910-362-7184.
¡Comparta esta oportunidad con familiares, amigos y miembros de la comunidad que puedan estar interesados! 💙📖


Afton is a 5th grader at North Topsail Elementary, recognized for his kindness and the way he looks out for others.
Afton makes an effort to include everyone, especially during recess and play time. His family shared an example from first grade when he noticed a friend was being picked on. Afton told a teacher what was happening and then invited his friend to join him for basketball on the playground. 🏀
That willingness to speak up and make sure others feel included continues to be part of who Afton is. He tries to be a good friend and treat the people around him with kindness.
Outside of school, Afton enjoys surfing 🏄, soccer ⚽, video games 🎮, building LEGO, and skateboarding 🛹. His favorite food is mushrooms 🍄, and his favorite color is purple 💜. He also has three pets named Ozzy, Hamlet, and Cheese 🐾.
One interesting fact—Afton was named after the River Afton in Scotland. By coincidence, on the day he was born, his grandfather happened to be traveling through Afton, Wyoming!
💜 Thank you, Afton, for the kindness you show to others at North Topsail Elementary.



Through stories like Tomás and the Library Lady, Waiting for the Biblioburro, My Librarian is a Camel, and That Book Woman, students are exploring how people around the world find and share books, even in some very creative ways! 🐴📖🐪
From library books to traveling librarians, our first graders are learning that a book can take you anywhere and change your life! 🌟📚



📍 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

They’re practicing place value, precision, and showing their thinking step-by-step.




