Pender Innovative Learning Academy

📢 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

Please check out this link for our weekly message! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NDMSBjeXo3H4dj8KRXWXV5xI9FNFflZ1M7eiOmYrIRQ/edit

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!

This is the first senior selfie of the year!!! PILA has its first student that has met ALL graduation requirements!! Can't wait to watch him walk on January 3!! #seniorselfie #onepender

The Otters spent the afternoon celebrating AMAZING 1st quarter attendance achievements!! Ice cream sundaes, corn hole, line dancing and soccer were just some of the fun activities!!! #onepender

🎓 The UNC System is excited to invite students, parents, and school counselors to a special virtual event focused on North Carolina's new simplified admissions program! Join representatives from the UNC System and NC Community Colleges to learn about the admissions process and get answers directly from experts at the pilot campuses: Elizabeth City State University Fayetteville State University UNC Asheville UNC Greensboro UNC Pembroke Winston-Salem State University 🗓️ When: October 17, 2024, from 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm 💻 Where: Virtual via Zoom 🔗 Register Here! - https://bit.ly/4f5gvoe ### 🎓 ¡El Sistema de UNC invita a estudiantes, padres y consejeros escolares a un evento virtual especial sobre el nuevo programa de admisión simplificado para estudiantes de Carolina del Norte! Únase a representantes del Sistema de UNC y de los Colegios Comunitarios de NC para obtener información sobre el proceso de admisión y hacer preguntas a expertos de los siguientes campus: Elizabeth City State University Fayetteville State University UNC Asheville UNC Greensboro UNC Pembroke Winston-Salem State University 🗓️ Cuándo: 17 de octubre de 2024, de 6:30 pm a 7:15 pm 💻 Dónde: Virtual a través de Zoom 🔗 ¡Regístrate aquí! - https://bit.ly/4f5gvoe

The Pender County Health Department is offering flu vaccines for students (K-12) and school staff at our schools. 🩺💉 It's a convenient way to protect your family this flu season! ✔️ Consent forms are due by Oct. 18. ✔️ Paper and online consent forms available. For more information and a full schedule of vaccine clinics, visit: https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/article/1813524 El Departamento de Salud del Condado de Pender ofrecerá vacunas contra la gripe para estudiantes (K-12) y personal escolar en nuestras escuelas. 🩺💉 ¡Es una manera conveniente de proteger a tu familia esta temporada de gripe! ✔️ Los formularios de consentimiento deben entregarse antes del 18 de octubre. ✔️ Formularios de consentimiento disponibles en papel y en línea. Para más información y el calendario completo de las clínicas de vacunación, visita: https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/article/1813524

📣 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!

📢 Parents: We need your feedback! The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) is revising the K-12 math standards, and your input is critical. Two surveys are available for parents to share their thoughts: 1️. General Survey – Share your overall thoughts on the current math standards. 2️. Grade/Course-Specific Survey – Provide detailed feedback for specific grades or courses. 🗓 Deadline: October 21st at 5 PM 💻 Complete the surveys here: https://bit.ly/4ewtrE7 Your feedback will help shape future math instruction in North Carolina! Please take a moment to complete the survey and share with other families. Thank you for participating! 📢 ¡Padres: Necesitamos sus comentarios! El Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte (NCDPI) está revisando los estándares de matemáticas K-12, y su opinión es fundamental. Hay dos encuestas disponibles para que los padres compartan sus pensamientos: 1. Encuesta General – Comparta sus opiniones generales sobre los estándares de matemáticas actuales. 2. Encuesta Específica por Grado/Curso – Proporcione comentarios detallados sobre grados o cursos específicos. 🗓 Fecha límite: 21 de octubre a las 5 PM 💻 Complete las encuestas aquí: https://bit.ly/4ewtrE7 ¡Sus comentarios ayudarán a moldear la futura enseñanza de matemáticas en Carolina del Norte! Por favor, tómese un momento para completar la encuesta y compártala con otras familias. ¡Gracias por su participación!

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. We encourage all students and adults on campus to participate each day to help us raise awareness. #onepender

Due to overwhelming support, Pender EMS is closing donations at 1pm today. Pender EMS may open for more donations at a later point depending on the needs from that area. Please do not continue to drop items off at Pender County Schools locations until further notice. THANK YOU!! #OnePender

Pender County Schools is closely monitoring the weather conditions related to Hurricane Helene. A decision regarding Friday’s schedule will be made by noon on Thursday. We will provide further updates as necessary. Please stay tuned for any announcements. Las Escuelas del Condado de Pender están monitoreando de cerca las condiciones climáticas relacionadas con el huracán Helene. La decisión sobre el horario del viernes se tomará el jueves al mediodía. Proporcionaremos más actualizaciones según sea necesario. Estén atentos a cualquier anuncio.

🎓 Join us for Let’s Connect: ECU & CFCC Partnership! 🎓 ECU and CFCC are teaming up to bring higher education closer to you! Let’s Connect is a bilingual (English and Spanish) event for middle school, high school, and community college students — and their families. This one-stop event features: ✅ Degree program highlights ✅ Financial aid & scholarship information ✅ Application process guidance ✅ One-on-one time with ECU & CFCC representatives Don't miss this chance to explore your future! The event is held at night to accommodate working families. 🌟

Pender County School Families, Today a few school districts in North Carolina were affected by false reports of violence on their campuses. We have been in contact with local law enforcement and there is no credible threat to any of our schools. It appears to be part of a hoax known as “swatting.” While Pender County Schools has not experienced this issue directly, we know the message is circulating on social media and that many of our families may be understandably concerned about school safety. Please know that our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We take any and all reports of potential threats seriously, and we are making every effort to maintain an environment where students and staff feel safe. We would like to continue to remind our students and school community, if you see something, “Say Something” using our reporting system located on the main webpage of every school as well as the Pender County Schools mobile app. Also always report, don’t repost. Sharing false information, making threats, and engaging in online harassment are serious offenses that can have severe consequences. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your individual school. Thank you for your attention to this important update.

📢 Schools Open on Normal Schedule Wednesday, September 18! 📚 We’re happy to inform you that all Pender County Schools will resume regular operations on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Meet Mrs. Ilameredith Berkley, EC Teacher at Pender Innovative Learning Academy (PILA)! 🎉 With over 30 years of teaching under her belt, Mrs. Berkley’s passion for education started way back in kindergarten, thanks to her teacher Mrs. Zakarian, and her mom, who was both a teacher and an Art Therapist. Both women had a deep love for children and a strong connection with their students, and that’s exactly what Mrs. Berkley brings to her classroom today. She’s thrilled to be part of a profession that shapes young lives! 🌟 Mrs. Berkley’s favorite subject to teach is reading, and for her, it's more than just letters and words—it's about empowering students. She loves watching the moment they realize they can experience the world in new ways through reading. In fact, she’s still in touch with some of the very first students she taught, showing the lasting impact of those connections. 📚💖 During her first year in Pender County at Surf City Middle School in 2023, Mrs. Berkley took learning to the next level by making it fun, even during lunch and recess! She created a "Lunch Bunch" club where students practiced foundational skills in a hands-on, engaging way. Her door was always open for her students, creating a welcoming space for learning. But Mrs. Berkley doesn’t stop the adventure when the school day ends! Outside the classroom, she’s a thrill-seeker who loves participating in triathlons and even skydiving! 🏃‍♀️✈️ And when she’s not chasing new challenges, you can find her running, swimming, or curled up with a good book. Her dream travel destination? Africa! 🌍 And her guiding motto? "The way you do anything is the way you do everything," which she lives out in every aspect of her life—whether she’s teaching, running, or jumping out of planes!

Due to the current weather conditions, Pender County Schools is moving to an early release schedule. Additionally, all after-school activities have been canceled. To view the updated bell schedule for early release, please visit our website - https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/school-bell-schedule At this time, we plan to resume our normal schedule tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please stay safe.

📚🍟 Fries for School Supplies is Back! 🍟📚 We are excited to announce that for the second year in a row, our local McDonald’s owner-operators are hosting the Fries for School Supplies fundraiser in our school district! Last year, over $110,000 was raised for our area schools, and we’re aiming to do even more this year! 🎉 From August 26th to 30th, McDonald’s will donate 10% of sales from all a la carte Fries to help support our schools. It’s a delicious way to contribute to our community! 🙌

Good evening PILA families! This is Mrs. Braune with your weekly update! We can't wait to see all the students back on campus tomorrow. Here are a few reminders for the week... **All of the students that requested a bus have been given that information. Please make sure to be at your stop at least 15 minutes ahead of the scheduled time on the first few days. Our routes cover a lot of territory and we want to make sure that everyone gets to school. Please be extra patient with our buses this week, both morning and afternoon, as the routes become established. Here comes the bus will be operational and we will send the information to parents this week. **All of our students recieve free breakfast and lunch every day. **Students are not allowed to bring a backpack or any metal cups or water bottles. **High school students are encouraged to bring a plastic water bottle to refill at breaks. **Elementary students are reminded to send in a change of clothes to be kept at school in case of accidents. **Any student that did not attend Open House will recieve important paperwork tomorrow that MUST be completed and returned on Tuesday. We want to confirm all contact information due to our transition to Infinite Campus. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at school (910)-789-6073. We hope you have an OTTER-ly amazing week!