Good evening Penderlea Families,
As we move into the week of August 4th through August 8th, here are some important reminders and updates to help keep your family informed and prepared for the weeks ahead. Thank you for staying connected and involved!
Pick-Up & Drop-Off Traffic Reminder
For the safety of our students, staff, and families, we want to strongly encourage all drivers to follow the designated traffic pattern for both morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.
All car traffic should enter and exit using Roosevelt Street, looping past the Burton Building and doctor’s office. This keeps vehicles off of Highway 11 and reduces congestion in front of the school.
We’ve been working closely with the district and our School Resource Officer (SRO) to explore safe and effective solutions. Please note that while our SRO supports overall campus safety, they are not responsible for directing traffic and are required to remain on campus during arrival and dismissal.
We are sharing an updated traffic map to help guide families—while the route remains the same, the map offers a clearer visual of the correct pattern.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us ensure safe and efficient mornings and afternoons for all Hornets!
Curriculum Night – Tuesday, August 12
Please join us for Curriculum Night on Tuesday, August 12th from 5:00–6:30 PM. This is a great opportunity to connect with teachers, hear about classroom expectations, and learn how to support your child’s learning this school year.
We’ll begin in the gym at 5:00 PM, then transition to classrooms for grade-level presentations.
We hope to see you there!
Hornet Nation T-Shirt Fundraiser
We’re excited to kick off the school year with a Hornet Nation t-shirt fundraiser to support our general fund! Order forms were sent home with students, and orders can be placed now through Thursday, August 22nd.
Families can pay by cash or check (returned with the form) or order online using the link below. Please be sure to include your name and order details in the online order description.
These are the only school shirts being offered this year, so don’t miss out! Thank you for supporting our students and school!
Partnering Together for a Strong School Year
At Penderlea, we value open and respectful communication with our families. If you have concerns about something happening at school, we strongly encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher first. Teachers are the first and best resource when it comes to addressing classroom-specific questions or issues.
If further support is needed, administrators are happy to meet with families, but appointments are highly encouraged. As school leaders, our top priorities are ensuring a safe school environment and providing strong instructional leadership for students and staff. To do that well, we need to make sure meetings are productive, focused, and scheduled in advance.
We truly value family engagement and want to partner with you to support your child’s success. Scheduling time to meet helps us give you our full attention and work together toward positive solutions.
Mandatory Parent Meeting for Student Athletes – August 4
We will hold a mandatory meeting for parents/guardians of student athletes on Monday, August 4th at 5:30 PM in the Penderlea Gym.
Any student interested in playing football, softball, cheerleading, girls soccer, or boys basketball this school year must attend the meeting with a parent or guardian. Please note that this is the ONLY meeting being held for these sports.
To be eligible to participate, all athletes must also have:
An up-to-date sports physical uploaded to Big Teams/Student Central
All required athletic paperwork completed online
We’ve attached step-by-step directions to help you complete the Big Teams/Student Central process. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ashley_umphress@pender.k12.nc.us .
Back to School Bingo – Hosted by Beta Club
Join us for a fun evening of Back to School Bingo, hosted by Penderlea’s Beta Club! Come enjoy games, prizes, and a great time with our school community.
Monday, August 18
Doors open at 5:30 PM
Games begin at 6:00 PM
Bring the whole family—we hope to see you there!
Paint the Penderlea Spirit Rock!
Families can now reserve and paint the Spirit Rock to celebrate birthdays, achievements, or show school spirit!
Reservations are $5 and must be made in the front office
Painting is allowed 4–7 PM the day before your reservation
Students must be supervised, and families must bring their own supplies
Messages must be school-appropriate, and the rock must be repainted after one week
More details and full guidelines:
View the Spirit Rock Procedures
Free Vision Screening – Thursday, August 7
Our community partner, Mt. Calvary Center for Leadership Development, is hosting a Free Vision Screening in partnership with the Burgaw Lions Club on Thursday, August 7 from 4:00–6:00 PM.
Location: 414 N. Norwood St., Wallace, NC
All ages are welcome. Appointments are encouraged but not required—please call (910) 665-1352 to confirm.
If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out via email at pls_info@pender.k12.nc.us or call the school at 910-285-2761.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. Together we will continue to make Penderlea the Place to Be!
Stephen Harris
Principal
Penderlea School
