Good evening Penderlea Families,
As we move into the week of November 10th through November 14th, 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 involve
Read to Succeed! – Week 3 Update
Penderlea is proud to continue our participation in the Pender County Schools Million Minute Challenge, a districtwide effort to promote reading at home and build a love of literacy across all grade levels. This initiative supports one of Penderlea’s key school goals: improving literacy for all students.
We’re now moving into Week 3 of the challenge, and our Hornets continue to show how much they love reading! Here are the current top three grade levels leading the way:
3rd Grade: 964 minutes
4th Grade: 814 minutes
6th Grade: 408 minutes
Way to go, readers! Keep up the great work and continue logging your minutes daily. Parents reading with younger students counts too—every minute makes a difference!
Recommended Daily Reading Time:
K–2: 15–20 minutes | Grades 3–5: 20–30 minutes | Grades 6–8: 30–45 minutes
Students can log their minutes using the QR code on the flyer sent home or through ClassLink for easy access.
Winter Intersession for All – December 15–18
We’re excited to announce Winter Intersession for All, a new opportunity for every K–8 student to participate in extra learning and enrichment before the holiday break!
Winter Intersession will take place December 15–18, and every student will receive an invitation to attend. The goal is to provide academic support and enrichment opportunities for all students who want or need it.
Letters and flyers went home Friday with progress reports. Families are asked to return their responses by December 5 to help us plan effectively.
We look forward to offering this expanded opportunity for all our Hornets to learn, grow, and finish the semester strong!
Holidays Around the World & Winter Concert
Join us on Thursday, December 9th, from 5:30–7:00 PM for Penderlea’s Holidays Around the World celebration!
This student-led event will showcase traditions, foods, and celebrations from cultures across the globe, giving our Hornets the opportunity to lead, teach, and share what they’ve learned with families and guests.
The evening will also feature our Winter Concert, highlighting performances from Penderlea students as we celebrate the season together through music and learning.
More information is included in the attached flyer. We can’t wait to see our families on campus for this special night of culture, community, and celebration!
PCS County-Wide Food Drive
This November, Pender County Schools is kicking off a district-wide food drive to support local organizations that provide meals and essential resources to families in need throughout our community.
Each school, including Penderlea, will collect non-perishable food items throughout the month, and all donations will stay local to benefit Pender County families.
Requested items include: cereal, canned tuna or chicken, peanut butter, condiments, and individually packaged snacks like granola bars, Pop-Tarts, crackers, and fruit cups.
Collection bins will be available on campus all month long.
Let’s work together to make a difference and show that Penderlea is the place to be for kindness, generosity, and community spirit.
Save the Date – Penderlea Weekend at Tate Farm
Mark your calendars for November 21–22! Tate Farm has partnered with Penderlea School for a special Community Partnership Fundraiser weekend.
A portion of all sales from that weekend will be donated back to Penderlea to support our students, classrooms, and school programs.
Bring your family, enjoy a day at the farm, and show your Hornet pride while supporting a great cause. Together, we can make this partnership a success and continue building Penderlea as the place to be!
New Picture Code Lookup Tool – Fall Pictures & Make-Up Day
Families can now easily access their child’s Fall Picture and Make-Up Picture ordering galleries through Strawbridge Studios’ new Code Lookup Tool.
Simply scan the QR code on the attached flyer and follow the directions—there’s no need to contact Customer Service for an access code. You’ll just need your child’s last name and student ID number for security.
A flyer with full details and the QR code is attached to this email.
If you have any questions or need help, visit www.strawbridge.net and use the Live Chat feature for assistance.
Sports Pictures – This Monday
A reminder that boys basketball and girls soccer team pictures will be taken after school on Monday(November 10th), before the game.
Please make sure student-athletes bring their uniforms and any equipment needed for the photo.
A flyer with additional details is attached to this email. Ordering information will be provided through Strawbridge Studios after picture day.
Athletic Weekly Update
Monday November 10th- Home Girls Soccer and Boys Basketball game against West Pender
Thursday November 13th- Home Girls Soccer and Boys Basketball game against Cape Fear Middle School
***All soccer games begin at 4:15 PM and basketball games begin at 4:30 PM***
PATH Program – COVID, Flu, and Strep Testing
We want to clarify how students can receive COVID, flu, or strep testing through the PATH (Pender Alliance for Total Health) program at school.
Students cannot be tested directly in the nurse’s office without prior enrollment and authorization. To be eligible for testing:
The student must be enrolled in the PATH program.
A telehealth visit must be scheduled through PATH.
The healthcare provider determines whether a test is needed and requests it during the visit.
Families can register their child for PATH online at https://pathhealth.org/enroll-today or paper registration forms are available from the school nurse upon request.
Vision Screenings – November 17
Penderlea will conduct vision screenings for students in 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades on Monday, November 17th.
The screening includes a standard vision check and, if needed, a Spot Vision Screening, which is a quick, non-invasive way to identify possible vision concerns. No physical contact is required during these screenings.
If you would like to opt your child out of the vision screening, please contact our school nurse, Mrs. Brown, prior to November 17th.
School Pictures – Save the Dates
We want to be sure families have plenty of notice for this year’s student, class, and sports pictures:
Student & Class Pictures
Kindergarten Cap & Gown – February 26
Classroom Group & Spring Pictures – March 31
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
