Good evening Penderlea Families,
Here are some important information and updates for the week of January 20th through January 23rd and beyond. Thank you for staying connected and involved.
A Personal Note from Mr. Harris
Mr. Harris and his wife were excited to welcome their baby girl into the world this weekend. The Harris family is incredibly grateful for the kindness, well wishes, and thoughtful messages from the Penderlea community.
Thank you to all who reached out, checked in, and shared their support during this special time.
Upcoming NC Check-Ins
We want to make families aware of several upcoming NC Check-In assessments that will take place later this month. These assessments help teachers monitor student progress and plan instruction to best support learning.
Assessment Schedule:
Science NC Check-In (Grades 5 & 8 only): Wednesday, January 21
Please help your child prepare by ensuring they get plenty of rest, arrive at school on time, and are ready to do their best. Thank you for your continued support as we work together to support student growth and success.
Reassignment Request
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.
The application period opens on January 5, 2026, allowing parents time to consider alternative educational options for their children.The deadline for submitting reassignment requests is February 28, 2026.
In County Reassignment Request
PCS Employee Student Reassignment Request
Program of Studies 2026–27
Families of 8th students are encouraged to begin exploring the Pender County Schools Program of Studies for the 2026–27 school year. This resource outlines course offerings and opportunities available at the high school level and is a helpful tool as families begin having conversations with students about future course selections.
A copy of the Program of Studies is now available on the Middle School section of our website for families to reference. A link is included below so parents can review the information at their convenience.
https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/o/pcs/page/middle-school-instruction
We encourage families to take time to explore the options together and reach out with any questions as course registration approaches.
2nd Annual Penderlea School Alumni Game Night - Saturday, February 28th
We are excited to invite our Penderlea community to one of our most anticipated events of the year — the 2nd Annual Throwback Alumni Basketball Game Night on Saturday, February 28th!
If you joined us last year, you know just how much fun this event was. The gym was full of energy, alumni were back on the court, and families enjoyed a great night of basketball and school spirit. We’re excited to bring everyone together again to celebrate Penderlea pride and support our athletes!
We hope you and your family will come out for a fun-filled night of basketball, community, and Hornet pride. Last year was an unforgettable evening, and we can’t wait to do it again!
Thank you for your continued support of Penderlea School.
Go Hornets! 
FINAL Meeting for Parents of Athletes
The FINAL meeting for parents of athletes interested in trying out for baseball or volleyball will be held on Wednesday, January 28th, in Mrs. Umphress’ classroom at 3:15 pm. Parents of athletes who wish to participate in any workouts and/or try out for baseball or volleyball and have not attended a meeting this school year MUST attend this meeting so their child is eligible.
Workouts for Baseball and Volleyball
Optional workouts for baseball and volleyball begin this week!
Volleyball workouts: Tuesday, January 20th, until 4:30 pm
Baseball workouts: Tuesday-Thursday, January 20th-22nd, until 4:30 pm
Athletes must meet all eligibility requirements to be able to stay for these workouts. This includes Big Teams account created and forms completed, and a parent has to have attended the mandatory parent meeting.
Weekly Athletics Calendar
This week, our girls' basketball team and boys’ soccer team will play on the road on Tuesday and Thursday! Tuesday’s game will be at West Pender Middle, and Thursday’s will be across the county at Topsail Middle. Boys soccer games will start at 4:15 pm (or as soon as officials arrive), and girls basketball will tip off at 4:30 pm.
Cheer, girls' basketball, and boys' soccer will all have practices on Wednesday and Friday. Cheer and girls basketball practice will end at 4:30 pm, and boys soccer will end at 5 pm. Please be out front to pick up your athlete at the end of their scheduled practice.
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
Athletic Pictures for Cheer, Girls Basketball, and Boys Soccer – January 26
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