Good evening Penderlea Families,
I hope everyone is enjoying the snow, staying safe and warm. Here are some important information and updates for the week of February 2nd through February 6th and beyond. Thank you for staying connected and involved.
Snow Day – February 2, 2026
The district has determined that due to the weather, Monday will be a snow day for students. This means that students will not participate in remote learning.
Teacher Workday – February 3, 2026
Tuesday is a Teacher Workday, which means no school for students. Teachers will be working to finalize grades for progress reports, which will be available on February 4, 2026.
CIS Athlete Tutoring Opportunity
Our Middle School Communities in Schools team is implementing late session tutoring on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for athletes when they get out of practice and other afterschool students who need extra support, study hall for 8th graders, peer homework assistance, and practice-test test taking. If you are interested in your child participating, please contact Mrs. Adeshi’a Graham at (910)208-6985 for more details.
Love the Bus Month & Appreciation Week
February is officially Love the Bus Month, a time to recognize the dedication and care our bus drivers and monitors show in safely transporting our students every day.
School Bus Driver Appreciation Week: We will specifically celebrate our transportation team during the week of February 9–13, 2026.
How to Participate: We encourage students and families to join the celebration! Consider showing your gratitude with thank-you notes, small tokens of appreciation, or a friendly "thank you" during your morning or afternoon route.
CTE Job Shadow Day – February 27, 2026
Pender County Schools is hosting a districtwide Job Shadow Day on Friday, February 27, 2026, for students in grades 7–12. This is a great opportunity for students to explore a career of interest while earning an excused educational absence.For more details, please view the Job Shadow Day Flyer.
To participate, students must:
Secure a placement with a mentor.
Submit the signed Job Shadow Parent/Student Agreement to the school counselor by Friday, February 20, 2026.
Join the Job Shadow Day Google Classroom (Code: w337uydp).
Interested in Hosting a Student? Are you a business owner or community partner interested in mentoring a student? We would love your support! Please complete the Host Interest Form to participate and help provide a meaningful real-world experience for our students.
PCS Superbowl Reading Challenge
The PCS Superbowl Reading Challenge continues this week and runs through Super Bowl Sunday on February 8, 2026.
The Goal: Every 1,000 minutes of reading logged by our school counts as one "touchdown" (7 points).
The Prize: The school with the most touchdowns wins an ice cream party for students!
How to Join: Help your student log their reading minutes using the Google Form found on Classlink. Let’s read our way to victory!
Special Olympics Spring Games Registration
Does your student want to participate in the Special Olympics Spring Games? Registration is open now and closes on February 28, 2026.
Registration: The process is entirely online.
Need Help? Attend the Athlete Registration Night on January 28, 2026, at 5:30 PM at Heide Trask High School for in-person assistance.
2026-2027 Kindergarten Enrollment
We are pleased to announce that the Kindergarten Enrollment application for the 2026-2027 school year will be available to the public starting Monday, February 2nd.
Families can access the application through the following links:
Application: Use the 2026-27 Kindergarten Enrollment Application link directly.
2026-2027 Preschool Applications Open
Applications for the 2026-2027 Preschool program are now live on the Pender County Schools website! If you have a little one ready for preschool, be sure to apply soon. Acceptance letters will begin going out on April 1, 2026.
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
February Cafeteria Menu
Take a look at what’s for breakfast and lunch this month! Our February menu for Penderlea features a variety of delicious and nutritious options for our students, including:
Breakfast Favorites: Mini Confetti Pancakes, Blueberry Breakfast Bread, and Turkey Sausage Breakfast Pizza.
Lunch Highlights: Popcorn Chicken Potato Bowls, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, and Buffalo Chicken Mac N Cheese.
Daily Offerings: A selection of baked goods, cereal, yogurt, fruit, juice, pizza, salad, and hot vegetables are available every day.
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! 
Pender Volleyball Camp
Is your student interested in sharpening their volleyball skills? Join us at Pender High for a day of skill development, game fundamentals, and tryout preparation!
Who: 6th–8th Grade Students
When: February 14, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Where: Pender High School
Cost: $25 per athlete (Cash only, payable at the event)
Focus: The camp will cover teamwork, confidence building, and essential game skills.
Please pre-register to secure your spot!
Weekly Athletics Calendar
Due to the uncertainty of this week's schedule, Mrs. Umphress will send out an update after a decision is made about the rest of the week.
Summer Opportunity: iHEAL Camp 2026
We are excited to share an incredible summer opportunity for our rising 9th-grade students! The CHHS iHEAL Camp flyer has been officially approved for distribution.
iHEAL is a FREE overnight healthcare exposure camp hosted at UNCW. This program is designed to inspire students to pursue healthcare majors and careers by providing a hands-on look at the field.
Camp Highlights:
Interactive Simulations: Spend 4 days and 3 nights exploring various healthcare careers through realistic simulations.
Impact: The program is dedicated to preparing students to serve the healthcare needs of southeastern North Carolina.
Camp Dates:
Girls Camp: June 13-16, 2026.
Co-Ed Camp: June 20-23, 2026.
Important Application Information:
Cost: The camp is completely free for participants.
Application Deadline: All applications must be submitted by April 24, 2026.
For more information and to apply, please scan the QR code on the flyer below or visit the UNCW College of Health & Human Services website.
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!
Ashley Goodlett
Assistant Principal-Penderlea School