Good evening Penderlea Families,
Here are some important information and updates for the week of May 4th through May 8th and beyond. Thank you for staying connected and involved.
Teacher Appreciation Week – May 4–9
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we are excited to celebrate the incredible educators who make a difference in the lives of our students every day.
We encourage families to take a moment to show appreciation—whether it’s a kind note, a message, or a small gesture. These acts of gratitude go a long way in recognizing the hard work and dedication of our teachers.
If you’re looking for ideas, please see the QR code below to learn more about your child’s teacher’s favorite things.
Thank you for helping us celebrate our amazing staff!
WE NEED YOU!!! Upcoming End of Year Test and Proctor Assistance
As we wind down the school year, we are preparing for End-of-Grade (EOG) assessments. For each EOG test, we will need proctors. Please consider serving as a proctor this year—your support is greatly appreciated. Testing times are from 8:00am-11:00am
To serve as a proctor, the only requirement is to sign up as a Pender County volunteer using the following link: Volunteer Link
Our testing dates are as follows: Testing times are from 8:00am-11:00am
May 19th: Grades 3–8 Math EOG
May 21st: Grades 3–8 Reading EOG
May 27th: 5th & 8th Grade Science EOG
Thank you in advance for your time and support in helping ensure a smooth testing process for our students. If you would like to proctor, please complete the Sign-up Form.
Penderlea Day Feedback
Thank you to everyone who attended Penderlea Day and helped make it such a success!
We are always looking to improve and would appreciate your feedback. If you attended, please take a few minutes to complete the survey using the link below.
Your input will help us continue to make this event even better for our students, families, and community.
End-of-Year Celebrations
As we begin to wrap up the school year, please take note of the upcoming end-of-year celebrations. These are important moments for our students and families, and we appreciate your support in helping make them special.
Awards Night (Grades 3, 4, 6, 7): May 26 at 4:00 PM (Gym)-Invitation will be sent out shortly
Kindergarten Promotion: May 28 at 9:00 AM (Old Auditorium)
8th Grade Promotion: May 29 at 1:00 PM (Old Auditorium)
5th Grade “Walk Across the Hall” Promotion: June 1 at 8:00 AM (Atrium)
We look forward to celebrating these milestones with our students and families!
Free Sports Physicals & Immunizations
Free sports physicals will be offered by EmergeOrtho for rising 6th–12th grade students at the following locations:
Heide Trask High School: May 4 | 3:45–6:00 PM
Topsail High School: May 6 | 3:30–6:30 PM
Students must bring NCHSAA paperwork and be accompanied by a guardian. Please see the flyer below for full details.
In addition, the Novant Health Community Health Services immunization van will be on-site during these events. This opportunity is available for students who have Medicaid, no insurance, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or meet specific eligibility criteria. Please see the flyer below for more information.
This is a great opportunity for families to complete required physicals and immunizations ahead of the next school year.
Parent Advisory Committee Meeting/School Improvement Team Meeting
We want to share information about our upcoming school leadership meetings and invite continued family engagement.
Our School Improvement Team (SIT) will meet on May 5. The SIT works to support school improvement efforts by reviewing data, setting goals, and helping guide decisions that impact student learning and overall school performance.
Our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) will meet on May 12. The PAC provides an opportunity for families to stay informed, share feedback, and have a voice in important school decisions and initiatives.
We value the partnership between our school and families and appreciate your continued support as we work together to make Penderlea the Place to Be.
Attendance Shoutouts
We continue to focus on strong attendance through our attendance incentives and tiered recognition system. Each week, we will share with families which classes have reached each level as we celebrate their commitment to being at school every day.
Level 2: Dufek
Level 3: Giarrusso
Level 4: Hensley
May Cafeteria Menu
The May cafeteria menu is now available.
Families can review the menu below to see the breakfast and lunch options for the month. Our cafeteria team works hard to provide a variety of nutritious and student-friendly meals each day.
We encourage families to take a look ahead and help students plan for the remainder of the school year.
Driver’s Education Opportunity
Families of rising 9th grade students are encouraged to review the upcoming Driver’s Education classes at Pender High School.
Students must be at least 14½ years old on or before the class dates to participate.
Available sessions:
June 16–20, 2026- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSejEvLqmaAmj-OGvYEDHptVWfnxNq7oqTZjBZ8Y_KlSM4N_dw/viewform
July 27–31, 2026- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedvi36gCgedyR7ejolbuwDC_d-U_MDLawx_xGNNI3bgopKMg/viewform
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.
Families of incoming Kindergarten students are also invited to attend our Kindergarten Screener on June 2nd and June 3rd from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This screener helps us get to know your child and prepare for a strong start to the school year.
Please see the flyer below for more information. If you would like to schedule a time for the screener, please email the school at pls_info@pender.k12.nc.us
Weekly Athletics Update
Athletic Banquet
Our middle school athletic banquet will be held on May 14th, with dinner beginning at 4:30 pm and awards starting promptly at 6 pm. If your child played any sports at Penderlea during the 2025-2026 school year, please make plans to attend! We will have 3 food trucks on site for dinner - DaniJays, Saved by Grace Soulfood, and Tacos El Jefe. Invites will be sent with athletes this week! Please RSVP to Mrs. Umphress by returning the form by Monday, May 11th.
FCA End-of-Year Celebration
Middle school students are invited to attend the final FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) event of the year on Thursday, May 7 from 3:15–4:15 PM in the gym.
This celebration will include pizza, games, and fellowship as students come together to wrap up the year.
Summer Support Opportunities
We are excited to share two summer support opportunities available for Penderlea students across grade levels.
For our elementary students (K–5), Camp Invention is a hands-on STEM camp designed to build creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills. Camp will take place June 29–July 2 from 8:00 AM–3:30 PM. A limited number of scholarships are available, with applications due by April 24. Families will be notified of awards during the week of May 15. A link to apply is provided below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffWqveyKh6lor95e8TrkdoWrXkEaQQYWxAvXXZxETRRqJeFA/viewform
For our middle school students (rising 6th–8th grade), the 21st Century Summer Enrichment Camp will run June 8–July 10, Monday–Friday from 8:00 AM–2:30 PM at Burgaw Middle School. This program includes engaging activities such as field trips, guest speakers, art, STEM experiences, and team-building activities. The program is free of charge, and breakfast, lunch, and transportation are provided. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
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