Good evening Penderlea Families,
Here are some important information and updates for the week of May 11th through May 15th and beyond. Thank you for staying connected and involved.
Happy Mother’s Day
Penderlea would like to wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers, grandmothers, guardians, and mother figures in our school community today.
Thank you for the love, support, encouragement, and sacrifices you make each day for our students and families. Your impact reaches far beyond the home and plays an important role in the success of our school community.
We hope you have a wonderful and well-deserved Mother’s Day.
Parent Advisory Committee Meeting
We want to share information about our upcoming school leadership meetings and invite continued family engagement.
Our Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) will meet on May 12 at 5:30 PM. The PAC provides an opportunity for families to stay informed, share feedback, and have a voice in important school decisions and initiatives.
All families are welcome to attend. 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.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at stephen_harris@pender.k12.nc.us
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.
Donut Stress… Just do your best!
Testing days are coming up, and we’re here to make them a little sweeter! Treat your student (or a hardworking teacher!) to a delicious doughnut delivered right on EOG testing days. It’s the perfect way to add a smile, boost some confidence, and remind them they’ve got this!
Order now and help support our fundraiser—because a little sugar and encouragement can go a long way.
The Last Day to order is Monday, May 11th!
Leader in Me MRA Survey
As part of our continued implementation of Leader in Me, Penderlea will participate in the MRA (Measurable Results Assessment). The MRA is a comprehensive survey and assessment tool that gathers feedback from families, students, and staff to help us better understand our school culture, leadership growth, and overall progress.
The family survey is now open, and we encourage families to complete the survey using the link below.
https://www.leaderinme.com/s/penderlea-school-north-carolina/families
Students in grades 4–8 will complete the student survey on Thursday, May 14. An opt-out letter for the student survey was sent home on Friday for families to review. Families only need to return the letter if they do not want their child to participate in the survey.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we continue building leadership opportunities for our students through Leader in Me.
Chromebook Reminder
This is a reminder that all student Chromebooks must be back on campus by May 14 as we prepare for end-of-year procedures and device collection.
Please help ensure that students bring their Chromebook, charger, and any school-issued accessories back to school by the deadline.
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!
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 3: Robinson
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
Athletic Banquet
Athletic Banquet invites were sent home with all athletes two weeks ago. Please make sure your child has returned their invite with their RSVP by Monday, May 11th. In order for the school to cover the cost of the athlete’s meal, an RSVP must be received. All guests may pay for their own meals directly to the food trucks. Meal options are $10 each.
We are still seeking canned drink donations for our athletic banquet. Please send any donations to Mrs. Umphress before May 13th.
We look forward to celebrating an amazing year of Penderlea Athletics with you on Thursday, May 14th.
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