Welcome Back, Families!
Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year at Surf City Middle School! We are excited to begin another great year with our students and families. Please take a few minutes to view our Sharks Weekly Newsletter for important information, upcoming dates, school expectations, and helpful resources as we kick off the new school year.
We look forward to partnering with you to make this a successful year for all of our Sharks!
🚌 Need school bus transportation on day one?
All students who need bus transportation for the first day of school must be registered by August 10.
Requests submitted after the deadline cannot be guaranteed service during the first 10 school days. Register by August 10 to help ensure your student has transportation available when school begins.
Thank you for helping us prepare for a safe and successful start to the school year!
Enroll - https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/enroll
🚌 **¿Necesita transporte en autobús escolar desde el primer día?**
Todos los estudiantes que necesiten transporte en autobús escolar el primer día de clases deben estar inscritos a más tardar el **10 de agosto**.
No se puede garantizar el servicio durante los primeros 10 días de clases para las solicitudes recibidas después de la fecha límite. Complete la inscripción antes del 10 de agosto para ayudar a garantizar que su estudiante tenga transporte disponible cuando comiencen las clases.
¡Gracias por ayudarnos a prepararnos para un inicio seguro y exitoso del nuevo año escolar!
Inscribirse - https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/enroll
Your business can make a lasting impact by sponsoring our Shark of the Month program or contributing to teacher recognition. As a sponsor, you'll be recognized through our social media and school newsletters while helping us build a positive, respectful, and supportive school culture.
Interested in partnering with us? Contact Principal Crystal Hall at crystal_hall@pender.k12.nc.us or 910-928-0087 to learn how you can get involved. Together, we can make a difference for our Sharks! 🩵💙
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ycWQ73pdpMMZ9mpi1Og5XzpHlNCXpswJ/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=108485033231923439029&rtpof=true&sd=true
📅 Thursday, August 6
⏰ 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
📍 Black River Health Services
301 S. Campbell St., Burgaw
❤️ Free and open to the entire community! School supplies will be available while supplies last.
🎒✏️ ¡Prepárense para el nuevo año escolar! Black River Health Services invita a las familias a un evento GRATUITO de regreso a clases con útiles escolares, actividades para niños, recursos familiares y organizaciones comunitarias.
📅 Jueves, 6 de agosto
⏰ 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
📍 Black River Health Services
301 S. Campbell St., Burgaw
❤️ ¡El evento es gratuito y está abierto a toda la comunidad! Los útiles escolares estarán disponibles hasta agotar existencias.
To help families plan ahead, we've created our 2026–2027 Family Vacation Planner with all of the major school breaks and holidays in one convenient place. We encourage families to schedule vacations during these planned breaks whenever possible so students don't miss valuable classroom instruction.
We are excited to kick off another great year of Shark Athletics! Football, softball, and cheerleading seasons are just around the corner, and we look forward to seeing our student-athletes represent Surf City Middle School with pride.
Please review the attached athletic documents for important information about each sport, including tryout details, practice schedules, eligibility requirements, and other season-specific information. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n3s0L9XZhQ63ltQqhVUrjJLxMLxzy7Jr/view?usp=drive_link
Final Forms – Required by August 6
Pender County Schools uses Final Forms to process athletic eligibility for all student-athletes. All required forms must be completed in Final Forms by Wednesday, August 6, to ensure students are eligible for tryouts.
Completing the required paperwork before the deadline allows our Athletic Director and coaches time to review and approve student eligibility. Students who have not been approved in the Final Forms system will not be permitted to participate in tryouts.
For your convenience, we have included the following resources:
Final Forms Parent Registration Help: https://finalforms-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/districts/NC/pender-nc/district/parent_registration_playbook.pdf?timestamp=1783965071
NCHSAA Physical Form: https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2643/Pcs/b9e6b053-c74b-46d2-b1fb-8724a765baba/2023-2024_PPE-English-Aug202311__1_.pdf?disposition=inline
If you have questions regarding athletic eligibility, Final Forms, or the upcoming sports seasons, please contact our Athletic Director, Mr. Gregory Batts, at gregory_batts@pender.k12.nc.us.
We appreciate your partnership and look forward to an exciting fall season. Go Sharks!
📚 The countdown is on—just 38 days until students on our traditional calendar return to school on Monday, August 24!
As we prepare for the 2026–27 school year, families are asked to complete their student’s Beginning of Year Information Update. This update is not required for newly enrolled students.
Keeping contact and emergency information current helps ensure a safe, smooth and successful start from day one.
We can’t wait to welcome our students back! 🚌✏️🏫
Please check out the Shark Bites Summer Edition for updates and information about the upcoming school year! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UkOM3F92mvQrGix--jOHGV0Kw_IkHHeM/view?usp=sharing
Did you know????
Tomorrow, June 24, 2026, at 6:00 PM, the Pender County Board of Education and the Pender County Board of Commissioners will meet to discuss the current funding shortfall in next year's local school budget. This funding gap will have an immediate impact on students at Surf City Middle School and could create lasting challenges for years to come if local funding does not keep pace with the operational needs of our growing school system.
Over the past eight years, I have had the privilege of serving and living in Pender County, and I have witnessed tremendous growth throughout our community. Unfortunately, school funding has not kept pace with that growth. Our schools are operating on a lean budget, and additional local support is needed to maintain our current staffing levels and continue providing the educational opportunities our students deserve.
The decisions made now will directly affect our ability to support students, retain quality staff, and meet the increasing needs of our community. This is a critical moment for public education in Pender County.
We need your voice.
Please consider attending the meeting and sharing your support for adequate school funding:
Pender County Board of Commissioners & Pender County Board of Education Joint Meeting
📅 June 24, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 805 S. Walker Street, Burgaw, NC 28425
To better understand the direct impact this funding shortfall could have on Surf City Middle School, please review the SCM Funding Shortfall Document at the link below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vjCL_X70IlJo2yQhKlG6PHfZlpnzkbWS3xVlCKJ3kw4/edit?usp=sharing
Now is the time to stand up for our students, our staff, and the future of public education in Pender County. Your advocacy can make a difference.
Thank you for your continued support of Surf City Middle School and Pender County Schools.
Mrs. Schmitz has been a caring, compassionate, and dedicated educator who always pushed her students to do their very best while creating a supportive and welcoming classroom environment. Her calm presence, flexibility, and unwavering commitment to students made her not only an incredible teacher but also a valued teammate and leader across the Surf City Middle School campus.
Throughout her years of service, Mrs. Schmitz’s experience, wisdom, and heart for education have left a lasting mark on countless students and colleagues. She has truly been an asset to our school community, and her influence will continue long after her retirement.
Thank you, Mrs. Schmitz, for the difference you have made in the lives of students and staff alike. You will be greatly missed, and we wish you nothing but happiness and new adventures in this next chapter!
Mrs. Warren has been a powerhouse educator whose impact reaches far beyond the classroom. As a 6th Grade Science Teacher, she had a unique way of making learning fun, engaging, and meaningful for her students each and every day.
Her knowledge and support in both science and math have been an incredible asset to our school community. More importantly, Mrs. Warren’s kind heart, caring spirit, and dedication to students made her a true blessing to everyone fortunate enough to work alongside her.
The impact she has made on Surf City Middle School students will continue for years to come, and she will be greatly missed by staff, students, and families alike.
Thank you, Mrs. Warren, for your years of service, compassion, and commitment to excellence. We wish you endless joy and relaxation in retirement — you have certainly earned it!
Mrs. Roland’s leadership, passion for science, and extensive knowledge have left a lasting impact on our students, staff, and school community. She has helped shape generations of learners while always leading with kindness, professionalism, and unwavering commitment.
Her shoes will certainly be hard to fill, and her presence will be deeply missed throughout the halls of SCMS.
Thank you, Mrs. Roland, for the years of service, mentorship, and care you have given to Surf City Middle. We wish you nothing but happiness, relaxation, and new adventures in your retirement!
*Also, we had an 8th grade student with the wrong picture, and Strawbridge has send us stickers for the correction. Please stop by the school and pick one up, or we will have them next year for pick up as well.
Inspired by a peaceful coastal sunset, Lucy’s artwork features rolling ocean waves, shorebirds, and colorful starfish brought to life with soft watercolor techniques and vibrant beach colors. Her attention to movement, light, and detail captured the spirit of the seaside in a truly memorable way.
Lucy’s framed artwork will be proudly displayed at the Central Office for the next year. We are so proud of her creativity and artistic talent!
Students also participated in a special awards ceremony where gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded for outstanding sportsmanship. To end the celebration, students enjoyed traditional Greek foods including grape leaves, hummus, and pita bread.
Thank you to our amazing volunteers, staff, PTA, and families for helping make this event such a memorable experience for our students!
