Mrs. Stacy Papke brings more than 25 years of experience in education to her new role as Assistant Principal. She began her career in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she taught mathematics and computer science for 13 years. Later advancing into school leadership as Dean of Academics and then as Principal.
After relocating to Surf City, North Carolina, Mrs. Papke returned to the classroom with Onslow County Schools, where she taught for five years before joining Topsail High School. During her time at Topsail, she has taught mathematics, served as the Mathematics Department Chair, and contributed to numerous school and district committees focused on curriculum, school improvement, and student success.
Known for her collaborative leadership, commitment to academic excellence, and dedication to building strong relationships with students, staff, and families, Mrs. Papke is excited to continue serving the Topsail High School community in her new role as Assistant Principal. She looks forward to supporting student achievement, empowering teachers, and helping foster a positive, engaging learning environment where all students can thrive.
Outside of school, Mrs. Papke enjoys spending time at the beach, reading, and making memories with her husband, Bart, and their two sons, Thomas and Jack - both THS graduates. She is honored to continue serving the Topsail High School community and is excited to support students, staff, and families in this new leadership role.
🎓Interested in serving your country while pursuing a college education?
Students and families are invited to attend the Military Academies Fair to explore opportunities at U.S. service academies, senior military colleges and ROTC programs.
📅 Wednesday, September 9
⏰ 5:30–8:00 p.m.
📍 Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center
Representatives are expected from West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, The Citadel, Virginia Military Institute, Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, Norwich University Corps of Cadets and Navy ROTC.
Whether you’re beginning to explore your options or preparing to apply, this regional event is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn about pathways to college, leadership and military service. Please see the attached flyer for additional details. 📚
📅 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.
Hello Pirate Families,
Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! We are so excited to greet your student and see how they will Make Their Mark in the classroom this year!
Please help us by completing your Beginning of Year Information Application today (use the QR code below). It is expected for every returning student's household/family to submit an application. This requirement does not apply to new enrollments, as the enrollment application already collects the same information. The Chromebook Agreement is also included within the BOY application. Please reach out to the main office with any questions.
Finally, we hope you will join us on Thursday, August 20th, for Open House. More details will be coming. It is going to be an incredible year! Go Pirates!
Attention Topsail High School 10th and 11th grade students—registration is now open for the 2026 PSAT/NMSQT!
The PSAT is a great opportunity to:
⭐ Practice for the SAT
⭐ Receive personalized college and career planning
⭐ Qualify for National Merit Scholarship consideration (11th grade)
⭐ Identify your academic strengths and areas for growth
🗓 Important Dates:
✅ Registration Form Due: August 31, 2026
💳 Fee Due: September 18, 2026 ($18)
📝 Accommodation Release Form Due: September 18, 2026
📅 Test Date: October 27, 2026
💵 Cost: $18
📧 An online payment link will be sent after your registration is confirmed.
📌 10th grade students are welcome on a space-available basis.
Don't miss this opportunity to prepare for your future!
https://forms.gle/Mbyn14CTPEQtkg5G8
📅 Fall Sports Tryouts start Wednesday, July 29
✅ Important Reminder: All student-athletes must be GREEN in Final Forms before they are eligible to participate in tryouts.
Ahoy Pirates!
We have two important announcements to share as we chart our way to the start of an amazing school year! First, we are excited to introduce the Pirate Excel Program (PEP) for the 2026-2027 school year.
PEP is intended to excel every single student in their learning without limitations. Can’t stay after school for extra help? No problem! Need more time to ask questions? We’ve got you covered! Want time to collaborate with your peers on a cross-curricular project? This space is for you! Not sure how to prepare for the ACT and WorkKeys? Look no further! The program is designed to be instructional and will support students who need remediation or enrichment. These 35-minutes each day may be exactly what a student needs to make a meaningful connection to learning or find success in a subject that has always been challenging. We will meet students where they are in their academic journey!
Please see the pictured schedule to know where PEP fits in our day. A special thanks to our partners at Cape Fear Community College for ensuring there is not a conflict between in-person CFCC classes and the Pirate Excel Program! With PEP, we will bolster our ability to set sail toward success for all!
Want to learn more about PEP and what's to come in 2026-2027? Please make plans now to attend our Open House on August 20th from 4-7pm. More details will be shared soon!
May you have fair winds and following seas until we see each other again! Go Pirates!
📚 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! 🚌✏️🏫
Topsail High School and Pender County Schools are proud to celebrate Luke Smith, Public Safety teacher at Topsail High School, for being recognized last night at the North Carolina Career and Technical Education Summer Conference Awards Ceremony in Winston-Salem as one of only 24 finalists statewide for the 2027 NCCAT Burroughs Wellcome Fund NC Career and Technical Education Teacher of the Year Award!
This prestigious honor recognizes North Carolina's most outstanding Career and Technical Education educators who demonstrate excellence in the classroom while preparing students for successful futures. Mr. Smith's passion for public safety education, commitment to student success, and dedication to providing authentic, hands-on learning experiences have made a lasting impact on countless students at Topsail High.
As a finalist, Mr. Smith will participate in a week of professional development this October with fellow finalists from across the state before the 2027 NC CTE Teacher of the Year is announced on October 29.
Congratulations, Mr. Smith, on this well-deserved recognition! Thank you for your unwavering commitment to empowering the next generation of first responders, public servants, and community leaders. We are incredibly proud to have you represent Topsail High School and Pender County Schools on the state stage!
💙🖤 #TopsailHigh #PenderCountySchools #CTEWorks #CareerTechEd #PublicSafety #PiratePride #NCCAT #NCACTE #LearningThatWorks #GoPirates
Attention Class of 2027...How is your summer tan? Another round of Senior Portraits is right around the corner! Strawbridge Studios is excited to be the official photographer of the Topsail High School Class of 2027! Appointments are now available for: 8/6, 8/7, 8/10, 8/11, 8/12, 8/13 and 8/14.
Use the flyer and QR code below to learn more about picture day. To make an appointment, click the link below or copy and paste the link into your internet browser.
Book here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C4BAEAE2FA3FE3-64751912-hampstead
- Review the information at the top of the sign up page.
- Scroll down to choose your preferred appointment date/time.
- Click on Sign Up for the appointment you would like to schedule.
- Click Submit and Sign Up at the bottom of the page.
- Fill out your information on the next screen, then click Sign Up & Pay Now. (Please be sure to include a valid email address. This address will be used for appointment confirmation and proof delivery.)
- Enter your payment details for your sitting fee. Then, click Next.
- Complete the confirmation of payment and appointment. A confirmation email will also be sent to you with all of your session information.
If you have any questions about Senior pictures, please have them contact the Strawbridge Customer Service department via the Live Chat at www.strawbridge.net (available 8am to 5pm ET) or by emailing customerservice@strawbridge.net.
ATTENTION Rising Juniors and Seniors...Parking Passes will be sold August 10th, 11th and 12th. A link will be sent out to Senior emails on July 27th by noon to schedule an appointment. A link will be sent out to Junior emails on July 28th by noon to schedule an appointment. To be eligible, students must have maintained an overall unweighted GPA of 2.0 or higher and passed all courses, which includes CFCC and NCVPS courses, from the previous academic year. Please click HERE for the 2026-27 Registration Form. Go Pirates!
Official schedules will be released the week of August 3rd. At that time, we will also share our change request process should there be an error. Please avoid gleaning information from third-party apps. Staffing and rostering for the upcoming school year is still in progress. During this time, information in ClassLink that syncs from the Student Information System (Infinite Campus), including class or schedule-related information, may not be accurate or complete. We greatly appreciate your patience! Enjoy the rest of your summer and we will be excited to see you in August! Go Pirates!
I am excited to join Topsail High School as an Assistant Principal. Over the past four years, I have served as an Assistant Principal at Orange High School in Hillsborough, NC. Prior to that, I worked as a School Counselor at Eastern Alamance High School for six years.
I earned my undergraduate degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and my Master's degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—Go Heels!
I am passionate about supporting students and teachers, building strong relationships, and fostering a positive school culture. I look forward to working with the Topsail community and contributing to the continued success of our students and school.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my girlfriend, Chapel, going to the gym, running, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Pirates, UNC Tar Heels, and New England Patriots.
I am honored to join the Topsail family and excited to help cultivate a community of lifelong learners. Go Pirates!
As you step into this exciting next chapter, know that your teachers, families, classmates, and community are cheering you on with pride. Wherever your path leads, carry with you the lessons, friendships, and memories that helped shape this moment. 🌟
Congratulations, graduates! Your future is bright, and we cannot wait to see all that you accomplish. 🎉👏 YouTube link - https://youtu.be/D5e-TpmHaAI
Class of 2026...It's time to Graduate!
For our safety and to provide a quality ceremony, graduation will begin at 7:00pm. Gates will open at 6:00pm. Graduates need to arrive to TMS at 6:00pm. Please take traffic into consideration and arrive early. You may line up to enter the stadium prior to the gates opening. You may want to bring a towel to wipe off bleacher seats. Thank you for your patience and flexibility. We look forward to celebrating the special milestone with you this evening! Go Pirates!
We continue to closely monitor the weather for this evening (NOAA). Current models are trending more favorable for a safe and quality graduation ceremony. Below are several scenarios we are considering so you may make informed decisions.
Scenario 1 : On-time start (6:30pm)
Gates will open at 5pm. This is weather dependent. We will only bring in guests and take tickets once we are clear of adverse weather.
Graduates will report to TMS by 5:30pm.
Scenario 2: Delayed start (7pm)
Gates will open at 6pm. This is weather dependent. We will only bring in guests and take tickets once we are clear of adverse weather.
Graduates will report to TMS by 6pm.
Scenario 3: Delayed start (7:30pm)
Gates will open at 6:30pm. This is weather dependent. We will only bring in guests and take tickets once we are clear of adverse weather.
Graduates will report to TMS by 6:30pm
Scenario 4: Postpone graduation to Friday (9am)
Gates will open at 8am.
Graduates will report to TMS by 8am.
In each scenario, please take traffic into consideration and arrive early. You may line up to enter the stadium - at your own risk of getting wet - prior to the gates opening. You may want to bring a towel to wipe off bleacher seats. Please see the attached graphic for the location of our handicap shuttle service. We plan to make a decision about our start time and communicate with you by 3:30pm. Again, we appreciate your patience as we work to make this evening a safe and quality celebration! See you soon!
