Five PCS schools with band programs participated in MPA, and the results reflect a lot of time, practice, and commitment from both students and staff.
🎶 Cape Fear Middle School Band — first time attending in 7 years
🎶 Topsail Middle School Band — Excellent
🎶 Surf City Middle School Band — Excellent
🎶 Heide Trask High School Symphonic Band — Superior
🎶 Topsail High School Symphonic Band — Superior
🎶 Topsail High School Wind Ensemble — Superior
For those unfamiliar with MPA, the ratings are given to the performing group and are similar to academic scoring:
⭐ Superior = A / 5
⭐ Excellent = B / 4
⭐ Average = C / 3
Thank you to our band directors for the work they are doing each day to support students and grow music programs across PCS. 🎺🥁🎼
A big congratulations to the students from Cape Fear Middle, Surf City Middle, Heide Trask High, Pender High, and Topsail High who participated in Honor Band at UNC Pembroke this past weekend.
Students from across the state performed on Saturday at the Givens Performing Arts Center after spending just one day working with guest clinicians to prepare the concert. That is no small task, and our students did an outstanding job. We are proud to see them recognized for their talent and commitment.
Welcome to The Pirate Post! Enjoy the story of Topsail High told by the students of Topsail High. Please use the link below to learn about important news and information. Go Pirates!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UeqwpGNJjxJew-XNN9z_8PCTa1RnZ73N/view?usp=sharing
We are excited to share that Topsail High School has officially brought back FCCLA under the guidance of teacher Ava DiBiase! As a Topsail graduate and former FCCLA member who represented North Carolina multiple times at the national level, Mrs. DiBiase is bringing passion, experience, and inspiration back to the program.
Alongside Mrs. DiBiase, her co-chair Mrs. Storms supported our students as they traveled to Greensboro earlier this week to showcase their skills at the FCCLA State Leadership Conference. We were also excited to have Mrs. Watkins from Heide Trask join us for guidance and support as she plans to start an active FCCLA chapter at Trask next school year. We look forward to partnering with her and growing FCCLA opportunities for students across our schools!
Now for the exciting news… 🏆
9th grader Bristol Chamblee earned 1st place in the Level 2 Promote and Publicize competitive event! She is now eligible to represent the state of North Carolina at the FCCLA National Conference in Washington, D.C. this summer—an incredible accomplishment!
Please join us in congratulating all three students who competed, as well as their amazing teachers. Just qualifying for and competing at the state level is a huge achievement and truly sets these students apart.
We are so proud of their hard work, dedication, and success! 💙
#FCCLA #CTEExcellence #TopsailPride #StudentSuccess #CareerReady
Each day at the end of morning announcements, we are reminded that as Pirates, we are positive, involved, responsible, attentive, thoughtful, and empowered. Last year, the faculty started a new initiative to honor the quintessential characteristics of a Topsail Pirate by nominating students in the senior class who most exhibit each of the six qualities. The six winners were featured in the Pirate Post and on the school’s social media sites and have their names permanently engraved on the Pirate Way plaque at the front of the school. Though there were many qualified student nominees, the six winners exemplify the essence of being a true Topsail Pirate. This week's trait is Involved, and our winner is Cina Huston.
As the founder and president of four THS clubs and an active volunteer in our local community, Cina Huston exemplifies the ideals of an involved Pirate. She has taken her involvement in our school’s HOSA chapter to regional, state, and national levels and has used her passion for a cleaner ocean to found a local organization, Sandy Saviors, to keep our beaches clean. Cina’s intrinsic curiosity makes her an actively involved student in her courses, participating and connecting with whatever curriculum she is studying. Her initiative has benefited our school in the formation of both the THS Book Club and Debate Club. Cina’s involvement and passion for enriching her and others' high school experiences will leave a broad legacy of excellence at THS and in our local community.
Cina Huston- Involved Award Winner Video Link
We are proud to celebrate Luke Smith for being named Pender County NCCTE Teacher of the Year! 👏
Mr. Smith is truly an outstanding educator who goes above and beyond to make learning meaningful, engaging, and impactful for his Public Safety and Law & Justice students. His classroom is a place where students don’t just learn—they experience what it means to serve their community. Through hands-on training, scenario-based activities, and innovative projects, students build critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills that prepare them for careers in law enforcement, emergency services, and beyond.
From engaging field trips to powerful guest speakers who bring real-world insight into the classroom, Mr. Smith ensures his students are constantly exposed to authentic experiences. Whether practicing emergency response scenarios, analyzing case studies, or participating in leadership-focused activities, his students stay active, involved, and excited about learning every single day.
One of the many ways Mr. Smith stands out is through his commitment to school safety. His classes take an active role in conducting monthly safety inspections—checking exit lights, monitoring fire extinguisher dates, and reporting potential violations to administration. This not only provides authentic learning opportunities but also helps ensure our entire school community remains safe.
Thank you, Mr. Smith, for your dedication, passion, and for inspiring the next generation of leaders in public safety. We are lucky to have you! 💙
#CTEExcellence #TeacherOfTheYear #PenderProud #PublicSafety #CareerReady
2026-2027 Beginning Teacher of the Year - Olivia Flowers (pictured left)
Ms. Flowers (English) is the most confident, competent BT I've ever worked with. She's innovative and caring. She loves what she does and works to make every day a unique learning opportunity. Not only is she creative in her classroom, but she is also caring. She truly cares for her students and their success. At the end of the day, she wants to help her students succeed both in the classroom and beyond. Not a day goes by that I'm not inspired by the joy she embodies.
2026-2027 Teacher of the Year - Caitlyn Bachman (pictured right)
Mrs. Bachman (Fine Arts) is an exceptional teacher and a leader within the local arts community. She is selfless, taking on what many would consider to be an impossible daily task-load and thriving in spite of adversity. She has helped countless colleagues pursue their National Board certification, leads as a member of SIT, and serves on multiple state-wide committees and programs. She runs an incredibly successful art program, in which countless students have received statewide and even national awards. She was recognized as the North Carolina Art Education Association Secondary Teacher of the Year, an incredible honor and well-deserved award. There is not enough room to describe why Ms. Bachman is more than deserving of the recognition of Topsail High School's Teacher of the Year. She exemplifies what it truly means to be a PIRATE!
Congratulations Ms. Flowers and Ms. Bachman!
Each day at the end of morning announcements, we are reminded that as Pirates, we are positive, involved, responsible, attentive, thoughtful, and empowered. Last year, the faculty started a new initiative to honor the quintessential characteristics of a Topsail Pirate by nominating students in the senior class who most exhibit each of the six qualities. The six winners were featured in the Pirate Post and on the school’s social media sites and have their names permanently engraved on the Pirate Way plaque at the front of the school. Though there were many qualified student nominees, the six winners exemplify the essence of being a true Topsail Pirate. This week's trait is Positive, and our winner is Seamus Ostrosky.
Seamus Ostrosky- Positive Award Winner Video Link
Welcome to The Pirate Post! Enjoy the story of Topsail High told by the students of Topsail High. Please use the link below to learn about important news and information. Go Pirates!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hNWw2YnBWu9ebAKDDiK5QTvYB0UrBPYm/view?usp=sharing
SAVE THE DATE! Topsail High School is proud to host a community evening on April 20th featuring Scarlett Lewis from the Choose Love Movement. Discover how courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion can empower students to navigate challenges, strengthen resilience, and build a safer, more supportive and healthier school community.
A huge shout out to our student leaders from Pirate Strong and Youth Advisory Council for their vision and work to bring this opportunity to fruition!
