🌟 Feature Friday: Amanda Gillespie, Pre-K Instructional Assistant at South Topsail Elementary! 🌟
Today, we recognize Amanda Gillespie, a Pre-K Instructional Assistant at South Topsail Elementary, whose commitment has made a significant impact on her students and colleagues. Ms. Gillespie’s dedication shines especially bright when challenges arise. Recently, with her teaching partner Ms. Baxter out to care for a loved one, Ms. Gillespie stepped up without hesitation to ensure the classroom ran smoothly. Her hard work and caring nature ensures every child is engaged, cared for, and thriving, embodying the heart of early education.
Ms. Gillespie’s positive influence extends to her colleagues, making her a valued team player in the Pre-K department. Ms. Baxter expresses deep gratitude for her dedication, sharing how she seamlessly takes on additional roles and responsibilities with a supportive, positive attitude. Ms. Gillespie, your contributions to South Topsail and the Preschool Program are invaluable, and we thank you for all you do! 🌟 #OnePender
📢 Attention families! Don’t miss out on tonight's Family Focus Group for the Strategic Plan from 6:30 - 7:30 at Heide Trask High School! This is your chance to share your thoughts and help shape the future of our schools. Join us and make your voice heard!
📅 Check the graphic for all the details. We hope to see you there!
📢 ¡Atención familias! ¡No se pierdan el Grupo de Enfoque Familiar para el Plan Estratégico esta noche, de 5 a 6 PM en la Escuela Primaria Rocky Point! Esta es su oportunidad de compartir sus ideas y ayudar a dar forma al futuro de nuestras escuelas. ¡Únase a nosotros y haga escuchar su voz!
📅 Consulte el gráfico para todos los detalles. ¡Esperamos verlos allí!
🌟 Celebrating Wyatt 🌟
Wyatt is a senior at Topsail High School who truly embodies leadership and kindness. Ms. Storms, his culinary teacher, nominated him for his outstanding attitude, strong work ethic, and willingness to go the extra mile. During their restaurant event, Wyatt stayed through multiple class periods to help, even volunteering to clean up afterward! His calm and helpful nature sets a high standard for his peers.
Wyatt’s interests include cooking, gaming, and building things, and he loves a good burger! 🍔 He’s also known for being a great problem-solver—a fantastic skill to have in culinary class and beyond!
Thank you, Wyatt, for showing what it means to lead by example.
🎉 At Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, Michele Simmons was honored by Dominique Bates, Director of Career & Technical Education, for representing Pender County Schools on the national stage! Ms. Simmons showcased her expertise in integrating VR technology into our Career & Technical Education programs at the 2024 TransfrXR Futures Conference.
Thank you, Ms. Simmons, for your innovation and dedication to advancing learning opportunities for our students! 🌟 #OnePende
🌟 Celebrating Career Development Coordinator Day! 🌟
Today, we’re thrilled to honor our outstanding Career Development Coordinators—Michele Simmons, Bevin Stokes, Brittany Davis, and Siobhan Fargo! Their dedication to guiding students on their paths toward fulfilling careers and meaningful lives is invaluable. Every day, they empower our students with the tools, insights, and confidence to succeed, whether that means entering the workforce, joining the military, or pursuing further education.
Thank you, Michele, Bevin, Brittany, and Siobhan, for inspiring our students to dream big and achieve even bigger! Happy Career Development Coordinator Day! 🎉 #CareerDevelopmentMonth #CTE
🌟 During Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, Director of Student Services Leanne Radabaugh recognized a group of Pender County Schools employees who went above and beyond to support a neighboring community in need. Christina Yates, Abby Robbins, Stacie Thompson, Tabitha Ward, Sheila Sheats, Celina McGee, and Ashanti Craine traveled to Buncombe County to help re-open schools after Hurricane Helene.
Thank you for your dedication and compassion! Your commitment to supporting students, even beyond our district, reflects the true spirit of #OnePender 💙
Meet Richard Collins, Veteran 6th Grade Teacher at Topsail Middle! 📚✨
With an impressive 40.5 years of teaching experience, Mr. Collins brings wisdom and dedication to his 6th-grade classroom at Topsail Middle. His inspiration? A teacher and mentor who set him on the path to education. Throughout his career, he’s found a passion for teaching computer science, a subject he loves sharing with young minds. 💻🌟
One of his proudest accomplishments? Seeing two of his former students return to the same school as teachers—a true testament to his influence and dedication over the years.
Outside the classroom, Mr. Collins enjoys swimming and taking his family out to dinner. 🍽️ He’s also an avid creative writer, with a fantasy novel under his belt and an active membership in The Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators. 📖✒️
Mr. Collins shares a home with a unique crew: a horse named Cloud and two cats that he and his family adore. 🐾
When it comes to travel, Yosemite National Forest tops his list of destinations he’d love to visit. 🏞️
Guided by two personal mottos, “The measure of your intelligence is not the questions you can answer, but the ones you ask,” and “Nothing succeeds like success,” Mr. Collins continues to leave a lasting impact on each of his students. 🌟
As we gather for dinner this Veterans Day, let’s take a moment to honor the brave men and women who have served our country. Their dedication and sacrifice allow us the freedoms we enjoy today, including the simple but meaningful moments we share around the table. Thank you, veterans, for your service—today and every day, we are grateful for you.
🌟 Feature Friday: Missy Daniel, TIMS/Routing Coordinator in Transportation! 🌟
This Friday, we’re proud to recognize Missy Daniel, our TIMS/Routing Coordinator, whose work within the Transportation Department exemplifies dedication, patience, and kindness. Missy manages one of the most challenging roles in our district, overseeing bus routes to ensure that our students arrive safely and on time. Her calm, supportive attitude shines through in every interaction, always offering assistance without hesitation and often going above and beyond.
Missy’s positive influence is felt daily by her peers. Assistant Principal Kelly Denny of North Topsail Elementary shares that despite this year’s unique challenges, Missy remains a steady, encouraging presence. Her dedication helps everything run smoothly, and her hard work, though often behind the scenes, is vital to the transportation team’s success. Missy, you are truly a cornerstone of this department, and we’re grateful for your kindness and commitment.
Thank you, Missy, for all that you do for PCS! 🌟
Today’s featured career video showcases Leanne Radabaugh, the dedicated PCS Director of Student Services, sharing her unique journey in education. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MWviNMZUdU
📹 Follow along with us, participate in spirit week, and don’t miss the Career Fair! Together, let’s make this month a meaningful step toward our students’ futures. 🌟 #PCSCareers #CareerDevelopmentMonth #DreamBig
Cape Fear Middle School 8th graders completed the career exploration portion of their North Carolina Career Development Plan this week. They learned about being Enrolled, Enlisted or Employed and did a test drive of a career area. After researching at least one specific job, they entered it in a Career Tracker that they can maintain and add to throughout high school. Ask them to show you their Tracker!
The Be Pro, Be Proud Bus came to Heide Trask High School today! Students had the opportunity to participate in careers in truck driving, welding, diesel mechanics, electrical linemen, and plumber through virtual reality simulators! What an amazing experiential learning experience.
#PCSCTE
We've extended the deadline for our Strategic Plan Survey to November 22, 2024. If you haven't done so already, please complete the survey. We want to hear from you as we shape our next five years. SURVEY LINK - https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/o/pcs/article/1827572
💪 Student Spotlight: Tyshawn! 💪
Meet Tyshawn, an inspiring 11th grader at Topsail High School, recognized by Ms. Stephanie Hoffman for his incredible perseverance! Tyshawn is non-verbal, but he continually shows his knowledge, kindness, and determination. He’s always ready to help students and staff and is admired by so many in the school. Tyshawn’s hard work has led to amazing progress on his IEP goals, and he’s even begun to say a few words verbally.
His favorite food? Pizza! 🍕
Favorite color? Red! ❤️
Hobbies? Playing basketball 🏀
Tyshawn, thank you for reminding us of the strength of determination!
📣🎉 November is National Career Development Month, and Pender County Schools CTE is celebrating in a big way across the district! 🎉📣
We’ve packed the month with career activities, from a special calendar of inspiring career videos and an exciting spirit week to a Career Fair on November 22nd. PLUS, we’re amping up opportunities for students to hear from guest speakers and explore different career pathways throughout the month. These experiences are designed to help students dream big, set goals, and explore options for their futures!
Today’s featured career video showcases April Perkins, the dedicated Principal of Rocky Point Elementary School, sharing her unique journey in education. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgSumMcqMIM 📹
Follow along with us, participate in spirit week, and don’t miss the Career Fair! Together, let’s make this month a meaningful step toward our students’ futures. 🌟 #PCSCareers #CareerDevelopmentMonth #DreamBig
🚀 Today, Pender County Schools’ CTE Program hosted an impactful Business Advisory Council Power in Partnership Meeting! Industry leaders, educators, and workforce development partners came together for a dynamic day of collaboration and career pathway reviews. A huge thank you to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) for their insightful presentation on career pathways, sparking meaningful discussions on the future of workforce readiness.
Highlights included tours of Cape Fear Community College’s state-of-the-art dog grooming, barbering, and nursing facilities, showing our teachers firsthand the training environments our students may one day call home! With over 1,100 years of combined experience in the room, our partners and educators are united in one mission: to ensure every PCS student is Enrolled, Enlisted, or Employed upon graduation.
Together, we're setting our students up for success with valuable skills, strong support, and clear pathways. Thank you to everyone who participated—your dedication and passion make all the difference!
#PowerInPartnership #PCSCTE #EnrolledEnlistedEmployed
Meet Kaylee Champ, K-5 Math & Science Teacher at PILA! ✏️📚✨
With 15 years of teaching experience, Ms. Champ brings her passion for elementary math and science to PILA! She spent 12 years teaching in Illinois before moving to North Carolina, where she’s now in her third year. Growing up, Ms. Champ always dreamed of being a teacher, following her passion even though career tests suggested other fields! 🌟
Her favorite subject? Math! 🧮💡 Ms. Champ loves guiding students through those rewarding “ah-ha” moments that make challenging problems click.
Special teaching accomplishment? She has developed a unique skill in teaching multiple grade levels of math within the same classroom—both in Illinois and here in NC. This approach allows her to impact a diverse group of students all at once! 💪✨
Outside the classroom, Ms. Champ enjoys spending time with her daughter and grandson, relaxing at the beach 🏖️, and visiting family back in Illinois ✈️. She’s also a fan of crafting, especially making mesh wreaths when inspiration strikes! 🎨
Her two beloved cats, Princess (11) and Waffles (2), keep her company at home 🐾. She hopes to visit Hawaii one day for the ultimate dream vacation. 🏝️
Guided by her motto, “On the hard days, focus on what is going well,” Ms. Champ continues to create a positive impact for her students, one “ah-ha” moment at a time! 🌟
🌟 Feature Friday: Celebrating Melissa Yarborough, Cost Clerk in Transportation! 🌟
This Friday, we’re shining a spotlight on Melissa Yarborough, our dedicated Cost Clerk in the Transportation Department, whose commitment to the students and staff of Pender County Schools goes well beyond her job description. Ms. Yarborough consistently steps up to make sure our students are safe, demonstrating her care in countless ways—even in tasks she isn’t asked to do. Her initiative and dedication show just how much she values our school community’s well-being.
Ms. Yarborough’s colleague, Brenda Flynn, a Data Manager in Transportation, shares that Melissa’s influence extends far beyond her own work. She motivates her colleagues to do their best and proves every day that dedication and teamwork can achieve great things. Brenda remarks that Melissa’s positive example encourages her to aim higher and believe in her own potential.
We’re truly grateful for Ms. Yarborough’s positive impact and her selfless support of students and colleagues alike. Thank you, Melissa, for all that you do to make PCS a better place! 🌟 #OnePender
It's not Tuesday, but....Meet Laura Black, Music Teacher Extraordinaire at Rocky Point Elementary! 🎶🎻✨
With 18 years of teaching under her belt, Ms. Black brings music to life for students in grades K-5 at Rocky Point Elementary. Her journey to teaching began back in 6th grade when she first picked up the violin, and since then, she’s known that sharing music is her calling! 🎼💫
Ms. Black's favorite subject? Music, of course! 🎤🥁 She especially loves teaching improvisation units, where her students' creativity truly shines. 🌈✨ Watching a child play a new instrument for the first time—and seeing the joy in their eyes—is a priceless experience for her!
Special accomplishments? Ms. Black was named NCMEA Elementary Music Teacher of the Year last year! 🏆🎉 She’s also presented at professional development sessions across several states, sharing her expertise with fellow educators. 🌍🎓
Outside the classroom, Ms. Black enjoys baking 🧁, playing the violin🎻, and sewing for her daughter 👗. Her family pet, Colonel Whiskers the cat, comes with his own backstory of battles fought in the "Fur War"—a family favorite! 🐱💼
Her top travel destination is Disney World! 🌟🏰 She’s been twice with her family and can't wait to return for more magical memories.
Guided by her motto, "Every moment matters," Ms. Black makes every day in her music classroom a memorable experience for her students! 🎶🌟
