Pender County Schools -

Pender County Schools is closely monitoring the weather conditions related to Hurricane Helene. A decision regarding Friday’s schedule will be made by noon on Thursday. We will provide further updates as necessary. Please stay tuned for any announcements. Las Escuelas del Condado de Pender están monitoreando de cerca las condiciones climáticas relacionadas con el huracán Helene. La decisión sobre el horario del viernes se tomará el jueves al mediodía. Proporcionaremos más actualizaciones según sea necesario. Estén atentos a cualquier anuncio.

🌟 Shoutout to Landon! 🌟 We’re proud to spotlight Landon, a student at Rocky Point Elementary who was nominated by Ms. Marcie Black for his academic excellence and kind spirit. Landon loves to participate in class, bringing depth to discussions with his thoughtful ideas. 💭 Landon sets the bar high for his classmates—he’s respectful, courteous, and gives 100% in every subject. His love for learning and dedication to his work make him a standout! 👏 A Little About Landon: Favorite Food: Fried chicken & mac and cheese 🍗🧀 Favorite Color: Green 💚 Hobbies: Football, baseball, and he’s eager to try rugby or lacrosse! 🏈⚾ Pets: Rambo, the friendliest dog ever 🐶, and Scarlett the cat 🐱 Interesting Fact: Landon’s always up for a challenge, especially when it involves learning new tricks like back flips! 🤸‍♂️ Keep up the great work, Landon! Your passion for learning inspires us all! 🌟

**Meet Ms. Katherine Billig, 2nd Grade Teacher at CF Pope Elementary School!** 🌟 Inspired by her own kind and supportive teachers, Ms. Billig decided to become a teacher to make the same lasting impact on her students. Now in her seventh year, she’s passionate about helping her students grow and making learning fun. Her favorite subject to teach is Social Studies, as it allows her to share her love for history and culture. Whether it's teaching about influential figures or connecting lessons to her students’ lives, Ms. Billig thrives on making history come alive in her classroom. 📖✨ One of her proudest moments was helping non-English-speaking students learn English, watching them grow and have their lightbulb moments. She’s also excited to be the second-grade chair and a mentor to new teachers! Last year’s highlight? Hatching chicken eggs in science class! Watching baby chicks hatch was a huge hit for both Ms. Billig and her students as they explored the life cycle together. 🐣 When she’s not teaching, Ms. Billig loves to travel and has visited 12 countries outside the U.S. so far! ✈️ She’s also a beach lover, enjoys spending time with family and friends, and loves trying out new restaurants and coffee shops. A talented musician, she’s played piano and violin since childhood and has even appeared as an extra in TV shows and movies filmed in North Carolina! Her dream travel destinations? Hawaii, Greece, or Australia. 🌺🌏 And her personal motto is inspired by Rita Pierson: *“Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be.”*

Students in our Pender High School carpentry and masonry courses are hard at work this morning becoming masters of craftsmanship! Our instructors are working to ensure our students are enrolled, enlisted or employed upon graduation. #PCSCTE #ONEPENDER

🌟 Feature Friday: Carrie Hankins, Student Information System Coordinator 🌟 This Feature Friday, we’re excited to recognize Carrie Hankins, our dedicated Student Information System Coordinator, who has been with Pender County Schools for an impressive 18.5 years! In her role, Carrie manages the system that houses crucial student data, including demographic information, schedules, and attendance records. 📊 She also leads a team of 20 hardworking data managers, providing the training and resources they need to ensure smooth operations across the district. Her journey with PCS began as a substitute teacher, where she fell in love with the school environment and working with students. Over the years, Carrie has held various roles, including tutor, Instructional Assistant, Bus Driver, and School Treasurer/Data Manager at WPMS and BMS. She was inspired to continue her education, eventually earning an MBA from the University of Mount Olive. Carrie's favorite part of her job is working in the same community where she lives, and she cherishes the strong relationships she’s built with local families. She also loves working alongside her data manager team, whom she considers her extended family. A graduate of Laney High School, Carrie didn’t attend PCS as a student but has proudly called Pender County home for 36 years. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her two adult children and her “super sweet” granddaughter. A shout-out to Mrs. Zimmerman, Carrie's math teacher at Laney, who was smart, kind, and offered life lessons that have left a lasting impact. ✨ Thank you, Carrie, for your hard work and dedication! 👏 #OnePender

VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mOCoDJmd17o 🎓✨ Pender High School students took part in a meaningful conversation today with Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove as part of his Listening & Learning series. These students were given the unique opportunity to share their thoughts on the strengths and challenges within their school and the district as a whole. It was an open and honest discussion that highlighted the students’ commitment to making positive changes for their school community. 🙌 💬 The conversation was genuine and insightful, with students speaking from the heart about their experiences. Dr. Breedlove listened closely as the students shared both the good and the bad, offering constructive feedback that will help shape the future of Pender County Schools. Their willingness to be candid reflects the trust and respect between our students and district leadership, creating a platform for real change. 🌟 💡🤝 These student voices are paving the way for a better tomorrow for Pender County Schools. By participating in this important discussion, they are helping to ensure that future students have an even better experience. Their feedback will play a key role in shaping improvements that benefit not just their peers, but generations to come. We are so proud of their leadership and vision for the future! #OnePender

🎓 Join us for Let’s Connect: ECU & CFCC Partnership! 🎓 ECU and CFCC are teaming up to bring higher education closer to you! Let’s Connect is a bilingual (English and Spanish) event for middle school, high school, and community college students — and their families. This one-stop event features: ✅ Degree program highlights ✅ Financial aid & scholarship information ✅ Application process guidance ✅ One-on-one time with ECU & CFCC representatives Don't miss this chance to explore your future! The event is held at night to accommodate working families. 🌟

A few from the Patriots at Sharks football game at Surf City Middle... #OnePender

🚁 Big News from Cape Fear Middle School! 🚁 Our students have officially earned their FAA Trust Certificates for flying drones, and now they’re getting their first hands-on experience in the skies! 🎮✨ With drones in hand, they’re learning basic controls, mastering flight rules, and even sharpening their skills on the drone flight simulator. The future of flight is looking bright for these young pilots! #CapeFearMiddleSchool #DronePilotsInTraining #STEMExcellence #FlightSkills #FutureAviators

🎉 Exciting Update from 6th Grade Keyboarding at Surf City Middle School! 🎉 Our students are leveling up their skills! We just received our keyboard covers, and they've started typing with their keys covered—what an awesome way to boost accuracy and speed! 🔥 As they wrap up Unit 1, they've been working hard on mastering the basics and getting comfortable with proper keyboarding techniques. We can't wait to see how much more they’ll achieve! #SurfCityMiddleSchool #KeyboardingChampions #MasteringSkills #SCMS

🌟 Student Spotlight: Asia! 🌟 Let’s give a big shoutout to Asia, a 12th grader at Pender High School! Asia was nominated by her teacher, Ms. Danyiel New, for her amazing leadership skills. As a student ambassador, Asia is always ready to help underclassmen find their way around the school and assist them with class projects. 👏 Asia is a true role model, keeping her peers focused on maintaining high standards and positive behavior. She’s a shining example of what it means to lead by example! 💫 Fun Facts About Asia: Favorite Food: Pizza & Chick-fil-A 🍕🍗 Favorite Color: Purple 💜 Hobbies: Playing Fortnite 🎮 Interesting Fact: Asia dreams of joining the military after graduation! 🇺🇸 Thank you, Asia, for making Pender High a better place for everyone! 🌟#OnePender

Pender County School Families, Today a few school districts in North Carolina were affected by false reports of violence on their campuses. We have been in contact with local law enforcement and there is no credible threat to any of our schools. It appears to be part of a hoax known as “swatting.” While Pender County Schools has not experienced this issue directly, we know the message is circulating on social media and that many of our families may be understandably concerned about school safety. Please know that our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We take any and all reports of potential threats seriously, and we are making every effort to maintain an environment where students and staff feel safe. We would like to continue to remind our students and school community, if you see something, “Say Something” using our reporting system located on the main webpage of every school as well as the Pender County Schools mobile app. Also always report, don’t repost. Sharing false information, making threats, and engaging in online harassment are serious offenses that can have severe consequences. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your individual school. Thank you for your attention to this important update.

And we’re off! The Listening and Learning Tour is underway. First stop Surf City Middle… #OnePender

Dear Pender County Schools Families, I want to take a moment to personally thank you for your patience and understanding during the difficult decisions we’ve had to make in response to the recent extreme weather conditions. Your cooperation has been invaluable as we prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community. We are pleased to inform you that we have thoroughly prepared for the return of students and staff tomorrow. Our buildings are ready, and district officials have driven the roads to ensure they are safe and passable for everyone. We also want to express our deepest compassion to those who may be dealing with unfortunate circumstances as a result of the storm. We understand that these situations bring many challenges, and we strive to do our part to help support our families in any way we can. I do want to apologize for any inconvenience caused by the mid-morning change of plans on Monday, as the situation changed quickly. It certainly was not ideal, and my team and I will work to grow from this experience as we face future similar circumstances. Please know our school system takes great pride in our responsibilities, especially when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of our students and families. Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to welcoming our students and staff back tomorrow. Thank you, Brad Breedlove Superintendent Pender County Schools

📢 Schools Open on Normal Schedule Wednesday, September 18! 📚 We’re happy to inform you that all Pender County Schools will resume regular operations on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

TEACHER TUESDAY - Ms. Hannah Stewart | Malpass Corner Elementary! ✨ In her fourth year of teaching, Ms. Stewart finds pure joy in those lightbulb moments when students learn something new. Her passion shines brightest in ELA, where she loves helping her students “travel the world” through reading and writing. 🌍📚 Instilling a love for learning is what drives her every day. One of Ms. Stewart’s proudest accomplishments was during her third year in Kindergarten, when she worked with several multilingual learners who spoke little to no English. By embracing their language and culture, she was able to teach and communicate effectively with them. By the end of the school year, three of those students made significant progress, moving from red to green or blue composite scores on mCLASS! 🎉💪 Outside the classroom, Ms. Stewart loves to spend time with her family and explore new destinations. She’s a big fan of reading, listening to music, cooking, and—of course—traveling. 🛫👩‍🍳 Her favorite trip so far? The Bahamas! But she’s got her eyes set on Europe, especially Scotland. 🏴 And let’s not forget about her adorable Golden Retriever, Fancy—yes, named after Reba McEntire’s famous song! 🎶🐕 Her personal motto, inspired by Babe Ruth, is a perfect reflection of her approach to teaching and life: *“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”* ⚾

Meet Mrs. Ilameredith Berkley, EC Teacher at Pender Innovative Learning Academy (PILA)! 🎉 With over 30 years of teaching under her belt, Mrs. Berkley’s passion for education started way back in kindergarten, thanks to her teacher Mrs. Zakarian, and her mom, who was both a teacher and an Art Therapist. Both women had a deep love for children and a strong connection with their students, and that’s exactly what Mrs. Berkley brings to her classroom today. She’s thrilled to be part of a profession that shapes young lives! 🌟 Mrs. Berkley’s favorite subject to teach is reading, and for her, it's more than just letters and words—it's about empowering students. She loves watching the moment they realize they can experience the world in new ways through reading. In fact, she’s still in touch with some of the very first students she taught, showing the lasting impact of those connections. 📚💖 During her first year in Pender County at Surf City Middle School in 2023, Mrs. Berkley took learning to the next level by making it fun, even during lunch and recess! She created a "Lunch Bunch" club where students practiced foundational skills in a hands-on, engaging way. Her door was always open for her students, creating a welcoming space for learning. But Mrs. Berkley doesn’t stop the adventure when the school day ends! Outside the classroom, she’s a thrill-seeker who loves participating in triathlons and even skydiving! 🏃‍♀️✈️ And when she’s not chasing new challenges, you can find her running, swimming, or curled up with a good book. Her dream travel destination? Africa! 🌍 And her guiding motto? "The way you do anything is the way you do everything," which she lives out in every aspect of her life—whether she’s teaching, running, or jumping out of planes!

Due to the current weather conditions, Pender County Schools is moving to an early release schedule. Additionally, all after-school activities have been canceled. To view the updated bell schedule for early release, please visit our website - https://www.pender.k12.nc.us/page/school-bell-schedule At this time, we plan to resume our normal schedule tomorrow. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Please stay safe.

According to the latest update from the National Weather Service, there are no major changes to the forecast associated with Tropical Cyclone #8. Pender County Schools will continue to monitor the weather to determine if any changes to the schedule is needed. Please continue to follow our social media platforms and the Pender County Schools website for the latest information.

Pender County Schools will operate on a normal schedule tomorrow. We're closely monitoring the weather and consulting with local experts. If any changes arise, we will notify families via our website and social media. Stay tuned for updates! #PCSUpdates