Columbus County School District -

Mr. Eddie Beck held the final meeting of the 2025–2026 school year with the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council this past week. The council has been instrumental in developing the new strategic plan, offering valuable feedback and insight on initiatives aimed at improving learning for all students. Their impact will resonate for years to come.

Columbus County Schools was honored to receive a Certificate of Appreciation, and Hallsboro-Artesia Elementary School was proudly recognized as a Purple Star School. The Purple Star designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families. These schools go above and beyond to ensure smooth transitions for students who may frequently move due to military assignments. They provide dedicated staff support, maintain resources for military families, and foster a welcoming, inclusive environment where military children feel valued and understood. Mrs. Amber Howard joined Mr. Beck in accepting this prestigious recognition on behalf of HAES. This honor reflects the school’s ongoing dedication to meeting the unique social, emotional, and academic needs of military-connected students and ensuring every child feels supported and at home.

Science and storytelling were on full display today at TCS! 🧪📚 At TCS, our 5th graders knocked it out of the park with their Science Experiment projects and ELA Biography research. From testing hypotheses to stepping into the shoes of historical icons, these students showed incredible hard work, creativity, and inquiry. So proud of our young scientists and historians! 🌟

These Tabor City School students met their Accelerated Reader goals during the first three terms of school. They had a blast at Fun Warehouse in Myrtle Beach! The students enjoyed a day of roller skating, laser tag, arcade games, and a pizza lunch. Hats off to these Accelerated Readers at Tabor City for meeting their goals two out of three nine weeks of school!  

Columbus County Schools invites families and community members to attend our upcoming AIG Showcase, where students in grades 3–8 will present the STEM projects they have been working on throughout the year. This event is a great opportunity to celebrate student creativity, innovation, and hard work.

Thursday, April 23, 2026
6:00 – 7:00 PM

West Columbus School Gym
7685 Andrew Jackson Hwy SW
Cerro Gordo, NC

We hope you will join us to support and celebrate our students!

Happy Administrative Assistant Day to Crystal Worley and Tammy Simmons! TCS has the sweetest ladies keeping us organized. We love you! 💜

Reminder!

During the April Board of Education meeting, several students were recognized as winners in the annual A.R. Ammons Poetry Contest. Named in honor of Columbus County native and renowned poet A. R. Ammons, the contest celebrates outstanding student writing from across the county.

Division I:

1st Place: Charlie Spivey – Old Dock Elementary (Teacher: Carrie Buffkin)
3rd Place: Camila Bugarin-Villarreal – Old Dock Elementary (Teacher: Carrie Buffkin)
Honorable Mention: Lilliana Mancio – Williams Township (Teacher: Amber Greene)
Honorable Mention: Nicholas Griffin – Old Dock Elementary (Teacher: Taylor Gilbert)
Honorable Mention: Sarah Cox – Williams Township (Teacher: Amber Greene)
Honorable Mention: Natalynn Kennedy – Williams Township (Teacher: Tracy McGraw)

Division II:

1st Place: Adlee Mercer – Williams Township (Teacher: Lindsey Dudley)
2nd Place: Colton McKeithan – Old Dock Elementary (Teacher: Meghan Canady)
3rd Place (tie): Ellorie Ward – Old Dock Elementary (Teacher: Meghan Canady)
3rd Place (tie): Emma Turner – Williams Township (Teacher: Lisa Cox)
Honorable Mention: Connor Williamson – Williams Township (Teacher: Lindsey Dudley)
Honorable Mention: Nash Ward – Williams Township (Teacher: Chesney Aguillard)
Honorable Mention: Logan Sellers – Williams Township (Teacher: Chesney Aguillard)
Honorable Mention: Hayesly McPherson – Williams Township (Teacher: Chesney Aguillard)
Honorable Mention: Deacon O’Ferrell – Old Dock Elementary (Teacher: Meghan Canady)

Division III:

1st Place: Mya Jacobs – East Columbus Junior/Senior High
2nd Place: Sophia Long – Tabor City School
Honorable Mention: Macy Castro – Nakina Middle School
Honorable Mention: Paityn Reaves – Tabor City School
Honorable Mention: Lily Mercer – Williams Township Elementary School
Honorable Mention: Zara Wilson – Nakina Middle School

Division IV:

1st Place: Tanijia Gerald – Columbus Career and College Academy
2nd Place: Mckenna Ware-Rudnik – East Columbus Junior/Senior High
3rd Place: Morgan Boyd – South Columbus High
Honorable Mention: Mckenna Ware-Rudnik – East Columbus Junior/Senior High
Honorable Mention: Kei’Asyhia McClure – South Columbus High
Honorable Mention: Christian Soto – South Columbus High
Honorable Mention: Marcus Smith – South Columbus High
Honorable Mention: Jaylen Spears – East Columbus Junior/Senior High
Honorable Mention: Gabriel Beans – Columbus Career and College Academy
Honorable Mention: Cynthia Ward – West Columbus High

These students demonstrated exceptional creativity and talent in writing, and their work reflects the strong literary tradition across Columbus County Schools. We congratulate all winners, as well as the teachers who support and inspire their success.

During the April Board of Education meeting, several students from Williams Township School were recognized for their outstanding achievements in Beta Club competitions. These students earned top honors across a wide range of categories, showcasing their creativity, craftsmanship, and academic excellence.

Students recognized included:

Addie Lee (8th Grade) – Woodworking
Brody Coleman (6th Grade) – Woodworking
Brady Worley (8th Grade) – Woodworking
Michael Jamison (8th Grade) – Woodworking
Jacob Coker (7th Grade) – Woodworking
Bryson Coleman (7th Grade) – Color Photography
Lily Hardin (8th Grade) – Black and White Photography
Piper Burroughs (8th Grade) – Recyclable Art
Aria Bowen – Painting
Lily Mercer (8th Grade) – Mixed Media
Bryan McKeithan (7th Grade) – Digital Art

Team and Group Recognitions:

WTS Accessorized Design Team: Elleigh Prout, Lily Hardin, Molly Patterson, Haveri Housand, Adisyn McPherson, Chloe McGraw
WTS Club Trading Pin Team: Lily Mercer, Adisyn McPherson, Python Matheson, Addie Floyd, Maddie McPherson, Kyleigh Hewett
Piano Performing Arts Duo: Braxson Conner and Mason Edwards

Songfest Participants:
Maddie Jamison, Brooklyn Stanley, Adisyn McPherson, Kasen Watts, Mason Benton, Brant Hammonds, Jacob Coker, Peyton Matheson, Dylan Gore, Bryson Coleman, Braxson Conner, Mason Edwards, Kyleigh Hewett, Maddie McPherson, Haveri Housand, Molly Patterson, Chloe McGraw, Brileigh Cartrette, Brody Smith, Jayden Grey, Kamryn Simmons, Ryleigh Garrell

Additional Recognitions:

Sara Anderson – Engineering
Brody Reaves – Speech
NC Junior Beta State Officer Candidate (President): Brody Reaves

These accomplishments reflect the dedication and talent of Williams Township School students and the strength of their Beta Club program. Columbus County Schools is proud to celebrate their success.

A moment of reflection from a 2nd grade teacher (Mrs. Cribb) at TCS. "There’s something unforgettable about watching learning come to life—literally. Hatching chickens in the classroom has been one of the best hands-on learning experiences I’ve ever been part of. From the moment the eggs were placed in the incubator, curiosity took over. Students weren’t just reading about life cycles—they were observing them in real time. Every day brought new excitement and deeper understanding. And then came hatch day… the quiet peeping, the first cracks, and finally the moment a chick breaks free. You could feel the room shift—pure awe, pride, and connection. Experiences like this spark curiosity, responsibility, and empathy in ways that traditional lessons just can’t match. Hands-on learning isn’t just effective—it’s powerful, memorable, and meaningful. This is the kind of learning that sticks"🐥💙

The fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper, was performed at Tabor City School on Tuesday, April 14 by Pork Chop Productions Theatre. The live performance included a hard working ant and a lazy grasshopper who was busy being a social media influencer. The performance taught an important lesson of ‘how hard work pays off.’ Other morals (life lessons) were also presented throughout the play. It was enjoyed by all!

This week, we’re proud to celebrate National Assistant Principals Week and recognize two incredible leaders in our school community—Mrs. Cartrette and Mrs. Ransom! 🎉

Thank you both for your dedication, leadership, and the countless ways you support our students, staff, and families each day. From keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes to stepping in wherever you’re needed, your impact does not go unnoticed.

We appreciate all you do to make our school a positive, supportive place to learn and grow! 💙

Since we were enjoying spring break, we didn’t want to miss the chance to celebrate someone who makes a difference in our school every single day. 📚✨

National School Librarian Day was observed on Saturday, April 4, and we want to give a huge shoutout to Mrs. Lennon! Thank you for fostering a love of reading, supporting our students and staff, and creating such a welcoming space for learning and curiosity.

We appreciate all that you do—our school library is better because of you! 💙

Upcoming Substitute Update Trainings...

Join Us for a Special Groundbreaking Ceremony!

Columbus County Schools invites our community to celebrate an exciting new chapter in education as we break ground for East View School—the future home of the East View Lumberjacks!

Located in the heart of historic Bolton, this state-of-the-art elementary and middle school will bring together the East Columbus communities and open the door to new opportunities for our students.

Thursday, April 16
10:00 AM
Bolton, NC

Come be a part of this milestone moment as we build a school—and a future—together!

For more information, call 910-642-5168 or visit www.columbus.k12.nc.us
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