Columbus County School District -

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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There will be no school for students from April 3rd through April 10th. Students will return to school on April 13th.

Please mark your calendars for this year's AIG Showcase.  It will held at West Columbus School (Little West) on Thursday, April 23 from 6:00-7:00.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Congratulations to our book baskets winners from literacy night!

April 1st 2026- Paraprofessional Appreciation Day is a special day dedicated to those who work in a classroom supporting students to ensure educational success. In the school sector, paraprofessional educators are also known as Behavior Support Specialists, Teacher Assistants, and Paraeducators. These fantastic people deliver targeted support to students who may need extra help and work to maintain the classroom, keeping it running smoothly. Paraprofessionals are the unsung heroes of the education system - without their strong foundation, teachers frequently report feeling overwhelmed and overworked. Paraprofessionals help shoulder the workload and allow teachers to focus on what they do best - teach! Paraprofessional Appreciation Day seeks to bring these professionals to the forefront and show them a little extra love for all the incredible work they do, day in and day out.

🔎Mystery at HAES: The Case of the Missing Tests! 🔍 Mrs. Russ’s class went on an exciting mission to uncover the culprit behind the missing tests—just in time to save Spring Break! 🕵️‍♂️🌸 Using their skills in inference, context clues, and identifying the main idea, students worked together to solve the mystery. After carefully analyzing the evidence, they discovered that the culprit was none other than… Coach Padgett! What a fun and engaging way to put critical thinking skills into action! 👏📚

The 26-27 School Calendar is posted.

Columbus County Schools is now accepting applications for Pre-K for the 2026–2027 school year.

https://aptg.co/4lG1L-

Families interested in enrolling their child are encouraged to apply now. For more information or assistance with the application process, please contact Terri Ard at 910-642-5168 or tard@columbus.k12.nc.us
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Las Escuelas del Condado de Columbus ahora están aceptando solicitudes para Pre-K para el año escolar 2026–2027.

Se anima a las familias interesadas en inscribir a sus hijos a que presenten su solicitud ahora. Para más información o ayuda con el proceso de solicitud, comuníquese con Terri Ard al 910-642-5168 o por correo electrónico a tard@columbus.k12.nc.us
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📸✨ Career Day on Wheels with HAES – Part 2 ✨🚍

We couldn’t fit all the fun into just one post… so here’s Part 2! 🎉📸

Our HAES Panthers continued to shine as they learned, explored, and dreamed big during Career Day on Wheels. 🌟 From start to finish, it was a day full of engagement, inspiration, and excitement! 🐾

A big thank you again to everyone who helped create such a meaningful experience for our students. ❤️

We loved every moment—and we know our students did too! 😊

#HAES #CareerDayOnWheels #PantherPride #StudentSuccess 🐾