**Important Notice for Parents of Middle and High School Students**
In compliance with North Carolina state law (Session Law 2023-128), all public schools are required to show age-appropriate videos created by the NC Center for Safer Schools to students in grades 6–12 within the first five days of the school year.
These videos provide information on recognizing likely warning signs that a child may be a victim of abuse or neglect, including age-appropriate guidance on sexual abuse prevention. This is a state requirement for all North Carolina public schools, not a Columbus County Schools initiative.
See this for more information - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QLIrrX478StjO4oAM8SfuBRy6S4p1cUz/view
CCS social workers and nurses participated in a back to school event sponsored by the Columbus County Health Department. This event provided community resources and back to school supplies to over 200 county residents.
On this first full day back for teachers, we honor them with a poem by Hailey Long, 2024 Poet Laureate of SCHS, called "A Teacher's Map."
“ A Teacher’s Map ”
We read books that had hidden messages,
poured over paragraphs we didn’t understand,
whispered the right answers out loud, too afraid to speak up.
We wrote formulas over and over again,
gripping pens like weapons in a war we didn’t prepare for,
keeping our distance from success because we were lost.
Everyone here wanted a place for themselves,
but we all feared escaping what we were familiar with,
and maybe we were trapped inside of fear itself,
but it was a dark room of doubt that we had constructed alone.
We looked for the door and never a light.
The soft moments when a teacher waited for us to speak,
when a voice in the front of the room said,
“You matter here even when you go.”
The mornings when the world outside was louder than thoughts,
and they asked if we were okay before asking for our homework.
There were lessons not written in chalk or typed into slides.
They lived in the way we were told we had potential,
even when we didn’t believe it ourselves.
They lived in the patience for our late assignments,
and the understanding that sometimes life gets in the way.
We didn’t always listen.
We didn’t always try.
But someone kept showing up for us anyway.
Now we walk out of these halls carrying more than just a paper.
We carry their words that saved us,
the looks that saw us for who we are,
the hands that guided us to become something more.
And maybe that’s what teaching truly is,
not filling our heads with notes, but our hearts with maps,
being someone who gives us the key of light,
and guides us to the door that was always open
This guide includes helpful info to get your school year off to a great start. Still have questions? Use the form at the bottom and we’ll be in touch!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS-pgCU_5-j-iN88MVkCT1YKBhCJK91Gpir9s0BsIau-V8PtOuyDDEKb_a_MW7F6qj1opPsXyqNg3xd/pub
Makeup Substitute Update Training - 9AM-12PM August 6th at Central Services.
Nakina Middle School Open House
https://tinyurl.com/2526ccsopenhouse
HEARTS Foundation Presents:
Columbus County’s Largest & Longest-Running School Supply Drive!
The HEARTS Foundation is excited to invite all school-age children to receive a free backpack and school supplies—just in time for the new school year!
Important Details:
This year’s event will be drive-thru only. No walk-ups allowed.
All children must be present in the vehicle to receive supplies. No supplies will be given to adults without children present.
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: 116 Miller Street, Chadbourn, NC
Don’t miss this opportunity to get your child ready for school—while supplies last!
School attendance and class participation are an integral part of academic achievement and the teaching-learning process. Regular attendance develops patterns of behavior essential to professional and personal success in life. Regular attendance by every student is mandatory: the State of North Carolina requires that every child in the State between the ages of seven (or younger if enrolled) and 16 years of age attend school.
No more than five school days per semester will be excused based on parent notes. Future absences due to personal illness, injury, or medical/dental appointments, will require a healthcare practitioner's statement to be excused.
Students may lose athletic eligibility for not following the attendance policy.
Grades K-8
Students who are chronically absent (excused, unexcused or suspended for more than 10% of the days enrolled) are at risk of not mastering the content standards. Students may be referred for academic and/or attendance interventions within a Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS). Grade retention will be considered due to a lack of mastery as a result of chronic absenteeism.
Grades 9-12
High school students who are chronically absent (excused unexcused or suspended for more than l0% of the days enrolled) are at risk of not mastering the content standards. Students may be referred for academic and/or attendance interventions within a Multi-tiered System of Support (MTSS). Students who miss more than ten days (unexcused) per course will be subject to an attendance-based failure (FF).
Cell Phone Policy Update
All classes in grades K-12 in the district will be a phone-free space to help optimize teaching and learning. Phones will not be allowed at any time during the school day, including lunch periods. This update reflects requirements as signed into law by HB 959.
High School students must store their devices and device accessories in Yondr Pouches as directed by the district. Students in grades K-8 must power off and keep devices and accessories in their bookbags during the instructional day. Provisions will be made for students that use cellphones for medical purposes.
Columbus County Schools may forbid student possession of devices and device accessories on school property.
Please note that Columbus County Schools will not be responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged devices.
For more information, visit https://evp.nc.gov/solicitations/details/?id=a0f36708-8762-f011-bec2-001dd80c2969
