East Columbus
East Columbus Jr-Sr (7-12)
Congratulations to these talented students for being chosen to represent Columbus County Schools at the Cameron Art Museum in Wilmington, NC, as part of the Rising Stars Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition will be on display from February 7, 2026 through March 1, 2026, showcasing their creativity, skill, and artistic voice. We are proud of their hard work and honored to see their artwork featured in such a prestigious setting!
Rising Stars Student Art Exhibition
Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC
Columbus County Schools
Zayda Eddie
Wild Starter
10th, West Columbus High School
Lia Specht
In Awe
11th, West Columbus High School
Ivan Osorio-Abonza
Corn from Home
10th, West Columbus High School
Samantha Strickland
Maggie Valley Mountains
10th, West Columbus High School
Kaitlynn Garden
I Flollop for You
11th, South Columbus High School
Isabella Applewhite
Breeze
10th, East Columbus High School
Alan Rodriguez Arce
Opposites Attract
11th, South Columbus High School
Greidys Avelino
Sunset Mountain
11th, South Columbus High School
Rising Stars Student Art Exhibition
Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC
Columbus County Schools
Zayda Eddie
Wild Starter
10th, West Columbus High School
Lia Specht
In Awe
11th, West Columbus High School
Ivan Osorio-Abonza
Corn from Home
10th, West Columbus High School
Samantha Strickland
Maggie Valley Mountains
10th, West Columbus High School
Kaitlynn Garden
I Flollop for You
11th, South Columbus High School
Isabella Applewhite
Breeze
10th, East Columbus High School
Alan Rodriguez Arce
Opposites Attract
11th, South Columbus High School
Greidys Avelino
Sunset Mountain
11th, South Columbus High School
Congratulations to our county Poetry Out Loud winners — Isabella Applewhite and Mckenna Ware-Rudnik of East Columbus Jr./Sr. High School, and AJ McGhee of Columbus Career and College Academy! Their teachers are Sloan Deans and Kevin Toman.
We are incredibly proud of their powerful performances and dedication to the art of recitation. They will represent our county at the state competition next — best of luck as you take the stage!
We are incredibly proud of their powerful performances and dedication to the art of recitation. They will represent our county at the state competition next — best of luck as you take the stage!
Attention Gator family! This is a courtesy reminder that Parent Teacher Conferences are tomorrow from 11:30-7pm. The building will open at 11:30. We hope to see you there!
Monday, February 9, is Parent-Teacher Conference Day for all schools except CCCA. This is a great opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher and discuss how your child is doing in school.
There will be no school for students on this day so that we can focus on these important meetings.
Conferences will be held from 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM. You may choose a time that works best for you and meet in person, by phone, or online—whichever is most convenient.
During the conference, you will learn about your child’s strengths, areas for growth, and ways we can work together to support their success. To schedule your conference, please contact your child’s teacher directly.
Thank you for your continued support of your child’s learning!
There will be no school for students on this day so that we can focus on these important meetings.
Conferences will be held from 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM. You may choose a time that works best for you and meet in person, by phone, or online—whichever is most convenient.
During the conference, you will learn about your child’s strengths, areas for growth, and ways we can work together to support their success. To schedule your conference, please contact your child’s teacher directly.
Thank you for your continued support of your child’s learning!
Columbus County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay tomorrow, February 5th.
Save the Date! Celebrate the Arts 2026 will be March 21st at West Columbus High School from 4:30-9:30!
Columbus County Schools will conduct remote instruction on Tuesday, February 3, and Wednesday, February 4. During these virtual learning days, students should check Google Classroom for assignments and communication from their teachers.
If you experience technical issues during remote instruction, please contact the Tech Support Hotline at 910-499-0080 or email ccssupport@columbus.k12.nc.us. All questions regarding assignments should be directed to the teacher.
Families are encouraged to continue monitoring the Columbus County Schools mobile app, district website, social media, and Remind messages for updates.
If you experience technical issues during remote instruction, please contact the Tech Support Hotline at 910-499-0080 or email ccssupport@columbus.k12.nc.us. All questions regarding assignments should be directed to the teacher.
Families are encouraged to continue monitoring the Columbus County Schools mobile app, district website, social media, and Remind messages for updates.
Columbus County Schools will be in remote instruction on Monday, February 2, 2026, due to the approaching winter storm. Students should check Google Classroom for assignments and contact their teachers if they have any questions. We will continue to monitor conditions and make a decision regarding Tuesday as conditions develop.
Please monitor social media, school websites, Remind, and—most importantly—download the Columbus County Schools mobile app to receive the latest information and updates.
Columbus County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Tuesday, January 27, for students and staff due to severe cold and dangerous wind chills.
Columbus County Schools will operate on a regular schedule on Monday, January 26, 2026. Staff members who live outside the district and are experiencing difficulty traveling safely should contact their principal.
Greetings Gator Family. We are on regular schedule tomorrow. Our Superintendent and staff will continue monitoring weather conditions. Please be safe!
All schools (except CCCA) will resume classes on Tuesday, January 6th.
CCCA will resume classes on Monday, January 5th.
CCCA will resume classes on Monday, January 5th.
All schools (except CCCA) will resume classes on Tuesday, January 6th.
CCCA will resume classes on Monday, January 5th.
CCCA will resume classes on Monday, January 5th.
Columbus County Schools will operate on a two-hour delay on Monday, December 15, due to expected low wind chill temperatures.
High school exams will continue as scheduled. Please make sure students arrive on time and ready for testing, following the adjusted start time.
Thank you for your patience and support as we prioritize the safety of our students and staff.
High school exams will continue as scheduled. Please make sure students arrive on time and ready for testing, following the adjusted start time.
Thank you for your patience and support as we prioritize the safety of our students and staff.
MS football practice tomorrow until 5pm.
The Board recognized the East Columbus High FFA at the November Board Meeting for their participation in the Parliamentary Procedure National Event.
East Columbus FFA represented North Carolina in the Parliamentary Procedure National Event on October 29th & 30th. Along with 42 other states, students completed a knowledge test on Robert's Rules of Order, a quote research activity, a team scenario activity, and a minute's practicum. Students then competed against states for the meeting portion, where they showcased their parliamentary knowledge by completing given abilities in a certain amount of time during a mock meeting. Competition was fierce, and we ended up placing in the bronze category for the contest. We all learned a lot from competing at the national level and were excited to share this knowledge with our chapter in hopes of making it again. While in Indianapolis, student Lillian Arroyo, a National Reporter for FFA in the USA, attended a private tour of the press box and media rooms at the Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL team. Lillian also volunteered as a Courtesy Crops member, working a shift at the Ag Issues Form finals securing the ballroom doors during contest. While at the expo students spoke with colleges and agricultural industries from across the country, building connections for their future.
Students that attended:
Mackenzi Clemmons
Lillian Arroyo
Reagan Bullard
Ava Grice
Ben Long (graduated member)
Sara Sessions (graduated member)
Staff that attended:
Hunter Long
Alicia Pickett
Bryan Fowler
East Columbus FFA represented North Carolina in the Parliamentary Procedure National Event on October 29th & 30th. Along with 42 other states, students completed a knowledge test on Robert's Rules of Order, a quote research activity, a team scenario activity, and a minute's practicum. Students then competed against states for the meeting portion, where they showcased their parliamentary knowledge by completing given abilities in a certain amount of time during a mock meeting. Competition was fierce, and we ended up placing in the bronze category for the contest. We all learned a lot from competing at the national level and were excited to share this knowledge with our chapter in hopes of making it again. While in Indianapolis, student Lillian Arroyo, a National Reporter for FFA in the USA, attended a private tour of the press box and media rooms at the Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL team. Lillian also volunteered as a Courtesy Crops member, working a shift at the Ag Issues Form finals securing the ballroom doors during contest. While at the expo students spoke with colleges and agricultural industries from across the country, building connections for their future.
Students that attended:
Mackenzi Clemmons
Lillian Arroyo
Reagan Bullard
Ava Grice
Ben Long (graduated member)
Sara Sessions (graduated member)
Staff that attended:
Hunter Long
Alicia Pickett
Bryan Fowler
Yam Festival Art and Poetry Winners were recognized at the November Board Meeting.
CCS Brunswick Electric Bright Ideas Winners were recognized at the November Board Meeting.
This year’s Bright Ideas Grants recognized innovative educators across Columbus County Schools for their creative instructional proposals. At Acme Delco Elementary, Jaclyn McCoy received a $500 grant for Student Organizational Binders. At Chadbourn Elementary, Herman D. Bland was awarded $1,400 for Project ReCharge. Helen Craven Axelberg of Columbus Career and College Academy earned $1,500 to support the Culinary Food Trike project. At East Columbus High School, Anthony Martin received $1,200 for Lights, Camera, Learning: Expanding Student Access to Video Production Tools, Jeffrey Rudnik earned $1,900 for Recycling Ceramic Clay for Columbus County Schools’ Arts Programs, and Alicia Pickett was awarded $1,650 for Sustainable Learning with Hydroponics.
At Hallsboro-Artesia Elementary, Amber Howard received $1,500 for Bright Boards, Bright Futures. At Nakina Middle School, Alyssa Nelson earned $500 for Hear to Learn. Mallory Furlow of Old Dock Elementary was awarded $700 for Pathways to Progress. At South Columbus High School, Miranda Romans received $1,500 for Ready, Set, Action: Virtual Creativity, and Breanna Seckman earned $1,000 for Project P.R.I.N.T.
Tabor City Elementary had two winning projects led by Angela Tyler, who received $850 for Rockin’ It with Robotics and $1,500 for Nature in Motion: Engaging Young Scientists in Earth Systems with Weather Knowledge. At Tabor City Middle School, Sheila Sykes earned $1,900 for Bright Minds, Bright Futures, while Marilyn D. Elliott received $900 for Paper Power: Lights, Lines, Action! West Columbus High School celebrated Whitney Cavenaugh, who received $1,000 for In Focus: Empowering the Yearbook Team, and Jennifer Sams, who was awarded $1,000 for Textile Arts for Entrepreneurs: Cultivating Creative and Lifelong Skills. At West Columbus School, Julia O. Smart earned $500 for Lego Logic, Brittany Bass received $1,000 for Listen and Learn: Enhancing Phonics Through Audio Engagement, and the school’s BETA students were awarded $1,000 for Build Community Through Dugouts.
At Williams Township Elementary, Ashley Porter received $300 for Art for Expression & Regulation, Miranda Conner Ellington earned $1,500 for Pride in the Beat: Aggie Drums Come Alive, and Lisa K. Cox received $1,500 for Full STEAM Ahead: Turning Standards into STEAM Projects. In total, Columbus County Schools earned $28,300 in Bright Ideas Grant funding this year.
We are implementing a new attendance notification system this evening. Parents will receive calls/emails/texts when a child is absent in one or more classes. Thank you!