Nakina

Monday, March 16, will be an optional teacher workday for all schools except Columbus Career & College Academy (CCCA). There will be no school for students.

Due to expected inclement weather tomorrow, CCCA will operate on a remote instruction schedule.

There will be no afternoon or evening activities at any school tomorrow due to the weather.

As part of our March Madness Challenge, this week, students turned learning time into MOVEMENT time—combining rigorous thinking with relay races, partner games, math manipulatives and lots of smiles as they showed what they know. Thank you to our teachers for designing engaging, standards-based activities that get bodies AND brains moving, and to our students for giving their best effort on every play. Columbus County Schools is all in on making learning active, joyful, and challenging—on and off the court! Check out the video: https://youtu.be/3WZen5ASBW0

Week 3 tip-off is HERE, Columbus County! 🏀 This week in our Rigor Rebound: March Madness Challenge, our Elite 8 will go head to head as we zero in on the 8 Qualities of Authentic Engagement in our classrooms. Check out our Elite 8 Match-ups here: https://youtu.be/nWMpLOUPtms

Columbus County Health Department will be visiting Columbus County Schools to offer Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) and Meningococcal vaccines to rising 7th and 12th graders. This is an excellent opportunity for students to receive their state-required vaccines. If you are interested in your child receiving these vaccines while at school, please contact your child’s school or a school nurse to obtain the required forms. Completed consent forms must be returned to your child’s school by March 31, 2026.

See dates and locations here -https://aptg.co/__v-xD

Vaccine Information Sheets will be provided. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s school or speak with a school nurse.

Mustang Weekly Roundup March 8, 2026
Tuesday, March 10th: Students will take the NC Reading Check In Wednesday, March 11th: Spring Picture Orders and Careers on Wheels Field Trip Permission Forms are Due.
Wednesday, March 11th: Baseball & Softball Pre-Season Tournament@ Tabor City Complex 4:00 pm. Wednesday, March 11th: SIT/Staff Meeting at 3:05 PM
Thursday, March 12th: 7th Grade Field Trip to Fayetteville Marksman Hockey Game.
Friday, March 13th: SCHS JROTC will visit 8th Grade at 8:30 am. Congratulations to 6th Grade for 97% Average Daily Attendance last Week!
45 Instructional Days Remaining until the EOG's! #nmsmustangs #mustangexcellence #mustangsreadysetgrow
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Wondering how schools move through the challenge... from Rankings → Sweet 12 → Elite 8 → Final 4 → Champion? 🏀

Here’s the game plan:
Week 1: Rankings based on lesson plans, student learning tasks and classroom walkthrough data.
Week 2: Sweet “12” – schools compete in pools with a focus on RIGOR.
Week 3: Elite 8 – competition focus shifts to ENGAGEMENT.
Week 4: Final 4 – schools must show BOTH rigor and engagement across classrooms.
Week 5: Championship game and celebrations before Spring Break.

Every task submitted and every walkthrough completed is a “possession” that can earn points.
Play hard, learn hard, have fun!

What are we really “rebounding” toward?
Rigor = tasks that push students to analyze, justify, create, and problem‑solve – not just recall.
Engagement = students talking, collaborating, making choices, and caring about the work.

During Rigor Rebound we’re asking:
1. Does the learning task cross the Rigor Divide?
2. Do we see multiple qualities of engagement in each lesson?

Every redesign, every walkthrough, every conversation is about giving students a more powerful learning experience — and having fun while we do it.

Comment below: Which do you want to grow more this month – rigor or engagement?