Please read the Mustang Roundup below with celebrations and important information. Since it is COLD outside, the TOM's truck will be on campus tomorrow morning from 7:00-9:30 a.m. selling your favorite hot beverage. Students may purchase from the truck before 8:00 a.m. Parents & community members my stop by and purchase between 7:00 and 9:30 a.m.
We appreciate your support and hope you make it a great week!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bedCj1JUV949-L_T1-FXrC8ARM4QPfA6/view?usp=drivesdk
7th Grade: 100%
6th Grade: 98.39%
5th Grade: 97.37%
8th Grade: 95.45%
We exceeded our daily goal school-wide! Way to go Mustangs!
Good Evening Mustangs,
As we begin the 2nd week of the New Year, we would like to remind everyone that our learning day begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students should arrive at school between 7:30 a.m. and 7:55 a.m. in order to complete the morning safety checks and be seated when the tardy bell rings at 8:00 a.m. Students arriving after 7:55 must be signed into the office by a parent or guardian.
Students should have received an iReady Performance/Progress report with important information about the Middle of the Year Diagnostic Assessment results. Please review and discuss this information with your child and feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
The Pre-Season Basketball Tournaments begins Monday, January 12th at East Columbus Jr./Sr. High School. Our ladies will play the Central Hornets beginning at 5:00 p.m. followed by our boys at 7:00 p.m.
Congratulations to our Mustangs in 6th and 7th grade for achieving 96% average daily attendance and exceeding our weekly goal of 95%. It is is cold, flu and virus season so please help us encourage students to wash their hands, cover coughs, do not drink after each other, get plenty of sleep, and stay hydrated to remain healthy.
As a reminder, Mrs. Julie Sellers, our media coordinator retired in December. She is a dedicated educator and her contributions to our school and community are greatly appreciated. Those are big shoes to fill but we are working diligently to find a replacement.
We appreciate your continued support and are glad that you are part of our Mustang family. Please call our office if you have any questions or concerns.
Make it a great week!
READY-SET-GROW!
Monday, January 5th
Optional Workday for Staff (No School for Students)
Tuesday, January 6th
TOM’s Truck will be on campus from 7:00-9:30 a.m. Please stop by and grab a coffee or tasty beverage on your way to work!
The Mustang Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. We will discuss projects for the month and the upcoming Reverse Raffle which will be held on February 21st. Please come out and join us!
Make each day Great!
CCCA will resume classes on Monday, January 5th.
CCCA will resume classes on Monday, January 5th.
Good Evening Mustangs,
We have a busy week ahead of Christmas Break. Please view the attached Mustang Roundup 12/14/25 with our weekly events and reminders.
We appreciate each of you and hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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.
Good Evening Mustangs,
Please click the following link to view the December 7th Mustang Roundup.
We appreciate your support and hope you have a wonderful week!
Good Evening Mustangs,
Please click the following link to view the December 7th Mustang Roundup.
We appreciate your support and hope you have a wonderful week!
Good Evening Mustangs,
We hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving and look forward to a wonderful week! Please click the following link to view our Mustang Roundup for 11/30/25. https://tinyurl.com/kkp2kjbn
Good Evening Mustangs,
As we prepare for Thanksgiving, we find ourselves reflecting on all that we're thankful for. This Thanksgiving, our hearts are full as we think of our incredible students, families, and volunteers.
As you gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, we wish you a holiday filled with warmth, laughter, and cherished moments. May your tables be filled with delicious food, your hearts be filled with gratitude, and your homes be filled with the spirit of togetherness.
We hope this holiday provides an opportunity to relax, recharge, and reflect on the blessings in our lives. We look forward to welcoming you back after the break, ready to continue our journey of learning and growth together.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Nakina Middle School Family
*Please click the following link to view our Mustang Roundup 11/23/25 with events and reminders.
This is Shelly Cullipher, Principal of Nakina Middle School. We would like to share a few events and reminders for the upcoming week.
Last Thursday was World Kindness Day and we are continuing to recognize and encourage kindness. World Kindness Day/Week emphasizes the need to be kind to one another in order to thrive peacefully as a global community because kindness has the power to change the world. Being kind also has mental health benefits that promote a sense of well being. We would like to encourage our Mustang families, students, staff, and stakeholders to practice random acts of kindness each day this week and create a ripple effect.
On Monday, November 17th: (Random Act of Kindness Day 1)
On Tuesday, November 18th: (Random Act of Kindness Day 2)
5th grade students will take the NC Physical Science Check In at 8:30 a.m.
Our Lady Mustangs will travel to play volleyball at Williams Township at 4:00 p.m.
On Wednesday November 19th: (Random Act of Kindness Day 3)
On Thursday, November 20th: (Random Act of Kindness Day 4)
-FCY will meet at 7:30 a.m. in Mrs. Wall’s classroom. Participants may enter through the car line door beginning at 7:20 a.m.
-Students in grades 5-8 will take the NC Math Check In 1 at 8:30 a.m.
-The South Columbus Middle School Stallions will host West Columbus at SCHS at 6:00 p.m. (8th grade recognition for the football players.)
On Friday, November 21st: (Random Act of Kindness Day 5)
-Mustang Fast Break for students that do not have any office referrals and met iReady goals.
We are thankful for your support as we continue to help students grow and achieve excellence and mastery in learning and life. Please contact our office if you have any questions or concerns. We hope you make it a wonderful week!
Shelly F. Cullipher
Principal
Members of the Columbus County 4-H lead the very first "Real World Real Money" session at Nakina Middle School! Students learned important life skills in budgeting and financial decision-making that will help them in future endeavors.
After the lesson, students put their new skills to the test in a real-world simulation—managing expenses, paying bills, and seeing if they could make it on the salary of their chosen career. It was so much fun watching them problem-solve, plan, and realize the true value of a dollar! We appreciate the collaboration with the Columbus County 4-H!
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!