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!
Weekly Reminders
This week we are celebrating being drug and bully free at the Dock. Each day this week students are encouraged to dress based on the daily theme.
Monday is wear your red! Say no to bullying and drugs.
Tuesday is hat day. Hats off to being drug and bullying free.
Wednesday is wear comfy clothes or pajamas.
Thursday is wear college or future career clothing.
Friday is say Boo to Drugs and Bullying! Wear your Halloween costumes. Please make sure they are not scary. Also, face masks are not permitted.
We have an exciting week ahead! Be safe and have a blessed week!
2025 Surplus Auction
89 School Rd.
Hallsboro, NC 28442
October 24, 2025 – 10:00 a.m.
Preview: October 22nd and 23rd, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
1. Office Chairs
2. TV Carts
3. Cafeteria Chairs
4. Wood Chairs
5. Stackable Chairs
6. Ladder Back Chairs
7. Cafeteria Tables
8. Student Desks
9. Office Desks
10. Refrigerators
11. Promethean Boards
12. Band Equipment
13. Metal Cabinets
14. Computer Tables
15. Small Lockers
16. Large Lockers
17. Wood Cabinets
18. HVAC Units
19. Weight Lifting Equipment
20. Stainless Steel Table
21. Bulletin Boards
22. Milk Boxes
23. Ice Machines
24. Wood Lathe
25. Basketball Goals
26. Edging Blocks
27. Champion Air Compressor
28. Microwave and Toaster Ovens
29. Metal Grating
30. Aluminum Pans
31. Exercise Equipment
32. Floor Machines
33. Dry Erase Boards
34. Wire Shelves
35. Electric Motors and Pumps
36. File Cabinets
37. Overhead Projectors
38. Brake Lathe
39. Engine Analyzer
40. Sewing Machines
41. Copiers
42. Pressure Washer
43. Laminator
44. Music Keyboard
45. Scoreboards
46. Chain Link Fence and Gates
47. John Deere Reel Mower
48. Toro Reel Mower
49. Cub Cadet 2166 Mower
50. John Deere Gator
51. 1987 Chevrolet Pickup
52. 1996 Ford Pickup
53. 2008 Ford Pickup
54. 2012 Ford Pickup
55. Ford 1500 Tractor
56. MH 50H Forklift
Each fire department within Columbus County has been supplied with an allotment of these smoke detectors for installation in homes across their respective districts.
We encourage all families throughout the county to take advantage of this free smoke detector check and installation program. This initiative ensures that every home has properly functioning and up-to-date smoke detectors. If any detectors are found to be outdated, missing, or not working, new ones will be installed free of charge.
A special thank you to our amazing principals from the Board.
Monday, October 13, is a Teacher Conference Day for all schools.
There will be no school for students on this day (CCCA will operate on a regular schedule).
Teachers will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for in-person or virtual conferences.
Please contact your child’s teacher to schedule an appointment.
Lunes 13 de octubre es un Día de Conferencias para Maestros en todas las escuelas.
No habrá clases para los estudiantes ese día (CCCA operará con horario regular).
Los maestros estarán disponibles de 11:30 a.m. a 7:00 p.m. para conferencias presenciales o virtuales.
Por favor, comuníquese con el maestro de su hijo(a) para programar una cita.
To keep families informed, updates will be shared through the following channels:
District and school Facebook pages
Text messages and phone calls
Remind notifications
The CCS Mobile App
District and school websites
X.com - @colcoschools
Local media outlets
As a general rule, we will move to remote instruction on days when weather prevents us from being in person.
We encourage you to check these platforms regularly so you receive the most up-to-date information.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to keep our students and staff safe.
The first meeting will be September 30th.
Come and be part of this supportive community!
Campus Parent, the new Parent Portal for Columbus County Schools, is now open!
Follow these instructions to setup your account and track your child's progress!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tXiBNIz47UXa3neEqst6TgfK-WOTidCAzOAMlPIqCvs/edit?usp=sharing
You will need your child's student ID number. If you do not know the number, you may contact your child's school.
These instructions are also located under the "Parents" tab of the CCS Website.
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!
Makeup Substitute Update Training - 9AM-12PM August 6th at Central Services.
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.
