CCS Families In the Know

Skip the Line for Back-to-School Orientation!

Complete your required paperwork online before orientation by using the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

Update your contact information
Sign the Parent/Student Handbook Acknowledgment Form

Using the Parent Portal throughout the school year also gives families access to important student information, including:

Class schedules
Assignments
Grades
Attendance

Don’t wait — download the app today in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

To connect to your child’s information, you will need your unique activation key code. Please contact the data manager at your child’s school to receive this important information.

If you need help getting started, visit:

https://bit.ly/ccsicparent

Stay connected. Stay informed. Be ready for a great school year!

Craven County Schools Welcomes 60 New Educators at

Beginning Teacher Orientation

Craven County Schools is excited to welcome 60 of its newest educators during Beginning Teacher Orientation, taking place August 4–6.

The three-day training will introduce participants to the district, provide valuable resources for a successful start to the school year, and highlight what makes Craven County Schools such a great place to teach, grow, and serve students.

Throughout the orientation, beginning teachers will connect with Dr. Cheeseman, Superintendent; Dr. Artis, Craven County Schools Principal of the Year; and district leaders; learn about available programs and support services; and gain tools to help them feel confident and prepared as they enter their classrooms.

Employees across the district are encouraged to warmly welcome these new educators when they arrive at their schools. By continuing to roll out the red carpet, offering encouragement, and helping them feel at home, we can ensure they begin the year with a strong sense of connection and support.

Please join us in welcoming our newest educators to the Craven County Schools family. We look forward to an outstanding year of learning, collaboration, and success!

Cheerleaders welcome our newest educators

New Bern High School Celebrates Class of 2026 Summer Graduates

New Bern High School recently celebrated the Class of 2026 Summer Graduates during a special commencement ceremony honoring their perseverance, determination, and hard work.

The ceremony recognized students who remained committed to meeting graduation requirements and achieving the important milestone of earning their high school diplomas. Their accomplishments reflected the resilience and dedication needed to continue working toward a goal, even when the path looked different than originally planned.

During the ceremony, Principal Dr. Thomas reminded graduates that graduation is not the final destination, but an important part of the journey ahead. His message encouraged students to carry the lessons they learned, the challenges they overcame, and the determination they demonstrated into the next chapter of their lives.

New Bern High School and Craven County Schools congratulate the Class of 2026 Summer Graduates and celebrate all they have accomplished.

Go Bears—and now it is time to make your mark!

Craven County Schools Hosted 2026 Industry in Schools

Regional Symposium

Craven County Schools hosted the STEM EAST Network for the 2026 Industry in Schools Regional Symposium at New Bern High School from July 28–30.

The three-day event brought together K–12 educators and local industry leaders to strengthen connections between classroom instruction and future career opportunities. The STEM EAST Network is an education initiative of the NC East Alliance focused on preparing students for success in the region’s growing industries.

During the symposium, participants explored career pathways and workforce needs across several high-growth sectors, including the Blue Economy, aviation, energy systems, smart agriculture, smart manufacturing, biopharmaceuticals, health systems, and legal systems.

Educators received classroom-ready STEM resources, learned strategies for incorporating industry-based experiences into instruction, and collaborated with colleagues from across the region. The event was designed to help teachers connect academic concepts with real-world applications and introduce students to the wide range of careers available in eastern North Carolina.

The District appreciates New Bern High School for providing the space for this important regional event. Through partnerships with organizations such as the STEM EAST Network and the NC East Alliance, the district remains committed to creating meaningful learning experiences that prepare students for the careers of tomorrow.

New Bern Rotary’s Pigskin Review Celebrates High School

Football and Community Support

The New Bern Rotary brought together high school football teams, coaches, families, and community partners for its fifth annual Pigskin Review, featuring programs from Craven, Pamlico, and Jones counties.

Dr. Matthew Cheeseman, superintendent of Craven County Schools, opened the event by highlighting the qualities that contribute to a successful season both on and off the field. He emphasized the importance of putting the “student” first in student-athlete, with academics remaining the top priority.

Dr. Cheeseman also encouraged athletes to demonstrate sportsmanship, build strong relationships, embrace hard work, and remember that character is revealed during both victories and setbacks. He spoke about the important role families play in supporting student-athletes and recognized the dedication of coaches who guide and encourage their teams throughout the season.

A special moment during the evening was the presentation of the Goodwill Helmet Award to the family of Wilbur Sasser. In a heartfelt acceptance speech, Coach Sasser’s daughters reflected on what football meant to him and the lasting relationships he built with his players.

WCTI 12 reporter Brian North served as moderator, leading conversations with coaches and student-athletes. Each head coach shared what they are looking forward to this season, how their teams plan to overcome potential challenges, and highlights from their respective programs.

Student-athletes representing each school also spoke about what it means to be part of their team and shared their thoughts about their coaches, who stood beside them during the discussion.

The event was made possible through the support of sponsors, media partners, local businesses, and community members. Moore’s Bar-B-Que provided dinner for attendees.

Because of the generosity of the community, each participating school’s football program will receive more than $1,500 to support team needs.

Craven County Schools is grateful for an evening that brought schools, families, coaches, athletes, and community partners together in celebration of high school athletics and the positive impact of community support.

New Bern High School Beta Club/Beta Members Compete at National Beta Convention

National Beta members from New Bern High School recently participated in the 2026 National Beta Convention held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Students joined thousands of Beta members from across the United States to celebrate academic achievement, leadership, character, and service while competing in a variety of national competitions. During the convention, members from New Bern High School earned recognition in the following academic events:

11^th Grade Agriscience - National Champion – Maggie Harris
10^th Grade Biomedical – 3^rd Place - Samantha Saenez
10^th Grade Math – 8^th Place – Magdalene Deng

In addition, the engineering team made up of Maggie Harris, Ian Miller, Evan Miller, Titus Rhyne, and Reece Zachewicz attended and competed at the convention. The club was also awarded the School of Merit and School of Distinction Chapter Awards for 2025-2026.

National Convention provides opportunities for students in grades 4-12 to showcase their talents through individual and team competitions, leadership experiences, service initiatives, networking opportunities, and educational programming. The annual event brings together top-performing students who have advanced through state conventions and earned the opportunity to compete on the national stage.

The 2026 National Beta Convention, themed "Wired for Success," welcomed thousands of attendees for a week of competition, celebration, and student achievement.

Kristal Harris, club sponsor, said, “Watching our Beta students compete at the National Convention is one of the greatest rewards of being a sponsor. Their hard work, dedication, and courage to represent our school on a national stage make me proud every single day.”

New Bern High School’s Beta Club was chartered in 2024 and started with 40 members. In the past two years, six students have placed and competed at the state and national level. The club currently has approximately 80 members and participates in school-wide and community service projects during the school year. Students have the opportunity to compete in academic tests, visual arts, and team events.

With more than 500,000 active members and 14,000 clubs nationally and internationally, National Beta has become the nation’s largest independent, non-profit, educational youth organization. National Beta promotes the ideals of academic achievement, character, service, and leadership among elementary and secondary school students. National Elementary Beta includes grades 4-5, National Junior Beta includes grades 6-8, and National Senior Beta includes grades 9-12. Visit betaclub.org for more information.