HAPPY PRINCIPAL'S MONTH FROM KID PRINCIPAL JAYDA-TPE

Adventure Comes to Life at Brinson Memorial Elementary School

Brinson Memorial Elementary School recently brought learning beyond the classroom with an exciting Family Outdoor Adventure Night & Spooky Reading Night, welcoming students and families for an evening of outdoor exploration, literacy, and family fun.

The special event offered a variety of hands-on activities designed to encourage students and their families to explore nature, enjoy reading, and create lasting memories together. From hiking the school's outdoor trails and fishing to roasting s'mores and listening to spooky stories, families enjoyed an evening filled with adventure and excitement. A visiting ice cream truck added an extra sweet treat to the festivities!

The event served as a culmination of several weeks of adventure-themed physical education lessons, allowing students to share their newly developed skills and experiences with their families. By exploring the school's beautiful outdoor learning spaces, students had the opportunity to build confidence, practice outdoor skills, and demonstrate that meaningful learning can happen well beyond the traditional classroom setting.

The addition of Spooky Reading Night brought literacy into the adventure, encouraging students to discover the joy of storytelling while spending quality time with family and friends.

Events like Family Outdoor Adventure Night highlight Brinson Memorial Elementary's commitment to creating engaging educational experiences that strengthen school-family connections, promote active lifestyles, and inspire a lifelong love of learning.

A special thank you to the dedicated Brinson Memorial Elementary staff and supportive families who helped make this memorable evening possible.

At Brinson Memorial Elementary, learning is an adventure, and every experience is an opportunity to grow, explore, and discover!

Encouraging Children to Seek Adventure—One Experience at a Time!

West Craven Middle School Students Bring Greek Mythology

to Life Through Hands-On Learning

Sixth-grade students at West Craven Middle School recently discovered that the adventure doesn't have to end when the final page of a book is turned! Through creative, hands-on enrichment activities inspired by the popular novel Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief, students transformed their reading experience into an exciting opportunity for exploration, collaboration, and problem-solving.

After completing the novel in Ms. Daniel's and Ms. Edward's ELA and ELA Plus classes, students participated in a variety of engaging extension activities designed to deepen their understanding of the story while connecting literature to real-world skills.

From designing and building towers and boats to exploring drone technology and participating in games inspired by the novel, students were challenged to think creatively, work collaboratively, and apply critical-thinking skills. These interactive experiences allowed students to explore themes and concepts from Greek mythology in new and exciting ways while reinforcing important academic and interpersonal skills.

The activities were made possible through a collaborative effort involving classroom teachers, Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Teacher David Rackley, and Media Coordinator Robyn Register. By combining their expertise and creativity, these educators created meaningful learning opportunities that extended beyond traditional classroom instruction.

This innovative approach to literacy instruction demonstrates how hands-on enrichment activities can strengthen reading comprehension, encourage student engagement, and inspire a deeper appreciation for literature. Students were able to make connections between the fictional world of Percy Jackson and practical challenges requiring teamwork, creativity, and perseverance.

We applaud the dedicated educators at West Craven Middle School for creating memorable learning experiences that spark curiosity and encourage students to explore new possibilities.

At West Craven Middle School, the pages of a book became the beginning of an unforgettable learning adventure, proving that great stories can inspire even greater discoveries!

Special Guests Help Craven County Schools Celebrate

National School Lunch Week

Craven County Schools wrapped up National School Lunch Week with a special celebration that brought community leaders, school supporters, and plenty of smiles into cafeterias across the district!

To close out the week, schools welcomed special guest servers on Friday, who stepped behind the cafeteria serving lines to help School Nutrition staff serve nutritious meals to students. From Board members to dedicated community leaders, these volunteers generously shared their time to make lunchtime an extra special experience.

The visits created an atmosphere of excitement and connection as students enjoyed seeing familiar community faces serving their meals. The event also provided an opportunity to celebrate the important role school nutrition plays in supporting student health, well-being, and academic success.

While the guest servers brought additional excitement to the cafeterias, the true stars of National School Lunch Week were the dedicated Craven County Schools School Nutrition professionals who work tirelessly throughout the year to ensure students have access to nutritious, delicious meals. Their commitment to preparing and serving meals each school day helps fuel students' bodies and minds, providing the nourishment they need to stay focused, engaged, and ready to learn.

Craven County Schools extends a heartfelt thank you to all the guest servers who took time from their busy schedules to participate in this special celebration. Their involvement reflects the strong partnerships between our schools and the community and demonstrates the positive impact of coming together to support students.

A special thank you also goes to our incredible School Nutrition teams for their hard work, dedication, and the care they show our students every day.

National School Lunch Week reminded us that school meals are about more than nutrition; they also create opportunities to build relationships, strengthen community connections, and show students how valued and supported they are.

Sometimes, making a difference starts with something as simple as serving a school lunch!

New Bern High School Career and College Fair Helps Students Explore Future Opportunities

New Bern High School recently hosted its Annual Career and College Fair, providing students with valuable opportunities to explore career pathways, connect with local employers, and learn more about educational options available after graduation.

The event brought together a diverse group of local businesses, community organizations, and colleges and universities, giving students firsthand access to professionals and admissions representatives who shared insights into preparing for future success.

Throughout the fair, students engaged in meaningful conversations with employers about career opportunities, workplace expectations, and the skills, education, and experiences needed to enter various professions. These interactions helped students better understand the connections between their current academic experiences and potential future careers.

Participating employers included the New Bern Police and Fire Departments, Fleet Readiness Center East (FRC East), CarolinaEast Health System, Chick-fil-A, Craven County Schools, State Employees' Credit Union (SECU), Camp Sea Gull and Camp Seafarer, YMCA, and Craven County Parks and Recreation.

In addition to exploring career opportunities, students had the chance to speak directly with college representatives about admissions requirements, degree programs, campus life, and steps they can take during high school to prepare for a successful transition to higher education.

Colleges and universities represented included institutions within the University of North Carolina System, North Carolina Wesleyan University, Craven Community College, Appalachian State University, Western Carolina University, Barton College, and the University of South Carolina, among others.

The annual event reinforces New Bern High School's commitment to preparing students for success beyond the classroom by exposing them to a wide range of postsecondary opportunities. Whether students plan to pursue a four-year degree, attend community college, enter the workforce, or explore other career pathways, experiences like this help them make informed decisions about their futures.

Craven County Schools extends a sincere thank you to the many local businesses, community partners, colleges, and universities that participated in this year's fair. Their willingness to share their time, expertise, and encouragement plays an important role in helping students discover their interests, set meaningful goals, and envision the possibilities ahead.

At New Bern High School, preparing students for the future means helping them dream big, explore opportunities, and develop the confidence to take their next steps toward success.

The future is bright for our New Bern High School Bears!

Havelock Elementary Students Explore STEAM Careers Through STARBASE Cherry Point Experience

Fifth-grade students from Havelock Elementary School recently celebrated the successful completion of their STARBASE Cherry Point experience, an exciting hands-on learning opportunity designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and an interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM).

Throughout the five-session immersive program, students participated in engaging experiments, interactive demonstrations, and creative design challenges that brought classroom concepts to life. The experience encouraged students to think critically, solve problems, collaborate with classmates, and discover how STEAM skills are applied in real-world situations.

One of the highlights of the program was the opportunity for students to interact with military personnel stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. Through these connections, students gained valuable insight into how STEAM education supports careers in aviation, engineering, defense, and other technical fields. These firsthand experiences helped students see the many possibilities available to them as they begin exploring their future educational and career interests.

The program concluded with a special graduation celebration that included a visit with the Cherry Point Fire and Emergency Department, providing students with another opportunity to learn about careers that require teamwork, technical knowledge, and specialized training.

Adding to the excitement of the celebration, Congressman Don Davis joined students for the occasion and helped present certificates of completion, recognizing their participation and accomplishments throughout the program.

The STARBASE experience reflects the importance of community and military partnerships in expanding educational opportunities beyond the traditional classroom. By connecting academic instruction with hands-on experiences and career exploration, programs like STARBASE help students develop confidence, discover new interests, and envision future possibilities.

Craven County Schools extends a heartfelt thank you to STARBASE Cherry Point, our military partners, Congressman Don Davis, and everyone who helped make this meaningful educational experience possible for Havelock Elementary students.

Big dreams begin with opportunities like these, and among these young learners may be future commanders, engineers, scientists, and innovators who will help shape tomorrow's world!

Tucker Creek Middle School Students Bring The City of Ember to

Life Through Hands-On Learning

Sixth-grade students at Tucker Creek Middle School recently discovered that reading can lead to exciting adventures beyond the pages of a book! Students in Jennifer Nipper's ELA Plus class brought the novel The City of Ember to life through a series of engaging extension and enrichment activities designed to strengthen critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

After exploring the novel, students participated in hands-on challenges inspired by the story's themes of discovery, perseverance, and ingenuity. These interactive experiences encouraged students to apply concepts from the book to real-world situations while working together to overcome obstacles and find creative solutions.

Throughout the activities, students navigated direction and guidance challenges, constructed power grids using Snap Circuits, designed and raced boats, and uncovered hidden messages through quote-based puzzles. Each challenge provided an opportunity to connect elements of the novel with practical skills, allowing students to experience the excitement of problem-solving and discovery firsthand.

The enrichment activities were made possible through the collaborative efforts of ELA Plus Teacher Jennifer Nipper, Academically or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Specialist David Rackley, Media Coordinator Cheri Brody, and dedicated volunteers. Together, they created an engaging learning environment that encouraged students to think outside the box, communicate effectively, and approach challenges with curiosity and determination.

By integrating literacy with hands-on STEM activities, students were able to deepen their understanding of the novel while developing essential skills that extend far beyond the classroom. The experience demonstrated how creative instructional approaches can make reading more meaningful, memorable, and engaging for students.

A special thank you to the educators and volunteers at Tucker Creek Middle School for their commitment to providing innovative learning opportunities that inspire students to explore, question, and discover.

At Tucker Creek Middle School, The City of Ember became more than a story—it became an opportunity for students to bring their imagination to life, work together, and discover the power of learning through experience!

This week is College Application Week in North Carolina, which is a part of the state’s Countdown to College campaign.

From Monday, Oct. 19 to Sunday, Oct. 25, many colleges and universities across North Carolina are waiving application fees for students applying to college on College for North Carolina’s (CFNC) application hub. Click here to start your application and here to explore the list of schools waiving their fees this week.

And North Carolina public high school students may not even need to submit traditional college applications if they are eligible for NC College Connect, which provides automatic admission to certain colleges and universities.

The September 2026 recipient of the CCS CTE ABOVE AND BEYOND AWARD is Mrs. Emily McClintock. Mrs. McClintock is the STEM teacher at West Craven MS. 

According to her nominators,

"Emily has done a great job at answering any questions that I have had on my transition into the CTE world. I would be a lot less prepared and a lot more stressed if it was not for her."

"Emily is a valuable member of our CTE staff at West Craven Middle School. She is always willing to assist when others are in need and consistently encourages and celebrates her teammates. Her positive attitude and collaborative spirit make her a wonderful colleague and an important part of our CTE team. Emily truly loves teaching middle school, and that passion is evident in the energy and enthusiasm she brings to her classroom each day. She puts her whole heart into her work with students, creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences that encourage curiosity, problem-solving, creativity, and a love for all things engineering. She works hard to ensure her students feel supported and challenged about learning. Emily’s dedication to her students, commitment to her colleagues, and enthusiasm for CTE make her very deserving of this recognition."

Thank you, Mrs. McClintock, for your dedication to the students of West Craven MS. We appreciate you!