🏆🎉 Attention, Senior Sports Fans! We've Got Great News! 🎉🏆

Beginning this school year, Carteret County Public Schools is transitioning to the NEW Senior Tar Heel Athletic Card! 🎟️💙

If you're 60 or older, you'll now enjoy an even better way to support our student-athletes! 🙌

✅ FREE admission to most regular-season CCPS high school and middle school athletic events
✅ Accepted at participating school districts across North Carolina
✅ Easier, more streamlined process to receive your card
✅ More opportunities to cheer on student-athletes throughout the state! 📣🏀⚾🏈🥎⚽🏐

📢 Please Note:
🚫 CCPS Senior Athletic Passes issued during the 2025-2026 school year have expired and will not be reissued. The Senior Tar Heel Athletic Card will now take their place.

🏅 Superintendent Richie Paylor shared:

"CCPS athletic programs are very successful, with many state championships under our belts, and we are proud of that tradition. We also want all of our fans to be able to attend as many games as possible, and this includes our senior residents. We believe the Tar Heel Card will only enhance that process."

📍 Get Your FREE Senior Tar Heel Athletic Card:
Carteret Senior Services
Leon Mann Jr. Enrichment Center of Excellence
📍 3820 Galantis Drive, Morehead City
📞 (252) 247-2626

❤️ Thank you to all of our amazing senior fans for your continued support of CCPS athletics! We can't wait to see you in the stands this season! 🎉💙💛

#CCPS #SeniorTarHeelCard #GoCCPS #SupportStudentAthletes #OneCommunity #FridayNightLights #CheerThemOn #TarHeelCard

🍎🥗 Exciting News for CCPS School Nutrition! 🥪🍓

Carteret County Public Schools is excited to announce a new partnership with Aramark Student Nutrition to manage our Child Nutrition Services beginning this school year!

Students can look forward to:
🍽️ More menu variety
🥕 Fresh, nutritious food choices
🎉 Fun cafeteria promotions and events
✨ Updated signage at some schools

The friendly cafeteria staff our students know will still be there, meal prices and payment systems will remain the same, and school allergy protocols will continue as always.

At Aramark Student Nutrition, their mission says it best:

"At Aramark Student Nutrition, we see the potential in every student. By serving nutritious, delicious foods in engaging, creative ways, we can brighten days and fuel futures."

We're excited about this new partnership and the opportunities it brings to enhance the school dining experience for our students! 💙💛

#CCPS #EducateEngageEmpower #SchoolNutrition #FuelFutures

🚌🎒 HELP US STUFF THE BUS 2026! ✏️📚💙

It's time for our 14th Annual Community-Supported School Supply Collection! 🎉

Together with our amazing Team Hosts:
💙 Parkview Baptist Church
❤️ Ann Street United Methodist Church
💛 Carteret County Public Schools
💚 Carteret Education Foundation

..with hundreds of volunteers and many other Carteret County donors, businesses, churches, and community partners, we're working to make sure every student starts the school year with the supplies they need to succeed! 🍎✏️📓

🛒 How can YOU help?

📅 August 7, 8 & 9
📍 Morehead City Walmart & Staples

✅ Grab a school supply list card.
🛍️ Pick up a few extra supplies while you shop.
🚌 Drop them off at one of our big yellow CCPS buses outside!

Every donation helps! ❤️
Think...
✏️ Pencils
🖍️ Crayons
🖊️ Pens
🖍️ Markers
📄 Paper
📒 Notebooks
📁 Folders
...and so much more!

Can't make it to Walmart or Staples? No problem! 😊

📍 Drop off school supplies at community collection sites including:
🏗️ Safrit's Supply Company
🦷 Coastal Dentistry
…and other participating collection locations throughout Carteret County!

Save the Dates:
🎒 BACKPACK DISTRIBUTION DAYS

📅 Wednesday, August 12
⏰ 8:00–11:00 a.m.
📍 Parkview Baptist Church

Families can receive:
🎒 Backpacks filled with school supplies
👟 FREE shoes (while supplies last)
💇 FREE haircuts
🤝 Plus support from dozens of caring community volunteers and sponsors like the Health Department, School Nutrition Offices, Carolina Complete Health, and others!

📍 Satellite Distribution Sites

📅 Friday, August 15
📍 Scout Hut – in Davis (Down East Distribution Day)
⏰ 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
🎒 Backpacks
💇 Free haircuts

📅 Saturday, August 16
⏰ 4:00–5:00 p.m.

📍 Broad Creek Middle School
📍 Newport Middle School
📍 Beaufort Middle School
🎒 Backpack pickup available at all three locations.

💙 Every notebook. Every box of crayons. Every backpack makes a difference.

Together, let's help every Carteret County Public Schools student start the year prepared, confident, and ready to learn! 📚🍎✏️

#StuffTheBus2026 #CCPSStrong #CommunityPowered #BackToSchool #CarteretCounty #OneCommunityOneMission #SupportOurStudents #EducateEngageEmpower

🎉🏫 Welcome Back to CCPS! 💙💛

Carteret County Public Schools is excited to welcome Ms. Karen Wood back as our new Director of Early Childhood Education and Principal of our Carteret Preschool Center, effective July 28, 2026! 🍎📚

With 26 years of experience in education, Ms. Wood returns to CCPS after serving the past three years as the Northeast Region Early Literacy Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. She began her career as a Pre-K teacher and has served students and families as an administrator in Cumberland, Craven, and Carteret counties, as well as an NC Pre-K Family Literacy Specialist.

💬 "I am honored and excited to return home to Carteret County Public Schools as the Director of Early Childhood Education. I look forward to working alongside our educators, families, and community partners as we continue building a strong foundation for lifelong success, ensuring our youngest learners truly 'Start Here' through the outstanding preschool programs offered in Carteret County Public Schools." -Ms. Karen Wood

Please join us in welcoming Ms. Wood back to the CCPS family! We know her experience, leadership, and passion for early childhood education will make a lasting impact on our youngest learners. ❤️

#CCPSProud #StartHereStayHereGrowHere #EarlyChildhoodEducation #WelcomeBack #CarteretPreschoolCenter

🎉 Congratulations to Ms. Nikki Sasser on her appointment as the new Principal of Morehead City Primary School! 🍎🏫 With 20 years of experience in elementary education, including eight years in school administration, Ms. Sasser brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to her new role, which starts July 9th. Please join us in congratulating Ms. Sasser as she begins this exciting new chapter serving the MCPS community! 💙💛 #CarteretCountyPublicSchools #Leadership #MCPS

🏀🎉 The Seadog spirit is alive once again! Tonight, the community came together to celebrate the beautifully restored and repurposed Mulberry Site and the opening of The Mainsail Event Center—formerly the Beaufort High School gymnasium. 💚🤍 Former students, teachers, administrators, and community members gathered to honor the rich history of this special place and the generations of Seadogs who walked its halls. From treasured memorabilia and championship trophies to memories of the legendary boys basketball teams that won 91 consecutive games, the evening was a celebration of Beaufort’s remarkable heritage. 🏆🐾 Thank you to the Beaufort Historical Association and everyone who helped preserve and share this important piece of our town’s story. Here’s to honoring the past while creating new memories for generations to come! ✨🏫🎊 #BeaufortNC #SeadogPride #TheMainsail #BeaufortHistory #CommunityCelebration #PreservingOurPast

Think school systems shut down for the summer? Think again! ☀️📚 Today is our Administrative Leadership Conference, where principals, assistant principals, directors, and district leaders are already hard at work preparing for the year ahead. Under this year’s theme, Rising Tides: Elevating Every School, Every Student, our leadership teams are coming together to celebrate the successes of the past year, set expectations for the future, and begin the important work of planning for student success in the months ahead. We’re excited to welcome special guest presenter Cathy Lassiter, co-author of Consequential Leadership: Leading for Impact, from the Visible Learning Collection at Corwin, as she helps guide conversations about impactful leadership and continuous improvement. This year’s conference is being held in Beaufort at the beautiful new Mainsail venue, located on the historic site of the former Beaufort High School—a fitting place to reflect on our past while planning for the future of education in Carteret County. While students are enjoying a well-deserved summer break, our school and district leaders are investing their time in learning, planning, collaborating, and preparing to make the 2026-27 school year our best yet. The work never stops when it comes to supporting students. 🌊✨ #RisingTides #ElevatingEverySchoolEveryStudent #CCPSProud

🏗️🎉 CCPS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Earns National Recognition 🎉🏗️

We are excited to share that Carteret County Public Schools' Career & Technical Education students and programs have been recognized on a national level👏

Photos of our construction students competing in the SHED Competition at Topsail High School were selected to be featured in a new national case study published by the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). 📸🔨

The case study, "A State of Opportunity: North Carolina's Approach to Construction Workforce Development," highlights how North Carolina is leading the nation in preparing students for successful careers in the construction industry through high-quality workforce development programs. 🏠⚒️👷

This recognition reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and school communities who are helping build the next generation of skilled professionals. Through hands-on learning and industry-recognized credentials, our students are gaining the skills needed for high-demand, high-wage careers right here in North Carolina and beyond. 🌟

Congratulations to our outstanding construction students and educators! Your work is making an impact, and the nation is taking notice! 🎓🔧🚧

Read the full case study here:
https://www.nccer.org/newsroom/a-state-of-opportunity-north-carolinas-approach-to-construction-workforce-development-nccer-case-study/

#CCPSProud #CareerAndTechnicalEducation #CTEWorks #ConstructionCareers #FutureReady #NCCER #BuildingTheFuture 🏗️🔨🎉

🚌💙 Celebrating CCPS Bus Drivers and Transportation Teams 💙🚌

Carteret County Public Schools celebrated our faithful bus drivers, bus monitors, substitute drivers, transportation staff, and administrators at our CCPS Transportation Appreciation Breakfast. ☀️🥞

Every day, rain or shine, our transportation team safely delivers students to and from school, athletic events, field trips, and countless activities. Their dedication, patience, and commitment make a difference in the lives of our students and families every day. Thanks for everything you've accomplished with us this year!🚍✨

A special thank you to our CCPS Bus Committee for organizing this wonderful event and to our generous community partners who helped make it possible:
❤️ Kittrell Auto Parts
💛 Fat Fellas
🍟 McDonald's
💧 West Carteret Water Corporation
🐔 Chick-fil-A

🚌 Thanks, EVERYONE, for keeping us MOVING! 🚌

#CCPSProud #TransportationAppreciation #ThankABusDriver #OneCCPS #CCPSFamily 🚌💙

🎉🏫 Please join us in welcoming Ms. Mary Ellington as the newest Principal of Bogue Sound Elementary School, effective July 1, 2026. 🍎📚

Ms. Ellington returns to the BSES family after previously serving as Assistant Principal during the 2020–2021 school year. She currently serves as Principal of Morehead City Primary School and brings valuable leadership experience to her new role.

💬 "I am honored and excited to begin this new chapter as Principal of Bogue Sound Elementary. After three years as Principal of Morehead City Primary, I am thrilled to return to the Bogue Sound community. I look forward to building on the school's tradition of excellence and working together to support the success of every student." -Ms. Ellington, Principal

💬"We are grateful for Ms. Ellington's leadership and service to Morehead City Primary over the past three years. While we know she will be missed there, I believe this move is a great opportunity for her and a strong fit for Bogue Sound Elementary. We will begin an active search for the next principal of MCPS and remain committed to finding the right leader to build on the great work already taking place there." -Richie Paylor, Superintendent

Please join us in congratulating and welcoming Ms. Ellington back to Bogue Sound Elementary School! 👏🎉❤️

☀️🏖️ SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER! 🏖️☀️

Another incredible school year is in the books, CCPS! 🎉📚✏️

As our students head into summer break, we want to wish all of our families a safe, fun, and memorable summer filled with sunshine, adventures, and time with family and friends! 🌊🐚😎🍉

📖 Keep your students reading this summer! Reading just a few minutes each day can help maintain the skills they've worked so hard to build this year.

🚐📚 Be on the lookout for the Title Wave Mobile Library coming to a neighborhood near you this summer! They can't wait to bring books, learning, and fun directly to our communities.

📝 Incoming Kindergarten Families: Please remember to turn in all enrollment documents as soon as possible so we can get your little learners ready for an amazing start to school this fall! 🍎🎒

🎒🚌 Mark your calendars for two FREE Stuff the Bus events coming in early August in Morehead City and Down East! More details will be shared soon.

🎓 Congratulations and best wishes to all of our graduating seniors! We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2026 at each high school's graduation ceremony on Friday, June 5, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. 🎉🎓💙

📢 Senior families: Please be sure to follow your school's guidance regarding arrival times, parking, seating, and attendance procedures to help make graduation a smooth and memorable experience for everyone.

Thank you to our students, staff, families, and community partners for another outstanding year of learning, growth, and achievement! ❤️

🌞 Have a fantastic summer, CCPS! We'll see you in August! 🌴🌊😎

#CCPS #SchoolsOutForSummer #CCPSProud #ClassOf2026 #FutureReady #HaveAGreatSummer

💙 "Unless we think of others and do something for them, we miss one of the greatest sources of happiness."
— Lisa Carole Lewis (Kittrell), East Carteret High School Class of 1985

During his Superintendent's Comments at the Carteret County Board of Education meeting last night, Superintendent Richard Paylor honored the life and legacy of former CCPS leader Lisa Kittrell, sharing the following remarks:

"I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of former Carteret County Public Schools director, Lisa Kittrell. Last week, our school community learned of Lisa’s passing, and while many of us are still processing this loss, it is important that we pause to remember and honor the extraordinary impact she had on our students, staff, and community.

Lisa Kittrell was a remarkable educator, leader, and friend whose influence on Carteret County Public Schools cannot be measured. She dedicated her life to serving children and supporting educators, always leading with kindness, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the power of education to change lives. Lisa had a gift for making people feel valued, cared for, and supported, and her positive impact will be felt for generations through the students, teachers, and families she touched.

While we mourn the loss of an extraordinary person, we are grateful for the legacy of love, service, and commitment she leaves behind. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

The best way we can honor Lisa’s life is to carry forward the values she exemplified every day—to invest in others, build meaningful relationships, serve with compassion, support one another, and never lose sight of the profound difference we can make in the life of a child. Lisa believed deeply in the power of education, the importance of community, and the responsibility to care for those around us.

As we reflect on her life and legacy, we ask that you keep the Kittrell and Lewis families in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."

🍎 Lisa grew up in Beaufort and graduated from East Carteret High School in 1985, where her classmates voted her both *Friendliest* and *Class Favorite* during her senior year. Those who knew Lisa throughout her life would agree those honors reflected the kindness, compassion, and genuine care for others that were authentically a part of of her character and career.

🍎 Lisa's career in education spanned decades. She taught in both Craven County Schools and Carteret County Public Schools before becoming an Assistant Principal at Bogue Sound Elementary School and Newport Elementary School. During her years in district leadership, she served as Director of Elementary Education, Director of English/Language Arts and Early Childhood Education, and Director of Professional Development and Federal Programs. Through each role, she remained dedicated to supporting students, educators, and families.

💙 Her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched and the generations of students and educators she inspired.

🕊️ Friends and family will gather this weekend to celebrate Lisa's life and legacy. Service information and her full obituary can be found here:
https://www.mundenfuneralhome.com/obituaries/lisa-kittrell

👏🇺🇸Thank you to two outstanding seniors for helping open tonight’s Carteret County Board of Education meeting!

🙏 Everett Schulte, a senior at West Carteret High School, delivered the invocation.

⭐ Rocco Cavallo, a senior at Croatan High School, proudly led the Pledge of Allegiance.

We appreciate these student leaders for representing their schools and Carteret County Public Schools with professionalism, character, and pride. Thank you, Everett and Rocco, for your service and leadership! 💙💛

#CCPS #CarteretCountySchools #StudentLeadership

Congratulations to the inaugural Carteret County Public Schools recipients of the North Carolina Seal of Biliteracy 🎓🌎

This distinguished honor recognizes graduating seniors who have demonstrated proficiency in two or more languages, reflecting academic excellence, cultural awareness, and global readiness.

We are proud to celebrate these students for their dedication and achievement:

Croatan High School
• Rocco Giuseppe Cavallo
• Adeline Svea Magee
• Josette Marie Vachon

West Carteret High School
• Marjorie Guzman-Monroy
• Maria Jimenez De La Cruz
• Marlena Marson
• Samuel Park
• Everett Schulte

Congratulations on this outstanding accomplishment. Your ability to communicate across languages and cultures will open doors and create opportunities for years to come.

🎉 Welcome to the Board, Matt Johnson! 🎉

At tonight’s Carteret County Board of Education meeting, Board Chair Katie Statler invited Debbie Clapp to administer the Oath of Office to newly appointed board member Matt Johnson.

Mr. Johnson will fill the unexpired term left vacant following Nathan Chambers' resignation on April 29, 2026. His term will continue through November 2028.

We congratulate Mr. Johnson on his appointment and thank him for his willingness to serve the students, staff, and families of Carteret County Public Schools. We look forward to his contributions as a member of the CCPS Board of Education.

#CCPS #CarteretCountySchools #BoardOfEducation #ServingOurStudents #PublicEducation

Albert Taylor, from East Carteret High, has been named Community Adviser of the Year for 2025-26 by Participate Learning.

This award recognizes community PL advisers who provide outstanding support to new Ambassador Teachers as they settle into their schools, districts, and communities. From helping teachers prepare before arrival to supporting them throughout their first year, community advisers play an important role in creating a welcoming and successful transition experience.

The selection process is informed by feedback from PL's new Ambassador Teachers, who reflected on the support they received throughout their transition and first year in the community. Participate Learning says Albert was selected because of the meaningful difference he made in that experience.

Alright, Seadogs and Mariners… it’s time for the BIG REVEAL! 🎓✨

Did you guess correctly? Here are the familiar faces behind those ECHS senior photos who now help shape the next generation at Beaufort Elementary School ❤️

✨ Cynthia Lou Hobgood and Kahla Lovings
✨ Kahla Lovings
✨ Kara Salter
✨ Ryan Morris
✨ Talley Long
✨ Susan Earp

And now for the special story behind one of our photos 💙

Ms. Cynthia Lou Hobgood, pictured here in her senior photo, is the grandmother of Kahla Lovings ❤️ They are also featured together in a treasured photo from Kahla’s childhood when Ms. Hobgood was a teacher at Beaufort Elementary School 📸✨

Ms. Hobgood was part of the early wave of kindergarten teachers in NC the 1970s, helping shape one of the first generations of kindergarten students in Carteret County. Alongside fellow educator Jean Laughton, and another ECHS alumni, Jeanne Huntley, she helped build a strong foundation for early childhood education at Beaufort Elementary and dedicated more than 31 years to teaching and mentoring students 🌱📚

What an incredible example of Start Here. Stay Here. Grow Here. 💙 From student… to teacher… to continuing a family legacy of service at Beaufort Elementary, these educators are proof that school communities help shape generations ⚓

Congratulations to all of our graduating seniors next week 🎓 We hope one day some of you may find your way back home to inspire the next generation too ❤️

#CCPS #StartStayGrow #BeaufortElementary #SeadogPride #ECHS #SeniorThrowback #GrowingOurOwn #CCPSSeniors

🐻 Start Here. Stay Here. Have FUN Here at BSES. 🐻

At Bogue Sound Elementary School, learning is serious business—but that doesn’t mean school can’t be fun ❤️📚

One of the things that makes BSES so special is its amazing staff, a team of educators committed to helping students succeed while creating a school environment where children genuinely want to be each day 🌟 From fun dress-up days 🎃 and holiday celebrations 🎅 to pep rallies, special events, and joyful classroom experiences, the BSES staff knows that students learn best when they feel connected, excited, and supported.

But behind the fun is a strong commitment to student achievement 💙

Teachers at BSES work together through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to review student progress, collaborate on strategies, and make sure every child gets the support and challenge they need to succeed 📖➕ These intentional conversations help staff identify strengths, address learning needs, and keep students moving forward academically.

BSES teachers also participate in vertical planning, working across grade levels and subject areas to ensure learning transitions smoothly from one year to the next 🔄✨ This means students experience a connected learning journey, building strong foundations in reading, math, science, and beyond while preparing for future success.

Bogue Sound has a relatively low student-teacher ratio, which allows teachers to provide more individualized support and build strong relationships with students.✨

At Bogue Sound Elementary, staff members are not only educators—they are encouragers, cheerleaders, mentors, and role models who pour into students every single day ❤️

We love our BSES staff for the way they make school meaningful, welcoming, fun, and focused on helping every child thrive 🌱🐻

🔗 Enroll today: bit.ly/enrollccps

#CCPS #StartStayGrow #BogueSoundElementary #BSESFamily #TeacherStrong #AcademicExcellence #SchoolFamily