November 7, 2024

This heartfelt video montage reminds us that our students--and the Light they shine upon others--are our brightest hope for the future.

"'Hope' is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me."

Emily Dickinson, “Hope” is the thing with feathers

Photo of the Week

Our Science Olympiad season is officially underway! The focus during the first meeting was on connection and fun, and, boy, did they have it in droves! Students were placed in mixed-age groups with peers from 3rd to 8th grade and challenged to build a K-NEX wind-powered wheeled vehicle. Each group was supplied with the same bag of pieces and 30 minutes to create.

Time with Tony

“History says don’t hope
On this side of the grave.
But then, once in a lifetime
The longed for tidal wave
Of justice can rise up
And hope and history rhyme.”

Seamus Heaney, The Cure of Troy

Commemorating the 126th Anniversary of the 1898 Wilmington Massacre

Each November, the New Hanover County Office of Diversity and Equity joins with community partners to raise awareness and provide engagement opportunities for the public about the 1898 Wilmington Massacre and Coup d’état, as well as to honor the memory of the lives lost as part of the uprising.

As the 126th anniversary approaches, the Office of Diversity and Equity is collaborating with numerous community partners for events that will commemorate the milestone and foster a dialogue on addressing racism. The calendar for this year's 1898 commemoration can be found HERE.

Be sure to take a look at the video above, filmed last year when our 8th grade class joined with students from D.C. Virgo Prep to attend the 125th Anniversary Wreath Laying Ceremony.

Upcoming Campus Safety Drills

As a follow-up to our recent message about adopting the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocol, we want to keep you informed about our upcoming safety drills. In the coming weeks, you’ll receive Parent Alert text messages after each drill, allowing us to practice our all-school communication.

Here’s what you can expect:

November 8th: HOLD

November 15th: EVACUATE/FIRE

December 6th: SECURE

December 13th: SHELTER

Thank you for helping us create a safe and prepared environment for our students!

Chimney Swift Tower Coming to Longleaf Center

Have you heard the news?! We will be installing a nesting tower for Chimney Swifts at Longleaf Center on Monday, November 18th! Chimney swifts are migratory birds that spend the spring and summer months in North America and migrate to South America in the fall. Their original nesting habitat included hollow trees in old growth forests and caves, but over time, they adapted to nesting in chimneys built by humans. Today many traditional chimneys are capped to keep rain out, which prevents swifts from nesting. Now the Chimney Swift population is in decline due to habitat loss. We are excited to provide a place for swifts to raise their young on our campus!

This project is made possible through funding provided by NC Wildlife Federation. Volunteers with Cape Fear Audubon are building the tower to be installed in sections on campus. If you are interested in volunteering to help with the installation, please contact Karen Linehan and Sarah McIntosh. For more information, click HERE to watch a video about how to build a chimney swift tower.

Coming Up! Common Ground Interfaith Service

Friends, if you feel so inclined, we invite you to join the larger Cape Fear community on Thursday, November 14th, at 7PM for a powerful evening of unity and reflection. “Common Ground: A Night of Reflections on Hope and Peace” will bring together diverse voices from across Wilmington to inspire connection, healing, and shared purpose. In a time when division seems ever-present, this interfaith service offers a sacred space to reflect on what unites us—our shared hope for a better world and the pursuit of lasting peace. We invite all members of the community—regardless of background or belief—to join us in this evening of peace-filled reflection and renewal. Let us kindle hope and find the peace that comes when we gather as one.

Hosted by Wilmington Faith Leaders United, this event also serves as a community-driven fundraiser to support Western NC recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene.

Announcements

Reminder! Re-Enrollment Timeline Changes

As a friendly reminder, families who wish to be considered for financial aid should submit their initial application to FACTS by tomorrow, November 8th. FACTS may then reply with a request for additional documentation which must be uploaded by November 18th. Thank you for adhering to these new dates to ensure a seamless financial aid and enrollment process!

Trivia Night

Trivia Night has been postponed to coincide with our May fundraising event, Evening with Friends. Previously registered attendees will receive a follow-up email shortly. We look forward to buzzer-worthy fun soon!

Annual Fund Gratitudes

A tremendous thank you to Ashton McCarty, Christina Erichsen, Andrea Santy & Susan Willis for your generous contributions to the Annual Fund! We're gearing up for our Giving Tuesday initiative in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for some exciting updates soon!