The Dolphin Digest
Week of November 9 - 13, 2026
THIS WEEK
MONDAY
- Get Up & Move (Grades 3-5) (7:15 AM)
TUESDAY
- Get Up & Move (Grades K-2) (7:15 AM)
- Battle of the Books Team Meets (7:15 AM)
- Student Council Meets after school (pick up by 3:30 PM)
WEDNESDAY
- NO SCHOOL (Veterans Day Holiday)
THURSDAY
- Get Up & Move (Grades K-2) (7:15 AM)
- Chess Club for 4th and 5th Grade (7:15 AM)
FRIDAY
- Chess Club for 2nd and 3rd Grade (7:15 AM)
SAVE THE DATES
Nov 16 - 20: Fall Book Fair
Nov 17: CogAT Test for 3rd Grade Students
Nov 19: Grandparents Breakfast, 7am
Nov 24: Deadline (8:00 AM cut off) for Yearbook Cover Contest submissions
Nov 24: Deadline for PTA Reflections Contest submissions
Nov 25: NO SCHOOL (Teacher Workday)
Nov 26 - 27: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Holiday)
Dec 3: PTA Monthly Updates & Committee Meeting (7:45am)
Dec 6: WBS Foundation Santa Brunch at Bluewater
Dec 8: Holiday Performance and PTA Meeting, 5:30pm
Dec 11: AIG Local History Fair
Dec 21: Remaining Lost & Found Items will be DONATED!
Dec 21 - Jan 1: Winter Break
From the Desk of Principal Jackson Norvell
“Words can’t say what love can do…”
-Bon Jovi
Mighty WBS Dolphins,
Greetings from the principal’s office. I hope this message finds you with an overflowing heart, full of gratitude. Regarding that gratefulness we should all be doubling down on this month and beyond, when I think about our school, I’m reminded that love, at its finest, is when it’s put into action. For the students we serve, our teachers, staff, PTA and WBS Foundation put love into action round the clock, 24/7. It’s a defining characteristic of our amazing school community. At WBS, we start, end, and cover all points in between with copious amounts of active love, and as a person, principal, and parent, I’m super grateful for that. It makes us who we are.
As always, thank you for sharing your children with us. It’s an honor.
Great things happen here,
Jackson
AIG Corner: Monthly Update
Stay up to date with our gifted education program! You can read this month’s updates and announcement details in the AIG Monthly Newsletter linked below.
📚 Fall Book Fair Volunteers Needed! 📚
Our Literati Fall Book Fair is right around the corner in the WBS Cafeteria!
🗓 When: Monday, Nov. 16 – Thursday, Nov. 19 (7:15 AM – 3:00 AM daily) AND Friday, Nov.20 (7:15 AM - 9:00 AM only)
📍 Where: WBS Cafeteria
🌟 Special Need: Thursday morning during Grandparents' Breakfast
🎉 Perk: Volunteers receive a 20% discount from Literati!
We need your help to make this event a success and support our school library!
👉 Sign up here: Fall Book Fair Volunteers
Thank you for your support!
— Your Book Fair Team
🔥 Campfire Magic: Save the Date for the Literati Book Fair! 🔥
The wait is almost over! Next week, our cafetetia transforms into the Literati Book Fair: Campfire Magic (November 16–20)! Get ready for a week full of cozy stories, reading adventures, and bookish fun for all of our students.
☕ Grandparents & Grand Friends Morning Refreshments
Thursday, November 19 at 7:00 a.m.
Calling all grandparents and special grand friends! Join your student in the morning for pastries, coffee, and juice, and get an early look at all the incredible books before the school bell rings!
💳 Gift Cards & Online Shopping
Digital Gift Cards: Skip the cash and set up a cashless payment option! You can easily purchase digital gift cards online to give your student a seamless shopping experience at the fair.
Shop Online: Can’t make it to campus, or want to invite long-distance family to shop? Our Online Book Fair is open at literati.com/store!
💡 Final Research Spotlight: Building Lifelong Stress Resilience
As we head into book fair week, here is one last powerful insight from the Cambridge study: researchers discovered that children who read for pleasure regularly in their early years show significantly lower levels of stress, anxiety, and behavioral issues as they grow into teenagers.
When children choose books purely for enjoyment, reading becomes more than an academic skill—it becomes a lifelong tool for comfort, reflection, and emotional well-being.
📚 How Your Support Makes a Lasting Difference
Putting Power in Kids' Hands: Letting your child browse the fair and choose what excites them builds ownership, pride, and a genuine love for reading.
Investing in Our School Library: Every single dollar spent at the fair funds new books directly for our school library shelves, giving all of our students continuous access to self-selected books every single week of the year!
Gather your wishlists—the campfire will be lit next week! We can't wait to see you there!
✨ Shop the Campfire Magic Online Starting Oct. 19!
Can't visit our fair in person or want to share the link with long-distance family and grandfriends? You can shop our Literati Online Book Fair starting October 19 at literati.com/store. Let your child browse and choose their favorite titles right from home!
Unleash Your Creativity: PTA Reflections Art Contest! 🎨🐬
Calling all creative Dolphins! It’s time to let your inner artist shine. This year’s theme is "What My Culture Means to Me." What traditions, people, places, or memories make you you? Express yourself through dance, film, literature, music composition, photography, or visual arts—and you could be our next winner!
Who: Open to ALL grades
Deadline: Tuesday, November 24th (turn in at the front office)
Forms: Pick up an entry form at the front office or from Ms. Crafts.
Inspiration: Visit the Reflections Contest page to explore the theme!
Questions? Contact Lindsay Benfer at lindsaycooper06@gmail.com or 864-363-8220.
🎨 Calling All WBS Artists: Yearbook Cover Contest!
Calling all student artists! Want to see your artwork featured on the front of this year's Wrightsville Beach Elementary yearbook? We are looking for designs that show what WBS means to you!
Submission Guidelines:
Use standard 8.5" x 11" paper in a vertical (portrait) orientation.
Do NOT put your name on the front of the artwork.
Write the student's Name, Grade, and Teacher in pencil on the back.
⏰ Deadline: Submit all artwork to your teacher by 8:00 AM on Monday, November 24th.
Voting will take place on November 24th. Winners will be officially announced during the Holiday Performance and General PTA Meeting on December 8th. We can’t wait to see your creative designs! 🐬✨
WBS Foundation Event
🎅 Update: WBS Foundation Brunch with Santa! 🎄
The holiday magic is well underway! Our annual WBS Foundation Brunch with Santa is coming up on Sunday, December 6th at the Bluewater Grill, and holiday excitement has been through the roof!
Join us for a festive family tradition that supports our wonderful school. This year, the WBS Foundation is proudly funding four critical staff positions—our Marine Science teacher, a full-time Teacher Assistant, and two part-time Tutors. Events like the Santa Brunch make it possible to keep these incredible programs running year after year!
🎟️ Ticket Update
Availability: Full brunch tickets are now sold out! However, Continental Breakfast options are still available, so you can still join in on the fun and festivities.
Note: This beloved event is exclusively for Wrightsville Beach School families, so grab those remaining spots before they're gone!
✨ Sponsorship Opportunities
Want to support our school on a deeper level? We are currently seeking family and corporate sponsors for the event! Sponsorship levels range from Bronze ($175) to Presenting Sponsor ($2,000), and all donations are tax-deductible. Sponsors will receive event admission, prominent recognition at the brunch, and shout-outs in school newsletters and social media.
Thank you so much for your continued support of the WBS Foundation, the PTA, and our amazing school community!
With gratitude,
The WBS Foundation Board
Mark Your Calendars:
Spring 2027 End of Grade (E.O.G.) Testing Dates
Although spring feels a long way off, we want to give our families plenty of advance notice so you can plan ahead! Please mark your calendars for Wrightsville Beach Elementary’s 2027 End of Grade (E.O.G.) testing schedule:
Friday, May 21, 2027: Reading E.O.G. (Grades 3, 4, and 5)
Tuesday, May 25, 2027: Math E.O.G. (Grades 3, 4, and 5)
Thursday, May 27, 2027: Science E.O.G. (Grade 5 only)
Testing will begin promptly at 8:15 a.m. each day. Please ensure your students arrive on time, rested, and ready to do their best. Thank you as always for your support in setting our students up for success!
Visitors & Volunteers MUST SIGN In and SCAN their ID EVERY TIME
HELPFUL LINKS
Wrightsville Beach Elementary School
Email: Jackson.Norvell@nhcs.net
Website: wrightsvillebeach.nhcs.net
Location: 220 Coral Drive, Wrightsville Beach, NC, USA
Phone: (910) 256-3171
Facebook: facebook.com/WBeachSchool
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wbeachschool/