The Flight Log: Issue 10 (10/23/26)

Issue 10: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026

FFHS Families,

What an incredible week we have had at First Flight High School! I was able to get into several classrooms this week, and it was exciting to see so much great learning taking place. Our teachers and students are working hard, and it is always a great reminder of the amazing things happening in our Nest every day.

We would also like to wish our Women’s Golf Team the very best of luck as they compete in the State Tournament this Monday! Our girls, coached by Ryan Niethamer with Assistant Coach Tom Hoglan, won the 4A Region Championship, and we could not be more proud of them. Please join us in giving them a HUGE Nighthawk shout-out as they represent FFHS at the state level!

I also want to give a major shout-out to Ms. Amber Dodge, our September Staff Member of the Month! Ms. Dodge is our Culinary Arts teacher and continues to do amazing things with our CTE program. Her students are putting their skills into action by preparing and serving food, developing professional culinary techniques, and learning the teamwork, communication, and work ethic needed to be successful in the real world. We are incredibly fortunate to have educators like Ms. Dodge who give our students authentic experiences that prepare them for life beyond high school.

Thank you, families, for your continued support of our students and staff. We are proud of what is happening at FFHS, and there is so much to be excited about!

Have a great weekend, Nighthawk families! If you get the chance, take some time to relax, recharge, and enjoy some time together.

Sincerely,

Joseph Bell Tyson

Principal, First Flight High School

🦅 #TakeFlight #FlyNighthawksFly #StudentLearningFirst #NighthawkNation

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Monday, Oct. 26

College Fair in the Rotunda, 10:30-11:30
Golf in NCHSAA 4A Championships, at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines, all day

Tennis in NCHSAA 4A Playoffs, 4th Round, at Ledford, 4

V Soccer home vs Hertford County, 5

JV Football at Hertford County, 6

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Golf in NCHSAA 4A Championships, at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines, all day

Wednesday, Oct. 28

V Soccer at Currituck, 5

Thursday, Oct. 29

Journalism Stack em High Pancake Dinner Fundraiser (Kitty Hawk), 5:30-7:30

Friday, Oct. 30

DCS Required Workday for Parent-Teacher Conferences, No School for Students

Cross Country at NCHSAA 4A East Regionals, at South Lenoir, 1:05

Members of the FFHS Leo Club enjoyed a great field trip to the 43rd Annual NC Lions Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) Fishing Tournament. More than 300 visually impaired participants and volunteers braved the strong winds on Tuesday at Jennette's Pier. Thirteen Leo Club members were among the volunteers assisting with leading visually impaired people, baiting hooks, serving lunch and having great conversations with their VIPs. The Leo Club members look forward to this event every year because it means so much to them to help others. Each Leo returns with a story to tell about how they were affected by this service-oriented event. This year, our Leos were the talk of the event and the VIPs look forward to seeing them year after year!

The fall semester ASVAB has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 1, at FFHS. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery can help students figure out future academic and occupational career paths in the military. Students can sign up by visiting this ASVAB Registration Link.

Also, spaces remain for the Nov. 7 SAT administration at FFHS, with students able to sign up no later than TODAY for the regular fee and through Tuesday at the higher late-registration cost. Students can log into their CollegeBoard accounts or visit this website directly to sign up. The next testing date at FFHS is Dec. 5.

• The women's and men’s wrestling seasons start with the hydration test on Oct. 27-29. Come in workout clothes to the wrestling room from 3:30 to 5:30. The official start of practice is Monday, Nov. 2, and there will be a meeting for parents on Thursday, Nov. 5, in the wrestling room at 7 p.m. All Nighthawks are welcome!
• Women's basketball tryouts will be held Nov. 2-4, times to be determined. Interested players should sign up on the sheet outside Mr. Richards' room (C-201).
• Men's varsity basketball tryouts will be Nov. 2-4 from 7-9 p.m.
• Men's JV basketball tryouts will be Nov. 3-5 from 5:45-7:15 p.m.
• Indoor Track for sprinters, throwers and jumpers will be Nov. 2-4 from 3:55 to 5:30 at the track. If you are willing to show up every day with a positive attitude and a commitment to improve, you will make the team and make friends!

Coach Chad Williams is forming a Good Guys Club and is looking for students to help out in several capacities throughout the Good Guys vs Cancer tournament week (Dec. 1-5) – running errands, escorting teams throughout the building, helping out in the VIP room, etc.

If students are looking for volunteer hours, this is a great opportunity. Students can learn more about what will be needed from them in a meeting at 3:30 on Tuesday (Oct. 27) in the cafeteria. It's a great way to see a lot of great basketball and to donate time to a cause that directly helps families in our community! Please encourage your students to attend the meeting Tuesday, or you can email Ms. Garrett for additional info at garrettbe@daretolearn.org.

Thanks to everyone who came out for our great Chorus and Strings concerts this week! Our musicians will all be back on the stage with their winter offerings in December: Strings on Dec. 8, Chorus on Dec. 9 and Band on Dec. 10!

We're less than a month away from StageKraft taking the stage with the great fall play "Before Oz." Can't wait to see you at one of the shows ... or maybe even all three!

NEW THIS YEAR! Skip the line at the box office and order your tickets securely online through Infinite Campus at this link!

The award-winning Shorelines Yearbook is a 236-page hardcover keepsake that students and families will enjoy for decades to come! Online pre-sales are open now at our secure online ordering site YearbookForever.com.

PARENTS OF SENIORS: We will be accepting orders for Senior Ads through the first week of November. These fun tributes fill the back of the yearbook and include memorable moments through the years for our graduates! Ads are available in full-page, half-page and quarter-page sizes. Ads can be ordered at the YearbookForever website listed above or by filling out and returning this form to a member of the yearbook staff or adviser Steve Hanf.

Digital Footprint Reminder: Protect Your Passwords, Protect Your Privacy!

Your personal information is valuable – and cybercriminals want it! 🔒 Use strong, unique passwords or pass phrases for every account, and turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA) whenever possible. A password manager can help you keep track of your passwords securely.

Think before you click. Secure what matters. Your digital safety starts with you! – Kimberly Dickson, M.Ed., NBCT / FFHS Instructional Technology Facilitator