The O.W.L. - Our Weekly Letter

Our Freshmen and Juniors participated in dynamic leadership sessions facilitated by Appointed to Lead. The experience featured engaging activities and meaningful discussions led by leadership specialists and student-athletes from NC State University. These sessions inspired our students to strengthen their leadership skills, teamwork, and personal growth—hallmarks of the CECHS experience.

Thanks to the visionary leadership of Craven County Schools Child Nutrition Director Lauren Weyand and the generous support of No Kid Hungry, our students now have easier access to nutritious breakfast options through our new Grab-n-Go Breakfast Vending Machine.

Because our campus does not have a cafeteria, breakfast participation has historically been limited—even with our district’s universal free breakfast program—since items had to be delivered from another school the day before. This innovative vending solution removes that barrier, ensuring that our students can start each day fueled for success and well-being.

A special highlight of this project is that the vending machine artwork was designed by two of our talented students, Esther Aye and Jaley Gwyn. We are so proud of their creativity and leadership!

This initiative represents an exciting step forward for our campus—one healthy snack, one breakfast, and one great day at a time. We are Soaring Higher with O.W.L. Pride!

A special thank you to Dr. Midgette for coordinating a hands-on field trip to the Cool Springs Environmental Education Center for our AP Environmental Science & Experiential Science students. At CECHS, learning extends far beyond the classroom—it's continuous, engaging, and ever-present.

Our students and staff really enjoyed Fall Spirit Week 2025. Here are a few photos to commemorate the week. More photos will be included in our yearbook. Be sure to order your copy.

We would like to thank our student leaders for organizing the Craven Early College High School Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. During the event, students participated in cultural games, explored historical traditions, enjoyed Latin dances, and built meaningful connections that honored the richness of Hispanic culture. Below are some photos from the AMC 102 Session.

This week in Campfire, topics include the Exploring Careers Group Research Project, ROTC Programs, Operation Gratitude & Military 22, STEM Rationing Activity - Part 1, and reflecting on the week. It is important that students arrive on time each and every day to fully engage in our Campfire activities.

Our house system is one way for us to deepen our connections with one another as each house (Aistra, Ohana, Nguvu, & Sapere) are comprised of individuals with similar interests and perspectives. It is also a way for us to participate in some healthy competition. House points are earned from competitions, positive attendance/tardy trends, academic performance, Student of the Month recognitions, and other special events, Below are the current house standings.

SchoolCash Online is an easy to use and safe way to pay for your children’s school fees. Now, with a few clicks, you can pay for your child’s yearbook, class trips and so much more from your own home. All you have to do is register an account, attach your children and in no time you will be able to make payments online. Please click here to register or click on the photo below.

Below are the current SchoolCash Online fees that are being accepted by Craven Early College High School:

• NC State College Visit Fee - October 31st
• Required Computer Insurance Fee - Pay by November 30th
• Graduation Fee - Pay by January 31st

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. McPherson in the Front Office.

Craven Early College High School is joining the “Pop Tab Program” to support the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern North Carolina! Students and staff are encouraged to collect aluminum pop tabs from canned beverages. Every tab adds up—26 pounds of tabs can help support a family for one night. Let’s “pull together” and make a difference for families in need!

Clubs are a big part of the instructional program at Craven Early College High School. Students are able to explore a variety of topics with students and teachers who they do not have class with daily. Attendance is taken on Club Days just like every other instructional day.

Our CECHS Military Appreciation Program will be Friday, November 7th at 11:15 AM in Orringer Auditorium. All of our families are invited. Our military-connected families are also invited to join us for a luncheon in the Naumann Community Room.

Please dine at Panda Express (or order takeout) in New Bern on Tuesday, November 11th between 10:00 AM and 8:30 PM. 20% of proceeds will benefit Craven Early College High School. Please tell the team that you are with our school.

All students will explore their grade level content in an exciting way on Friday, November 14th from 9:20 AM-12:00 PM. Teachers have collaboratively designed learning experiences so that each grade level can investigate the interconnectedness of the subject areas.

• Freshman Team - Mrs. Hobbs, Mr. Jackson, & Mr. Saulter
• Sophomore Team - Mrs. McCurdy, Mr. Perdue, & Ms. Rispress
• Junior Team - Dr. Midgette, Ms. Reynolds, & Ms. Strommer

This will be an engaging day of cross-curricular learning, teamwork, and investigation! We are Soaring Higher with O.W.L. Pride!

Our next School Improvement Team (SIT) meeting is Friday, November 14th at 1:00 PM in Room 122. We will discuss school improvement efforts as it relates to our 4 priority goals (Successful Students, Premier Professionals, Superior Systems, & Committed Community). The meeting is open to the public.

Our next Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Meeting will be on Tuesday, November 18th at 6:00 PM in Room 122. Mrs. Edwards (College Readiness Coordinator) will be our presenter.

Craven Early College High School will be closed Wednesday, November 26th-Friday, November 28th for Thanksgiving 2025. Students will return to school on Monday, December 1st.

Our team is committed to making sure that all of our students have what they need to be successful in their high school classes. CECHS Early Review is a great opportunity to work with teachers 1-on-1 or in a small group, organize notebooks and planners, or have some quiet work time. ER is Monday-Thursday from 8:15 AM-8:45 AM. Please review the flyer below for the daily ER schedule.

Our day begins at 8:55 AM, and our students are dismissed at 4:15 PM. Our students are released at 12:00 PM every Friday. Please be on time and present every single day.

Please review the 2025-2026 Early College Academic Calendar and make note of our important dates including holidays, fall break, progress report dates, report cards dates, and our exam schedules. Please click on the calendar to access a larger version.

Here are some important policy reminders related to attendance, dress code, electronics, and other operational practices. Please click on the photo for specific details.

We want all of our students to perform well in their courses and earn credits. It is vital that students have limited unexcused absences so they can learn course material, show mastery of content, and earn course credit. Students who have high numbers of unexcused absences are at risk of failing courses and will NOT be eligible to take classes at Craven Community College.

In an effort to maximize every single instructional minute, please refrain from checking students out of school after 3:45 PM unless it is an emergency.

We are looking forward to our Career Fair, which will be held on Friday, December 12th. We are searching for businesses and professionals to join us for this event. Please reach out to Mrs. Lucas (School Counselor) at 252-637-5706 or hilary.lucas@cravenk12.org if you would like to participate or if you have any leads.

Craven Early College High School is searching for a SPECTACULAR Spanish Teacher to join the Owl's Nest! There are many benefits to working at our school including our fantastic students/families, smaller class sizes, supportive colleagues, adequate resources, and our innovative environment! Interested candidates can apply here or contact Dr. Artis at marlow.artis@cravenk12.org for more informaton. Please share widely! #CravenEarlyCollegeWINS

The Together In Education program gives schools a chance to earn funds when you link your VIC card and shop Harris Teeter.Over $33 million has been donated by Harris Teeter to Together In Education schools since 1998!

Any VIC member can link their card to a school.

Customers can link up to five (5) schools to their account. More linked VIC cards mean higher earning potential. Click on the photo below to link your VIC card.

This year's theme is Soaring Higher with O.W.L. Pride! In order for our school to continue achieving at high levels, we encourage every student, parent, team member, and community member to take ownership of their role, embrace wisdom through learning and growth, and demonstrate leadership in both words and actions. It is going to be a phenomenal school year! #CravenEarlyCollegeWINS

We are incredibly proud of the outstanding results our students, teachers, and team members have achieved at Craven Early College High School on the NC School Report Card. At CECHS, we pair high-quality core instruction with robust supplemental learning opportunities to ensure every student receives a well-rounded educational experience. Our students, families, staff, and partners all play a vital role in making our school great. We have some bold goals for this school year, and we are not resting on our laurels! We are Soaring Higher with O.W.L. Pride! #CravenEarlyCollegeWINS #nced #SoaringHigher #CCSUnited

We are so proud of our students and teachers for making strong gains in our Advanced Placement (AP) Program! AP Human Geography (advanced learning opportunity for freshmen) is up 18.4% from year one. AP Seminar (advanced learning opportunity for sophomores/blended with English II Honors) is up 14.2% from year one. The 2024-2025 Academic School Year was the first year that we have offered AP Environmental Science (advanced learning opportunity for juniors), and our pass rate was 92.9%. Our students navigate AP courses alongside their community college courses, and our teachers have elevated instruction in our school by adding AP classes to our master schedule. We would like to thank Mr. Saulter, Ms. Strommer, Dr. Midgette, and Mrs. Edwards for all their hard work and leadership with our AP Program! We are so excited about adding AP Spanish Language and Culture this year! We are Soaring Higher with O.W.L. Pride! #CravenEarlyCollegeWINS #APScores #AdvancedPlacement

We are so grateful for the dedicated team of professionals who passionately serve Craven Early College High School each and every day! Please click on the image below to meet our team. Please do not hesitate to reach out if we can ever be of assistance.