Southport Magazine

It’s that time of year: School has started, and life seems to get back into a regular routine for kids and parents. However, I bet that everyone passes by a school or two daily, whether they have a full home or an empty nest. I thought it would be interesting to showcase each school and its principal in our community and shed some light on their goals and needs.

While some of our readers may not have children in school anymore, it is my hope that learning about each school will inspire you to connect with one or more. The general consensus of all the schools is a need for volunteers, short or long term. The list is long and varied, so you should be able to find some way to help. I promise you will feel good for giving of yourself!

Kathleen Owens, M. Ed., principal of Bolivia Elementary School.

BOLIVIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
4036 Business 17 E., Bolivia

Principal: Kathleen Owens, M. Ed.
Mascot: Bolivia Bear
Mission statement: With the building of positive relationships with students and all stakeholders, our county vision is to produce college and career-ready high school graduates.
Donations needed: Funding toward technology, school supplies, dry erase markers
Volunteer opportunities: Bolivia welcomes volunteers and appreciates community support.
Contact: Kathleen Owens, (910) 253-6516

Lynette Watson, principal of the L&L Montessori School.

L&L MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Private Preschool-8
4150 Vanessa Dr., Southport

Principal: Lynette Watson
Mascot: Giraffe (animal with the largest heart)
Mission statement: Teaching children, one child at a time.
Donations needed: Montessori materials, art supplies, pencils, book marks, etc.
Volunteer opportunities: To help make aware and educate the public of the Montessori Methods and Philosophy
Contact: Lynette Watson, (910) 454-7344

Lisa Kjome, principal of Southport Christian School.

SOUTHPORT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Private Preschool-9
4457 Flagship Ave. SE, Southport

Principal: Lisa Kjome
Mascot: Lighthouse
Mission statement: To provide an outstanding education for each student, in a Christian environment
Donations needed: Library books
Volunteer opportunities: Classroom readers, afterschool golf and tennis program, special-interest speakers to enrich the classroom experience
Contact: Lisa Kjome, (910) 457-5060

Randy Horne, principal of Southport Elementary School.

SOUTHPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
701 W. 9th St., Southport

Principal: Randy Horne
Mascot: Dolphins
Mission statement: To utilize critical thinking strategies as a process to increase rigor within and between grade levels and content areas
Donations needed: “We don’t need stuff; we need time.” -Randy Horne
Volunteer opportunities: Parent teacher or other volunteers, any age, short or long term.
Contact: Amy Bland, (910) 457-6036

Shirley Williamson, principal of Virginia Williamson Elementary School.

VIRGINIA WILLIAMSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1020 Zion Hill Rd. SE, Bolivia

Principal: Shirley Williamson
Mascot: Stingrays
Mission statement: “Do whatever it takes” to reach and teach every child, and to provide children with a foundation to become lifelong learners who are prepared for the 21st century.
Donations needed: Any basic school supplies
Volunteer opportunities: We would love to have volunteers work with small groups of students in reading or math. Our parent facilitator, Martha Babson, can assist with volunteer training with Communities in Schools. At the end of the year proctors are needed for testing. We welcome guest speakers, businesses and churches supporting us in educating our future.
Contact: Martha Babson, (910) 754-8660, ext. 2324

David Ruth, principal of South Brunswick Middle School.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK MIDDLE SCHOOL
100 Cougar Dr., Boiling Spring Lakes

Principal: David Ruth
Mascot: Cougar
Mission statement: To inspire and empower all students to excel both academically and socially and prepare them to be productive citizens and future leaders
Donations needed: Picnic tables, and anything from candy to gift cards to be used as awards for PBIS: Positive Behavior Intervention Support
Volunteer opportunities: Tutoring and the giving of time
Contact: David Ruth, (910) 845-2771

Cheri Skaggs, principal of the Brunswick County Early College High School.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
50 College Rd. NE, Bolivia

Principal: Cheri Skaggs
Mascot: Firebird
Mission statement: BCECHS is committed to providing students a rigorous, relevant education that will enable them to graduate career- and college-ready in four or five years with a HS Diploma and an Associates Degree from Brunswick Community College while providing the necessary relational support for their success.
Donations needed: Professional attire for weekly Dress for Success Day, monetary donations for college and technological fees for those with financial need. Art supplies including acrylic, paint, drawing pencils, canvasses, drawing paper, mats of various sizes for clubs without a line item allotment, guitar strings.
Volunteer opportunities: We appreciate volunteers for Career Day and Interview Day in the spring. Our students participate in various field trips designed to incrust their knowledge of STEM Fields; i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. We would love to know of businesses that would welcome a site visit.
Contact: (910) 754-8565

Vicky L. Snyder, Ph.D., principal of South Brunswick High School.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL
280 Cougar Dr., Boiling Spring Lakes

Principal: Vicky L. Snyder, Ph.D
Mascot: Cougar
Mission statement: Advancing a culture of excellence through learning
Donations needed: Donations for clubs and organizations are posted on our website, www.bcswan.net/SBHS. Awards such as gift cards to be given as teacher recognition for contributions above and beyond their responsibilities. Monetary donations to support the purchase of incentives for our PBIS (Positivie Behavioral Interventions and Supports) program for students.
Volunteer opportunities: We encourage participation at school events, such as athletics and fine arts performances. We invite our community to volunteer as judges for graduation projects and to help us by proctoring state assessments.
Contact: (910) 845-2203

*EDITOR’S NOTE: BRUNSWICK COUNTY ACADEMY, LOCATED AT 1109 OCEAN HIGHWAY IN BOLIVIA, WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR OUR SCHOOL COVERAGE. FOR INFO ON THE SCHOOL, VISIT WWW.BCSWAN.NET/BCA.