As the summer sunshine fades and the school doors open, we’re thrilled to welcome our students, families, and community partners to a brand-new school year. This year, our mission is Refining Diamonds —focusing on Purpose, Process, Precision, and Polish. At Catawba County Schools, we recognize that every employee and every student is a diamond—unique, valuable, and full of potential. We strive to help each one shine by reaching the Diamond Standard in all that we do, from the classroom to the bus garage, from our athletic fields to our boardrooms. We are excited to officially welcome back all students on August 25, and we have already greeted our Challenger Early College High School students, who began their year on August 11. Our teams have been busy all summer making sure our schools are ready—inside and out—for another year of learning, growth, and success. Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished together and the exciting programs ahead.
Summer was a time to polish our district...
Building & Operations – Ready for Day One
Behind the scenes, our operations crews have been hard at work creating safe, clean, and welcoming spaces for students and staff. This list does not detail every single project completed this summer, but highlights several key improvements made across the district:
Provided Summer Feeding Sites to support student nutrition.
Offered Quest Summer Childcare every weekday.
Washed, waxed, and replaced floors with fresh tile or carpet.
Painted classrooms, hallways, and building exteriors.
Repaved parking lots, including the Maiden E bus lot.
Washed, inspected, and repaired all 270 buses.
Completed HVAC upgrades at Maiden Middle and Claremont Elementary.
Relocated Challenger Early College from the East Campus to the PAAP building on the campus of CVCC. -
Remodeled Balls Creek Pre-K classrooms.
Installed mobile units at St. Stephens and Balls Creek Elementary.
Launched a new, user-friendly website for the district and each school.
Student Programs – Learning That Doesn’t Stop in Summer
Even during summer break, our students engaged in programs that built skills, sparked curiosity, and
developed leadership:
Summer Reading Camp for elementary students.
STEM Camps that encouraged creativity and problem-solving.
Internships with Catawba Valley Medical Center, Duke Energy, and many more businesses and industry partners.
Student Leadership Camp in partnership with the Education Foundation.
9 CCS Students attended NC Governor's School.
AI Prompt-a-thon introducing students to creative AI tools.
Teachers and Leaders...Preparing for Excellence
Our educators and administrators dedicated the summer to professional growth and school readiness:
Attended training at universities and through Northwest RESA.
Participated in online professional development.
Updated pacing guides to strengthen instruction.
Hired and onboarded new staff.
Partnered with community groups for landscaping and school beautification.
Hosted summer Tuesday evening reading sessions.
Attended a Two-Day Administrative Academy at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
Upgraded technology with new Wi-Fi and prepared 20,000 Chromebooks for student use.
Our People – Welcoming New Faces
This year brings an infusion of new talent and leadership: 200+ new employees hired, including six residency license holders.
Nearly 30 beginning teachers and several experienced educators joined our team.
Welcomed two new principals and new directors.
Important Updates...
Resources for Families
We want every family to feel connected and supported as we begin the school year:
Social Media – follow for timely updates and celebrations.
ParentSquare– receive important school messages. ** Make sure to complete your student registration on Infinite Campus to link to Parent Square!
Open Houses – meet teachers, tour classrooms, and get ready for learning.
School Supply Lists – posted online for elementary and middle schools.
Infinite Campus-Complete your student's registration to ensure we have the most up-to-date information. If you did not receive an email notification to register, please contact your school’s Data Manager for assistance.
Parents can receive support from our schools, churches, and businesses for items needed for their child.
Looking Ahead – Reaching the Diamond Standard Together
The first day of school on August 25 will mark the start of a year filled with possibilities for our students. We have already had the pleasure of welcoming back our Challenger Early College High School students, who began their journey on August 11. Guided by our mission of Refining Diamonds through Purpose, Process, Precision, and Polish, we are committed to helping every employee and student shine. With new technology, fresh learning spaces, supportive programs, and strong community partnerships, Catawba County Schools is striving for the Diamond Standard in everything we do. We are grateful for our dedicated staff, supportive families, and caring community. Let’s make this school year our best yet—together! Here’s to a safe, joyful, and inspiring year ahead.
Contact information
If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us or your child's school. You can reach our district via the following links:
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