All of us at Catawba County Schools wish our CCS families a wonderful Thanksgiving! We're grateful for you!

🩸 Community Blood Drive — Parents & Community Members Only

Join us at St. Stephens High School on December 1 from 8:00 AM–2:00 PM for a OneBlood community donation event!
All donors will receive:
• Refreshments
• A OneBlood sweatshirt
• A wellness checkup (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, iron count, and cholesterol screening)
Fact: Only 3% of eligible individuals actually donate blood. Let’s change that together!

👉 Sign up to donate: https://www.oneblood.org/donate-now/scheduler.html?locationId=1690727

Thank you for giving back to our community! 💎


🎓 ATTENTION 8th Graders: CECHS Virtual Info Night & Q&A
Are you an 8th grader—or a parent of one—interested in applying to Challenger Early College High School? Join us for a Virtual Info Night & Q&A to learn more about academics, campus life, and the application process.
📅 December 1
🕢 7:30 PM
💻 Google Meet: https://google.meet.com/ujy-gqsv-qvz
Applications open December 1. We look forward to connecting with you! 💎



🎉 It’s BACK! The Education Foundation Holly Jolly Half & Half is officially LIVE! 🎉
The Education Foundation for Catawba County Schools is kicking off our annual 50/50 Holly Jolly Half & Half Raffle—and this year, we’re aiming BIG with a $30,000 goal to support our students, staff, scholarships, and innovation grants across CCS!

💸 Raffle open now through December 19th at 1:30pm!

🎥 Winner announced LIVE on Facebook December 19 at 2:00 PM
🔗 Buy tickets now: https://givebutter.com/hollyjolly2
Ticket Prices:
• 1 Ticket = $5
• 3 Tickets = $10
• 7 Tickets = $20
• 20 Tickets = $50
✨ Please note: GiveButter may ask if you'd like to make an additional donation. Donations are appreciated, but they do not count as raffle tickets.

Every ticket purchased helps us raise funds for student and teacher scholarships, classroom innovation grants, and so much more. Let’s make this our biggest Holly Jolly yet—help us hit $30K!



CORRECTION POST: 🎄 Bunker Hill High School Band — 12 Days of Band-mas Raffle! 🎁
The Marching Bears are kicking off a festive 12-day raffle from December 3–18, 2025! A new prize will be drawn every day, ranging from $25 up to $1,000, and every ticket gives you a chance to win each day. The more tickets you buy, the better your chances!
All proceeds support the Bunker Hill High School Music Program, providing instruments, supplies, and opportunities for our talented student musicians.
💥 Grand Prize: A 3-day/2-night Myrtle Beach Vacation!
🎟 Tickets: $10 each or 3 for $25
📧 To purchase: Email Jordan_Martin@catawbaschools.net
Help make the season brighter while supporting our band! 🎶✨




City of Hickory receives grant to enhance early literacy education
 
HICKORY – Hickory Public Library has been awarded a grant from The State Library of North Carolina to enhance, empower, and engage young library users and their families.
 
The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant promotes early literacy for children ages 0-5.
 
With funding from this grant, Hickory Public Library will expand its early literacy efforts to offer enhanced services and opportunities for growth and education, and to provide new ways to engage through hands-on learning.
 
Both Patrick Beaver Memorial Library and Ridgeview Branch Library will update AWE early literacy computer stations, add additional circulating kits to popular Kindergarten Readiness Backpacks, offer sensory kits for in-house use, acquire early literacy educational toys that support the six skills outlined in “Every Child Ready to Read” (ECRR), and update and promote the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program to reinforce the importance of early literacy development.
 
These initiatives encourage parents, caregivers, and library staff to sing, talk, read, write, and play with children either in-person at the library or independently outside the library setting.
 
For more information about Hickory Public Library and its early literacy initiatives, contact Head of Youth Services Stephanie Abbott at sabbot@hickorync.gov