Freedom High School

10/09/2026

Sharing for our friends at Burke County Rec:
2026–27 Burke County Youth Basketball Signups

Signup contacts:

Salem: Kristen Carter, 828-430-1285.
Salem: Ashley Jones, 828-695-3579.
Mull: Cody Reid, 828-493-5193.
Mull: Josh Carswell, 828-244-8032.
Oak Hill: Brian Mize, 828-455-6629.
W.A. Young: Forest Duckworth, 828-292-3651.
Glen Alpine: Duran Clark, 828-855-7702.
Glen Alpine: Sandy Clark, 828-855-7715.
Drexel: Lisa Butler, 828-430-1051.
Mountain View: Chelsea Beam, 828-409-1932.
Forest Hill: Nikki Costello, 828-502-9235.
Ray Childers: Mark Stilwell, 828-514-0072.
Ray Childers: Ashley Bryant, 901-530-7526.
George Hildebrand: Rose Cook, 828-244-3511.
George Hildebrand: Josh Watts, 828-764-7501.
Hillcrest: Marquiese Sudduth, 828-334-0758.
East Burke: Eric Eckard, 828-723-0770.
East Burke: Melissa Barnes, 828-723-0770.
Valdese: Jonathan Carter, 828-874-6736.

Key dates:

Friday, November 6 through Monday, November 9: Dick’s Sporting Goods Discount Weekend.
Monday, November 16: Practice can start.
Saturday, December 5: Regular season opener.
Friday, December 11: Last day to add players.
Coaches meeting: Date and time to be determined.

Eligibility and contact information:

Players must live in Burke County or attend school in Burke County. Contact the signup coordinators for registration as soon as possible. For other questions, text or call Wesley at Burke County Parks and Recreation at 828-796-4806.

Age groups:

Ages 5–6: Must turn 5 before August 31, 2026, and cannot turn 7 before August 31, 2026.
Ages 7–8: Must turn 7 before August 31, 2026, and cannot turn 9 before August 31, 2026.
Ages 9–10: Must turn 9 before August 31, 2026, and cannot turn 11 before August 31, 2026.
Ages 11–12: Must turn 11 before August 31, 2026, and cannot turn 13 before August 31, 2026.
Ages 13–15: Must turn 13 before August 31, 2026, and cannot turn 16 before August 31, 2026.

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

Buy your 2027 yearbook before they go up on October 16th! Senior parents, make sure to purchase your senior ads before October 30th! Scan the QR code or go to www.jostens.com ☺️

10/01/2026

🇺🇸 Honoring Our Veterans! 🇺🇸

This year, in honor of Veterans 250, we are proud to partner with our JROTC to support our local veterans! ❤️💙

We have designed a special-edition commemorative shirt with several options available. The store will be open through October 28th.

🇺🇸 $5.00 from every shirt sold will be donated to support local veterans programs. We will proudly present the check on Veterans Day during the Veterans Celebration in Morganton.

Help us honor those who have served and continue to support the veterans in our community! ❤️

📣 Please share this post with your friends and family and help us spread the word!

Order yours and show your support for our veterans! 🇺🇸

09/28/2026

Preorder your Spirit Blanket. Cost is $35
Email [email protected] to reserve yours now

09/27/2026

Patriot Athletics This Week (9/28 to 10/3)

09/23/2026

🎉❤️💙

09/22/2026

What if your next career is in a school?

When you think about working in education, you probably think of only teachers. But schools need teachers plus all kinds of other workers to help students learn, grow and succeed.

Join us for the Education Career Expo on Thursday, Oct. 29, at Patton High School and discover what a career in education could look like for you or your student.

Middle and high school students: Get a look at career paths that could start now and continue through college.

College students: Learn about pathways into teaching and other careers in schools.

Adults: Explore meaningful career opportunities, including current job openings, whether you’re considering a career change or looking for a way to make a difference in your community.

You’ll hear from leaders in education, learn about different pathways into the field and have the chance to talk one-on-one with people who can help you figure out where you might fit.

🍔 Free cheeseburger meal starts at 4:30 p.m.

🎤 Keynote speaker: Charles Williams, principal of Draughn High School, at 5:30 p.m.

Then, explore information booths featuring specific education career opportunities, programs and current job openings.

📅 Thursday, Oct. 29
📍 Patton High School
⏰ 4:30 p.m.
📝 RSVP by Oct. 13: https://bit.ly/3ToetKP

Have questions? Call 828-439-4323.

Come curious. You might leave with a whole new idea about what your future could look like.

09/22/2026

Who doesn’t love a good surprise? 🎉

With banners, balloons and flowers in hand, we snuck into schools and converged on two unsuspecting “best of the best” to share some very big news: our Principal of the Year and our Beginning Teacher of the Year! 🌟

Two women at different stages in their careers, but with so much in common: They love their students. They have a passion for education. And they absolutely deserve to be recognized for the difference they’re making in the lives of others.

We love a good surprise, but we love even more getting to celebrate the incredible people who make our schools special.

Congratulations to our Principal of the Year, Shanda Epley at Freedom High School and our Beginning Teacher of the Year, Carson Tilby at Mountain View Elementary School.

09/21/2026