Hyde County Public School System

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

GOOD FOOD. GREAT MINDS. BRIGHT FUTURES! HAPPY NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK!

We know that a great school day starts with more than books, pencils, and lesson plans…it starts with students who are nourished, energized, and ready to learn!

This week, we're turning up the appreciation for the AMAZING School Nutrition Team at Mattamuskeet School and those providing breakfast at Ocracoke School as well!

Behind every tray served is a dedicated team that does so much more than prepare meals. They serve up kindness, warm smiles, encouragement, and the fuel our students need to dream BIG and achieve even BIGGER things!

Because school lunch isn't just about feeding students…it's about fueling possibilities!

To our incredible School Nutrition professionals: THANK YOU for the early mornings, the countless meals prepared, the care you put into your work, and the difference you make in the lives of our students EVERY SINGLE DAY!

10/09/2026

BEHIND EVERY GREAT SCHOOL IS A PRINCIPAL WHO GIVES MORE THAN THE WORLD WILL EVER KNOW.

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL PRINCIPALS MONTH!

There are those who come to work every day… and then there are people who pour their hearts into the lives of others, often at the expense of their own time, comfort, and peace. Our school principals are those extraordinary people.

They are the first to arrive and often the last to leave. They carry the weight of decisions that affect hundreds of lives, yet somehow still find the strength to greet a child with a smile, comfort a struggling teacher, reassure a worried parent, and celebrate a student's smallest victory as though it were their own.

What many people don't see are the sacrifices made behind the scenes. The missed family dinners… The sleepless nights… The difficult conversations… The tears shed privately over a student who is hurting…. The countless moments spent wondering, "Did I do enough today? Could I have done more?"

And then, the next morning, they show up again. Not because the work is easy… Not because they always receive recognition... But because somewhere in their school is a child who needs someone to believe in them. And they refuse to give up on that child.

A principal's greatest accomplishments aren't always found in test scores, graduation rates, or school improvement plans. Sometimes, they are found in the student who finally believes they are smart enough. The teacher who finds the courage to keep going. The family who discovers that their child is truly seen, valued, and loved.

Those are the victories that may never make the headlines, but they change lives forever.
At Hyde County Schools, we recognize that Jeanie Owens, Tim O’Shea and Cara Equils are more than educational leaders. They are mentors, advocates, problem-solvers, protectors, cheerleaders, and, on some days, the steady hand that holds an entire school community together.

To our incredible principals and administrators at Mattamuskeet School, Ocracoke School, and Hyde Academy: We see you. We appreciate you. And we thank you.

Thank you for the burdens you carry that others never see. Thank you for the grace you extend when your own patience is running thin. Thank you for believing in children who sometimes struggle to believe in themselves. Thank you for leading with compassion, courage, and a solid commitment to something greater than yourselves.

And perhaps most importantly, thank you for reminding us that leadership is not about the title on your door. It's about the lives you touch long after someone has forgotten your name.

Years from now, a student may not remember every lesson, every rule, or every school assembly, but they will remember the principal who stopped in the hallway to ask if they were okay. The one who saw potential where others saw problems. The one who made them feel like they mattered.

That is your legacy!

From Superintendent Dr. Melanie R. Shaver, the Hyde County Board of Education, our District Staff and our entire school family, Happy National Principals Month!

We hope you NEVER forget that while you spend your days making a difference in the lives of others, you have made an immeasurable difference in ours.

Continue to Lead Well & Live Well

10/05/2026

WORLD TEACHERS’ DAY - October 5

Today, we celebrate the heart of education… our teachers.

Teaching is so much more than lessons, assignments, grades, and classrooms. It is believing in a child who may not yet believe in themselves. It is recognizing potential before anyone else can see it. It is offering patience on the difficult days, encouragement after a setback, and a steady reminder that every child matters and every child can succeed.

Our teachers arrive each day carrying far more than lesson plans. They carry the hopes of their students, the trust of families, and the tremendous responsibility of helping shape the next generation. They celebrate the small victories that others may never see. They give second chances. They wipe away tears. They listen. They encourage. They challenge. They inspire.

A truer statement could not be made that long after students have forgotten a particular lesson or assignment, they will remember the teacher who saw them, believed in them, and made them feel like they belonged.

On World Teachers’ Day, Hyde County Schools proudly celebrates the extraordinary educators of Mattamuskeet School, Ocracoke School, and Hyde Academy, and teachers everywhere who have answered one of the most important callings there is.

Thank you for choosing our children, for showing up, even on the hard days. Thank you for giving pieces of your heart to this work, and for planting seeds whose full impact you may never get to see.

There are doctors, nurses, engineers, artists, farmers, entrepreneurs, public servants, parents, leaders, and dreamers in this world today because somewhere along the way, a teacher helped them believe they could become something more.

Today, we celebrate you.

Today, we honor you.

And every day, we are grateful for you.

Happy World Teachers’ Day from Hyde County Schools!

10/02/2026

HAPPY CUSTODIAN APPRECIATION DAY!

Today, Hyde County Schools proudly celebrates the incredible custodians who care for our schools and facilities each and every day.

Their work goes far beyond clean classrooms, shining floors, and welcoming hallways. Our custodians are often among the first to arrive, the last to leave, and the first to step in when something needs to be done. They work quietly behind the scenes, but the difference they make is seen and felt throughout our schools.

They know our students by name. They lend a helping hand. They prepare our buildings for special events, respond when the unexpected happens, and take tremendous pride in creating spaces where students and staff can learn, work, and feel at home.

To every custodian across Hyde County Schools: THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH!

Thank you for your hard work, your dedication, your kindness, and the countless things you do that may sometimes go unnoticed but never unimportant. Our schools simply would not be the same without you.

10/01/2026

DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?!

Hyde County Schools, Tyrrell County Schools, and Washington County Schools have been awarded $70,000 EACH through the Education and Workforce Innovation Grant!

That’s $210,000 in total regional funding to help build stronger connections between our classrooms, careers, colleges, and communities!

This exciting three-district partnership will expand opportunities for students through:

• Career exploration from an early age
• Hands-on, project-based learning
• Job shadowing, internships & pre-apprenticeships
• CTE pathways & Career & Technical Student Organizations
• Dual enrollment, college credit & industry credentials
• Local business & industry partnerships
• Innovative, technology-rich learning experiences
• Real-world workforce preparation

Together, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington County Schools are building a stronger PreK–12 early childhood-to-career pipeline giving students the knowledge, skills, experiences, and connections they need to succeed after high school and right here in our region.

This is what happens when schools, colleges, businesses, and communities come together with one goal: creating more opportunities for our students!

$70,000 × 3 SCHOOL DISTRICTS = $210,000 INVESTED IN OUR STUDENTS!

Three Counties. One Vision. A Stronger Future.

10/01/2026

HCS CHARACTER FOCUS: INTEGRITY

Throughout October, Hyde County Schools is highlighting INTEGRITY as our Character Focus!

What does integrity look like in our schools?

Integrity means doing what is right even when no one is watching. It means being honest, keeping your word, taking responsibility for your choices, treating others fairly, and having the courage to make the right decision even when it may not be the easiest one.

- For our students, integrity can mean being honest about their work, owning their mistakes, standing up for what is right, keeping promises, and making good choices even when an adult isn't around.

- For our staff, integrity means leading by example, being dependable, honest, fair, accountable, and committed to doing what is best for our students, colleagues, schools, and community.

WHO SHOWS INTEGRITY AT HCS?

HCS employees are encouraged to nominate students and staff members who demonstrate INTEGRITY through their words, choices, and actions.

Each school may recognize up to:
2 Elementary Students (PreK–5)
2 Middle/High School Students (6–12)
1 Staff Member

Central Office: 1 Staff Member

If the number of nominations exceeds the number of available recognitions in a category, Superintendent Shaver will make the final selection based on the information and examples provided in the nomination form. So, when nominating someone, tell us their story! Share specific examples of how your nominee demonstrates integrity and why they deserve to be recognized.

Those selected will be recognized by Superintendent Shaver and the Hyde County Board of Education at the November Regular Board Meeting.

Integrity isn't just about what we say we believe. It's about what we choose to do.

Who do you know at HCS who demonstrates INTEGRITY?

10/01/2026

OCTOBER IS CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH!

At Hyde County Schools, keeping our schools safe doesn’t stop at the front door. It extends into the digital world too!

Every day, our students and staff use technology to learn, teach, communicate, create, and connect. With that access comes an important responsibility; protecting ourselves, our information, and each other online.

BE CYBER SMART!

A few simple habits can make a BIG difference:

- Protect your Passwords: Make them strong, unique, and never share them.
- Think before You Click: Strange link? Unexpected attachment? Suspicious message? When in doubt, DON'T click!
- Don't take the bait: Phishing emails and messages are designed to trick you. Stop and look before responding.
- Keep it updated: Updates help protect devices from security threats. Don't keep clicking “remind me later” forever!
- Protect Personal Information: Think carefully before sharing names, locations, passwords, photos, or other private information online.
- Speak up: Students, if something online makes you uncomfortable or seems suspicious, tell a teacher, parent, or trusted adult. Staff, report suspicious activity through the appropriate district channels.

Cybersecurity is a TEAM effort. Whether you're in the classroom, office, cafeteria, school bus, or at home, we all have a role in keeping our digital community safe.

Throughout Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let's remember: PAUSE... THINK… PROTECT.

Together, we can help keep Hyde County Schools !

09/29/2026

09/25/2026

Hello, this is Julio Morales with an urgent message for Ocracoke School. Due to standing water on roads and the high tide schedule, Ocracoke School will have a Remote Learning Day today, Friday, September 25th. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you and please be safe!

Hola, les habla Julio Morales con un mensaje urgente para la Escuela de Ocracoke. Debido a la persistente acumulación de agua en las carreteras y al horario de la marea alta, la Escuela de Ocracoke tendrá un día de aprendizaje remoto hoy, viernes 25 de septiembre. Lamentamos cualquier inconveniente que esto pueda causar. Muchas gracias y, por favor, ¡tenga cuidado!