West Carteret High

🎯 ACT BLITZ STARTS THIS WEEK! 🎯We’re gearing up to support our juniors as they prepare for the schoolwide ACT at the end of the month. ACT Blitz kicks off this week to help all Patriots feel confident and ready!

📅 ACT Blitz Schedule This Week:

🔹 Tuesday - Juniors report to the cafeteria during Blitz time. All other students remain in 1st period

🔹 Thursday - Juniors report to the cafeteria or media center (assigned). All other students report to 2nd period.

This focused time is designed to give juniors extra support and practice so they’re fully prepared. Let’s make the most of it, Patriots!
#WestCarteretHS #ACTBlitz #PatriotsPrepared

Let’s show the love, Patriots! Join us for Valentine’s Spirit Week NEXT WEEK and dress up each day to celebrate school spirit and community. 🎀 Monday: Hearts & Bows 🏈 Tuesday: Heart of a Fan 💖 Wednesday: Pink Day for Breast Cancer Awareness 🎨 Thursday: Class Colors 💚🤎💛 Friday: Show the Love for Our East Carteret Friends on Young Waterfowler’s Day Let’s go all out and make it a fun, meaningful week at West Carteret! #WestCarteretHS #PatriotPride #SpiritWeek 💙🤍💘

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Spring Track Season kicks off February 23! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ There are no tryouts and no cuts, so if you’re interested, come be part of the team. 📌 Important reminders: • Practice begins February 23 • A current physical is required (bring one or have one on file) Let’s go, Patriots! 💙🤍

West Carteret Patriot Update: 2.5.26 Good afternoon, this is a special Patriot update for Feb. 5. This update comes in light of the many changes due to our inclement weather. As you know, Carteret County Schools has designated Friday, February 6 as a remote learning day. Please ensure students are checking their virtual classrooms both for daily attendance forms and instructional materials. Students should complete one attendance form for each class period. Other scheduling updates that I'd like to share include a reschedule of tomorrow's basketball game, which will now take place on Monday, February 16th. Also mark your calendars for this weekend. Please come out to support our student athletes as our Booster Club hosts the Captain's Mess at the Dune's Club. This fundraising event is from 6:30-10:00 and includes live music, great food, and a silent auction. A QR code supports registration and is available on our social media pages, as well as by contacting our Athletic Director Michael Turner. Our Swim and Dive Team will compete next Thursday and Friday at State Competition and our Wrestlers will compete at Regionals next Friday and Saturday. Patriot Athletics continue to make us proud and we appreciate your support, let's go Patriots! Please enjoy the rest of your evening and we look forward to welcoming students back to the schoolhouse next week.

❤️ Comfort & Care Drive ❤️

We are collecting new underwear, socks, and toiletries to support students in our community in collaboration with the National Charity League Class of 2027.

🩳 Morehead City Primary School Needs:
• NEW underwear (boys & girls, sizes 4–12)
• NEW youth socks (boys & girls)

🧼 WCHS Food Pantry Needs:
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste & toothbrushes
• Feminine hygiene products
• Soap / body wash
• Other basic toiletry items

📍 Drop-off Location: West Carteret High School Library
📅 Collection Dates: February 9–18
📦Drop offs also available at other high schools - see them for dates and locations.

These simple items help students feel comfortable, confident, and cared for. Thank you for supporting local schools and families! #Patriotsserve

National School Counselor Week? Say less. We've got the BEST at West! Shout-out to our four school counselors for serving the Patriot Nation so well. Ms. Sharkan, Ms. Smith, Ms. Turner, and Mr. Lancaster, ChatGPT captured just a fraction of what makes you all West Carteret legends, but iykyk! #PatriotNation

🎨✨ Student Spotlight & Congratulations! ✨🎨

With holidays, exams, and snow days behind us, we don’t want to miss the chance to celebrate an outstanding accomplishment by Rachael Cox

Rachael’s incredible artwork from Honors Beginning Art, taught by Mrs. Catherine Olander, was selected from student submissions across the fall semester and earned top recognition as the Fall 2025 Superintendent’s Choice Winner.

We are always excited to celebrate the meaningful work our students create in the classroom, and Rachael’s talent truly stands out. In addition to being a gifted artist, she is an active band member and a dedicated scholar at West Carteret. Congratulations, Rachael! We are proud of you and can’t wait to see what you create next.

West Carteret Weekly Patriot: 2.2.26 Good afternoon, your Weekly Patriot for Feb. 2 is focused on Remote Learning Days. I sincerely hope that this message finds you safe and that you have been able to find enjoyment in this weather event. As a reminder, the following announcements were made by Carteret County Public Schools: Tuesday, February 3rd and Wednesday, February 4th, 2026, will be remote workdays for all staff, and remote learning days for students. All extracurricular and athletic activities remain cancelled until further notice. All schools and CCPS buildings remain closed until conditions improve. I want to provide the following information as guidance for students and families on these remote learning days: Teachers will post lessons/assignments by 9:00 am on the learning management system (such as CANVAS or Google Classroom) that is used with their students . Questions and clarifications can be addressed directly to the student's teacher through the learning management system or through the teacher's email. Teachers will regularly check email and the learning management system to help students and parents during the designated remote learning day(s). Attendance will be taken by using a google form that each teacher will provide for students. High school students will submit ONE form for each class period (anytime from 12:01 am until 11:59 pm) to be counted present for the day. An update for our Junior class regarding ACT preparations: We are updating ACT Blitz Plans based on the changes to weather. Additional resources to help you prepare for the ACT can be found in the ACT Canvas Page. Please enjoy the rest of your evening and stay safe over the next few days. Of course please let us know how we can support you at the schoolhouse.

ACT Practice Still on EVEN WITH DELAY! Students with off campus classes, note times!

On Tuesday, January 27, all 11th-grade students will take a Practice ACT during the school day.
🕗 Where to report at the start of the day:
Last names A–L: Cafeteria
Last names M–Z: Media Center
📝 The practice test will take place during 1st and 2nd periods. Once students finish the exam, they will be dismissed back to 2nd period.
Please be sure juniors come to school on time, well-rested, and ready to do their best. This is a great opportunity to practice before the real ACT! 💪📚

West Carteret Weekly Patriot: 1.25.26



Good afternoon, here is your Weekly Patriot for Jan. 25:

I trust that all are staying warm as we appear to have dodged the worst of the storm that has hit much of the country. Please be sure to take care of yourself in these cold mornings this week.



I trust that students have settled into the second semester. We look forward to preparing our Junior class for upcoming ACT testing, which will occur on February 25th. We will plan some preparation activities for our students on the ACT over the coming weeks.

This Tuesday, January 27th, all Juniors will take a Practice ACT.

Students with last names A-e L should report to the cafeteria at the start of the day, and students with last names M-e Z should report to the media center.

The practice test will be completed during first and second periods. Once students finish the exam, they will be dismissed back to second period.

A few Athletic updates:

We won the Swim Conference Championships on Wednesday and our Wrestling team competed well in Conference on last Friday. We wish the best of luck to our swimmers this week competing on Friday in Regionals in Cary.

We had an epic double overtime win for the Women's basketball game last Friday night as well as a Men's victory. We look forward to hosting rival Croatan on Tuesday. On Wednesday our Track Conference Championship is at Home. Please come out and support our teams.

As a new semester begins, please take time to check in to your SCHOOL CASH ONLINE account for any outstanding fees or dues. A reminder that all fees must be paid before you receive a prom ticket or diploma. Please take care of these now if you still have outstanding fees. Sign into your School Cash Online account. PAYING ONLINE IS THE BEST OPTION.

I want to also recognize the great work of our students under the direction of our fantastic Art Department. We had a Gold Key winner in the Scholastic Art Awards for 2026. Ella Summers Photographic work took this award. Another fourteen students took a Silver Key award and more than two dozen received Honorable Mentions. We have a talented group of students and outstanding Art teachers; great work Ms. Swanger and Ms. Olander!

Please enjoy the rest of your evening and as always, let us know how we can support you at the schoolhouse.

📣 Attention Juniors & Families📣

On Tuesday, January 27, all 11th-grade students will take a Practice ACT during the school day.

🕗 Where to report at the start of the day:
Last names A–L: Cafeteria
Last names M–Z: Media Center

📝 The practice test will take place during 1st and 2nd periods. Once students finish the exam, they will be dismissed back to 2nd period.

Please be sure juniors come to school on time, well-rested, and ready to do their best. This is a great opportunity to practice before the real ACT! 💪📚

We are thrilled to announce our outstanding Students of the Month for their exceptional achievements and contributions. We are in desperate need of prizes and cards to give to these students to recognize them! Please see below if you can help.
WCHS Student of the Month program recognizes students who exemplify Patriot Values in and out of the classroom. They are chosen by faculty each month. This initiative highlights students who demonstrate:
✅ Individual Achievement
✅ Personal Development
✅ Community Involvement/Service
✅ Outstanding Attitude/Disposition
✅ Notable Consideration Towards Others
✅ Leadership
✅ Marked Improvement in Grades, Character, or Work Ethic
✅ Significant Progress in the Classroom
We are asking the community for "prizes" to give these students. In the past, the packages have included pens, free ice cream, t-shirts, cups, and other small "swag." If you or someone you know could contribute anything like this, please have them reach out to Tiffany.mayo@carteretk12.org Thank you to the West Carteret Community Partnership Academic Booster Club and the WCHS PAC for their support of this program!
#StudentsoftheMonth #PatriotPride #westcartereths West Carteret Community Partnership Academic Booster Club

West Carteret Weekly Patriot: 1.19.26 Good afternoon Patriots, here is your Weekly Patriot for Jan. 19: I want to wish all of you a happy Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. On this day that we recognize service, I also want to take this opportunity to honor the service of a great West Carteret Patriot. Many of you may know that Mr. Gordon "Gordy" Patrick passed away last week. Mr. Patrick was a long time educator for Carteret County Schools and West. He taught PE, coached wrestling and football, and served as Principal from 1991 to 2007. We are proud to honor Mr. Patrick by continuing the tradition of excellence that he cultivated. I want to thank our students for their excellence in academic preparation as evidenced on their exams last week. We demonstrated growth in all of our state tested subjects. Based on mid year performance we are on target to exceed our stated goals. We had 100% attendance and students gave maximum effort. I also want to recognize the outstanding job that our educators have done to prepare students, and of course the important role that our families play in supporting our students and our school community. As a few reminders, we will have Teacher workdays on Tuesday and Wednesday as we prepare for the beginning of the second semester. A few Athletic updates: Our Swim Conference Championships are Wednesday at Aquaventure 5 pm (Diving competes today at UNC at 7:30 pm). Wrestling Conference Championships at Havelock HS all day Saturday (1/24). I look forward to continuing our successful academic year when we welcome students back on Thursday. Please enjoy the next couple of days for your semester break and as always, let us know how we can support you at the schoolhouse.

Reminder for students and families Please take a moment to check and pay any outstanding school fees using the School Cash Online system. Taking care of fees now will help everything go smoothly later, especially as prom tickets will be available soon, and the last semester before graduation is upon us! Staying ahead of these payments saves time and avoids last minute stress. Thank you for your help in keeping things on track. #westcartereths

Today we say farewell to Gordon “Gordy” Patrick, a true Patriot whose impact on West Carteret High School spans generations. Our hearts are with his family and the Patriot family during this difficult time. Mr. Patrick began his career at West Carteret as a PE teacher in 1965 and went on to build one of the most successful wrestling programs in eastern North Carolina. He served as head wrestling coach from 1965 to 1984, compiling a record of 201-26-5 and leading his teams to 17 conference championships, 7 sectional titles, state champions, and undefeated stretches that became legendary in our community. His coaching emphasized sportsmanship, discipline, character, and goal setting, values he carried into every role. Gordy also coached football for several years, and his leadership reached far beyond the mat and the field. After years of service in the classroom, athletics, and as an assistant principal, he returned home to West Carteret as principal in 1991, earning recognition as Carteret County Principal of the Year multiple times. Throughout his career spanning 4 decades in education, he led with steady guidance and heart, always reminding us, “If it is to be, it is up to me.” Even after his formal roles in education ended, Gordy continued to serve West Carteret as an advisor and volunteer, always present, always supportive, and always proud to be a Patriot. In recognition of his lifetime of contributions, he was inducted into the West Carteret High School Athletic Hall of Fame, the NC High School Athletics Hall of Fame, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his lasting impact on students, athletics, and education. Gordy Patrick’s legacy is woven into the fabric of West Carteret as a coach, educator, administrator, mentor, and steadfast supporter. We will miss his words of wisdom, his quiet dignity and integrity, and his care for all students, staff, and the West Carteret family. We are deeply grateful for his decades of commitment, leadership, and service. West Carteret is stronger because of him, and he will always be one of us. Thank you, Mr. Patrick. We salute your lifelong dedication to our school and our students. Because of you, it is always a beautiful day in Sequoyah.

Save the Dates, Patriots! Spring Semester 2026 will be here before we know it. Mark your calendars now for these important upcoming events, including cap and gown delivery, prom, spring exams, and graduation. More details will be shared as each date approaches. Get ready for an exciting Spring 2026!

Welcome back, Patriots! We’re excited to see everyone back at West Carteret High School on Monday, January 5, 2026 as we return from winter break. As you get ready for the week, please remember: • Charge your Chromebook before coming back • Check your student email for your exam schedule — exams begin in one week • Carteret Community College classes begin January 7 for students enrolled Let’s start the new year strong and ready to learn. We’ll see you Monday!

West Carteret Weekly Patriot: 12.14.25

Good afternoon Patriots, here is your Weekly Patriot for Dec. 14:

I want to start by celebrating a great Holiday Spirit Week, with a fantastic Holiday Band Concert. Of course our Patriots got in the spirit with the Morehead City Christmas Parade this weekend as well.

Student Services updates include: Students that want to adjust their schedules for the Spring can email their Counselors. Also in our Student Services, please know that we are here to support our school community who are in need of items such as coats, shoes, clothing, or food during this season. Please contact your counselor for any support needs.

First semester exam information includes our - Exam Schedule Semester 1, (linked in this email and posted on our website). Exams begin with End of Course Tests on Monday, January 12. Students will receive a personalized email from our testing coordinator with end of course testing schedules.

Reminders on the WCHS Exam Exemption Policy (for teacher made exams): In order to be exempt from teacher made exams, students must abide the following requirements: A minimum final average of 85 or above and no more than 5 absences excused or unexcused and: Students who have been suspended out of school can not be exempt from teacher made exams. ***Students cannot be exempt from state mandated exams (Biology, Math 1, Math 3, English II)***

Events this week include:
Tuesday - Basketball @ Croatan, Wrestling Hosts Northside
Wednesday - Women's Basketball @ SW Onslow / Home track meet
Thursday - Chorus Concert
Friday - Basketball Hosts Havelock

A reminder on early checkouts, please have students drop notes in the front office the morning of the planned checkout to receive a pass for the dismissal times to minimize interruptions to class time. Finally, please remember that Friday is an Early Release Day across the district.

I hope you have a wonderful Holiday Break. Your next Weekly Patriot will come in the New Year, on Sunday, Jan. 4 as we will be back on January 5 for a strong finish to our first semester.

The Occupational Prep Center is hard at work creating beautiful handmade items for the holiday season. This year, they’re offering a new seasonal favorite: Stovetop Potpourri Bags! Each bag comes beautifully wrapped with a festive ribbon and recipe tag, and includes: 🍊 1 orange 🍎 1 apple 🍒 cranberries 🌿 cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves Place your order here https://carteretcounty.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/2093/479/False/True Order Deadline: December 5, Delivery by: December 19, Price: $12 each Thank you for supporting our Occupational Course of Study Program and the incredible students behind this school-based enterprise! #WeAreWest #PatriotPride #HolidaySeason #WCHS #OCS #ShopLocal