There will be a District AIG Parent Meeting on Tuesday, August 25 at 5:30pm in the Central Office.

If your child is in this program, plan to attend this information session.

Showing Up for Swain: Building Our Future Together

Every family, business, and neighborhood in our county is impacted by chronic school absenteeism. We invite all community members to join us for a crucial public meeting to tackle this challenge together and support the future of our students and workforce.

Event: Showing Up for Swain: Building Our Future Together
Date: Monday, August 24, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Swain Middle School Media Center

What to Expect:
A presentation on recent Swain County Schools attendance data.
An overview of how daily attendance shapes academic success and long-term workforce readiness.
The official launch of the county-wide Swain Attendance Task Force.

Solving this challenge takes an entire community. Whether you want to join a task force committee, display a support window cling at your local business, sponsor student incentives, or simply share your insights, every voice matters at this table.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Thank you for your dedication to Swain County, our schools, and our youth!

We're off to a great start!

Digital Citizenship: SCHS students should check their school email regarding the requirements and consequences for not completing Digital Citizenship. Each day during Intervention/Study Hall (AM) and WIN (PM), students will have the opportunity to complete these lessons with their teacher. It is important students attend school all day, every day of the week! Lessons are due August 31st by the end of the school day. SCHS Google account access will be restricted beginning September 1st until all lessons are complete.

We are thrilled to announce that both the Swain Middle and Swain High School Band Programs have been officially recognized by the North Carolina Bandmasters Association as Programs of Distinction for the 2025–2026 school year!

Throughout the year, our students have represented Swain County with exceptional pride through regional marching competitions, WNC All-District and NC All-State Honor Bands, Jazz Band, and Solo & Ensemble events. Coupled with consistent Superior Ratings at the Western Region Music Performance Assessments, this honor reflects the remarkable dedication, hard work, and musical growth of our students and directors. Please join us in celebrating this outstanding achievement!

Upcoming Webinar: When School Feels Hard: Understanding Anxiety and Avoidance in Kids

Wednesday, August 19 | 7–8pm ET
Chinwé Williams, Ph.D.

The start of a new school year brings excitement for some kids and teens and dread for others. In this webinar, we’ll explore what’s driving school anxiety and avoidance in kids, when it may signal a need for additional support, and practical strategies to help children feel more confident, connected, and ready to learn.

As always, the webinar is free, and you'll have a chance to ask questions live.

Register Here!

Early Chromebook pickup dates have been scheduled!

Device pickup will start on Monday, August 3rd, and run through Thursday, August 6th. Drop-in hours are from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, in the Swain High Media Center.

The pick up schedule is as follows:
· Seniors can pick up on Monday, Aug 3rd.
· Freshmen can pick up on Tuesday, Aug 4
· Sophomores can pick up on Wednesday, Aug 5
· Juniors can pick up on Thursday, Aug 6

Students will also be able to receive their device during Open House on August 13th, from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Completion of the Online Student Registration is required before devices can be picked up. Also, any outstanding technology charges must be paid before picking up devices; this includes charges for missing cases and chargers.

For incoming freshman, if fees are owed at the middle school, those must be paid at Swain Middle School before picking up your high school device.

The online registration system can be accessed in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal or on the Swain County Schools website, under Enrollment" at the top.

Swain County Schools Afterschool Program Registration Opening Soon

Registration for our FREE K–8 Afterschool Program opens this Friday, August 7th, at 9:00 AM.

Key Details:
Registration Opens: Friday, Aug 7 @ 9:00 AM
First Day: Tuesday, Sept 8
Schedule: Monday–Thursday, until 5:30 PM
Grades: K–8
Cost: FREE for participating students

Important Note: We anticipate a waitlist. Applications will be reviewed based on prior behavior, attendance, and submission time. Families will be notified of acceptance the week of August 17th.

(Note: Pre-K Afterschool applications are managed directly through Bright Adventures.)

Register here (link opens Aug 7 at 9 AM):
https://forms.gle/RQkYRhiNkfgw395d7

Last week, Nine Swain High students traveled to Appalachian State University for Design Camp, sponsored by GEAR UP! Over four immersive days, our Maroon Devils dove into Design Foundations, Apparel Design, Industrial Design, and Interior Design—guided directly by App State faculty, students, and industry professionals.

Campers went through the full creative process from concept to creation: sketching ideas, participating in critique sessions, listening to professional designer keynotes, and touring state-of-the-art campus studios. They brought their ideas to life by building scale models for every discipline and wrapped up the week showcasing their work at a special reception for families!

A huge thank you to GEAR UP for giving our students this incredible, hands-on opportunity to build real-world problem-solving skills!

A note about GEAR UP
GEAR UP stands for "gaining early awareness and readiness for undergraduate programs" and it is a federally funded college access program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in college. Gear Up's goal is to make sure that every student in Swain has every option available to them when it is time to make decisions about their future!

Some of the Services Gear Up Offers:
One on one college or career advising
Virtual tutoring available 24/7
Application assistance
Financial aid assistance
College Visits
ACT prep resources

Now Open! Student Registration for the 2026–2027 School Year

Whether you're enrolling a student for the first time or completing your returning student's annual update, registration is now open!

✅ New students: Complete the online registration form and follow the enrollment instructions.
✅ Returning students: Log in to the Parent Portal to complete your annual update.
Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by August 31, 2026.

We look forward to welcoming our students for another great school year!