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!

Good news for families: Mental health support through Cartwheel doesn’t stop when school does.
This summer, students and families in Swain County Schools can still access:
🧠 Licensed therapists and psychiatric providers with no waitlists
💻 Virtual appointments with afternoon, evening, and weekend availability
👨‍👩‍👧 Parent guidance sessions with practical support for parents and caregivers for everyday challenges
🗣️ Care available in English, Spanish, and other languages
✅ Free for families with Medicaid; in-network with most insurance

Summer is a great time to get connected to care and help students be ready for fall. Learn more and get started: cartwheelcare.org/families

Make a Difference Every Day. Change a Life Forever.

Swain County Schools is hiring Special Education Teachers! We invest heavily in our educators with signing bonuses, a 10% salary supplement for self-contained classrooms, strong mentorship, and a deeply collaborative school culture.

Join our dedicated team in Bryson City and help our students thrive!

Start your journey with us today: https://swain.schoolspring.com/
Questions? Contact us at 828-488-3129.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Meet and Greet with Swain County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Brandon Sutton, earlier this month! We received a lot of valuable feedback from our community.

If you weren't able to attend, we still want to hear from you! We’ve created a short form where you can submit your input on the questions asked at the event.

https://forms.gle/7WqZMtTbiDER9i5MA

You are invited to a drop-in Meet & Greet with our Superintendent, Dr. Brandon Sutton!

Come out to connect, hear about his exciting mission and vision for our schools, and share your own valuable feedback. We want to hear from you!

🗓️ When: Monday, June 8th
⏰ Time: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm (Drop-in)
📍 Where: Swain County Schools Central Office
☕ Perks: Light refreshments will be served!

We look forward to seeing you there and working together for the future of our students. Please help us spread the word by sharing this post! 👇