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! 👇

🎉 We made it! Tomorrow, June 3rd, is officially the last day of school!

Just a reminder that it is a half-day. High school buses will depart at 11:00 AM. Have a fantastic, safe, and wonderful summer break! ☀️🌴

Upcoming Webinar: Supporting Boys: Mental Health Strategies for Young Men
When the boys in your life shut down, act out, or seem to be struggling beneath the surface, it can be hard to know how to help. Many parents and caregivers wonder how to start the conversation — and how to make it stick.
Join Cartwheel and Chris Smith, LCSW, CGP, psychotherapist and Director of the Looking Ahead program, for a free live webinar: Supporting Boys: Mental Health Strategies for Young Men on Tuesday, June 4 from 12–1 pm ET.
Parents and caregivers will learn practical strategies to recognize the signs of mental health challenges in boys and young men, understand why struggles often go unspoken, and open the door to connection and support at home. Chris will also share how everyday relationships and routines can play a powerful role in a young man's emotional wellbeing.

Register here: https://cartwheelcare.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oJWNkwgaTjC_7ncBC9Bitw?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_17129575#/registration