Our Mechanical Minds students are headed to an international competition—what an amazing accomplishment! 💡🤖
Let’s come together as a school community to help get them there
Please consider supporting these students today by donating to their GoFundMe. Every contribution helps make this once-in-a-lifetime experience possible:  GO FUND ME LINK

CCS Families—are you looking for a career change, starting a new career, or have a recent graduate in your household?
Catawba County Schools is hosting a Job Fair on April 16 from 3:30–5:30 PM at the CVCC Workforce Development Center in Hickory.
We invite you (or someone in your household) to explore opportunities with CCS! Openings include both certified and classified positions, along with:

• Free professional headshots
• TA to Teacher pathway information
• Residential and Master’s program connections
• Transfer applicant opportunities
• Information on housing support programs for educators

University partners will also be on-site.
A virtual job fair option will be offered April 23 from 4:00–5:00 PM for those unable to attend in person.
👉 Register here
We hope to see you there!

Special Event for Grandparents/Relatives Raising Grandchildren

We’re excited to share a special opportunity just for grandparents and relatives who are raising their grandchildren.
Join us for a FREE Crawdads Game Night on Friday, May 8, 2026! Families can enjoy a fun evening at the ballpark, including the game and fireworks afterward.

Important Details:

• Who: Grandparents/relatives raising their grandchildren (this event is not open to all grandparents)
• Time: Game at 7:00 PM (gates open at 6:00 PM)
• Cost: FREE game ticket + meal voucher with pre-registration
  (Parking is $5 – card only)
• Deadline to register: Tuesday, May 5

Note: Only pre-registered families are eligible for free tickets and meal vouchers.
To reserve your spot, please use this REGISTRATION LINK or contact the number/email provided.
We hope eligible families will take advantage of this special night designed just for you!

JOIN the CITY OF HICKORY TO CELEBRATE GREENFEST!
 
HICKORY – Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day with the City of Hickory and the Community Appearance Commission (CAC) during the fifth annual Green Fest at the Hickory Farmers Market on Saturday, April 25. Learn how to "be green" by protecting and preserving our natural environment.
 
From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the community is invited to stop by the City of Hickory’s booths for free potted trees (white flowering dogwood, Washington hawthorn, sourwood, thornless honey locust, and golden raintree), free milkweed seeds to attract monarch butterflies, vegetable and herb seeds, assorted plant starts, additional giveaways, and information about environmental stewardship.
 
Representatives from the CAC and several City departments will be available to share important information about solid waste collection and recycling, tree and landscape maintenance, plant propagation, stormwater management, and litter reduction and cleanup efforts.
 
Attendees who stop by the City of Hickory booths can also take the Hickory Litter Quitter pledge, sign up for monthly City e-newsletters, and register to win a native plant for spring landscaping.
 
“The Community Appearance Commission is happy to share potted trees and milkweed seed packets with local residents in our continued efforts to promote tree planting, biodiversity, and preservation throughout the Hickory community,” said Wilson Elliott, CAC liaison and planner for the City of Hickory.
 
Trees provide multiple benefits to a community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants, and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.
 
Native milkweed plants support the natural environment and biodiversity, especially the endangered monarch butterfly species. They attract beneficial insects that help with pest control and reduce common pests like aphids, leafhoppers, thrips, and even stink bugs.
 
Green Fest and the Hickory Farmers Market will take place under The Sails on the Square in downtown Hickory. For more information about the Community Appearance Commission and City of Hickory departments, please visit www.hickorync.gov.
 

 


🏀🎾🤸 YMCA Summer Programs – Important Info for Families!

The Hickory Foundation YMCA is offering several fun summer opportunities for students of all ages:
🎾 Pickleball Lessons (Ages 10+)
• June 11 – August 6 (Thursdays)
• Youth: 5:30–6:30 PM | Adults: 6:30–7:30 PM
• Cost: $80 members / $120 non-members
• All skill levels welcome (bring your own paddle)
🤸 Gymnastics (Ages 18 months–5 years)
• Weekly 45-minute classes (8-week session)
• Mommy & Me (5:30 PM) or Preschool (6:30 PM)
• Registration: March 30 – May 31
• First classes begin June 2 & 4
⚾ Youth T-Ball (Ages 3–6)
• Season runs late May – July
• Practices weekly; games on Saturdays
• Registration: March 1 – May 3
📍 Programs held at Hickory YMCA locations
🔗 Visit www.ymcacv.org or scan QR codes on flyers for registration details
Great opportunities to stay active, learn new skills, and have fun this summer! ☀️