Race of Champions 

Classical Charter Schools of Southport held the 10th Annual FASTAR® Race of Champions on Wednesday, April 24th. Competitors from each CCS-America campus showcased incredible skill, speed, and accuracy.

Following four quick races, each with four “laps” of reading and math, CCS-Southport emerged victorious by a mere 2 seconds. Congratulations to all of the champion racers, with a special acknowledgement to CCS-Southport’s pit crew and racers for securing their second consecutive victory.

If your student is interested in participating in this thrilling academic race, make sure to sign them up for FASTAR® in the 2024-2025 school year!

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The 8th Annual History Bowl 

The Roger Bacon Academy hosted its 8th annual History Bowl last Friday, April 26th at Classical Charter Schools of Leland. Throughout the year, students have been studying up to 400 questions that may be asked during the competition. These questions align with The Roger Bacon Academy’s chronological history curriculum. The students showcased an impressive display of historical knowledge, sportsmanship, and competitive spirit.

This year marked a significant achievement as all four schools won a grade level! The competition was close, with the final round of the 8th grade competition even going into double sudden-death overtime. Congratulations to the following grades and campuses for bringing home trophies. All students should take pride in their hard work and performance.

 5th grade: CCS-Wilmington

 6th grade: CCS-Leland

 7th grade: CCS-Whiteville

 8th grade: CCS-Southport

We would also like to recognize 8th graders Gabriel Hughes and Josie Baroski of CCS-Southport, Walter Davis of CCS-Leland, and Macy Young of CCS-Whiteville for competing in the History Bowl since 5th grade.

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Students of the Month

CCS-America students are recognized monthly for displaying a specific character trait from our School Pledge that they not only say but also practice in their daily lives.

April’s character trait was Respect. Students who show respect treat others with honor and dignity. Respect is seen in the School Pledge as “I pledge to be obedient and loyal to those in authority.” CCS-America students apply these words to their everyday lives by treating adults with courtesy, using good manners, and treating their peers the way they want to be treated.

Congratulations to all of these students who demonstrated exemplary respect. Check them out on the links below!

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

Did You Know? A Cautionary Tale. 

Starting in kindergarten, consistent absence, whether excused or unexcused, can lead to children falling behind in school. 
Missing 10 percent of school days, that’s just two days a month, increases the chance that your student will not achieve the same level of reading and math proficiency as their peers.
Even missing a day or two every few weeks can hinder a student’s academic progress.

When a student accumulates 10 or more unexcused absences, the parent/guardian may be in violation of North Carolina’s Compulsory Attendance Law and could face prosecution if the absences cannot be justified under the established attendance policies. Recently, a parent at CCS-America received a jail sentence due to their child’s attendance record. Monitoring attendance closely, with letters sent home after 3, 6, and 10 unexcused days, aims to prevent families from being referred to the district attorney’s office and facing criminal court appearances. This offense is classified as a Class I Misdemeanor and could potentially result in up to 120 days of incarceration of the parent/guardian.

We miss your students when they are not in school, and we value their contributions to our community. We would like your help in ensuring that your student attends school regularly and achieves success academically. If your student is going to be absent, please contact the child’s teacher and send in a written note from you, the doctor, etc., excusing the absence.

It’s FASTAR Championship Week! 

CCS-America students competing in the annual FASTAR® (Fluent Academic Skills Tournament in Arithmetic and Reading) competition will race to the finish line this week, with the Race of Champions scheduled for next Wednesday, April 24th. CCS-Whiteville and CCS-Wilmington checkered-flag champions have completed their preliminaries after two exciting race days filled with close competition!

CCS-Leland will race today, April 17th, and CCS-Southport will race tomorrow, April 18th. All schools will then meet at The Race of Champions on April 24th, where the school with the most speed and accuracy will take home the final trophy!

Congratulations to CCS-Whiteville and CCS-Wilmington FASTAR® racers, pit crew members, and champions! Thank you to everyone for practicing with their student and for cheering the racers on!

CCS-Whiteville Pictures

CCS-Wilmington Pictures

RBA Cheer Excels at US Finals; Consider Joining! 

The RBA Athletics’ cheerleaders won several top prizes in the US Finals last weekend in Myrtle Beach. The US Finals is one of the largest competitions in the country, and RBA students came out strong with three National Titles and two Grand Champions for levels 1 and 2. Congratulations to all athletes and coaches on amazing performances!

RBA Athletics has been a reliable source of cheerleading excellence in the community for more than two decades and offers year-long competitive cheerleading to students at all four CCS-America campuses. Founded by Daryl and Jeane LaFave in 2004, the program started as a member of Coastal Pop Warner and quickly grew into a powerful force in recreational cheer. The program’s cornerstone values of discipline, teamwork, and integrity have been developed over time through the founders’ own experience in the sport. These values are instilled in every athlete who joins RBA Athletics, creating not just a team, but a family that works hard, supports each other, and extends beyond the gym.

The program’s impact on the community is evident in the many athletes who have returned to coach or bring their children to the program. While the program has earned many awards and accolades over the years, its greatest success is undoubtedly the lasting relationships it has helped nurture and build.

Join RBA Athletics today, and become part of a family that values excellence, hard work, and community.

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Science Olympiad Team Competes at State Tournament

This past weekend, CCS-Leland’s Science Olympiad team competed in the State Tournament at NC State University in Raleigh. The CCS-Leland students competed in the events for which they qualified at the regional competition last month. Thank you to the Science Olympiad team’s coaches. And congratulations to CCS-Leland competitors for placing in several events!

 4th place – Towers

 5th place – Air Trajectory

 7th place – Microbe Mission

 10th place – Wind Power

Science Olympiad is offered to all CCS-America Middle School students. Be sure to sign up for the elective to compete in next year’s events!

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Welcome to Quarter 4! 

We hope you all had a wonderful Spring Break! This year has flown by, and we are excited to finish the 2023-2024 school year strong! Here are the highlights to look forward to:

What are parents and teachers telling the State about CCS-Leland? Here is the State’s Report.

Every 10 years, each charter school must go through the NC state renewal process, and it is now CCS-Leland’s turn. Part of this process includes a site visit from personnel of The Office of Charter Schools to review the school’s progress toward meeting its charter’s mission. To get a complete picture of the school, the Office of Charter Schools personnel toured the school and met separately with three groups composed of parents, teaching staff, and administrators. Some of the comments from the renewal board’s site visit report are:

“The teachers and administrators have excellent communication with families. Families found that administrators were very accessible, and modes of communication were effective.”
“Teachers are responsive to student needs – they provide extra resources to families, tutoring, small groups, and parent conferences to ensure student success and well-being.”
” The school encourages parent and family engagement through events and promoting volunteerism in classrooms.”
“Staff are dedicated to school improvement and discussing student progress through the use of data meetings, meeting often with curriculum coaches, and progress meetings.”
“School administrators have a long history with the network of schools (Roger Bacon) and have all previously served as teachers and/or assistant administrators within the network. The network intentionally works to provide a pipeline of teacher leadership.”
“Administrators and curriculum coaches provide ample support for teaching staff and provide feedback related to instruction on a regular basis.”

Congratulations to all at CCS-Leland for such a glowing report!

Students of the Month 

CCS-America students are recognized monthly for displaying a specific character trait from our School Pledge that they not only say but also practice in their daily lives.

March’s character trait was Gratefulness. Students who are grateful show appreciation for what they have and do. Gratefulness is seen in the School Pledge as “I Pledge to be virtuous in all my deeds.” Students apply these words to their everyday lives by appreciating the people in their lives, saying “please and “thank you”, and enjoying what they have.

Congratulations to all of these students who demonstrated exemplary gratefulness. Check them out on the links below!

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CC-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

Attendance is 

School attendance is the key to success and academic achievement. For students to consistently learn and grow, Classical Charter Schools of America takes student attendance very seriously.

In compliance with the North Carolina Compulsory Attendance Law, all absences require parental documentation explaining the reason for the absence. Ten or more unexcused absences may result in a meeting with school administrators. After 25 excused or unexcused absences, a student may be sent back to the public school system. This is not a suspension and disciplinary actions are not utilized.

School attendance is about actively engaging in the learning process, building character, and laying the foundation for future success. Parents, teachers, and students play a crucial role in recognizing the importance of school attendance and working together to ensure a positive learning environment for all.

Attendance details are found on pages 18-19 in the CCS-America Handbook

North Carolina General Statute: attendance

North Carolina General Statute: discipline policies

Let’s Go RBA! 

Congratulations to all four of The Roger Bacon Academy cheer teams for placing in the top five of their divisions at The Quest National Championship, held from March 6-8 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney World in Orlando, FL.

The RBA athletes and coaches consistently make us proud, embodying RBA values in their practice. While growing each year, the RBA cheer teams exemplify true character and dedication beyond CCS-America’s campuses.

Great job to all athletes and coaches! View pictures from their weekend in Orlando at the link below.

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Kindergarteners Master the Alphabet 

Throughout the school year, kindergarten students have met the Letterland characters, learning the sound, shape, and spelling of each letter. By using Letterland songs and strategies, kindergarteners have now covered all 44 sounds in the English language and their major recurring spelling patterns!

To mark this achievement, kindergarten students put on the annual Letterland Parade at each CCS-America campus. Dressed as their favorite Letterland characters, they paraded through campus to celebrate mastering the alphabet, cheered on by the rest of the school.

Congratulations, kindergarten students!

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

CCS-Leland Presents Finding Nemo, Jr.! 

The Classical Charter Schools of Leland Show Choir presented its first performance in the school’s new auditorium on March 1st and 2nd – “Finding Nemo, Jr.”!

Based on the beloved 2003 movie Finding Nemo, the Show Choir captivated the audience with a journey through the ocean, highlighting the values of family, friendship, courage, and determination. These values are also emphasized in the Character Education curriculum at CCS-America.

Congratulations to CCS-Leland Show Choir members and their Director, Mrs. Rexroad, for their outstanding performances!

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Elective Highlight: Science Olympiad

Classical Charter Schools of America offers a variety of electives for middle school students, providing opportunities to learn new skills, collaborate with peers, and even engage in competitions. One such elective is Science Olympiad, where students participate in events requiring scientific knowledge, such as Anatomy and Physiology, Tower Building, Rocks and Minerals, and Forensics.

Throughout the year, students prepare for these events and then showcase their skills at the Wilmington Regional Tournament hosted at UNCW. This weekend, CCS-Leland, CCS-Southport, and CCS-Whiteville will be participating. Best of luck to all competitors!

If your student is interested in competing next year, elective registration will open this spring.

Learn more about Science Olympiad here

Students of the Month

CCS-America students are recognized monthly for displaying a specific character trait from our School Pledge that they not only say but also practice in their daily lives.

February’s character trait was Dependability. Dependable students do what they say they will do, even if it is difficult. Dependability is seen in the School Pledge as “I Pledge to be truthful in all my works.” Students apply these words to their everyday lives by being responsible decision-makers others can rely on.

Congratulations to all of these students who demonstrated exemplary dependability. Check them out on the links below!

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

What is FASTAR®?

A month before the most famous auto race in America, the Indianapolis 500, CCS-America students will compete in a race of their own, a voluntary, extracurricular academic tournament known as FASTAR® (Fluent Academic Skills Tournament in Arithmetic and Reading). The goal of FASTAR® is to encourage students to improve their basic skills through practice in an exciting and rewarding tournament modeled after automobile racing. Research shows that practicing to the point of fluency – able to give fast, smooth, and nearly automatic responses – has several benefits: skills are retained longer, students are able to perform the skills for longer periods of time before tiring, comprehension may be improved, mastery of basic skills make it easier to succeed at more-complex tasks, and homework time may decrease.

FASTAR® racers will participate in tune-up sessions in advance and are encouraged to practice at home. Race days occur in April. The trophy winners from each campus will then meet at the Race of Champions on April 24th where the school with the most speed and accuracy will take home the overall trophy. Sign your student up by this Friday, February 23rd to participate!

Check out last year’s pictures below.

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

Beta Clubs Travel to State Convention

Members of the CCS-Leland and CCS-Whiteville Beta Clubs traveled to Greensboro last month to participate in the North Carolina’s 32nd annual Junior Beta Convention.

The students competed with distinction in individual and team events in the Arts and Academics that relate to classes at CCS-America. Congratulations to all for impressive performances! We are so proud of how they represented CCS-America.

The mission of the Beta Club is to promote academic achievement, character, service, and leadership. Middle school students interested in these values are welcome to join the Beta Club in the 2024-2025 school year!

Event Winners

Learn more about Beta Club here

State Archery Tournament 

Classical Charter Schools of America’s three middle school teams from Leland, Southport, and Whiteville participated in the National Archery Schools Program’s (NASP) North Carolina State Tournament in Winston-Salem this past weekend.

Our teams have been involved in NASP for fourteen years and have garnered nine State Championships, two second-place trophies, and numerous individual awards with two students placing in the top 10 in the middle school boy’s division this year – Colton Riley (Leland, 8th grade) ranked 6th in the State, and Ethan Stanley (Leland, 7th grade) placed 7th. All our team members should be commended for their hard work because the growth and popularity of the sport is making it increasingly more competitive each year.  

“Our middle school students have the opportunity to participate in our archery elective classes, and students are then selected for the competition archery teams,” explained Leland Head Coach LaFave. “We are thankful to all our coaches and administrators for supporting our student-athletes, and we are excited to continue to grow the archery programs on all our middle school campuses,” he added. 

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

Celebrating Frederick Douglass

“Once you learn to read, you are forever free.” -Frederick Douglass

Born into slavery in February 1818, it was illegal for Frederick Douglass to be taught how to read and write, but the wife of his master taught him the alphabet and how to read the Bible. After he learned, Douglass read everything he could and went on to become a champion of the abolitionist and women’s rights movements.

Each year, CCS-Wilmington, previously named after Frederick Douglass, celebrates his birthday and contribution to our country. Teachers read books about Douglass to students and they even get a special visit from Mr. Douglass himself!

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Learn more about Fredrick Douglass