RBA Cheerleading Teams Capture Three National Championships

We are proud to celebrate an outstanding achievement by our RBA Reign Athletics Cheerleading program! Earlier this month, our RBA cheerleading teams traveled to Disney World to compete at the Quest National Championship in hopes of reclaiming the title of national champions. After multiple days of competition and lots of hard work, RBA brought home national titles in three divisions!

This year’s national champion teams are:

Silver Flame – 10U Level 1

Black Ice – 12U Level 2

Royalty – 14U Level 1

All of these athletes have demonstrated exceptional commitment and hard work throughout the year. Their success on the national stage reflects their dedication and passion for the sport, as well as their values of perseverance and teamwork.

We would also like to extend a big thank you to the RBA coaches and staff! These victories would not have been possible without their guidance and support.

Congratulations once again to all our athletes and coaches on this remarkable accomplishment. We are incredibly proud of you!

For those interested in joining this award-winning program, please contact Coach Lafave at rbaathletics@gmail.com for more information.

Sign up HERE!

Go RBA Cheerleading!

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Mastering the Alphabet: Kindergarten Letterland Parade

The mastery of the alphabet is essential for every young learner. Knowing the shape and sound of each letter (both uppercase and lowercase) ensures our kindergarteners have a good foundation to build on as they continue their education.

To help students learn the alphabet, they are taught the ‘Letterland Song,’ which assigns a character to each letter. Through the Letterland song and characters, CCS-A kindergarteners master all 44 sounds in the English language and their major recurring spelling patterns.

To celebrate this mastery, each CCS-A campus recently had its annual Letterland Parade. Students and teachers dressed up as their favorite Letterland characters and proudly marched around their campus. Parents, staff, and older students cheered them on and helped them celebrate this accomplishment.

Congratulations, kindergarteners!

Check out pictures from each campus’s Letterland Parade below:

Leland

Southport

Whiteville

Wilmington

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Exploring Washington, D.C.

On March 12, eighth grade students from CCS-Southport and CCS-Leland traveled to our nation’s capital, Washington D.C., for an educational and unforgettable field trip.

Our eighth graders have spent the past nine years at CCS-A studying our nation’s history and founding. This trip provided them with the opportunity to experience that history firsthand, making connections to what they have learned in the classroom while deepening their understanding of American history and government.

They spent the weekend touring many historic landmarks and monuments, including the U.S. Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Washington Monument, Ford’s Theatre, the Lincoln Memorial, and more.

They also explored several museums within the Smithsonian Institution.By learning alongside their classmates, our eighth graders created memories that will last a lifetime. They will carry these experiences with them beyond their time at CCS-America and continue to understand the importance of being active, informed citizens of the United States.

Washington, D.C. Trip Photos

CCS-America Spelling Bee

On February 18th, the CCS-Leland auditorium hosted the annual CCS-America Spelling Bee! Students who won both their classroom and grade-level spelling bees from all four campuses gathered for the final spelling showdown.

First through eighth-grade students faced off against the winners from other campuses, showcasing their extraordinary spelling skills. The competition was fierce, and many grade levels had very close races. The eighth-grade competition was so intense that it went over twenty rounds!

In the end, our champions spelled their way to victory and were named the Grade Level Champions!

List of winners:

1st grade- Allen Johnston from CCS-Leland

2nd grade- Jaxon Craven from CCS-Southport

3rd grade- Kendall Hufman from CCS-Southport

4th grade- Remi Rivera from CCS-Southport

5th grade- Luke Byron from CCS-Southport

6th grade- Emma Evans  from CCS-Southport

7th grade- Titan Robles from CCS-Leland

8th grade- Enzo Didomencio from CCS-Southport

Congratulations to all our Spelling Bee participants! You did a wonderful job representing your schools and we are so proud of you.

CCS-America Spelling Bee Winners

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CCS-America in the Media: Classic Learning Test Spotlight

The Classic Learning Test (CLT) recently highlighted CCS-America as a ‘CLT Spotlight School.’ Check out the full CLT Journal article HERE to learn more about CCS-America’s mission, what makes us unique, and the key ingredients that led to our campuses ranking #1 and #3 in the country on the 2025 CLT8 test.

Next, CCS-America’s Dean Lopez and Dean Cause-Nance sat down for CLT’s ‘Anchored’ podcast. They went into detail about CCS-America’s one-of-a-kind classical curriculum, the direct instruction method, and the classical education movement. The podcast episode is available on all podcast platforms (including Spotify and Apple Podcasts) or HERE on YouTube.

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CCS-America Staff Spotlights

CCS-America prides itself on having the best, most encouraging, and most positive staff members. Law 1 of the Roger Bacon Academy states “Reward good behavior- you’ll get more of it.” Teachers who consistently encourage and reward positive behavior will get more of it in return and foster meaningful, lasting relationships with their students.

While we value and are grateful for all our amazing staff members, we would like to highlight a few who have stood out on recent parent surveys as going above and beyond to reward positive behavior and build impactful student relationships.

Debra Greene: CCS-Leland

“She shows so much kindness and compassion to her students. Her open arms and warm heart mean so much. We appreciate her greatly!” -First Grade Parent

Ms. Greene serves as a First Grade Teacher Assistant at CCS-Leland. She will reach her ten year anniversary at CCS-America later this year! For the past decade, Ms. Green has been a caring and kind teacher who is personally invested in the success and happiness of her students. She takes the time to build meaningful connections with them, ensuring they feel supported, valued, and understood. Her compassion and genuine interest in her students’ well-being create a positive and nurturing learning environment.

Click HERE to see why Ms. Greene is passionate about teaching.

Twyla Mckenzie: CCS-Wilmington

“She loves each and every student she comes in contact with. She creates a personal relationship with her students and goes the extra mile everyday.” -First Grade Parent

Ms. McKenzie serves as the First Grade Teacher Assistant at CCS-Wilmington. She has been a apart of the CCS-America family for over five years, starting out as a bus monitor and substitute teacher. She goes above and beyond to create personal, genuine relationships with every student she encounters. Her love for teaching and her students is clear to anyone who meets her. While now a Teacher Assistant, Ms. McKenzie still serves as a bus monitor to help ensure all her students get home safely.

Click HERE to see what Ms. McKenzie loves about working in education!

Stefanie Smith: CCS-Southport

“She manages so many responsibilities and still makes learning engaging and meaningful. She helps her students stay focused, grow their confidence, and take on more responsibility. My child truly benefits from her hard work.” -Fifth Grade Parent

Ms. Smith serves as the Lead Fifth Grade Teacher at CCS-Southport. She has been working at the Southport campus for over five years. Her dedication to her students shines brightly each day as she guides them through both the daily challenges of the classroom and their upcoming transition to middle school. She works hard to grow a hunger and love for learning within her students that continues to guide them to success after they leave her classroom.

Click HERE to see what Ms. Smith aims to accomplish through teaching.

Tessa Cheek: CCS-Whiteville

“She is open, transparent, and always willing to go above and beyond. She has never ending dedication and hard work and made my child’s transition to a new school so smooth.” -Sixth Grade Parent

Mrs. Cheek serves as a Sixth Grade Teacher at CCS-Whiteville. She has taught at CCS-Whiteville for almost three years, showing her dedication to her students time-and-time again. She works hard to make learning fun, finding unique ways to get students excited about history. She is pictured here with a 3D-printed medieval village she made for her students to illustrate what life was like in the middle ages. The lesson, which included a discussion of feudalism, captures both her love of history and her affection for her students.

Click HERE to see what Mrs. Cheek loves about being a teacher!

We Still Have Spots Open!

There is still time to enroll for the 2026-2027 school year! We have seats open across all grade levels and all campuses.

All prospective students (including siblings of current students) can enroll online for the upcoming school year at www.EnrollRBA.com for any of our four top-ranking locations. To access the application, click the “Visit and Enroll HERE” text next to the campus logo that you wish to enroll.

LEARN MORE AND ENROLL NOW!

REMINDER: A Chrome or desktop browser are the best options for accessing the application.

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NC Universities Embrace Classical Choice

Classical charter students get an admission edge

By Jessica Lopez, Dean of Classical Humanities

A college admissions test measuring skills that are emphasized in classic curricula just got the nod from the University of North Carolina (UNC). The test, known as the Classic Learning Test or CLT, targets critical thinking, grammar reasoning, classic writings, and traditional math. These vital skills contrast with the common core and progressive education ideas tested in the SAT and ACT tests.

The CLT is now accepted by all 16 UNC institutions, and this gives our classically educated students a distinct edge for scoring higher on this admissions test.

We led North Carolina with our classically oriented application in 1999. In 2024, we first took the CLT8 and finished in the top 20 schools nationwide. The other top 20 finishers were all high-tuition private schools, unlike our tuition-free CCS-America schools. 

The next year 2025, our classic educated eighth-grade Leland and Whiteville students led the nation by achieving first and third places on the CLT8 test. The CLT8 previews the CLT admissions test and confirms that our students are blazing a pathway for their success. 

The CLT is accepted by a number of other state university systems, all the United States military academies, and more than 300 institutions overall.  

Despite the state end-of-grade tests being based on common core progressive material, our classical curriculum enables CCS-America schools with their dedicated coaches, teachers, and staff to be the top scorers in their counties. Giving a rigorous test aligned with classical materials, our schools using direct instruction lead the nation.

Let your friends and neighbors know that we have openings in our Kindergarten classes in Leland, Whiteville, Southport, and Wilmington. An early start promotes success. 

www.EnrollRBA.com 

Jessica Lopez is Dean of Classical Humanities for Classical Charter Schools of America and is in her 17th year with the organization.

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Basketball Champions Named

After a competitive and exciting CCS-America Middle School basketball season, two teams have come out on top!

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 girls’ champions, CCS-Leland! They finished the season with an impressive 5-1 record.

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 boys’ champions, CCS-Whiteville! They finished the season with the same great 5-1 record.

Every team had a fantastic season and improved so much from beginning to end. The season was full of close games, great plays, and spirited fans. We are proud of all our athletes for such a great season!

Special thanks to the coaches, referees, Mrs. Rexroad, and Mrs. Lafave. We are excited for the CCS-America sports program to continue to grow!

Basketball Champion Pictures

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Students of the Month: Honesty

Virtue is an important part of CCS-America’s classical curriculum. Each month, we recognize students for displaying a specific character trait from our School Pledge that they not only say, but practice in their daily lives.January’s character trait was Honesty. Honest students are truthful in both their words and their actions. Honesty is seen in the School Pledge as “I Pledge to be truthful in all my works.” Students apply these words by telling the truth, following the rules, and not exaggerating facts.

Congratulations to all CCS-A students who exemplified honesty this month!

Check out January’s honorees:

Leland

Southport

Whiteville

Wilmington

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CCS-America Staff Spotlights

CCS-America prides itself on having the best, most encouraging, and most positive staff members. Law 1 of the Roger Bacon Academy states “Reward good behavior- you’ll get more of it.” Teachers who consistently encourage and reward positive behavior will get more of it in return and foster meaningful, lasting relationships with their students.

While we value and are grateful for all our amazing staff members, we would like to highlight a few who have stood out on recent parent surveys as going above and beyond to reward positive behavior and build impactful student relationships.

Nora Gail Terry: CCS-Whiteville

“She puts real effort into helping her students learn and grow. She’s patient, organized, and truly understands how to connect with her students. It’s clear she cares about their success – not just in school, but in life.” -First Grade Parent

Mrs. Terry serves as the Lead First Grade Teacher at CCS-Whiteville. She has taught Kindergarten and First Grade at CCS-America for over fifteen years, working with and helping our youngest learners develop a love for reading and literature. She puts in extra time and effort to make sure her students understand and are learning to their fullest potential.

Click HERE to see why teaching is important to Mrs. Terry and what part she is most passionate about.

Sarah Jones: CCS-Leland

“We appreciate the time, care, and heart she pours into helping these kids grow and shine. She makes such a difference!“ -Sixth Grade Parent

Mrs. Jones serves as the Lead Sixth Grade Teacher at CCS-Leland. She has taught at CCS-America for almost 5 years, working hard daily to create a positive classroom environment that ensures the success of her students. She supports and leads the entire Sixth Grade team. She is a teacher who shows strength, courage, confidence, and determination in everything she does, and teaches her students to do the same.

Click HERE to see what Mrs. Jones loves about working in education.

Chelsea Nichols: CCS-Wilmington

“She took the time to be patient with my child through rough times, and now my child has learned so much through her teaching!” -Fourth Grade Parent

Ms. Nichols serves as a Fourth Grade Teacher and Lead 3-5 Teacher at CCS-Wilmington. She has taught at CCS-America for over a year, jumping right into things and working hard to create a positive and safe space for her students. She makes and fosters genuine connections with her students and puts in the extra effort to make them feel confident about what they are learning.

Click HERE to see what Ms. Nichols loves about being a teacher!

Sarah Owen: CCS-Southport

“She is always there to help and will go above and beyond to get whatever it is you need. She truly gets to know our children and loves them and wants them to succeed and be happy.” -Southport Parent

Ms. Owen serves as an Office Assistant at CCS-Southport and is the face of the middle school office. She has been working at the Southport campus since the opening of their middle school. She is always willing to lend a helping hand with a smile no matter the challenges of the day. She loves being a part of the daily lives of students, families, and staff and finds it very rewarding to watch elementary students grow and transition into students ready for high school.

Click HERE to see why Ms. Owen loves being a part of CCS-Southport.

We Still Have Spots Open!

There is still time to enroll for the 2026-2027 school year! We have seats open across all grade levels and all campuses.

All prospective students (including siblings of current students) can enroll online for the upcoming school year at www.EnrollRBA.com for any of our four top-ranking locations. To access the application, click the “Visit and Enroll HERE” text next to the campus logo that you wish to enroll.

LEARN MORE AND ENROLL NOW!

REMINDER: A Chrome or desktop browser are the best options for accessing the application.

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Welcome Back for Quarter 3!

We are officially halfway through the school year and are excited for another great quarter at CCS-America! Here are some Quarter 3 dates to remember:

Don’t forget to keep up to date with our 2025-2026 calendars:

CCS-America Academic Calendar

CCS-America Middle School Sports Calendar

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Showcasing Learning Through Music

A key part of CCS-America’s award-winning curriculum is the resource program. Each week, in addition to core subjects, students take classes in Physical Education, Art, Computer Lab, Music, and Character Education.

One way that students are able to showcase what they’ve learned in their resource classes is through the Holiday Concerts. Students spend weeks in their music classes preparing to give these performances to their families, friends, and communities.

This year, students performed classic holiday favorites. They had costumes, props, and some surprise visits from very special guests, including Santa, the Grinch, and even a Christmas hippopotamus! While each campus’s concert was unique, the passion and effort students put into entertaining their audiences was evident in every performance.

Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy the holiday fun and support your students. A special thank you to the CCS-America music teachers for their hard work in putting these programs together.

In case you missed it, check out your school’s Facebook page for photos and videos from these festive performances:

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

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Students of the Month: Generosity

Virtue is an important part of CCS-America’s classical curriculum. Each month, students are recognized for displaying a specific character trait. Throughout the month, they learn and practice this trait, as well as recite it daily in our School Pledge.

Generosity was the character trait for December. Generous students are selfless and share what they have with others. Generosity is seen in the School Pledge as “I pledge to be virtuous in all my deeds.” Students apply this commitment to their everyday lives by doing good for others without seeking anything in return.

Congratulations to all CCS-America students who showed exceptional generosity! Check out December’s honorees using the links below:

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

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2026-2027 Enrollment is OPEN!

The new year has begun, which means that the new school year will be upon us soon! Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is currently open. Remind your friends and family that now is the time to join our tuition-free school community!

All prospective students (including siblings of current students) can enroll online for the upcoming school year at www.EnrollRBA.com for any of our four top-ranking locations. To access the application, click the “Visit and Enroll HERE” text next to the campus logo that you wish to enroll.

LEARN MORE AND ENROLL NOW!

REMINDER: A Chrome or desktop browser are the best options for accessing the application.

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2026-2027 Enrollment is OPEN!

It’s finally here! Open Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year has begun!

Enrollment applications for the upcoming school year are now open. All prospective students (including siblings of current students) can enroll online today at www.EnrollRBA.com for any of our four top-ranking, tuition-free locations. To access the application, click the “Visit and Enroll HERE” text next to the campus logo.

As our schools continue to grow in size and impact, we are excited to add to our charter school family and to make next year the best one yet.

Join our spectacular school community today!

LEARN MORE AND ENROLL NOW!

*Tip: The application works best if using a desktop or a Chrome browser! Safari does not work as well.

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CCS-Leland Boosterthon Fun!

CCS-Leland ended November with an exciting Boosterthon fundraiser! This year, the students raised money for gym enhancements, earning fun prizes and participating in special events along the way.

Each day featured a pep rally where students learned more about health, fitness, leadership, and the character traits that we value at CCS-America.

After a lot of enthusiasm and hard work, the Boosterthon wrapped up with the much-anticipated Fun Run for elementary students and Color Run for our middle schoolers. Both events were packed with action, excitement, and joy. The Booster Team kept the energy high with themed laps, dances, and popular music that kept our students moving. Parents and families came out to watch, cheer on their students, and even join in on the fun.

CCS-Leland community, thank you for another wonderful year of participation and school spirit! The commitment and dedication of our school family is truly special.

See pictures from this fun day below:

ELEMENTARY FUN RUN

MIDDLE SCHOOL COLOR RUN

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Students of the Month: Self-Control

CCS-America students are celebrated each month for exemplifying a specific character trait from our School Pledge. This is a value that they not only recite daily, but practice in their everyday lives.

November’s character trait was Self-Control. Students who demonstrate self-control choose to do what is right, even when it isn’t the easiest option or the one they prefer. Self-control is seen in the Pledge as “I pledge to be virtuous in all my deeds.” Students bring these words to life by being calm and respectful in class, practicing good manners, and making thoughtful decisions.

Congratulations to all of the students who demonstrated outstanding self-control!

Check them out using the links below:

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Wilmington

CCS-Whiteville pictures will be uploaded to Facebook soon!

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