Quarter 2 is Here!

Welcome back for Quarter 2! We are excited for another great quarter of learning, growth, and success at CCS-America.

Mark your calendars for these important upcoming events:

Be sure to stay up to date with CCS-America’s 2026-2027 school calendars:

Academic Calendar

Sports Calendar

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CCS-America Art Students Win Brunswick County Contest

Students from CCS-Leland and CCS-Southport were among the top prize-winners in Brunswick County’s annual Intercultural Arts Festival, an event that showcases aspects of the different cultures that make up the Brunswick County and Southeastern NC communities.

Students across Brunswick County are eligible to compete in the art festival’s Poster Contest, creating posters aligned with a specific theme. This year’s theme was “Imagery of a specific culture.”CCS-America’s classical curriculum includes a strong emphasis on art and its importance. All students attend a weekly art class as part of the resource program. Middle school students can choose to take an additional ‘Advanced Art’ class as one of their electives.

Students from CCS-Leland and CCS-Southport participate in this contest every year. This year, students from both campuses earned top honors across multiple age divisions, including Margo Malpass from CCS-Leland placing first in the Elementary Poster Contest!

Check out the winners from CCS-America schools below:

Elementary Poster Contest:

1st place- Margo Malpass– CCS-Leland

2nd place- Cooper Malpass– CCS-Leland

3rd place- Mark Benton– CCS-Leland

Middle School Poster Contest:

2nd place- Bella Brazeal– CCS-Southport

3rd place- Leah Gauldin– CCS-Leland

Congratulations to these students for their creativity and hard work. We are very proud of the way you represented CCS-America and our art program!

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Happy National Principals Month!

October is National Principals Month! We are proud to celebrate our outstanding, hard-working CCS-America Headmasters. They do so much to support their students and help ensure their success, both inside and outside of the classroom.

The next time you see your Headmaster or Assistant Headmaster, be sure to thank them and let them know how much you appreciate all they do.

Mrs. Laurie Benton, CCS-Leland Headmaster

Mrs. Erin Irving, CCS-Leland Assistant Headmaster

Mrs. Leslie Smith, CCS-Wilmington Headmaster

Mrs. Amanda Sauls, CCS-Southport Headmaster

Mrs. Kimberly Patrick, CCS-Whiteville Headmaster

Mrs. Leslie Strickland, CCS-Whiteville Assistant Headmaster

We also want to give a special shout-out to Mrs. Irving, who has done an amazing job during her first few months as CCS-Leland’s Assistant Headmaster. We look forward to seeing the positive impact she will continue to make in this position.

Headmasters, thank you for everything you do. You are a huge part of what makes CCS-America so great!

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We the People… of CCS-America

On September 17, 1787, the United States Constitution was signed by delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

239 years later, each CCS-America campus held its annual Constitution Day celebration to honor and celebrate this historic event. Students marched and cheered in campus-wide parades and participated in activities to learn more about the principles and freedoms that make our country unique. Each classroom created a poster to display in the parade, adding creativity and school spirit to the celebration.

Many special guests joined the parades, including ROTC members and marching bands from local high schools, fire trucks, police cars, CCS-America Employees of the Year, and even James Madison, the Father of the Constitution! He gave a short speech about the history of this important document and marched in the parade.

Students spent the day celebrating, learning, and reflecting on the powerful opening of our Constitution: “We the People.”

Constitution Day Photos

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25 Years Later: Remembering 9/11

In honor of the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, students and staff came together to remember and reflect on the lives impacted by this tragic day.

Campuses began the morning gathered together for the Pledge of Allegiance, our School Pledge, a patriotic song, and a moment of silence to honor the victims, first responders, and families affected by the attacks.

Throughout the day, students participated in lessons and watched videos that helped them better understand the significance of 9/11 and its lasting impact on our country. As we recognized this milestone anniversary, students demonstrated respect and gratitude while honoring the courage and sacrifice that took place on one of America’s most difficult days.

September 11 Assembly Pictures:

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

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Staff Spotlight: Katie Boyce Runs in the 9/11 Promise Race

We are proud to recognize our school social worker, Katie Boyce, for participating in a relay race from the Pentagon to Ground Zero to support the 9/11 Promise organization. The race honors those affected by the events of 9/11 and raises scholarship money for the children of fallen and injured first responders. This year, over $160,000 was raised and fundraising efforts are ongoing.

The journey covered 240 miles and brought together runners and supporters from seven states, including Ms. Boyce. They stopped at 25 firehouses along the route. At each stop, they held a special ceremony featuring a historic flag that was raised at Ground Zero shortly after the attacks and placed a piece of steel from the World Trade Center towers at the base of the flagpole.

Katie shared that one of the most impactful parts of the experience was hearing from guest speakers, including first responders, military veterans, and a recipient of a 9/11 Promise Scholarship.

“We came together across seven states for one reason,” Katie reflected, “to remember those we lost, honor those who served and continue to serve, and keep the promise to their families.”

We are grateful to have team members like Katie who embody service, compassion, and a commitment to honoring the sacrifices of others.

Learn more about the 9/11 Promise

Watch Katie run on the news!

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A GRAND Morning with Grandparents!

National Grandparents Day is celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day. This year, it fell on September 13th. To honor this special day and celebrate the important role grandparents play in the lives of our students, CCS-Whiteville hosted a “Grand Morning with Grandparents,” where all grandparents had the special opportunity to spend time with their grandchildren, enjoy breakfast together, visit classrooms, and participate in CCS-America’s daily pledges.

Thank you to all the grandparents and family members who came out for this fun and memorable morning! We had a great time sharing the many exciting things happening at CCS-Whiteville and creating memories together.

GRANDparents Day Photos

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CCS-Leland Students Win 1st and 2nd Place Honors in Statewide History Contests

Two CCS-Leland students earned high honors in the annual youth history contests sponsored by the North Carolina chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).

The SAR is an organization dedicated to preserving America history, promoting patriotism, and educating future generations about Revolutionary history. Each year, they hold contests at the regional, state, and national levels that challenges students to research a Revolutionary War topic and creatively showcase their knowledge.

This year, Stella Lynch earned first place in the state poster contest for her project on the Battle of Moore’s Creek. Cheyenne Cummings received second place in the state brochure contest for her project on the Bill of Rights. Both students were rewarded with monetary prizes for their exemplary work.

After advancing from the regional competition, both students impressed judges with their historical knowledge, creativity, and attention to detail.

“We are incredibly proud of Stella and Cheyenne for their hard work and outstanding accomplishments,” said Jessica Lopez, Dean of Classical Humanities at CCS-America. “These contests provide students with an opportunity to engage deeply with our nation’s history, and it is exciting to see their hard work recognized at the state level. They have represented CCS-Leland exceptionally well and have continued CCS-America’s growing tradition of excellence in the SAR contests.”

Congratulations, Stella and Cheyenne! Your CCS-America family is proud of you and your dedication to American History!

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Soccer Season Kicks Off!

It’s finally here! The CCS-America middle school soccer season has begun and this year is already looking to be a great one.

Following tryouts, 6th-8th grade students were selected for their teams in early August and have spent the time since then working hard, practicing, and preparing for upcoming games. The competition began last week, with players not only demonstrating their soccer skills, but also their good sportsmanship, an important part of CCS-America’s Foundations of Virtue curriculum and a trait coaches make sure to emphasize.

Congratulations to CCS-Leland for winning the two opening games! We are very proud of all our teams and are excited for another year of competitive games, fun competition, and school spirit.

Be sure to cheer for your team at the next soccer game, Thursday, September 10th at the Southport campus when CCS-Whiteville takes on CCS-Southport. Check the Middle School Sports calendar for more information.

Soccer Game Pictures

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Back to School Community Events

Our campuses celebrated the start of an amazing new school year with their annual Back to School Community Events! These events are a school and community favorite and are always highly anticipated by families, staff, and prospective students.

CCS-Whiteville and CCS-Wilmington held their events after school on August 14th. CCS-Leland hosted theirs on August 27th, while CCS-Southport held the final event on August 28th. While each event was unique and had its own special elements, each campus welcomed families and local community members for an evening filled with food, vendors, games, bounce houses, and a whole lot of fun.

The community also had an opportunity to learn more about CCS-America and what makes our classical curriculum so successful. Each event also had a ‘curriculum fair’ where families were able to take a deeper look at all aspects of CCS-America.

Thank you to everyone who came out and made the events ones to remember!

Check out pictures of the fun at each campus:

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

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Starting the Year Strong

We are two weeks into the new school year, and things are off to a fantastic start! Classrooms at all four campuses are already buzzing as students get back into their routines and prepare for new opportunities to grow.

In Kindergarten, our youngest learners are learning about, and becoming familiar with, school life. In middle school, students are diving into their coursework and preparing themselves for the future. Teachers and staff have worked hard to cultivate welcoming learning environments, setting the stage for a successful year.

Thank you to our dedicated staff, outstanding students, and supportive families for making this transition back to school so seamless. We are excited to see what the school year has in store!

First Week Photos

We are still accepting applications in select grade levels across all four campuses! If you know a family looking for the best quality education, encourage them to visit www.EnrollRBA.com. If the applicant puts your name in the referral section of the application, you will receive a $25 ShopRBA gift card. Help us grow the CCS-America family.

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Introducing Foundations of Virtue

The Character Education program has always been an important part of CCS-America’s curriculum. This year, we are excited to launch Foundations of Virtue, a new curriculum that expands and enhances our previous program.

The purpose of this enhancement is to help students better understand the virtues recited daily in our School Pledge. The new lessons reinforce the idea that the pledge is more than words— it is a promise kept through daily actions.

To help make these virtues meaningful and memorable, students will study historical figures and literary characters, such as George Washington and Florence Nightingale, who demonstrated virtues such as truthfulness, prudence, justice, courage, temperance, and faithfulness through their actions.

Because Foundations of Virtue is synchronized with both our history and literature curriculum timelines, students will learn how people they are studying exemplified these character traits. Students will learn by example that strong character is built by consistently choosing what is true, wise, and good, preparing them to put into practice the virtues they pledge to uphold each day.

Our Student of the Month ceremonies will also reflect this change. The virtues recognized each month will now align with the Foundations of Virtue curriculum.

 Our goal is to help students understand the words of the pledge, remember worthy examples, and practice virtue in their daily lives.

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Investing in Excellence

Before students returned to campus, teachers and staff were hard at work preparing to make this a great school year. Over two weeks in July, all educators participated in an extensive professional development program that went beyond just our Staff Orientation Day. The training focused on a variety of important topics, including curriculum, classroom instruction, school safety, technology, and student support.

These sessions were tailored to specific grade levels and subject areas. Teachers collaborated with colleagues, explored effective strategies, and planned for strong student outcomes. They also participated in workshops covering classroom management, student engagement, and the principles of classical education.

At CCS-America, we believe that great schools are built by great educators who are committed to continuous growth. We are grateful for their hard work and dedication as we begin another exceptional year of learning and academic excellence.

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Welcome to the 2026-2027 School Year!

Baker Mitchell, Founder

Good morning, everybody.  Welcome to a new school year at CCSA. It’s great to see 400 teachers and staff gathered here to kick off a new year for our four schools. 

But before we look ahead, we should pause and recognize what we’ve already accomplished. Our schools are the among top-scoring schools in each of your areas on the state’s tests.   

For the national Classical Learning Test, Leland and Whiteville ranked tied for 1st and 3rd in the nation! These results are not accidental. Our high scores happened because we all chose, day after day, to prepare carefully, teach patiently, and hold students to high standards. Our high scores happened because we believe that children can rise to excellence when we expect excellence and when we model it ourselves. 

So today, I want to begin by saying thank you for making these top scores happen. Thank you for studying your lesson plans. Thank you for grading papers carefully. Thank you for the data meetings, the hallway conversations, the parent phone calls, the extra help before school, and thank you for maintaining safe and beautiful campuses. Much of the most important work in a school is never seen by the public, but it is reflected in the lives of our students and for this you are all due thanks. 

And as much as we like our successes, we are not here to just admire what we did in the past. We are here to begin again with a resolve not only to maintain excellence, but to improve it. The question we have is not, “Are we doing well?” We are. The real question is, “How can we become even better for these children who are entrusted to us?” 

One of the most important answers is uniquely found in the First Law of our schools: Reward good behavior—you’ll get more of it. That simple sentence contains a great deal of wisdom that’s based on laws of human psychology. It reminds us that children are always learning from our responses. They learn from what we notice. They learn from what we praise. They learn from what we allow, what we correct, and what we celebrate. 

In every classroom, students are asking themselves questions, even when they do not say them aloud: “Does my teacher see me? Does my effort matter? Is this classroom a place where doing the right thing is noticed?” When the answers are “Yes,” a powerful relationship begins to form. A student who feels seen by a teacher is more willing to listen. A student who is encouraged for effort is more willing to try again. A student who receives warmth for doing right is more likely to repeat it.   

Rewards do not have to be elaborate. In fact, the most effective rewards are often the simplest: a sincere thank you, a smile, a high-five, a pat on the shoulder, a word of praise, a smiley face on a paper, a quick “I noticed how hard you worked,” or “Thank you for sitting up and tracking the lesson.” These small moments cost us almost nothing, but to a student at any level they can mean a great deal. 

Each one creates a brief moment of joy in the student’s spirit. That moment of joy matters. It is foundational and tells the child, “This feels good. I want to do it again.” Over time, those little moments build habits. Habits build character. And character builds classrooms where learning can flourish to ever greater heights. We should never underestimate the power of a joyful glance, an approving nod, or a well-timed word of encouragement with a smile. 

This is not soft or lax discipline. It is wise discipline. A productive classroom is not built by correcting what is wrong; it is built by multiplying what is right – the proven 4 to 1 ratio of praises to corrections. Correction has its place, but if correction is the dominant tool we use, children will come to believe that adults notice them only when they fail. Our First Law teaches a better way: catch them doing good, name it, reward it, and watch it grow and displace those unwanted behaviors. 

That is how strong teacher-student relationships are formed—not by lowering expectations, but by joining high expectations to tangible encouragement. Our students should know that we are for them. They should feel that we want them to succeed, that we delight in their growth, and that we are ready to recognize every honest effort toward virtue and learning. 

As we begin this 2026–2027 school year, let’s remember that excellence is not preserved by habit alone. It is renewed by purpose. Let’s come to school determined to reward the good actions that we want to see more often. Let’s be alert to obedience, effort, kindness, neatness, courage, honesty, attention, and perseverance. Let us make goodness tangible. 

If we do that, we will do more than maintain or even improve our test scores. We will strengthen the culture that makes those scores possible. We will build classrooms where students are eager to learn, where we are able to teach, and where families can see that their children are being formed in both knowledge and virtue. 

Thank you for the work you have done and thank you for the work you are about to do. May this be our strongest year yet—with clear teaching, high standards, joyful classrooms, and students who grow in wisdom, virtue, and achievement.  

Welcome back and now let’s begin. 

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We are excited to have our students back on campus and for another amazing school year to begin! Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates:

Be sure to stay up to date with CCS-America’s 2026-2027 school calendars:

Academic Calendar

Sports Calendar

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2025-2026 Employees of the Year

All four CCS-America campuses have named their Teacher of the Year, Beginning Teacher of the Year, and Teacher Assistant of the Year for the 2025-2026 school year. These outstanding educators were selected for their dedication, commitment, and willingness to go above and beyond for their students. We are proud to recognize and celebrate their hard work, passion, and impact.

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Employees of the Year!

CCS-Leland:

Ms. Nikki Chaney, Teacher of the Year

Ms. Stephanie Doyle, Beginning Teacher of the Year

Ms. Tiffany Suita, Teacher Assistant of the Year

CCS-Whiteville:

Ms. Alexis Reynolds, Teacher of the Year

Mr. Dylan Scott, Beginning Teacher of the Year

Ms. April Coleman, Teacher Assistant of the Year

CCS-Wilmington:

Ms. Chelsea Nichols, Teacher of the Year

Ms. Carly Krussow, Beginning Teacher of the Year

Mr. Aaron Wyatt, Teacher Assistant of the Year

CCS-Southport:

Ms. Samantha Lawson, Teacher of the Year

Ms. Olivia Endler, Beginning Teacher of the Year

Ms. Kimberly Boumpani, Teacher Assistant of the Year

CCS-America Employee of the Year Pictures

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CCS-America Staff Professional Development

At CCS-America, we hold our teachers and staff to the same standard of excellence that we set for our students, always striving to grow and improve. On July 17, CCS-America welcomed staff back for Staff Orientation and Professional Development Day in preparation for the 2026-2027 school year.

Throughout the day, faculty and staff participated in a variety of breakout sessions focused on professional growth and collaboration. Founder Baker Mitchell also addressed staff as they prepare for a new school year dedicated to educating students through joy across all four campuses.

A highlight of the day was welcoming back CCS-Southport alumnus and former valedictorian Gabriel Hughes. In a speech given to staff, Mr. Hughes reflected on how his CCS-America education and the support of his teachers helped shape his success and prepare him for the future. His words served as a meaningful reminder of the lasting impact educators can have on the lives of their students.

Thank you to our dedicated staff for their commitment to this professional development and their continued pursuit of excellence. We are ready and excited to begin another successful school year!

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Join Our Community!

The 2026-2027 school year has begun, but there is still time to enroll! We have seats open in select grade levels across all campuses.

All prospective students can enroll online at www.EnrollRBA.com for any of our four locations. To access the application, click the “Visit and Enroll HERE” text next to the logo for the campus where 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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The 10th Annual History Bowl

On Friday, April 24, the annual Classical Charter Schools of America History Bowl was held in the CCS-Leland auditorium. This year’s event was extra special, as it marked one decade of History Bowls!

To prepare for the competition, students participated in two mock contests and spent hours studying the up to 400 questions that could be asked. These questions correspond with CCS-America’s classical history curriculum. Each CCS-America campus sent a team in each of four grade levels (5-8) to compete in the History Bowl final.

Congratulations to CCS-Southport for bringing home the 5th grade trophy and to CCS-Leland for winning the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade trophies. Great job, teams!

All students on every team worked hard and demonstrated incredible history knowledge. They should be proud of their performances and the great job they did representing their campuses.

Check out photos from the impressive competition here:

10th Annual History Bowl Pictures

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It’s Teacher Appreciation Week!

This week, May 4–8, is Teacher Appreciation Week. Across every CCS-America campus, we are fortunate to have truly exceptional educators who inspire, support, and guide our students each day. We are excited to dedicate this week to recognizing and celebrating all that they do.

Students and parents, take a moment this week to express your gratitude towards your teachers. A simple thank-you note, a kind word, or a thoughtful gesture can go a long way in showing teachers just how much they are valued.

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”

-Albert Einstein

To all our teachers, thank you for your dedication, hard work, and passion. Our school community is stronger because of you. We appreciate everything you do today and every day!

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CCS-Southport Presents Wonderland

Last Friday, May 1, CCS-Southport’s middle school Drama and Show Choir students put on their production of Wonderland, the spring musical!

They first did an afternoon performance for all K-5 students, captivating them with wonderful songs, fun costumes, and wacky jokes. They also gave a nighttime performance for parents and members of the community. Both audiences loved the show and could see all the hard work put into it.

Congratulations, CCS-Southport, on these fantastic performances! Thank you to Jamison Adams and Kimberly Boumpani for their hard work in putting this production on.

Don’t forget, two more CCS-America campuses will be performing their spring musicals this month:

CCS-Wilmington’s The Little Mermaid– May 6 at 5pm

CCS-Leland’s Wonderland– May 22 at 5pm

CCS-Southport Wonderland Performance

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And the 2026 FASTAR® Champion is…

CCS-Southport hosted the 12th Annual FASTAR® Race of Champions on Wednesday, April 29th. All first through fifth place winners in each race from each CCS-America campus came to this final competition to race as a team.

Students sped through their reading section and math facts, showing incredible skill and accuracy. In the end, CCS-Leland emerged victorious!

Congratulations to CCS-Leland, their competitors, and all the students invited to participate in the Race of Champions!

FASTAR Race of Champions Pictures

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Students of the Month: Respect

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

The character trait for April was Respect. Students who show respect treat others and themselves with honor and dignity. Respect is shown 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 these students who demonstrated exemplary respect!

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

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We Still Have Spots Open!

The 2026-2027 school year is almost here, and there is still time to enroll! 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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