Headmaster Spotlight

It is National Principals Month! Meet the Headmaster and Assistant Headmaster at CCS-Leland, the Headmaster at CCS-Wilmington, and CCS-America’s Lead Administrator at the link below!

Link to YouTube Playlist

Stay tuned for the next Newsletter to meet the rest of our amazing Administrative team!

CCS-Southport Students Look Forward to New Auditorium

The Southport auditorium is three months away from completion! Students recently had the opportunity to learn about the construction process, ask questions, and share what they are most excited about. The Roger Bacon Academy’s Project Manager, Ashley Lindbert, reviewed the construction process and the additional steps necessary to complete the auditorium. This allowed students to get close up and learn about what they have seen transpire from afar. Seventh-grade student, Chapel Crabtree stated, “I’m excited about everything in the building! Everything in it is about fun and exercise, which I’m very fond of.” Hunter Williams, also a seventh-grade student, added, “I am excited about the stage because I love performing and dancing! We haven’t had the chance to do a lot of that yet so this auditorium brings all new opportunities for us!”

Photos 

Charter Champion

The Roger Bacon Academy sends thanks to Senator Bill Rabon for being a strong supporter of charter schools! Senator Rabon was part of the groundbreaking for Classical Charter Schools of Southport in 2015, has spoken at graduations, and recognized the then 6-time National Champion RBA Cheerleading Squads at the State Capital in 2016. He recently won a most deserved Charter Champion Award and continues to be an important part of Classical Charter Schools of America!

Welcome Back!

Thank you all for a wonderful first Quarter! We are looking forward to a fun and busy Quarter two, full of learning and activities! Here are the highlights to look forward to:

October is also National Principals month! We are so thankful for our Headmasters and Assistant Headmasters. Be on the lookout for Headmaster Spotlights on Facebook to learn more about our spectacular school leaders!

A Pledge for Life

Students of Classical Charter Schools of America recite the Pledge daily after the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge is not only for school but is a Pledge for life! It encapsulates the true meaning of what a life well-lived should represent. Classical education centers on wisdom and virtue and these tenets are at the heart of the Pledge. One portion of the Pledge encourages us all to think for ourselves and not rely solely on experts or “popular opinion and custom,” something that is of the utmost importance in a world filled with conflicting information and free-for-all journalism.  The third verse of the Pledge captures the meaning of virtue. Students pledge to have faith and hope, as well as charity toward their neighbor. Students also pledge to be just and prudent. They pledge to have fortitude and temperance.  We should all aspire to the principles ascribed in the Pledge. Following it will lead us to a better society where truth and goodness prevail.  Please click on the link below to read the Pledge in its entirety.

The School Pledge

Students of the Month

Character education is an important part of the CCS-America curriculum. Each month, students are recognized for displaying a specific character trait that they are not only learning and practicing, but also recite daily in our Pledge. September’s character trait was Loyalty. Students who are loyal show commitment, even in difficult times. Loyalty is seen in the Pledge as “I Pledge to be obedient and loyal to those in authority.” Students apply these words to their everyday lives by keeping their commitments, helping those in need, and caring about others. Congratulations to all of these students who demonstrated exemplary loyalty. Check them out on the links below!

CCS-Leland

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington 

Shakespearean Shenanigans

CCS-America celebrated its annual Shakespeare Week with a variety of activities. Celebrations included a performance by a court jester from No Sleeves Magic, an informational presentation from Cape Fear Raptor Center on falconry, ballet lessons, archery demonstrations, and more! Students in K-5 read grade-level-adapted Shakespearean plays and made crafts corresponding with their play. Students in grades 6-8 read several famous Shakespearean plays in their entirety: Julius Caesar (6th), Macbeth (7th), and The Tempest (8th). Some middle school classes prepared a Shakespeare Showcase featuring different aspects of life during the 1600s and gave presentations to elementary classrooms. All students and staff learned and celebrated the life of the greatest writer in the history of the English language, William Shakespeare! Learn more about the life of William Shakespeare below.

The Life of William Shakespeare

Alumni Spotlight

Meet Abigail Bowen from Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville’s graduating class of 2015. Ms. Bowen has returned to CCS-Whiteville as an employee! Learn more about Ms. Bowen here!

We the People of the United States of America

The true power in our nation’s government resides in the first three words of the Constitution, “We the People”. Students of CCS-America observed Constitution Day on September 16, commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Students celebrated by participating in a parade and learning about the importance of the Constitution through different activities: Escape Rooms, videos, books, crafts, and more. Each student received an American flag (made in the USA) to wave while marching in the parade to patriotic music. All campuses were visited by the Father of the Constitution, James Madison! James Madison gave a speech and then joined the students on the parade route. At CCS-America we hope ALL American citizens know and value the US Constitution. Click on the links below to read the Constitution and learn more about the Father of the Constitution, James Madison.

The Constitution of the United States of America

James Madison **************

Archery: On Target for Life

Did you know that CCS-America offers our students the opportunity to shoot target archery in school? Since 2010, our schools have competed in the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP), which has put bows in the hands of over 18 million students nationwide! Target archery improves students’ educational performance by enhancing their focus and concentration, leading to noticeable improvements in attention and behavior. Many NASP schools also find that their archery programs build confidence and self-esteem, and help students become more connected with their school. In the 12 years we have participated, we have captured eight state championships, two second place finishes, and countless CCS-America students have been recognized as top shooter in their grade, and even top in the state! Stay tuned for more CCS-America archery information throughout the year!

NASP

Students of the Month

Character education is an important part of the CCS-America curriculum. Each month, students are recognized for displaying a specific character trait that they are not only learning and practicing, but also recite daily in our Pledge. August’s character trait was Responsibility. Students who are responsible take ownership of their thoughts, words, and actions. Responsibility is seen in the Pledge as “I Pledge to keep myself healthy in body, mind, and spirit.” Students apply these words to their everyday lives by taking care of themselves, doing their best, and fulfilling their duties. Congratulations to all of these students who demonstrated exemplary responsibility. Check them out on the links below!

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington **************

RBA’s Three Laws: A True Trifecta

The Roger Bacon Academy’s Three Laws guide our schools and students to excellence, a true trifecta! Law 1: Reward good behavior – you’ll get more of it. Students are rewarded for good penmanship, correct answers, being in proper uniform, showing respect and courtesy, and other attributes. This law lays the foundation for the other laws. Giving students specific praise and rewarding them encourages other students to be virtuous as well. Displaying virtue may be rewarded tangibly with tickets, treasure box items, or stickers, and verbally with praise, approval, gratitude, or privileges. Law 1 of rewarding good behavior teaches students to display virtue in all situations leading to a more successful and rewarding life. Law 2: Teach to mastery – every child will learn. We strive to meet each student’s achievement level and teach them from that point forward. This is possible through our curated curricula. If students are advanced, they are able to begin above grade-level classes starting in kindergarten. Likewise, if they needs extra support, they are taught at the level that meets their needs. In a regular public-school setting, all students are taught on the same level. Such a model does not offer growth or acceleration but provides stagnation. Our family of schools fosters mastery by challenging students and encouraging their success.   Law 3: Watch the children – If they are not learning or behaving properly, the first two laws are not being followed. If students are rewarded for good behavior and are provided with the appropriate learning material to challenge them, they will behave and learn in the classroom. If students are misbehaving, they could be lacking reinforcement and/or the learning material could be too easy or too difficult, resulting in inappropriate behavior and the lack of academic success. Our teachers are taught to defer to the first two laws when this occurs. These time-tested, field-proven laws set the tone for our schools’ learning environment and mission and pave the way for our students’ success as seen in our successful alumni. Find out more about our three laws with their references by clicking the link below:

Our Three Laws- What, How, and Why

Alumni Spotlight

Meet Christy Woodburn from the first RBA graduating class of 2007! Mrs. Woodburn owns and operates Greatest Potential Chiropractic in Leland, NC. Learn more about Mrs. Woodburn and how she still uses the Pledge in her daily life here!

Who is Roger Bacon?

The Academy is dedicated to the principles espoused by Roger Bacon (1214-1292). Professor Bacon was a devoted thinker and is credited with originating the “scientific method” and thus being the first modern scientist. Roger Bacon desired to become a teacher. He attended Oxford University; and after obtaining his degree, he became a teacher at University of Paris. Bacon studied and taught Aristotle’s writings and believed Aristotle was a great thinker. But after attempting experiments based on Aristotle’s writings, Bacon discovered that many of the findings were incorrect. Bacon was disappointed, having wasted so much effort on the incorrect teachings. Because of this, Bacon devised a systematic way of judging whether a statement was true or false, thereby leading to trustworthy knowledge. Roger Bacon was a man whose source of greatness- his determination to always seek truth- is seeded within every one of us. We all have the ability to achieve the same greatness as Bacon, and with our own self-determination we will seek truth in the universe.

Roger Bacon **************

Virtue and Vice

A Classical Charter Schools of America education provides students not only with superior knowledge in reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also teaches them right from wrong and the difference between virtue and vice. Virtue, demonstrating high moral standards, is taught through such traditional values as courtesy (opening the door), our dress code, our Character Education program, and valuing respect, discipline, and personal responsibility. Our first Law: reward good behavior, you’ll get more of it, embodies the importance placed on doing what is right. A vice is an immoral behavior. Students explicitly learn about virtue and vice through our classical history program, by reading classical literature, and by analyzing virtues and vices through the RBA Rhetoric Program. Education without teaching goodness is a disservice to parents and students alike.   Click below to hear more about the role of virtue and vice in classical education.

Classical Education Video

CCS-America Keeps Standards High

Standards in grading were found to have a big impact on student achievement, according to a 2020 study of NC test data spanning 11 years by the Fordham Institute. Questions answered by the study include: Do students learn more or less from teachers who have higher grading standards? Are effects of grading standards long-lasting? Which racial subgroups are hurt by higher grading standards? Which income subgroups benefit most from high standards? The Fordham study of over 340,000 NC data points confirms the findings of a 2004 Florida study showing that: High grading standards result in higher student performance The effects are long lasting. All racial subgroups benefit significantly All income subgroups benefit significantly For its 22 years, Classical Charter Schools of America has observed the benefits of its rigorous grading standards. 

Link to Fordham Institute Study 

The Southport Middle School is Open!

6th and 7th grade students at CCS-Southport have moved into their new buildings. As the natural progression from the elementary program, students have the room to challenge themselves with exploratory labs, projects, service learning activities, and more! “We’re so happy to be in our new space! People step through the doors and recognize right away that it is new and shiny. We get a lot of ‘w0w!’ when people see how great it’s turned out,” says Middle School Office Assistant, Ms. Owen. We can’t wait to see the Southport campus continue to grow with the highly anticipated Auditorium expected to be completed in January 2023 and 8th grade coming in the 2023-2024 school year!