The Roger Bacon Academy wishes you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

We hope you all have a wonderful and safe break, and we will see you back at school for the start of Quarter 3 on January 4th.

Lakesha McDay, New Hanover Community Endowment Executive Vice President and Steve Smith, CCS-America Lead Administrator

CCS-Wilmington Receives Grant

Classical Charter Schools of America is happy to share that CCS-Wilmington has been selected to receive a grant from the New Hanover Community Endowment!

The grant will help improve and expand our school’s facilities at the historic Peabody Building. This beautiful historic building has housed the Wilmington campus since 2013. To continue providing families in Wilmington’s inner city with our classical education, additional facility improvements and equipment will further enhance learning opportunities and increase enjoyment for all students. This grant will make that possible.

We offer our sincere thanks for this vote of confidence in the work we are doing and we look forward to continuing this work at all CCS-America schools!

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Why Latin?

[Latin] “allows you to adore words, take them apart, and find out where they come from.” -Doctor Seuss 

At CCS-America schools, we are proud to teach Latin. Here are a few reasons why:

• 80% of English words come from Latin so it helps expand vocabulary
• Latin is at the root of the languages spoken in 57 countries so other languages are more-easily accessible
• Latin is based on logic and reasoning, which leads to greater mathematical understanding
• Latin helps us understand English grammar, which improves writing skills
• Students who have studied Latin consistently outscore students of Spanish and French on college admission tests

CCS-America students begin learning Latin in 4th grade and continue through 8th grade.

Latin: The Basic Subject

Alumni Spotlight

Meet Ms. Brooke Butcher Gooden! Ms. Gooden graduated RBA in 2008 and has recently returned to the classroom as a 1st grade teacher in Elizabethtown, NC. Learn about Ms. Gooden and how her RBA education not only shaped her academically, but also morally here!

A Trip to the Nao Trinidad

CCS-Leland seventh graders took a trip back in time to the “Trinidad,” a replica of the Spanish ship that was part of Magellan’s fleet of five ships. It set sail in 1519 to circumnavigate the globe and out of the 85 member crew, only five made it back to Spain alive. The replica docked on the Wilmington riverfront from Nov. 17-20.

In addition to the rich history, students received a physics lesson with the ship’s pulleys, levers, windlasses, halyards, compasses, and sextants.

Student Andrew Williams said, “I enjoyed the field trip to the Nao Trinidad because I got to learn about Magellan and his voyage. The most interesting thing that I learned was that the large wheel for steering ships was not invented until the 18th century. In the 16th century, they used a whipstaff, a long pole that you moved to steer the ship.”

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Staff Spotlight

Ms. Brandy Powell, CCS-Whiteville’s Lead EC teacher, began her career at a traditional public school in 2004. As an elementary and middle school teacher, she noticed that district schools were not set up for the success of teachers and students. Teachers were to teach the same lessons to all students, regardless of their ability or achievement level, and students were not held to the standards they should be. These issues led to a cycle of the same students falling behind and in trouble.

After a few years of this, Ms. Powell needed time away from teaching. She started a new career but missed students and the classroom setting. In 2014, she decided to gradually return to teaching as a part-time substitute teacher at CCS-Leland. The difference from the traditional public schools she was used to was immediately clear. Students knew what was expected of them and held to high standards; they were divided into groups and classes based on their achievement levels; and teachers had mentors on staff always available to assist them. 

“At CCS-America, we give students a quality education that is achievement based and we teach all students to mastery. This was completely different from what I saw in district schools,” said Ms. Powell.

Click here to continue reading about Ms. Powell and her experience.

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.

November’s character trait was Self-Control. Students who show self-control choose to do what is right, even if it is not the easiest choice. Self-control is seen in the Pledge as, “I pledge to be virtuous in all my deeds.” Students apply these words to their everyday lives by being calm and respectful in class, using good manners, and making good decisions.

Congratulations to all of the students who demonstrated exemplary self-control. Check them out on the links below!

CCS-Leland

CCS-Southport

CCS-Whiteville

CCS-Wilmington

Our Heroes

Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11th to honor and appreciate all who have served in the United States military.

At Classical Charter Schools of America and The Roger Bacon Academy, we are honored to have 15 Veterans on our staff. Not only have they bravely answered the call to duty and defended our liberty, but they have continued to dedicate their lives to others by serving as educators.

To our courageous Veterans, we are infinitely grateful for your service and sacrifice. Thank you for your valor, for protecting us, for defending our rights, and now, for your dedication to our students.

CCS-America Veterans

History of Veterans Day

A Classical Custom, Cursive 

At The Roger Bacon Academy family of charter schools, we begin teaching cursive in first grade. Students learn a letter a day and carefully practice creating their cursive letters with a slant. Cursive instruction continues into the second and third grades where students build their cursive practice by connecting letters into words and writing sentences. In fourth grade, all work must be completed in cursive, except math. Students are expected to use a slant and neatly write; while teachers are expected to take off points for messy handwriting, uncrossed t’s, and undotted i’s.

Cursive is part of The Roger Bacon Academy’s curriculum for many reasons. Research proves that learning cursive develops better readers and increases memory by connecting letters in words. All of America’s founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, are written in cursive. If one cannot read cursive, one is condemned to rely on a translation.

Cursive has become a lost art in most other schools, but it is found in our schools each day.

Click on the links below for more important information on cursive!

Cursive Research 

Founding Documents

Alumni Spotlight

Meet alumna Shelby Mathis! Ms. Mathis graduated from Classical Charter Schools of Leland in 2012 and is working as a Chiropractic Assistant before going to graduate school for Athletic Training. Learn more about Ms. Mathis here!