As we have fully moved into the fall season by turning back our clocks, raking our leaves, exchanging Halloween decorations for Thanksgiving or Christmas ones, and completing our first quarter of the school year, our students across the district have had another fulfilling week of growing and learning. 

This week, I will share celebrations from every campus in the district, showcasing our students’ and staff’s hard work, community involvement, and the upgrades that enhance learning and well-being across our schools.

At Clara Hearne Pre-Kindergarten Center, students and staff are enjoying a smooth start to the school year. They recently completed parts of the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) assessment, which is used to enhance classroom quality and early education outcomes. 

We are also thrilled to share that Amy Parker, RRGSD Teacher of the Year, has advanced to the next round in the competition to represent North Carolina. 

Her dedication and commitment to young learners has set a high standard for teaching excellence in our district.

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Manning Elementary School celebrated a successful Open House, Book Fair, and Night of the Arts with a musical performance from their 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students. 

The excitement continued with the installation of a new basketball court on the playground, thanks to collaboration between the RRGSD Facilities and Operations department and Manning PTO. Recently, Community Outreach Liaison Julie Liverman coordinated with Feed-A-Family to pack 167 bags for our families in need. We are thankful for their generosity and hard work.

At Belmont Elementary School, anticipation is building for our new playground scheduled for installation in January 2025. Additionally, the upcoming story walk along the walking trail will encourage student wellness and offer a fresh approach to outdoor learning.

Chaloner Middle School is thrilled with the recent addition of lights to the athletic field, which enhances safety and allows for more extended sports events. Students and staff raised over $3,000 in their Double Good popcorn fundraiser and had a successful Chick-fil-A night, demonstrating strong community support. 

Fall sports concluded this week for our volleyball, cheerleading, and football teams. They had great seasons! Both our volleyball and football teams won the regular season, and our volleyball team also won the tournament with our football team as runners-up in the tournament. 

Our middle school FIRST Lego Robotics teams (Brickhe@ds and Rapids Riverbots) competed in the regional competition at South Central High School in Winterville, NC, on Saturday, November 9. Students, coaches, and their families woke early to be in Winterville at 7:15 AM. Teams presented their hard work from this fall including their innovation project as well as robots they coded to run specific missions.

Roanoke Rapids High School is wrapping up its annual Band Fruit Sale today. 

To order, please call 252-519-7249 or visit the online store

Proceeds support the RRHS Band program, and we appreciate the ongoing community involvement. RRHS Alumni and Friends have also launched a brick fundraiser; engraved bricks will soon be a lasting addition to the Senior Building’s sidewalk along Hamilton Street. 

The first installation of the Castle Brick fundraiser deadline is December 20, which is also the date for Christmas at the Castle. We hope that you will mark your calendars and join us for an evening of Christmas music provided by the RRHS band and chorus, pictures with Santa, hot chocolate and goodies, and gifts that can be purchased for your Christmas list.

Our Roanoke Rapids Early College scholars had a unique opportunity to tour Roseburg Forest Products and Halifax Community College during Industry Day. 

These visits, hosted by the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce Pathways Youth Leadership, provided students with insight into manufacturing and sustainable wood product industries, helping them envision careers in these vital fields. 

They also attended the 16th Annual American Indian Heritage Month Celebration, where they learned about the history and contributions of Indigenous communities in North Carolina.

Finally, at ACES, elementary students recently went on a field trip to Halifax, while middle and high school students are thriving and have completed credit recovery classes, ensuring that they stay on track with their academic goals.

Thank you for your support of our students, staff, and community as we continue to strengthen and celebrate the vibrant learning environments in each of our schools.