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It is an exciting time in our Roanoke Rapids Graded School District (RRGSD) as we kick off 2025 with energy and enthusiasm! 

Across our schools, students and staff are fully immersed in meaningful learning experiences, athletic accomplishments, and special events that make RRGSD a truly outstanding place to work, learn, and compete.

At Roanoke Rapids High School (RRHS), we are in the midst of first-semester exam week. Students are putting their knowledge to the test with End-of-Course exams, Career and Technical Education (CTE) post-assessments, and other first-semester exams. We wish all of our students the best of luck and encourage them to finish strong. Their hard work and determination exemplify the Yellow Jacket spirit we are so proud of.

Congratulations to our RRHS Swim Team for an outstanding performance at the conference swim meet held at the Rocky Mount YMCA last Thursday night. 

The girls’ team brought home the conference championship, and the boys’ team earned a strong second-place finish. 

Avery Qualls was the lead scorer for the girls, and Reagan Taylor led the boys in points. A special congratulations to Coach Hunter Baker, who was named Girls Coach of the Year! 

Their dedication, teamwork, and perseverance have made us all proud. 

We hope you will join us in supporting the team at their final meet of the season on Tuesday, January 21, at our home pool, where we will also recognize our senior swimmers.

Today, January 14, Don Juan Mexican Restaurant is hosting a fundraising event for our band program. Ten percent of all dine-in and take-out orders will be donated to support the band, so we encourage everyone to enjoy a delicious meal while helping our talented musicians.

Roanoke Rapids Early College (RREC) is currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year. The application deadline is January 20 at 3:25 PM. RREC provides an exceptional opportunity for students to earn their high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously. Tomorrow, January 15, RREC will host a virtual Q&A session to give prospective students and their families more information about this unique program. For details, please call RREC at 252-519-7205.

Chaloner Middle School is abuzz with activity as well. The First Lego League robotics team, Roanoke Riverbots, was set to compete in the state competition in Greensboro this weekend; however, due to the winter weather, the competition has been partially postponed, with interviews held virtually. We look forward to seeing the Riverbots showcase their skills when the competition resumes.

We are also thrilled to welcome our new band teacher, Ms. Ashley Baucom, who will lead Chaloner’s middle school bands. Tomorrow, January 15, there will be a Chaloner baseball interest meeting at 3 PM in the gym for students interested in joining the team.

A team from Chaloner Middle School achieved Highest Honors in the 38th annual WordMasters Challenge — a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 125,000 students annually. The seventh grade team scored an impressive 159 points out of a possible 200 in the first of three meets this year, placing ninth in the nation. 

Competing in the very difficult Gold Division of the WordMasters Challenge, eighth grader Kahlyn Beach achieved outstanding results in the meet. Our team was coached by Jenny Shives and Kay Allen.

Belmont Elementary School is gearing up for its 2nd Annual Night of the Arts, scheduled for January 30 from 5:30 to 7 PM. This event promises to be a wonderful showcase of our students’ creativity, and we hope you’ll mark your calendar to attend. 

At Manning Elementary School and Clara Hearne Pre-Kindergarten Center, our youngest learners are engaging in innovative, hands-on activities. This week, Clara Hearne students painted ice and watched it melt into snowflake molds, which were displayed on the back ramp—frozen works of art that highlight the magic of winter learning.

As we celebrate the successes and creativity of our students, we also take time this January to express our gratitude to the RRGSD Board of Trustees.

School Board Appreciation Month is an opportunity to honor their dedication and hard work. Please join me in thanking them for their service. 

This month’s regularly scheduled board meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 21 at 6 PM, and they will interview candidates to fill the current vacancy on the Board.

RRGSD is a fantastic place to be, and we are always looking for passionate individuals to join our team.

Current job openings include positions for a Health Sciences Academy Coordinator, first responders for athletics (at Chaloner and RRHS), behavior liaison, computer science teacher, teacher assistant/bus driver, middle grades teacher, school resource officer, exceptional children’s teacher, school psychologist, bus driver (part-time), and more. Visit our website at www.rrgsd.org to learn more.

We are especially excited about our new partnership with ECU Health to launch a Health Sciences Academy. This program will prepare students for careers in the health sciences, and we are seeking a dedicated coordinator to lead this exciting initiative.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools and students. Together, we are building a brighter future for Roanoke Rapids. Stay tuned for more updates in the next edition of The Yellow Jacket Report! Go Jackets!