Congratulations to the following students who won prizes from our “Reach for the Stars” drawing today; Adaya Singletary, Jada Carter, Luke Barbour, Kara Smith, Denasia Hope, Jayden Willington, Madison Nance, Xavier Lennon and Ethan Bartley.

Our K-5 students are participating in the “Reach for the Stars” reading fundraising program and they are doing a wonderful job so far.  Today we held an assembly to congratulate the students for their progress so far and remind them to read every single night and log their information.   This fundraiser is a wonderful way to start the year because not only does it generate funds for our school, it also promotes reading.  We want to encourage all of our parents to read with your child each night, turn off the television and just take some time to sit on the couch and read together.   All students who turn in a reading log will receive a certificate for their participation in the program and the winners for each class will receive a medal.  Another super advantage to this program is that in addition to the certificates and medals we will also be able to purchase books through the program.  Parents please remember that money and logs are due on September 5th.

Our first “Standing O” award winners
Aliyah Crawley, Mia Buffkin, Karizma Washington, Carmen Tamicho, Ashton Schmoll, Garrett Parker, Makayla Hales, and Patricia Faulk.

We were so proud of our middle school students today as they participated in our first  “Standing O” Awards Ceremony.  The goal of the program is to help build character and foster a positive attitude toward self, others and school.  Teachers present awards to students who display exemplary behavior, attitudes or work.  In addition to presenting certificates to the winners, all students and teachers in attendance are provided with an opportunity to give Shout Outs to compliment and thank those who have helped them along the way.   We look forward to seeing which students will receive a “Standing O” award next time.  We are very proud of you and appreciate the things you do to help make YOUR school a better place to learn. 

Students, parents and Headmaster Steve Smith from Columbus Charter School have some fun with Math Night at the Food Lion in Whiteville, NC

WHITEVILLE, NC: August 22, 1012 – “I love math!” stated Izzie Rogers, a kindergarten student at Columbus Charter School.  She was referring to all the fun she was having shopping and calculating groceries at the K-3 Math Night at Food Lion in Whiteville. 

“One of the most important ways we can improve instruction is to make learning fun and relevant,” said Columbus Charter School (CCS) Headmaster Steve Smith. “What better way to see how math is used on a daily basis than to visit the grocery store and use those skills to shop!” 

 Vanessa Smith, Customer Service Manager for Food Lion #2526, coordinated the kindergarten through third grade Math Night at the Food Lion Wednesday evening August 22, 2012. Math Night according to the Food Lion website, “… is transforming the store into a living classroom. By partnering with their local elementary schools, families have an opportunity to work together and apply math skills in a fun and friendly environment.”

Columbus Charter School student Landen Allen and his mom, Lisa Garrell, show off the Food Lion gift card they received at Math Night.

Food Lion provided math worksheets, tailored for each grade level, as students entered the store with their parents. CCS Administrators Steve Smith and Michelle Mena greeted them as well with instructions for the event. Students and parents worked together to complete their math sheet by searching for items and prices throughout the store.  They used basic math facts for calculations and estimations. As they completed their sheets and turned them in, they were given a gift bag filled with goodies and directed to the deli for a hotdog, jello-cup and drink.  

Each parent and each student also entered their names into a drawing for prizes that were awarded throughout the event. Joshua Shaw, of Whiteville, went home as a very happy CCS second grader since he won the basketball goal he had his eye on as soon as he walked in the door.  

Columbus Charter School students Riley Gore, Jordin Stevens, and Autumn Roberson tally the math on the grocery list during Math Night.

“Many thanks to the Food Lion staff for being such wonderful hosts and for supporting Columbus Charter School,” stated Michelle Mena, Assistant Headmaster of the CCS Elementary school. “It was an evening filled with learning, fun, and community partnership.”

The Roger Bacon Academy – Columbus Charter School is a tuition-free, open enrollment K-7 public school in Whiteville, North Carolina. Since 2007, the school has focused on quality education and is a premier performance-driven year round school. Widely recognized as a compelling choice to conventional public education, the school has built a reputation for dedicated and highly qualified teachers that give students a strong and proven academic foundation. The Roger Bacon Academy schools have received numerous awards, including the designation of being a Top-25 School for Academic Growth and of Excellence in the state of North Carolina.

9:00 ~ First Grade

9:20 ~ Second and Third Grades

9:40 ~ Fourth and Fifth Grades

The laminated wallet-sized ID card (similar to a driver’s license) includes the child’s full color photo, complete physical description and emergency contact information.  Important medical information including allergies, scars, etc. can also be added to the card.  It is important information for anyone your child spends time with to have in their wallet at all times.  In an emergency, you can provide law enforcement with crucial information for immediate response.

NEW “eKid-ID”, electronic version of the IDENT-A-KID card can be sent to parent’s cell phone as a picture message.  The parent stores the eKid-ID on their phone, so it is readily available.  Should their child become lost or missing, the parent can instantly forward the eKid-ID to friends, neighbors and law enforcement to help locate their child quickly.  eKid-ID is FREE to parents who purchase more than one card.

Participation in the program is optional.

Cost is per child:  1 card for $8,

2 cards for $12, or 4 cards for $16.

Information is not data based and is deleted in 45 days.

Siblings welcome!

Middle school director, Carla Fisher, Headmaster, Steve Smith and Superintendent Mark T. Cramer pose with students in the new middle school building at Columbus Charter School in Whiteville, NC.

Year-round charter schools start the new academic year with excitement and growth.

 As students arrived for the much anticipated first day of classes at Charter Day School in Leland and Columbus Charter School in Whiteville, a few changes on campus greeted them: a record number of students, continuation of major new curriculum enhancements, and a new Headmaster at Charter Day School.

Monday, July 23 marked the beginning on the new academic year, and Charter Day School topped previous attendance records with 922 students on that first day. Its sister school, Columbus Charter School also opened with an attendance record of 722 students.

“The reason for the excitement and enthusiasm of our teaching staff are several-fold,” said Superintendent Mark T. Cramer. “Last year was a challenge as we instituted major new curriculum changes in grammar, writing, and literacy,” Cramer explained.

While both schools usually scored exceptionally well on all of the year-end state tests, Cramer said the Charter Day School Board of Trustees felt these subjects needed to have even more rigor.

“Rather than introduce one new change each year, we changed all three areas last year; and the training and teacher adaption was a monumental challenge,” said Superintendent Cramer. “But by the third quarter, things smoothed out and the advantages of the new curricula were evident to all – students and teachers alike,” he added

Teacher Brianna Cox starts the new year working with kindergarten students on the new grammar curriculum.

“The new grammar curriculum is incredible with my children learning the parts of speech and correct sentence structure,” said Kindergarten teacher Brianna Cox.  She added that they can then begin writing with an understanding of the basic elements of style and correct grammar which are not traditionally taught that early.

The literacy elements also underwent a major revision last year with more advanced textual structure and instruction in reading comprehension strategies.

“Now that we have a year’s experience under our belts with these new programs, everyone is looking forward to a fun year of the children advancing their skills and showing what they are really capable of,” said Cary Andrews, Associate Superintendent for Reading and Literacy.

Superintendent Mark T. Cramer is returning to his role as headmaster as former Headmaster Jennifer Beamer moves back to her home state of Maryland. Mr. Cramer, a retired Marine Corp Major, was Charter Day School’s Headmaster from the school’s founding until 2008.

“The most important aspect of our schools is the students,” said Mr. Cramer as he helped kindergarteners find their rooms along Learning Lane. “And while I will continue my role as Superintendent of Schools, it gives me great pleasure to be back working on a day-to-day basis with the staff, teachers, and students at Charter Day School.”

Charter Day School and Columbus Charter School which are managed by The Roger Bacon Academy (RBA) are year-round schools where classes start earlier in the summer but have longer breaks throughout the year. Experience has shown that academic skill retention is higher with shorter summer breaks and a year-round schedule.

Superintendent Mark T. Cramer reprises his role as headmaster at Charter Day School in Leland, NC.

The Charter Day School Board of Trustees was recently recommended by the N.C. Charter School Advisory Council to be approved by the State Board of Education on their next charter school, Douglass Academy.  “Now that the charter school cap is lifted, we are continuing to expand and add new schools,” said Barbra Jones, Coordinator of Community Relations and New School Development.  “We are anticipating opening our downtown charter school for the 2013 school year and providing quality education to even more North Carolina students,” said Superintendent Cramer.

The Roger Bacon Academy schools are tuition-free, open enrollment public schools in southeastern North Carolina. Since 2000, RBA has focused on quality K-8 education and develops premier performance-driven year round schools. Widely recognized as a compelling choice to conventional public education, the organization has built a reputation for dedicated and highly qualified teachers that give students a strong and proven academic foundation.  RBA schools have received numerous awards, including the designation of being a Top-25 School for Academic Growth and Excellence in the state of North Carolina.

www.rogerbacon.net  -  “Truth Survives”

Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Halifax Resolves – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Columbus Charter School Calendar for 2012-13 – For PDF Click HERE

(Left to Right) Dr. Monroe joins Cary Andrews and Baker Mitchell on a campus tour at Charter Day School in Leland NC.

LELAND, NC: April 13, 2012 – “We are happy to introduce Dr. Lee Monroe as the newest member of the Charter Day School Board of Trustees,” said Mark Cramer Superintendent and CEO. Charter Day School announced that Dr. Monroe will be the ninth member of its Board of Trustees.

“Dr. Monroe is a great addition for a trustee because of his strong community ties, extensive education experience, and his dedication to the advancement of all students regardless of their background,” said Donnie Norris, Board Chair, Charter Day School.

Dr. Monroe’s career in education is long and distinguished. Dr. Monroe holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Shaw University, a Master of Arts in Education from The University of Cincinnati and a Doctorate of Educational Administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Throughout his professional career, Dr. Lee Everett Monroe has earned accolades for his results-driven approach to educational administration. Dr. Lee Monroe’s professional background includes a number of different educational and administrative roles, including time as a teacher, Regional Educational Specialist, Adjunct Professor, and Senior Education Advisor. In the latter half of his career, Dr. Monroe focused primarily on improving the academic and financial standing of several colleges with historically high populations of black students, including Florida Memorial College (now Florida Memorial University), where he spent two years as President, and Paul Quinn College, where he spent nine years as President.

“Charter Day School’s success and growth represents a new and important shift in the educational landscape of North Carolina,” Dr. Lee Monroe said. “Charter schools are growing because they have proven themselves, and parents deserve to have a choice in the quality of public education. This organization is actively working to improve student’s lives regardless of where they live, and I am proud to join the Board of Trustees at Charter Day School.”

Dr. Monroe recently joined school administrators to welcome Dr. Howard N. Lee, former N.C. Board of Education chairman on the Charter Day School campus for a tour and discussion. Read about the visit HERE.

The Roger Bacon Academy - Charter Day School is a tuition-free, open enrollment K-8 public school in southeastern North Carolina. Since 2000, Charter Day School has focused on quality education and is a premier performance-driven year round school. Widely recognized as a compelling choice to conventional public education, the school has built a reputation for retaining dedicated and highly qualified teachers that give students a strong and proven academic foundation. Charter Day School has received numerous awards, including the designation of being a Top-25 School for Academic Growth and of Excellence in the state of North Carolina.

Volume XII, Issue 1
Spring — 2012

Inside this Issue:

- National Championship Cheerleaders recognized by the NC General Assembly
- Statement to Honor Cheer Squad
- RBA Makes Some Noise at the MLK Parade
- FASTAR races on both campuses
- CDS Middle School announces new Director
- What’s cool in our school!

For pdf version click HERE