This past week has been full of excitement, achievement, and learning opportunities for our students, staff, and community.
From high-impact literacy initiatives to hands-on STEM exploration and celebrating our outstanding educators, our Roanoke Rapids Graded School District continues to shine.
Here are some of the highlights from across our schools this week.
High-Impact Learning: NC Ed Corps Partnership
We are incredibly proud of our Executive Director of Instructional Services, Lauren Hinnant, who represented RRGSD at the annual North Carolina Association for Research conference in Greensboro. Mrs. Hinnant participated in a panel discussion, "Building Bridges: Equitable Education Renewal through EdTech-Enabled Research-Practice Partnerships."
This panel highlighted the crucial collaboration between North Carolina Education Corps, university and research partners, and districts like ours in developing and evaluating effective literacy tutoring programs for K-5 students. Our partnership with
NC Ed Corps is just one of the many ways we are committed to meeting the diverse needs of our students and ensuring their success.
SkillsUSA Week: Competition and Celebration
Roanoke Rapids High School recently celebrated SkillsUSA Week with our very first local competition!
This event served as preparation for the upcoming Regional Competition on February 28. Our students showcased their skills in a variety of categories, including Promotional Bulletin Board, Job Interview, Customer Service, Health Knowledge Bowl, EMT, Prepared Speaking, Medical Math, Medical Terminology, Crime Scene Investigation, and Debate. We also took time to honor our senior student-athletes at Senior Night.
Congratulations, seniors—we appreciate your dedication and leadership!
Roanoke Rapids Early College Visits HCC and The Center for Energy Education
Our Roanoke Rapids Early College scholars had the unique opportunity to experience history in the making at Halifax Community College’s Celebrating Black Excellence event.
Mr. Stowinsky’s World History class attended the unveiling of the 2025 USPS Black Heritage Stamp and heard from inspiring guest speakers such as Jolly Manning and Bettye Powell.
The highlight of the event was a moving performance of the Black National Anthem by Christopher Creecy. This event was a powerful reminder of the rich history and contributions of African Americans in our community and beyond. Thank you to Halifax Community College for hosting us in this event.
Additionally, our scholars participated in an engaging STEM experience through the Roanoke Valley Pathways program. A visit to The Center for Energy Education allowed students to explore electrical circuits and even design their own Valentine’s Day cards featuring working circuits! Thank you to the Roanoke Valley Chamber of Commerce for organizing this hands-on learning experience that sparked curiosity and innovation in our students.
FAFSA Completion Event: Paving the Way for College Success
On February 12, we hosted a FAFSA Completion Event for our high school seniors and their families. With support from CFNC, NC Wesleyan, Halifax Community College, MyFutureNC, and our RRGSD school counselors, students received expert guidance on financial aid and completed their FAFSA applications. College readiness is a priority, and we are proud to provide resources that set our students up for future success. Thank you to School Counselors Jessica Elias and Angie Rowe for their coordination of this event!
Reading Milestones at Chaloner Middle School
Our Chaloner Middle School students have been hard at work developing their reading skills! This year, our students have already checked out 6,157 books from the media center and earned over 4,000 reading points—an incredible accomplishment! Reaching the halfway mark in their class reading challenges is a testament to their dedication to literacy. Keep up the great work! Thank you to Media Coordinator Christina Skinner and our Chaloner teachers for inspiring our students and facilitating access to great books!
Outstanding Educators at Manning Elementary
We are thrilled to recognize several exceptional teachers from Manning Elementary School for being in the top 25 percent of teachers in North Carolina based on their 2023-2024 growth scores! Congratulations to Brooks Ard, Nichole Clary, Rachel Tant, Natalie Shearin, and Robyn Spence. Their dedication and hard work continue to make a lasting impact on our students. We appreciate all our teachers for their commitment to student success every single day.
100th Day of School at Belmont Elementary
Belmont Elementary School recently celebrated a major milestone—the 100th day of school!
Kindergarten students participated in a joyful parade, marking their progress with creative costumes and festive activities. These early learning celebrations make school a fun and engaging place for our youngest learners.
Appreciating Our Bus Drivers and Monitors
We would be remiss if we didn’t take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for our bus drivers and monitors. These unsung heroes are the first smiling faces our students see in the morning and the last ones they see before heading home. They ensure safe and reliable transportation, often braving early mornings and challenging weather conditions. Their dedication to our students’ well-being does not go unnoticed, and we appreciate all that they do to keep our schools running smoothly.
Looking Ahead
Please mark your calendars for tonight (Tuesday, February 18) at 6 PM for our monthly Board of Trustees meeting at 536 Hamilton Street, Roanoke Rapids. We hope you can join us tonight. As we continue this school year, we are reminded of the incredible work happening in our classrooms, on our campuses, and throughout our community. Whether through academic achievement, hands-on learning experiences, or celebrating milestones, our students and staff are making Roanoke Rapids proud. Thank you for your ongoing support of RRGSD—we couldn’t do it without you!
Stay tuned for more updates in next week’s “The Yellow Jacket Report!” Together we succeed!