As the calendar turns to May, the energy across our Roanoke Rapids Graded School District is electric.
With exciting news from our Board of Trustees, new opportunities for students, championship athletic performances, and an abundance of academic celebrations, it is a perfect time to reflect on all the incredible things happening across our schools.
Welcome, Mr. Phil Hux
At our most recent Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the Board selected Mr. Phil Hux to serve as its newest member. Mr. Hux brings a strong commitment to public service and deep ties to the Roanoke Rapids community. He will fill a term that runs through 2029 and will be officially sworn in at the next regularly scheduled meeting on May 20, 2025. As always, the public is welcome to attend our meetings, including our upcoming Committee Meetings on May 13 at 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM. We look forward to working with Mr. Hux as we continue our mission of serving the students and families of RRGSD.
Get Ready for a SUMMER Place to Play
If you are a parent of a rising kindergartener through sixth grader, now is the time to register for our SUMMER Place to Play! We are planning a full summer of fun, learning, and engaging activities for our students, and we will be open daily from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Spots fill quickly, so please visit https://app.droplet.io/form/K6gwV0 to complete a separate application for each child. We cannot wait to welcome our students to a summer full of joy and discovery.
Health Sciences Academy Accepting Applications
Current eighth and ninth grade students can now apply to join our Health Sciences Academy! This program opens doors to high-demand careers in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, therapy, and more. Students will benefit from hands-on experiences, job shadowing, and a direct path toward future careers in healthcare.
Applications are due by May 16, 2025, so please do not miss this opportunity to be part of a growing and meaningful field.
Celebrating Our Seniors
This week, we celebrated the Class of 2025 at Roanoke Rapids Early College High School and Roanoke Rapids High School during our Senior Decision Days. These events honor each student's commitment to their future—whether it is college, the military, or entering the workforce. We are immensely proud of each graduate’s accomplishments and wish each one continued success on the journey ahead.
Spring Sports Finish Strong
It has been an exciting season for Yellow Jacket athletics! Our Chaloner Middle School Track and Field team recently competed in the conference tournament and had a strong showing.
At the high school level, RRHS Golf — Big East Conference 2A champions — will compete in the NCHSAA 2A Mideast Regional at The Preserve at Jordan Lake Golf Course on Tuesday. RRHS Soccer advances to the second round of the conference tournament and will play at 6:30 PM against the winner of the Franklinton vs. Southern Nash match.
Meanwhile, our softball and baseball teams are set to begin their NCHSAA 2A State Playoff journeys, and RRHS Track and Field will compete in the Regional Meet on Friday at Heide Trask. Best of luck to all our student-athletes!
Celebrating Academic Excellence
We are overjoyed to share some of the incredible achievements of our students. RRHS senior Logan Neathery has been awarded the Angel’s Closet Scholarship—a testament to his hard work and dedication.
At the North Carolina Optimist Club District East Oratorical Competition, Roanoke Rapids Early College student Josiah Ausby earned second place overall and received a $1,500 scholarship for his inspirational speech titled “How Optimism Has Guided Me Through Trying Times.”
On Wednesday, Roanoke Rapids Early College scholars were recognized at Halifax Community College for academic excellence. Special congratulations to Louise Nery, De’Vance Purnell, Shaniah Daniels, Laniyah Joyner, Kingston Keeter, and Khamauri Wood. Khamauri, who served as guest speaker, moved the audience with his reflections on perseverance and growth during his time as both a high school and college student.
At Chaloner Middle School, our sixth graders had an outstanding performance in this year’s Math Olympiad. Everett Borrell scored in the top 2% in North Carolina, while Aden Turner, Violet Lewis, Kensley Roach, and Seth Keeter placed in the top 10%. We are equally proud of the CMS Battle of the Books team, who won all seven rounds of competition at the Halifax County Library. Thank you to the library staff for their warm welcome and support.
Whether it is academics, athletics, or personal growth, our students continue to show us what Yellow Jacket excellence looks like.
Let’s keep the momentum going into these final weeks of the school year! As always, thank you for your partnership, encouragement, and belief in our Roanoke Rapids Graded School District! Together we succeed!