Roseville Community Charter School  (RCCS) recently welcomed parents and scholars with open arms as they previewed the  2023-24 school year on August 28th. The school’s annual “Back-to-School Day” provided  an opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with their new classrooms and  teachers, all aimed at easing “first-day jitters” for both scholars and their parents before  the first official day of school on August 29th. 

Following the classroom visits, families gathered for the Annual Family Orientation, where  Dr. Dionne Ledford, RCCS Executive Director & Superintendent, delivered a warm  welcome to new and returning families. During the orientation, Dr. Ledford and her  leadership team provided insights into RCCS’ educational programs, protocols, and  expectations, setting a positive tone for the upcoming school year. 

Dr. Ledford expressed her delight at the successful start, saying, “The scholars and  their families were as excited to be back in school as we were to welcome them back! I  remind my teachers and administrators often that how we start is how we finish, and  judging by how successful our opening days were, we are off to a GREAT start!” 

The enthusiasm of parents and scholars at the orientation set the stage for a smooth start  to the school year on August 29th. Students arrived punctually, donning their RCCS  uniforms, and brimming with excitement to be back in the classroom. The day began with  a cherished tradition, the Opening Day Community Meeting, where Dr. Ledford and Mr.  Moncur, the new building principal, greeted scholars and emphasized the school’s core  CHEER values (Collaboration, Honesty, Excellence, Effort, Respect) and expectations.

RCCS plans to continue its partnership with the New Jersey Tutoring Corps again this year, providing high-impact tutoring designed to specifically help each individual student break through academic milestones. In addition, RCCS will be partnering with FEV Tutor,  an online one-to-one tutoring platform, where students work through a data-driven  Individualized Learning Plan with a designated tutor, ensuring students who can’t stay  after school can still take advantage of support tailored to their academic success. 

The school is also continuing to support students’ social-emotional learning through their  S.E.L.F. & Wellness (Social Emotional Learning Fun & Wellness) program, which has  been grant funded for the past three years in partnership with the Newark Trust for  Education, Victoria Foundation and the Children’s Wellness Institute, and allowed for the  school to add additional programming such as weekly yoga, and mindfulness art lessons  embedded into the art curriculum. 

Finally, consistent with RCCS’ commitment to early literacy for its scholars, the school will  again be hosting its annual ‘Kings Who Read’ event on January 26th, a unique read-aloud  celebration to get students, with the help of their parents and community leaders, to  embrace a love for reading. 

The New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association salutes Roseville Community  Charter School for their ongoing efforts to accelerate student learning, provide essential  social-emotional support, and promote early childhood literacy. 

Harry Lee, President and CEO of the New Jersey Public Charter Schools  Association, stated, “As we welcome back students, families, and staff for the new  school year, we commend Roseville Community Charter School for their dedication to  ensuring a strong start leads to a stronger finish. Their commitment to students’ whole  well-being and educational success is exemplary and part of the reason why Newark  boasts one of the strongest charter school sectors in the nation.” Roseville Community Charter School looks forward to a productive and transformative  school year as they continue their mission to provide exceptional educational experiences  and foundational character development for their scholars. For more information, visit www.rosevillecharter.org.