Rockingham Academy

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to the AMAZING staff of Rockingham Academy! Happy Nurse Appreciation Day (May 7) to our AMAZING nurse, Cathy Pence! We have celebrated with an appreciation breakfast, a trail mix bar, a nice pen, a succulent, and tomorrow will round out the week with a staff luncheon and ice cream outing. “Great teachers empathize with kids, respect them, and believe that each one has something special that can be built upon.” – Ann Lieberman

Our students have been hard at work this spring! 🌸 They’ve been building cutting boards, servicing and repairing lawn mowers to get ready for summer, and crafting picnic tables for everyone to enjoy during outdoor lunches and classes. Great job to all involved! 👏🔧🪵☀️

Today, we proudly honor the heart of our school — our outstanding principal, Ms. Lea Dean! Your dedication, vision, and unwavering support for our students, staff, and families inspire us every day. Your leadership not only guides our school forward but also nurtures the spirit and unity that make our community so special. To show our appreciation (and have a little fun), students searched the school for hidden photos of Ms. Dean, then came together to create a heartfelt collage. Over the past week, students have also been working hard to beautify our school grounds — pulling weeds, spreading mulch, and planting flowers generously donated by staff in Ms. Dean’s honor. Thank you, Ms. Dean, for all you do — today and every day! 💐📚

No school for students or staff on Friday, April 18 for holiday. No school for students on Monday, April 21 for a teacher workday. Tuesday, April 22 will be an EVEN day for students.

Shoutout to Mr. Rhodes' agriculture class for their incredible craftsmanship and hard work this semester! Students built two beautiful Adirondack chairs and two cutting boards, which were auctioned off last Thursday at the Rockingham Heritage FFA Foundation Dinner & Auction. The four handcrafted items raised an impressive $850 during the live auction! All proceeds will help sponsor Rockingham County FFA members as they travel to state and national conventions—investing in the future of agriculture, one project at a time! 🌟💙💛 #RockinghamFFA #HandsOnLearning #FutureFarmers #StudentSuccess

Friday marked the end of the third grading period, and we’re celebrating some fantastic achievements! This term, our students completed 72 class credits, with three earning their diplomas and another three achieving their GEDs—congratulations to all! Beyond the classroom, Ms. Evans took a group of students to Valley Creative Reuse, where they explored the art of creating with found objects. They also gathered materials for an exciting upcoming mural project. Meanwhile, Mr. Rhodes and Ms. Cromer’s Farm-to-Table class took a field trip to Hillview Dairy Farm, just outside Bridgewater, to gain hands-on insight into the dairy industry. Great work, everyone—let’s keep the momentum going!

Spring Break is Monday, March 31-Friday, April 4. Students return to school on Monday, April 7 to an ODD Day. We hope you have a fun, safe, and restful break!

Due to the number of inclement weather days, Monday, February 17, and Tuesday, February 18, will now be regular school days for students. These two days were originally scheduled as a division in-service and parent-teacher conference day.

Thank you so much, Ms. May and Ms. Lewis-Crosby, for your dedication, support, and care for our students at RA! From providing a listening ear and offering guidance for career and continuing education beyond high school, you positively impact our school community!

Every month, Ms. Dean will recognize two members of our incredible staff as Phoenixes of the Month. Staff members will receive a goody bag and some other fun treats. Our February Phoenixes of the Month are Ms. Susan Meadows and Mr. Travis Myers. Ms. Susan Meadows has been teaching in Rockingham County Public Schools for 36 years, most of which have been in the alternative education program. She was recently recognized as the 2026 Lucy F. Simms Educator of the Year! Her advice to students is, "Don't be fooled by shiny things. Learn to love yourself and stop hating on others." Mr. Travis Myers is our Special Education teacher and has been teaching for 19 years and coaches football at Turner Ashby. He and his wife have been married for 24 years and have 3 children and 3 dogs. His advice to students is, "Don't be afraid to fail. Failing is learning." THANK YOU both for all of your hard work and dedication to our students and school community!

Yesterday marked the last day of the second grading term for RCPS. At Rockingham Academy, students completed 47 class credits and 3 earned diplomas during the second term. Congratulations to our students on their accomplishments and all of their hard work!

No school for students-Friday, January 17. It is the end of the first semester and a teacher workday. No school for students or faculty on Monday, January 20. Tuesday, January 21 will be an ODD day

There will be no school during Thanksgiving break on November 27, 28, and 29. Students return on Monday, December 2, an ODD day. We hope you have a fun and safe holiday!

Mr. Rhodes' Ag students, Alex, Chase, and Brandon made some planters for the front of our school building. Unfortunately during a storm, they broke, but Chase was able to repair them. They look great, guys, and thank you, Chase, for your handy repair work!

Join us for the Teacher-Parent Conference on Tuesday, Nov. 5 from 12-7pm. Meet your student's teachers, tour the school, and learn about your students' accomplishments here at RA!

Every month, Ms. Dean will recognize two members of our incredible staff as Phoenixes of the Month. Staff members will receive a goody bag and some other fun treats. For November, Ms. Dean is recognizing Ms. Jeri May and Mr. Don Rhodes. Jeri is our school counselor and has worked in RCPS for 18 years. Prior to coming to RCPS, she worked in Nevada as a Rehabilitation Counselor and Substance Abuse Counselor. She brings her therapy dog, Josie to RA for the kids (and adults). Her piece of advice she'd like to share with students is "Be kind to yourself." Don is our agriculture teacher and has been in education for 26 years. He is married and has 3 sons, 5 grandchildren, 2 dogs, and a cat. His favorite quote is, "Know as much as you can about the kids rather than make them pass through the same eye of the needle.” - Howard Gardner. THANK YOU both for all of your hard work and dedication to our students and school community!

No school for students on Nov. 4&5. Wednesday, Nov. 6 will be an EVEN DAY.

Earlier this week, Mr. Rhodes and Ms. Cromer took the middle school students to Spring Creek Produce to pick pumpkins as part of the Farm-to-Table collaborative class. It was a beautiful day to visit the pumpkin patch!

It is hard to believe we have just completed the first grading term of the school year. Our students completed 7 class credits and 2 students completed their GED! We are incredibly proud of all our students for their outstanding achievements this grading term. Congratulations!

Yesterday, Mr. Rhodes and Mrs. Cromer combined their Agriculture and Family & Consumer Science class for "Farm to Plate" by making homemade tomato sauces with the middle school students!