STARS Charter School

08/25/2026

We're Hiring: Exceptional Children's Teacher (Grades 5–8)

STARS Charter School is looking for a dedicated Exceptional Children (EC) Teacher to join our team in Vass, NC, and we're hoping to fill this role quickly.

This position supports students in grades 5 through 8, working closely with general education teachers, service providers, and families to make sure every student with an IEP gets the instruction and support they deserve. If you value strong relationships, clear structure, and high expectations for every learner, we want to hear from you.

✅ Valid NC EC Teaching License (or eligibility for licensure)
✅ Bachelor's degree in Special Education or a related field
✅ Full-time, 10-month instructional position

💰 Why STARS pays attention to compensation:
Salary aligned to the NC State Salary Schedule, county supplements, potential signing bonuses for eligible candidates, compensation for advanced degrees, and state retirement benefits. We believe great teachers deserve to be valued, not just applauded.

📍 Apply now, we're moving quickly to fill this position: https://app.higherme.com/jobs/699c684b69102
Also posted at starscharter.org.

Know an EC teacher who'd be a great fit for our STARS family? Tag them below or share this post. 💫

08/13/2026

08/03/2026

Bus Registration is LIVE

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/gR6A22PsB6

08/02/2026

Please see the attached message - if you did not get the phone blast please email [email protected] so I can add you into the system:

Good evening, STARS families!

We are so excited to welcome everyone back for the 2026–2027 school year. We have a few important back-to-school updates to help families get ready.

After School Care registration will open on Monday, August 3, at 9:00 a.m. Bus registration will open later that same day, Monday, August 3, at 3:00 p.m. Please remember that both bus and After School Care registration must be completed each school year. Registrations do not roll over from last year.

Bus routes have changed this year, so please take time to read all bus information carefully before registering. To find bus routes and bus guidelines, visit www.starscharter.org, go to the Parent Portal, and click Useful Links. Bus rosters will also be posted during both Back-to-School Nights.

If you have bus questions, please email Mrs. Ridgeway at [email protected].

We also want to invite families to Back-to-School Night! Our 5th through 8th grade Back-to-School Night will be Wednesday, August 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Our Kindergarten through 4th grade Back-to-School Night will be Thursday, August 13, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

The PTO will be joining us with a snow cone truck and information booths. Back-to-School Night is a great time to meet teachers, visit classrooms, see the school, and take care of any remaining paperwork.

Finally, our first week of school will be staggered entry. Students with last names beginning A through L will attend on August 17 and 18. Students with last names beginning M through Z will attend on August 19 and 20. No students will attend on Friday, August 21, as this is a teacher workday. All students will attend beginning Monday, August 24.

We cannot wait to see our students and families back on campus. It is going to be a great year at STARS!

07/28/2026

Dear STARS Families,

Your child remains on the waiting list for our brick-and-mortar school. Although we cannot predict every opening, most grade levels are currently full, and movement on the waiting list becomes less likely as the beginning of the school year approaches.

We know many families applied because they want their child to become part of STARS. For students entering grades 4th–9th, STARS Virtual Academy offers another way to join our school community this year.

SVA is not simply a collection of online assignments. Students receive instruction from licensed teachers, participate in live instructional opportunities, communicate regularly with teachers and STARS staff, and receive support when they need help. The virtual format gives families greater flexibility while maintaining real academic expectations and accountability.

Students in grades 4th-8th may also have opportunities to participate in select in-person electives and activities at our STARS campus if families can provide transportation. SVA students can also take part in afterschool clubs, school events, special activities, and other opportunities to remain connected to the larger STARS community.

Virtual learning works best when students follow a consistent routine, complete work throughout the week, and ask for help when needed. Parents do not have to become the teacher, but they should be prepared to monitor progress and help their child remain organized. Our SVA team will remain closely involved through phone calls, emails, progress updates, and direct support for students and families.

Orientation begins the week of August 3 as we help students become comfortable with their classes, technology, and the systems they will use each day. Orientation dates are already beginning to fill as we prepare families for Launch Week, which begins August 10.

If your family is still hoping for an opportunity to join STARS this year, we encourage you to consider whether SVA could be a good fit for your child. A limited number of spaces remain.

If you would like more information or want to reserve an orientation time, please reply to this email, or email the SVA Principal, Jonathan Seawell ([email protected]) directly.

Asking questions does not obligate your family to enroll. We will be happy to discuss the program and help you determine whether it matches your child’s needs.

Sincerely,
The STARS Virtual Academy Team

07/22/2026

We are excited to welcome our STARS families back for the 2026–2027 school year!

Back-to-School Night will be held for 5th–8th Grade on Wednesday, August 12, from 5:00–7:00 p.m., and for Kindergarten–4th Grade on Thursday, August 13, from 5:00–7:00 p.m.

Homeroom and staggered start information will be mailed the week before Back-to-School Night. Please review the graphic for classroom locations and important staggered entry dates.

We can’t wait to see our students and families back on campus! ✨

07/21/2026

Dear STARS Families,

Students are most successful in virtual school when the school, student, and family work together. Parents play an important part in that partnership—but parents are not expected to become the teacher.

SVA courses are taught by qualified teachers who provide instruction, feedback, and academic support. A parent’s role is to help establish expectations, monitor progress, and encourage the student to ask for help when needed.

A few simple habits can make a meaningful difference:
Check your child’s course progress regularly.

Ask what your child completed that day—not simply whether schoolwork was finished.

Watch for missing assignments or courses in which progress has slowed.

Encourage your child to attend live instruction and use available teacher support.

Contact us when something does not seem right rather than waiting for a small concern to become a larger one.

Recognize steady effort and improvement, not just final grades.
As students grow more comfortable with virtual learning, they should take increasing responsibility for managing their time, monitoring their progress, and communicating with their teachers. Parents can support that independence while still making sure their child remains engaged and moving forward.

Families will not be responsible for monitoring progress alone. Our SVA staff will also review student activity and progress, communicate with families, and help students make adjustments when needed. If a student begins falling behind or stops engaging consistently, we want to identify it early and work together on a solution.

For families considering STARS Virtual Academy, you do not need prior experience with virtual education to help your child succeed. You simply need to remain involved, communicate with us, and be willing to reinforce the routines and expectations that support learning.

You will not be asked to do the teacher’s job. You will be an important member of a team committed to helping your child succeed.

We look forward to partnering with your family.

Sincerely,
The STARS Virtual Academy Team

07/14/2026

Dear STARS Families,

One of the greatest benefits of STARS Virtual Academy is FLEXIBILITY. Students can complete much of their work from home and have more control over how they organize their school day.

However, flexibility works best when it is paired with a consistent routine.

Students who are successful in virtual school do not treat school as something they will “get to later.” They establish a dependable schedule, log in regularly, attend live instruction, and make steady progress throughout the week.

A successful routine will not look exactly the same for every family. Some students may begin early in the morning, while others may need a different schedule. What matters most is having a clear daily plan and following it consistently.
A strong SVA routine should include:

• Logging in at approximately the same time each school day
• Reviewing announcements, assignments, and deadlines
• Attending live instruction whenever possible
• Setting aside focused time for independent coursework
• Taking reasonable breaks
• Checking progress before ending the school day
• Asking for help when questions arise

We encourage students to work consistently throughout the week rather than allowing assignments to accumulate. Waiting until the end of the week can quickly become overwhelming and may make it harder for students to receive timely help from their teachers.

Parents can help by working with their child to create a daily schedule and identifying a consistent place for schoolwork. Parents are not expected to become the teacher, but helping students establish good habits can make a significant difference.
Families will not be expected to figure everything out alone. Our SVA staff will remain in regular contact through emails, progress updates, and phone calls. We will check in, answer questions, celebrate successes, and help families make adjustments when something is not working.

We also hope parents will share helpful routines and strategies they discover along the way. A tip that works well for one family may be exactly what another family needs, and we want our SVA families to learn from and support one another.

For families considering STARS Virtual Academy, it is important to understand that virtual learning is flexible, but it is not casual. SVA provides real instruction, teacher support, academic expectations, and a team that will be right there with students and families throughout the year.

With flexibility, structure, communication, and support, students can build routines that help them remain organized, engaged, and successful.

We look forward to partnering with your family.

Sincerely,
The STARS Virtual Academy Team

07/07/2026

Hey STARS families! ✨

Our updated student supply lists for the upcoming school year are now available by grade level!

You can find them here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fGZSUAFsAeKbRY0IuUbQ-AHKYM0j7Q6I

As you start back-to-school shopping, be sure to check the list for your child’s grade level. We hope this helps make prep for the new school year a little easier.

We hope you are having a wonderful summer, and we cannot wait to welcome our students back to STARS soon! 💙