Our Rocket staff, admin, and faculty convened for our annual KickStart celebration event, held this year at the beautiful Florida Blue Conference Center. It was an exciting day of connections, recognitions, inspiration, and 90’s fun.

From energizing breakout sessions to powerful moments of reflection, KickStart reminded us that every role matters and every person makes a difference. We were joined by numerous special guests, some of our city’s finest elected officials, and proud community partners.

With us were:

Senator Clay Yarborough

Representative Dean Black

Representative Kiyan Michael

Melody Bolduc, DCPS

Reginald Blount, DCPS

Cindy Pearson, DCPS

Councilman Terrance Freeman

Councilman Raul Arias

Councilwoman Tyrona Clark-Murray

Councilman Ken Amaro

Councilman Ron Salem

Councilman Chris Miller

Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman

Congressman Aaron Bean presented our schools with a flag that was flown over the Capitol in recognition for the work we do in our school system.

Our keynote speaker, Mr. Patric Young, moved us with his message of joy, purpose, and resilience — challenging each of us to reconnect with our “why.”

A very special thank-you to RCSA Mandarin student and Cathedral Arts Project pianist Yuri Silva for his wonderful performance, which brought both beauty and inspiration to the event.

It is our hope that every one of our incredible teachers and staff felt seen, uplifted, and empowered as we leap into the 2025–2026 school year.

Here’s to a year of excellence, growth, and unforgettable impact.