Voyager Academy Middle School News, May 19, 2019


Dear VAMS Families,

I am so proud of Voyager’s middle school students AND their parents.  Our 3rd – 8th graders were administered the reading and math EOG on Wednesday and Thursday.  I emailed all of you requesting that your chlld come to school and on time. Parents, thanks for getting your children to school and on time!  We only had 4 make-ups tests and in a school with 500 plus students, that’s fantastic! Our students were focused and put forth much effort on both days.  Both days were awesome! We also appreciate our hall monitors – Mrs. Herndon, Mrs. Woodward, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Fraley, Mrs. Draughon, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Payton, Ms. Koppenhaver, and Ms. Mendes.  You are all “simply the best” and we appreciate your help!


Many of you are aware that we will not receive our math scores until later in the summer.   We will receive reading scores, hopefully, next week. If not, I feel confident we will receive the following week. I have included a letter from Mrs. Howell, our testing coordinator, providing you with more information regarding the math scores.

Dear Parent/Guardian:
The new mathematics North Carolina Standard Course of Study and Extended Content Standards adopted by the State Board of Education (SBE) in 2016 and 2017 are being taught for the first time this year in classrooms throughout North Carolina. As such, new Mathematics (End-of-Grade (EOG)/NCEXTEND1) tests aligned to these standards will be administered for the first time in spring 2019.
The first priority when implementing new tests is to ensure the results of the test scores are valid and reliable. When new tests are administered for the first time, student scores are delayed while the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) processes the test data and completes all necessary analyses. These processes and analyses will take place during summer 2019. Due to the necessity of this critical process, in 2018–19 students will not receive their test scores at the completion of the test administration. Instead, the scores for these tests will be delayed until August 2019. With results from the new tests being delayed, schools will use the results from other available student information to assign final grades and/or make placement decisions. Once the SBE has approved the scores (achievement levels) in August 2019, schools will provide parents with each student’s score and Individual Student Report.
We appreciate your understanding as we move into this next generation of tests and work toward providing the most accurate information possible concerning student performance on (EOG/NCEXTEND1) tests. If you have questions or concerns about the delay of your child’s test scores, assignment of grades, or placement decisions, you may contact me at lhowell@voyageracademy.net or contact your child’s principal.
Sincerely,
Laura Howell
Voyager Academy
K-12 Testing Coordinator

Student Council
For the second year, our Student Council has supported one of our high school seniors by offering an opportunity to receive a scholarship.   Voyager students applied for the scholarship and our officers selected the recipient. Today our officers made an appearance at the high school to present the $500 scholarship to Devan Desai, a high school student, who will attend Duke University in the fall.  Congratulations, Devan and thank you Student Council!

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Working with Kindergarten Students
It’s awesome to see our schools working together and supporting each other.  Our 8th graders went to the elementary school on Friday and read to the kindergarteners.  I’m not sure who enjoyed it the most – the 8th graders or the kindergarteners!

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EOG Testing Dates
May 21 8th Grade Science EOG


Calendar of Events
May 20 - National Junior Honor Society Induction (35 rising 8th graders), 6:00
May 21 - 8th Grade Science EOG, 8:40
May 21 - Sixth Grade Field Trip
May 22 – 8th Grade EOG make-up tests
May 23 - Eighth Grade End of the Year Trip
May 24 – Eighth Grade Celebration, 8:45, MS gym
May 24 –Last day of school, dismissal 11:45, Report Cards go home     

Thanks for all the support you provide the middle school!

Gwen
Gwen Johnson, Principal