Voyager Academy High School News, Nov. 3, 2019



GO VIKINGS GO!

In this issue...
The Arts
  • High School Fall Musical: Sleepy Hollow
  • The Fall Choral Concert
Viking Achievers
  • VAHS Senior Layne Riggs Brings Home the Checkered Flag at the Rodney Cook Classic
  • Tyler Goss
Yearbook and Graduation Info.
  • Senior Cap and Gown orders and Junior Class Ring orders
Viking Volunteerism and Funraising
  • Shoes for Show Choir!
  • Backpack Buddies: Balanced Meals and Snacks for Students in Need
Student Support, College Prep, and Career Planning (ACT, college and scholarship info., etc.)
  • For Students Curious About Careers:  ASVAB Career Exploration Program
  • Announcing, The ACT Question of the Day
  • FAFSA Opened October 1st – File as soon as you can! (college financial aid form assistance)
  • Stay Informed About Scholarships, Internships, Summer Programs and Lots More Here
More...
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) meets Wednesday Mornings
  • The VAHS Counseling Department Blog (website)
  • Be a Smartie and join the PTO ! !
  • PARENTS:  Sign up to receive text messages from the school
  • Important dates

-----------------------


High School Fall Musical: Sleepy Hollow
Students from the Musical Theatre and Technical Theatre classes had the Public Presentation of their Fall Musical Project on Friday, October 25th at New Horizon Church.  The students had been working on the show during the months of September and October. Musical Theatre students selected their show, memorized, blocked, and choreographed the work, while the Technical Theatre students designed all of the production elements, from set, paint, and costumes, to props, lighting, sound, and special effects.  Congratulations to the cast and crew for a wonderful show!



Jacob Glazer as Ichabod Crane


(L to R) Melody Wimberely, Lenoira Brown,
Ariana Dole, Lani Miller, Cylie Cabrera


(L to R) Melody Wimberely, Ariana Dole,
Elizabeth Bunn, Jacob Glazer
 
1st Row: Director Molly Paradis, Makayla Harman, Allison Gloade, Ashley Rodgers, Judah Epps, Katherine Nechyba, Bailey Credle, Kate Flintom, Lenoira Brown, Cylie Cabrera, Melody Wimberely, Ariana Dole, Anna Young, Jordahn Bullock, Meredith Young
2nd Row: Scott Green, Diego Evert, Katherine Leathers, Elizabeth Bunn, Derek Langley, Gabrielle Bentley, Katie McGhinnis, Christian Jimerson, Jacob Glazer, Jonas Aidoo, Lani Miller, Malachi Mayfield, Maizy Mrozkowski, Joe Alston, Ede Kosik, Najah Allen, Gabrielle Hodges, Jerry Honeycutt

-- 

Join us for an evening of song and dance as the Voyager Academy Choral Arts Program presents a Fall Choral Concert featuring the high school & middle school choirs & high school band. Performances include: Vocal Affinity, Bull City Lights, Bull City Sound, Middle School Choirs AND Bright Lights Show Choir Camp!



WHEN: Thursday, November 14th
WHERE: Duke's Page Auditorium (402 Chapel Dr, Durham, NC 27708)
TIME: 7:00pm (doors open at 6:30)
TICKETS:  $10 each, general admission
(Recommended) Duke Box office (link active starting Thursday October 31st!): https://tickets.duke.edu/online/article/voyageracademy19
OR...at the door (ticket office opens at 6:00pm on Nov. 14th)
we recommend you order ahead of time to save time that night

--
VAHS Senior Layne Riggs Brings Home the Checkered Flag at the Rodney Cook Classic


A calm and orderly 2019 Rodney Cook Classic quickly turned chaotic in the closing stages as many of the best Late Model drivers attempted to get everything out of their cars to secure a lucrative $10,000 paycheck.

Once the dust settled, Layne Riggs was the one to survive the late-race chaos on Saturday and bring home the checkered flag in what he believed was the most prestigious victory of his brief Late Model career to date.

“We’ve had a terrible year so far,” Riggs said. “This win means so much to me, and it really makes up for all the bad luck we’ve experience, and I have to thank everyone at Ace Speedway for putting this race on. I really hated to see all of those good cars get torn up at the end, because I felt like we had a rocket ship there at the end [to contend with everyone.]”

A majority of the Rodney Cook Classic belonged to Bobby McCarty, who led nearly all of the opening 100 laps of the feature except for one on an early restart in which he was edged by Jason York at the line.

The complexion of the 140-lap Late Model feature would change on Lap 112 when McCarty made slight contact with Ryan Millington that put the latter into the wall on the backstretch, which prompted a retaliation move from Millington on the following lap that knocked McCarty out of the lead.

An ill-timed spin from RD Smith would set up a restart that put McCarty right behind Millington, who was merely a bystander as McCarty turned him into the outside wall once the green flag dropped.

McCarty’s maneuver on Millington would lead to race control parking him for the rest of the race, opening the door for Riggs to pull away from the rest of the field as he secured the trophy for the Rodney Cook Classic.
Riggs was a witness to the contact between McCarty and Millington that ultimately put him in the lead and knew that he needed to take the right strategy for the following restart to stay out in front of everyone and keep his car in one piece.
“We were really debating on whether to take the inside or the outside for the restart,” Riggs said. “They were getting really aggressive in Turns 3 and 4 on the previous, so we took the inside just to be safe. Luckily it payed off, because I could have been the one in the wall.”
Jacob Heafner made a charge on Riggs during the final ten laps, but ran out of time and finished second. Trevor Ward rebounded from an early pit stop to finish third, while Stacy Puryear and Davin Scites rounded out the Top 5.

(Article written by Brandon White from Race22.com:  https://race22.online/riggs-wins-wild-rodney-cook-classic/)

--

Support Tyler Goss at District C’s Pitch Night
On Monday November 11 is District C’s Pitch Night, at which Tyler Goss along with his District C team, and 13 other future leaders from across the Triangle (4 teams -- comprised of students from 12 different high schools) will propose solutions to TEKsystems and Republic Wireless, two local businesses.  If you would like to come to the event, you can find event information and an invitation form here.  Go get ‘em Tyler!


Tyler Goss (3rd from left)
--

Senior Cap and Gown orders and Junior Class Ring orders
The Representative from Herff Jones will be on campus Monday Nov. 4 during lunch and from 4:00-6:00 p.m. to collect Class Ring and Cap and Gown orders. Please bring your completed order forms at that time. Online ordering for caps and gowns can be done through the Herff Jones website at any time.  Go to www.highschool.herffjones.com to place an order. There is an additional $10 shipping/handling fee for online orders  

--

Shoes for Show Choir!
The Driving question: What do SHOES & SHOW CHOIR have in common?

The Voyager Academy HS Chorus & Band Program is conducting a shoe drive fundraiser from October 14th through December 2nd to raise funds for program expenses through Funds2Orgs. We will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes collected, as Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes. Starting October 14th, anyone can help by donating gently worn, used and new shoes in the collection bins located near Lost & found at each school (elementary, middle AND high)!

All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send to her son to law school.

We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate to us. As you clean out your closets, please consider donating shoes you no longer wear or have outgrown to our shoe drive. By doing so, we raise money for Voyager’s competitive show choirs & show band: Bull City Lights, Vocal Affinity & Bull City Sound! And, we have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. It's a win-win for everyone!

By donating gently worn, used and new shoes to our program, the shoes will be given a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives around the world. 
DONATION DATES: October 14th-December 2nd
WHERE: Voyager Academy Elementary, Middle & High Schools
DROP OFF: collections bins located near lost  & found at each school!
QUESTIONS: Contact Jenny Hobgood jhobgood@voyageracademy.net 


--

Backpack Buddies: Balanced Meals and Snacks for Students in Need 
VAHS is once again teaming up with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle to offer a BackPack Buddies Program. This program provides a weekend bag filled with balanced meals and snacks for eligible students to take home over the weekend.  The program is free of charge. Permission slips will be distributed to all students who are currently participating in the Voyager Academy free/reduced lunch program. A form is also included below for your convenience. Please contact School Counselor, Jill O'Kane with any questions. 

--

Students: Curious About Careers? ASVAB Career Exploration Program 
The ASVAB Career Exploration Program will be offered at VAHS on November 4 at 2:00. This is a GREAT opportunity for students to become informed about their futures . There is no cost. Participation does not commit students to the military in any way. 
What is the ASVAB CEP?
The  ASVAB is military an Aptitude Test, Interest Self-Assessment with Career Exploration Tools to help students to discover their strengths and interests then map out post-secondary plans that work. It's free, and will be given at VAHS on Monday Nov.4 at 2:00. Contact Ms. O'Kane to sign up to take the test. There is no obligation or score reporting to military recruiters. Click here for more.

--

Help Your Student Plan for College and Career: Create an Overgrad Parent Account 
Overgrad is a free platform that helps students and parents plan for life after high school. Students are able to find colleges and careers that match with their academic abilities and interests, understand the requirements needed to get there, and then have tools to track their progress towards meeting those requirements over time. All VAHS students are connected to Overgrad. Freshmen have recently received Welcome emails with instructions on how to activate their accounts. Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors all have active accounts. Parents are encouraged to create accounts to partner with their child and monitor their academic progress over time. See the instructions below.
--

The ACT Question of the Day
The ACT exam is one of the most crucial standardized tests taken by a high school student. This is especially true in North Carolina, where it is required for all 11th graders.  It will be one of the primary determiners of college acceptance.

To support student success at VAHS, last week we began the “ACT Question of the Day,” provided by Kaplan (which provides many more ACT and SAT resources for students).  This will take place during the first five minutes of 3rd period for all students, three times per week.  Students will be given the question, some time to respond, and then the answer will be provided, with an explanation. Teachers will manage the process and can provide support.

How parents can support their VAHS students’ success on the ACT…
Parents can help by providing students with a composition notebook, in which they can record all of their ACT Questions of the Day, to keep throughout their entire time at VAHS. This could also serve as a tool for communication with your child about ACT preparation and readiness.  In addition to familiarizing students with the ACT exam, the ACT Question of the Day will raise a collective awareness—as a school and community—as to the importance and impact of the ACT exam. 
 
--

FAFSA Opened October 1st – File as soon as you can!
If seniors need financial aid to help  pay for college, families must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. The 2020–21 FAFSA form just opened this week on Oct. 1, 2019. Families should fill it out as soon as possible. Federal funding is limited, so experts urge students and families to file their FAFSAs as soon as possible.
There are some great articles posted on the Counseling Department Blog about how to get started on the FAFSA!  

Click here for a flyer with information about where students/families can receive assistance with financial aid/FAFSA completion.
--

2020**Senior Ads are Now On Sale**2020
Buy a Senior Recognition Ad for your Viking today. Prices range from $40 to $250.  For more information, go to jostensadservice.com

--

Buy a Yearbook before the price goes up!
The 2020 VAHS Expedition Yearbook is now on sale.  Go to www.jostensyearbooks.com to buy before the price increases.

All purchases should be made at http://www.jostensyearbooks.com

--

Please check the VAHS blog frequently, for news, information, and opportunities for VAHS students. Also, please feel free to subscribe, to receive emailed notifications of new postings. (see below on the right hand side of the page under where it says, "FOLLOW US.").

--

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) meets on Wednesday mornings from 7:30-8:30am in room D124. 
Students do not need to be athletes, nor Christian to attend--All are welcome! :)  Contact Mr. Baker (dbaker@voyageracademy.net) or Mrs. Paradis (mparadis@voyageracademy.net) for more info.   

--

VAHS Counseling Department Blog
All parents and students should frequently check and/or subscribe to the VAHS Counseling Department blog (click here)! Here you will find  important information and opportunities for VAHS students. Topics range from specific grade level information to scholarships and other interesting opportunities.   

--

Why you might ask?
We need YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It will enrich your experience at Voyager by being involved
You get to meet and socialize with other parents
PTO involvement helps parents be aware of school needs
YOU’LL HAVE FUN!

--

PARENTS:  Sign up to receive text messages from VAHS
Even though you may have been subscribed from last year, all must re-subscribe.  This is because some cell phone numbers may no longer belong to last year’s subscribers (as people may change numbers or mobile providers). Click below for subscription instructions for your student’s grade.  





--

Important Dates for VAHS

Dates
Events
Nov. 11
NO CLASSES – Veterans’ Day
Nov. 14
Nov. 25
Project Exhibition Day. 2-4:00pm
Nov. 27-29
NO CLASSES – Thanksgiving Break
Dec. 12 – 18
Final exams
Dec. 19 – Jan. 3
NO CLASSES – Winter Break
Jan. 6
1st day of class to begin the 2nd semester
Jan. 11
Report cards given to students
Jan. 20
NO CLASSES – MLK Holiday
Feb. 10-14
Teacher Appreciation Week
Feb. 17
NO CLASSES – Teacher workday
Feb. 18
NO CLASSES – Parent/Teacher conference day
Feb. 25
ACT Exam (all 11th graders)
Mar. 4
Midterm exams for pds. 1 & 3
Mar. 5
Midterm exams for pds. 2 & 4
Mar. 13
Report cards given to students
Mar. 16
NO CLASSES – Teacher workday
Mar. 17
NO CLASSES – Parent/Teacher conference day
April 8
Project Exhibition Day. 4-6:00pm
Apr. 10 – 17
NO CLASSES – Spring Break
May 1
Spring Fling (by the VA PTO)
May 4-15
AP exams
May 18-22
Final exams
May 26
Graduation (time and location TBA)



OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
FOR AND ABOUT VAHS





VOYAGER VIKING VALUES
CONFIDENCE   - CURIOSITY   - EMPATHY
REFLECTION   - INTEGRITY