Voyager Academy High School News, March 8, 2020


GO
VIKINGS GO!

In this issue...
  • Process for 2020-21 Course Selection Concludes Tomorrow (March 9)
  • Gearing Up For Bio-Tech!
  • Say Something Week
  • Applications for Spring Break Driver’s Ed is Open
  • Bull City Blast Choir Competition AND Food Truck Rodeo!
Viking World Travelers
  • Fall Break 2020, in New York City!
Yearbook and Graduation Info.
  • Yearbooks are almost gone!
  • 2020 Cap and Gown Delivery Date
Viking Volunteerism and Fundraising
  • March Madness Auction and Gala
  • The Voyager Academy Capital Campaign
  • Backpack Buddies: Balanced Meals and Snacks for Students in Need
Student Support, College Prep, and Career Planning (ACT, college and scholarship info., etc.)
  • Homework for Parents: Activate your Overgrad Account and Collaborate with Your VAHS Student to Plan for Next Year, and Beyond
  • The 2020 SECU Foundation People Helping People Scholarship!
  • FREE Financial Aid Assistance for College
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

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The Process for the 2020-21 Course Selection and Registration Concludes Tomorrow (March 9)

Hard to believe, but VAHS began the 2020-21 course selection process Monday February 24, and concludes March 9.  Please click here for details.

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Gearing Up For Bio-Tech!

We are so excited to be offering a new science elective for 2020-2021 here at VAHS! We have scoured the science closet and found tons of equipment we can use for this class that has been donated over the years from our amazing Viking families and community partners. We wanted to take a moment to reach out again as we know we have many parents that have connections beyond our reach in the medical field that can help us with donations of supplies for labs or for opportunities for guest speakers. Please feel free to contact me at chuntington@voyageracademy.net anytime! Also we have started a Donors Choose account for a few items that we are in need of for our new bio-tech lab and we would love for you to share the link.  

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Say Something Week
VAHS SAY Something Week kicked off with student created activities by the SAVE Promise Club. We created a poster for our students to honor those they would want to others to "speak up for" in the event of an emergency, we identified trusted adults in the high school, we wore green in honor of the Sandy Hook Promise and finally we hosted a "Shred your Stress" event with our classes. We had a great week raising awareness for the Say Something campaign here at VAHS and want to remind everyone to utilize the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System if you see something that you feel needs to be reported. There is a mobile app available for your phone, or call 1-844-5-SAYNOW, or go to saysomething.net

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Applications for Spring Break Driver’s Ed is Open
Voyager Academy is offering a driver’s education class during Spring Break.
Interested?

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Bull City Blast Choir Competition AND Food Truck Rodeo!
Want to see our award winning HS Show Choirs perform along w/ groups from NC & VA compete? Join the Voyager Academy HS Choral Arts Program on Saturday, March 14th in the HS gym for "Bull City Blast" -- our first competition of this magnitude held right here at Voyager Academy! Competition groups begin performing at 9:30am all day through the awards ceremony at 7:30pm. Cost is $10 general admission for an all day pass! AND....includes a Food Truck Rodeo (FREE TO ATTEND!) from 10am-6pm at our Elementary school! Check out all the yummy food trucks & come see the talented choirs throughout the day!

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Fall Break 2020, in New York City!
Open to any HS student and parent.  Join us for the informational meeting on 1/23 (check with Ms. Paradis for details, mparadis@voyageracademy.net)

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Yearbooks are almost gone!
The 2020 VAHS Yearbook is now on sale.  Only 40 books remain. Order your book today at www.jostensyearbooks.com

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

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2020 Cap and Gown Delivery Date
Representatives from Herff Jones will be at VAHS on Friday April 3 during lunch to distribute graduation products to seniors. Students can pay any outstanding balances at that time or online if necessary.  Make sure that you order your cap and gown through the Herff Jones website a.s.a.p.. if you have not done so already!
https://highschool.herffjones.com/secom/home

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March Madness Auction and Gala

When: Friday March 27th 7PM at Umstead Pines Golf and Swim Club

Who: Parents, teachers, grandparents, neighbors, friends. (Adults only please-this is an event for the kids, without the kids.)

Buy your tickets online now! Go to https://voyager.schoolauction.net/2020

What’s up for auction? Check out some of things we have for you!

Live Auction (Bidding in front of the crowd.)
1. VIP Middle School PM Pickup
2.  Wine Tasting for 20
3.  Voyager Soccer Field Rental
4.  “Pig Pickin” Party Catered by Backyard Bistro

Silent Auction (Bidding on paper.)
Date Night/Adult Outings
-Bed & Breakfast Stays
-One Night Stays
-Brewery/Distillery Tours
-Escape Room -Experiences
-Axe Throwing
-Golf Outings
-Restaurant Gift Cards 
-Electric Bike Rental

Family Outings
-Science Center Passes
-Miniature Golf 
-Marbles Kids Museum 
-Life and Science Museum
-Nascar Xfinity Tickets
-Indoor Rock Climbing

Sports/Fitness
-CrossFit Membership
-JCC Membership
Camps
-Duke BB Camp
-Dance Theater Camp
-Kidsplex Camp

Signed Collectibles
-US Open Collectibles
-NCFC Soccer Ball
-Duke Ball
-Duke Poster
-Hurricanes Photo and Puck

Classes/Instruction
-Self Defense Classes
-Yoga Classes
-Barre Classes
-Ninja Challenge Class
-Private Aerial Silks Lesson

Sponsors: Thank you to Backyard Bistro and Duke Pediatric Dentistry for your cash donations and service! Parents please give them a shout out online to say thanks! 

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The Voyager Academy Capital Campaign
Thank you to the very generous donors who have given to our capital campaign to purchase school buses for all students. If you haven’t already donated, please consider “Giving to Voyager” for our capital campaign fundraiser. We need activity buses to help transport our kids to all the wonderful events and activities they enjoy such as field trips, sporting events, arts competitions and much more.  Please visit the donations page here: https://www.voyageracademy.net/support-voyager/

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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. 

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Homework for Parents: Activate your Overgrad Account and Collaborate with Your VAHS Student to Plan for Next Year, and Beyond
VAHS has been using Overgrad for the past 4 years, and all of our students have active accounts. Overgrad is a college and career readiness platform that enables students and parents to make better educational decisions.  We encourage all parents to create their own accounts, allowing them to partner with their child and monitor their academic progress over time. Please see the following video and click here of for the Parent Letter for Information and instructions.

We will be using the Course Planning feature as Part of the 20/21 course registration process. This is a great way for parents and students to collaborate and plan for next year and beyond!        



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The 2020 SECU Foundation People Helping People Scholarship! 
Each year, $10,000.00 scholarships have been awarded to three graduating senior attending North Carolina Charter Schools. These scholarships will be awarded to students attending one of the 16 constituent campuses of the University of North Carolina. Funds are made possible through the contributions to SECU Foundation by members of the State Employees’ Credit Union. One applicant from VAHS will be selected by the VAHS selection committee on 3/12/20 to move on to the next NC Office of Charter Schools Selection Committee. 


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FREE Financial Aid Assistance for College
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. 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.

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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.   

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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.   

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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!

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PARENTS AND STUDENTS:  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). For instructions on how to subscribe, click the link below that describes you.   


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Important Dates for VAHS

Dates
Events
Mar. 9
Last 2020-21 course registration session (during Advisory)
Mar. 11
Midterm exams for pds. 1 & 3
Mar. 12
Midterm exams for pds. 2 & 4
Mar. 13
  • 1:30pm-2:30pm VAHS Chorus Presentation to Grades 7-12 in the VAHS gym  
  • Report cards given to students
Mar. 16
NO CLASSES – Teacher workday
Mar. 17
NO CLASSES – Parent/Teacher conference day
April 4
Prom
April 8
Project Exhibition Night. 5:30-7:00pm
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