Voyager Academy Middle School News, Nov. 5, 2017

Dear VAMS Families,
We have noticed that more and more families are “cutting it close” and arriving later. This week we had at least 55 students who were tardy. Please leave your house 5 minutes earlier in order to have your child get to class on time.  Our school day begins at 8:15.  If your child is not in the classroom when the 8:15 tardy bell rings, they are marked tardy.   Habitually arriving late is a disservice to your child as much instructional time is missed as well as it puts them behind the entire day. Thank you for your help and support with this very important issue!

One of our 8th graders is collecting items to send to women in the military.  Please help Maddie collect items to Support Women in our Troops!!!  We will collect items Nov. 6 – Nov. 9.  I think it’s terrific that our students want to help others and create opportunities for us to help.  Items of need are:
  • nail care products (nail clippers, nail files, cuticle pushers)
  • facial moisturizers/face masks
  • shampoo
  • conditioner
  • ethnic hair products
  • leave-in conditioner
  • sunscreen
  • hair ties (not scrunchies)
  • bobby pins
  • small packets of tissue
  • small packets of cotton swabs
  • Greeting cards
  • Deodorant,  Dental floss
  • Notes of thanks and words of encouragement 
  • Children’s artwork
  • large rolls of packaging tape
  • gallon size and quart size freezer ziploc bags
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VOYAGER HAS STARTED A COLE TEAM FOR 4th AND 5th GRADE STUDENTS

COLE is the charter school version of Battle of the Books.  Students will be reading a great set of books selected by school librarians, and meeting every other week, before school, to prepare for a quiz-bowl style competition with other charter schools to be held sometime this Spring, hopefully in the Triangle Area, location and date TBD.  The next meeting is Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7:30.

What is expected of team members?  There are 15 books (these are the same books as Elementary Battle of the Books), and each student is asked to read at least 10 of the books and become an "expert" in the details for 2 books.  Team members are also asked to attend team meetings and work well with other students on the team. 

When does the COLE team meet?  We will meet once every other week on Thursdays before school at the Middle School.  Our next meeting is Thursday, Nov. 9 at 7:30.
Who can be part of COLE?  The team is open to 4th and 5th graders. Who is working with the COLE team?   The program will be run by parent volunteers.   If anyone is interested in helping out, let us know!

Is there a fee? 
  Orgs online is now set up to receive COLE team participation fees.   It is in the Special Orders Module and it is titled:      2017-18 C.O.L.E. - Battle of the Books.  The fee is $20 per student.  Please pay before the next meeting.

How does my student access the books?
  These books are available through the public library for free.  The books are also available for free in electronic form (and in some cases on audio) from the NC Kid's Digital Library.  We will also have limited numbers available for the kids to check out at Voyager. 

Purchasing the books is not required. 
If you would like to purchase the books, they are available from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.  A few of the books are also available through the Scholastic flyers at a good price (Among the Hidden $4; Rules $5; Wish $4; and Hatchet $4), and we encourage you to consider that option if you are purchasing because this allows our teachers to earn points and get additional books for the classroom.  If you purchase the books, please make sure to write your name in them.


Title
Author
Extra Credit
Andrew Clements
Soft Rain
Cornelia Cornelissen
Kenny & the Dragon
Tony DiTerlizzi
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library
Chris Grabenstein
Among the Hidden
Margaret Peterson Haddix
Turtle in Paradise
Jennifer L. Holm
Blue
Joyce Moyer Hostetter
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon
Grace Lin
Rules
Cynthia Lord
The Candymakers
Wendy Mass
Wish
Barbara O’Connor
Hatchet
Gary Paulsen
Pax
Sara Pennypacker
The Hero Two Doors Down
Sharon Robinson
Walls Within Walls
Maureen Sherry

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IMPORTANT DATES:


Monday, Nov. 6
Tryouts for boys’ basketball, 6:00-8:00
Monday, Nov. 6
8th graders Water Quality Testing, science periods 1 and 2
Tuesday, Nov. 7 
8th graders Water Quality Testing, science periods 3, 4, and 5
Tuesday, Nov. 7
Tryouts for girls’ basketball, 4:00- 6:00
Wednesday, Nov. 8
Tryouts for girls’ basketball, 4:00-6:00
Thursday, Nov. 9 
4th grade Gem Mining
Friday, Nov. 10
No School
 

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Hope everyone has a great weekend!
Gwen

Gwen Johnson          gjohnson@voyageracademy.net
Principal
Voyager Middle School