School dismisses at 11:15 on Wed., Dec. 20. All staff will be dismissed for the holiday break at 11:45. There will be NO after school care and no staff will be at the school after 11:45. Be sure that your child is picked up by 11:40/11:45 on Wed., Dec. 20. Also, due to the early dismissal at 11:15, hot lunches will not be provided by any vendors on Wed., Dec. 20. Please pack a good snack for your child.
I received a picture and a lovely “thank you” video from Smith Academy in Houston, Texas. They wanted to send a special thank you for our generosity after Hurricane Harvey. Here is a link to the video. (CLICK HERE).
At the end of the newsletter, I have included the translations from the parents that are speaking in the video. Also, here is a picture from one of their elementary classrooms.
SMITH ACADEMY, HOUSTON, TEXAS
Please remember that we will follow the DPS inclement weather advisories including delays, closures, and early dismissals. So, if DPS is closed, we will be closed. If DPS has a two hour delay, we will have a two hour delay. If DPS, has an early release due to inclement
weather, we will dismiss early too. If you see that DPS is closed, delayed, or releasing early and you have not seen something for Voyager, know that we will be doing the same thing as DPS. We will post these on our website, send a school connects message, and we will send a REMIND text, as soon as we can.
If you have not signed up for the Remind texts, please do this ASAP! First, you must download the Remind app. You must join the group to receive the Voyager texts. Here are the directions for each grade level:
Kindergarten:
VAES K 2017-18
First Grade:
VAES 1st Grade 2017-18
Second Grade:
VAES 2nd Grade 2017-18
Third Grade:
VAES 3rd Grade 2017-18
Again, thank you for your kindness and empathy in purchasing gifts for our Giving Tree! I know that many families will be very happy and grateful during the holidays!
Please check to see if your child’s missing jacket, coat, sweater, water bottle, lunchbox, etc. is in our Lost and Found!! The Lost and Found is located near the elevators on the first grade hallway. All items that have not been claimed and picked up by Tuesday, December 19 at 3:15 PM will be donated to charity.
Best,
Leslie Paynter
VAES Principal
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CHEER CAMP
Come join the Voyager High School cheerleaders for an evening of cheerleading on Tuesday. January 16, 2017! All camp participants will attend camp from 4:00-6:00 then cheer during the first half and half-time of the Voyager Academy High School Varsity girl’s game against East Wake Academy. Please see attached flyer for more information! If you have questions, please contact Lauren Allen at lallen@voyageracademy.net
Come join the Voyager High School cheerleaders for an evening of cheerleading on Tuesday. January 16, 2017! All camp participants will attend camp from 4:00-6:00 then cheer during the first half and half-time of the Voyager Academy High School Varsity girl’s game against East Wake Academy. Please see attached flyer for more information! If you have questions, please contact Lauren Allen at lallen@voyageracademy.net
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DUKE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL GIFT BAG DONATIONS
Don't forget that a Middle School student needs donations of crayons, colored pencils, coloring books, etc. for Duke Children’s Hospital gift bags. Please drop these items off at VAES Office and we will be sure that the student receives them.
COACH HUFF CHRISTMAS BREAK BASKETBALL CAMP
DEC 27-29
Voyager basketball coach, Mike Huff, will be conducting a basketball camp over the Christmas holidays for boys and girls in grades 3-8. The camp is open to both Voyager and non-Voyager students. The camp will be held December 27-29 from 9:00-12:00 each day. There is also an option for early drop-off.DEC 27-29
For more information or to reserve a spot, e-mail Coach Huff at mhuff@voyageracademy.net.
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VAES YEARBOOK ORDERING
Elementary School (K-3) Yearbooks are now on sale and can only be ordered online. You can order your copy online at www.strawbridge.net. Yearbooks are $23.00 each and must be ordered by January 31, 2018. After this date, there will be a price increase for additional book orders. Visit www.strawbridge.net, click on Pay or Order Online, enter our school code 110322 for Voyager Elementary, then click View Gallery. Choose Yearbook to proceed to your order. Please contact Leslie Jewell (leslieljewell@gmail.com) if you have any questions. Order today!!
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SMITH ACADEMY SENDS THANKS TO VOYAGER ACADEMY - VIDEO WITH PARENTS’ TRANSLATIONS
Parent’s Video 1:
“Good morning, my name is Esperanza Castaño. I am the mother of two girls. One is in third grade and the other one in fourth, Adamaris and Jessica Martínez. Well, we were affected by hurricane Harvey a year ago. Everything came down, but with God’s help we are getting ahead and with all this things that your generous heart sent us we will do better every day. Thank you very much for what you have given us. The girls are happy with what they have received and may God keep blessing you and multiplying every day more.”
Parent’s Video 2:
“Good afternoon, my name is Ana Vega. I have two children here at this school. Valeria Vega is in third grade and Andrés Vega is in fourth grade. We were affected by hurricane Harvey; we had Harvey and last year another one, so we have been affected twice by hurricanes. So, what I want is to thank you for helping us now with these things that you are giving us. I am very thankful for being one of the beneficiaries. Therefore, the only thing that I want to say is telling a little bit of what we had lived. At this school we are, more than anything else, thankful with them and with God for helping us. So, all I want to wish is that the donations you give us get multiplied to help other people who are really in need. Thank you very much, thanks to the school, and God bless you.”
Parent’s Video 3:
“Hello, good morning, my name is María Romero, I have a girl at this school, her name is Maydelin and she is in third grade. We were affected by hurricane Harvey last year and this year again, and with the donation that you are giving us, it is going to help us a lot because we truly need it. We lost everything. I have six children, they attend different schools. We are truly thankful for the help you are giving us and I want to thank you. My family is also very thankful because I told them you were going to give us this help. Thank you very much, really, thank you very much, and may God bless everyone who is donating and helping us. Thank you very much.”
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IMPORTANT DATES
December:
Wed., Dec. 20
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Early Release at 11:15 AM for the Winter Holidays
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Dec. 21 - Jan. 4
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Winter Holidays
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January:
Jan. 5
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Required Teacher Workday/Inclement Weather Make-up Day
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Jan. 8
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Back to School for Students
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Jan. 15
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
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Jan. 17 - Feb. 7
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K - 3 mClass MOY
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February:
Feb. 5 - 16
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1st – 3rd Grade Case 21 2nd Math Benchmark Assessment & K Math Assessment
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Feb. 15
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K & 1st Grade Project Celebration @ 5:30 PM
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Feb. 16
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3rd Grade Project Celebration @ 11:00 AM & 2nd Grade @ 1:00 PM
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Feb. 19
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Required Teacher Workday/Inclement Weather Make-up Day
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Feb. 23
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End of 2nd Trimester
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