From the Voyager Academy Managing Director, Sept. 12, 2020


Dear Voyager Community,

Thank you to the many parents, guardians, and students that have completed our Remote Learning Survey to provide input into our process of reflection so that we can refine our remote learning environment and schedule. The results from the surveys are linked for your reference-- Parent Survey Results, Student Survey Results. Voyager staff are also providing input on a similar remote learning survey. Our goal is to ensure our students strive for academic excellence while balancing social, and emotional well-being. The leadership team has already met and discussed the staff and parent results and are planning staff input sessions. Please be assured that we will be analyzing all data from the parent, student, and staff surveys with our staff and leadership team next week. After a full evaluation, we will be making recommendations for schedule refinements and announcing any updates to our community as soon as possible. It is important to remember that the school recommendation will balance the needs for all students at each grade level.

Please remember that the deadline for enrolling in the full year remote learning is September 25, 2020.  This is necessary to allow us to adjust class cohorts and plan staffing needs accordingly. The staffing for the option for remote only for the year will be determined by the numbers at each grade level. If there are only a few students, then they would zoom into class. If we have large numbers of remote only students at a grade level, we may opt to have a remote only teacher. Outlined below are our current plans for the hybrid model that may be helpful as you decide whether or not to enroll in the full year of remote learning for your child. The full year remote enrollment form can be completed here  - Voyager 2020 – 2021 Year Long Remote Learning Option Enrollment Form

Our current plans for the hybrid model:

- Hybrid - 2 days of in- person instruction with 3 days of remote learning for each cohort - Teachers would teach 4 different lessons (M, T, Th, F) and remote students would zoom into class in grades 5th - 8th at the MS and 9th-12th grade at the HS.  Wednesday would be dedicated to recorded lessons and independent work. Teachers would also have the opportunity to set up office hour meetings on Wednesdays.

- The ES may need more recorded lessons and less zooming in because more parent support would be required.  Final plans are still under development.

Our counseling team is available to provide assistance to students, families, and teachers to support the learning environment, provide access to community resources, and meet with students for social and emotional learning and assistance.  September is also suicide prevention awareness month.  The counseling team has shared important information below about suicide prevention.

We understand that many of our families may also be struggling with nutrition needs for their family.  Please see the detailed information below about meals that are available for pick up twice a week at select Durham Public Schools. Delivery services are also available for families that do not have transportation to pick up meals for their family. Our student services team has additional resources available to support as well.  Please reach out to your school counselor or our social worker if your family needs assistance.

Please know that we are all here to support your child’s success.  Feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher, building level administration, school counselor, school social worker, or me if you need assistance or support.  Don’t forget to check out the upcoming calendar events listed below and read all the building level newsletters to learn more about the exciting learning taking place at each grade level.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

All the best,

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.  While suicide prevention is important to address year-round, Suicide Prevention Awareness Month provides a dedicated time to come together around a difficult topic. We can all benefit from honest conversations about mental health conditions and suicide.  Just one conversation can change a life

 

Submit by 9/25/20 if interested in remote learning all year for your child  - Voyager 2020 – 2021 Year Long Remote Learning Option Enrollment Form

 Upcoming Calendar Events:             

  • Sept. 15 – Middle School Virtual Assembly

  • Sept 17 – Parent Night – Internet Safety 6 pm – 7 pm (Details below)

  • Sept. 18 – Elementary Progress Reports

  • Sept. 25 – Board Meeting

  • Sept. 25 – Teacher Workday/Remote Learning Day/Conference Day

  • Sept. 29 -  Family Connection Zoom Meet up with Managing Director – 10 am
    Zoom Link

  • Oct. 5-9 – HS Mid-term exams 

  • Oct 12 - 16 - Fall Break

  • Oct. 14 – Report cards go out

  • Oct. 22 – Pre-ACT (all 10th graders)

  • Oct. 23 - MS Report Cards for 1st Quarter

  • Nov. 09 - K-3 Report cards sent home

  • Nov. 13 - MS Second Quarter Progress Reports

Food and Nutrition Support for Families in Need of Assistance During This Challenging Time

From now until December 31, 2020, Durham County Public Schools is providing free meals to all children aged 18 and under.  Drive-through pick up of meals is available weekly from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.  Pick-up sites are listed here and below. No ID is required to pick up the meals. If you are unable to pick up at the designated time, click here to obtain information on how to have meals delivered to your home. 

Additionally, the Student Services Team has compiled a list of parent and community resources that can be found Here

Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions and/or concerns. Thank you.

DPS Free School Meals

Age:  Available to any child 18 and under 

Pick-up Day & Time:  Every Tuesday & Thursday from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Meals Provided: Tuesdays students pick up two breakfasts, two lunches; Thursdays students pick up three breakfasts, three lunches.

Pick-up Locations:

Bethesda ES

Burton ES

Eastway ES

Eno Valley ES

Carrington MS

Club Boulevard ES

Glenn ES

Hillside HS

Holt ES

Shepard MS

Lakewood ES

Lakeview Secondary

Fayetteville St ES

Merrick Moore ES

Neal MS

Parkwood ES

Riverside HS

RN Harris ES

Southern HS

Sandy Ridge ES

Southwest ES

CC Spaulding ES

WG Pearson ES

YE Smith ES

Parent Night on Internet Safety – Thursday, September 17th – 6 pm – 7 pm  

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83432174168?pwd=NDBFV2FRcUxIRU9NT1lsSCtpTEN5QT09 Meeting ID: 834 3217 4168 Passcode: 534542

All VA parents/guardians are invited to attend an Internet Safety Presentation on Thursday, Sept 17 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. This live Zoom event is hosted by the Student Services Department of Voyager Academy.  

VA is proud to partner with Shelley J. Epps, long time VA parent and Information Security Analyst, Program Lead, Security Outreach & Education at Duke University Health System.  Program topics will include

  • How parents/guardian can do their part to keep their children safe

  • How to help students navigate the internet appropriately 

  • How to predict and respond to specific security situations when they arise

Ms. Epps will be available after the presentation to speak with any parents who have specific questions. We are grateful for her expertise and thankful to have Ms. Epps as part of the VA community!   

Exceptional Children’s Parent Meeting

Thursday, 9/24, 6 pm

EXPO September Meeting 

The Exceptional Children’s Parent Organization invites you to attend our first meeting of the year. Tracey Edler, Voyager’s new Exceptional Children’s Program Director, will speak to our group on strategies for Home and School. She’ll discuss things like morning routines, checklists, homework, etc. to help your child be successful.

Topic: EXPO 

Time: Sep 24, 2020 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Join Zoom Meeting 

https://zoom.us/j/95904759696

 

Meeting ID: 959 0475 9696 

Passcode: 118124 

One tap mobile 

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