GO VIKINGS GO!
In this issue...
- FREE TUTORING: National Honor Society Tutors/Viking Buddies Back In Business
- PARENTS, we need your help-Disinfectant Wipes Needed!
- An Amazing Leadership Opportunity for Sophomores - The HOBY State Leadership Seminar (deadline to apply, 10/30/20)
- Attention 11th graders: Information about the Oct. 29 PSAT
- Science Olympiad Competition Team – Signup OPEN soon!
- Athletics Fundraiser Kick Off
CAMPUS SAFETY
- Student training on the “Say Something” app. is a success.
- The SAVE Promise Club Creates Lasting Change That Leads To Safer Schools
STUDENT WELLNESS
- Stress is Busted in Ms. Kehoe’s Health/Phys. Ed. class!
- How teens across the country are staying mentally healthy?
COLLEGE, CAREER, & GRADUATION
- Free College Application Week(s) Oct. 19-30
- How CFNC (College Foundation of N.C.) can help you plan, apply, and pay for college
College/university virtual open houses:
- UNC Greensboro and High Point University Virtual Visits
- UNC System Virtual Open House 10/26 - 10/30
- Take community college courses at Durham Tech. while at VAHS: How to attend and information.
- Ordering 2021 graduation items like caps and gowns/Class Rings.
STAYING ORGANIZED AND INFORMED
- Stay up-to-the-minute on your child’s progress: become a “parent observer” on his/her Canvas account.
- Students must regularly check their voyager academy email accounts.
- Remote learning tips for parents: how to help your child be successful in a remote learning setting.
- Check out the VAHS counselor’s blog (and subscribe).
- Parents: sign up to receive text messages from the school.
- Other great sources of information for and about VAHS.
- Important dates.
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FREE TUTORING: National Honor Society Tutors/Viking Buddies Back In Business
The NHS is excited to be "virtually" back in full swing this year (although we miss seeing each other in person) and going strong! We are starting to plan some events for the upcoming school year. The NHS is most excited to have the tutoring/buddy program back up and running. We have sent out links to your child's teachers for them to request tutors. But in addition, this year we are also providing a link for parents to request tutors for their children!
We all know that these are trying times and we are glad to be able to help with anything from homework to studying for a test. Maybe your student could just benefit from talking to a peer and would like to sign up for a Viking Buddy to talk to through the day, who can give some tips on time management or test taking strategies.
Please click here to request tutoring from NHS!
PARENTS, we need your help-Disinfectant Wipes Needed!
As we prepare for students to return to the VAHS building (hybrid model) in January, we want to take every step that we can to keep our students safe and healthy. Starting in January, we can imagine that we will be going through a very large number of disinfecting wipes each day. We know that these are currently hard to find! Over the next few months, if you have any extra unopened packages of disinfecting wipes (even one package would be great!) that you would like to donate to VAHS, we will greatly appreciate them!! Feel free to drop them off at the front office anytime Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm. Thank you VERY much!
An Amazing Leadership Opportunity for Sophomores - The HOBY State Leadership Seminar (deadline to apply, 10/30/20)
(HOBY = Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) Each spring, 10,000 high school sophomores from across the country join one of HOBY’s 70 State Leadership Seminars to hone their leadership talents and apply them to become effective, ethical leaders in their home, school, workplace, and community. Watch this 90 second video to learn more. https://youtu.be/RBFJ3UoDEtM
Interested Sophomores should contact Ms. O'kane (jokane@voyageracademy.net) by 10/30/20 to apply.
Attention 11th graders: Information about the Oct. 29 PSAT
VAHS will be offering the PSAT to any interested 11th grade students. The PSAT test will take place on Thursday, October 29th, beginning at 8:00am in the HIgh School Commons. Masks will be required and all COVID health and safety precautions will be followed. The test will only be offered once and there is no make-up date. Students who choose to take the PSAT will be excused for that portion of the school day. Parents may register their student at PSAT Registration . The cost of the exam is $16.
The PSAT is a practice test that prepares students for success on the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). Additional information for students and parents about the PSAT can be found at https://www.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt. Additionally, Juniors who do very well on the PSAT may qualify for the NMSQT Scholarship Competition. Test results are usually received in December. Students will receive their test book back as well as a score report that gives specific information about their correct/incorrect answers, difficulty level of questions and content each question assessed. VAHS counselor, Jill O'Kane will make arrangements to distribute and explain results to students.
Questions regarding the PSAT administration, should go to Laura Howell, VA Testing/Accountability Coordinator.
Science Olympiad Competition Team – Signup OPEN soon!
Voyager’s Science Olympiad teams compete in science related events against other schools. We begin preparing in the fall and compete in the spring. Examples of event topics include: forensics, cryptanalysis, astronomy, virtual builds in CAD, oceanography, circuits, fossils, genetics, engineering and geologic mapping to name a few! If you are interested in science, this is the team for YOU! More information about the team can be found in this PRESENTATION. If you are interested in joining the team, please fill out this INTEREST FORM so that we can send you the team signup when it opens. For questions, please email Kristin Jantz at scienceolympiadteam@voyageracademy.net
Athletics Fundraiser Kick Off
Dear Parents-
Quick reminder to please support the current fundraiser. We are needing to raise funds for our Athletic Department and their goal is $10,000.00. You don’t need to do any shopping, but simply register and share the fundraiser online at, www.ShopFund.com.
Also, help your Teacher earn a $50 Catalog Shopping Spree from the fundraiser. All you need to do is REGISTER & SHARE the fundraiser online and share with at least 5 people via email, text or social media like Facebook. If ½ of the students shares the fundraiser online your Teacher/classroom will automatically earn the $50 shopping spree!
Remember, the fundraiser will help the school and your Teacher with the education of your student.
Thank you for your support!
Student training on the “Say Something” app. is a success.
In Advisory on Wednesday, October 21st, Voyager Academy High School students learned how to use the anonymous reporting system called, “Say Something.” Attendance and participation were excellent. Thank you to all students who participated, and thank you to teachers for facilitating the training!
The SAVE Promise Club Creates Lasting Change That Leads To Safer Schools
As a follow up to the SAY Something Anonymous Reporting System training that occured in Advisory, VAHS is organizing the 20/21 SAVE Promise Club. Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club is the student leadership initiative of Sandy Hook Promise. The aim is to empower student leaders to take an active role in increasing school safety and preventing different forms of violence in schools and communities. All students who would like participate are encouraged to complete the 20/21 SAVE Promise Club Interest Form located below and on the HS website.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfIZ4jtorZfnZVX0aLIbt-bCgBYHZn2Lpj1G5Q9mj_s4RvCuw/viewform?usp=sf_link
Stress is Busted in Ms. Kehoe’s Health/Phys. Ed. class!
In Ms. Kehoe's Health/Physical Education classes students learned about exactly what stress is, how it affects the body and various coping strategies to reduce and/or prevent it. At the end of the unit, students had to create a "Stress Buster" video discussing these various topics. Below are a couple examples from some of my students.
If you are struggling to deal with stress in a healthy manner, take a listen!
Stress Buster Video - P. Farrish
Stress Buster Video - N. Desai
How Teens Across the Country Are Staying Mentally Healthy
Click here for a great article about how teens across the U.S. a staying mentally healthy.
Free College Application Week(s) Oct. 19-30
North Carolina’s annual campaign to support college access is during the month of October and is named NC Countdown to College. Activities during the month support high school seniors in completing three important college enrollment steps: residency, FAFSA, and applications. What is traditionally called College Application Week has been extended to two weeks this year: October 19 - 30th, 2020. During these weeks, many NC colleges and universities waive their application fees.
https://www.cfnc.org/apply-to-college/nc-countdown-to-college/
How CFNC (College Foundation of N.C.) can help you plan, apply, and pay for college
Any student or parent who missed the live CFNC webinar is invited to view the recorded version: https://youtu.be/hq1XpNAuH9I
Additional resources include these two new "how-to" videos.
1. How to Create Your CFNC account - https://youtu.be/S0L0_OeM67E
2. How to Use CFNC Career Tools - https://youtu.be/jKlk17y53J0
COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSES
UNC Greensboro and High Point University Virtual Visits
On Wednesday Oct. 28, VAHS is hosting information sessions with admission representatives from High Point University (12:00-12:45) and (UNCG 1:00-1:45). All interested students are welcome to attend. Contact Ms. O'Kane for links to the live sessions. Check out their websites:
UNC System Virtual Open House 10/26 - 10/30
The UNC System will host its first-ever Virtual Open House, giving North Carolinians in all 100 counties an opportunity to explore the state’s options for public higher education. A series of eight virtual sessions will highlight the unique learning opportunities at the 16 constituent universities.
The sessions, hosted in conjunction with North Carolina Countdown to College, will run from October 26 through October 30, 2020. Each UNC System university will offer a thirty-minute presentation that features faculty, staff, and current students. In addition to providing a broad campus overview, each presentation will highlight five unique and often-overlooked institutional features and attributes. Admissions counselors will also be on hand in a separate chat room to answer specific questions students and their families might have.
To attend any of these sessions, please register using the link below:
https://www.northcarolina.edu/unc-system-virtual-open-house/
See information about NC Countdown To College:
https://www.cfnc.org/apply-to-college/nc-countdown-to-college/
To see the UNC System Universities:
https://www.northcarolina.edu/institutions/
Take community college courses at Durham Tech. while at VAHS: How to attend an information session
Information Sessions are now available to Juniors and seniors who are interested in taking dual enrollment courses at Durham Tech. Community College during the second semester. Attending a virtual information session is the first step in this enrollment process. Please visit
https://www.durhamtech.edu/dual-enrollment to find out more and register for an Information session. Also, see the slides below to meet the Durham Tech. College liaison with Durham Tech. at Voyager.
High School Class Rings and Graduation Products
Herff Jones is your one-stop shop to designing your high school class ring and graduation caps, gowns, gifts and accessories. Click here to go to place an order on the Herff Jones site.
Stay Up-to-the-Minute on Your Child’s Progress: Become a “Parent Observer” on His/Her Canvas Account
Click here to become an “Observer” in your child’s Canvas account. Once there, you can set it up to receive notifications about upcoming assignments, and grades just entered, keeping you updated on progress, daily.
Students Must Regularly Check Their Voyager Academy Email Accounts
Voyager Academy High School strives to make all students career and college ready. Good email communication skills are essential for a student to experience that success.
Parents, please remind your students to check their VAHS student emails often. This account is set up so that the staff can readily communicate with the students through a secure server. Also please remind your students to use their VAHS email account when emailing teachers as many times their personal emails do not contain their names or are inappropriate and we do not know who is contacting us in regards to an assignment or question.
Remote Learning Tips for Parents: How to Help Your Child be Successful in a Remote Learning Setting (see full article here)
Create a learning space for your child.
Make a schedule and stick to it.
Reduce distractions.
Use a calendar and color-code it. Use an electronic calendar if possible, like Google, or Canvas.
Stay in touch with your child's teacher.
Get plenty of exercise.
VAHS Counseling Department Blog
Please be sure to check the VAHS Counseling Department blog frequently. The blog provides news, information, and opportunities for VAHS students and parents all in one convenient location. Topics range from Career/College Counseling and Application Support to Summer Programs and Opportunities. Check it out!
CLICK HERE FOR THE VAHS COUNSELING DEPT. BLOG
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). See subscription instructions below, sorted by student’s graduation year.
For parents of class of 2021:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahsp21
For parents of class of 2022:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahsp22
For parents of class of 2023:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahsp23
For parents of class of 2024:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahsp24
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION
FOR AND ABOUT VAHS
Voyager Academy Academic Calendar
The Voyager Academy High School Website
Important Dates