Dear Voyager Community,
Happy February to all of our Vikings! I’m quite happy not to have 30 inches of snow like some of our family in NJ, but I’m really hoping we don’t have 6 more weeks of winter. During February we are celebrating Black History Month and recognizing and highlighting the accomplishments and contributions from black leaders, innovators, and world changers. Below the newsletter are the links to the Black History month programs offered by Student Support, the Elementary School, Middle School, and the High School. I hope you all had the chance to hear Amanda Gorman, the United States' first-ever youth poet laureate, recite a powerful poem she wrote at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. If not, check out this powerful poetry performance and share it with your children.
This week we are also celebrating National School Counselors week. We would like to recognize and express our appreciation to our incredible Student Support Team. Thank you Cindy Gittens (School Social Worker), Jill O’Kane (HS), Tanya Farrish (MS), and Melissa Meckes (ES) for all you do to support our students, families, and our school community. Please check out their website and plans below the newsletter to support our celebration of Black History month, and the upcoming student socials and parent enrichment nights that are planned.
We are also launching our “Share the Love Campaign” next week. We are hosting a socially distanced drive through event so that we can share our love and appreciation for our students and families! Out team will be in car line to cheer you on and share a little token of “love” for our students. We will also be accepting canned food donations to benefit the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle so we share our love with our greater Durham community. The flyer was sent out on Wednesday night with the schedule of events by school and is linked here for your reference.
I also wanted to remind families that the application process is open for admission for the 2021 -2022 school year. It is important to remember that siblings of currently enrolled students interested in attending Voyager next year must also submit an application by February 28, 2021 in order to be considered for admission. Applications are being accepted online through the SchoolMint system.
Our AIG committee has been hard at work as well. Check out all the enrichment resources below the newsletter that they have prepared for your children. Please know that we are all here to support your child grow, learn, and find their passion. Feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher, building administrator, or student support if we can assist your family in any way. Please review the upcoming dates and information below for additional resources. Have a wonderful weekend!
All the best,
Upcoming Calendar Events:
Feb 5 - 8th Grade Career Talk
Feb 9 - Virtual Information Session for Prospective Families
Feb 11 - Parent Enrichment Session - Durham Cooperative
Feb 12 - Middle School Progress Reports
Feb 17 - Reopening Task Force Meeting 4 pm
Feb 17- End of second grading period for K-3
Feb 18- Culture and Climate PD MS & HS
Feb 18 - School Improvement Team Meeting
Feb 19- Culture and Climate PD ES
Feb 19 - Senior Drive Through Breakfast
Feb 23 - ACT to all 11th graders
Feb 25- Elementary Virtual Assembly “We All Have A Skill To Share”
Feb 26 - 8th Grade Career Talk
March 4-12 - HS Midterm Exams
March 15 - Teacher Workday
March 16 - Cohort A reports to school
March 17 - NC Remote Learning Day
March 18 - Cohort B reports to school
AIG Enrichment Activities
On behalf of the AIG committee, we would like to share enrichment activities and highlight a few contests your children might like to use in addition to their regular learning.
First is a link to some resources that have been compiled by the NCDPI. The websites highlighted in this list offer an opportunity for you to delve into topics that students might be interested in.
K-5 Virtual Enrichment and Extension Resources
6-8 Virtual Enrichment and Extension Resources
In addition, we would like to encourage your child to participate in a contest being offered by the popular educational website, "Flocabulary." In honor of Black History Month, they are sponsoring a rap-writing challenge where students research a black historical figure and create a unique rap about them. The link to the contest is below. It includes a very thorough video to explain the rules and requirements.
Flocabulary Rap Writing Challenge
Another competition that is more local is the Durham Saves Water poster contest. The 8th grade science class is required to participate in this each year so you will definitely be doing this in the future, however the contest is open to any K-8 students and the poster theme changes each year.
Durham Saves Water Poster Contest
Our middle school AIG committee is committed to highlighting contests and activities for enrichment. If your child participates in any of these contests, please reach out to Mrs. Johnson so that we can share the excitement!
Black History Month
- Student Services Black History Month Plans
- Elementary Black History Month Plans
- Middle School Black History Month Plans
- High School Black History Month Plans
Reopening Plans
We have outlined a phased in approach to allow time for our staff to acclimate back to teaching on campus and ensure all technology and safety procedures are ready for our students. Our elementary (K-3) students enrolled in the hybrid model will begin in-person instruction on March 1, 2021. Middle School and High School students will return to in-person instruction on March 16th so they can finish the 3rd quarter of instruction remotely without the added stress from a new transition. In order to ensure the continuity and integrity of instruction, Middle School and High School students will begin in person at the start of the 4th quarter. Outlined below is an overview of our reopening plans along with other important updates.
The Board reviewed and approved our plans to reopen under the hybrid model at the meeting on 1/28/21. Thank you to all parents, students, and staff for sharing your input. Key dates are summarized below:
- 2/18 & 2/19 - Teacher Work Days - All staff return to working on campus so that teams can plan together and prepare classrooms for the return of students
- 2/22 - 2/26 - All staff on campus teaching remotely
- 3/1 - Elementary (K-3) Students in Hybrid Cohort A begin in-person instruction on campus
- 3/1 – All staff children in hybrid learning return to in-person instruction on campus
- 3/4 - Elementary (K-3) Students in Hybrid Cohort B begin in-person instruction on campus
- 3/15- Teacher Workday
- 3/16 - MS/HS students in Hybrid Cohort A return to in-person instruction on campus
- 3/17 – Becomes the asynchronous remote learning day.
- 3/18 – MS/HS Cohort B begins in-person instruction on campus
Cohort Schedules:
Cohort A- in-person M/T, remote W, Th, F
Cohort B- in-person Th, F, remote M, T, W
Remote All Year – remote M-F
Wednesday (school sanitized between cohorts, asynchronous remote learning, small groups, & office hours)
Student Support Services
The Student Services team is continuing their student socials and parent enrichment events each month to further engage our community while we are learning apart. Please check out the details below the newsletter and review the link to their flyer. Students enjoyed a karaoke party together at the student social on February 4th. The Durham County Cooperative Extension will share programs to engage children now and throughout the summer at the next parent enrichment night scheduled for February 11th. Both programs are designed to further connect and support our students and families.
Information from the Student Services Team
Student Socials & Parent Enrichment Sessions Have Returned! Please use this link (Socials & Enrichment Flyer) for information regarding our fun socials and informative parent sessions.
News from the Student Services Team - Black History Month
Applications for 2021 – 2022 School Year – Now Open
The application process is open for admission for the 2021 -2022 school year. It is important to remember that siblings of currently enrolled students interested in attending Voyager next year must also submit an application in order to be considered for admission. Applications are being accepted online through the SchoolMint system.
Please share our website and marketing materials with families that may be interested in learning more about Voyager Academy. Feel free to post on your social media accounts as well to encourage your friends to apply. The application period opens on January 1 and closes on February 28, 2021. We are scheduling a virtual information session for prospective families on February 9, 2021. We are also planning an information session on January 13, 2021 for current Voyager 8th graders and their parents to discuss the high school transition and share information about academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities available at Voyager High School.
Virtual Tour -
The link below will take you directly to a virtual tour of each of our school buildings along with drone footage of our campus. This will provide prospective families with a good sense of our incredible facilities since they will not be able to tour in person. The virtual tour will allow you to walk through the buildings and get a 360-degree view. The navigation menu will also allow direct access to each of the rooms on the tour.
Greenlight App -
We have partnered with Duke and Greenlight Ed to complete our daily health screening to ensure our school. Please set up your Greenlight account today and complete the survey daily for each child even while your children are learning remotely. We will use this data and input to ensure we are ready for reopening safely. The links to set up your account are below.
ACTION NEEDED: Directions and links to set up your Greenlight Account
Setting up your account is simple. Select the link below and enter the email address you use to receive Voyager newsletters. Families with multiple children can select any school their children attend. Once your account is set up you will see all of your children associated with your account and be able to complete the daily health screening for each of them. After you complete your first survey you will see the Greenlight pass cleared indication. We will have students select that option to show the larger pass during car line for screening along with their temperature check. Each student will be able to show their Greenlight pass to ensure they are healthy and can attend school. The app also provides support for families that need access to health care, testing, or additional community resources. Please select the link below to set up your family account now.
Elementary School - activate account here: https://glit.me/go/
Middle School- activate account here: https://glit.me/go/
High School - activate account here: https://glit.me/go/
High School Students - Students may register for accounts using this link: https://app.
Instructional slides for instructions on how to set up the account
For parents/guardians who already have an account, please email help@greenlightready.com
Account set up questions should be directed to help@greenlightready.com
The app is not yet in the app store so you can't just download it at this time. The developer is currently waiting for approval from Apple. Once you set up your account you can send the link https://app.greenlightready.
All questions should be directed to help@greenlightready.com.
Videos to Help you set up your account and add it to the home screen on your phone
Here is a link to a video that walks through registering for Greenlight:
Greenlight Video from Claire –instructions to add Greenlight to your home screen on your phone
For iPhone users:
https://www.macrumors.com/how-
For Android users:
https://www.howtogeek.com/
Questions regarding setting up your account should be directed to help@greenlightready.com. Once your account is set up you can also use their chat feature.
Stay healthy and safe – Practice the 3 W’s
Staying current on all of the health metrics and data is also part of our ongoing process. As we work together to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, please remind your children about the importance of the 3 W’s (Wear, Wait, & Wash). Wear a mask, practice social distancing by waiting and maintaining a 6-foot space between others, and wash hands frequently to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Outlined below are some helpful links and resources if you are interested in learning more about the latest data and recommendations.
StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit (K-12)
Durham Public Health COVID Dashboard
Before and After Care – Now Hiring
Contact Patrice Johnson – pjohnson@voyageracadmy.net for details
Food and Nutrition Support for Families
Important Update: Food and nutrition support for families in need has been extended through June. From now until June 30, 2021, Durham County Public Schools will provide 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.
The students services team has compiled an additional list of resources which can be found here.
Community Partnership with Kate’s Korner for K-5
Kate’s Korner will provide a supervised remote learning space for Voyager Academy Elementary (Kindergarten-3rd grades) and Middle School (4th & 5th grade) students to complete their school work while Voyager is operating in a remote learning environment and parents are working. Additional information regarding Kate’s Korner can be found on their website https://www.kateskornerdurham.
Community Partnership with Student U for Grades 6-12
Student U will provide a supervised remote learning space for families of Voyager Academy Middle School and High School students to complete their Voyager school work in a safe supervised learning center while Voyager is operating in a remote learning environment and parents are working. This community partnership will support struggling Voyager families in need of free child care while they are working during the remote learning environment. Applications for the learning center will be prioritized by Student U for families that qualify for free or reduced lunch, have parents that are essential workers, or have become recently unemployed, are experiencing homelessness, are part of the foster care system, or live in public housing.