From the Voyager Academy Managing Director, Feb. 26, 2021

Dear Voyager Community,

We have had an amazing week with lots of activity and buzz all around campus. We are very excited to welcome the Elementary School Cohort A students on Monday, March 1, 2021. Hooray it is finally happening!!! The final steps are ready for our elementary students to start returning to campus in the hybrid model.  A chart outlining the timing of the hybrid reopening by school is provided below in the newsletter. 

Through our partnership with the Duke ABC Science Collaborative and the NC Specialty Hospital we were fortunate to have all interested staff receive their Covid vaccine on Wednesday. We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to vaccinate all staff on the first day educators were eligible.  One downside of having a mass vaccination is that the timing of the second shot will impact all staff at once and we would not have enough subs to cover classes if teachers are not feeling well. Understanding that many individuals have had side effects from their second shot, Voyager will be planning for asynchronous remote learning days on March 25 and 26 so that we are able to provide ample notice for families and continuous learning for our students.

It was great to have so many high school students on campus this week as well.  Our juniors were on campus to take the ACT as they begin the college planning process.  Our seniors were honored with a drive through Senior breakfast donated by Chick Fil A and given a Class of 2021 Voyager mask on Tuesday.  We are thankful to the parent volunteers that organized the event and the donors that purchased the masks for our seniors.  It was wonderful to cheer them on with staff and parents. 

Our students are also demonstrating their leadership and academic competency skills. Eighth graders Vivian and Mitchell Brennen planned and hosted another Covid-19 seminar led by Dr. Guzman and Dr. Mourad from Duke to help educate and inform our school community about the vaccine. Congratulations to Amelia Fay for her award winning essay in the VFW Patriot’s Pen contest. We also want to congratulate recent award winners for their entries in the 2021 Durham Conservation Contest. Marie Ball and Ava Maye Baker (3rd graders), and Bernadine Pena, Sophia Chorosevic, Margaret Paton, and Zoe Robinson (6th graders) for their winning posters, essays, and slideshow submissions.

Our athletes have also brought energy and excitement to our campus.  The boys high school basketball team finished their season with an 8-5 record with a 2nd place finish in our conference. High school boys soccer continues to reign undefeated with an 8-0 record. Boys middle school basketball is currently 3-0 with two remaining games.  Way to go Vikings! Spring sports on their way include high school girls softball, boys tennis, co-ed golf, and girls soccer. Middle School girls volleyball, boys soccer, and cross country.

Our week on campus finished with an exciting Elementary Talent and Skills show.  Teachers and staff demonstrated their skills and talents to motivate and encourage our elementary students to celebrate and share their unique talents and skills with all of us. It was priceless to watch the children’s expressions and enthusiasm. We can’t wait to see what our students share with all of us.

Our Operations Manager has also been busy planning the school lunch program and before and after care program to support our families as well.  Additional details are outlined below. 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!

Upcoming Calendar Events:

March 1 - ES Hybrid Cohort A reports to school

March 3 - Pre-ACT to all 10th graders

March 3 - Student Social

March 4 - ES Hybrid Cohort B reports to school

March 4-12 - HS Midterm Exams

March 11 - Parent Enrichment Session

March 15 - Teacher Workday – No School for Students

March 16 - MS/HS Cohort A reports to school

March 17 - Remote Learning Day for Students

March 18 – MS/HS Cohort B reports to school

March 25 – Remote Asynchronous Learning Day for Students

March 26 – Remote Asynchronous Learning Day for Students

 

Before and After Care

Before and after school care (BASC) program enrollment is happening now. BASC will open on Monday March 1st for elementary students and March 16th for Middle/High school students. To ensure we are properly staffed for students to staff ratios we will use the following.

  • The enrollment deadline for the March 1st start date is February 24th. 
  • The enrollment deadline for the March 16th start date is March 5th. 
  • The enrollment deadline for future weeks will be two weeks in advance.  If you register on March 16th, your students start date will be March 29th. 
  • BASC Programs will be available only on days that your child is scheduled to be at Voyager Academy:

·       Early Care: 6:45am – 7:45am for Elementary and Middle School (6:45am – 8:15am High school)

·       After Care: 2:45pm – 6:00pm for Elementary and 3:15pm – 6:00pm Middle School.

Voyager Academy BASC  knows what it takes to keep children safe, so you can feel comfortable registering your child. We pay attention to every detail both big and small in training staff for COVID-19 restrictions and protocols. All students must be pre-registered in order to attend The BASC program.  Parents use the Charter Pay online billing system for program registration.  If you need help with your username or  password, please visit https://charterpay.org/login/recovery.  Once you register for the program you will receive our complete Parent Handbook. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me directly at pjohnson@voyageracademy.net.

 

Lunch Program

Parents can order your child's lunch, pay at the time of order, and we will deliver your students lunch to their classroom.  Lunch orders must be placed at least one week in advance. For instance, March 1st lunch order should be placed before February 22nd. You also have the option to purchase lunch for the entire month. Payment options are by debit/credit card or ACH bank draft. Order lunch online at  CharterPay.org.

  • K & W Cafeteria will provide lunch on Monday for Cohort A  & Thursday for Cohort B.
  • Chick-Fil-A will provide lunch onTuesday for Cohort A  & Friday for Cohort B. 
  • All meals will be delivered in hot and cold containers to maintain food safety guidelines. 
  • Drinks are not provided with lunch. Children should all have refillable water bottles.
  • Elementary and Middle school students will eat lunch in their classrooms. 
  • High school students will eat lunch in their 2nd period classroom. 
  • Students also have the option to bring their own lunch to school. Students that pack their own lunch will not have access to microwaves.
  • High school students will not be allowed to leave campus for lunch.

If you have any questions about before and after school registration or lunch ordering please feel free to reach out to Patrice Johnson, Operations Manager at pjohnson@voyageracademy.net. Technical and account issues should be directed to support@charterpay.org.

 

Student Support Services

News from the Student Services Team

Check out the updated calendar and flyers for Student Socials and Parent Enrichment Sessions.  Please note that our student socials have been moved to Wednesdays to ensure all students can attend. Join us next Wednesday, March 3rd for Freeze Dance!  Parents and guardians, we look forward to seeing you on Thursday, March 11th to discuss nutrition tips for your family. 

 Student Socials/Parent Enrichment Flyer

  March Student Social Flyer.pdf

  March Parent Enrichment Flyer.pdf

 

REOPENING PLAN OVERVIEW

 

Date

Elementary School

 (K-3)

Middle School

High School

February 22 -26

Staff working on campus

 

Remote Learning for students

Staff working on campus

 

EC Separate Setting Students return to campus for in-person instruction

 

Remote Learning for students

Staff working on campus

 

EC Separate Setting Students return to campus for in-person instruction

 

Remote Learning for students

March 1, 2021

Students in Hybrid Cohort A begin in-person instruction on campus

 

Students in Remote Cohort all year and Cohort B continue with remote instruction

 

All staff children in hybrid learning return to in-person instruction on campus

Remote Learning Continues for students

 

EC Separate Setting Students on campus

 

Staff children in hybrid learning can return to in-person instruction on campus

Remote Learning continues for students

 

EC Separate Setting Students on campus

 

Staff children in hybrid learning can return to in-person instruction on campus

March 4, 2021

Elementary (K-3) Students in Hybrid Cohort B begin in-person instruction on campus

 

Same as above

Same as above

March 15, 2021

Teacher Workday – No School for Students

 

 

Teacher Workday – No School for Students

Teacher Workday – No School for Students

March 16, 2021

Community informed of decision on readiness to move to Plan A Full Capacity

Students in Hybrid Cohort A return to in-person instruction on campus

 

Cohort B and Yearlong Remote students continue with remote instruction

Students in Hybrid Cohort A return to in-person instruction on campus

 

Cohort B and Yearlong Remote students continue with remote instruction

March 17, 2021

Rescheduled Asynchronous Remote Learning Day

Rescheduled Asynchronous Remote Learning Day

Rescheduled Asynchronous Remote Learning Day

March 18, 2021

Hybrid and Remote Instruction continue

Students in Hybrid Cohort B return to in-person instruction on campus

 

Students in Hybrid Cohort B return to in-person instruction on campus

 

Transition Plan to Full Capacity

March 15, 2021 - Staff Meeting to Assess Hybrid Progress and evaluate readiness to Move Hybrid Students to Plan A Full Capacity on 3/22

 

Yearlong Remote students continue with remote

 

Potential Transition to Plan A Full Capacity for Hybrid students will be announced on 3/16

 

Potential Target Date for Plan A Full Capacity for Hybrid Students – 3/22

March 29, 2021 - Staff Meeting to Assess Grades 4 & 5 Hybrid Progress and evaluate readiness to Move Grade 4 & 5 Hybrid Students to Plan A Full Capacity on 4/12

 

 

Potential Transition to Plan A Full Capacity for Grade 4 & 5 Hybrid students will be announced on 3/30

 

Potential Target Date for Plan A Full Capacity for Grades 4 & 5 Hybrid Students – 4/12

 

Yearlong Remote students continue with remote

 

Hybrid Cohort Students in Grades 6-8 continue in hybrid mode

 

Full Capacity Plan A not currently allowed by state for Grades 6-8

 

Full Capacity not currently allowed by state

 

 

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)

 

REMEMBER TO SET UP YOUR GREENLIGHT ACCOUNT AND CHECK IN EVERYDAY.  THIS WILL BE USED FOR THE HEALTH SCREENING DURING CARLINE.