Hello Middle School Families,
Oh my, what cold weather we have had the past couple of weeks. For those of you who live in the counties receiving lots of ice, I have certainly had you on my mind. I know how challenging it is to have no power along with no heat. Hopefully most of you have had your power restored.
Durham Soil and Water Conservation’s Annual Contests
Congratulations to some of our sixth grade students as they placed in the Durham Soil and Water Conservation's annual contests! Bernadine Dela Pena (1st) and Sophie Chorosevic (2nd) placed for their poster designs. Margaret Payton (1st) and Zoe Robinson (2nd) placed for their essays, and Zoe Robinson (1st) for her Slideshow. This year's theme was, "We All Live in a Watershed". They will be receiving prize money for their wins and Bernadine and Margaret's 1st place entries will be sent on to Regional Competition. Well done, ladies!
Thanks to Mrs. Miller for supporting our students!
Middle School Sports
I recognize we will not have all middle school sports this year due to the season for particular sports or not having enough team members to try-out for particular sports but I want to acknowledge our basketball team.
Our Boys’ Basketball Season kicked off this past Wednesday night and I must say I was very impressed and proud of each of the team members. The boys respected social distancing and they wore their masks the entire game. I know that was challenging as they were in full speed up and down the court so breathing was tough.
We have some new team members this year and it was awesome to hear the veteran team members cheering for our new to the team and new to Voyager members. I saw lots of teamwork and sportsmanship! Great job team and coaches!
CLUB HUB - WHAT IS IT?
Is your Voyager Academy 4th-8th grade student looking for opportunities to socialize and interact with students who share similar interests?
This Wednesday, February 24th between 11:30 am and 4:00 pm, we will be hosting interest sessions for TEN brand new clubs! These groups will be supervised by at least one of our VAMS staff members and will revolve around a WIDE array of topics.
Check out our current offerings:
Social/Homework/Organization Club with Ms. Livengood and Mrs. Easterly
Kahoot! Club with Mrs. Liller
Photography Club Mrs. Miller and student host Andrea DP
Art Club with Mr. Winstead and student host Claire S.
Ukulele Club with Ms. Wicker
Recorder Club with Ms. Wicker
Theatre/Drama Club with Mrs. Thompson
Among Us Club with Ms. Wicker and Mr. Winstead
Service Club with Mrs. Johnson
Sewing/Crafting Club with Mrs. Thompson
Would your student be interested in joining one of these groups? Please visit our newly formed VAMS Club Hub found at https://padlet.com/lwicker/kzydkheywi8vbg53 to view detailed descriptions of each club. (There are some clubs with grade level limitations or a limit on number of participants, so please read carefully.) Once your student has selected which clubs they would like to attend the interest meetings for, please fill out the form found at the top left of the Padlet so that we can send you the Zoom link(s) and let the club leader know who to expect.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Wicker at lwicker@voyageracademy.net.
IMPORTANT INFO FROM the PE DEPARTMENT
The Physical Education students will not be using the locker rooms to change into uniforms. Please have your students wear comfortable workout clothes and athletic shoes when they are in the PE rotation. Also, they need to bring their own personal water bottle to be used during class. Please send water and not sports drinks.
Thank you,
Mrs. Liller and Mr. Blackston
HELP HELP HELP
Parents of 7th Grade Students
Just a reminder that Ms. Pam needs an updated immunization record for ALL 7th grade students. If you have not provided an updated record to Ms. Pam, please do so ASAP as the deadline for submitting information to the Department of Public Instruction is next week. You may email it, fax it, or drop by school and give to us. THANK YOU!
YEARBOOK
Yes, we are going to have a YEARBOOK. Just a reminder that Ms. Pam needs pictures. Please send pictures to Ms. Pam!!!!
To upload pictures you will need this URL plicbooks.com/go/wNRyg.
We would like a portrait picture but also some fun shots to add to the pages. Make sure when you download, pick your student's grade level and add the name of the student. Thank you in advance for your help with this.
Lottery Application
The new year also brings the opening of our application process for admission for the 2021 -2022 school year. The application period opens on January 1 and closes on February 28, 2021.
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)
Links to resources to support all learners
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!
Student Services Team - Mrs. Farrish and Mrs. Gittens
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.
Students enjoyed a karaoke party together February 4th. Not only did the students enjoy it but so did the staff who attended!
Wow, that was fun! I really enjoyed the Karaoke Party with the students. I am already looking forward to the next social. Be on the lookout!
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.
UPCOMIMG SOCIAL EVENTS For STUDENTS
Sponsored by our Counselors
Thursday, March 4, 2021: Freeze Dance
Thursday, April 15, 2021: 20 Questions
Thursday, May 6, 2021: Family Dance Party
Thursday, March 11, 2021:
How to Raise Healthy, Thriving Children: Nutrition Tips for Families
Thursday, April 22, 2021: Diversity & Inclusion
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
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!
PLEASE SET UP YOUR GREENLIGHT ACCOUNT!
YOU WILL NEED IT FOR CARLINE!!!!!
Greenlight App - Health Screenings - Speed up Carline
We have partnered with Duke and Greenlight Ed to complete our daily health screening so we can monitor the overall health of our school community. 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/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 attends. 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 indicating your are clear. 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.
Middle School- activate account here: https://glit.me/go/voyager-middle
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.com/ to your phone. Additional resources are below to assist with setting up your phones for easy access to our Greenlight health screening.
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-to/add-a-web-link-to-home-screen-iphone-ipad/
For Android users:
https://www.howtogeek.com/667938/how-to-add-a-website-to-your-android-home-screen/
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,
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.com, and registration can be completed using this Registration Form
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. Apply to Student H Here
Carline Number - Very Important
You should receive an email to provide you with your child’s car line number. The car line number that you receive will be used during afternoon carline. If your child was at Voyager during 2019-2020, the car line number will be the same as in the past. If your child is new to Voyager, the 4 digit number you received is your child’s 4 digit number that will be used for dismissal each day. On the first day of carline, the MS will provide you with a piece of blue cardstock. You will need to write the names of all of your children on the cardstock and write their carline number beside each student’s name. Again, we will provide you with a piece of blue cardstock. Some of you may have your blue card from last year! We need you to display your sign on the right side of your dashboard as this will help our staff who are outside monitoring the dismissal process. This is done daily.
If you did not receive your car line number prior to the Winter Break, please send an email to Gwen Johnson at gjohnson@voyageracademy.net requesting your car line number.
Stay healthy and safe – Practice the 3 W’s: 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. Masks will need to be worn except when eating lunch.
REMIND Text: Thanks to those of you who signed up!
4th Grade-In the“To” section of the text type 81010 and in the message type @6agbha.
5th Grade-In the“To” section of the text type 81010 and in the message type @eh9f6kb.
6th Grade -In the“To” section of the text type 81010 and in the message type @beeh8h.
7th Grade - In the“To” section of the text type 81010 and in the message type @cak43k.
8th Grade -In the”To” section of the text type 81010 and in the message type @8cg9ch
DATES FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL SCHOOLNET CHECK INS
Thanks for all the support you have provided the Middle School. We are
thankful to have you on this most unusual journey that we are on!
If you need anything, please email or call !
Just remember ---YOU are “simply the BEST!”
Gwen Johnson
gjohnson@voyageracademy.net
Principal, Voyager Middle School
919-433-3301 ext. 101