Hello Middle School Families,
It’s been another awesome week at Voyager Academy! Today is the last day of the third quarter so hopefully all work has been turned in. Our teachers need to have all grades submitted by Monday afternoon. Our fourth and final quarter for the year begins March 16. Third quarter report cards will be ready on March 19.
Middle School Boys Soccer Interest Meeting
If you are interested in playing boys’ soccer this year at the Middle School, please join us Monday, March 22nd at 3:30 pm for tryouts. In the meantime, please visit the link below for information regarding physicals and a link to FormReLeaf where each athlete needs to be registered prior to trying out. Please email me with questions aowen@voyageracademy.net. Thank you and have a wonderful weekend!
https://voyagerathletics.bigteams.com/main/adnews/ID/53282650
Student Computers
We need students to bring their computer to school and take it back home at the end of the day. We also need students make sure that computers are charged each night. Students who have loaners also need to bring their computer each day and take it home at night for recharging.
If you are in need of a computer, please let us know ASAP so we can ensure we have enough to support our students.
Returning to School
On March 16 middle school students who are in Cohort A will return to school In Person. Our students who are in Cohort B will Zoom into the class based on their schedule. Our Remote students will zoom into the class based on their schedule. Most of the students are receiving schedules from their teachers.
CLUB HUB - WHAT IS IT?
Wow, what a great afternoon we had on Wednesday as we had so many students interested in our Club Hub offerings. Mr. Eisenson and I o-sponsored the Service Club and both of us are so impressed with ideas our members shared with us. Several of our members volunteered to reach out to various places to see how the Service Club could be of help. We will meet again on Wednesday, March 17 at 3:00. During this Club Hub time we will make decisions regarding our projects for the reminder of the school year. If you have questions about Club Hub, contact the club’s sponsor or Ms. Wicker.
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
Before and After School Care:
Before and After school care (BASC) program enrollment is happening now. BASC will open on March 16th for Middle/High school students. To ensure we are properly staffed for students to ratios we will use the following.
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: Middle School ---6:45am – 8:15am
After Care: Middle School ---3:15pm – 6:00pm
Voyager Academy BASC knows what it takes to keep children safe, so you can feel sound in 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 Information:
Parents, you 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.
Elementary and Middle school students will eat lunch in their classrooms.
High school students will eat lunch in their 2nd Bell 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.
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.
They need to bring their own personal water bottle to be used during class. Please send water and not sports drinks.
Mrs. Liller and Mr. Blackston
Parents of 7th Grade Students
We are still in need of updated immunization records for 13 of our 7th grade students. If you have not provided an updated record please do so as soon as possible. You may email it, fax it, or drop by school and give to us. THANK YOU! We really need you to help us with this information.
YEARBOOK
Yes, we are going to have a YEARBOOK. Just a reminder that Ms. Pam needs pictures.
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.
RE-OPENING PLAN
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
Links to resources to support all learners
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
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.
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, April 15, 2021: 20 Questions
Thursday, May 6, 2021: Family Dance Party
Thursday, April 22, 2021: Diversity & Inclusion
(click here for a .pdf version)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does my child need to wear a mask to school each day? Yes, please provide at least two masks per day in case the mask breaks during the day.
Can my child wear a gaiter mask? No, gaiter masks do not provide as much protection as a cloth, tight fitting mask and they are not acceptable for school.
Can I drop off my middle school student at the elementary school during morning drop off? No, only elementary students may enter the elementary building.
Should my child bring a water bottle to school? Yes, we are asking for each student to bring a water bottle to school each day if they want water. Our water fountains are not available. Our water filling stations are available. Please make sure the student’s name is on the water bottle.
Do I need to utilize Greenlight? If your child is coming to in person learning, we will need you to use the Greenlight. Parents will need to show that the student has been cleared based on Greenlight each morning before entering the building. This will happen in the car line before the student is allowed to enter the building. If a parent has not completed the health screening (on Greenlight) before arriving at school, it will slow down the process of getting students admitted into the building. Thank you for completing this each morning. We will also take the temperature of each child each morning.
Do I need a car line sign? Yes, you will receive a Blue car line sign. We will give you the sign on Day 1. If you do not have your carline number, please contact Mrs. Johnson.
Will the staff heat lunches? We are not able to heat student lunches during this school year because of COVID restrictions.
How do I get my carline number? You need to email Mrs. Johnson at gjohnson@voyageracademy.net. We will provide you with a carline sign on the first day you come through carline.
What do I do if a neighbor drops my kid off at school and they do not have access to my Greenlight? Please take a screenshot of your Greenlight and share it with the person who is bringing your child to school.
Where do I drop off my Middle Schooler in the morning? Middle School students are dropped off at the back of the school. Middle School students may not enter the building until 7:45 UNLESS they are attending Before School Care. If your child is attending Before School Care, you need to contact Patrice Johnson at pjohnson@voyageracadem.net.
Lunches - Students need to bring their lunch or you can order your child’s lunch through CharterPayOnline. We will not have extra lunches so please send lunch with your child.
Hybrid Policies and Procedures This link gives you access to the Hybrid Plans and Procedure Manual.
Car Line Here We Come! Voyager Academy car line will begin promptly at 7:45 am. As we prepare to receive students as safely and as quickly as possible, please help our staff by completing the following:
Make sure Greenlight is complete and you are ready to show the PASS/Clear to the Voyager staff member. If you hae not completed Greenlight we will need for that car to pull to the side until we can get the student checked in. Directions and a step by step video of how to install Greenlight App is listed below.
Voyager Greenlight Directions Video
Greenlight Directions Video #2
As you are waiting in the carline, please turn down the car heat and make sure your student is not totally bundled up or when we complete the temperature check, it will read HIGH.
Staff members will NOT be able to unbuckle students from their seatbelt. Parents will need to have students ready to exit the car when they pull up to their drop-off zone.
Please make sure every person inside the car is wearing a mask as you complete morning and afternoon carline. This will help keep everyone safe. This also includes the adults in the car.
Each student should have a CAR LINE NUMBER and a bright blue to make it easy for you to find. This card must be displayed on the sun visor of your car. This is the only way we have of calling your student down to the carline (each afternoon). If for some reason, you do not have your Blue CAR LINE SIGN , please have your numbers ready.
Greenlight : It is imperative that all Voyager families set up the Greenlight. 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.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!
PLEASE SET UP YOUR GREENLIGHT ACCOUNT!
YOU WILL NEED IT FOR CARLINE!!!!!
Greenlight - 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.
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,
Hybrid/Remote School Information from the 7th Grade Team
Schedules
All students, remote and hybrid, will get new class schedules. On the Friday (3/12) before the start of hybrid school (3/16), we will send out an email to our new homeroom lists so students know where to go on the first morning back. Students will travel with the same group all day and we will try to have them sitting near the same people in all classes to minimize contact. There will be three hybrid classes and two full remote classes.
Class timing
The schedule is the same every day for remote and hybrid students, which means the school day will be longer for everyone. Please plan to attend the whole time. Some days, this may mean that remote students have 5 50-minute classes. Sorry!
MTSS 7:45-8:15
1st period 8:20-9:10
2nd period 9:20-10:10
3rd period 10:20-11:10
Lunch 11:15-11:40
4th period 11:45-12:35
Outside 12:40-12:55
Electives 1:00-2:00
5th period 2:20-3:10
Zoom classes
Students need to be early or on time for class. Teachers may not be able to promptly admit tardy Zoom students. Hybrid students will Zoom in to their normal period on days that they are not in school. Remote only students will be in a class period with only other remote students, so they will not have to share teacher attention with in-person students.
Supplies
The supply list went home last week. Students cannot share supplies and will not have access to lockers.
Electives
All questions about electives should go to elective teachers. Whatever your question is, we probably don’t know the answer!
Masks
Students are expected to wear a mask 100% of the time except when they are eating lunch. There are no exceptions to this rule. Students who do not comply will be issued a warning and if that does not work will be sent to the office. Please no gaiter masks!
Snack and Water
There is no snack break. Please eat breakfast! Water cannot be drunk during class; students can only drink in the hallway when they are changing classes.
Lunch
Students will eat with 3rd period classes. The first 15 minutes are for eating only. Students may not talk during this time. After they are done eating, they can put their masks back on and talk. If the weather permits, we will be eating outside.
Questions?
Please email one or all of the team teachers! We are happy to help you.
Supplies
As the return to hybrid school draws ever nearer, we wanted to make sure you knew what supplies students needed. We will also send out another email next week with some information about scheduling, school and team policies, and what to expect when in-person school starts back.
Supplies students need:
Device (laptop) and charger
Binder with dividers (Students will NOT have access to lockers, so please bear that in mind when deciding what to bring!). One binder for all five classes should be fine, since much of the work will still be online.
Supply of pencils and paper
Colored pencils or markers
Scissors and gluestick
Composition notebook for math (the same one they have been using all year)
Calculator (Ms. Wilcox cannot lend out calculators, so if you don’t have one, you will have to use the one on your computer)
Headphones
Remember, students cannot share supplies and we are discouraged from lending out materials to students, so they should bring anything they might need with them to school. If you have issues getting any of these supplies, please contact your homeroom teacher.
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
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
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