Hello Middle School Families,
As we begin Spring Break this afternoon, we wish all of you a great break. I hope our staff enjoys time with their families. I’m glad our students are able to have a break. I look forward to our return on April 12 as we have much work to do in a short period of time. Happy Easter and enjoy the time away from school!
News from the Student Services Team
Resources for Talking to Children about Anti-Asian Racism
In light of the recent violence and discrimination against people of Asian descent, the Student Services Team has compiled a list of resources to help parents/guardians talk to children about anti-Asian racism (Resources for Talking to Children about Anti-Asian Racism). If your child needs additional support, please reach out to your child's school counselor and/or the school social worker.
April Student Social
Join the Student Services Team on Wednesday, April 14 for a fun game of 20 Questions. See the flyer for additional information (April Student Social).
Plan A (K-12)
We are making the transition with our K -12 grade classes from our current hybrid plan to Plan A effective April 12, 2021. Plan A allows for full capacity with minimal social distancing. Our classes range in size. Teachers have spent much time making sure that they and the students will be ready for April 12. We will continue to have tight procedures for our In Person students.
A Few Details About April 12:
Students and Staff must wear a mask to school each day.
Families are asked to complete the Greenlight Health Screening each morning.
Temperature checks will be conducted each morning.
Handwashing times and frequent sanitation will continue throughout the school day.
Students will be discouraged from sharing school supplies.
Students will have 15 minutes of unmasked time to each lunch and then masks will need to be reapplied.
Middle school students may not be dropped off at the elementary school during morning car line. Middle school students need to be dropped off at the MS building.
Car line begins each morning at 7:45 and concludes at 8:15. If you arrive on campus after 8:15, you are late and you will need to come to the front entrance of the school to check in. PLEASE TRY TO BE ON TIME SO THAT STUDENTS BEGIN THE DAY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
We are getting ready to double the amount of cars that have been in the car line.
Afternoon car line will begin at 3:15 and will conclude at 3:45. Please be patient as we will be doubling the number of cars in the afternoon car line. Please be on time for after pick up.
Blue Signs for Carline - If you have not received a Blue Card, we have plenty so just let me know during morning or afternoon carline. If you do not have your child/children’s carline number, please email gjohnson@voyageracademy.net.
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 to 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.
Middle School Happenings - Enjoy news from grade levels, teams and clubs:
MIddle School Service Club
The Voyager Academy Middle School Service Club is organizing a Supply Drive for UNC Children’s Hospital School. All donations are going to the UNC Hospital School. This is a school for students who spend much time in the hospital. The supplies are for children in grades Pre-K thru 12th grade. We will be collecting supplies during the morning carline from April 19 to April 23. We need new pencils, crayons, markers, loose leaf paper, glue sticks, and children’s scissors. Please help the Service Club with the School Supply Drive. Remember all donations need to be new, no used donations please.
Hello 5th Grade Families,
The fifth-grade team would like to wish all of you a happy Spring Break! We hope you spend the time doing things you love!
On Monday, April 12th we will welcome students back into the building under Plan A if that's what you chose for your child. If you chose remote then you will stay remote for the remainder of the year. The fifth-grade website has a tab for both hybrid and remote. If you need any information regarding either plan, please check those pages out.
In-person instruction has been going well. Students are implementing all the routines and procedures well! One way to help our days go a little smoother would be to make sure your child has a pair of headphones or earbuds that can stay in their backpacks. Remember, students cannot use the water fountains, so please send a water bottle with your child every day.
As we finish up this school year, please continue to monitor PowerSchool for your child's grades. This is a great way to see your child's progress and any missing work. Lastly, review the EOG dates below. All students, plan A and remote, will take the EOGs in-person. It is vital that your child is available to come into the school on these days.
Fri. May 14th- ELA EOG
Mon, May 17th- MATH EOG
Thurs, May 20th- SCIENCE EOG
Thank you for all you do! See you back on April 12th!
The Fifth Grade Team
Hello 7th Grade Families,
CONGRATULATIONS to these 7th graders for making current spring sports teams at Voyager!
Volleyball- Dani Falcon, Savannah Hodges, Morgan Leedom, Jordyn Whitt
Cross Country- Luke Rogers, Joshua McCullough, Joshua Ford, Hayden Hurt
Boys Soccer- Lucas Brogdon, Mason Hunt, Ethan Jara, Max Stern
Dear 8th grade parents and families,
Happy Spring Break! I hope you are all doing well. I enjoyed seeing students’ Most Wanted Pathogen projects. I have included a few for you to see. This week we spent time reviewing Microbes & Infectious Diseases before Wednesday’s quiz. We also started our new unit, Earth History.
We have been busy making arrangements for Plan A, which begins April 12. Your student may have a slightly different schedule; this will be communicated before we return so that s/he is aware of these changes. Elective teachers will communicate any changes with their students separately.
In addition, it may appear that some students’ grades have disappeared in PowerSchool; this particularly applies to students with schedule changes. Please know that we are re-entering grades as quickly as possible. Thanks for your patience and understanding as we prepare for 8th grade, round 4.0! We hope this will be the last round of major changes in this school year … but stay tuned.
Our EOGs are right around the corner. Eighth graders will be testing on May 18, 19, and 20. Rest assured that students will be well prepared and ready for these important assessments.
Have a wonderful Spring Break! We look forward to seeing everyone on April 12, whether online or in person!
8th Grade
Science Olympiad
Our Varsity Elementary Science Olympiad Team (4th & 5th graders) did an amazing job at the regional tournament! Together they competed in 11 science related events and medaled in 7 of them! We are so proud of the work these students put into learning and competing in their events: Reagan Gross, Rory Jantz, Reid Oakley, Max Ford, Zach Robinson, Shreya Pani, Insoo Shin, Jason Iwara and Lane Zebrowski.
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.
Middle School- activate account here: https://glit.me/go/voyager-middle
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,
Join the HS Chorus or HS Band
ATTN: 8th grade families! Registration for 2021-22 is just around the corner!! Want to be part of a nationally recognized choral & band program at Voyager High School? JOIN CHORUS OR BAND! No experience necessary! NEW STUDENTS WELCOME! More info in the videos below. Contact the directors with more questions:
Jenny Hobgood (Chorus) jhobgood@voyageracademy.net
Max Puhala (Band) mpuhala@voyageracademy.net
Join Voyager Band! https://youtu.be/QdUoc5L_Tvs
Voyager Chorus wants YOU in 2021-22! https://youtu.be/0YKdEAf6eI4
CLUB HUB - Service Club with Mr. Eisenson and Mrs. Johnson
What fun we are having! For our first project, we are going to support the children at UNC Children’s Hospital. Our plan is to collect school supplies. We need pencils, notebook paper, markers, crayons, etc. The supplies need to be new. Please see the flyer created by our students.
What Do I Do If My Student Has Been Exposed To Someone with Covid: If a 4-8 grade student has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID, please call the school or email Mrs. Johnson and we will talk you through the details of how long you may need to quarantine. Please complete the Greenlight App, because it will automatically give you a date where you will be allowed to return to school.
Before and After School Care:
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.
Middle school students will eat outside if weather is appropriate and in their classrooms if weather does not permit to go outside.
Students also have the option to bring their own lunch to school. Students that pack their own lunch will not have access to microwaves.
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.
Summer Camp Opportunities
Voyager will be offering multiple opportunities this summer for enrichment, remediation, and camp experiences on campus. Identified third graders that have not met the Read to Achieve requirements will have the opportunity for Summer Reading Camp to focus on literacy skills. Students in K-8 that are not at grade level in math and literacy will have the opportunity to participate in the Summer Jumpstart program. Additionally, Voyager will be offering a traditional summer camp with exciting programs and enrichment opportunities to keep your children engaged and learning during summer break. Program details will be sent out after spring break.
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.
Student Pictures - Yes, we will have individual student pictures. Pictures will be taken at school during the school. Be on the lookout for more information after Spring Break.
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
UPCOMIMG SOCIAL EVENTS For STUDENTS
Sponsored by our Counselors
Thursday, April 15, 2021: 20 Questions
Thursday, May 6, 2021: Family Dance Party
Thursday, April 20, 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.
CARLINE NUMBER
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.
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.
Middle School- activate account here: https://glit.me/go/voyager-middle
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,
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