We have completed two full weeks of learning at Voyager Academy. The students are beginning to settle into a routine and we have already begun to see great friendships developing within their classroom community. The following updates will be helpful for you and your family for the week of August 23-27, 2021.
BOG’S ARE DONE: The 3rd grade students completed the BOG on August 19. These results will show us what our 3rd graders have mastered and what they need to focus on during this transitional year.
Mclass ASSESSMENTS: Teachers will begin completing mClass reading assessments on all K-3 students beginning August 23 through Sept. 13. These reading assessments will give the school data to help us provide the reading instruction your child needs to master their grade level objectives.
STEP IT UP: Voyager will kick off its fall fundraiser on Sept. 1 with a K-3 assembly that will be held from 1:00 to 1:45 (IN THE MIDDLE SCHOOL GYM). At the end of the assembly, your students will bring home their GOLDEN TICKET packet and the fun will begin. We will be raising funds to purchase play area shade tents, install a sensory walk and upgrade classroom technology. The fundraiser will end on Sept. 16.
BRIDGES AND CKLA: Voyager is extremely excited to be using two new curriculums this year. These curriculums will be discussed during our upcoming curriculum nights.
CURRICULUM NIGHTS SET: Each grade level (K-3) will be hosting a VIRTUAL curriculum night for parents. We have chosen to host a virtual meeting to make it easier for parents to attend. Your child’s teacher will provide you with a zoom link for the meeting. Thank you for marking your calendar now for these important meetings:
Kindergarten: Sept. 1 from 5:30-6:30
First Grade: Sept. 1 from 4:30 to 5:30
Second Grade: August 31 from 5:30 to 6:30
Third Grade: August 31 from 5:30 to 6:30
REMIND APP: You can now sign up to receive text messages from VAES through the REMIND app. Even if you have signed up before you will need to subscribe again with your updated grade level and phone number. How do you sign up?
Texting from your cell phone:
Kindergarten Parents: In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vakinder22
First Grade Parents: In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vafirst
Second Grade Parents: In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vasecond22
Third Grade Parents: In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vathird22
STEP IT UP FUNDRAISER: Voyager will be hosting a fall fundraiser in September, entitled Step It Up. Click on the link below and see details about our Step It Up event and our Day of Awesomeness Celebration. https://p.stepitupkids.com/
READING WITH GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY: Voyager will be hosting a special reading event for students on Sept. 10th. MARK YOUR CALENDAR. We will be asking for students to invite a grandparent or special friend to come to school on Sept. 10 (Time to be determined) to read with them. All guests will need to wear a mask while on the school property. The students will be allowed to introduce their guest and then we will go outside and spend 20 minutes reading together. If Covid guidelines change our plans, I will be sure to let you know.
CAR LINE UPDATES: Thank you for being so patient as we are diligently working to make the car line experience the best it can possibly be. Listed below are a few reminders:
You are highly encouraged to arrive to car line between 7:15 and 7:30 am. If you arrive during these times, you will experience less traffic and less wait time. We are seeking to unload 10 cars at a time (during the morning drop off). Thank you for pulling up as far as possible when you pull into the unloading zone.
Please make sure your child is unbuckled, has on their mask and has their belongings when you pull up to a drop off zone. The goal is for the student to quickly step out of the car so that cars can continue to move through the line.
Parents are allowed to park in the BACK of the high school parking lot and walk over to the front of the elementary building. If you are going to walk over, please remember you are walking at your own risk and parents MUST walk with their student.
We are attempting to allow elementary parents who have a middle school student to turn right if at all possible. When the middle school drive completely fills up and we have nowhere else for the cars to turn, we have no option but to ask you to turn left. If you are in the elementary car line around 2:50-2:55, you should not have trouble turning right to go to the middle school.
We are working on adding more staff to the after school and before school programs so that we can make our car line system more efficient.
SECOND AND THIRD GRADE CHORUS: Mrs. Sawyer has started a before school chorus with our 2nd and 3rd graders. They will meet each Thursday morning at 7:10 am. I have already heard them sing and they are amazing! More updates will be coming to you all soon.
WHAT DO I DO IF MY CHILD HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID?
Contact Mr. Manning and your child's teacher
Mr. Manning or the school nurse will contact the family and talk you through the quarantine/isolation process.
Students may still work from home during this quarantine period. The teacher will provide assignments for the student and the parent will need to complete a daily on-line attendance.
VAES HAS SOME NEW SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF:
It has been an awesome start to the 2021-2022 school year and I anticipate any greater things to come. As we seek to ensure the health and safety of all students and staff, we would like to take a moment to update our safety procedures. We have made some changes as we attempt to do everything in our power to keep students learning at school.
1. It is imperative that students begin school each day with a mask that fits them properly. Please make sure your child has a mask that will stay up over their nose. This is our number one safety feature.
2. We will be reinforcing the fact that students will have a 30 minute lunch break with 14 minutes to eat lunch and then we would like for their masks to go back on. If students do not finish lunch within the 14 minutes, they will be given time to eat. If possible, students will eat lunch outside or will be spread out throughout the classroom. This has been working well this past week.
3. Students will be asked to keep their masks on for outdoor recess if they cannot be socially distant. If the outside temperature is over 90, recess will be held inside.
4. Classrooms should have set times in the day to ensure all students have washed their hands and table tops have been cleaned.
5. If students have any symptoms of sickness, the student should remain home until they have no symptoms.
6. Our school nurse and managing director are keeping a very close eye on the ever changing safety guidelines for schools. We will keep you updated as information is shared with us.
7. If we have a student who tests positive for Covid, that student will be asked to isolate for 10 days before returning to school. Voyager will send out a health email that tells families we have had a positive case within our school community. WE WILL INFORM FAMILIES OF THE GRADE LEVEL FOR ANY EXPOSURE. Positive cases are reported to the health department. Students who are exposed to a positive Covid individual within their home, should report that to the building principal as soon as possible. That student will be asked to quarantine based on the most recent guidelines. All cases will be followed by the school nurse. If a student is exposed to another student at school who has tested positive for Covid, that exposed student will not need to quarantine based on the most recent recommendations from the state of North Carolina. If that student were to begin to show any Covid symptoms then that student would need to quarantine. IF YOUR CHILD IS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE AT SCHOOL WHO TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID THE SCHOOL WILL INFORM YOU. Thank you for working with us as we seek to keep every student and every staff member as safe as possible. I understand we may not like the various guidelines, but I think we can all agree we need to do everything possible to keep our Voyager family healthy.