Dear Voyager Community,
It was a beautiful week on campus. Students and staff are focused on mid-term exams, NC Check In tests, and teacher created assessments to measure growth and progress as we end the first quarter. Our students are working hard to demonstrate what they have learned since the start of the 21-22 school year. Project based learning is underway and classes are busy preparing for upcoming project celebrations.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
Our schools are also celebrating National Hispanic Heritage month with music, books, and learning about Hispanic history, music, and culture. Celebrations of culture often include food and special recipes too. We appreciate our PTO and parents that provided a Mexican fiesta to show their appreciation to Voyager staff. What a delicious treat for everyone!
Sharing inspiring stories with our children about other cultures and those that have overcome struggles to reach their potential will help our children develop a greater appreciation for diversity and have a growth mindset. Lin-Manuel Miranda is a Hispanic award-winning composer, lyricist, and actor. He is the creator and original star of Broadway’s Tony winning musicals, Hamilton and In the Heights. Miranda was raised in a Hispanic neighborhood in Manhattan and followed his passions to achieve his dreams.
After reading Ron Chernow’s book about Alexander Hamilton, Miranda was inspired to tell the story with non-white actors and hip-hop music. I couldn’t have imagined being so entertained and educated by the story of Alexander Hamilton with the innovative rap and hip hop musical created by Miranda. The link below is a clip from 2009 where Miranda performed at The White House Evening of Poetry, Music, and the Spoken Word. I had the pleasure of seeing Hamilton at DPAC a few years ago and enjoyed the movie release on Disney as well. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month with your family by watching the musical or trying a new Latinx recipe.
Lin-Manuel Miranda clip performing at the White House
Cognia Accreditation Update:
Thank you to the 340 families that have responded to the Cognia created surveys for the renewal of our accreditation. External accreditation is an important process that verifies the academic standards and school community at Voyager.
Family input is an important part of the process to assess how well we are doing with engaging families and building a strong school community. Please complete the two Cognia created surveys that are needed as part of the review process. One survey will measure family engagement and the other survey measures culture and climate for our school. Student, teacher, and staff surveys were also shared to gather additional input into the process. Please complete the family engagement and culture and climate surveys today. This is your last chance to share your opinions on these surveys since the results will be tabulated and shared with Cognia next week. We are striving for 100% family participation.
Family Surveys (please complete both short surveys)
Thank you for your continued support and the trust you have in our team to help your child grow and learn to reach their potential. 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 information below for upcoming events and additional resources.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Upcoming Events:
10/1/21 - HS Mid-Terms
10/4/21 - End of First Quarter
10/4-7/21 - MS NC Check-ins
10/4 – 10/8 – Elementary and HS Spirit Week
10/8/21 - ES and MS report cards go home
10/8/21 - ES and MS Day of Awesomeness
10/11-10/15 – Fall Break
10/20 – Parent Enrichment Night
10/26/21 - PSAT
10/27/21 - RTA Re-test
10/28/21 – Board Meeting
10/29/21 – Fall Festival
11/2/21 - Pre-ACT
Current guidelines from the NCDHHS and Durham Department of Health REQUIRE that anytime a student stays home or is sent home from school with symptoms of illness, they must have a PCR COVID test with a negative result OR a note from their doctor explaining the child’s symptoms BEFORE they may return to school.
PCR tests are performed by a professional and are not the same as rapid antigen or at-home tests. There is a location just down the road from Voyager that is conducting PCR testing with no appointments necessary. Please see the details below should you need a place to get your child or another family member tested.
Updated Covid Safety Protocols and Procedures
Voyager Sick Child Policy & Guidelines
K-12 Public Health Guidance 7/21
STUDENT SUPPORT
- The Voyager Student Support Services Team is interested in learning more about our parent's/guardian's needs, desires, and interests for the 2021-2022 school year. We invite you to complete a short survey that will help us to identify and provide support and programming just for parents/guardians! All responses will be collected anonymously. The survey will be open through October the 8th. The survey is available at: https://forms.gle/y7ZW9PQC
jeeaNxkf6 - October is National Bullying Prevention Month.
- The Student Support Services Team would like to invite 4th-12th graders to sign an anti-bullying pledge poster to "Stomp Out Bullying!" Posters will be placed throughout the Middle and High Schools.
- In addition, the Student Support Services Team will also be showing 4th-12th grade students a bullying prevention and support video, and providing guided classroom lessons on "Kindness" (K-1st) and "Feelings" (2nd-3rd).
- Everyone is welcome to join-in and "Stomp Out Bullying" by showing support for National Bullying Prevention Month by wearing blue on Wednesday, October 20th!
- Finally, the week of October 25th will be our "Start with Hello" campaign, in which everyone is encouraged to find ways to help others feel included and engage in friendly conversation.
- SPIRIT WEEK IS HERE!!! Show your school spirit by joining-in on the planned themes for the week of October 4th:
- Elementary School:
- Monday (the 4th) - Pajama day
- Tuesday (the 5th) - Favorite T-Shirt day
- Wednesday (the 6th) - Crazy sock day
- Thursday (the 7th) - Favorite sports team day
- Friday (the 8th) - Voyager apparel or class color t-shirts
- High School:
- Monday (the 4th) - Pajama day
- Tuesday (the 5th) - Duke vs UNC
- Wednesday (the 6th) - Your Favorite Holiday Day
- Thursday (the 7th) - Throwback Thursday
- Friday (the 8th) - Sports Jersey Day
- Middle School, DON'T WORRY, your spirit week will be coming soon! Stay tuned for your planned themes and dates!
- Elementary School:
- Please join the Student Support Services Team on October 20th from 6:30-7:30p for our second Parent Enrichment Night! Topics will include:
- Bullying
- Mental Health Support
We are looking forward to an informative session that will equip parents/guardians with resources and also support them in the home around these vital topics. Please check out the flyer linked here for details.
Lunch Program
The Titan Family Portal and LINQ Online Ordering system work together like a checking/ debit card account. All student lunch accounts must be preloaded with funds for ordering. Parents then order lunches for students based on the funds available in their Titan account. Families who have a negative balance on the account will no longer be permitted to order lunch online. Please be sure to send your student(s) to school with lunch if no meal was ordered. If your student's lunch account currently has a negative balance, please pay this balance as soon as possible by either form of payment:
- Online at https://family.titank12.
com There is a $2.80 flat fee charged by the bank per deposit online. (Example: $100 deposit + $2.80 fee = $102.80) - A check/ money order made payable to Voyager Academy. Please include your child's name and id# on the memo line. You can also use this pre-printed form.
Lunch menus are published for the month of October. The lunch ordering rule is a week in advance. If you need assistance email foodnutritionservices@
- LINQ ONLINE ORDERING - View and order student/staff meals. Website: https://family.
onlineordering.linq.com - TITAN FAMILY PORTAL -Pay your school fees, manage your students accounts and apply for free and reduced meals. Website: https://family.
titank12.com
Before & After Updates
There are currently no openings in after care and the waitlist is full. We will reevaluate if space becomes available in the future.
After School Enrichment Programs
Registration for Enrichment Programs is now closed and classes have started! As a reminder, students will need to be picked up from the instructor immediately following each session.
Registration for Spring Enrichments (February 7th - May 6th) will kick off in mid-December. If you need assistance or would like to offer a course this coming Spring, please email enrichments@
INTERESTED IN PART TIME WORK AT VOYAGER – SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS
PART TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR BEFORE AND AFTER CARE
- Competitive hourly rate
- Great staff and friendly children
- Organized programming for before and after care
- Apply on employment site on Voyager website under “About Voyager”
PART TIME BUS DRIVER OPPORTUNITIES
- Safely transport students to field experiences and athletic events
- Maintain safe bus environment for students
- Available to drive activity bus for field trips and athletic events
- Flexible hours
- Competitive hourly rate
- CDL license required
- Apply on employment site on Voyager website under “About Voyager”