From the Voyager Academy Managing Director, Oct. 8, 2021

Dear Voyager Community,

What an incredible week and close to the first quarter of the 21-22 school year. Students are working hard and demonstrating their understanding through projects, assessments, and the arts.  Now it's time for some relaxing together with your children. I hope you all enjoy the special time with your family over fall break.  It's a great time for hiking, apple picking, and pumpkin picking.  Baking together is always one of my favorite things to do with my children too.

Cognia Accreditation Update

Thank you to the 380 families that have responded to the Cognia created surveys for the renewal of our accreditation.  Our team began reviewing all the results and identifying action plans for continuous improvement. Results of the surveys will be shared in the near future. During the month of November Cognia will be meeting with groups of students, parents, teachers, staff, and board members to learn more about the educational experience at Voyager.

COVID Update

We are thankful that the number of positive COVID cases on campus and throughout the Durham community have started to slow. Our data dashboard is updated with each new case and is located on the Voyager website under the COVID tab. Families should continue to be vigilant about masking unvaccinated children and take advantage of vaccine opportunities for eligible children and adults.   There is a community vaccine clinic on October 16th.  Check out the flyer below.

            

The Durham County COVID results are also shown below for your information so you can see the latest results. It's great to see that the % of positive cases is now at 4.4% which is below the 5% target. 

COVID Grant Funding

Voyager continues to apply for grant funding to support the incremental expenses associated with our COVID pandemic response.  Voyager has created a 21-22 Reopening Plan that describes our current in-person operational model and our COVID protocols and procedures that have been implemented to mitigate the spread of the virus. Voyager has also responded to the State Department of Public Instruction Survey on Remote Learning to outline the learning platform, instructional resources, and procedures that we would implement should a closure of an entire grade, building, or school be required in the future.  Both of these documents can be reviewed on our website under the COVID tab.

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 fall break!

Upcoming Events:

10/8/21 - ES and MS report cards go home

10/14/21- Headstart MOU Parent Info Night

10/11-10/15 – Fall Break

10/20 – Parent Enrichment Night

10/22 - HS Blood Drive

10/25/21 - HS NHS Induction

10/26/21 - PSAT

10/27/21 - RTA Re-test

10/28/21 – Board Meeting

10/28/21 - Day of Awesomeness (rescheduled) 

10/29/21 – Fall Festival

11/2/21 - Pre-ACT

 

Please join us Friday, October 29th 6-8:30pm for our ALL SCHOOL FALL FESTIVAL

Parents, teachers and students are working together to bring you a special night of family fun. Enjoy food trucks, vendors, games, silent auction items, a photo booth, bouncy houses, live music and emergency vehicles for kids to explore! 

Save the date- Come join the fun!  

Updated Covid Safety Protocols and Procedures

 

Voyager Mask Policy

Voyager Covid Guidelines FAQ

Voyager Sick Child Policy & Guidelines

NCDHHS Toolkit

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/y7ZW9PQCjeeaNxkf6

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. 

  1. 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.

  2. 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). 

  3. 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!

  4. 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.

Please join the Student Support Services Team on October 20th from 6:30-7:30pm 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

Families who have a negative balance on their Titan Family Portal account will no longer be permitted to order lunch online in the LINQ system. Meals ordered will be cancelled beginning after fall break, if payment or arrangements has not been made. 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, we please ask that you pay this balance as soon as possible by either form of payment:

  1. 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) 

  2. 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@voyageracademy.net.

 

Before & After Updates

There are currently no openings in after care and the waitlist is full. We will not reevaluate space availability until we are fully staffed. Your placement on the waitlist will remain the same. We will make an announcement once the status changes. 

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@voyageracademy.net.

 

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”