Hi all,
I can not believe it is October. 1. Next week will be a very busy week as administration of our first NC Check Ins begins for some of our students. Below you will find our NC Check In schedule. If our students have been participating in class, completing their assignments, and turning in assignments, the NC Check Ins should not be a problem. If they have not been participating in class, not completing assignments, and not turning in assignments on time, then the NC Check Ins could be a little difficult.
4th Grade Check Ins Oct. 5 ELA Oct. 6 Math
5th Grade Check Ins Oct. 7 ELA Oct. 21 Math Oct. 22 Science
6th Grade Check Ins Oct. 21 ELA Oct. 22 Math
7th Grade Check Ins Oct. 6 ELA Oct. 7 Math
8th Grade Check Ins Oct. 5 Science Oct. 6 ELA Oct. 7 Math
I ask that you remind your children/young adults to leave their phones at home or if they have to bring it to school, leave the phone in their bookbag. Some of our students continue to think they can use their phones to text friends during the day. Their job is to learn as our teachers are providing great instruction.
A HUGE THANK YOU to Mrs. Robinson, Mrs. Ford, Mrs. Thompson, and Mrs. Crooks along with all of you who provided food, drinks, paper plates, etc so the staff could have a delicious lunch today. It was greatly appreciated!
From Mrs. Farrish, our Counselor:
October is World Bullying Prevention Month. At the Middle School our theme for the month is "STOMP Out Bullying". Students, parents, teachers, and school administrators all play a role in ending this crisis. During this month, students will be reminded that positive change comes as we emphasize respect and inclusion on our campus. Students are encouraged to sign the unity pledge and write encouraging messages to their peers.
Middle School Spirit Week: October 25-29
10/25- Pajama Day (Pajamas should be school appropriate)
10/26- Crazy Sock/Hair Day
10/27- Blue Day (Wear blue to show solidarity/unity)
10/28- Favorite Sports Team Apparel
10/29- Stay tuned - To Be Determined!!!
*Middle school Spirit Week is being held after all grade levels have completed the first NC Check-Ins.
From Monique Link, our Social Worker
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 and is available at: https://forms.gle/y7ZW9PQCjeeaNxkf6
What’s Next in 8th Grade Social Studies?
Students are wrapping up quarter one with an American Revolution mini project. Quarter 2 will begin with a unit on the U.S. Government including the "Dreams of Democracy" U.S. Constitution project.
What's Happening in 4th Grade
This week in math, students are exploring area and perimeter. The students are also working hard to master their math facts as we prepare for the NC Check-ins next week. In reading, students are reading a play called, Finding a Giant. Students are exploring what life was like 66 million years ago and how paleontologists recently discovered the largest dinosaur in South America in 2012. Finally, during integrated studies, students continue to explore North Carolina and dive deeper into the three regions as they complete their research.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Our School Nurse, Chelsea Skoff, created a document that has been added to our website. I’m including this document as I found it to be very informative and helpful!
Here is the link: COVID-19 Guidelines FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Carline
Middle School families, we really need your help! I am hearing that we are not doing our part to make the afternoon carline run smoothly on the streets and on campus near the Hock House and area where traffic merges from the elementary to the line around the pond. Most of the time we have someone covering that area to help with the traffic pattern and flow. For some reason that did not happen today and I hear there were some very inappropriate gestures during carline. That was very embarrassing to hear as I feel we have the best when it comes to our families. Please remember what the afternoon process is and please use the appropriate carline manners! I also want to remind you that you should not be blocking Ben Franklin St. as there is much traffic on Ben Franklin that is not Voyager traffic and they are having trouble getting to their jobs and appointments. There is no need to line up until 3:10. Once we begin moving traffic all goes well on campus and each day our time is better and better. Thanks to all of you who are following the procedures of proper etiquette and procedures.
THANKS for your CARLINE Support!!!!
STEP IT UP:
Our Day of Awesomeness will take place on October 8. Here are the details for the Day of Awesomeness!
K-2 students will celebrate from 8:30 to 10:00
3-5 grade students will celebrate from 10:15-11:45
6-8 grade students will celebrate from 12:00-1:30
There will be 8 Ninja Warrior Type blow up activities for the students to enjoy, a dance party station, prize station and more.
The prizes that students have earned will be delivered to their classrooms on October 8 (to take home)
All students may celebrate and enjoy the fun and games. We are all one community and we all support and care for each other.
Students will wear masks at all times. This event is totally outside.
Students are asked to have an extra pair of socks and a water bottle on this date.
Hopefully you will be able to help us on Oct. 8 by being a volunteer. See info below.
Now that the work is over, we need your help to pull off the fun. We will need 12 to 15 volunteers per period to help us run the activities and package the prizes. If you would be willing to help us with this event, please click on the link below to sign up for a time to help.
We would need you from 10:15 - 11:45 as this is when our 4th and 5th graders have fun.
We really need your help during the time our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are having fun. They will be outside from 12:00 - 1:30.
Important Dates
Monday, Oct. 4 First Quarter Ends
Tuesday, Oct. 5 All grades must be entered into PowerSchool
Friday, Oct. 8 Report Cards will be emailed to you.
Monday, Oct. 11 - Friday, Oct. 15 Fall Break!!!!
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 availability 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, we please ask that you 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@voyageracademy.net.
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
Patrice Johnson, Operations Manager
Before/After Care, Enrichments, & Food/Nutrition Services
Voyager Academy
101 Hock Parc
Durham, NC 27704
Phone 919-433-3301 ext. 243
pjohnson@voyageracademy.net
PRE-PAID MEAL ACCOUNT PAYMENT
Please Print Clearly
School ________________________________________________ Date:______/______/_______
Student Name: _____________ ID#: ________Teacher:__________________ Amount: _____________
Student Name: ____________ ID #: ______Teacher:__________________ Amount: _____________
Student Name: ____________ ID #: ______ Teacher:___________________Amount: _____________
Student Name: ______________ID #: ____ Teacher:___________________Amount: _____________
Please write additional students on back if necessary
Please make checks payable to Voyager Academy and WRITE STUDENT’S Name & Student ID # ON CHECK. Do not staple the check. Seal Envelope and return to School Front Office.
ACCREDITATION UPDATE: Voyager Academy is a fully accredited school. Every five years the school goes through a re-accreditation process. That process will take place this year during the month of November. We are thrilled to be able to share all the great things Voyager Academy does to create amazing, life-long, independent learners. This is the year for Voyager’s School Accreditation. We are in the process of preparing our documentation for the team from COGNIA who will interview staff, parents, administrators, and students. The team interviews will be virtual as well as their visit. Each school will select representatives to meet with the team. The Accreditation Visit is November 17-19. The Accreditation Team has a different agenda for each day.
Sports Are In Full Speed: At this time of year we have students running Cross Country, students on the Boys’ Soccer Team, students on the Girls’ Tennis Team, students on the girls’ volleyball team and our Girls who are Cheerleaders. We are very proud of all of our athletes as they have been very successful but most importantly have shown great sportsmanship and are supportive of each other. Our students continue to make me proud as they represent Voyager so well!
Make Up Pictures
A few of you have asked about Make-Up Pictures. Our Mak- Up day is October 22. As we get closer to October 22, Ms. Pam will send a picture envelope home with the students who were absent on Picture Day.
Substitutes and Bus Drivers
If you are interested in being a substitute, we need you! In order to be able to sub, we would need you to complete a background check and have a Drug Screening. Information is located on the Voyager website. We also will have a small training to give you some additional information. All 3 schools need substitutes as we pull subs from the same list. If you enjoy working with children/students, we need YOU!
If you are interested in Driving a Bus, we need you! We need drivers for our Activity Buses so we can use the buses for a field trip or our athletes may possibly use to travel to away games. In order to drive you would need a CDL license along with completing a Background Check and completing a Drug Screening. If you are interested, information is on our Voyager website.
QUARANTINE GUIDELINES: Listed below are the guidelines we have been given as they are related to quarantine:
When your children need to stay home, always contact me and your child's teacher.
The teacher will provide assignments for your student. When quarantining, if the student is doing some work at home and you complete the attendance link provided below students will be counted present. The link to complete your child’s attendance is HERE
Because your student has been directly exposed to someone, outside of school, who has tested positive for COVID, your student needs to quarantine for 10 days. They may return to school after the 10 days of quarantine have been completed AND have no symptoms from the time of exposure.
The 10 day quarantine protocol is not school days, it also includes the weekend. For example, if your child was exposed on Aug. 9, they can return to school on Aug. 20 (10 days).
Please keep me, your child’s teacher, and our school nurse, Mrs. Skoff updated on your child’s symptoms and/or test results.
Please do not send your child to school if your child is not feeling well, has a fever, has a sore throat, or if you know he/she is sick. That puts our students who are at school at risk of getting germs and becoming sick. We are doing our part to stay healthy and well and need all of you to do the same. THANKS TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE KEEPING THEM HOME!
We had several students come to school this week and they were sick when they arrived. We immediately called parents to come pick up the child/children as we do not need extra germs in our building. Please do not send your child to school when they are not feeling well!!!!!
Need Information:
As always if you have questions or have concerns or have suggestions feel free to contact me at gjohnson@voyageracademy.net. I am happy to help you or if I don’t know the answer, I will find out for you!
Thanks for your continued support and enjoy the weekend!
Gwen
Gwen Johnson
Middle School Principal
gjohnson@voyageracademy.net