We hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Now it is time to give our full attention to the next couple of weeks as we seek to learn as much as possible before Winter Break! The following announcements will be helpful for you and your family for the week of December 6-10.
THANK YOU: Thank you to the families who have been so generous in helping us obtain more student masks for the elementary school. We are giving out about 145 masks per day (for students who forget to bring a mask to school or for when a mask breaks during the day). Your support is appreciated. We would also ask that you strive to send your child to school with a mask and always place an extra mask in their bookbag.
YOUR FAMILY COULD HELP ANOTHER FAMILY IN NEED: We know the holidays can be a strain on any family. Each year Voyager Elementary does a holiday gift drive for families in need. If you would like to purchase gifts for a child please use the Signup Genius link below. Thank you for making someone’s day today!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0544A5A622A4FF2-holiday
Here's how it works:
(1) Sign up for the gifts you would like to purchase. The gift description and sizes are listed.
(2) Wrap gifts and place a removable tag on the gift with the code in parenthesis as the "name" of the child.
(3) Drop gifts off at Voyager Elementary by Friday, December 10th so that they can be given to families before Winter break.
(4) Contact Melissa Meckes (School Counselor) with any questions (mmeckes@voyageracademy.net)
ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR CALENDAR:
Dec. 17: The 2nd Quarter Ends
Dec. 17: School Is Dismissed at 11:15 am
Dec. 20-Jan 3: Winter Break
Jan. 04: Students Return to School/3rd Quarter Begins
Jan. 04 -Jan. 25: Middle of the Year Reading Assignments Begin
Jan. 07: Report Cards Are Issued
ELEMENTARY HOLIDAY MUSIC: Our amazing music department is ready to share the gift of music with all students. Mark your calendars for Dec. 14. The 101 Dalmatian Crew and our Choir Group will perform for us on this date. 2nd and 3rd graders will report to the gym from 8:35 to 9:25 and K-1 will report to the gym from 10:20 to 11:20.
ART WITH MS. DAVIS -ARTASTIC Moment: A lot is happening in the world of art with Ms. Davis. Today my focus is on our wonderful kindergarteners. Kindergarten has learned so much about the elements of art. They understand the power of lines, the magic of colors, how to view shapes, and recently TEXTURE! My little artists found out that Ms. Davis has a favorite animal and it is the sloth! Students created their own little sloths and they learned how to create texture through the art of rubbing; yes that is a technique in art. They continued to work on their cutting and gluing skills in order to make their sloths. Thereafter, adding texture by drawing various types of lines to create the fur. The sloths were so amazing and so darn cute!!!
Well the highlight for me was to learn that one of our awesome artists, Riley Sitton, loved the project so much that she was inspired to teach her older siblings how to make their own sloth! They created a family of sloths. As an art teacher I live for these moments when students love art and are inspired to take what they've learned and continue to create beyond the classroom. Thank you Mrs. Kelly Sitton for sharing this with me and allowing me to share Riley's love for art.
READING BUDDIES: Mrs. Spankie’s third grade class is enjoying having some high school students volunteering to read with them on Thursday mornings. The benefits are profound. Reading buddies allows younger readers to see what being fluent looks like as they have a peer model demonstrating reading skills. The third-grade students practice reading aloud and comprehension skills. The older students develop social and emotional skills like patience and empathy as they work with their little buddies. The students really enjoy being together.
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD UPDATE: If your student likes science or engineering, then the science olympiad team might be a great extracurricular activity for them! Our team learns science related events and then competes in a tournament against other schools in the spring. Information about science olympiad can be found in this presentation. Signup for the team is open from now until Dec 10th. Signup for the K-5th graders is HERE. Signup for 6th-8th graders is HERE. For questions, please email Kristin Jantz at scienceolympiad@voyageracademy.net
LUNCH AND BEFORE CARE UPDATE: Before & After care payments will be made within the Titan Family portal at Family.Titank12.com. It is the same system we are using to deposit funds for lunch. If you have not set up an account yet, I've included the instructions (Spanish & English) to this email. I also created a short video tutorial of the process.
Watch the video here:
You will need to create an account on the portal first to begin making payments. Once in the Titan family dashboard
Link your student(s) to your family account. All Voyager students are in the Titan system.
Add a payment method here under profile or in your cart before checking out.
Use the menu on the left to select "Store." This is the future home of all fees payments at Voyager Academy.
Select the Extended Day Programs - Before & After Care (Viking Care) button.
Select your student(s) name from the drop down list.
Select the plan selection. (i.e. 2 day, 3 day, before care, etc.)
Select your students' grade level.
Select the month of service.
Press the add to cart button.
A pop up button will appear with the option to continue shopping or view the cart. If you have a sibling to register or need an additional plan, click continue shopping. Otherwise, continue to the cart for payment.
Review your cart before completing your purchase. To delete an item. Click the 3 dots to the right of the item.
The system should email you a receipt. You can also view your transaction history from the dashboard menu under "History."
Please do not set up recurring payments within the portal for Before or After care. It only works for school lunch funds.
Receipts for previous transactions will be emailed to parents that paid by check or money order. December payments can be made now using this system. You will need to complete this process each month for your student to appear on the roster. This process includes staff and their children. You will need to select the staff student plan in the drop down menu. If after watching the video, reading the instructions here or on the attached pdfs, please feel free to call or email me. Thank you for your patience.
LET’S STAY CONNECTED: Let’s stay connected! Scroll on over to our Voyager Academy website to see all the updates and additions. Be sure to follow, friend, like and subscribe to all our Social Media accounts! #GoVikingsGo #VoyagerVikings
PTO DECEMBER STAFF LUNCHEON: Voyager PTO is hosting a December Staff Luncheon for the elementary school. If you are able to help out please click on the link below:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054aacab29a5ff2-vaes22
PTO HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS AND COFFEE MUGS: The PTO is selling Voyager Christmas ornaments and Voyager Coffee Mugs. Orders need to be submitted by Dec. 6 in order to receive them before Winter Break.
https://voyager-academy-pto.square.site/
PTO UPDATES: The New Cheddar Up Link is now Open- Streamlining the staff gift process- One of the PTOs goals is to streamline the teacher gift collection process to make sure all staff receive a token of our appreciation during the upcoming season (and end of year). Parent donations are completely voluntary. This Cheddar Up will make it easy to give a gift and divide it among your child's teachers! Check it out: https://voyager-staff-holiday-gift.cheddarup.comIf you are a room parent, please reach out to PTO Board member Tiffany Henrikson at tiffie130@yahoo.com and she will outline how she will work with you with regards to collection for your room and disbursement. What a great way to honor our staff during this special time of the year
WHAT IS AMAZON SMILE? AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop with AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Voyager Academy Inc.
VOYAGER LUNCH UPDATE: The Linq system is updated each Friday with your Titan account balance. Accounts with a negative balance on their Titan Family Portal account will not be permitted to order lunch online in the LINQ system. Meals ordered will be cancelled, if payment or arrangements have not been made. If you need assistance with paying off your account balance, please contact the Finance Departm at ext. 107 to make arrangements. Please be sure to send your student(s) to school with lunch, if no meal was ordered. You can pay on your balance using either form of payment below:
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 December. Be sure to select your milk preference. Milk is included with each meal at no additional cost. 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
IS YOUR CHILD READY TO RETURN TO SCHOOL AFTER A COLD? OR ALLERGIES? A TEST IS BEST! Parents, please remember that our current Sick Child Policy REQUIRES that if a student stays home from school with ANY symptoms of illness - such as cough, sore throat, headache, fever, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea - that they MUST obtain a PCR COVID test with a negative result or have a note from their doctor before they are able to return to school. Even if the symptoms are mild - or they just appear to be a cold or allergies. We apologize for the inconvenience, but at this point in time we cannot allow children to return to school without a negative COVID test. This policy helps keep students, teachers, and the Voyager community safe. For convenience, there is a PCR testing facility right down the street from Voyager that offers free, no-appointment required COVID testing.
NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS: TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS AT DPAC. Proceeds from this show will benefit Voyager K-12 Arts Programs. Click on the link below for more details.
SHOW WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 11, 2022 - 7:30 PM
CHICK-FIL- A READING CHALLENGE: We love Chick-Fil-A (on Roxboro Rd) and how they support our school community. Stay tuned for details about how Voyager Elementary will be partnering with Chick-Fil-A to promote the value of reading. This program began on December 1.
PTO NEWS
Viking Mug/Ornament Sale. The last day to purchase a mug or an ornament is Monday, December 6th to be guaranteed delivery on Thursday, December 16th. Orders will be sent home via the students or a designated meeting time can be set up with Kelli. Pictures are attached.
Link to purchase: https://voyager-academy-pto.square.site/
The PTO Hospitality Committee is preparing for the last staff hospitality lunches of 2021. Thanks to all staff for making this successful!
Sign up Genius links are below:
- Elementary School: Friday, December 10th, https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054aacab29a5ff2-vaes22
- Middle School: Thursday, December 9th, https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0949a8ae2a1-holiday
- High School (This will be a breakfast): Monday, December 13th, https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040d45acaf2aa4f58-teacherstaff
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONCERNING COVID: Voyager’s amazing school nurse has created a document for all of our families entitled FAQ Concerning Covid. We understand how challenging and stressful this situation has been and we appreciate your support and partnership. I highly encourage you to click on the link below and read the health information so you can stay informed and will better understand the guidelines Voyager is following as we seek to keep all students and staff safe.
QUARANTINE GUIDELINES: Listed below are the guidelines we have been given as they are related to quarantine:
When your children need to stay home to learn, always contact me and your child's teacher.
The teacher will provide remote assignments for your student. As long as the student is doing some work at home and you complete the attendance link provided below they 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.
See below for details for siblings where ONE tests positive, another tests NEGATIVE. Or for students and a parent tests positive, but student tests NEGATIVE.
Your positive student will need to complete a 10 day quarantine and may return to school after those 10 days so long as they are fever free for 24 hours and their symptoms are improving. With regard to siblings - as of now, IF you are able to isolate the positive child from the family, eat in separate spaces, wear masks in the home, use separate bathrooms, etc the negative child may return at the end of the positive child’s 10 day quarantine IF you were able to ensure the above protective measures were taken in the home.
The negative child(ren) would need to have NO symptoms and obtain a COVID test NO SOONER THAN 5 days following their last exposure to the positive sibling. So, if you used Monday as Day 1, they could test after Friday. If that test is negative AND you have been able to keep the positive student isolated the entire time, then the negative siblings could go back to school after the positive child's 10 day quarantine is over. We would request that you provide us documentation of their negative PCR tests before the children return. IF any of your other children develop symptoms at any point, they should get tested. If they then test positive they would then just complete a 10-day quarantine from the onset of symptoms.
These are the recommendations that the Durham Health Department has provided us as of today. They will continue to assess and monitor the situation and may update their guidelines. We will make changes to our protocols here at Voyager if that happens.