GO VIKINGS GO!
In this issue...
- Show Choir's Invitation Dress Rehearsal is a Success
- VAHS in the Community
- Yearbook: Senior AD Deadline EXTENDED
- ACT Practice Test For Juniors-FREE
- Parents: How to Stay Up-To-The Minute On Your Child’s Grades and Performance in Class
- App Development Competition for High School Students
- Free Tutoring From The National Honor Society!
- Senior Cap and Gown Orders
- Class of 2022 Individual Senior Meetings With The Counselor
- VCF (Viking Christian Fellowship) meets Friday mornings from ~7:30-8:30 in D124
COLLEGE AND FINANCIAL AID INFO.
- Added Session Due to Popular Demand! "Some Help Navigating the High School to College Road."
- SECU Scholarship
- Scholarship Search Websites
OTHER GREAT WAYS TO STAY INFORMED
- Check out the VAHS Counselor’s Blog (and subscribe)
- What to Do If You Are Not Receiving Group Emails From Voyager Academy
- Sign up to receive text messages from the school.
- Subscribe to the “21-22 VA Parent Calendar” (google calendar)
- Other great sources of information for and about VAHS.
- VAHS Safety Guidelines for Students and Staff
- Important dates.
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Show Choir's Invitation Dress Rehearsal is a Success
This past Thursday, February 3, Bull City Lights and Vocal Affinity, the VAHS show choirs performed their first concert of the season. The night was filled with music and excitement! This competition season, Bull City Lights and Vocal Affinity will be traveling to competitions in North Carolina, West Virginia, and Virginia.
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VAHS in the Community
One of the goals of Voyager Academy is community engagement, as we build a connected learning community that involves families and partners in meeting the needs of our students, while giving students the opportunity to have a positive impact on the community. Here are some of recent examples of how VAHS engages and impacts our community:
The VAHS Band has a club called "Service Band" that meets Fridays, and performs at the Brookdale senior center down the road. Led by Band Teacher, Mr. Puhala, they have already performed twice, and will go at least 2 more times before the end of the year.
Chick-fil-A, (and other local businesses) is a frequent partner on The Interview Project (Personal Finance class, led by Mr. Baker), conducting interviews with our students for the possibility of real job offers. They also provide valuable feedback to all our interviewees, regardless of if they plan to pursue a job opportunity or not. VAHS parent and Chick-fil-A franchisee, Tony Fernandez will also be a guest speaker on the topic of "How to know what you want to do with your life?" and "How do I actually do well in an interview?" Mr. Fernandez will also be a guest speaker in Ms. Henrikson’s Entrepreneurship class
Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (Spanish Honor Society) led by VAHS Spanish Teacher Dr. Stewart Bankhead, is working outside of school with El Centro Hispano, La Isla School, Spanish for Fun, Cambiando Caminos at Durham Tech, the Salvation Army in Mexico, Todec Legal Center (writing letters to detained immigrant children), and making posters for the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
Among the many things that they do, the VAHS Service Club did a breakfast for Durham Police in January. There are more than a dozen Service Club students working with the parents of the Elementary School to do singing valentines on Monday, Feb. 14. (241 parents sent them to their elementary students!).
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Yearbook: Senior AD Deadline EXTENDED
Due to popular demand, senior ad purchase has been reopened.
IT’S EASY!
CREATE YOUR AD ONLINE AT WWW.JOSTENSADSERVICE.COM
1. CHOOSE YOUR AD SIZE AND LAYOUT.
2. ENTER YOUR TEXT AND UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS.
Yearbook recognition ads are a great way for parents, families, and friends to commemorate student achievements and important milestones. In addition, revenues from recognition ads help our school to create a better yearbook.
To purchase your ad online, follow the instructions on the Senior Ad page of this website.
Please take into account our school's ad content guidelines during the creation of your ad online.
All ad orders must be placed online by February 7th, 2022
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ACT Practice Test For Juniors-FREE
The staff at VAHS is offering an optional ACT Practice Test Administration on Saturday February 19, 2022 for all current Juniors. This session will mimic the actual ACT State Testing administration being held at VAHS on March 1. The practice session is a great opportunity for students to experience the timing and testing conditions of a full length ACT. Interested Juniors should complete the Registration Form below by February 15, 2022 to participate. Contact Ms. O'Kane (jokane@voyageracademy.net) with any questions.
ACT Practice Test Administration (google.com)
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Parents: How to Stay Up-To-The Minute On Your Child’s Grades and Performance
Parents–just a reminder on how you can stay informed (“up-to-the-minute”) with your child’s VAHS classes and performance. You may login as an “Observer” on your VAHS student’s Canvas account. You can check grades and assignments any time and receive automatic alerts and notifications. Click on the link below for instructions.
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App Development Competition for High School Students
The Ready, Set, App! challenge is a mobile app development competition for high school students sponsored by Lenovo. Participants are asked to develop a mobile app using a mobile app development platform (e.g. MIT App Inventor) to solve a problem in their school or community (e.g. you can ask your teachers or administrators what they could use an app for). Click here for more details (http://www.ncbce.org/ready-set-app).
See Mr. Reynolds (room E140) to sign up.
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Free Tutoring From The National Honor Society!
The NHS is excited to let parents and students of all Voyager schools know that the NHS Buddy Program is up and running. We offer tutoring services for all ages in person or via Zoom. Please use the link below to sign up for tutoring and we will get you connected with a NHS member in the area needed.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf6jWqwE5RpjuSo0fhtuBq82jlmPxuNL4Xs39deNfmiKnb0Og/viewform
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Senior Cap and Gown Orders
There are still several families who have yet to order their 2022 graduation products. Please be sure to order your items through the Herff Jones website as soon as possible if you have not already done so. https://highschool.herffjones.com/secom/school/NC/Voyager%2BAcademy/32011137000/4252/home?gradYear=2022
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Class of 2022 Individual Senior Meetings With The Counselor
Congratulations to the VAHS class of 2022! Senior Planning Meetings are well under way, and all seniors are encouraged to sign up to meet with Ms. O'Kane to plan for graduation and post high school plans. Seniors can use the link below or contact Ms. O'Kane to arrange a meeting. Seniors should also be sure to keep checking the VAHS Counseling Blog and their email for updates and important news.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c44a5a62aa5f58-senior
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VCF (Viking Christian Fellowship) meets Friday mornings from ~7:30-8:30 in D124
Viking Christian Fellowship (VCF) meets Friday mornings before school from 7:30-8:30am in room D124 (Mrs. Paradis's room). All are welcome!
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COLLEGE AND FINANCIAL AID INFO.
(Check out the VAHS Counselor’s Blog scholarship info. and a lot more.)
Back By Popular Demand! “Some Help Navigating the High School to College Road”
New Added Date Due to Popular Demand! If you are a parent of an upper middle school and/or high school student or a student in this grade range, join us for a FREE informative presentation called "Navigating the High School to College Road."
On Sunday, February 27th, 2022, from 6:30-8:00 p.m., Lewis Select College Consulting and ColPrep Tutoring will offer our presentation, "Navigating the High School to College Road" where we will provide valuable information and suggestions for students at every grade level on navigating the college admissions process. We'll discuss timing for college entrance tests, extracurriculars, college essays, and other college application tips. This presentation will be virtual, and space will be limited to 25 families. There will be a short Q/A session at the end of the presentation for general questions.
Registration is open now! Please contact Pat to register at lewisselectcc@gmail.com.
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It is time again to begin thinking about the 2020 SECU Foundation People Helping People Scholarship! Each year, $10,000.00 scholarships have been awarded to three graduating seniors attending North Carolina Charter Schools. These scholarships will be awarded to students attending one of the 16 constituent campuses of the University of North Carolina. Funds are made possible through the contributions to SECU Foundation by members of the State Employees’ Credit Union. Please see the Eligibility information below and contact Ms. O'Kane if you believe that you are eligible and would like to be considered for this scholarship.
SECU Scholarship Eligibility Criteria
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Scholarship Search Websites
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OTHER GREAT WAYS TO STAY INFORMED
VAHS Counseling Department Blog
Please be sure to check the VAHS Counseling Department blog frequently. The blog provides news, information, and opportunities for VAHS students and parents all in one convenient location. Topics range from Career/College Counseling and Application Support to Summer Programs and Opportunities. Check it out!
CLICK HERE FOR THE VAHS COUNSELING DEPT. BLOG
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What to Do If You Are Not Receiving Group Emails From Voyager Academy
Please click here if you are not receiving group emails from Voyager Academy. This is a form, on which you can provide us your email address.
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PARENTS and STUDENTS: Sign up to receive text messages from VAHS
Even though you may have been subscribed from last year, all must re-subscribe. This is because some cell phone numbers may no longer belong to last year’s subscribers (as people may change numbers or mobile providers). Click below for subscription instructions, sorted by student’s graduation year.
PARENTS
Texting from your cell phone…
For parents of class of 2022:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahsp22
For parents of class of 2023:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahsp23
For parents of class of 2024:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @df2ah6
For parents of class of 2025:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahsp25
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STUDENTS
Texting from your cell phone…
For the class of 2022:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahss22
For the class of 2023:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahss23
For the class of 2024:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahss24
For the class of 2025:
In the “To” section of the text, please type 81010 and in the message section please type @vahss25
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OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR AND ABOUT VAHS
Voyager Academy Academic Calendar
The Voyager Academy High School Website
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Important Dates
VAHS COVID Safety Guidelines for Students and Staff
It is important that students begin school each day with a mask that fits them properly. Please make sure your child has a mask that will stay over their nose. This is our number one safety feature.
When we returned in April of last year, we had specific directions for lunch. We will continue to reinforce the fact that students will have 14 minutes to eat lunch and then their masks will go back on. If students do not finish their lunch in that amount of time, we will have the students who need more time to sit at a table while the other students can talk as they will have on their mask.
Students will be asked to keep their masks on for outdoor lunch if and when they cannot be at least 6 feet apart.
Students need to continue to wash hands and use hand sanitizer when needed.
If students have any symptoms of sickness, the student should remain home until they have no symptoms. Please do not send a child to school if he or she has a fever.
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.
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 had a positive case within our school community. 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 begins to show any Covid symptoms then that student would need to quarantine. 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.