Dear Voyager Community,
The campus was action packed with learning again this week. Our students continue to excel in academics, the arts, and athletics demonstrating the strength of a well-rounded Voyager education. This week, our 8th graders presented their projects on the Civil War to our 5th graders demonstrating their knowledge and professional presentation skills. The 7th graders were learning about plants to prepare for their upcoming garden project through a hunger games competition. And our 6th graders were starting to explore the crusades in their Social Studies class. Our Middle School students involved in theatre have been busy preparing for their upcoming performance of Footloose.
Elementary students celebrated an entire Science Extravaganza week. The 2nd graders enjoyed the first field trip of the year to the Museum of Life and Sciences and enjoyed the experience of riding the bus for the first time. Thank you to Mrs. Borcik, Mrs. Wilder and the entire elective team for putting together our first science and engineering week. It was a great week of discovery with experiments and design work for our elementary students. The week culminated in a final egg drop competition to test student designed structures. The egg structures were dropped from the top of a 70 foot ladder off of a Durham Fire truck. What an exciting way for our students to learn about science and engineering!
Middle School Science Olympiad students have also excelled in their regional tournament competitions. Congratulations to all of our award winners! We are so proud of our Vikings and wish you all the best in the state tournament. Go Vikings Go. And thank you to Kristin Jantz for leading the team.
Voyager Science Olympiad team members: Luke Bakelaar, Sophie Chorosevic, Brian Eckert, Soleil Farr, Samantha Kolls, Vigo Penedo Vicens, and Zoe Robinson competed strong in the regional tournament. The team won medals in 7 out of the 11 events they competed in and our 1st place winners earned an invitation to the state tournament!
1st place Disease Detectives (Samantha Kolls & Brian Eckert)
1st place Dynamic Planet (Sophie Chorosevic & Zoe Robinson)
1st place Meteorology (Sophie Chorosevic & Zoe Robinson)
1st place Picture This (Sophie Chorosevic & Zoe Robinson)
2nd place Crime Busters (Sophie Chorosevic & Zoe Robinson)
3rd place Fast Facts (Sophie Chorosevic & Zoe Robinson)
3rd place Ornithology (Luke Bakelaar)
Our High School performing art students continue to excel at their competitions. On Saturday they performed at the State Choir/Band Competition and took home the following awards:
Vocal Affinity came in 2nd Place and was awarded Best Show Design and Best Prep Choir
Bull City Sound was awarded Best Band
Bull City Lights was crowned NC State Champions with 1st Place, Best Vocals, and Best Choreography
Melody Wimberley was recognized as the Best Female Soloist of the whole competition, and Lauren Sierra was awarded Best Female Performer overall.
Additionally, both Haegan Bryant (VA) and Melody Wimberley (BCL) were recognized for the Showmanship Award.
What an exciting day for our Viking performers! Congratulations to all for showcasing your talents. We wish you all the best with your upcoming competition in Virginia this weekend.
We also want to congratulate and recognize our scholar athletes. Hunter Ruedi and Amelia Leonard have been selected as Voyager Academy’s top scholar athletes. They will be honored at the Durham Sports Club banquet along with other Durham public and private school senior athletes that exemplify both scholarship and athletics. Congratulations to Hunter and Amelia on their achievements!
Please know that we are all here to support your child grow, learn, and find their passion. Feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher, building administrator, or student support if we can assist your family in any way. Check out the upcoming events and all the updates below from our School Nurse, Student Support Team, Operations Manager, and Athletic Director.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Upcoming Events:
3/28-3/29 - Remote Days for students
3/31-4/6 - MS Check In #3, Final Check In
4/5- Elementary Art Show 5:30 pm
4/6 - HS Project Exhibition Night
4/6- Elementary Spring Pictures
4/11 - 4/18 - Spring Break
4/19- EOY M-Class Assessments Begin
4/20 - Parent Enrichment Night: Nourishing Children with Picky Eating Behaviors (6:30p
4/22 - Spring Fling
4/27 - New Family Get Acquainted Day
4/25-4/29 - Spirit Week (HS)
4/29 - Homecoming Parade (HS)
4/30- Chick-Fil-A Book Drive 7 to 7
5/10- Spring Choral Concert (7-8pm, HS gym)
PTO SAVE THE DATE – SPRING FLING – FRIDAY APRIL 22ND, RAIN DATE – APRIL 23RD
Emily Center
The Emily K Center operates two enrollment-based programs for Durham County students which accept applications each spring. Pioneer Scholars serves elementary and middle school students (grades 1-8) and Scholars to College supports high school students who reside in Durham County. Both programs have a priority application deadline of April 21, 2022. Applications can be downloaded for the website or picked up at the Center Monday-Friday from 10:00AM-5:30PM.
The Pioneer Scholars team invites prospective families, teachers, and school personnel to attend our free-flowing Open House this Saturday, March 26 from 1:00-3:00PM. The Center is located at 904 W Chapel Hill St. and parking and event entrance is in the rear of the building.
If you have any questions or would like additional information on the Emily K Center or its programs, please visit our website emilyk.org or contact Nephitearya Bailey Singleton, Director of Elementary and Middle School Readiness.
Booster Club News
On behalf of the Booster Club, Can the following blurb be added to the newsletter this friday? We are in a tight time frame, but excited to be able to offer this to the seniors.
Thank you!
SENIOR ATHLETES - Voyager’s Athletic Booster Club is working on an exciting project for you! We have arranged for you to have a complimentary mini-photo shoot on Tuesday, March 29th (remote learning day) which will be used for your senior banner. It is important that you get this done, otherwise you will not have a banner at the Sports Banquet in May.
Sign up - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409044aa9af2da13-senior
Check your school email for additional details.
Questions - contact Kelly Andrew at kellyandrew77@gmail.com
NURSES CORNER
For links to Voyager’s updated COVID-19 protocols and policies please see below. These documents are also available on the Voyager Academy website under “COVID-19 Info.”
· UPDATED Voyager Academy COVID Protocols as of 2/28/22: https://www.voyageracademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Voyager-Academy-COVID-5-Day-Guidance-and-Policies.pdf
· UPDATED Voyager Academy Sick Child Policy: https://www.voyageracademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Voyager-Academy-COVID-Sick-Policy.pdf
· UPDATED Voyager Academy Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.voyageracademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/COVID-19-Guidelines-FAQ.pdf
STUDENT SUPPORT
Please join the Student Support Services Team for our final Parent Enrichment Night of the academic year! We will have a guest presenter who will bring us a wealth of information focused on: Nourishing Children with Picky Eating Behaviors. The recorded session will begin at 6:30p on April 20th. The flyer is included and has the zoom link ("Click Here to Join" or copy the URL from the bottom). We hope to see you there!
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
March is also Women's History Month! Check out these exciting events...
For more information, go to: https://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/women-making-history-north-carolina-live
Check out 5 Ways to Celebrate Women's History Month - various events at Duke and in Durham to honor the contributions of women.
Attention all Adults: Did you miss the amazing Parent Enrichment Night session on "Social Media and Internet Dangers" or do you simply wish to view it again?! Well here's your chance! You may view the informative presentation facilitated by Mrs. Shelly Calrk Epps at either of the following links:
Please be reminded that this presentation is NOT intended for youth; therefore, make sure that any youth are not within hearing or viewing of the content.
LUNCH PROGRAM
March is #NationalNutritionMonth! During National Nutrition Month®, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics encourages everyone to make informed food choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits they can follow all year long. The Academy encourages seeking the advice of RDNs – the food and nutrition experts who can help develop individualized eating and activity plans to meet people's health goals.
Week Four: Create tasty foods at home.
Learn cooking and meal preparation skills.
Try new flavors and foods from around the world.
Enjoy your meals with friends or family, when possible.
For more information on National Nutrition Month, you can visit https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month.
LUNCH ORDERING
The Linq Online Meal Ordering system is updated each Friday with your Titan account balance. The price for lunch under NSLP will be $4.00 for full price, $.40 for reduced and free for students that are eligible for reduced priced student meals. The monthly lunch menu is attached and also available on our School Nutrition website by clicking here. Please be sure to select a milk flavor before adding to your cart. The milk is a part of the meal. When ordering please remember to deposit funds into your Titan portal to cover the cost of meals ordered. Accounts with a negative balance, will lose their ability to order online until the balance is paid. If you need assistance, please email foodnutritionservices@voyageracademy.net.
April Menu IS LIVE!
VIKING SUMMER CAMP
Voyager Academy summer camp is for Rising 1st – 8th grade Voyager students and their siblings. Camp begins Monday, June 6, 2022 and will end Thursday, June 30, 2022. Camp hours are Monday - Thursday from 8:00am - 4:30 pm. Each week has its own theme incorporated into crafts, activities, and games. Campers will also go on weekly field trips, swim (pending pool availability due to COVID) or water play and participate in STEM activities.
We are also offering "Specialty Camps" in Basketball, LEGO Robotics and Ukulele/Guitar.. The camp dates and details for these special sessions can be found on the camp webpage. Registration for Summer Camp is live on the Titan Family portal. You can quickly view all camp sessions by changing the "Category" in the school store to "Summer Camp." When registering a sibling that does not attend Voyager Academy, select a Voyager student from the dropdown. Then select the sibling's rising grade and name in the labled text box. Complete the Summer Camp Registration Form for each child at the attached link. The $30 registration fee will be applied to your account after registration is complete. Registration is not complete until camp registration from, registration fee and session payment is made in Titan or by Check/Money Order. Space is limited and on a first come first served basis. There will be no waitlist for summer camp registration. The last day to register is April 30th, if space is still available.
ATHLETICS
How to contribute to Voyager Athletics
You will want to start by going to the following web address: Family.Titank12.com and you will see to the right where it says “Don’t have an account? Sign up today!”
1. Once you create your account you will see a green + button to the lower right of the computer screen. Once you hit that button it should give you an option where you can select “add student”. It will ask what your district is. Start to type Voyager Academy and it will automatically populate for you to select. It should now prompt you to enter your child’s name and their date of birth.
2. You should now see a box on the screen with your child’s name. If you want to add a payment method you can go to the top right of the screen, click name, select profile. Here is where you can add your payment method.
3. Use the menu on the left to select "Store." This is the future home of all fee payments at Voyager Academy.
4. Select the Recommended or Custom Athletic Contribution tab. Each tab has a picture of our V logo with Athletics written across it.
5. Select your student(s) name from the drop down list.
6. Select the contribution you would like to make. In the recommended Athletic Contribution tab there are pre-set amounts listed depending on how many sports your child participates in. In the Custom Athletic Contribution tab you are able to write in the amount you wish to contribute.
7. Press the add to cart button.
10. A pop up button will appear with the option to continue shopping or view the cart. If you have additional contributions you would like to make, click continue shopping. Otherwise, continue to the cart for payment.
11. Review your cart before completing your purchase. To delete an item. Click the 3 dots to the right of the item.
12. The system should email you a receipt. You can also view your transaction history from the dashboard menu under "History."
As always, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me:
jgatcomb@voyageracademy.net
Go Vikings, Go!
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
INTERESTED IN PART TIME WORK AT VOYAGER – SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS
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”