Voyager Academy High School News: Voyager Academy High School News, March 11, 2022

GO VIKINGS GO!

In this issue...

2 Important COVID Announcements
Registering for Courses For the 2022-23 School Year
Project Exhibition Night is April 6, 2022
March 15 Is Parent-Teacher Conferences
Only 30 Yearbooks Left!
We Need Your Recyclables and Old T-Shirts
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!
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.

C-STEP: Durham Tech's Guaranteed Admissions Pathway to UNC Chapel Hill
Seniors: The SECU Scholarship Application Is Now Available
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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2 IMPORTANT COVID ANNOUNCEMENTS

Voyager Academy Masking Policy Update
ALLERGY SEASON and COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Voyager Academy Masking Policy Change

Voyager Academy has adopted a mask-optional policy effective March 7, 2022. In general, students, staff, and visitors will be permitted to decide whether or not to wear a mask. Notwithstanding the aforementioned, even in this mask optional setting, masks will be required for individuals at the discretion of the Managing Director in the following circumstances:

To be in accordance with guidance from the Strong Schools Toolkit, NCHHS, Durham County Public Health Department, and/or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”)
Where an individual tests positive for COVID-19
Where an individual has symptoms of COVID-19
Where an individual has experienced a potential exposure to COVID-19
To be in accordance with state or federal law, including but not limited to the Americans with Disabilities Act and Amendments.

For the safety of others, when a mask is required, the school requires a two-layer cloth face mask or medical mask. Masks must cover the nose, mouth, and chin. Mesh masks, bandanas, neck gaiters, and face shields are not an acceptable face mask covering and are never permitted. There are many reasons why an individual may or may not mask. All employees are expected to be supportive of their co-workers' choices with respect to masking. And, all parents/students/guardians are expected to be supportive of staff and students with respect to their choices. Any staff member who violates this policy will be subject to discipline. Any student who violates this policy will be subject to discipline under the Schools Code of Conduct. Any parent/guardian who violates this policy will be contacted by the Principal or Managing Director.

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Allergy Season and COVID-19 Protocols

It's officially "that" time of year….ALLERGY SEASON! We realize that many students and families experience symptoms of seasonal allergies. And unfortunately, many allergy symptoms can look like COVID-19 symptoms, and vice versa.

As Voyager moves into a phase of less restrictive COVID-19 measures, testing remains a powerful and valuable tool that helps prevent the uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 and keeps our students, teachers, and community safe and able to continue in-person learning. We ask that parents continue to practice an abundance of caution and follow the testing requirements for their children if they are experiencing any symptoms or have had a recent, known exposure to COVID-19.

Below are a few reminders as we head into allergy season. The Durham Department of Health guides our sick child/symptomatic individual protocols. Please note that Voyager Academy teachers, front office staff, or school nurse CANNOT diagnose allergies nor excuse a student that is currently experiencing any of the symptoms listed below from following the Sick Child Policy due to an assumption of seasonal allergies.

NCDHHS and Durham Health STILL require a PCR COVID test for any student with symptoms on the list below. Even as other COVID protocols have changed, this policy has not changed.
Negative at home rapid tests are not sufficient to clear a student to return to school at this point in time. While they are an informative tool, a student with symptoms needs a PCR test (with a negative result) in order to return to school prior to 5 days.

If a student is experiencing any symptoms listed below and a parent/caregiver feels that the symptoms are due to seasonal allergies, they have THREE OPTIONS. The student can either:

get a PCR COVID test with a negative result, OR
obtain a note from the doctor excusing the student from testing due to allergies, OR
stay home for 5 days following the onset of symptoms and they may return after the 5th day and will need to wear a mask indoors and outdoors for the next 5 days.

The only time a student with symptoms on the list below is not required to get a PCR COVID test is if they have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days.

If your child takes daily, over the counter medication for management of their seasonal allergy symptoms, now is a great time to speak with their pediatrician about starting that. For questions about medication management of seasonal allergies, please reach out to your child’s pediatrician.

Below is the list of possible COVID symptoms as defined by the CDC and NCDHHS:

temperature above 100.4F or chills
cough
headache
sore throat
congestion or runny nose
fatigue, muscle or body aches
nausea or vomiting
diarrhea
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
new loss of taste or smell

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Registering for Courses For the 2022-23 School Year

From March 15 to March 21 students may go into PowerSchool and select courses for the 2022-23 school years. Please click here for instructions on how to do this. As always, we will do our best to get students into their first choices.

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Project Exhibition Night is April 6, 2022

The Voyager community is warmly invited to join us at Project Exhibition Night, on Wednesday, April 6th, from 5:30pm-7:00pm. This will be an in-person event – FINALLY!

One of the “Gold Standards” of the project based learning process is the creation and exhibition of a public product, as students share their work with the community. Project Exhibition Night is a proud and strong tradition at VAHS. This Spring, Project Exhibition Night takes place on Wednesday, April 6th, from 5:30pm-7:00pm. Come see student projects in action and on full display.

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March 15 Is Parent-Teacher Conferences

Should you wish to have a chat with any of your Voyager Viking student’s teachers, please contact them, to schedule an appointment for March 15th.

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ONLY 30 YEARBOOKS LEFT!

Books will NOT be sold at school.

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We Need Your Recyclables and Old T-Shirts

Are you looking for a way to get rid of those jars(with lids) and empty cans you don't use anymore... look no more, donate it today to the ES Class. We are also in need of your old t-shirts and towels.

Contact Ms. Stacy Harris (sharris@voyageracademy.net)

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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.

VAHS Canvas – Voyager Academy

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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

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

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!

C-STEP: Durham Tech's Guaranteed Admissions Pathway to UNC Chapel Hill

Seniors and parents are invited to a virtual information session on Durham Tech’s guaranteed admissions pathway to UNC Chapel Hill.

C-STEP is Durham Tech’s guaranteed admissions pathway to UNC Chapel Hill. If you are interested in learning more about the program and how to apply, please join a C-STEP Information Session on Monday, March 7, or Tuesday, March 15, at 4:30 pm via Zoom. Join Zoom Meeting

Click here for a flyer from UNC Chapel Hill, with more information.

Click here to see Who Is Eligible for C-STEP and How to Apply

The deadline is April 1.

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Seniors: The SECU Scholarship Application Is Now Available

SECU Foundation established the “People Helping People®” scholarship program to assist students across North Carolina with their educational goals. Since being established, the “People Helping People” scholarship program represents an annual commitment of over $5 million, with a collective total of over $71 million since the initial scholarship funding began in 2005.

SECU Foundation established the People Helping People four-year scholarship program to help North Carolina public high school students attend college.

Candidates are to submit their application information to Ms. O'Kane by 3/11/22. A VAHS Scholarship Committee will submit the VAHS candidate to the Foundation. Use the links below to learn more about eligibility criteria and how to apply.

2022 NC OCS PHP Eligibility Criteria
2022 NC OCS PHP Consent Form
2022 NC OCS PHP Application

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Scholarship Search Websites

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

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.

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

Subscribe to the 21-22 VA Parent Calendar

You can view this calendar in two ways:

1. You can subscribe to the 21-22 VA Parent Calendar, so that it merges with yours. Here are the instructions:

-Go to your google calendar

-Go to Settings, the little gear in the upper right corner----->

In Settings:

-Add calendar

-Subscribe to calendar

-In the “Add Calendar” field, paste the following:

c_rf81ppekino4980nbie6tkvggs@group.calendar.google.com

2. You can simply view it on our website, by going to https://www.voyageracademy.net/calendar/.

You can also add it from there, by clicking on the “+” sign at the bottom right of the calendar..

OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR AND ABOUT VAHS
Voyager Academy Academic Calendar

The Voyager Academy High School Website

The VAHS Counselor’s Blog

Important Dates

Dates	Events
March 11	End of first half of Spring Semester
March 14	NO SCHOOL - Teacher workday
March 15	NO SCHOOL - Parent/teacher conferences
March 18	Report cards emailed out to parents
March 28-29	REMOTE LEARNING DAYS (state required) - All classes will be taught remotely. It is not live instruction. Students are provided lessons and activities to complete at home. (click here for the VA academic calendar)..
April 6	Project Exhibition Night
April 11-18	NO SCHOOL - Spring Break

VOYAGER VIKING VALUES

CONFIDENCE - CURIOSITY - EMPATHY

REFLECTION - INTEGRITY