Dear Voyager Community,
Spring at Voyager is in full swing giving our students opportunities for exciting events, programs, and experiences to further enrich their academic experiences. During spring break, Ms. Green and Mr. Mitchell took a group of 8th Grade students and parents to Europe. This group visited Italy, Austria, Germany and Prague. What an incredible international adventure! The students represented Voyager's Core Values while on tour and had a fabulous time. Any current 7th grade parents interested in the location/details of the 2023 8th grade trip, please email Melodie Green for more information. (mgreen@voyageracademy.net)
Thank you to the Spring Fling Chairs, Elaine Bahr and Robin Lalor for planning and coordinating an incredible community event last Friday night. It was wonderful to see so many students and families enjoying all the games, food, and activities. We are so very grateful for the support of our parents and PTO.
Last night our Board approved three new candidates to join the Voyager Academy Board of Directors in July 2022 replacing members that will complete their service at the end of this year. Please join me in congratulating and welcoming the following new members to the Voyager Board of Directors.
Kelli Anderson
Tony Fernandez
Katie Galbraith
The board also approved the 22-23 budget and additional positions to further support our students. Board meetings and documents are posted on the school website and all meetings are open to the public. We are grateful for the continued support and partnership of our board members and appreciate their service and dedication to our school.
The excitement continues on campus today with a Homecoming parade this afternoon and the Middle School production of “Footloose” this weekend. The elementary students enjoyed a sneak peek into the show during an assembly yesterday. It was amazing to see the talents of our students shine as they featured a sample of the show for the elementary students. I can’t wait to see the full production of the show tonight.
Please remember 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 calendar of events and all the updates below from our School Nurse, Student Support Team, Operations Manager, and Athletic Director.
Have a great weekend!
Upcoming Events:
4/29 - Footloose, 7:00, MS Gym
4/30 - Footloose, 7:00, MS Gym
4/30- Chick-Fil-A Book Drive 7 to 7
5/1 - Footloose, 2:00, MS Gym
5/5 - Talent Show - K-5 at MS - 5 pm -6pm
5/10- Spring Choral Concert (7-8pm, HS gym)
5/10 - PTO Meeting
5/10 - Elementary Field Day
5/10 - 7th Grade Science Fair, 5:00-6:00
5/10 - Elementary Field Day
5/10 - 7th Grade Science Fair, 5:00-6:00
5/11 - Graduation Parade - 10:30
5/11-National School Nurses Day
5/12 - 4th Grade Beach Trip
5/12 - 3rd Grade Reading EOG
5/13 - 3rd Grade Math EOG
5/15 - HS Athletic Awards
5/16 - 4th-6th grade ELA EOG
5/17 - 4th-6th grade Math EOg
5/18 - 3rd grade RTA re-test
5/18 - 5th, 7th- 8th ELA EOG
5/19 - Board Meeting
5/19 - 3rd Grade Project Celebration
5/19 - 5th, 7th, 8th Math EOG
5/20 - 5th and 8th Science EOG
5/18 - 5/19 -HS Teacher Made Exams
5/20-5/25 - HS EOCs
5/20 - 2nd Grade Project Celebration (1:00)
5/20 1st Grade Fairy Tale Ball 1:15-2:15
5/24 - Kindergarten Project Celebration (11:00)
5/25 - MS 8th Grade Celebration - 8:45 am
5/26 - High School Graduation (Carolina Theater)
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD COMPETITION UPDATES
Congratulations to Zoe Robinson & Sophie Chorosevic who earned a 7th place medal in Picture This at the State Science Olympiad tournament this past weekend!!
We missed listing one of our medal winners from the Elementary tournament in our last update. Congrats to Ruby Kovach for earning 1st place in STEM design challenge!
THANK YOU TO KRISTIN JANTZ FOR LEADING THE SCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM
NURSES CORNER
MAY, "EYE" SEE YOU
May is Healthy Vision Month! Although we tend to think of older adults as being more prone to vision problems, preschoolers and young children may not see as well as they should. Up to 10% of preschoolers and 25% of school-aged children have a vision disorder that can impact learning and quality of life. Vision screening and comprehensive eye exams are complementary methods for evaluating vision disorders in children. Vision screening can help identify children who have or are at risk for developing vision disorders such as amblyopia, strabismus, and various refractive errors.
In partnership with Prevent Blindness North Carolina (PBNC), Mrs. Skoff will be conducting vision screening for all 1st grade students next week. Most children receive eye examinations and vision screening during their annual well-child visit with their pediatrician or health care provider. Voyager Academy’s annual vision screening is meant to be provided as a resource for students and families and may help identify any new changes in a child’s vision. The screening procedures provided by Mrs. Skoff through PBNC have been developed and approved by national groups and professional organizations including the Expert Advisory Committee of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and American Academy of Ophthalmology
PBNC’s vision screening is not a diagnostic exam. We will be using the LEA Symbols chart or Snellen eye chart and the vision screen only takes a few minutes. Parents will only be notified for students who may need a referral for additional follow-up.
If you have a child that is not currently in 1st grade but would like for them to receive a vision screening as part of May’s Healthy Vision month, please email Mrs. Skoff cskoff@voyageracademy.net
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
The Student Support Services Team would like to thank everyone who attended our sessions this year, and to encourage those who can, to please check out the resources that we have posted on our website from this year's sessions (https://voyagercounseling.wixsite.com/home). Scroll down about half-way to begin accessing this year's materials! It is our hope that we have been able to provide rich, informative, and meaningful sessions to our Voyager community! For those who would like to view either of the recent Parent Enrichment Sessions, please view the following links:
Gender and Sexuality - https://youtu.be/39sI6qOolc0
Nourishing Children with Picky Eating Behaviors - https://youtu.be/fA0yagpR-LY
Child safety is an area of concern that matters to and impacts us all! We kindly ask that everyone please mind the laws and safety regulations that govern child safety while in the carline. Children should be buckled up and properly restrained at ALL times when in the carline, EVEN while the carline is stationary. Children should NOT be hanging out of windows, tapping on roofs, or be half-way in the car as the car is pulling off. Please be aware that EACH car is carrying, dropping off, and picking up the MOST precious cargo that we can possibly carry - our children! Let's all be safe! Please make sure the children in the car with you are properly buckled and restrained, and that they are inside the vehicle at ALL times!
VIKING SUMMER CAMP
The last day to register is May 6th. We have added wrap-a-round care to students participating in the Summer Bridge program. Voyager Academy's 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. Parents wanting wrap-a-round (before and after care) can register online in the Titan school store.
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.
BEFORE AND AFTERSCHOOL 2022-23
Planning for the 22-23 school year is gearing up! Registration will begin on or after July 18, 2022. An email will be sent with all the details over the summer. We are hopeful for a full staff of energetic and engaged after care workers. Please keep in mind as the job market continues to fluctuate, so will the number of slots available in aftercare. I encourage all families to anticipate a waitlist and make alternate plans for the coming year. If you know someone wanting to join our team, please have them email the Operations Manager or apply online at https://nc.teachermatch.org/jobsboard.do?districtId=569410884
SCHOOL PAYMENTS IN TITAN SCHOOL STORE
The Family Portal is where families pay your school fees, manage your students accounts, apply lunch funds and apply for free and reduced meals. When making purchases, you will need to visit the "Store," which is on the left hand side of the Home screen. The one time payment and recurring payment features are where you apply funds for lunch orders. Select the Categories button to filter through the list of items available in the store. Then select the item you are wanting to purchase for your student. If you have trouble logging into your account or have questions, call or email the Titan Support team. Support is available from 7 AM to 7 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, to answer your family portal questions at (844) 467 4700, option 2. Refunds are issued at the school level.
Please settle all accounts on Titan before June 1, 2022. Negative balances will need to be brought current before the end of the school year. If your child will be returning to Voyager Academy, any remaining balance will automatically carry-forward to next school year. If your child will NOT return to next year, you can donate the funds or request a refund. If you have another child currently enrolled at school, you can transfer the funds to that student inthe Family portal. You will need to notify finance of your decision by completing this form.
LUNCH PROGRAM
On full day field trips, classes will not be on campus to eat hot lunch. Please be sure to cancel your lunch order for those days in LINQ. If you need assistance, please email foodnutritionservices@voyageracademy.net.
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.
May Menu IS LIVE!
Nutrition and Fitness
The winning recipe for a healthy lifestyle includes a combination of both good nutrition and physical activity. Your body needs a variety of nutrient rich foods to grow and prevent illness. And your body also needs to move and exercise everyday.
Key things you need to know about leading a healthy lifestyle are:
Eat a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables and whole grain products
Control portion sizes and never "supersize"
Get active for at least 60 minutes, five times a week for ages 6-18
Avoid tobacco and illegal drugs all together
Well-nourished students have higher test scores, increased school attendance, improved concentration, and improved classroom behavior. Students, who are physically fit, sleep better and are better able to handle the physical and emotional challenges that they encounter during the day.
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 POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR BEFORE AND AFTER CARE
Competitive hourly rate
Great staff and friendly children
Organized programming for before and after care
Apply on employment site on Voyager website under “About Voyager”
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”