Dear Voyager Community,
Happy Friday!!!!! We are in the home stretch with the last week of school ahead. The past few weeks have been so exciting and filled with events, concerts, plays, awards ceremonies, and project celebrations along with all the joy of learning. Thank you to our students, parents, and staff for your partnership on the educational journey this year. Students are working hard on all end of year testing and we know they are trying their best. I am excited for our upcoming end of year celebrations and the 2022 graduation next week.
This week I wanted to recognize and thank our School Board and Foundation Board for their leadership and support throughout the year. I also wanted to extend a special thank you to 3 board members who are finishing their terms this year for their dedication and service to Voyager:
Shalondra Greenlee, Board Member
Marlee Krieger, Board Member and Chair
Shawn Ryan, Board Member and Board Secretary
Board Updates on Capital Improvements
Thank you to the K-12 arts team and the building principals for your input and ideas for the new arts building project. After careful review of all recommendations the plan discussed with the board would create 7 new classrooms for all performing arts in the new building along with a stage, auditorium with 400 seat capacity, lobby, office area, and light/sound room to meet the needs K-12. The visual arts classes will remain in the school buildings. This will also free up 7 classrooms in each of the current school buildings that can be repurposed to meet other school needs.
The Foundation board approved moving forward to the next step and presented all details to the school board. The school board approved moving to the next phase of architectural drawings and preliminary budgets. A final decision to build will be made after the drawings and budget are completed and reviewed and approved by the board. We anticipate that the drawings and budget process may take 6 months.
The Foundation board also reviewed the status of planned capital improvement projects and approved the allocation for capital projects for 22-23. The list of improvements that will be coming soon include the following: high school lobby floor replacement, server updates and backup generator for the server, new playgrounds for MS and ES, new HVAC unit for MS, gym floor refinishing at the MS and HS, painting the MS and HS gym, awnings for the MS and ES, and fencing around the back of the MS and field perimeter to improve safety. Please keep in mind that there are supply chain issues and contractor shortages so the timing may not be as quick as we would like. Although, we will continue to work hard to ensure all projects are completed as quickly as possible and within budget.
Academic Updates on AIG and NCVPS
Thank you to Michele Harris for joining the board meeting and presenting the 2022-2025 AIG Plan for board approval. There was a great deal of discussion, interest, and enthusiasm for initiatives to support AIG students.
The board also discussed the course changes at the high school and the expansion of the NCVPS program. High school course options are driven by student interest and enrollment. In the past few years course requests for engineering classes have declined and interests in core electives has increased. As a result, the high school team proposed the idea of converting one of the CTE positions to an English Teacher and the other CTE position to an online NCVPS option to offer more course options for students and add additional schedule flexibility.
Courses taught online through NCVPS are led by certified instructors, and allow for scheduling flexibility to meet student interests, allow for the expansion of two additional elective sections which would reduce other class sizes, and increase the flexibility for scheduling incoming late entrants at the start of the year, as well as provide Voyager with additional state funding.
There will be 9 additional courses offered through NCVPS to meet student interests for the 22-23 school year. Emails were sent to parents and students that selected Personal Finance, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship so they can be scheduled first for the new course options. The NCVPS online courses that will be offered next year include: Animal Science, Accounting I, Career Management, Entrepreneurship I, Marketing, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint,Workforce Ready, Leadership Development, and Success 101. Course descriptions and additional information will be posted on the high school website. The NCVPS courses will be completed on campus and supervised by a Voyager Online Facilitator.
Congratulations to MS Award Winners
Each year, the City of Durham conducts a Water Conservation Poster Contest. This year's theme was "Slow the Flow: Save H2O." Participation supported 8th Grade Science content and was a Core Connections opportunity.
Voyager 8th-graders Landon Oakley and Cynthia Balin won 1st Place and 3rd Place respectively for their exceptional artwork.
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:
5/24 - Kindergarten Project Celebration (11:00)
5/24 – 5th Grade Shark Tank Project Celebration
5/25 - MS 8th Grade Celebration - 8:45 am
5/26 - High School Graduation (Carolina Theater)
NURSE’S CORNER
SUMMER TO DO LIST FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
Summer vacation is just around the corner! And it’s a great time to plan ahead and make sure you have all health and medical needs in place for your student’s return to school in August. Here are some friendly reminders:
· 7th grade vaccines – (1) dose Tdap and (1) dose meningococcal conjugate REQUIRED for all rising 7th graders, should be completed BEFORE the first week of school.
· 12th grade vaccines – (1) booster dose meningococcal conjugate REQUIRED for all rising 12th graders, should be completed BEFORE the first week of school.
· Keep COVID-19 vaccines up to date – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. For additional information about COVID-19 vaccines and eligibility for boosters, please click here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines
· Update School Health and Action plans – If your student has (or will need) a school health or action plan please make sure to have the plan updated and ready to turn in at the start of next school year. Even if your student had a plan for the 2021-2022 school year, a new plan should be reviewed and authorized by the student’s healthcare provider and submitted to Voyager Academy for the 2022-2023 school year. There are a few frequently-used health plan and action plan forms available on the Voyager website (Parent Resources > Documents) or check with your child’s pediatrician for a form specific to their need. Health plans should be submitted to each building’s front office when students return to school in August.
· Update Medication Authorization forms – Students must have a Medication Authorization form completed by their healthcare provider on file for each new school year. Please find the link for 2022-2023 Medication Authorization Form with more details coming to the Voyager Academy website soon under Parent Resources > Documents.
HAVE A SAFE, HEALTHY, & HAPPY SUMMER! See you in August! , Mrs. Skoff
--
Chelsea Skoff, BSN, RN
K-12 School Nurse, Voyager Academy
Link to Voyager Academy Sick Child Policy: https://www.voyageracademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Voyager-Academy-COVID-Sick-Policy.pdf
Link to SPANISH VERSION-Voyager Academy Sick Child Policy: https://www.voyageracademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Voyager-Academy-COVID-Sick-Policy_Spanish.pdf
Link to Voyager Academy 5-Day Guidance Policies UPDATED 2/28/22: https://www.voyageracademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Voyager-Academy-COVID-5-Day-Guidance-and-Policies.pdf
Link to Voyager Academy COVID Guidelines FAQ: https://www.voyageracademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/COVID-19-Guidelines-FAQ.pdf
Need a COVID test? Click here for a list of Durham County Public Health COVID testing sites: https://www.dcopublichealth.org/services/communicable-diseases/coronavirus-disease-2019/covid-19-testing
STUDENT SUPPORT
May is Mental Health Month! Check out these aMAYzing websites, which are filled with resources, information, guidance, and tools to support positive mental health for anyone working with or caring for youth:
https://mhanational.org/mental-health-month (in both English and Spanish)
https://www.nctsn.org/resources/public-awareness/childrens-mental-health-awareness?page=1
https://rhyclearinghouse.acf.hhs.gov/mental-health-and-youth-homelessness-understanding-overlaps-1
2. May is also Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month! Check out the following website to learn more about the history of and the activities planned for this wonderfully celebrated month: https://fapac.org/AAPI-Resources
3. For those who would like to view the recent Parent Enrichment Night Sessions, please click on the following links:
Gender and Sexuality - https://youtu.be/39sI6qOolc0
Nourishing Children with Picky Eating Behaviors - https://youtu.be/fA0yagpR-LY
4. Transition to 9-8-8 This Summer: On July 16, 2022, 9-8-8 will become the national three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, replacing the current phone number of 1-800-273-TALK (8255). People can talk, chat or text with trained call center staff 24-hours a day, seven-days a week and 365-days a year. Call center staff can provide crisis counseling along with information on local community resources and referrals. Feel free to read more about this significant change at the following links:
5. "Thank you!" to everyone who are being mindful of the laws and safety regulations that govern child safety while in the carline. We greatly appreciate children being buckled up and properly restrained at ALL times when in the carline, EVEN while the carline is stationary. We also greatly appreciate that children have not been hanging out of windows, tapping on roofs, and have been fully inside of the car when the car is pulling off. "Thank you!" Let's all continue to work together to keep our most precious cargo - our children - safe!
BEFORE AND AFTERSCHOOL 2022-23
The last day of aftercare is May 24th. We will have our end of year celebration on Monday, May 23rd. Registration for 2022-23 SY 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
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 & SCHOOL NUTRITION
Here are a couple of key notices for the Month of May.
There will be no lunch service on the last day of school May 25th.
It's Testing Season. Please cancel any meals for days your student is not on campus due to testing. Meals not cancelled will be charged to the students account.
End of Year parties - If your students class is planning a EOY celebration like a pizza party or similar, please cancel your students meal for that day.
All account balances need to be settled by May 30th.
All refund request need to be submitted by June 1st by completing this form.
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”