Dear Voyager Community,
The 2021 – 2022 school year is winding down on campus; but, the learning and enrichment programs continue to finish strong. We’ve had so many activities and programs this week it’s hard to capture all that has happened. We’ve had a 7th grade Science Fair, Middle School Talent Show, celebrated National Nurses Day to honor Ms. Skoff, and our 4th graders went to the beach for a field experience to reinforce the curriculum and their learning. AP testing at the high school is finishing up, and today was the first day of EOG testing for our third graders. Future test dates are in the calendar below. Please make sure your children get plenty of rest the night before their test and have a healthy breakfast so they do their best.
On Tuesday, May 10th, some of our Voyager students were recognized at the 2022 Durham Soil and Water Conservation District banquet for placing in the county competition. A few of these students also went on to win the regional competitions. On Friday, May 13th, 7th grader Zoe Robinson will present her public speaking entry at the State competition. Go, Zoe!
Congratulations to all of these Vikings on their great achievements!
Durham County Voyager Winners:
3rd Grade Poster 2nd Place: Karis Miller
5th Grade Poster 1st Place: Zachary Robinson
6th Grade Poster 1st Place: Bentleigh Vollers + 1st place regionals
6th Grade Poster Honorable Mention: Ryann Fleeman
6th Grade Essay 1st Place: Ena Scott-Benson + 2nd Place Regionals
6th Grade Essay 2nd Place: Mark Ian Mangonon
6th Grade Slideshow 2nd Place: Sawyer Betts
7th Grade Public Speaking: Zoe Robinson + 1st Place Regionals
I also wanted to share some additional highlights showcasing the exciting week in review.
Congratulations to our seniors that turned 18 and cast their first vote. We’re so proud of you for exercising your civic duty.
The high school concert was held this week showcasing Bull City Lights, Vocal Affinity, and Bull City Sound. They rocked the gym with their beautiful music, singing, and dance. Thank you to Ms. Whitby, Mr. Puhala, and all students for the incredible performance.
The fun and excitement continued at the high school with the senior breakfast, senior award ceremony, and the parade through each of the schools. Way to go class of 2022!! We are so proud of your accomplishments. Awards were given out for academic excellence, character, service, and arts achievement. We’re so proud of the 17 students that volunteered over 1,000 hours to earn their service laureate distinction. The Middle School Student Council raised funds and created a new scholarship award to recognize and reward a senior for student leadership. Way to go Vikings!!The link to the award ceremony brochure can be found here.
Our student athletes also continue to excel. Congratulations to the 2022 East Regional Tennis Champions. They will play for a state title on Saturday in Burlington. The Voyager Baseball team will be playing, in the third round of the state playoffs on May 17. Good luck to our Viking athletes!!! The athletic banquet is Sunday, May 15, 2022.
And finally, our elementary students were energized and engaged during the elementary school field day earlier this week.
What a wonderful week we all shared together. 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:
5/13 - 3rd Grade Math EOG
5/13 – Blood Drive at HS 9 am -2 pm
5/15 - HS Athletic Awards (senior recognition)
5/16 - 4th-6th grade ELA EOG
5/17 - 4th-6th grade Math EOG
5/18 - 3rd grade RTA re-test
5/18 – 1st grade project celebration
5/18 - 5th, 7th- 8th ELA EOG
5/18 - 5/19 -HS Teacher Made Exams
5/19 - Board Meeting
5/19 - 3rd Grade Project Celebration
5/19 - 5th, 7th, 8th Math EOG
5/20 - 5th and 8th Science EOG
5/20-5/25 - 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)
NURSE’S CORNER
CELEBRATING FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS WEEK - MAKING FOOD FUN, SAFE, AND INCLUSIVE FOR EVERYONE!
Finding meals and snacks that are safe for people with food allergies is something that every family can benefit from – whether sending in snacks for your child at school or providing treats at birthday parties and sporting events. Below are a few links to goodies, brand names, and top-rated snacks that are both delicious AND allergy-friendly.
· 15 Allergy-Free Snacks to Put on Your Radar: https://www.eatthis.com/allergy-free-snacks/
· 70 Allergy-Friendly Brands (in alphabetical order): https://www.everydayallergenfree.com/home/2018/12/5/best-list-food-allergy-brands-companies
The link below is to a podcast hosted by Daniel Kelly (an adult living with food allergies in the UK). Daniel interviews a mother of 9 and 6 year old boys who speaks about what life is like when managing food allergies. It’s an incredibly powerful podcast and worth a listen for both our families living with food allergies, and those who aren’t but may want a better understanding of a day in the life.
· Wanting the Best for Your Allergic Child: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sarah-knight-wanting-the-best-for-your-allergic-child/id1480156487?i=1000553418592
Catherine Walker is a 16-year-old high school student from Hudson, Ohio. She has allergies to dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and quinoa. She is a member of FARE’s Teen Advisory Group and published an allergy friendly cookbook where she uses cooking to help promote food allergy awareness. Pretty amazing!!! You can find her cookbook on Amazon.
· Cook It Up: Delicious Recipes for Healthy Cooking by Catherine Walker: https://www.amazon.com/Cook-Up-Delicious-Recipes-Healthy/dp/1543931391/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=cook+it+up+catherine+walker&qid=1652109993&sr=8-1
Check out allergen-friendly cooking on YouTube! The In the Kitchen with Dr. Renee and Chef Alycia series is part of FARE’s Living Teal resources and features videos on how to cook fun, allergy friendly foods that are both delicious and safe to eat.
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
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!
High School Group Interviews for Before & After Care
Group Interview for 2022-23 After School Group Leader are happening next week! You must RSVP online on SignUp Genuis. All group interviews will be held at the Voyager Academy Elementary Gym. Applicants should wear appropriate clothing, but do not need to dress up for the interview. If you have any questions about the group interview process, please don’t hesitate to email careprogram@voyageracademy.net.
Job Requirements:
Must be at least 16 years old before August 1st for the fall.
In satisfactory standing with Voyager Academy High School.
Able to lead a small group of children with minimal supervision.
All After School Group Leader applicants must attend one of the Group Interviews below:
Tuesday, May 17th from 4:30pm-5:30pm
Wednesday, May 18 from 4:30pm-5:30pm
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4AA4A623A1FB6-interview
VIKING SUMMER CAMP
SUMMER BRIDGE WRAP-A-ROUND CARE
Extended Day programs offer wrap-a-round care to students participating in the Summer Bridge program. Students will participate in daily camp activities before and after the summer bridge program with Viking Summer Camp. The cost is $112.50 per week. Camp hours are Monday - Thursday from 8:00am - 4:30 pm. All students must be picked up by 5pm.
Registration for Summer Bridge Before and After Care is on the Titan Family portal under the Summer Camp sessions. You can quickly view all camp sessions by changing the "Category" in the school store to "Summer Camp." When registering for Summer Bridge, select “Summer Bridge/Staff Student” in the drop down menu. Complete the Summer Camp Registration Form for each child at the attached link. The $30 family registration fee (1 per summer) 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. Please email careprogram@voyageracademy.net with any questions.
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 & 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.
May is Strawberry Month, and the strawberry is the official North Carolina State Red Berry. Here are some fun facts about strawberries and 10 Strawberry Recipes for National Strawberry Month.
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”