Voyager Academy
Viking Weekly News
Dear Voyager Community,
I hope you all enjoyed your Fall break as much as I did spending time with family. Our students and staff had an exciting week getting back into learning and finalizing the 1st quarter of the year. Report cards will be sent out from each school building sharing academic progress.
Voyager students and staff continue to shine in the state of North Carolina. Ms. Sauer’s Core Connections class created terrariums as part of their Project Based Learning experience and entered them in the State Fair competition. I’m thrilled to share and congratulate our NC State Fair Winners: 1st Place Elyn Carpenter, 2nd Place Yasmina Benzerga, and 3rd Place Kyra Ndenga. We are so proud of them! Sixty-two students represented Voyager at the NC State Fair’s First Flower Show, Youth Ages 13 - 17, Terrarium Division. Within each container, students planted a living science model for water and nutrient cycles that also sparked their imaginations for their ELA Alien projects. Students who successfully nurtured their small worlds may now add “NC State Fair Exhibitor” on their future college applications. Our award winners are pictured below.
I’m also excited to share that our Middle School Science Teacher, Lauren Copley, is a top 10 finalist for the State Charter School Teacher of the Year. We are so proud of her accomplishment thus far and wish her well with the final stages of the selection process. Below are a couple pictures highlighting one of her engaging science lessons that I observed this week. Our 7th graders participated in the “Just Wing It” Dissection to learn more about muscles, blood vessels, nerves, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bones, and bone marrow through experiential learning.
Voyager Academy also received additional recognition from Cognia and were awarded “Accreditation with Distinction” for the 2022 school year. Voyager is also highlighted in the October/November issue of the Durham Magazine and references our Cognia Accreditation and our National School Lunch approval. Our students and staff continue to demonstrate that Voyager is an amazing school community.
The Voyager Board of Directors is also actively engaged in the strategic initiatives and governance of our school. Below the newsletter are additional details about their important role in our continued success.
Please remember 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 below. A help wanted section is also added to highlight the current open positions posted on our website. Please feel free to apply online or share with your contacts.
Check out additional details below. Have a wonderful weekend!
All the best,
Upcoming Dates to Remember:
10/22 - Kicking Cancer 5K
10/25 – PSAT
10/26- 1st Grade Human Body Project Celebration (1:30)
10/27 – Board Meeting MS Art Room
11/5 – Voyager Community Service Project - Diaper Bank (9:30-11:30a)
11/10 – Blood Drive
12/1-12/2 - Viking Troupers presents Seussical
12/13-12/21 - HS final exam
Voyager Board of Directors Overview
The Board of Directors serves an important role in the success of Voyager Academy. The Board provides oversight of the Managing Director position and works closely with the school’s administration to develop and achieve Voyager’s strategic goals both academically and financially. The board looks at the big picture while the school’s administration focuses on the day-to-day operations of the school.
To carry out its duties, the Voyager Board organizes its nine members into three committees. The Personnel Committee reviews the Managing Director’s performance, staff hiring processes, and leads the new board member application process. The Governance Committee reviews the school’s policies, developing and revising policies as needed. The Finance Committee oversees the school’s annual budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and compliance.
The Board and its committees meet regularly, typically once a month. Meetings are open to the public. Board positions are volunteer, four-year terms. For those interested in serving on the board in the next school year, the application process begins after the start of the new calendar year. Information about the board and its current members can be found on the school’s website at: https://www.voyageracademy.net/board-of-directors/. We welcome thoughts and input from everyone in the Voyager community.
Kicking Cancer 5K
We are excited to announce that the Second Annual Kicking Cancer 5K will be held on October 22nd, in Hardscrabble, at 9am. The kicking cancer 5k started from a desire to raise awareness for cancer in the Voyager Academy community as well as to support those who have battled or are still battling Cancer at the school. Last year we raised more than $7,700. We had 115 racers and many amazing volunteers. This year's 5K will be in memory of Ms. Laura McGhinnis (2022) and Coach Pete Shankle (2019) who lost their battles with cancer. Both were amazing teachers who had a strong impact on the Voyager community. We are keeping their legacy at Voyager alive through this donation in honor of all their contributions to the school. We will be making a donation to the American Cancer Society in honor of both Ms. McGhinnis and Coach Shankle. The rest of the money will be going to Ms. McGhinnis's children to help them through this time of transition.
Directions and Parking
Address: Hardscrabble Dr, Hardscrabble, NC 27278
Parking: When you arrive we will have volunteers showing you where to park.
Price
$25 for 12 and up
$20 for under 12
Bathrooms
We will have bathrooms available in the clubhouse.
Agenda
7:30- registration/check-in
9:00- Race begins
10-10:30- awards and announcements of silent auction winners.
Course
The course starts and ends at the clubhouse. You can run, jog, or walk. At the two-mile mark, we will have a water station. The course is partially in the woods and the rest is on the pavement. We will have volunteers throughout the course to guide you.
Awards
- Announced at 10-10:30
- Prizes for the top three men and women
- 1st: T-shirt and a CFA tray gift card
- 2nd: T-shirt and CFA sandwich gift card
- 3rd: T-shirt
Booths
- We will have several different booths at the race. All money will go to the McGhinnis family as well as the American Cancer Society. Cashapp, PayPal, Venmo, and cash are accepted. We will also have music from 8:30-10:30.
- Bake sale
- Donation table
- T-shirt ordering- T-shirts orders will be placed the day of. We have t-shirts available at the race and you can also place an order at the table. T-shirts can be delivered or picked up at a later date.
- Silent Auction- We will have a silent auction and the winners will be announced after awards.
- Games- we will have games for kids
- Water/Gatorade/bananas- water and bananas will be free while the Gatorade will be $1.
Sponsorships
- If you know of any business that would like to sponsor Kicking Cancer 5K is a base of $200 and counts as a tax deduction. We will post the business's logo, banner, or sign on the course or at a booth. Contact me if you have any questions or if you would like the sponsorship form at reecefernandez10@gmail.com
Registration Form
https://forms.gle/zybz6sxqfW4UP4DX8
Sponsorship Form
https://forms.gle/wtc8xMLX6Q1mgaxn7
WEEKLY NURSES UPDATE:
LIGHT UP YOUR FAMILIES HALLOWEEN IN TEAL!
Halloween is just around the corner! Costumes, jack-o-lanterns, and trick-or-treating! As you prepare your home for this holiday, please consider keeping in mind our trick-or-treaters with food allergies. According to the CDC, 1 in 13 children (or approximately 2 students per school classroom) have a food allergy. There are 8 main allergens to be aware of: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, dairy, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish.
Completely avoiding allergens can be difficult because even foods without them are sometimes made in facilities where other products that include these ingredients are processed. When considering children (and adults) with food allergies, reading the ingredients label is critical to avoid an exposure. Many foods contain allergy information written right on the box or package. If hosting a Halloween party, consider saving the ingredient labels from pre-packed foods and sharing the ingredient list for any homemade items with your guests. And always remember when sending treats and snacks into Voyager Academy for celebrations - all items must be store-bought. Please be mindful of individuals with food allergies (and it’s not just peanuts or nuts) and send in the ingredients list with the items so that information can be shared with families.
Below are some ideas for festive alternatives for candy to consider having on hand to ensure a safe and inclusive Halloween experience for ALL kiddos!
Glow sticks
Character erasers
Stickers
Bubbles, bouncy balls, or mini Slinky toys
Rings, necklaces or bracelets
Small packs of pencils, crayons, or markers
Consider having your family participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project this year. The Teal Pumpkin Project is a national campaign to raise awareness of food allergies and provide safe options for food allergic trick-or-treaters. Participants pledge to put a teal pumpkin outside their homes, indicating they have safe, non-food treats available. To find out more click here: https://www.foodallergy.org/our-initiatives/awareness-campaigns/living-teal/teal-pumpkin-project
COVID-19 COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION WEEKLY UPDATE:
The health and safety of our students, teachers, staff, and volunteers are our top priorities. Voyager Academy is following the CDC COVID-19 Community Level guidance. We sincerely appreciate your consideration.
Our CDC COVID-19 Community Level is: LOW
People may choose to wear a mask at any time.
People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccinations.
Middle School Skill Building:
Mrs. Farrish and Ms. Purdy have been providing guided classroom lessons and videos to students to help promote self-advocacy. Students were able to practice the skill related to effective communication and asking for help. Please feel free to inquire about this skill with your student!
Did You Know That October is:
· Bullying Prevention Month/National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
· Down Syndrome Awareness Month
· Crime Prevention Month
· Computer Learning Month
· Domestic Violence Awareness Month
· Dyslexia Awareness Month
· Health Literacy Month
· LGBT History Month
· National Book Month
· National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month
· Positive Attitude Month
· Breast Cancer Awareness Month
COMING UP: Voyager Academy College Fair:
· When: November 10th, 12-1p
· Where: Voyager Academy High School
· Who’s Coming (so far!): UNCG, UNCW, UNCC, ECU, Alabama, UAB, South Carolina, Gardner Webb University, Campbell University, Durham Tech, US Military Recruiters
· For Questions Contact: Ms. Jill O’Kane - jokane@voyageracademy.net
COMING UP: Voyager Academy’s Inaugural K-12 Community Service Initiative: The Student Support Services Team is pleased to announce our inaugural K-12 Community Service experience for the 2022-23 school year: “Voyage into Service.” This is a school-wide volunteer opportunity that is available to all students, parents, and staff throughout K-12! The Vision of Voyage into Service is “Building the capacity for positive regard and respect for self, others, and the world around us.” The Mission is to “Provide confident, empathic, curious, and reflective service to and throughout the community, with integrity.” We invite and encourage all of those who are interested in serving to join us Saturday, November 5th from 9:30-11:30a for our first Community Service Event: The Diaper Bank of NC (1311 E. Club Blvd, Durham, 27704 - inside the green fence at the corner of Kiss Dr. and E. Club Blvd.). The Diaper Bank of NC requires the following:
· Sign up link: https://x.gldn.io/e/hfSgEoGhXrb (Each participant must fill this out parents, children, and staff).
· *Volunteer guarantees that they are not feeling ill before their shift.
· Masks are optional for all staff and volunteers. Those who wish to continue wearing masks are encouraged to; however, anyone who is not vaccinated, please wear a mask at all times.
· Volunteers will work inside a ventilated warehouse. Please note that this area is in a warehouse that is not climate-controlled. The loading dock doors open will be open and large fans will be going, but it does get warm!
· Bring a cool drink!
· Close-toed shoes are required.
If anyone is interested in attending but needs transportation to/from the event, please contact Dr. Monique Link, School Social Worker at 919-433-3301 X 146 / mlink@voyageracademy.net
Also, if anyone will be attending who is under the age of 18, please contact Dr. Link, as this needs to be noted for the Diaper Bank on the Group Waiver form by Dr. Link. Certificates of Participation will be awarded to everyone in attendance AND there will be a raffle for a few sweet give-aways!
Before & Afterschool Care Program
Registration and the waitlist for the 2022-23 school year is closed. We have not been able to fully staff the after school program and therefore are unable to accept any new students.
On October 17, 2022, Titan sent eligibility letters to all families with an active email address in the Titan Family system. This was triggered by an internal process for families that recently applied for free/reduced priced meals. All Voyager Academy families were asked to submit household income information during the re-enrollment process in Schoolmint. That form redirected them to Titan to complete the application.
Some families qualify for free/reduced priced meals based on household income, while some students are automatically or categorically eligible through the "Direct Certification" (DC) process. Those students can also "extend" benefits to eligible children within the household. Each year across the State, School Food Authorities (SFA) are required to undergo a "verification process" in October. To begin the process, Voyager Academy's Food Nutrition Services department needed to process any new applications recently submitted in Titan. The automated system then emailed the eligibility determination letters to all families instead of just the new applicants. Approval or denial for NSLP has no impact on a families ability to participate or to not participate in hot lunch. FNS will not order lunch for a student without notifying the parent even if the student is eligible for NSLP. Voyager Academy's FNS department keeps all income information and eligibility statuses confidential.
If your family does not qualify or does not wish to participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), you can disregard the eligibility notice. You do not need to contact the school at this time.
If your family was categorically eligible through the DC process, you have the option to refuse benefits by emailing the Food Nutrition Director at foodnutritionservices@voyageracademy.net. The DC approval process happens automatically. Voyager Academy exports the file from a Secure State Server and import it to the Titan School Portal.
If you feel your family should qualify but was denied, you can file an appeal. Submit a request to the Hearing Official, Ellie Schollmeyer, at eschollmeyer@voyageracademy.net for an appeal.
If you are suffering a financial or family hardship, you can contact the school social worker, Monique Link, at mlink@voyageracademy.net for assistance.
Direct Certification, an electronic data matching process, is an important tool for ensuring that low-income children receive free breakfast and lunch without barriers. All school districts that participate in the School Nutrition Programs are required to conduct direct certification for students living in households that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Medicaid. Any child belonging to a household that participates in SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, or Medicaid (only available in some states), or children who are migrant, homeless or in foster care or Head Start are categorically eligible to receive free meals at school. Children who are categorically eligible for free school meals can be directly certified to receive free meals at school without submitting a school meal application to determine their income eligibility.
Extending categorical eligibility to additional children in the household allows children in the same household with the same household income to be determined as eligible for free school meals without a school meal application. Children who live in households that are participating in SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, and Medicaid (only available in some states) are eligible for free school meals through “extended categorical eligibility” if another child in the household has been directly certified.
Verification is the process of checking a select number of Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application. Federal rules require that we do this to make sure only eligible children get free or reduced price meals. Selected households participating in NSLP will receive an email this week requesting verifying income information. Please respond with the documentation listed in the email by 10/28/2022. If households do not respond to the verification request, they will lose their free/reduced benefits regardless of their actual eligibility for NSLP.
WHO CAN RECEIVE FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS?
All children in households receiving benefits from Food and Nutrition Services (FNS, formerly known as Food Stamps), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), are eligible for free meals. Children that receive Medicaid may be categorically eligible for free or reduced benefits based on the household income.
Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
Children participating in their school’s Federally-funded Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
Children may receive free or reduced price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.
