Hi Middle School Families,
Wow, we are all thankful it is Friday. Each morning this week different grade levels have been administering Check Ins - reading, math, and science (5th and 8th only). From what I have heard our students worked hard. The purpose of Check Ins is to determine where additional work is needed for our students. I look forward to reviewing the results. You will also receive a Student Report.
If you are not getting my newsletter or info regarding the report card or info regarding the Check Ins, you might want to make sure your correct email is listed in PowerSchool and that is what we use when we send information.
I want to CONGRATULATE Coach Mitchell and our boys’ soccer team. Thursday’s game against Excelsior was a tough battle but our boys held tough and won the game which was for the Championship!
We are also so very proud of our girls’ tennis team as they have worked extremely hard this year and it paid off as they won their tournament Championship! The team played lots of great games and came out on top!
Be on the lookout for Boys’ Basketball and Girls’ Basketball for tryout dates for both and a meeting with the Coach!
Our students continue to show their talents whether it’s sports, writing, fair competitions, etc. We are proud of all of you!
6th, 7th & 8th Grade Ultimate Frisbee
It's fast. It's fun. It's no contact! and It's Co-ed! Interested in playing Ultimate Frisbee? or just want to learn more about it? Parents/Guardians of all interested 6th, 7th or 8th graders, please complete the interest form at this link:
https://forms.gle/3RyFEGmAJXXLhS57A
Completing this form is not a commitment to participate, but you are simply signing up to stay informed. We hope to have an interest meeting and/or throw-arounds in the coming week or two. So providing your information on the form will help us make sure you receive information. If you have questions about VAMS Ultimate, you may contact Leslie Jewell at LeslieLJewell@gmail.com
Halloween is coming soon! If you and your family go Trick-or-Treating have lots of fun but be careful!
WEEKLY NURSES UPDATE:
As many families might be aware, the 2022-2023 Sick Policy is a little different this year compared to last year. As we head into the Fall season and we can anticipate an increase in various illnesses, it is important to remember that while some requirements for students returning to school after symptoms of illness HAVE changed, some have not. Here are some important reminders:
If your student tests positive for COVID - please let the school know as soon as possible so that we can provide you with their correct return to school date and masking guidance. ANY person that tests positive is still REQUIRED to follow the CDC guidelines for their 5-day isolation period and 10-day masking period when they return to school. This is a Durham Department of Public Health protocol and is NOT optional. Open, transparent communication between families and the school when their student tests positive for COVID helps keep everyone informed and able to make smart decisions that keep students, teachers, and staff healthy and safe.
Nobody likes to be at school/work when they are sick. If your child is feeling unwell, please keep them home from school until they are feeling better. Please reach out to your child’s teachers so that they can assist with any assignments that may be able to be completed at home and links for daily attendance. Please refer to the Voyager Sick Policy for other recommendations for students with symptoms.
Fever (100.4F and above), vomiting and/or diarrhea still REQUIRE that a student stay home from school for a minimum of 36 hours. A student may return to school once they have been symptom free without medication for at least 36 hours.
Anytime someone has a known exposure to COVID, it is a good idea to wear a mask while at school and extracurricular activities for 10 days after the exposure. Testing on day 5 is highly recommended. Voyager remains a mask-friendly environment and offers both weekly screening testing AND post-exposure rapid antigen testing by request. Email Mrs. Skoff (cskoff@voyageracademy.net) for more information on these testing services.
Anytime someone has symptoms of illness it is a good idea to test for COVID-19. A PCR test is considered the diagnostic gold standard for COVID-19. Rapid antigen tests are also great resources to test for COVID-19 infection and are readily available in the community. If using rapid antigen tests, make sure that you follow the directions outlined by the manufacturer (usually included inside or printed on the box) and remember you might need to test every day or every other day for a few days to ensure the test result’s accuracy.
You can access a copy of the 2022-2023 Voyager Academy Sick Child Policy on our website here: https://www.voyageracademy.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Voyager-Academy-Sick-Policy-2022-2023-UPDATED-8.4.22.pdf
Below are links for locations that offer FREE at-home rapid tests as well as PCR testing locations in our community:
Free At-home Test Pick-Up Locations: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/PickUpTests
Free On-Site Testing Locations: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place/no-cost-community-testing-events
Retail COVID-19 Testing Locations: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/testing-treatment/find-covid-19-tests/find-covid-19-testing-site
Everyone following these guidelines helps keep our students, teachers, and staff healthy and protects our in-person learning environment. Thank you for your understanding and support.
YEARBOOK - we are excited that Mrs. Farrish and her yearbook team are already in the process of creating the 2022 yearbook. Students are working with Mrs. Farrish!!!!!
IT’s Time to ORDER NOW!
Order you 2022-2023 Yearbook Now
Voyager Yearbook Price $30.00
Deadline April 1, 2023
Book Price After April 1 is $35.00
Your Online Code is YB108404
Our Yearbook Club Members are Sarah, Max, Elyse, Caitlin, Cindy, Brandon Reagan, Amina, Jurnee, Bernadie, Mena, Bella, Soleil, Sean, Christina, Hayley, Whitney, and Morgan. Great team!!!!!!
The 22-23 Voyager Parent Activities calendar lists all programs and activities so all families have access to the events and programs offered on campus. The calendar is posted on the school website.
To subscribe to 22-23 VA Parent Calendar
View 22-23 VA Parent Calendar on Voyager Website under the Calendar tab
Select the plus sign at the bottom right of the calendar to add to your Google calendar
This will open your Google calendar
Select other calendars, add calendar
Select subscribe to calendar
Once subscribed, Voyager events will populate on your Google calendar
Attendance and Tardies:
Just a reminder that students need to be in the classroom before 8:15 so they are not marked tardies. At 8:15 your student/child will need to enter through the front door and will need to get a tardy pass to take to the homeroom teacher.
We are having way too many tardies. Please make sure you know the Tardy Policy. A student is tardy if he or she is not in class by 8:15.
Tardy Letters have been emailed or mailed to several. We will continue to follow the process that is stated in the Parent Student Handbook.
The Titan Family Portal and LINQ Online Ordering system work together like a checking/ debit card account. All student lunch accounts must be preloaded with funds for ordering. Parents then order lunches for students based on the funds availability in their Titan account. Families who have a negative balance on the account will no longer be permitted to order lunch online. Please be sure to send your student(s) to school with lunch if no meal was ordered. If your student's lunch account currently has a negative balance, we please ask that you pay this balance as soon as possible by either form of payment:
Online at https://family.titank12.com There is a $2.80 flat fee charged by the bank per deposit online. (Example: $100 deposit + $2.80 fee = $102.80)
A check/ money order made payable to Voyager Academy. Please include your child's name and id# on the memo line. You can also use this pre-printed form.
Lunch menus are published for the month of October. The lunch ordering rule is a week in advance. If you need assistance email foodnutritionservices@voyageracademy.net.
LINQ ONLINE ORDERING - View and order student/staff meals. Website: https://family.onlineordering.linq.com
Website: https://family.titank12.com
TITAN SCHOOL STORE
Pay your school fees, manage your students accounts, and apply for free and reduced meals. Use the chart below as a guide for where to pay your fees or deposit money for lunch.
Deposits - The "one time" and "recurring payment" feature is ONLY for lunch accounts.
Assigned Fees- They are automatically assigned to the student it applies to, but you still have to select the item, complete any required fields and then add to your cart. Then you check out to make payment.
Transaction History -You can view payments & transactions.
Meal Application Status -You can check on the status by selecting the meal application in the menu to the left. Meal application status, if processed, is on the home screen.
Support Desk - If you have trouble logging into your account or have questions, call or email the Titan Support team. Support is available from AM to 7 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, to answer your family portal questions at (844) 467 4700, option 2.
Mrs. Farrish and Ms. Purdy have been providing guided classroom lessons and videos to students to help improve 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.
Voyager Academy’s Inaugural K-12 Community Service Initiative: We invite and encourage all of you who are interested in serving to join our team on Saturday, November 5th from 9:30 - 11:30 am 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.) Hope to see you there!
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 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!
Gwen Johnson MS Principal 919-433-3301 or gjohnson@voyageracademy.net