Hi Middle School Families,
Wow, what a terrific week and it’s Friday. Our students had a great week of learning from beginning their next project to preparing for quizzes to getting ready for their next tasks.
As most of you know, our 5th grade Science teacher needed to resign (her choice) due to some ongoing health issues. We were very sad to have Mrs. Yow leave. Sometimes it is very difficult to hire a teacher this time of year but we feel extremely fortunate that we received a resume from Sarah Sallie Hambrick, After interviewing Mrs. Hambrick we knew that our students would be in great hands. Mrs. Hambrick is excited about teaching science to our fifth grade students. Mrs. Yow left some great resources for Mrs. Hambrick. According to the students, Mrs. Hambrick is doing a great job!
We completed our Check Ins last week and you should have received an ISR (Indivual Student Report). Your Math, ELA, along with 5th and 8th grade Science teachers should have sent the reports to you. The ELA and Math reports look a little different from what we are used to receiving and the 5th and 8th grade science reports look very similar to previous years. We did not make the changes, the Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh decided on a different format.
This year we are recognizing our students for the work they are doing. We have Honor Roll for our 4th - 8th grade students. Our Honor Roll students are determined by their report card which means they need to pass all subjects. For A Honor Roll, students need to make a 90 or above on all subjects and for our AB Honor Roll, students need to make an 80 or above.
We are also recognizing students who demonstrate our Core Values, along with an outstanding Visual Arts student and a Performing Arts student.
Student learning songs in English and Spanish and share with the elementary students.
This week our students interested in boys’ basketball and girls’ basketball had tryouts and are now in the practice stage. I know Coach Patterson, boys’ coach, and Coach Boyd, girls’ coach, had a very difficult time making decisions. We congratulate all who made the team AND all who tried out.
Just a reminder that in order to stay on the team, students must pass 4 of their 5 classes. So we will be spot checking grades each week.
This year we are also sending info to you through a Google Doc to let you know if your student is performing well along with a Google Doc notifying you that your student is not submitting all work or that your student is not making all passing grades.
We are proud of all of our students and know that all can be very successful!
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.
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 not feeling well, 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.
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 YB26880
Directions when ordering yearbook through Strawbridge.
First, I go to www.strawbridge.net. Then, click on the red order now in the top right corner. When prompted, I entered code, YB26880 and clicked find. After that I was able to start my online order.
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:
Yesterday, Thursday, we had 22 students who were tardy. Just a reminder that students need to be in the classroom no later than 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. Students who are late miss the morning assignments as well as an overview of the day.
Tardy Letters have been emailed or mailed to several. We will continue to follow the process that is stated in the Parent Student Handbook. We will follow the Tardy/Attendance procedure that is in the Student- Parent 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
Gwen Johnson
MS Principal
919-433-3301
gjohnson@voyageracademy.net