Viking Weekly News
January 6, 2023
Dear Voyager Community,
Happy New Year to our Voyager family!! I hope you were all surrounded over the holidays with your family and friends and enjoyed the winter break together. We are thrilled to have all our students and staff back on campus kicking off the start of the next marking period.
Teachers and staff were on campus on Wednesday preparing for the return of our students. As I’ve shared before student safety and emergency preparations are always a top priority. Our emergency response team also held a drill on Wednesday as part of our training and emergency preparedness. I want to reassure our parents that Voyager has a thorough Emergency Action Plan as well as a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan. AED’s are located in each of our school buildings as well as the turf field. We have over 30 staff members across campus that are CPR trained and ready to respond to an emergency.
Voyager Academy is the first school in Durham to receive the Heart Safe School distinction from Project ADAM!
In light of the recent incident that occurred during this week’s Monday Night NFL football game, awareness of sudden cardiac emergencies has been brought to the forefront of many people’s minds. Project ADAM began in 1999 after the death of Adam Lemel, a 17-year-old Whitefish Bay, WI, high school student who collapsed and died while playing basketball. Adam suffered a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), in which ventricular fibrillation occurred, a condition in which the ventricles cannot pump blood into the body. Defibrillation, or an AED, could have saved his life.
Adam’s parents collaborated with Children’s Hospital Wisconsin to create this program in
Adam’s memory. Today, there are more than 30 affiliate children’s hospitals unified in their
mission to provide comprehensive and sustained Heart Safe School programming across the
country.
Voyager parent, and Duke cardiac nurse, Leigh Pederson has been working with our school over the year to have Voyager certified as a Heart Safe School. I’m proud to share that Voyager is
the first school in Durham to receive the Heart Safe School distinction from Project ADAM!
Voyager Academy was awarded the Heart Safe School distinction on January 4th from Project ADAM and affiliate partner Duke Children’s Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center. Voyager has been working diligently with the team at Duke Children’s and Project ADAM over the past year to design and implement CPR and AED training for teachers, coaches and staff, as well as developing emergency action plan preparedness for sudden cardiac arrest. A school with Project ADAM Heart Safe School distinction has successfully implemented a quality sudden cardiac arrest program of awareness, training, and effective emergency response in an effort to promote a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors.
A huge thank you to our amazing Voyager teachers, staff, and administrators that participated in
our certification practice drill on January 4, 2023. And a special shout out to our staff that
obtained or renewed their AED/CPR certifications. Each building now has at least 10 teachers
or staff members trained and certified to perform CPR and ALL of our in-season sports coaches
hold active CPR certifications! Special thanks to Chelsea Skoff, school nurse, and Voyager parent and Duke nurse, Leigh Pederson, as well as Leslie Pace, Danielle Sturkey, and Dr. Salim Idriss at Duke Children’s for your support and partnership!
To learn more about Project ADAM and Heart Safe schools, click here:
https://www.projectadam.com/Heartsafeschools
Learn the tools that can help save someone’s life! To get certified in baby, child, and/or adult
CPR, click here: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class
2023 -2024 Application Process is Open
The 2023-2024 application process is now open. Please remember to submit an application by the February 28, 2023 deadline for any siblings that you would like to enroll for the 2023-2024 school year. Students that are already enrolled at Voyager do not need to reapply. Information, resources, and the timeline for the application and lottery process are under the admissions tab on the website. We will be hosting a virtual information night on February 1, 2023 for all prospective families. Voyager continues to strive to reach a diverse demographic that reflects our community. Please reach out to your friends and neighbors and share information about our wonderful school community. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee will be recruiting at area preschools and community centers. Voyager also partners with the Head Start program and has already shared our school brochures and participated in their open house.
Student Award Winners
Five 8th graders entered the Patriot's Pen essay contest in October. The Patriot’s Pen essay contest sponsored by the local VFW Post 2740 theme for 2022-2023 was "My Pledge to Our Veterans".
1st Place ($300) Sophie Chorosevic
2nd Place ($200) Jake Brennan
3rd Place ($100) Bernadine Dela Pena
Rotary 4 Way Essay contest
1st Place ($125) Bernadine Dela Pena
3rd Place ($50) Evelyn Leonard
Congratulations to our student winners on their accomplishment!
Go Vikings Go!
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. Have a great weekend!
All the best,
Upcoming Dates:
01/05 - MOY mClass Assessments begin
01/11 - Report Cards Issued
1/16/23 - Voyage into Service (NC Diaper Bank), 9-10:30a (time change)
1/26/22 - Board Meeting
1/26 - MOY mClass Assessments End
Our CDC COVID-19 Community Level is: MEDIUM
**Masks are ENCOURAGED indoors if you or a loved one are at risk of severe illness**
If you have symptoms of illness, COVID-19 testing is highly recommended
People with a positive test for COVID-19 MUST wear a mask for 10 days.
People with symptoms or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.
In light of the recent incident that occurred during this week’s Monday Night NFL football game, awareness of sudden cardiac emergencies has been brought to the forefront of many people’s minds. Project ADAM began in 1999 after the death of Adam Lemel, a 17-year-old Whitefish Bay, WI, high school student who collapsed and died while playing basketball. Adam suffered a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), in which ventricular fibrillation occurred, a condition in which the ventricles cannot pump blood into the body. Defibrillation, or an AED, could have saved his life. Adam's parents collaborated with Children's Hospital Wisconsin to create this program in Adam's memory. Today, there are more than 30 affiliate children’s hospitals unified in their mission to provide comprehensive and sustained Heart Safe School programming across the country.
On January 4th, 2023 Voyager Academy was awarded the HeartSafe School distinction from Project ADAM and affiliate partner Duke Children’s Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center. Voyager has been working diligently with the team at Duke Children’s and Project ADAM over the past year to design and implement CPR and AED training for teachers, coaches and staff, as well as developing emergency action plan preparedness for sudden cardiac arrest. A school with Project ADAM Heart Safe School distinction has successfully implemented a quality sudden cardiac arrest program of awareness, training, and effective emergency response in an effort to promote a safe environment for students, staff, and visitors. Voyager is proud to share that we are the first school in Durham to earn the HeartSafe School distinction from Project ADAM!
A huge thank you to our amazing Voyager teachers, staff, and administrators that participated in our certification practice drill on January 4, 2023. And a special shout out to our staff that obtained or renewed their AED/CPR certifications. Each building now has at least 10 teachers or staff members trained and certified to perform CPR and ALL of our in-season sports coaches hold active CPR certifications!
Special thanks to Voyage parent and Duke nurse, Leigh Pederson, as well as Leslie Pace, Danielle Sturkey, and Dr. Salim Idriss at Duke Children’s for your support and partnership!
To learn more about Project ADAM and HeartSafe schools, click here: https://www.projectadam.com/Heartsafeschools
Learn the tools that can help save someone’s life! To get certified in baby, child, and/or adult CPR, click here: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class
COMING UP! - Voyager Academy’s K-12 Community Service Initiative: Mark your calendar for the next “Voyage into Service” event! This is a school-wide volunteer opportunity that is available to all students, parents, and staff throughout K-12! We invite and encourage all of those who are interested in serving to join us Monday, January 16th from 9-10:30a for our second 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 - each parent, child, and staff member, must fill this out.
*Volunteer guarantees that they are not feeling ill before their shift.
Masks are optional; 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
Certificates of Participation will be awarded to everyone in attendance AND there will be a raffle for a few sweet give-aways!
School Attendance Matters: We love having your children at school all school year; unfortunately, winter weather can take a toll on school attendance. Snow and rain can make it hard to get your children to school, as can illnesses such as colds, flu, fevers, earaches and Covid-19. These absences, even if they are excused, break the routine of daily attendance that contributes to students feeling connected and engaged in learning. Please consider these steps to keep your children healthy and in school this winter: Promoting Good Attendance all Winter Long. If you need any support around attendance and/or want to brainstorm additional ways to ensure that your children are present and on-time each day, please feel free to reach out to your building Administrator or any member of the Student Support Services Team:
Dr. Monique Link, School Social Worker: K-12, 919-433-3301 X 146
Mrs. Chelsea Skoff, School Nurse: K-12, 919-433-3301 X 247
Mrs. Melissa Meckes, School Counselor: Elementary, 919-433-3301 X 188
Mrs. Tonya Farrish, School Counselor: Middle, 919-433-3301 X 206
Ms. Savannah Purdy, School Counselor: Middle and High, 919-433-3301 X 144
Ms. Jill O’Kane, School Counselor: High, 919-433-3301 X 326
National Human Trafficking Awareness Month: January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The U.S. Department of State defines human trafficking as a crime in which traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults or children by compelling them to perform labor or engage in commercial sex acts. NC ranks 9th in the nation with 260 human trafficking cases in 2020. Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes in the US and a serious issue impacting NC. January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Show your support by wearing blue and taking pictures using the hashtag: #WEARBLUEDAY.
Don’t Forget: The 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is up and running. 9-8-8 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. That could include:
Thoughts of suicide,
Mental health and/or substance use crises, or
Any kind of emotional distress.
Individuals can call or text 9-8-8 or chat https://988lifeline.org/ for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. 9-8-8 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where a person lives in the United States, a trained crisis counselor can help in the right location. Please see the English and Spanish PDFs for more information about the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Attention:
Spring 2023 Enrichment Registration will CLOSE on January 13, 2023!
Once registration closes I will send out information if there are courses that did not meet the minimum requirement for number of students. If we do have to close any then I will start the process for refunds for the students signed up. If your child is enrolled in Soccer Shots the jerseys have arrived and will be given to the child’s teacher closer to the start of enrichments to go home with the student. If you have any specific questions please feel free to reach out to me Taylor Thomas at tthomas@voyageracademy.net.
Current Before and After care families ONLY. Please make sure you have officially switched your information over to the YMCA. They will now be your point of contact for before/aftercare.
Celebrate National Milk Day
National Milk Day is January 11.
