Viking Weekly News
Dear Voyager Community,
It’s been another exciting week on campus. Voyager continues to celebrate and recognize black history month through lessons, announcements, and special programs. On Friday afternoon, our Middle School students will showcase a student led Black History Month program featuring, songs, dance, performance, and poetry that are representative of different time periods. The elementary school hosted an outside theatre performance featuring a production on George Washington Carver and Friends and their amazing discoveries in the field of science and technology.
The school board met last night for the monthly board meeting to review school governance, finance, safety, academics, personnel, and operations. The agenda and reports are shared on the school website under the Board of Directors tab under the February meeting. Highlights and updates on school projects are outlined below.
High School Outdoor Classroom/ Reflection Space
The board approved the expenditure using grant funding and the landscaper has been given the approval to move forward with the project. The project will be completed before the end of the school year.
Awnings
We are waiting for the permit approval from the City of Durham. The elementary school is scheduled for installation over spring break but I am getting concerned with the delay from the city and whether we will be able to stay on track. The Middle School is scheduled for a summer installation.
New Arts Building
The architect incorporated feedback from our staff and has revised drawings to meet our needs. Drawings were shared with the contractor for a cost projection. We anticipate that final architectural drawings, renderings, and a cost projection will be shared with the school board in March for final approval.
Budget and Contracts
We are still reviewing all budget input and finalizing the K-12 Voyager 23-24 budget. We will be sharing the first draft with the finance committee at their March meeting and sharing with the full board at the board meeting on March 23, 2023.
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Culture and Climate Survey Coming Soon
Our culture and climate survey will allow us to capture the voice of our students, families, and staff through research backed studies that help guide improvement in schools. Continuous improvement is critical for the long-term growth of our students. Research shows that topics like school climate, relationships, engagement, and school safety are critical levers for promoting student and school-wide success. Measuring and implementing community feedback is part of our Cognia accreditation process and will help guide our future strategic planning process.
The rosters and surveys are being finalized and will be shared with all staff, students, and families next week. A student video will accompany the information to share why this survey is important. We want to achieve 100% participation. More details to follow soon.
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 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:
2/23 - Brite Star Theater Presentation at Elementary School
2/27 -1st Grade Project Celebration
3/1 - High School Fall/Winter Athletic Awards 6pm
3/4-3/5 - HS Choir & Band: Koste Classic (Richmond, VA)
3/7 - ACT/CCRAA/ EXTEND 1 (all 11th graders)
3/18 - Voyage into Service (final event): NC Diaper Bank, 9:30-11:30a
3/20-3/24 STEM week at Voyager Elementary
3/20- Vaping 101 Session with 9th graders (Poe Center)
3/21- Vaping 101 Session with 6th, 7th, 8th (Poe Center)
3/21 - 3rd Grade Math NCCI 3
3/21 - ACT Make-ups
3/24 - Teacher Recruiting Fair - 1 pm at MS
3/25 - HS Choir & Band: Powhatan Classic (Powhatan, VA)
Prospective Board Members – Apply Now
The Voyager Board of Directors oversees the strategic direction of Voyager and supports the school in achieving our mission and vision. We are looking for candidates that might be interested in serving on our board in the future. The Board of Directors hosted an information session for people interested in applying for a position on the Voyager Board of Directors. Presentations from the information session are linked here for your review. Details about the application process are linked here for those interested in serving on the board.
2023 -2024 Student Application Process
The 2023-2024 application process is now open. Please remember to apply 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.
WEEKLY NURSES UPDATE:
In addition to Heart Health month, February is also National Children’s Dental Health Month! Our Health Spotlight #2 is focused on the importance of dental hygiene and health.
Cavities AREN’T sweet
Cavities (also known as caries or tooth decay) are one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in the United States. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking, playing, and learning. Children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t.
Tooth decay, or the presence of childhood cavities, is by far the most common childhood disease. It’s five times more common in children than asthma! The good news is that it’s also one of the most preventable diseases.
More than half of children aged 6 to 8 have had a cavity in at least one of their baby (primary) teeth.
More than half of adolescents aged 12 to 19 have had a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth.
How can parents help?
Establishing a good oral health routine with children is an important step toward their overall wellness. Kids should brush their teeth twice a day using a kid-friendly flavored fluoride toothpaste with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. Also, don’t forget about flossing to clean the areas between teeth. Most children require adult assistance with teeth brushing and flossing until around age 6 or when they develop the coordination to properly brush their teeth. Limit children’s intake of sugary foods, juices, sports drinks, and sodas. Sports injuries are responsible for up to 39% of all dental injuries in children. Wearing a mouth guard and other sports gear can reduce the risk of sport-related dental injuries.
Looking for a fun way to teach kids about dental health?
This activity book offers an interactive way for children to learn good oral health habits. It is recommended for children aged 3–8 years. https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/dental_health_activity_book_PRINT.pdf and is also available in Spanish here: https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/spanish/dental_health_activity_book_508-es.pdf
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
Great News. Summer enrichment is here. Registration is open now open until April 14th. The process will look a little different from Fall and Spring enrichment sign up. Enrichments will be offered Monday through Thursday for 3 weeks during the month of June. Beginning June 5th and ending June 22nd. There will be 3 different session times offered depending on the individual enrichment. There will be a google form used to register for each individual enrichment. Each enrichment must meet the minimum number of participants before payment will be assigned in Titan. You will receive an email letting you know that your student is being placed on the roster, based on a first come first served basis. You will have until April 14th to make the payment. If your payment is not made your spot will be forfeited and will be given to the next student. Please go to our website to see a full description of each enrichment. https://www.voyageracademy.net/resources/summer-camps/.
Voyager Academy is dedicated to making sure your child has a healthy and enjoyable School lunch. Please take a minute to take this brief Lunch Survey so that we can work together with you, your children, and our caterer to better meet their lunch needs. Thank you for your time and we appreciate all feedback. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to our nutrition department at: foodnutritionservices@voyageracademy.net
Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grants: Youth Service America (YSA) is searching for Heartwarming Young Heroes with creative ideas to foster meaningful connections, promote inclusion, and teach empathy. Awards are $50,000 in $100, $250, and $500 grants for Global Youth Service Day (April 28-30, 2023) projects. All youth ages 5-25 are eligible to apply. For more information or to apply, please click the following link: https://ysa.org/grants/hershey/ The deadline is MARCH 5th.
Laws of Life Essay Contest: This contest encourages middle school and high school students to reflect and write about a core value that means the most to them – and why.
• The program is available to all students in grades 4 through 12 across the world.
• All essay writers will be recognized by Character.org. We will also recognize the most compelling essays and feature them on our website and social media channels.
Submissions are due MARCH 23rd, and can be submitted through this online form. For more information, please click on the following link: https://character.org/laws-of-life-contest/
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen dating violence affects millions of young people every year and can include physical violence, sexual violence, psychological abuse, and stalking. If you know a young person who may benefit from learning more about healthy relationships, please share the love is respect website with him/her.
Final Voyage into Service K-12 Event: Guess what?!?! We have one more in-person “Voyage into Service” event with the NC Diaper Bank! For everyone who is interested, please sign-up at: https://x.gldn.io/e/hfSgEoGhXrb to solidify your spot today! We will be on-site on Saturday, March 18th from 9:30-11:30a. Here are the important details:
Each participant - each parent, child, and staff member, must fill out the link above.
All volunteers guarantee that they are not feeling ill before their shift.
Masks are optional; however, anyone who is not vaccinated, must wear a mask at all times.
Bring a cool drink!
Close-toed shoes are required.
Address: 1311 E. Club Blvd, Durham, 27704 - inside the green fence at the corner of Kiss Dr. and E. Club Blvd.
Contact Dr. Monique Link, School Social Worker at 919-433-3301 X 146 / mlink@voyageracademy.net with any questions or needs. Certificates of Participation will be awarded to everyone in attendance AND there will be one last raffle for a few sweet give-aways! Thank you in advance for your commitment to service and volunteerism!
February is Black History Month: February is reserved as the month to celebrate, learn about, and engage in moving and inspiring exhibits, tours, and events that will highlight the life-experiences and contributions of Black/African-American business owners, leaders, artists, and trailblazers. It is also a time to reflect on the history of this population and to understand how this amazing group of people have overcome many barriers; yet, still face challenges that impact their lives on a daily basis. Check out these links for exciting opportunities:
Visit Discover Durham to learn more about Durham’s rich Black history!
Learn more about the significant impact of African Americans in Durham through a profound and robust collection at the Franklin Research Center (Duke University)!
Fun fact: Did you know that Andre Leon Talley graduated from Hillside High School and NCCU?! Did you know that David Garrard graduated from Southern High School and ECU?! Did you know that David Noel graduated from Southern High School and UNC?!
Middle School Athletics
The boys basketball team (18-3, 11-1) were crowned as TNAC champions last Friday evening after beating #2 Vance Charter in the championship game, 44-31. The Vikings had a balanced offense and were led by their 8th graders. Ray Draughon dropped 10 points on the Knights while McKinley Hemsley and Everette Galick scored 9 points each. The team will play in one more tournament this evening before closing out their amazing season. In addition to being TNAC tournament champions the Vikings were also the TNAC regular season champions, going 11-1 on the year. Congratulations on a great season, everyone!
Middle School Fall & Winter Athletic Awards
The middle school put an official close on the fall and winter seasons after hosting their awards assembly this past Wednesday evening. Among the highlights was the incredible undefeated season that girl’s tennis had, TNAC championships won by our boys’ soccer and basketball teams, and our cheerleaders performing in a college football game!
MIDDLE SCHOOL SPRING TRYOUTS: please make sure your child is registered and has a valid physical at the following link: https://voyageracademy-ar.rschooltoday.com/
Girls soccer will have tryouts from Tuesday, March 7th – Thursday, March 9th after school on the soccer field. For tryout questions please contact Coach Mitchell: rmitchell@voyageracademy.net
Softball will have their tryouts from Tuesday, February 28th – Wednesday, March 1st after school at the Bull City Little League, field #2. For tryout questions please contact Coach Boyd: tboyd@voyageracademy.net
Boys tennis will begin their practices on Thursday, March 2nd at the Eno Swim & Racquet Club. For additional information, please contact Coach Rose: leerus@aol.com
High School Athletics
The men’s basketball team (16-9, 9-1) saw their season come to an end last night with a 73-58 road loss to #4 Neuse Charter. The #13 Vikings had advanced to the 2nd round of the NCHSAA state tournament after beating #20 Southeast Halifax, 62-58 this past Tuesday at home. In the win, Brayden Ivey (’24) and Dwight Anderson (’25) led the Vikings on offense with 17 points each. In addition, Anderson had 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals in the game. Glennis Jones (’24) finished the game with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The women’s basketball team (14-8, 7-3) continued their amazing season this past Tuesday as they hosted and beat #20 Tarboro High School, 57-48 in the 1st round of the NCHSAA state tournament. The game went to overtime after the two teams were tied at 48 at the end of regulation. First year Chloe Crawford led a balanced offensive attack for the Vikings, leading all scorers with 13 points. Juniors Rashidah Muhammad, Jaden McCullough, and Gabby Jeffers combined for 30 of the team’s 57 points. On Thursday evening the team fell in the 2nd round of the tournament losing to #4 North Duplin, 59-51.
Attention Senior Athletes and Parents!!
Will you be competing in a sport at the next level (prep. school, JUCO, 4-year college, Internationally)? Please email me with where you’re going, what you will be competing in, and include a picture of yourself playing that sport! I will put something together over the next few months to share with everyone so we can see where our student-athletes are going!
Important Notes:
The high school fall & winter athletic awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 2nd at the high school gym.
Go Vikings, Go!
Jordan Gatcomb, Athletic Director
jgatcomb@voyageracademy.net
