Viking Weekly News
February 10, 2023
Dear Voyager Community,
It was an exciting week on campus celebrating Teacher and Staff Appreciation. Thank you to our PTSO for all the special events held this week to support our teachers and staff. Thank you to our students and families that contributed with notes, treats, flowers, a grab and go breakfast, gift cards, and a fabulous lunch. Our team appreciated all the support, kindness, and recognition. We are so fortunate to have such an incredible partnership with our families and community which create a joy filled learning environment for all.
School Calendar Update
The calendar committee met to review and update the 23-24 school calendar. Remote learning days were previously approved to be added to the school calendar. However, the State Department of Instruction has recently provided new guidance on the use of remote learning days. Remote instruction may be used when schools are unable to open due to severe weather, energy shortages, power failures or other emergency situations. The days may be scheduled prior to the anticipated event or after the fact. Remote instruction for emergency closure is limited to 5 days or 30 hours.
The calendar committee provided a revised 23-24 calendar which complies with this updated guidance for board review. The start date and the last day of the 23-24 school year did not change. The team also created a draft 24-25 school calendar for board review. Both calendars were shared with the board and approved at the January board meeting. Links to both calendars are provided below for your reference and posted on the school website.
Culture and Climate Survey Coming Soon
Demonstration of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement is part of our Cognia accreditation requirements. We will be reaching out to all of our key stakeholders, students, families, and staff in the near future with an important culture and climate survey because your thoughts and opinions matter. Your input allows us to continue the great work at Voyager and identify areas in need of improvement so that we continue to offer the best learning experience for all of our students, a great work environment for our staff, and a strong sense of community where everyone belongs.
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:
2/6-2/10 - Staff Appreciation Week
2/6-2/10 - Kids Heart Challenge at Elementary School
2/6-2/10 - Kindergarten and First Grade Mid-Year Math Assessment
2/10 - Super Bowl Friday at Elementary School
2/15 - 3rd Grade Project Celebration
2/16 -2/17 – No School Teacher Work Days
2/20 – Remote Learning / Work Day
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. 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 Communities and Families Rising (formerly Head Star) and has already shared our school brochures and participates in their open house events.
WEEKLY NURSES UPDATE:
Let’s get cooking with some heart-based nutrition. A heart strengthening diet prioritizes veggies, whole grains, and fish and limits processed foods high in sugar and salt. The following foods are the foundation of a heart-healthy eating plan.
Vegetables such as leafy greens (spinach, collard greens, kale, cabbage), broccoli, and carrots
Fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges, pears, grapes, and prunes
Whole grains such as plain oatmeal and brown rice (which are also naturally gluten-free!) and whole-grain bread or tortillas.
Fat-free or low-fat dairy foods such as milk, cheese, or yogurt
Protein-rich foods:
Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna, and trout)
Lean meats such as skinless chicken, 95% lean ground beef, pork tenderloin or turkey
Eggs
Legumes such as kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, black-eyed peas, and lima beans
Foods high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats:
Canola, corn, olive, safflower, and sunflower oils
Nuts such as walnuts, almonds, and pine nuts
Nut and seed butters
Avocados
Living that nut-free lifestyle? Try snacking on pumpkin or sunflower seeds, or considering adding a tablespoon of hemp, chia or flax seeds to your favorite fruit and veggie smoothie recipe.
Trying new foods isn’t always a child’s (even some adults’) favorite activity, so consider making it a family event and all members participating. Host a “Family Taste Test Night” and try cooking and exploring different heart-healthy recipes. Let children help you pick out recipes and include them in shopping for ingredients at the grocery store. When it comes time to prepare and cook, invite your children into the kitchen to help. Maybe they can help you read and follow the recipe, measure and mix together ingredients, or chop and prepare foods. When the cooking is finished, enjoy a family dinner together and talk about the new foods! Talk about how it tastes, different textures, and how these foods can help support strong, healthy hearts.
For recipe collections from the American Heart Association click here: https://recipes.heart.org/en/
For fun, kid friendly versions click here: https://recipes.heart.org/en/collections/lifestyles/kid-friendly
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
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?!
Voyager Academy will not be offering a full day summer camp this year, however we will offer summer enrichments. Information regarding summer enrichment programs will be coming in the next few weeks. To help you plan we will have several enrichment options to choose from for the month of June. Enrichments will be offered Monday through Thursday.
Sessions will be broken up into the following options: 9:00 am – 11:00 am, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm, or a full day session that will run 9:00 am – 1:30 pm. More information coming soon.
Middle School Athletics
The boys basketball team (16-3, 11-1) clinched the #1 seed in the TNAC tournament after beating Vance Charter, 45-22 this past Tuesday evening. 8th grader McKinley Hemsley had a game high 16 points. Fellow 8th grader DJ Lindsey had 7 points, including two deep three pointers in the first half. The 8th grade boys were recognized prior to the start of their game on Thursday against Oxford Prep. Thank you, 8th graders, for being part of our team! The Vikings are back in action next week for the conference tournament. Game schedule will be released today via our social media accounts.
The girls basketball team (2-13, 1-10) dropped a hard fought battle this past Tuesday to the Vance Charter girls basketball team, 25-21. 8th grader Calise Crawford led the Vikings with 11 points while 7th graders Arley Perryman and Lauren Jones had 3 and 2 points respectively. The team recognized their three amazing 8th graders yesterday after the game. For a special treat, 8th grader Soleil Farr sang the national anthem prior to the start of the boys game and did an amazing job! Thank you to our incredible 8th graders, Calise Crawford, Soleil Farr, and Cindy Combs!
Special shout out to our cheerleaders who did an amazing job this winter and was incredibly supportive of both our girls and boys basketball teams. They always got the crowd involved and their halftime routine was always a joy to watch. The squad will miss their five 8th graders, but I am sure we will see them on the sidelines again soon!
This week in Middle School Athletics:
TNAC Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament: February 13th, 15th, 17th TBA
Middle School Notes:
Our Athletic Boosters Club needs parent volunteers to help work our athletic events. Funds raised through Athletic Boosters go towards awards, banners, athletic banquets, and other important items needed by our middle and high school athletic departments. For more information please email athleticboosters@voyageracademy.net. Next Athletic Boosters Club meeting will be Wednesday, February 15th at 6:00pm in the high school conference room
The middle school fall & winter athletic awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, February 22 at the middle school gym from 6:00 – 7:30pm.
Spring tryouts for middle school baseball, softball, girls’ soccer, and boys tennis will be starting at the end of February/beginning of March. Details will be released as we get closer to tryouts. In the meantime, please make sure your child is registered and has a valid physical at the following link: https://voyageracademy-ar.rschooltoday.com/
High School Athletics
Congratulations to the women’s swim team as they took home 2nd place overall in Regionals this past Saturday at the Triangle Aquatic Center. In addition, the women’s 200 free relay took home 2nd place in the Region and dropped 3 seconds off their PR! At the time of writing this, members of the women’s team were competing in the 1A/2A State Championships. We will have results on how they did in next week’s newsletter.
The JV men’s basketball team (20-0, 9-0) remains undefeated on the season as they continue to roll over opponents. The Vikings have wrapped up conference play and have one game remaining at Discovery Charter next week.
The men’s varsity basketball team (14-7, 9-1) bounced back from their first conference loss by beating Vance Charter on Tuesday, 68-48 and Oxford Prep 72-37. The men share the regular season TNAC title with Henderson Collegiate and was awarded the #2 seed in the upcoming TNAC tournament next week. Information on game times and schedule will be posted on our social media accounts once they have been released.
The women’s basketball team (12-6, 7-3) dropped their first conference game last Thursday with a loss to Roxboro, 53-39. The team finished 2nd overall in the conference and will host the first round of the women’s tournament next week. More information to be posted on our social media accounts once the conference has released their schedule.
Our wrestling team (aka: Senior Logan McElroy), has completed his regular season with a 12-9 overall record and has earned a spot at Individual Regionals this weekend. Best of luck to Logan as he competes for the East Regional Championship in the 138# division.
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:
Our Athletic Boosters Club needs parent volunteers to help work our athletic events. Funds raised through Athletic Boosters go towards awards, banners, athletic banquets, and other important items needed by our middle and high school athletic departments. For more information please email athleticboosters@voyageracademy.net. Next Athletic Boosters Club meeting will be Wednesday, February 15th at 6:00pm in the high school conference room
Spring tryouts will begin February 13th. Please make sure you are registered and have an updated physical. You can register for a spring sport at the following link:
Interested in playing golf this spring? Please email Coach Scearce: cole.scearce@gmail.com
The high school fall & winter athletic awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 2nd at the high school gym. More details to come when we get closer.
Go Vikings, Go!
Jordan Gatcomb, Athletic Director
