From the Voyager Academy Managing Director, April 28, 2023

Viking Weekly News

Dear Voyager Community,

It’s hard to believe that we only have one month left of school. The students and staff are working hard to finish the year strong and do their best. There are also so many exciting end of year project celebrations, field experiences, performances, and awards ceremonies. It is such an exciting time of year for everyone.

I hope everyone saw the notice sharing that the Spring Fling is being moved to Saturday due to the rainy weather anticipated on Friday night. We look forward to seeing everyone there to join in on the fun, food, and friendship.

Performing Arts

The MS team performed an incredible rendition of Matilda. Our students demonstrated their multiple talents acting, singing, and dancing. What a transformation when they were in character. The set design, tech crew, and performers did an amazing job entertaining and engaging the audience throughout the show.  We are grateful to the leadership and dedication to Heather Thompson and Leslie Wicker for creating such an incredible opportunity for our students.

Congratulations to our high school choir and band, who won the state championship at the weekend competition in Charlotte. Voyager received the following awards:

  • 1st Place Overall

  • Best Choreography

  • Best Band

  • Best Show Design

  • Best Vocals

The following students were also recognized for their talents:

  • Haegan Bryant (All-State Choir)

  • Bailey Clark (All-State Choir)

  • Jonah Ravi (Director's Award)

Winning the state championship qualifies Voyager for an invitation to perform at the NC Educators Showcase on Saturday, May 13th in Greensboro. What a tremendous accomplishment for our choir and band members. We are thankful to Max Puhala and Nate Maras for their dedication, talents, and for inspiring our Viking performers.

The High School Dance I and II classes shared a dance performance on Thursday night showcasing their learning and dance moves. The students demonstrated expressive interpretative dance movements and the crowd cheered for them. Thank you to Ms. Paradis for planning and organizing the dance showcase so our entire school community could see their talents. Below are some photos of our Viking dancers.

 

Varsity Baseball Senior Night

Congratulations to our seniors who were recognized by their team and parents at the Tuesday night game at the DAP. Daniel Higdon pitched a no-hitter and our team won the game 2-0.  Our Viking baseball team is currently tied for first place. Thank you to our Coaches for your Leadership. Go Vikings Go!


Registration and Re-enrollment for 2023 -2024 School Year Starts May 1,2023

The re-enrollment process will be starting on May 1st so that all current families can complete their updated registration and beginning of the year paperwork. Reminder emails have started to inform families that the process will begin soon. All 23-24 paperwork for returning families must be completed by May 19, 2023. Please contact your building principal immediately if your plans to return to Voyager for the 23-24 school year have changed so that we can ensure we have all seats filled on the first day of school. Please know that our school funding is based on attendance starting on the first day of school, August 9, 2023.

April Board Meeting

The April board meeting was held on Thursday night.  The board approved the 23-24 budget, along with new hires, and other motions outlined in the Managing Director report. The board documents can be reviewed on the board tab on the school website linked here.

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.  I hope to see many of you at the Spring Fling on Saturday night.  Enjoy the weekend!

All the best,

Upcoming Dates:


5/2 -Kindergarten Project Celebration “Change Over Time”


5/4 - First Grade Project Celebration


5/5 - ES Field Day


5/9 - Elem/Middle/High School Music Concert at 6:00 pm


5/10 - HS Parade, 10:00 am


5/10 - Senior Breakfast and Awards


5/11 - Second Grade Project Celebration


5/11-5/12 - 3rd Grade Reading/Math EOC


5/12 - Middle School Athletic Awards 


5/13 - Voyage into Service (NC Diaper Bank) Additional Opportunity 9:30-11:30a


5/16-5/18 - 4th-8th grade EOGs


5/16-5/17 - HS Teacher Made Exams


5/19 - Third Grade Project Celebration


5/19 - High School Athletic Awards


5/18-19, 5/22-24 - HS EOCs


5/13 - HS Choir & Band: NC Educators Showcase (Greensboro)


5/23 - ES EOY Celebration


5/24 - MS 8th Grade Celebration, 8:45, gym


5/25 - HS Graduation

The PTSO has been hard at work creating a new apparel design for our Spring Fling! 


 We are excited to announce that our SPRING POPUP MARKET IS NOW LIVE! 


Click the link below and shop til you drop! 


Remember - the market is open from 4/19 to 5/1.


Once the market closes - it will go to production and then will be delivered to school for distribution the week of May 16th. 


Please note: We *WILL* have some short sleeve Adult and Youth shirts available for sale next Friday at the PTSO table.  However, a larger selection (long sleeve, tank tops, hoodies, tie dye) can be chosen from on our Spring PopUp Market!


We appreciate all of the support for the PTSO and Voyager community! Go Vikings Go!


https://markabull.commonsku.com/shop/6020055a-984e-44b5-8795-89cf4d5d56ec

WEEKLY NURSES UPDATE:

May is Healthy Vision Month! Although we tend to think of older adults as being more prone to vision problems, preschoolers and young children may not see as well as they should.  Up to 10% of preschoolers and 25% of school-aged children have a vision disorder that can impact learning and quality of life. Vision screening and comprehensive eye exams are methods for evaluating vision disorders in children.  Vision screening can help identify children who have or are at risk for developing vision disorders such as amblyopia, strabismus, and various refractive errors. 

In partnership with Prevent Blindness North Carolina (PBNC), Mrs. Skoff will be conducting vision screening for all 1st grade students next week. Most children receive eye examinations and vision screening during their annual well-child visit with their pediatrician or health care provider. Voyager Academy’s annual vision screening is provided as an additional resource for students and families and may help identify any new changes in a child’s vision. The screening procedures provided by Mrs. Skoff through PBNC have been developed and approved by national groups and professional organizations including the Expert Advisory Committee of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and American Academy of Ophthalmology 

We will be using the LEA Symbols chart or Snellen eye chart and the vision screen only takes a few minutes. PBNC’s vision screening is not a diagnostic exam and parents will only be notified for students who may need a referral for additional follow-up.

If you have a child that is not currently in 1st grade but would like for them to receive a vision screening as part of May’s Healthy Vision month, please email Mrs. Skoff cskoff@voyageracademy.net

COVID-19 COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION WEEKLY UPDATE:

  • Our CDC COVID-19 Community Level is: LOW 

  • Masks are welcome but are not currently required

  • Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, including recommended booster doses

  • Follow recommendations for isolation if you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19

Follow recommendations for what to do if you are exposed to someone with COVID-19

Chowan University Academic Summer Campapalooza: Campapalooza is a 5-day academic summer camp (June 18th-23rd) for rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. They will live on campus, have their meals in the University cafeteria, and spend their days engaged in exciting academic activities with our University Faculty! This is designed for those students who want the college experience while taking a deep dive into a specific content area. Early registration is $400.00 – register now!

Information: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf_hv_Qa4YHT9htcb5-5UVh99aWFfE-yOnNS_osvXxDXtCZsQ/viewform  

Registration and Payment: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_Jlbu_G_BkYkal7XICX1jm-DV5-6oX3clcf2Z637ubvaF7w/viewform

World Autism Month: April is World Autism Month!! You are invited to wear blue and Light It Up Blue (homes, cars, businesses, yards, etc.) in recognition of and support for those who meet criteria for Autism and for those who love and care for them.

Parent Resource: Parents and caregivers!! Please check out the AMAZING newsletter completed by our Student Support Services Intern, Ms. Danielle Wright, titled “Parent Engagement: Connecting Home to School” This wonderful resource is FULL of useful articles, strategies, learning tools, and more, focused on engagement and involvement between the home and school. After reviewing, please provide your thoughtful feedback to inform us of the impact this newsletter had for you and your family!

National Crime Victims’ Rights Week: April 23rd – 29th: This year’s theme is “Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect change.” The focus this year is to amplify the voices of survivors and create environments where they will have the confidence that they will be heard, believed, and supported (ovc.ojp.gov). There are a number of services available to assist in a variety of areas of need:

If you are in need of support for an area not listed, please contact Dr. Link, as she may have a resource available to assist you!

Guess What!: We can proudly offer one last “Voyage into Service” event this academic year after all! For those who are willing and able, please sign-up for the May 13th event with the NC Diaper Bank from 9:30-11:30a at the following link: https://x.gldn.io/e/hfSgEoGhXrb 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.

All ability levels and those age 4+ are welcome to attend! 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!

Middle School Athletics

The baseball team (2-4) dropped their game earlier this week to conference opponent Oxford Prep., 4-9.  Hayden VanAuken and Mason Singleton with 2 hits apiece.  Cohen Rappleyea and Linus Smith each had a hit in the loss as well.  Defensively, catcher Dylan Haswell threw out two base runners attempting to steal on him.

The girls’ soccer team (7-2) team dropped their home game against rival Excelsior Academy on Tuesday, 3-4 but quickly bounced back beating Henderson Collegiate last night, 7-0.  The loss drops the Vikings down to 2nd place in the TNAC standings with two games against Eno River left in the regular season.

The softball team (0-3) lost their game on the road Tuesday to Roxboro Community, 4-30.  The Vikings were able to put some runs on the board early with their aggressive base running.  Unfortunately, they were unable to rally after the Bulldogs jumped out to a big lead early. 

Notes and Announcements

Friday May 12, 6pm:  Middle school spring athletic awards @ middle school gym

High School Athletics

The baseball team (14-5, 8-1) celebrated their seniors this past Tuesday and beat conference opponent Oxford Prep., 2-0.  Senior Daniel Higdon got the start on the mound and proceeded to pitch his first ever complete game no-hitter while striking out 10 Griffins.  Sophomore Bryce Smith had the team’s lone hit in the game.

The men’s tennis team (4-10, 4-0) were crowned TNAC Conference Champions on Wednesday afternoon at the Granville Athletic Park.  Sophomore Tyler Hinshaw beat fellow teammate, Senior Parker Odell, in the singles championship.  In doubles, Sophomore Will Baker and Junior Zach Hanspal lost to Eno River in the championship. Hinshaw, Odell, Baker, Hanspal, Umar Chaudhry (’23), and Micah Smith (’25) all qualified for singles regionals on May 5th and 6th in Goldsboro.

The men’s lacrosse team (2-11, 2-5) concluded their season on a high note after beating Roxboro Community, 7-5 on Wednesday.  Senior Scott Green was leading the Vikings on offense with 18 goals on the season entering into the game. 

The women’s soccer team (7-5-1, 8-1) won both their games this week against Excelsior Academy and Henderson Collegiate as they improved to 8-1 in the TNAC and are currently in 1st place in conference standings.  Last night the Vikings celebrated their two seniors, Lauren King and Allison Miller, and the seniors put on a show!  Miller led the Vikings on offense scoring four goals while King added two of her own as they led Voyager to a 12-0 win over Henderson.   The team has three regular season games remaining, including two huge conference games against Eno River Academy.

The men’s and women’s track team celebrated their five seniors this past Wednesday during their meet at Durham County Stadium.  In addition, since the track teams competed in a meet that means they broke more school records!  The team and coaches are still awaiting official results from the meet and unfortunately, we do not have an exact number of the school records that were broken.  However, we are working on compiling a list of the numerous records the teams dd break this season and hope to have that out within the next few weeks.   

Notes and Announcements

Friday May 19, 6pm:  High school spring athletic awards @ high school gym

Go Vikings, Go!

Jordan Gatcomb, Athletic Director

jgatcomb@voyageracademy.net












See you tomorrow night at Spring Fling!!!





 

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