Voyager Academy High School News, Oct. 6, 2023


GO VIKINGS GO!



New this week:

  • VAHS Named To The 2022-23 Advance Placement Honor Roll
  • Red Cross Blood Drive At VAHS On Oct. 25
  • PTSO Hospitality Luncheon (Parent Help Needed)

  • Spirit Week And Homecoming
  • CFNC FREE College Application Week Is 10/16 - 10/20 
  • An Exciting STEM Program For Ambitious Students
  • Take College Courses While In High School: Durham Tech.  Open House Oct 21, 2023

Recent news items:

  • Real Talk Event For Black Students And Their Parents/Guardians
  • Seniors: Here Is An Excellent Resource To Find Scholarships
  • North Carolina Governor’s School
  • Reminder: Students Must Leave Campus By 4pm Tue-Fri (2pm on Mondays)
  • Yearbooks Are On Sale Now

News You Can Use

  • The Voyager Academy "Bring Your Own Device" Policy
  • Student Clubs And Organizations
  • The Voyager Academy High School Website
  • VAHS Counseling Department Blog
  • Athletics: Calendars, Schedules, And More
  • Important Dates


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VAHS Named To The 2022-23 Advance Placement Honor Roll

VAHS was named to the 2023 AP School Honor Roll! The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP program is delivering results and broadening access for students.

 

Schools can earn the Honor Roll recognition annually based on their ability to increase their school’s college-going culture, to provide opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness. The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.  VAHS achieved an overall level of Silver. The criteria are as follows:

  • 52% of seniors took at least one AP exam during high school (Silver level).

  • 40% of seniors scored a three or higher on at least one AP exam (Gold level)

  • 13% of seniors took five or more AP exams! (Gold level)

 

For more, click here for the VAHS Honor Roll Report

 



Red Cross Blood Drive At VAHS On Oct. 25

Hello Voyager Families and Happy Friday! There will be a Blood Drive with the Blood Connection, hosted on Wednesday, October 25th, from 9am-2pm. Please come out and donate! I hope you all enjoy a much needed break!



DONATION LINK:

https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/221461 



PTSO Hospitality Luncheon (Parent Help Needed)

Hey Viking parents/guardians!  Our next Hospitality Luncheon at the high school is Monday, October 23rd.  Please consider donating, this month we are hosting a Taco Bar for our wonderful teachers and staff. Click on the link below if you would like to take part...

 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D45ACAF2AA4F58-44796572-vahs


Wishing everyone a wonderful break!

 

Thanks,

Voyager Academy PTSO Hospitality Committee



Spirit Week and Homecoming

Spirit Week and Homecoming was a huge success! Thank you to the staff and students who participated in the daily events and assembly! Thank you to all who contributed either time or items to the dance! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Here are a few pictures from the week…


Seniors v. Juniors!


Bull City Sound


VAHS Homecoming Dance


VAHS Homecoming Court (selected by the student body)



CFNC FREE College Application Week Is 10/16 - 10/20 

Many North Carolina schools are waiving their application fees from Oct. 16-20— IF you apply through CFNC.org! Start on CFNC.org’s Application Hub (link below). 


Visit http://CFNC.org/apply-to-college/nc-countdown-to-college/  for more information. 


Seniors can start their CFNC applications and complete the Residency Determinations now to be  ready to apply for free during the Free application week. A list of colleges that are waiving their fees is included below.   



An Exciting STEM Program For Ambitious Students

Applications for the 2023 Fall Cohort of the STEM Research Program are open.

Led by PhD researchers, the STEM Research Program helps ambitious high school students work 1-on-1 with a PhD mentor to learn about the cutting edge in their STEM field of interest and produce an independent research project.

After weekly meetings with their mentor to discuss new STEM topics and their related research paper, students receive an evaluation written by their mentors.

Timeline
Week 1: Meet with your mentor and align on a topic
Week 2-4: Explore the topic and identify the research question
Week 5-9: Write research paper with 1-1 support from research mentor
Week 10-12: Make final edits and submit the paper for final evaluation
Complete the application below to be considered for participation and receive more information.

https://airtable.com/appzxDAESNdKDrIwt/shrckaWjZYfAQIotI



Take College Courses While In High School: Durham Tech.  Open House Oct 21, 2023

Learn about Durham Tech Pathways, Career and College Promise, and the ample resources the College has to offer. Participate in short, 20-minute information sessions and/or take a tour of Main Campus. October 21, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - Noon.
Register here  https://www.durhamtech.edu/events/open-house



Real Talk Event For Black Students And Parents/Guardians

The Real Talk virtual event series is back, with two special nights lined up on October 3 and 10 to help Black students and their families navigate the college selection process. These events will help students decide whether an HBCU (Historically Black College and University) or PWI (Predominantly White Institution) is right for them. This is a great opportunity for Black students and their families in your school community to directly engage with college leaders and current college students from both HBCUs and PWIs. 🎓

📌 Night 1: Tuesday, October 3, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

HBCUs, PWIs, and You: Join to connect directly with HBCU and PWI reps from across the country as they share real talk on selecting a college home that aligns with each student’s personality and college and career aspirations.

📌 Night 2: Tuesday, October 10, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT

The Real Tea on HBCUs and PWIs: Want to know what college life is really like at HBCUs and PWIs? Students and their families can connect with current Black students who’ll spill the tea! Don't just hear it—experience it through their stories.

Interested? Click here for a flyer with much more info.



VAHS Baseball Team Receives The ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award

Congratulations to the 2022-23 VAHS Vikings Baseball Team. They were awarded the ABCA Team Academic Excellence Award (click here). To receive this award, the team must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale during the 2022-23 academic year. GPA may not be rounded up.  The Voyager Academy sends a big thank you to Head Coach Shawn Ryan and his staff, for their leadership and mentorship of our players. Way to go Vikings!




Seniors: Here Is An Excellent Resource To Find Scholarships

With scholarships for “Women in Stem,” for “Community Service,” for outstanding GPAs and more, the scholarship resource Goingmerry.com, is an excellent place to begin your search.


To find and apply for scholarships, students and parents can sign up for Going Merry (https://www.goingmerry.com) -- it’s free! Going Merry has thousands of national, regional, and local scholarships. There are also opportunities for every grade level, from freshmen to seniors. Check out the current list in Going Merry: https://www.goingmerry.com/blog/category/scholarship-lists/

Also check out this Scholarship Website handout for additional Scholarship Platforms (click here).



Questions, or need assistance?  Please contact VAHS School Counselor, Jill O'Kane (jokane@voyageracademy.net)



North Carolina Governors School

The Governor’s School of North Carolina is the oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students in the nation. The program is administered by the State Board of Education and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) through the Office of Advanced Learning & Gifted Education. Each summer, selected rising 12th grade students are invited to Governor’s School to help build a learning community during a four-week residential session. The Governor’s School emphasizes collaborative efforts in all disciplines. 


For more information visit: https://www.dpi.nc.gov/students-families/enhanced-opportunities/north-carolina-governors-school  and check out the Governor's School Family Overview below, or contact Jill O'Kane, VAHS School Counselor/Governor's School Local Coordinator (jokane@voyageracademy.net)  


Also, please click here for a handout containing all details.



Reminder: Students Must Leave Campus By 4pm Tue-Fri (2pm on Mondays)

Students and Parents/Guardians: Please remember that all students must be picked up (or leave campus if driving) after dismissal by 4pm Tue-Fri and 2pm Mondays, unless attending an event or meeting supervised by a Voyager Academy staff member. Please feel free to call the office if you have any questions.  Thank you for your cooperation.



Yearbooks are on sale now!

Order a yearbook today to get the lowest price of the year!

Click here to order.



The Voyager Academy "Bring Your Own Device" Policy

Hey Voyager Vikings, remember that Voyager Academy is Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) school. All students are required to bring their own device to school each day. Please click here for the Voyager Academy BYOD policy.  (Also found in the Voyager Academy Student/Parent Handbook).



Student Clubs And Organizations

Hey Vikings, Check Out All The VAHS Clubs!

Student life at VAHS isn’t all tests, quizzes and homework.  We have Chess Club, Ice Skating Club, Gamers Club, Service Club, Computer Coding Club, American Sign Language Club, Business and Leadership Club and more.  VAHS students are encouraged to join a club or other extra-curricular activity! Get involved.


Click here to see a list of VAHS Clubs.



Other Useful Sources of Information


The Voyager Academy High School Website

One of the first places to check for basic information about VAHS is the VAHS website.  Among the information you can find there are calendars and schedules, student clubs and organizations, faculty directory, the counseling page, special bulletins, etc. Here is the VAHS website:

http://voyageracademy.net/vahs


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VAHS Counseling Department Blog

Please be sure to check the VAHS Counseling Department blog frequently. The blog provides news, information, and opportunities for VAHS students and parents all in one convenient location. Topics range from Career/College Counseling and Application Support to Summer Programs and Opportunities. Check it out!


CLICK HERE FOR THE VAHS COUNSELING DEPT. BLOG



Voyager Athletics: Click here for the sporting events calendar, and more.



Voyager Academy Student/Parent Handbook




Important Dates


Dates

Events

Oct. 9-13

NO CLASSES – Fall Break

Oct. 19

Report cards go out

Nov. 1

Pre-ACT/CRAA (required for all 10th graders)

Nov. 9

Teachers alert parents/students w/grade below 60

Nov. 13

Project Exhibition Day:  2:00-3:45pm

Nov. 27

Advisors alert parents of students w/grade below 60

Nov. 28

NC Biology Check ins (diagnostic exams)

Dec. 12 - 20

Final Exams



VOYAGER VIKING VALUES

CONFIDENCE   -   CURIOSITY   -   EMPATHY

REFLECTION   -   INTEGRITY