Voyager Elementary School

Greetings, Voyager Families.

While November often feels like a short month, it has been a busy one at Voyager!  I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your enthusiastic support and participation in our recent student coloring contest. It was truly heartwarming to witness the creativity and talent showcased by our students.

The stairwell, which now serves as a vibrant display of the 312 colorful scarecrow creations, has become a focal point in our school. Your children's artwork has not only brightened up our physical space but has also added an extra layer of joy and positivity to our school environment.

 This month, we have also collected nearly 2,700 cans for the Gleaner’s Food Drive!  This is an amazing accomplishment that will greatly benefit our community. Please keep those cans coming in; the drive ends on December 1st. 

Looking ahead, we are excited to return from the Thanksgiving break and finish off the semester on a strong note. There are still many exciting learning opportunities, events, and milestones to come, and we are confident that, together, we can make the remainder of the semester just as successful as the beginning.

Wishing you and your family a joyful Thanksgiving filled with warmth and gratitude. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school and finishing the semester strong!

Sincerely, 

Danielle Schmidt

VBC December Dine to Donate

The Voyager Booster Club has arranged a special Dine to Donate for the month of December at Detroit Wings Company. Dine to Donate nights are always a fantastic opportunity to enjoy a meal with family and friends while contributing to our school's fundraising efforts, but December’s proceeds will be put directly towards purchasing a class set of yoga mats for our physical education program!  If you are looking for an easy dinner on December 8th, please consider dining at DWC!

Playground Update

We have some exciting news to share regarding our school playground, and we wanted to keep you in the loop!

You may have heard from your child that one of the playground structures has unfortunately become largely unusable. We understand how important this space is for our students, and we're thrilled to let you know that we are taking steps to upgrade the playground!

The old structure will soon be removed, making way for a fantastic new addition. We are currently in the process of selecting a new piece of equipment that will not only provide hours of fun but also contribute to the overall development and enjoyment of our students.

Here's where it gets even more exciting—students will have the opportunity to have their say in choosing the new structure! We believe their input is invaluable, and we want to make sure the new addition is something they are genuinely excited about.

Now Hiring Kids Kare Staff

The Howell Public Schools Early Childhood Education Department is hiring additional staff for its before and after-school care programs for elementary students. The starting pay for these positions is $15.50 per hour. To learn more about these job openings, please visit https://bit.ly/3R0HbNZ. 

Important Dates

12/1 Gleaners Food Drive Ends

12/6 5th Grade Music Program 7 PM

12/7 VBC Meeting 6-7 PM

12/8 Dine to Donate - Detroit Wings Co.

12/8 4th Grade Choir Caroling 4-7 PM

12/13 1st Grade Music Program 7 PM 

12/18-12/22 Santa Shop

12/25-1/5 No School 

Counselor's Corner

“It is not happy people who are thankful, it is thankful people who are happy.”  (unknown) 

This month brings to mind the idea of being grateful. Gratitude is not an instinct, it is something we are taught and must practice. The ability to show gratitude and be grateful not only allows us to feel at peace with our lives, but also helps us to build strong relationships with others.

Here are simple ways that we can help children appreciate the people and things in their lives:

MODEL GRATITUDE- Find time during the day when you can talk about the people and things for which you are grateful. At school, we often talk about sunshines and clouds (sunshines are things that inspire us to feel good, clouds are things that might be icky or uncomfortable). This reinforces the idea that we can be grateful, despite everything not going our way.

DEVELOP PERSPECTIVE - When you have your child write a “wishlist” for a birthday or holiday, also have him/her write a “thankful for” list (spending time with family, baking, decorating, etc.). This is a healthy perspective to develop at an early age.

SAY THANK YOU - Make writing thank you notes or drawing pictures a normal ritual after receiving a gift or sharing a special event together.

VOLUNTEER - Volunteering, even a few hours a month, helps us connect with the world around us and affirms our part in something bigger than ourselves. It can easily help children to feel grateful for their own situation. Check out this link for volunteering needs in our area: Volunteer Livingston.

Greetings, Voyager Families.

As we embark on this season of gratitude, I want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for your unwavering support and commitment to our school community. The past few weeks have been a wonderful time for fostering a sense of togetherness among our students, parents, and staff.

Even a week later, many of our families are still enjoying the sweet memories of our recent Trunk or Treat event. It was truly a spooktacular evening, and we are grateful to have had the pleasure of your company.

Last week, we also wrapped up our fall Book Fair. Whether you volunteered your time, purchased books, or helped spread the word about the fair, your dedication did not go unnoticed. Thanks to your collective efforts, our amazing VBC was able to provide our students with an array of captivating books and fundraise to continue to support a variety of their initiatives, all aimed at improving our school and benefitting our students and families. 

Thank you all for joining us for our Parent-Teacher Conferences. It has been a pleasure seeing so many of our families engaging in conversations with our teachers about their child's progress and educational journey. As we wrap up our fall conferences, I am reminded of the importance of collaboration in education. It's the combined efforts of parents, teachers, and students that create a nurturing and thriving learning environment. Together, we have accomplished so much, and there is much to be thankful for.

Sincerely, 

Danielle Schmidt