Greetings, Voyager Families.
This week, we had the pleasure of once again celebrating the musical talents of our students as our second graders took the stage for a wonderful performance. Witnessing our students' dedication and hard work as they prepared for these performances fills us with immense pride. What truly warms our hearts, however, is seeing the joy and pride radiating from them as they step off the stage after giving it their all.
Additionally, we're thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of our Student Council Snack Drive. Our young leaders worked tirelessly to collect, sort, and deliver over 70 snacks to each teacher, ensuring that this valuable resource is readily available for all. We're incredibly proud of their dedication to supporting our school community.
On another note, we're delighted to share that our students recently completed their NWEA testing, and we've been blown away by the remarkable growth and progress they've made. It's truly inspiring to see our students thrive and excel academically.
As we continue to grow and thrive together at Voyager Elementary, we want to express our gratitude for your continued support and partnership. Your involvement and dedication play a vital role in creating a vibrant and nurturing learning environment for our students.
Warm regards,
Danielle Schmidt
Voyager Movie Night
There is still time to get your tickets and join us next Friday, February 23, 2024 for our Voyager Movie Night at the Historic Howell Theater. Doors open at 5:30 PM for concessions and the staff are ready to take your order! Students voted on the movie and are excited to begin Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Mutant Mayhem at 6:30 PM.
Begindergarten and Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year
Begindergarten and Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school is now open at
HowellSchools.com/KDG . Join us on March 7, 6-7 p.m., for an informative night at your child's elementary school to meet educators and explore the school. Additionally, we're accepting applications for Academia Bilingüe's Spanish immersion kindergarten class until March 22. Discover the bilingual journey at HowellSchools.com/DualLanguage and attend the parent night on February 21 at Three Fires Elementary to learn more.
New Offering from ParentGuidance.org
Thanks to our partnership with ParentGuidance.org, we are pleased to offer families in Livingston County a new initiative called "Ask a Therapist Live." This is a no-cost event designed specifically for families in our community. "Ask a Therapist Live" provides an opportunity to receive expert answers to any questions you might have about your child's mental health or your parenting journey. You can submit your questions anonymously via the webinar chat or through their interactive tools. Alternatively, you may choose to listen to questions from other parents and the responses provided by our live therapist. The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, February 21, at 8 p.m. Please register at https://bit.ly/49bJ9la. To learn more about "Ask a Therapist Live,” please visit https://bit.ly/48iX9bu.
Counselor's Connection
Research shows that friendships are critical for social and emotional health: they can decrease stress and tension, help us develop empathy, and strengthen our defenses. To kids, though, choosing friends is a little simpler - they likely connect with people they have the most fun with. For a child, having even one good, dependable friend can make a huge difference! Similarly, when those friendships change, children can really feel a sense of loss.
There are three basic, social skills that are critical for making and keeping friends, whether you are 5 or 55:
Breaking the ice with kids/people you have not met before
Acting positively and appropriately with others
Managing conflicts/problems constructively
We are often very vigilant in helping our kids master concepts in math or reading, but we often forget to teach behaviors. Here are some strategies for teaching these important friendship skills to our children:
First and foremost, do a self-assessment and make sure you are modeling and showing the behaviors we are hoping to see in our children! Do you make friendships a priority? Are you friendly to new people? Are you open-minded and respectful when problems arise with others?
Pay close attention to how your child behaves with same-age peers. Point out his/her strengths (“I noticed you let Lilly go first - that was very thoughtful!” or “When Stuart tried to argue with you, you calmly walked away - that was a good choice.”).
Similarly, take note of what skills s/he needs to practice. For instance, does your child often interrupt others or boss them around? Is your child shy and afraid to try new activities, or hesitant to join a group?
Once you identify what your child needs to work on, come up with creative ways to practice the skill. When it’s not the heat of the moment, talk about what that skill looks like. Go to the park and role play different scenarios. Check out books from the library that illustrate children using these skills. At the least, talk with your child about your strengths and weaknesses, and work together to form and strengthen your personal relationships together.
Lastly, be patient. Teaching social skills takes time and lots of practice.
For more support, or a more personalized plan for your family, please reach out: [email protected]
Kristen Peffer
School Counselor
Important Dates
2/16-2/19 No School - Winter Break
2/23 Voyager Movie Night @ Howell Theater 6:30 PM
3/7 VBC Meeting 6-7 PM