Friday, September 18, 2020
Dear Voyager Families,
We made it...we have successfully completed our first full week of school for the 20-21 school year! Thank you for your continued support of our staff as we continue to navigate our current situation. Our Voyager Vikings are demonstrating that they are in the routine of school and are handling all of the new procedures and ways of doing things like true “Vikings”!! One thing that you as parents could help with is remembering to send your child with a clean mask everyday. We are noticing that some masks are definitely not being washed everyday or being replaced if the mask is not washable!
The time that it has taken to get cars through the pick-up line this week has been amazing...most days all students have been picked up and the pick-up line is gone by somewhere between 3:40 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. ONE BIG REMINDER: While waiting along the service drive out back in the drop-off line in the morning or the pick-up line in the afternoon, please DO NOT block the entrance and exit to our bus parking lot. Our buses need to be able to enter and exit the bus lot without interference from parent vehicles waiting to drop off or pick up their children. Also, please DO NOT block the road - please wait on the shoulder until there is enough room to enter the lot. We thank you in advance for your cooperation!!
One more reminder...Student Absences - If your child is going to be absent, please call the main office at 517-540-8084 and press 1 (this is the attendance line) and provide a detailed explanation as to why your child is absent. When an explanation is not provided the absence is recorded as unexplained and the student is considered truant. In the midst of the pandemic, it is very important that we know why your child is absent and what, if any, symptoms he/she is experiencing. Please let us know if you have any questions regarding your child’s attendance or if there is information that we should have relative to your child attending school.
Now onto the “fun” stuff...
Picture Day is Next Week Thursday, 9/24 - Picture Day for BOTH our in person and our virtual students is on Thursday, September 24th. Our in person students will have their pictures taken during the school day. The Lifetouch photographers will be at Voyager from 4:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. to take the pictures of our virtual students. You may come at any time during that window - know, however, that there may be a line at times. Please bring your mask and know that we will socially distance the line of people within the building. Our Picture Day ID is EVTFRTVMV - you may use this code to order online at mylifetouch.com During fall pictures we like to take every student’s picture as it is this picture that will be used in a yearbook. If you know that your child will be absent on this day or you are unable to make it in that evening if you are a virtual family, our retake day is scheduled for Thursday, November 5th. Please contact the main office if you have any questions regarding picture day.
Two Voyager Booster Club Fundraisers happening this week - Our wonderful parent group which is known as the Voyager Booster Club (VBC) is hosting two optional fundraisers this week. The first is happening on Monday and the second is on Friday.
Hungry Howie’s Pizza Night - On Monday, September 21st (not on Sunday, September 20th - there was an incorrect date on the flyer that was sent home), the Hungry Howie’s located at 2560 E. Grand River (next to Auto Zone and the old Great Escape) will donate 10% of their net sales brought in from 4-9 p.m. to our school. You can call ahead or stop in and place your order. Their phone number is 517-548-0067. Please tell them thank you for supporting our school and let them know which teachers your children have - the class with the most participation will win a pizza party. You can take a night, a Monday night for that matter, off from cooking and support our school!
VBC ½ Day Theme Day - have your child participate for $1.00 - Next week Friday, September 25th, is the first of four ½ days scheduled during the school year. On these ½ days students are dismissed at 12:05 p.m. so our teachers and staff can participate in professional development. Also, on each of these ½ days, our VBC will be sponsoring a theme day “fundraiser”. For $1.00, students can choose to participate in the theme day. The theme for the first ½ day is “crazy hair day and hat day”. For a $1.00 donation, students can choose to wear crazy hair or their favorite hat that day. Please send the money in an envelope or a zip lock bag labeled theme day.
This concludes the information that I have to share today. Please read the “Counselor’s Quick Tip” below. It contains good tips regarding your child and being shy. There are several updates in the “District Update” section this week - please read through them to see which pertain to you or which may be of interest to you.
As always, please reach out to me with any questions that you may have. Email is the best way to reach me. My email address is [email protected]. We are here for you and willing to assist in whatever way we can.
Sincerely,
Kari Naghtin
Principal
Counselor’s Quick Tip:
Helping a Child Overcome Shyness
Do you have a shy child?
Many children are not quite as outspoken as others. While there is nothing wrong with them, shy children often have a hard time in school and other social situations because they have a fear of talking to and/or meeting others.
Why Being Shy Affects Children
Many things can cause a child to be shy. Some children are introverted and simply prefer to spend time alone. Other times, it’s a feeling of not being like others that causes shyness to develop. Sometimes, it isn’t fun being shy. It seems that every other child is out there having a great time, and your child is left behind. For the child, it can be frustrating as well. It could even be that the child is very emotional and sensitive to the world around them. No matter what is causing your child to be shy, it is important not to label your child as shy, explain to others that your child is slow to warm up to others.
Helping Your Shy Child
It is important to maintain a positive and encouraging attitude about their shyness. Show them that you understand their worries and what they are going through, try sharing a time in your childhood where you can remember feeling shy, explain the emotions behind those feelings. Encourage your child to use their own words to describe their feelings. Support your child's social confidence by not pushing him or her into uncomfortable social situations quickly, or without warning. It is helpful to attend parties, meetings, and other social gatherings that your child can also be a part of; ensure you’re also teaching them the basics of socializing with other people.
Remember:
● Allow your child to adjust to situations as needed. Refrain from forcing them to talk or participate when they are fearful of doing so.
● Encourage your child to be involved with other people. Allow them to see you interacting positively with others as well.
● Give your child books and other age appropriate reading materials that discuss shyness and how to overcome it.
● Accept your child as they are. Some of us are just less outspoken than others — and that’s OK!
Your Partner in Education,
Jennifer Starkey
School Counselor
District Updates
Family Access to Schoology and Seesaw
This year, our teachers in grades third through twelfth, are using the Schoology Learning Management System for both in-person learning and in Highlander Virtual. The Schoology Family Portal gives families access to their child’s course information and progress. To learn more about the Schoology Family Portal, please visit https://bit.ly/3hTWC6H.
In grades begindergarten through second, our teachers are using SeeSaw as their learning management system for both in-person learning and in Highlander Virtual. If you have not yet received our child’s home learning code for SeeSaw, their teacher will be sending it home soon. To learn more about SeeSaw, please visit https://bit.ly/3iRIqva.
USDA Extends Free Meals for Kids
Recently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it was extending several waivers regarding school meals. These waivers will allow all children under 18 to receive free school meals until December 31, 2020, or until funding for the program runs out. This means that all students purchasing a full breakfast or lunch at school will not be charged. The waivers will also allow the district to provide free meal kits to families with children under the age of 18. The kits will include seven days of breakfast and lunch items. Distribution of the kits will take place each Tuesday from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the circle drive on the northside of Howell High School, and each Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the bus lot off Latson Road at Three Fires Elementary. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2RxEnbu.
Parent Workshop - Supporting the Resiliency of Families: Your Journey Together Workshop
The Livingston Educational Service Agency has partnered with MSU Extension to offer a free workshop titled Supporting the Resiliency of Families: Your Journey Together Workshop to all interested families in the county. This workshop will provide parents & guardians with the knowledge & skills which promote resilience and help family members better cope with life’s challenges to reach their full potential. Learn to use ordinary, everyday routines, activities & interactions as resilience-building opportunities. The workshop will be held via Zoom. To learn more please visit https://bit.ly/2ZZp3cz. To register for the workshop, please visit http://bit.ly/GSLfall2020.
Child Care Job Opportunities
Are you or someone you know looking to make some extra spending money?
The Howell Public Schools Early Childhood Department is looking to hire energetic individuals for our Kids Kare program. These are part-time positions with shifts running Monday-Friday 6:30 - 9:00 a.m. and 3:15 - 6:00 p.m. To learn more, please contact Jenny Myers at 517-548-6310.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Case in Livingston County
Yesterday the Livingston County Health Department notified the district that a horse in the area had tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). As a preventive measure, the State of Michigan will be applying an aerial mosquito control treatment within a 2.5-mile radius of where the horse tested positive, which includes Three Fires Elementary. At this time, the risk to our students and staff is very low, as the majority of our outdoor events take place during the day when the mosquito that transmits EEE is not active. In partnership with the Livingston County Health Department, Howell Public Schools will continue to monitor this situation closely.
9/21 - VBC Hungry Howie’s Pizza Night (not Sunday, 9/20 as is on the flyer)
9/24 - Voyager Fall Picture Day
In-person during the school day;
Highlander Virtual - 4:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. @ Voyager
9/25 - ½ Day for Students - NO SCHOOL in the PM
School dismissed at 12:05 p.m.
Professional Development Day for Staff in the PM
9/25 - VBC Crazy Hair Day/Hat Day - $1 Fundraiser
Week of 9/28 - Homecoming Week @ HHS - Spirit Week (more information to follow)
10/1 - Voyager Booster Club Meeting via Zoom - 6:00 p.m.
10/16 - Quarter 1 ends
10/23 - 1st Quarter Grades available in PowerSchool
tefftm
Dear Voyager Families,
Labor Day weekend has arrived! I would like to wish everyone a restful and enjoyable weekend. School will resume on Tuesday, September 8, 2020!!
After three ½ days and two 4-day weeks (we have one more 4 day week next week), it is beginning to feel like our new routines are falling into place. Students know what is expected relative to masks, lunch/recess are going smoothly (it is nice having just one grade level in the cafeteria at a time), and we are getting students out to the pick up line much quicker at the end of the day.
I would like to thank everyone for continuing to make sure that our drop-off and pick-up procedures are followed. It is due to parent/adult cooperation that we are able to get students unloaded quickly in the morning and loaded quickly in the afternoon. With that said, I do have some reminders mainly related to the procedures out back as cars are falling into the line:
-
Our HPS buses have the right of way; please be respectful by letting them go ahead of you and by not blocking the entrance and exit to the bus lot.
-
There are to be NO U-TURNS anywhere along the service drive!!; the best advice is to enter the back service drive from Grand River (by Challenger Elementary), but if that is not possible and you need to enter the service drive from M-59, please drive down to the high school lot and turn around down there.
-
From the time the high school dismisses at 2:20 p.m. until we are done with our dismissal around 4:00 p.m., the back service drive is a very busy “thoroughfare” with buses, parents, and high school students (HS students are not always the most observant individuals).
Finally, parents should be utilizing the drop off line and the pick up line. If for some reason, you do need to exit your vehicle with your children during drop off in the morning, you are to park out front entering the lot from Byron Rd. (the lot out back is the staff parking lot), and then walking your children to the sidewalk. As always, please let myself or staff know if you have any questions. Here is the “Drop-off & Pick up Procedures” document one more time:
Voyager Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures
Two recycling opportunities that are located near the loading dock area at the back of the building:
-
Planet Aid/Midwest Recycling Yellow Bin - Through this bin, families and community members are able to donate/recycle clothes and shoes. Please do not put any other items in this bin. Our student council receives money for each pound of clothes/shoes that are donated.
-
Paper Recycling Bin - Through this bin families, and community members are able to recycle paper/newspapers, etc. For personal safety, please do not put items in this bin that contain personally identifiable information. Items that contain this type of information should be shredded prior to putting them in the bin. When recycling companies are receiving money for paper, our building does receive money for the paper that is donated. When companies are not paying for paper, we are just providing a service to the environment by not sending the paper to the landfills.
******* NOTE re: both bins - DO NOT PLACE bags or items outside of the bins. If the bins are full, please bring your items back on another day. Neither company picks up items that are left outside of the bins - these items become an eyesore and then become items that the district has to dispose of in our dumpsters. Thank you for cooperating with these procedures.
This concludes the information that I have to share today. Please read the “Counselor Corner” below. It contains good tips regarding your children and sleep - I’m thinking some of the tips might be good for me to try, as well!!! There is also one “District Update” this week.
As always, please reach out to me with any questions that you may have. Email is the best way to reach me. My email address is [email protected]. We are here for you and willing to assist in whatever way we can.
Sincerely,
Kari Naghtin, Principal
Counselor Corner
Counselor’s Quick Tip: Making the Best of Bedtime!
Respecting the bedtime routine. Sticking to a bedtime routine will offer predictability and security for your children. Work together to create your bedtime routine with the kids, let them pick how many books you will read together and when cuddles will happen. Write down your plan, step by step, and try your best to follow it. For more tips on how to make bedtime easy, click here.
Planning for sleep. It is important to make sure you allow enough time for your kids to get a full night’s rest. Did you know that children typically need 10-12 hours of sleep per night? So, if you have an early wake up time, make sure you are sending the kids to bed at a time that allows them to get a full night's rest.
Restless nights. If you find that your child is waking up throughout the night, it is important to find out why. Are they having nightmares? Are they sleepwalking? Are they having night terrors? If you are struggling to get through the night, check out some of our quick tips for how to handle Night Terrors.
Power down. The lights from electronics can stimulate the brain. If your little one is struggling to fall asleep at night, it may be a good idea to unplug prior to bed. For more information on the effect of electronics on sleep, click here.
Spend time together. Sometimes kids get antsy because they want some extra attention from their caregivers. Try to set aside some intentional time to ask you children how their day went, get some extra cuddles in before bedtime, or sit and read a book together. Here are 10 Creative Ways to build in quality time with your kids throughout your day.
If you are still dealing with a little insomniac, don’t despair! Take a step back and try to look at what’s going on and trust your intuition.
Your Partner in Education,
Jennifer Starkey, School Counselor
District Updates
Health Reminders
It is imperative that students stay at home when they are showing any signs of sickness. This will help limit the spread of illnesses in our school. If for any reason your child is tested for COVID-19 they must remain home until permitted to return by the health department. Additionally, all students and families should be completing the student self-screening outlined in the Livingston County Health Department Back to School Parent Toolkit each day. Lastly, as we head into the holiday weekend it is very important that we all practice good public health practices like avoiding large gatherings (parties, etc.), wearing a mask properly, washing our hands, and practicing social distancing outside of school.
tefftm
***** Just a reminder that ALL Voyager families, in person and virtual, will receive the Viking View. This will keep our Virtual families connected to us. I apologize that a lot of the information won’t pertain to our Virtual families, but from time to time, events and other information will pertain to our Virtual families, as well.
Dear Voyager Families,
What a fantastic start to the 2020-2021 school year!!! I want to thank you, the parents, for prepping your children for the return. It was obvious that our students knew that things would be different - the wearing of masks, social distancing, etc. It has been wonderful having them back in the building. Thank you for “returning” them to us and for “trusting” that we will do our best to keep them safe.
A couple of reminders:
NEW Main Phone Number at Voyager: Thank you for your continued patience with our new phone system. I know there were times this week where calls were dropped or the system was down completely. As a reminder our new main office number is (517) 540-8084. There is no longer a separate number for the attendance line. When you call the main number there will be a list of prompts - press 0 for the main office; press 1 for attendance; press 2 for Kids Kare.
Forms (registration information, medical, birth certificate, etc.): Just a reminder that registration paperwork, medication forms, etc. can be turned into the main office. Please send it with your child in an identified envelope so that the teacher can get the information to the main office. If we have not received the necessary registration forms, etc., our clerk, Mrs. Shannon Birdsell, will start making reminder phone calls.
Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures: Thank you for your patience in the pick-up/drop-off lane the first three days. We promise the line will start to move faster everyday!! Thank you, also, for following our drop-off and pick-up procedures. I am sharing them one more time in case you haven’t had a chance to review them. Voyager Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures. One tweak was made - students that need to eat breakfast at school will be able to exit their vehicle starting at 8:30 a.m. Other students will need to stay in their vehicles until 8:40 a.m. Students who are riding the bus will also be sent in for breakfast at 8:30 a.m.
Over all, our procedures are being followed, but here are a couple of items from the procedures that I would like to highlight/stress again:
-
Please remember to PULL AS FAR FORWARD (up to the cone) as you can at both drop-off in the morning and at pick-up in the afternoon. This will help the line to move more smoothly.
-
If you do need to park, exit your vehicle, & walk your child to an adult for some reason at drop-off in the morning, please do not exit your vehicle until 8:40 a.m. unless your child needs to get breakfast. Parents should not be sitting on the benches at the front door waiting for an adult to take their child from them. Please walk your child to an adult and then return to your vehicle once an adult has your child.
-
This week at pick-up we had a handful of parents who were parking and walking up to the building. This will not be able to happen starting on Monday. Due to COVID-19, parents will no longer be able to congregate up by the front doors. You will need to be in the pick-up lane and wait for your child to be brought out to your car. Please stay in your vehicle.
This concludes the information that I have to share today. Please read the “Counselor Corner” below, and please remember that there is NO SCHOOL for staff and students next week Friday, August 28th.
As always, please reach out to me with any questions that you may have. Email is the best way to reach me at this time. My email address is [email protected]. We are here for you and willing to assist in whatever way we can. It was great having our students back in the building this week - looking forward to full days next week.
Sincerely,
Kari Naghtin, Principal
Counselor Corner
Hello Parents, Students, and Staff!
My name is Jennifer Starkey, and I am your school counselor! I am so happy to be back at Voyager Elementary full time this year! I work with parents, students, and teachers in different ways through a program of many services. Each service is aimed at helping students learn and develop to their highest potential. Examples of services, based on student need, include the following:
(a) groups to help students adjust to school (however, due to the current social distancing requirements, any group sessions will be limited to students from the same classroom - cohorts will not be allowed to mix with other cohorts at this time).
(b) classroom lessons to help children learn how to get along with peers,
(c) conferences for parents to understand their child’s social/personal progress,
(d) individual sessions (on a limited basis) to work with students on specific skills, and
(e) supporting our families attending Howell’s Virtual School through phone, email and zoom appointments.
Here are a couple quick tips to support your child’s transition:
-
Encourage your kids to talk about their day by asking specific questions. Try social questions (“Whom do you sit next to in class?”), best/worst questions (“What’s the best/worst thing that happened today at school?”), what you learned questions (“What are some of the rules you have to follow at school?”), and school function questions (How did you celebrate Valentine’s Day?”).
-
Use the WIN strategy to help them develop solutions to any jitters or concerns.
-
Step 1: W: What happened? Describe the dilemma.
-
Step 2: I: What ideas can we come up with to solve the problem?
-
Step 3: N: Now move into action! Pick a strategy and give it a try!
-
Set your child up for success by helping them build their tolerance for wearing a mask.
-
Students will be asked to wear them in the common areas of the building. Help them get comfortable by letting them pick their own.
-
Explain the rationale in simple terms (“Germs spread from our bodies whenever we cough, sneeze or even breathe too close to someone else. So we wear the mask not only to protect our noses and our mouths, but to protect those germs from spreading to people around us.”).
-
Visit KidsHealth.org for other tips and answers to common questions about masks.
I am always available for you at [email protected]. Please reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns!
Your Partner in Education,
Jennifer Starkey, School Counselor
tefftm
**** Just a reminder that ALL Voyager families, in person and virtual, will receive the Viking View. This will keep our Virtual families connected to us. I apologize that a lot of the information won’t pertain to our Virtual families, but from time to time, events and other information will pertain to our Virtual families, as well.
Dear Voyager Families,
Heads up - there is a lot of information in this newsletter! Please read it carefully.
Before getting into the meat of this newsletter, here are three very important notes:
Forms (registration information, medical, birth certificate, etc.): If you have any information that needs to be turned into the office, please send it with your child in an identified envelope so that the teacher can get the information to the main office. Parents of kindergarten students and new students may have paperwork to turn in to complete the registration process. Please feel free to bring that paperwork with you if you are coming in for a tour on Monday or Tuesday.
Info. from the district and the Livingston County Health Department: As we prepare to welcome back our students next week, we all must work together to ensure that our students and staff remain safe. Today, Dr. Juan Marquez, the Livingston County Health Department Medical Director shared a letter with some important reminders to families. Please take a few moments to review the letter at https://bit.ly/2DYu90l.
NEW Main Phone Number at Voyager: Thank you for your patience during the district-wide phone system outage on Thursday. As with any significant change, this process did not go exactly as planned. The request to transfer our building phone number was denied. The request to transfer numbers can take up to 45 days for approval, so our school was assigned a new main office number, which is (517) 540-8084
This week’s news...
Last week’s newsletter focused on the upcoming Open House and an update on getting to know who your child’s teacher is for this year. This newsletter has additional information re: Open House and what you need to know about the first day of school - arrival, dismissal (REMINDER - the first three days are half-days with dismissal at 12:05 p.m.) and the rest of the first week.
Open House for In-person Families
As this year gets underway, Open House is going to be key to getting information, as well as making sure we are connected via Email.
By 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 17th, all in-person families should have received an email from their child’s teacher. That email should contain the zoom link for the zoom session that is being set up for Open House.
Special AreaTeacher/Other Staff/Principal Zoom Session - Here is the zoom link information for the zoom session which will include myself, our four special area teachers, and other staff:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87983921026?pwd=ODdybGhzNFlMSjlWQU55N1ZYaEE4UT09
Meeting ID: 879 8392 1026
Passcode: JBSMS2
If you haven’t received a zoom link from your child’s teacher by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, please email the teacher and myself - [email protected] - so that we can get you the link in time for Open House at 6:00 p.m.
As a reminder - The zoom sessions start at 6:00. The schedule is 6:00 - 6:20 (1) 6:30 - 6:50 (2) 7:00 - 7:20 (3). You really only need to attend one session per teacher but we wanted to provide options so families could attend multiple sessions if they had multiple students.
When you enter any Zoom Meeting, we are asking that when the teacher begins his/her presentation all parents and students mute their microphone in order to prevent any background noise from jumping in and out of the presentation.
Please email me if you have any questions about Open House on Monday evening - we are looking forward to “seeing” you!
The FIRST Day of School and Thursday and Friday
I know there are lots of questions regarding drop-off and pick-up on the first day of school. Here is what you need to know:
Start and End Time on the half days - 8:50 a.m.-12:05 p.m. (Full days are 8:50 a.m.-3:40 p.m. - first full day is Monday, August 24th)
Students who will be riding the bus: Students who will be arriving by bus will be let off the bus in grade order - Kdg. will be let off first, then 1st, then 2nd, then 3rd, then 4th, and then 5th (they will board in reverse order at the end of the day). Staff will be in the bus area to meet students as they get off the bus and help them find where they need to go to enter the building. Students will be expected to be wearing their masks and be socially distanced.
Kdg. and 1st grade students will be brought in through the back double doors.
2nd and 3rd grade will be brought in through the doors on the south side of the building (upper elementary playground side of the building)
4th and 5th grade will be brought in through the doors on the Byron side of the playground (lower elementary playground side of the building)
Students who need breakfast on the first three half days will be able to go to the cafeteria to get breakfast. All students will be supervised who are going to the cafeteria for breakfast.
All students (except those needing breakfast) will report directly to their classrooms first.
Students who will be dropped off and picked up: Here is a link to our Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures
Here are some things to note:
-
Students, especially our youngest students, will always be with an adult during arrival and dismissal. Kindergarten and 1st grade students would never be allowed to head to their classroom by themselves.
-
Parents/guests are only allowed in the building for extenuating circumstances - this is per the district’s Return to School Plan.
-
Parents should remain in their vehicle at all times.
-
Parents are not allowed to congregate up by the front door to wait for their child to come out after school is over.
Please let me know if you have any questions about drop off and pick up after reading the procedures document (this document will be updated as me move into phase 5 or 6; we are currently in phase 4.
Message from Mrs. Tammy Meisel, Media Secretary re: Library Books: As we get ready to return to school, you may be wondering if your student still has a library book checked out from last year that will need to be returned. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Meisel at (517) 540-8084 at ext. 46108 or email her at [email protected] and she will be happy to help you!
In closing, we will have a guest teacher in our Art Room for the first semester. Mrs. Kemper had a baby girl in mid-July and is going to spend the first semester enjoying being a new mother. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Janet Hurlbert to Voyager. She will be sharing an introductory letter with the students that she will be meeting with this first quarter next week. We are so happy she will be joining us for the next few months.
As always, please reach out to me with any questions that you may have. Email is the best way to reach me at this time. My email address is [email protected]. We are here for you and willing to assist in whatever way we can as we get this extremely different school year underway. Please enjoy the last few days before school starts! I will look forward to seeing our Viking Voyagers and their families very soon.
Sincerely,
Kari Naghtin
Principal
tefftm
***** PLEASE NOTE: Even though the content of this newsletter pertains to families that are opting to send their child(ren) back to school face to face, ALL Voyager families - virtual and non-virtual are receiving this newsletter today. Families who opted for the virtual option should have received an email from the Superintendent earlier this afternoon.
Dear Voyager Families,
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! We are happy you are going to be a Voyager Viking family this year!! If you are new to Voyager, my name is Kari Naghtin, and I am the Principal at Voyager Elementary School. Welcome back to our returning families! Last year was my first year at Voyager, but this will be my 24th year as an elementary principal!
We all know that this school year is going to be different from anything we’ve ever experienced in the past and with that comes a level of uncertainty. I will do my best to minimize the level of uncertainty, but know at times it will be unavoidable. Whenever you feel the level of uncertainty rising, please reach out to your child’s teacher, the main office, or myself. I am always available by email or via phone if you have any questions or need assistance. In the past, I have sent a newsletter every other Friday (bi-weekly). This is the first one for this school year. With everything going on and things constantly changing, I will be sending a weekly communication in an attempt to keep everyone informed for the next few weeks. In order to maintain the length of the newsletter each week, I am going to focus on one or two pertinent topics for that week. Please read each newsletter carefully so you are as informed as you can be.
Open House
In order to better ensure the safety of our students, parents, and staff, and to comply with the latest Executive Orders from Governor Whitmer, the Elementary Open House is going to be different this year. This year, all grade levels (Kindergarten to 5th Grade) will have an opportunity to meet their teacher, the special area teachers, and any other staff members that a student will interact with. This virtual meeting will take place for all K-5 students on the evening of August 17 via Zoom.
There will be three 20-minute Zoom meetings which you are able to choose to attend. If you are a family with two students your night could look like this.
6:00 - 6:20 - Mrs. Barlows’s Zoom
6:30 - 6:50 - Go To Mrs. Runion’s Zoom
7:00 - 7:20 - Hop Over To The Specials Teachers Zoom (or at-risk, or counselor)
This will ensure your ability to meet with all of your students’ teachers if you have multiple children in one school (if you have more than 3 students in the school or need more than three time slots, please let us know and we will figure it out). Your classroom teacher will be providing you a Zoom link via your registered email address prior to August 17. (It will also have the link to the specials teachers, at-risk, and counselor)
When you enter the Zoom we are asking that when the teacher begins his/her presentation all parents and students mute their microphone in order to prevent any background noise from jumping in and out of the presentation.
If you are a new Kindergarten student or new family to us, you will be invited to sign up for a brief tour of the school sometime before the first day of school. Our building is still undergoing major construction as of today, so the dates that tours will be available have not been determined yet. You will be contacted once the date(s) are determined. Please note our teaching staff may not be at the building during these tours.
Who will my child have for a Teacher?
With the opening of Highlander Virtual, we have experienced staffing changes, as well as enrollment changes. As a result, the assigning of students to a teacher is still being finalized. We hope to have that information available by Friday, August 14th. I will provide information as to how to access your child’s teacher’s name in PowerSchool in next week Friday’s newsletter. In the meantime, make sure you are able to access your child’s information in PowerSchool.
Next week’s newsletter will contain information regarding Drop-off/Pick-up and other opening week information. Just a reminder that Wednesday, August 17th, Thursday, August 18th, and Friday, August 19th, are all half-days.
In closing, please check out a tip on preparing your child for wearing a mask from our wonderful school counselor Mrs. Starkey. Please reach out to me out with any questions that you may have. Email is the best way to reach me at this time. My email address is [email protected]. Please enjoy what remains of the summer! I will look forward to seeing our Viking Voyagers and their families very soon.
Sincerely,
Kari Naghtin, Principal
Counselor's Quick-Tip
Hello, Families! In lieu of offering a lengthy “Counselor’s Corner” article, we are opting instead for a brief and relevant “Quick Tip.” This week’s quick tip: set your child up for success by helping them build their tolerance for wearing a mask. Students will be asked to wear them in the common areas of the building. Help them get comfortable by letting them pick their own. Explain the rationale in simple terms (“Germs spread from our bodies whenever we cough, sneeze or even breathe too close to someone else. So we wear the mask not only to protect our noses and our mouths, but to protect those germs from spreading to people around us.”). Some families are getting creative and only allowing their child screen time if s/he is wearing a mask. They will either acclimate quickly to wearing a mask or be discouraged from being on a device - win! Visit Kids Health for other tips and answers to common questions about masks. This is also a helpful visual: Tips for helping kids adapts to wearing masks.
For insight or support, please don't hesitate to reach out: [email protected]
Your Partner in Education,
Jennifer Starkey, LPC
School Counselor
tefftm
|