Dear Voyager Families,
Happy Halloween to all of our Voyager Families! It sure is going to be a bit different this year, but have fun and be safe doing whatever you have planned for the weekend! Classrooms had a lot of fun celebrating “Orange and Black” day today!! Thank you to everyone who sent items in for the classroom celebrations!
We know that parent-teacher conferences were very different this year with the pandemic! We would like to thank everyone who was able to schedule a conference with their child(ren)’s teacher. A conference was held for 97% of our students - that is fantastic!
“Be Kind in the Line” Continues in November - Thank you to everyone who is following our drop-off and pick-up procedures, and thank you to everyone who is being “kind in the line”! I was out front on Thursday morning and was pleased overall with what I saw that morning. 2nd quarter started on October 19th. We had a number of students start in-person instruction that day. As a result, I am sharing our “Pick-up and Drop-off Procedures” again.
Beginning on Monday, November 2nd, cars will not be able to drive from the front lot to the back lot during “active” drop off in the morning or “active” pick up in the afternoon. Cones will be put across the front of the cut-through once staff are outside in the morning and in the afternoon. FYI - more specific information to follow: In the next couple of weeks, the district will be installing a gate across the south end of the cut-through. Times as to when the gate will be opened and closed will be shared once it is installed.
Voyager Media Center/VBC Virtual Fall Book Fair - As we know, EVERYTHING has a different twist this year. The annual fall Scholastic Book Fair will have the twist of being COMPLETELY virtual this year. It will run for TWO WEEKS - Monday, November 2nd-Friday, November 20th. More information will be sent home soon, but here is some important information to help you plan for shopping virtually at the book fair:
- All purchases support our school as we will earn 25% in rewards
- There will be some book fair exclusive items
- All orders will be shipped directly to their home with free shipping on book orders over $25
- The book fair flyer will be coming home with their student next week
District-wide Food Drive for Gleaners Food Bank - Voyager Elementary is partnering with Howell High School to support a district-wide food drive for Gleaners Food Bank. Here is a link to a flyer that our students will be bringing home this week. Voyager’s student council members will be helping with the drive here at Voyager. The drive will be held from Monday, November 2nd-Friday, November 20th.
Each week will have a featured item, however, you can send in any items that you would like to donate.
Week 1 - Canned Meat (chicken, tuna, etc.)
Week 2 - Canned Fruit
Week 3 - Canned Vegetables
Week 4 - Protein items/Peanut Butter/Protein Shakes
Thank you in advance for your support of this food drive! The HS students organizing the drive have set a goal of collecting 30,000 items for Gleaners Food Bank.
Cold Weather Gear for Outdoor Recesses - Thursday at lunch recess the “wind chill” temperature was just 39 degrees. That is definitely “warmer jacket/sweatshirt” weather. Please make sure that you are sending your child with a coat or a sweatshirt everyday now that the weather is a bit more unpredictable. It would also be a good idea to start putting gloves and hats in their backpacks. Unfortunately, it probably won’t be long before we will need to think about boots and possibly snow pants, so beginning to plan for that is a good idea, as well. Please remember to label all items with your child’s name and/or initials.
This concludes the information that I have to share today! Please read the following information from others:
“Counselor’s Quick Tip” below. It contains information about Halloween
Voyager Booster Club November Newsletter (Linked here)
District Updates - Second Semester Enrollment Changes & a Holiday Program looking for sponsorships
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:
Happy Halloween!
For some people, feeling scared is actually fun! For others, being scared feels awful and can lead to anxiety. How can a parent best help an anxious child face Halloween? Here are some practical tips.
Reduce other stressors: A good night's sleep, preparing a healthy dinner, triple checking the costumes before sundown, and other such planning will free up energy for the big night instead of heading out tired and wired.
Validate their feelings: It is important that children do not feel shame in regard to their fears or that they feel minimized about how they are feeling. Reassure them that as "real" as the costumes and decorations may look, and as real as their fear and anxiety may be, they are safe.
Find the right amount of exposure they can handle: Don't force your child into the haunted barn against their will. Instead, build their courage to face progressively bigger fears by taking small manageable steps that build one's confidence. Sometimes a child’s confidence is boosted when they face a fear and see that they managed anyway.
Your Partner in Education,
Jennifer Starkey,
School Counselor
District Updates
Second Semester Enrollment Change Window is Open
At the beginning of the school year, the district asked families to select either in-person instruction or Highlander Virtual for the first semester. As we begin planning for the second semester of the school year, the enrollment change window has opened. If you would like to change your child’s enrollment for the second semester (in-person instruction to Highlander Virtual or vice versa), please visit https://bit.ly/2HBizdL. You only need to complete this form if you are requesting an enrollment change. The deadline to request an enrollment change is Friday, November 13, at 10 p.m.
Help Provide a Happy Holiday Season to Students In Need
This year, Howell Public Schools has been invited to participate in the 13th Annual BAS Christmas Elf Holiday Giving Program. The goal of the program is to be able to provide holiday gifts for any child in need throughout Howell Public Schools, Brighton Area Schools, and the Livingston Educational Service Agency. To help meet this goal, the BAS Christmas Elf Holiday Giving Program is seeking sponsors. If you would like to help support this program, please visit https://bit.ly/2JfgQva. To learn more about the program, please visit https://bit.ly/3kAJ41j.