Voyager MS Parent Bulletin
January 21, 2022 Weekly News
January 28 - Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL
Home of the Wolverines
Our mission is to prepare our youth today for tomorrow’s opportunities.
Land Acknowledgement
The Mukilteo School District acknowledges that we gather on the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish Peoples, who have lived in the Salish Sea basin since time immemorial. We respect this place and honor the sacred spiritual connection to the land, water, and its people, past, present, and future. The district serves a diverse population of about 15,000 students who live near the Puget Sound about 15 miles north of Seattle. Dedicated staff help prepare our community's children to be successful, contributing members of the community. Our students learn in an environment that is positive, caring, and focused on their highest academic potential.
The Voyager MS Parent Bulletin is available in multiple languages
Thought of the Week
“You can never really live anyone else’s life, not even your child’s. The influence you exert is through your own life, and what you’ve become yourself.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Health and Safety Information for In-Person Learning
The in-person learning family guide has been posted on the Return to School website. As with last spring, school staff will follow the health and safety guidelines provided by the Washington State Department of Health. You’ll also find information about cleaning, transportation, physical distancing, masks and other in-person learning protocols.
Attendance Reminders to All Families
We want to remind students and families about the importance of daily attendance. In order for students to do their best learning in school, students need to be present at school, on time, as many days as possible. Additionally, please be mindful about scheduling appointments outside of the school day whenever possible, or to bring students back to campus so that they miss as little school as possible.
Sick or Unable to Attend
Health and Safety Reminders
Stay Home if You’re Sick – Helpful Information: A COVID -19 Toolkit https://www.snohd.org/DocumentCenter/View/8109/COVID-Toolkit-FINAL
While we recognize that many conditions can cause these symptoms, such as the “common cold” or allergies, the best way to rule out COVID is to be tested.
If your student has tested negative or is fully vaccinated for COVID, they should STILL stay home until their symptoms have improved to avoid bringing other viruses or contagious conditions to school, or coughing, wiping, or blowing their nose in the classroom, for example.
Please review the updated Covid-19 Daily Health Screening and Resource Form Parent-Handout-COVID-Screening-REV-011822.pdf (snoisletech.com) If your student has ANY of the outlined symptoms, they should stay home, (even if you believe it’s not COVID!)
Please call the school right away to report POSITIVE Covid Test Results so we can notify close contacts.
Thank you for your help in keeping Voyager Middle School as safe as possible.
Week at a Glance
January 24 - January 28
Activity Bus Leaves Promptly at 4:05pm
1/24 - Monday - B Day
Before School
Library Open 7:40 - 8:00am
During School
Literacy Center 8:10 - 9:30am
After School
Homework Club - 2:50 - 4:00pm - VO Library
Craft Club - 2:55 - 4:00pm - Room# B153
ELL Club - 2:55 - 4:00pm - Room# B151
Literacy Center Staff Club - 2:55 - 4:00pm - VO Library
7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball Practice - 2:50 - 5:00pm - Voyager Gym
1/25- Tuesday - A Day:
Before School
Library Open 7:40 - 8:00am
During School
Literacy Center 8:10 - 9:30am
After School
Homework Club - 2:50 - 4:00pm - VO Library
Cribbage Club - 2:55 - 4:00pm - Room# Library
Craft Club - 2:55 - 4:00pm - Room# B153
7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball Practice - 2:50 - 5:00pm - Voyager Gym
1/26- Wednesday - B Day:
Before School
Library Open 7:40 - 8:00am
During School
Literacy Center 8:10 - 9:30am
After School
STEAM Club - 2:55 - 4:00pm - Room#C140
Homework Club - 2:55 - 4:00pm - VO Library
Wolvy Book Club - 2:55 - 4:00pm - VO Library
7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball Practice - 2:50 - 5:00pm - Voyager Gym
1/27- Thursday - A Day:
Before School
Library Open 7:40 - 8:00am
During School
Literacy Center 8:10 - 9:30am
After School
Homework Club - 2:50 - 4:00pm - VO Library
Pride Club - 2:55 - 4:00pm - Room# A130
7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball Practice - 2:50 - 5:00pm - Voyager Gym
National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony - 7:00pm - WEBINAR
1/28- Friday - B Day:
Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL/NO AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Learning Improvement Time (LIT) Dismissal, Fridays
On Fridays Voyager students are usually released from school at 1:30pm due to Learning Improvement Time (LIT) time for staff. There are no after school activity buses on early dismissal Fridays.
New Covid Guidance
Dear Mukilteo School District families,
As a follow-up to Friday’s message about the new COVID guidance for five-day quarantines, please see the attached family screening flow chart. Translations are coming soon and will be added to the Return to School website under the Family Guide tab. It is important to note that your student must be symptom-free and provide proof of a negative COVID test to return after day five of quarantine.
Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four at-home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. You can order free Covid tests at COVIDtests.gov - Free at-home COVID-19 tests
Snohomish Health District has approved us to accept home test results temporarily while testing resources in the community remain strained. Once district or community test sites are operational and able to handle higher volumes again, we will stop accepting home test results.
DISTRICT TESTING UPDATE
We have been working to find a provider to provide both rapid antigen tests for students and asymptomatic staff as well as PCR tests for symptomatic people. Testing supplies and providers continue to be scarce, but we have found another provider and are confirming the details. We will pilot the new testing procedures for staff late next week. If all goes well, we tentatively plan to expand the testing to include students the following week (first week of February). Watch for more details and sign-up instructions late next week.
For several months, staff have been working to establish a testing site near Mariner High School. We just received the permit from the county this week to move forward with that plan. It may take a week or two to get the location set up and staffed, but we are excited for this major development. We’ll update staff and families as that testing location becomes ready for testing districtwide.
Sincerely,
Mukilteo School District
National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony - January 27
National Junior Honor Society is a national organization that recognizes students in our schools who not only achieve academically but are also contributing members of their communities. The criteria to be inducted into NJHS requires students to submit an application and only students who have a 3.4 GPA or higher are invited to apply. Applications are carefully reviewed for GPA as well as service and recommendations from current and past teachers. If accepted, students and their families are invited to participate in an induction ceremony.
The ceremony for the 2021-2022 school year will be held on Thursday, January 27, 7:00 – 8:00pm in a webinar format.
Webinar Details
National Junior Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Voyager Middle School students will be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society
Start Date and Duration:
1/27/2022 - 7:00:00 PM (1 hr)
Use and share this link to join the webinar (the passcode is included in the link):
https://mukilteoschools-org.zoom.us/j/98850105348?pwd=M3lBSzZ4Mml4MTRFMXNnaE41TTA2dz09
Passcode: 818159
SAVE THE DATE: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly - February 10
to has been rescheduled. Voyager Middle School collaborates with Mariner High School to create our spectacular recognition of Dr. King. The Mariner staff needs many students to help create the presentation and due to our county’s rising COVID case numbers, that just can’t happen right now. We have rescheduled the assembly to take place during Black History Month on February 10 hoping that more students get to participate.
This event will be livestreamed. Link to livestream on February 10 at 8:20am is forthcoming.
Remember to Vote by February 8!
The Mukilteo School District Board of Directors approved resolutions during their November 22 board meeting to place two levy resolutions on the Feb. 8, 2022, election ballot: a Replacement Educational Programs Levy and a Capital Projects Levy for technology and facilities. The current Educational Programs Levy and Capital Projects Levy will expire in 2022, and the proposed levies, if passed, would replace the expiring levies. See board presentation.
Learn more about the levies at Our District tab under Financials.
Stay Connected with Voyager on Social Media
Please visit us on Facebook and/or Instagram to stay updated on the latest and greatest happening at Voyager! Events and other information are constantly posted to keep you informed. The purpose of the pages is to share school information for parents using media that you can access routinely and easily. The second is to celebrate the lifelong learning at Voyager Middle School.
Please visit us on Facebook at @voyagermiddleschool, Instagram at @voyagerwolverines and Voyager Middle School - YouTube
Helpful Resources
COVID-19 Testing Locations
The Washington State Department of Health offers a comprehensive
list of testing sites throughout the State. Click your area on the map to find testing sites near you. You can also search for locations by typing in the city nearest you.
If you have a health care provider, you can also call them for an appointment. Choose the option that works best for you. For additional questions about testing sites, call 2-1-1.
Visit the Washington State Department of Health’s Testing for COVID-19 page for the latest updates, information about who should be tested, what you should do after you’re tested, vaccine information, testing locations and data dashboard.
Mukilteo School District - Past Family Messages
Links
Mukilteo School District Web Site
Voyager Middle School Web Site
https://www.flashalert.net/login/
Mukilteo School District 2021-22 School Calendar
Voyager Clubs for the 2021/2022 School Year: Voyager Clubs (mukilteoschools.org)
FAMILY ACCESS: link
FlashAlert Newswire and Messenger
Covid Data Dashboard Return to School / COVID cases dashboard (mukilteoschools.org)
Free Student Meals for the 21-22 School Year! Complete the application
Transportation Department (425)366-1306 or visit Find Your School Bus Route.
VO Facebook @voyagermiddleschool
VO Instagram @voyagerwolverines
Voyager Middle School - YouTube
Revolution Prep. Academic tutoring accessible through the student portal (Free Tutoring Services for Middle and High School Students)
Voyager School Counselors
Brenna Reid, 6th Grade Counselor ReidBC@mukilteo.wednet.edu, 425-366-5334
Vincenza Moody, 7th Grade Counselor MoodyVC@mukilteo.wednet.edu, 425-366-5333
Margaret Peterson, 8th Grade Counselor PetersonMJ@mukilteo.wednet.edu, 425-366-5332
How to Get Information About School Closures or Delays
In the event of inclement weather, a power outage, or some other emergency making it necessary to close or delay schools, you can find that information in a number of ways:
CHECK YOUR PHONE Connect to Blackboard Connect.
Visit here if you want information about emergencies, such as the procedures for school closures, lockdowns, and shelter-in-place. Emergency Information. Or call the school district’s Emergency Information Line at 425-356-1299 or the 24-hour information line for your child’s school.
CHECK THE WEBSITE Mukilteo School District Web Site.
You can go directly to the Flash Alert website.
Free tutoring services for middle and high school students!
Students in grades 6 through 12 will have access to free online tutoring services through a partnership with Revolution Prep. Academic tutoring will be accessible through the student portal on the district website in many key academic subjects (math, science, English Language and literature, foreign languages, history, etc.).
The sessions are offered in one-hour blocks with up to 5 other students. They are available after school, evenings and weekends. Students may drop-in to a session, but reservations are recommended as some sessions may fill up.
Watch this five-minute video to get started!
For more information, please access recordings here Free tutoring for middle and high school students! Additional family webinars in other languages will be presented in January.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide - FREE Tax Preparation & Filing
Visit AARP Tax-Aide for more information.
New Convenient Digital Vax Record
Mukilteo School District is Hiring!
State Mask Mandate
School Resources
If your child has a need for school supplies, food, clothing or community resources, please contact Kristen Anderson, Lead Student Support Advocate at AndersonKM@mukilteo.wednet.edu or Olga Mantilla, Family Engagement Liaison at Mantillaoy@mukilteo.wednet.edu
Stay Connected!
We send a schoolwide weekly newsletter and other regular communications out via Blackboard, our district wide communication system. By enrolling your child in our school, you are automatically set up to receive schoolwide and Blackboard messages from us. If you have updates to e-mail or phone numbers that you would like to make related to these communications, please call the main office at 425-366-5300.
Upcoming Events
Season Three Sports Schedule - https://www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=33418
2/8/22: Voyager Music Boosters Club Meeting - Zoom
2/8/22: Madres Latinas Meeting - Zoom
2/10/22: MLK Assembly
2/11/22: Teacher Work Day - No School
2/21/22: President's Day - No School
2/22/22 - 2/25/22: Mid Winter Break – No School
3/18/22: End of the 2nd Trimester
4/11/22 - 4/15/22: Spring Break – No School
4/19/22: Madres Latinas Meeting - Zoom
5/13/22: Madres Latinas Meeting - Zoom
5/30/22: Memorial Day – No School
6/14/22: Madres Latinas Meeting - Zoom
6/17/22: Last Day of School (Early Dismissal @ 12:00pm) (Snow make up day)
Friday - Learning Improvement Time (LIT) – EARLY DISMISSAL SCHEDULE
8:05 - 9:30am - Core
9:35 - 10:50am - Elective
11:25 - 11:55am - Intervention
12:00 - 1:30pm - Core
7th Grade
8:05 - 8:35am - Intervention
8:40 - 11:40am Core
11:40 - 12:10 - Lunch
12:15 - 1:30pm - Elective
8th Grade
8:05 - 9:15am - Elective
9:20 - 12:15pm - Core
12:15 - 12:45pm - Lunch
12:50 - 1:30pm - Intervention
Show your child the many ways to exhibit respect
In a class of many people, each student’s actions affect the others. It’s difficult for teachers to create a positive learning environment in the absence of respect. Talk to your child about the importance of being respectful to others. Teach her to demonstrate respect by:
- Believing in herself. Respect begins with self-respect. Your child should act in ways that make her proud of herself.
- Being on time. Promptness demonstrates respect for people’s time. Your child should arrive on time for classes and other commitments.
- Listening to and being polite to others. This includes parents, teachers and classmates. Your child should address teachers properly by saying, “Good morning, Mrs. Foster.”
- Paying attention to her body language. When she smiles, nods and makes eye contact she is showing people that she respects them.
- Being someone others can trust. Your child should do what she says she will do and take responsibility when she makes a mistake.
- Understanding that learning is important. It is a way to better herself. Your child should pay attention in class and participate.
- Realizing that she can learn something from almost every person she meets even if she disagrees with them.
~ The Parent Institute
Your middle schooler’s success begins with a positive attitude
A positive attitude can motivate your child to put in the effort he needs in order to succeed and can keep him going even when he feels like giving up.
To foster a positive attitude in your middle schooler:
- Help him focus on the things he can change. A negative attitude often results from feeling helpless. For example, your child probably can’t change the material in his classes. If that were his goal, he would feel helpless and negative. But he can change how much he prepares. That can lead to success and a positive feeling of empowerment.
- Encourage him to think of others. It’s amazing how doing something good for another person can lift a person out of a bad mood. Challenge your child to bring a smile to someone else’s face as often as he can.
- Suggest that he keep a gratitude journal. In it, he can write about things that make him feel grateful and happy.
~ The Parent Institute
Contact Voyager
Email: Voyager@mukilteo.wednet.edu
Website: https://mukilteoschooldistrict.sharepoint.com/sites/msd_vo
Location: 11711 4th Ave W, Everett, WA, USA
Phone: 425-366-5300
Facebook: facebook.com/@voyagermiddleschool
Family Engagement Liaison
Email: mantillaoy@mukilteo.wednet.edu
Location: 11711 4th Avenue West, Everett, WA, USA
Phone: (425)366-5300