Thursday, August 30, 2012

Week of August 29th

What an exciting first week here on Voyager House!

For the past three days we have been working together to build our team identity and culture. Our mentors interviewed and introduced our newest members of Voyager to the whole house, invited their mentees to lunch and have been preparing their mentees for life in Voyager.  We also voted on a motto for Voyager that will become the centerpiece for a Voyager sign and t-shirt.

Throughout the course of each day, students have been rotating and working in large groups on several team building and identity projects.  For one of the rotations, students have been writing (using our motto as inspiration) lines that will become a Voyager chant, song or poem.  
 
For another of our Team Culture rotations, 5th-8th grade students worked to define who and what we are as a team.  Students finished the statement- "A Voyager student is....."  We also created lists of jobs for the beginning and ending of our day that will keep Voyager and ourselves organized through the year. 

We have also decided to put to rest the Voyager art in the hallway.  It is time for a fresh and new symbol that represents who we are!  Students worked together to design a new piece of art that represents our voyage together.  We have voted on a final design and will be pulling together some community resources in order to help our interested artists build this piece of art!  Particularly crafty or handy?  We may need your help!  

Students created beautiful thought bubbles to signify their individuality and creativity.  We will be hanging them in the Kiva for all to see!

SMART Skits:  We reviewed the (Safe, Mindful, Accepting, Respectful and Truthful)skills in each area of the school.  Students created fun skits that showed how to be SMART in areas like the hallway or on the bus.

Voyager Field Trip -
A letter and permission forms have been sent home with your student, please have your student bring in the completed permission and emergency forms on Tuesday.   Don't forget the pizza party!

Friday, August 24, 2012

Hopes and Dreams Conferences Grade 5 Signups

Calling all 5th Grade Voyager Families!

Please be sure to refer to the following address to sign up for your 5th grade 
hopes and dreams conference!



2012-2013 Summer Letter



Dear Voyager Students, Families, and Guardians,  July   2012


We hope this letter finds you well and that the summer has brought you lots of excitement, fun, and relaxation so far. Although it is only July, the school year is right around the corner, and we have planned some exciting new changes for the 2012-2013 school year. We believe these new philosophies and opportunities will maximize the potential of each Voyager student to reach their individual hopes and dreams for the year. We also believe these changes will help in streamlining communication and building a supportive and meaningful community. Some of these changes, as described in the June letter from Mrs. Parks, include Aron Merrill and Colleen O’Brien, teaching 5th/6th grade Language Arts/Social Studies and Math/Science respectively.  Martha Quatt and Lauren Wesnak teaching 7th/8th grade Math/Science and Language Arts/Social Studies respectively. Courtney Sherman co-teaching in all areas, providing direction and implementation of individual learning plans(IEP). An additional change includes a 5th-8th grade advisory program which will help in building and keeping our 5-8th grade community strong. Other supports include the keeping of Kiva Fridays, the Theater Unit, Field Trips, and 5-8th grade literature groups. More specific details about our changes will be articulated in the Voyager Handbook, which you will receive on the first day of school.

Along with our new philosophy changes, Voyager House has two new team members (mentioned above), who we are really excited to welcome into our community. Courtney Sherman, our new 5th-8th grade special educator, is a Master’s level graduate from the University of Vermont. Courtney has been a tutor and para-educator. Courtney is excited to join the team, get to know our students, and implement individual educational plans for our students.  Lauren Wesnak, our new 7th/8th grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, brings a wealth of experience to Voyager.  She most recently interned with Full House teacher, Tracey D’Amato, while attending UVM for her Masters in Teaching.  Prior to Williston, Lauren worked for three years as a residential educator at Rock Point School in Burlington.  Lauren’s passion, energy, and artistic flair will allow her to challenge students to think critically about themselves, their community, and the world.  
   Some other exciting news! We have a two day, one night Voyager adventure planned for the 6th and 7th of September
at Siskin Adventure Camp in Derby, VT.  Although 6th-8th graders have been there before, we will have a whole new set of challenges and activities planned for these days that will welcome our new 5th graders and help to lay the foundation for a great year. Paperwork and permission slips will be going home the first day of school so please be on the lookout for them! If you are interested in joining us, please contact Kim Russ, our TA, so that we can add you to the chaperone list.  

5th Grade Students:  Williston Central School 5th graders will be assessed in several areas before the school year begins.  The math and literacy skill information will guide teachers and support staff as we plan interventions for students who need extra support or challenge.  The Voyager testing will be on Monday, August 20th from 2:15-3:45 pm in the WCS dining room.  A make-up session will be offered on Tuesday, August 21st from 10:30-12:00.  

All Students:Additionally, all new students (5th graders included) will have a mentor this year.  This mentorship will be an integral part in the building of the Voyager House culture. Mentors and mentees will share the same advisory for the entire school year and have special activities for collaboration.  Mentors will be notified in early August and both Mentees and Mentors will be invited to join us for a Meet and Greet breakfast on the morning of Tuesday, August 28th. 

On the reverse side of this letter, please find the school supply list for the 2012-2013 school year.  Be sure to locate the correct list for your student, as we have different lists for ⅚ and ⅞.  Once again, we welcome our new families and look forward to our continuing our relationships with our present families. We thank you for your continued support and please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.  Enjoy your summer!

Sincerely,The Voyager TeamAron Merrill, amerrill@cssu.orgColleen O’Brien, cobrien@cssu.orgMartha Quatt, mquatt@cssu.org Lauren Wesnak, lwesnak@cssu.orgCourtney Sherman, Special Educator, csherman@cssu.orgKim Russ, kruss@cssu.org


Don’t Forget Me! Important Dates:


  • Monday, August 20th, 2:15-3:45 PM - 5th Grade Testing
  • Tuesday, August 21st, 10:30-12:00 - Make-up Date for 5th Grade Testing.
  • Monday and Tuesday, August 27th and 28th - Hopes and Dreams Conferences - for parents/students new to Voyager.  Parents will be contacted to schedule a time for this meeting.
  • Tuesday, August 28th - Mentor and Mentee Meet and Greet Breakfast!
  • Wednesday, August 29th - First day of school!
  • Thursday and Friday, September 6th and 7th - Voyager Overnight Field Trip to Siskin Adventure Camp, Derby, VT!
  • Friday, September 7th - Voyager Pizza Picnic Pick-up! More details to come!
  • Thursday, September 20th (6:30-8:00pm)  5-8th Grade Common Curriculum Night




School Supply list for 2012-2013
We ask that all students refer to the ⅚ or ⅞ supply list below,while doing your school shopping for this school year.

In addition, new students should bring $12 in cash by Tuesday, September 4, 2012, for the purchase of a portfolio, sheet protectors, and a daily planner.  Returning students need only pay $7, if their portfolio and sheet protectors are in good shape. Otherwise, returning students may decide to purchase a new one per the price for new students.  Returning students, please be sure that portfolios come back to school by the first week or two of school.  

⅚ Grade
  • 5 Single Subject Spiral Notebooks (preferably different colors)
  • 4 1” 3 ring binders (preferably different colors)
  • 5 tab dividers for each binder
  • 1 Composition Book, 100 page for Language Arts journal
  • Package of 100 3x5 Notecards for Language Arts
  • ruler (plastic/see through, with inches and mm)
  • Calculator (basic)
  • Pencils/fine tip black pens
  • Set of markers/set of colored pencils
  • Hand pencil sharpener
  • Pencil case
  • Highlighters
  • Scissors
  • Glue sticks
  • USB storage device
  • Protractor
  • 4 pack of sticky notes, just not the large ones
⅞ Grade
  • 1” binder or folder and notebook for LA, Science and Social Studies (3)
  • 1” binder with (3) dividers and loose leaf paper for Math class
  • Package of 100, 3x5 Notecards for Language Arts
  • 1 Composition Book, 100 page for Language Arts journal
  • 2 Grid Paper composition books for Math and Science
  • Scientific Calculator (Graphing Calculators will be provided in class)
  • Scissors
  • Pens/Pencils (each and every day throughout the year!)
  • Ruler (metric and  English measure)
  • Highlighters
  • Glue Sticks
  • Set of markers/ set of colored pencils
  • USB storage device
  • Pack of Post-its




World Language Supply List• A separate 3-ring binder for WL class (2 inch rings with dividers)• Pens / pencils and something to keep them in• A supply of 3 X 5 index cards (to be used throughout the year to makeflashcards)** Optional but nice: colored markers or pencils, glue stick (to be used at home for homework and projects).

Meet and Greet August 28



Voyager Meet and Greet
Come meet our new Voyager Team members!

Courtney Sherman - Special Educator
Lauren Wesnak - 7th/8th Language Arts & SS Teacher

Tuesday, August 28th,11 am - 1 pm

Feel free to drop in and say hello!

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Welcome to the VOICE



compass.jpg

Voyager House...

Voyager students will be voting on our new VOYAGER HOUSE motto!  Stay tuned...



Happy Birthday to our August babies!...