All About Voyager Elementary School

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Hope For The Future
The Voyager Family
Additional Thoughts From Parents & Students
Voyager Elementary Stats
Neighborhoods Within School Boundary

Today’s post is all about Voyager Elementary School as we continue our series that takes a look at each school in the Peninsula School District. As your neighborhood expert I’m here to show you all the ins and outs of life in Gig Harbor and I know one of the important aspects for families is what the schools in the area are like. So read on to learn more about this school that’s right across from Kopachuck State Park.

Opportunities at Voyager

Katja Rimmele, Principal

I’m the principal at Voyager Elementary and we are the home of the Vikings. Voyager Elementary is on the south end of Gig Harbor. We are right across the street from Kopachuck State Park. We have students that come to us from Fox Island and the Sehmel Park and Rosedale area. Our students are lucky: the fifth graders move on right next door to Kopachuck Middle School and then they continue on to Gig Harbor High School. 

Voyager Elementary houses two programs unique to us here in the school district. One is transitional kindergarten—it actually just started at the beginning of November. We have four-year-olds for the first time in our school and we’re so excited. These little guys are getting ready for kindergarten and we get to see them grow in transitional kindergarten and then move into kindergarten here at Voyager. The other program is the PACE program, and that’s a program for highly capable students identified through testing, and we have second and third graders here and fourth and fifth graders, and that’s pretty unique to Voyager.

Rhonda Haug, STEM Teacher

I am the STEM specialist at Voyager. I teach kids all about science, technology, engineering, and math. The thing that kids love most about my class is engineering. So anytime I say we are going to design something, we’re going to test something, you’re going to build it, they get really excited. Engineering’s their favorite favorite. We’ve done solar boats, we’ve done wind turbines, they’re going to engineer turkey traps next week—I mean, it’s just amazing. 

We love to use Kopachuck State Park across the street. During low tide, we’ll go down and find moon snails and starfish and kids learn a lot about how to protect Puget Sound. So lucky we have that resource over there.

Lynne Johnson, Teacher

I’m a fifth grade teacher. At Voyager, we have a lot of traditions. Camp is a big thing—we just got back from camp, so when they’re in fifth grade, they get to go to camp. We have something called Market Place and it’s been around for probably over 20 years. The kids make a little craft, the whole school gets to come through in the gym and shop and buy their little crafts, and that’s their fundraiser for camp.

Isabel B., Student

I am in fifth grade and I’ve been here since kindergarten. I love Fifth Grade Market because it’s really fun to walk around with your friends and you get to look at all the creations that the fifth graders have made and it’s pretty cool to see that.

Hope for the Future

Katja Rimmele, Principal

So Voyager Elementary is a “Kids at Hope” school and we believe that all kids, and adults, are capable of success—no exceptions—and we recite that in the mornings on announcements and it is how we live. Students here show respect, they act responsibly, they inspire others, and they live and learn safely. That’s what we’re all about—we’re about hope and we’re about making sure that all kids can succeed. No exceptions!

Rhonda Haug, STEM Teacher

I really want to empower kids to take control of their environment and to teach them that you can do anything you want to do. You can create anything you want to create. It’s their future that we are working on in the STEM class.

The Voyager Family

Emily Engelhardt, Parent

I have a second grader here, and then I’m also on the PTA. I love having a Voyager student. I love the administration. The communication is fantastic. My son is incredibly safe here. With some of his challenges we’ve had amazing support and so I am a huge loyal Voyager.

Mikael S., Student

I’ve been at Voyager for four years and I’m in third grade. I do Lego Camp on Mondays. It’s fun to get to know the people there and to really bond with them.

Lynne Johnson, Teacher

Every kid in the school is like our own, and so we try to learn those names and try to find out something about them so when we see them in the hall, we can be personal. 

Isabel B., Student

It’s an awesome school. All teachers are very supportive and kind.

Mikael S., Student

The kids are great and the teachers are too. It’s just a great place to be at and learn.

Katja Rimmele, Principal

Families who send their students to us know that this is a safe and caring place and I could not be prouder of the students and the staff and the families that I get to work with.

Additional Thoughts From Parents & Students

What Parents Love About Voyager

“I love all that the PTA does to build community for our families. There are so many events for Voyager students and their families to attend!”

What They Wish Could Be Better

“It would be great to see the building get some updates. It’s in good shape, but shows its age.” 

What Their Children Love About Voyager

“My children love their friends and their teachers! They also love our giant playground and field!”

What Would They Tell A New Family At Voyager?

“Voyager is within walking distance to Kopachuck State Park, where most classes go on a field trip in late spring.”

Neighborhoods Within School Boundary

Some neighborhoods include:

  • Cromwell

    • Shawnee Hills

  • Horsehead Bay

    • Forest Beach

    • Moorelands

  • Kopachuck

    • Hai Yatch

    • Kopachuck Heights Estates

    • Kopachuck Place

    • Kopachuck Ridge Estates

  • Rosedale

    • Louise Park

    • Olympic View

    • Ray Nash Country Estates

    • Shorecrest

  • Sehmel

    • Bayridge Estates

    • Cherry Point

  • Fox Island

  • Raft Island

If you want to learn more about our wonderful community here be sure to check out my blog, or for more information on buying and selling in Gig Harbor and the surrounding area go to askpaigeschulte.com.

Gig Harbor SchoolsBecca Fitzpatrick