Compass Newsletter -- October 23, 2008
Schedule Notes:
· No school this Thursday Oct. 23 and Friday Oct. 24 due to the statewide teacher inservice days.
· Next week (Oct. 27-31): regular week, the last week of the first academic trimester.
· Nov. 3-6: Health Week-school day is 8:30am-2:15pm every day
· Friday Nov. 7-No school -- Inservice
Compass Open House Tomorrow
Our first Open House this year will take place this Thursday, October 23rd from 7pm - 8pm. Refreshments will be served and students and teachers will be available to present different perspectives on Compass School's program.
PARENTS - tell a friend, bring a friend, come to learn more about the different Middle School and High School programs. You can also meet prospective students and their parents and share your own Compass experiences!
Soccer News-
From Bruce: "What a treat on Monday to have such a picturesque fall day to play soccer. The Middle School team played their finest game of the season against a well disciplined and genuinely polite Halifax team. By halftime the score was tied 2-2, with Jonah and Chris D. putting in the goals for Compass. The second half was a closely fought battle, but Compass was not able to capitalize on our opportunities. The final score of 4-2, with Compass coming up short, was no indication of the determination and intensity of the game throughout. The play of Chris T. in goal was stellar and kept the score close. Best of all for the day, our referee, Eric Rhomberg, joined the fun to call a fair match throughout.
Last Thursday, the Middle School enjoyed a 1-0 win against Winchester. Winchester is continuing to build their team and we always have enjoyed their positive attitude towards the game. Jonah was again instrumental in scoring our only goal. Mario, on his birthday, had a number of chances, but was unable to convert them into goals, which would have been a great celebration."
Thanks!
- To Harlow's Farm for donating TONS of pumpkins to us! And to Steve for letting us haul them to school in his truck!
- To Carl McNeely for grading our parking lot! He does this gratis as a service to our school!
- To Katherine Grover for loaning from her Brattleboro gallery the wonderful piece of art now on display in our front entryway!
- To Elissa for planning and leading a great College Day last week!
Health Week is almost here!! From November 3-6, students will engage in quality workshops led by community members and staff in an exploration of how to maintain a healthy self and a healthy community. The presenters will talk about a variety of issues, covering subjects that we feel are important for all students to know. Realizing that students' knowledge and curiosities will differ, we have tried to make the content appropriate to age and experience. Moreover, we have tried to enlist speakers who will talk openly and honestly with students, who will engage students' participation, and who will be sensitive to the subjects that they present.
Day 1: A Healthy Self: Learning to Free Ourselves from Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Workshops presented by area health practitioners and educators will take place throughout the morning, focusing on identifying stressors and symptoms of stress and how to reduce and deal with stress in our daily lives. Workshops will range from "Beating Stress with Healthy Decisions", and "Learning is a Whole Body Event" to yoga and tai chi classes, herbal medicine instruction, a conversation about eating disorders and a look at tensions that arise in female relationships.
In the afternoon, African dance instructor Chelsea Agee will lead us in an all school dance accompanied by live drumming!
Day 2: Taking Action to Build A Healthy Community
Students will gather in action teams to take on personal and community health challenges to make a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. Students will choose to join one of the following action teams: Real Life Organic Farming, GMO Action Team, Localvore Project, Cooking Healthy Lunch, Hands-On Healing, The Food-Mood Connection, Stress Management, and Bringing Meditation Into Your Life. We will gather as a school to share our learnings and plans for action and then enjoy a healthy lunch together.
In the afternoon, we will be inspired by the film "The Vision of Wangari Maathai" with filmmaker Lisa Merton. (Wangari Maathai was a Nobel Peace Prize winner for her work in Kenya with the Green Belt Movement.)
Day 3: Shout it Out: Making a Difference through Self Expression
We will have the honor of viewing The Voices Project's new film, Shout It Out in a special screening with the director, Bess O'Brien. Afterwards, guided by O'Brien, we will break out into writing groups to express our own voices.
In the afternoon, we will enjoy "Because I'm With Them. . .." a performance by ActingOut, a
student improv group from Keene, NH. They will perform an interactive theater piece dealing with peer pressure of all kinds and both positive and negative effects including choices around alcohol, sex, fashion, bullying, defying authority or creating community.
Day 4: Understanding Gender Expectations and Realities
Students and teachers will spend some time in separate gender groups, talking about the experience of being female and being male. We will then gather together as a whole school to share some of our insights and celebrate one another.
In the afternoon, we will engage in playful physical exercise to close out the week.
Please note that Health Week is meant to be a community-building week and a springboard for further discussion, learning, and workshops throughout the year. It is by no means all-inclusive of every topic that we wish to cover in our health and wellness curriculum. We welcome your suggestions for keeping the spirit and learning of Health Week alive throughout the year.
School will be dismissed at 2:15pm during Health Week.
If you have any questions or concerns about Health Week please contact Janet or Lauren.
Reminder on Medications
If your child is required to take prescription drugs during school hours, it must be kept in the office with a note from your physician on how the medication should be administered and for how long. This note from your physician is very important - instructions on the prescription bottle do not serve as a note. Students must take medications in the office for safety and record keeping. If students have a medical need to carry an inhaler, the office should be notified each time a student uses it during the school day. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe environment for your child.
BREAKFAST CARDS
Beginning Monday, October 27, 2008, all students eating breakfast or purchasing drinks (tea, juice, hot chocolate, etc.) are required to purchase a breakfast card.
A 20-breakfast card costs $40.
Bagel and drink costs $2.00 and Solo Drinks cost $1.00.
To simplify our bookkeeping we are no longer accepting cash for breakfast or drinks.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Vermont 3.0 creative/tech career jam-an expo at Champlain College, Burlington, VT Oct. 25 10-5pm
For those who want to...build websites, design robots, shoot video, solve cyber crimes, make video games, general green energy, work in biotech, be your own boss..... www.Vermont3.com for more info.
Learn about Vermont businesses and schools that are incorporating technology in exciting and innovative ways at an employment expo like no other.
CRT Bus needs support!
Many of you ride the CRT bus route between Brattleboro and Bellows Falls. This route is largely supported by federal grants but also relies on rider contributions. Last year the route fell $36,000 short of the funds needed to cover the costs of supplying this service. We urge riders and families to contribute toward your use of this great resource. Riders can contribute on a per-ride basis on the bus, or you may send checks to Connecticut River Transit, POB 68, Springfield, VT 05156. www.crtransit.org
School calendar can be viewed at http://www.compass-school.org/resources/calendar or you can get additional paper copies in the office.