Compass Newsletter -- November 12, 2008
Schedule Notes:
· Middle school presentations of learning-Nov. 20 and 21, 8:30-noon each day.
· Sunday Nov. 23 at 5pm - Save the Date! - Fiesta de Mexico, our big party/fundraiser for the Mexico expedition. Live music/dancing/dinner/silent auction.
· Nov. 24 & 25 - no classes - parent conferences for high school
· Nov. 26-28 - Thanksgiving vacation
Fundraising Appeal
The annual fundraising appeal has been mailed. We continue our ambitious efforts to raise scholarship money for Compass families.
We are pleased to announce that Compass has been awarded a $25,000 challenge grant to support our innovative, student centered programs. The grant comes in the form of a l-to-3 match, which means that the school will receive one dollar for every three dollars raised.
This is a tremendous opportunity for us, and we need everyone's help. The money raised will go directly to the school's financial aid fund.
We all know that these are difficult economic times, but our school reaches out to provide an alternative educational environment where all students can learn and grow. We can all work together to find the support we need to enhance the future for our children.
If you have a family member or someone outside the family whom you think would be willing to make a donation, please call Janice at the school with their name and address and we will contact them. Our goal is to build a scholarship base to support those who need help staying at Compass. We need your help in accomplishing this goal.
New this year: contributions can be made by credit card by going to the Compass web site - hit the Donate tab. It's easy and secure! THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION!
Middle School Presentations of Learning, November 20th and 21st: You are invited to Middle School Presentations of Learning on Thursday and Friday, November 20th and 21th from 8:30-noon both days! Presentations of Learning (PoL's for short) take place once every trimester. During these presentations, students reflect on the significant learning that has occurred over the previous months, assessing their own challenges and successes. Creative visuals, short films, slideshows, music, and food are often part of the presentations. PoL's are approximately 15 minutes in length. Parents/Guardians are expected to be there for their child's presentation, but you are invited to attend as many as you would like. Middle School parents should contact Lauren with their top time slot choices by emailing Lauren (lauren@compass-school.org) or returning the letter sent home with students on Monday.
Basketball News - I sincerely appreciate the spirit exhibited by this year's basketball players, who have had two lovely practices at the Westminster Center School gym. While we typically have the gym only from 3-4pm, we could stay a bit longer some days. PARENTS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF REMAINING AT THE WCS GYM UNTIL 4:15 PRESENTS A REAL PROBLEM. This arrangement still allows for the Brattleboro bus students to catch their ride at the Westminster Town Hall; in fact, it improves the situation by having the Brat Bus students wait less time in the cold. I will appreciate your feedback, basketball parents/guardians. My e-mail is ron@compass-school.org. Thank you - Ron
FIESTA DE MEXICO!: Supper, Silent Auction and Latin Dancing
Sunday, November 23rd 5:00-9:00pm: The Compass School will host its 5th annual dinner, dance and silent auction fund raiser for student international travel. This year's event will fund the junior class' expedition to Mexico. The evening includes a Mexican dinner, silent auction, and salsa dancing with instruction. The silent auction will include works from fine local artists, gift certificates to local shops, restaurants, and service providers and weekend getaways. To round out the delicious dinner, the Latin dance music ensemble Black Beans will infuse the evening with the festive spirit of Latin America with high-energy Salsas, Sambas, Tangos, Meringues and more to satisfy your appetite for dance. A dance lesson will begin at 7:00 to initiate novice salsa dancers. In February the junior class will travel to the US/Mexico border to explore the complex issues of immigration, economic and foreign policy, NAFTA, and human rights from multiple perspectives. Compass is committed to raising the money necessary for this trip to be affordable for all students. This fund raiser will help make this a reality. All proceeds from this event will go toward funding the expedition. Tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for students and can be bought at Compass School (Route 5, Westminster) in advance or on the night of the fiesta. Kids under 5 are free. For more information call the Compass School at 802-463-2525 or email andy@compass-school.org.
**If you have items or services to contribute to the silent auction, please contact Andy. Thank you!
Compass Open House- Our next Open House is on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00pm. Please spread the word to any interested families who would like to visit the school and learn about our programs. Contact Janice (802.463.2525) with any questions or email bruce@compass-school.org
Teacher requests for materials:
- A plea for yarn! I am teaching a knitting exploratory and I got some wonderful donations of handmade knitting needles from the Diak family (THANKS!) and we are still looking for any yarn, long/straight needles, and other various knitting supplies! Many thanks, Beth
- Our Creative Journaling exploratory could use some supplies: fun fabric/wallpaper swatches, buttons, stickers, colored (scrapbooking) paper, ink stamps, and magazines for cutting-- anything that you can imagine using for self expression on paper. Drop off supplies in Julia's room. Thanks!
- Hardcover Books Needed for Book Altering Exploratory! Please bring any that you are willing to part with to Lauren. Thanks so much!
Student Photography/Art exhibits in Brattleboro
· Compass students are exhibiting photography and other art at Hooker Dunham in Brattleboro.
· Compass junior Pete Terwilliger is also exhibiting his work at Insight Photography.
Lunch/Breakfast Card Reminder
Please note: a ten-lunch card costs $35. and a twenty-lunch card costs $70. Our breakfast card is for twenty breakfasts with a cost of $40. Thank you!
Snow Day Cancellation Announcements - For school closings and delays Compass School follows the call of the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union (Bellows Falls, Westminster, Saxtons River, Grafton, Athens). If WNESU is closed or delayed, we go along with that. Listen for announcements on the radio or view school closing information on www.sover.net or on www.wtsa.net . (I've found that the WTSA site lists information soonest.) Eric will also send out cancellation and delay information to the "families" email list. We will also post the announcement as a news item on the Compass web site.
Additional Note: Many Compass students and families drive from far afield and from a variety roads and microclimates. We always encourage you to use your own individual best judgment in making travel decisions, and we support you staying home anytime you feel it is unsafe to drive.
Bill Koch Cross Country Youth Ski Program-All Kids ages 5-14 Welcome
Come to an Introductory Meeting to learn more about the fun, fast life of Nordic skiing.
Since 1980, the Bill Koch Nordic Ski Program has introduced thousands of youth to cross country skiing and racing. Our local club has been among the best in the country and we encourage new skiers to join the club. Bill Koch League provides a supportive environment for parents and children to enjoy the outdoors, community, each other, and introduce them to the world of Cross Country Ski Racing. BKL Events include both competitive and non-competitive events, with the emphasis on having fun and social events. Instruction for new skiers and fun activities for experienced skiers make BKL open to all.
We will hold introductory meetings at the local libraries to tell parents and kids about the program and our exciting winter plans. Come join us to learn more and check out the BKL website at http://www.nensa.net/bk/kids_index.html. For more information, contact Rick Gordon, 869-6103 or sudgor@yahoo.com.
Introductory Meetings Schedule
Nov. 12 6 pm Rockingham Library
Nov. 13 5 pm Putney Library
Nov. 13 7 pm Grafton Library
School calendar can be viewed at http://www.compass-school.org/resources/calendar or you can get additional paper copies in the office.