Compass Newsletter -- December 3, 2008

Upcoming Dates:

·       Thurdsay Dec. 11^th - Open House for prospective students and families - 7pm

·       December 19^th - Giving Day at Compass

·       Dec. 20^th - Jan. 4^th -- Vacation

Thanks for a successful FIESTA DE MEXICO!

We had a fabulous evening - lots of folks, gorgeous decoration, amazing food, a very successful silent auction, and lively music and dancing. Thanks to all the many who helped put this on, and to those who attended. We are still receiving final payments on auction items, but at this point it is looking like we will net around $6000 in support of the Mexico expedition! This success is a critical part of making an international travel experience accessible to ALL Compass juniors. Thank you!

High School Student/Parent /Teacher conferences: Please contact your child's advisor if you haven't done a conference yet.

Reminder: Biannual tuition payment are due by December 20^th. Thank you.

The ConneXions-Compass 2009 Xchange will begin in January. A group of 8^th graders and staff members from ConneXions Community Leadership Academy, a charter school in Baltimore, MD will be coming to visit Compass' Middle School from Jan. 11-17, 2009. One of the most profound parts of this exchange is the chance for students to live in one another's homes. We need host families!!!! We are hoping that 8^th graders and their families will be able to host most of the ConneXions students (since the 8^th graders will be going to Baltimore in the spring), but students in other grades and their families are welcome to as well. Please indicate at the bottom of this sheet if you will be able to host a student (or two). Thanks so much for helping to make this important experience happen.

Basketball news: Louise has been working hard to develop our schedule of games.  The schedule will be posted on Ron's website later today.  For now, please note the following games:

• Monday December 8^th  Middle School @Greenwood 3:45pm Greenwood JV
• Wednesday December 10^th@ Landmark (possibly to be switched) 7-9^th coed 3:45pm vs  St Mikes
• Thursday December 11^th Coed @Greenwood Greenwood Varsity

Middle School Trip to see Mayhem Poets: January 28, 2009 (I know it seems far away, but it's not really!), we'll be going to see the Mayhem Poets at Keene State College's performing arts center. Middle school parents and guardians should pay the ticket fee ($7)  for this event no later than December 11^th. Janice and Anne will be collecting money in the office. Thanks.

Middle School Presentations of Learning: Thank you to all of the parents, guardians, and other friends and family members who came to PoL's on November 20^th and 21^st. Your presence and feedback are so important at these presentation. What an impressive first round of PoL's!

Winter Sports

We will start winter sports on Thursdays beginning January 8^th. This year's options include ice skating at Vermont Academy, cross-country skiing & snowshoeing at Grafton ponds, indoor rock climbing, and downhill skiing & snowboarding at Okemo Mountain in Ludlow, Vermont. Students have signed up for these activities in advisory, and parental permission forms are available in the office. Permission slips must be signed and returned absolutely no later than Wednesday, December 10^th.

There is a $35.00 fee for participation in one of these activities, which must be received by the office by Wednesday, December 10th. For those planning to rent downhill equipment at Okemo, a separate check for $40.00 to cover ski/snowboard rentals is also due in the office by December 10th.*** If your child is signed up for the Okemo program, and your family is currently eligible for the USDA Free/Reduced Lunch program, your fees are $25.00 for the program and $20.00 for rentals.***

***Please be advised that helmets are mandatory for participation in our downhill ski/snowboard program. They are available for rent through the mountain for an additional $1/day (or $8/season) ***

Winter Sports VOLUNTEERS: Parent volunteers are a welcome part of our Winter Sports program. Even if you don't want to participate, we can always use drivers and lodge parents. Okemo Mountain offers a complimentary lift ticket to return another day for each day that you volunteer to chaperone with a school program. It's well worth it!  Please contact amah@compass-school.org if you are interested in chaperoning for any of these activities.

Giving Day is just around the corner- Friday December 19^th

On the last day of school before vacation we will follow our annual tradition of Giving Day. We have all secretly chosen a person to whom we will give a homemade gift. On Giving Day we get into a big circle and take the time to present our gifts one by one. In the past, gifts have included such things as baked goods, crafts, jewelry, songs, music cd mixes, clothing, pictures, poems, found objects and more. The rules are that the gift can't be store bought, that we keep it secret until Giving Day, and that we try to make it thoughtful and personalized. In addition to the gift giving, we will engage in some other fun activities during the day. Each year this has been a wonderful day of community connection and gratitude. 

Would you like to help some of Vermont's and New Hampshire's hungry families?  Would you like to support creative fun at the same time?  We invite you to contribute to the second annual Compass School "Can"struction challenge, to be built at Compass School on December 19, 2008. Would you contribute an amount of canned goods or other non-perishables to our effort? All of the food used in the Canstructions will be donated to Our Place Drop-In Center in Bellows Falls, Vermont which serves families throughout the Connecticut River Valley Region, including Walpole, North Walpole and Alstead, New Hampshire, Bellows Falls, Saxtons River and Westminster, Vermont. 

Movie Night Friday Dec. 12

Announcing our first Movie Night of the Year on Friday, December 12, at the Compass School.  From 6-10 PM please join us for a double feature of two films: Lion King and Juno. THE INTERMISSION WILL FEATURE THE ESTEEMED DR. SEUSS CLASSIC ORIGINAL VERSION OF HOW THE GRICH STOLE CHRISTMAS!  Yes, there will be popcorn (included in the price of admission) as well as other items for sale.  All proceeds go to the Compass School Student Fund, which exists to help all students participate in all field trips and other such activities.  See you on Friday, December 12^th. 

Teacher requests for materials:

• We could use another operating microwave oven, if someone has one to donate. Thanks!

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!

Check out the Circus!  Come to the New England Center for Circus Arts, at the Cotton Mill in Brattleboro for our free recital Sat Dec 6 at 4 pm, or try a $10 Sample Class on Sunday, Dec 7.  Join us Sunday for a Parents & Tot's class for age 2 - 4 yrs at 10 am, for kids age 5 - 12 yrs at 11 am, and for teens & adults at 12 noon.  Activities are for all ages, sizes & abilities.   For more information/directions visit www.necenterforcircusarts.org or call 802-254-9780.  

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.

School calendar can be viewed at http://www.compass-school.org/resources/calendar or you can get additional paper copies in the office.