Compass Newsletter -- December 17, 2008

Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy holiday season!

Upcoming Dates:

·       December 19^th - Giving Day at Compass

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

·       Jan. 7^th  - Alumni Day

·       Jan. 6^th - first day of Winter Sports

·       Jan. 11-17 - visit from the Baltimore students

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

Congratulations!:

·       To Compass senior Kelty Wilton upon being accepted early decision to Hampshire College, including a $50,000 over 4 years merit scholarship!!!

·       To Compass 8^th grade student Julia Foster, for being awarded the Elaine Dixon Memorial Community Leadership Award, given to a student from Putney who exemplifies community service and leadership!

Giving Day - 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. 

Materials Needed: For Giving Day on 12/19 for Quimble making to benefit David's House:

*Embroidery thread   *Assorted yarn   *Pipe cleaners, various sizes    *Small wooden beads

Questions? - see Janet   Thanks!!

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. 

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: Basketball schedule can be viewed on Ron's website. Upcoming games:

7-9th Co-Ed team:

Tuesday, Jan. 6   4:00 @ Marlboro

Thursday, Jan. 15   3:45 @ Greenwood B

Friday, Jan. 16   3:45 @ Landmark College vs. St. Mike's

High School Girls:

Monday, Jan. 12 @ Bromely Brook

High School Boys:

Tuesday, Jan. 13   4:00 @ Landmark College with Baltimore vs. Kindle Farm

Middle School Trip to see Mayhem Poets: January 28, 2009 we'll be going to see the Mayhem Poets at Keene State College's performing arts center.

In search of a snowboard for the upcoming season.  Height=5'5''.  If you have one, contact: Julia@compass-school.org

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!

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