Compass Newsletter -- April 15, 2009

Schedule Notes:

·       April 13-17 - Middle school parent conferences; please schedule with Lauren and Andy

·       April 16^th 7pm - Compass 9^th-10^th Grade One-Act Plays performed at NEYT

·       April Vacation: April 20-24  -- Have a great break everyone!

·       April 30 - Compass Open House for students/families interested in learning about our school.

This Thursday April 16^th- 7pm - Compass 9^th-10^th grade original one-act plays to be performed at New England Youth Theater

The New England Youth Theater, in collaboration with Compass School, presents the Compass School Ten Minute Play Festival on Thursday April 16, 2009 at 7pm.

A selection of short plays written by ninth and tenth grade Humanities students at Compass School as a class assignment will soon be coming to life on the NEYT stage.  The plays were written as part of a trimester focused on creative expression in which each student was challenged to create interesting characters and believable dialogue--all within ten pages.

A dozen of the plays written in the class were submitted to a committee of actors and directors at NEYT, who then chose their six favorites.  The plays, which run the gamut from the farcical to the hauntingly sad, will be directed and performed by New England Youth Theater faculty and students.

Compass School's curriculum is built around public exhibition of student work and these students were uniquely motivated by a desire to see their plays performed. In addition to the NEYT show, the entire Compass Humanities class will display their artwork and perform their poems and plays on May 1st at the Latchis 4 Gallery in Brattleboro for Gallery Walk.

The single performance of the Compass Play Festival is presented on Thursday, April 16 at 7:00pm.  Tickets are $5.00, available only at the door. The New England Youth Theatre is located at 100 Flat Street in Brattleboro.

Great Film Festival!

Congratulations to the film class for presenting an outstanding film festival. And thanks to all the many people who attended.

Rock Climbing Exploratory at Quechee Climbing Gym: The indoor rock climbing exploratory will take place on April 9, 16, and 30, all Thursdays. We will leave Compass at 2:30 and return at 7:00pm on the 9^th and 30^th and 6:30pm on the 16^th.  All those signed up for this exploratory must submit the $32 fee and the waiver form in order to climb. Please contact Lauren (lauren@compass-school.org) ASAP if you need another letter and waiver! Waivers are downloadable at: http://www.vermontclimbing.com/Waiver.pdf. Thanks!

Exploratory Committee: Would You Be Interested in Helping Us Look at how to Improve/Expand Exploratories?

Thanks to the parents who have expressed interest in serving on a committee to clarify the mission of our exploratory program and to look at ways to better meet that mission. We will set a first meeting after April vacation.

Are you a gardener?

We invite you to plant a row for the Compass School and our community partner Our Place Drop-in Center in Bellow's Falls.  Please check out our website about hunger in Vermont and the US which was created by the service-learning Winterm project (http://www.compass-school.org/sites/default/files/users/Beth%20White/Our%20Place%20Drop%20In%20Center%20Winterm%20Journal%203-21-09%20web%20version.pdf).  If you would like to participate, please let Beth know (beth@compass-school.org) and stop by to get a Compass/Our Place Plant a Row Stake to put in your garden!  Thanks for considering it!

SPRING VACATION PHOTOGRAPHT WORKSHOP

No major plans for April Vacation? Join us at In-Sight for a THREE DAY WORKSHOP TUESDAY 4/21-THURSDAY 4/23 12:30-4:30! We will be using digital, medium format, and perhaps some pinhole cameras to explore studio work and on-site shooting techniques while out and about downtown Brattleboro. Suitable for all skill levels. To find out more or to register visit www.insight-photography.org or call us at 251-9960

The Compass School final scheduled Open House is set for Thursday, April 30 from 7:00pm - 8:30pm.  This will follow our April break and will be the opportunity for families to discover the wonderful world of Compass.  Tell a friend.

As part of their geology studies, 9^th-10^th grade students were asked to collect and carefully observe a rock. Here is a poem by Rachel D. :

My rock

My Rock is unique in its own way

I'm very glad its here to stay.

Easy to carry, fun to hold

New to me, but very old.

Glitters in sunlight, sleeps at night,

Its color gives me great delight.

Coral, red, magenta pink,

Its colors make me stop and think.

Its home is a Chinese take out box,

What would you like, some dirt, some socks?

If dear stone, you will allow

I want to look at you for now.

I want to explore, research, study

I'm sure you and me can be best of buddies.