Newsletter March 9, 2010

The Compass School Newsletter

March 9, 2010

Director’s Notes

The tulips are coming up in front of Compass, temperatures are in the 50’s, can spring be far behind?  So it is time to celebrate the end of winter by coming to the Winter Carnival Friday, March 12.  Please be sure to check school start times and all the activities that will be taking place including the Pot Luck dinner and the trip report on Ecuador-will be a great time.

I spent Wednesday afternoon as part of the Vermont School Choice group testifying in front of the Senate and House Education Committee as they consider school reorganization and consolidation legislation.  There were several hundred people in attendance and all spoke passionately about their needs.  It is important that everyone stay up to date on these legislative issues that relate to education and be sure to make our voices heard.  Long day, and short night but what a great experience in democracy in action.

Reenrollment contracts are in the mail; please read and return to our offices as soon as possible.  If you have any questions please call our offices;  if you would like to meet the coffee or tea is on me.

Winter Carnival

 It’s a Compass talent night! Come sip warm beverages and enjoy to the talent in our community.  Perform yourself and share some art with others.  You could play the spoons, read a poem or sing your favorite tune or just relax and take it all in.

Students will take part in a winter Olympics and team/leadership challenges and the Ecuador presentation.  Dinner will be a potluck starting at 6:00 and will be followed by an amazing talent show! 

School starts at 2pm. Eric will run a school bus from Brattleboro to Compass to help students get here.  The bus will leave the Outlet Center parking lot at Exit 1 in Brattleboro at 1:15pm.

Even though this day is unique, it is not an optional adventure. If your student cannot take part for any reason, please have them communicate this with their advisor. Thanks…

Suggested dish by last name-

A-G last names can bring- entrées

H-N last names can bring- side dishes

P-W last names can bring- desserts

So mark your calendar- Friday, March 19

-Students arrive 2:00pm

-Families 5:00 pm for Ecuador Presentation

-6:00 pm for just potluck and show

Lunch Menu

Wednesday

Many choices

Thursday

Favorite Fajitas

Friday

Meatball or chicken parm subs

or veggie pockets

There is always a veggie option.

Families Needed

As we start to plan for the upcoming school year 2010-11 we are currently planning on hosting several international students for the year.  If you would be interested in having the experience of hosting one of these students, please contact Nelson Richter or Janet Van Alsyne at 463 2525. Thank you for your help.

Dear Compass Community (from Ron BosLun, teacher/advisor) 

I began working with The Health and Learning Center of Brattleboro in learning about youth suicide prevention this fall, and have now attended two workshops under their leadership.  This is of course a sensitive subject, but one that we would do well to discuss now.  I have been working with faculty in learning to recognize the warning signs as well as specific steps to take if we suspect that someone is at risk of suicide.  I will be delivering a four-lesson youth suicide prevention curriculum called Lifelines this spring to the middle school as part of our human health unit; we are developing a plan to teach this curriculum in the high school. 

In preparation for this, Compass School is inviting all parents/guardians to attend a meeting on Wednesday, March 24, from 7-8:30 PM with representatives from the Health and Learning Center as well as HCRS, which has a crisis team to which we would make referral in the event of serious risk of suicide (guardians will of course be informed if we ever talk to a student about concerns for their safety related to suicide, and referral to on outside agency is done with parent consent).  That evening, I will present a parent education video and discuss the Lifelines curriculum as well as any related concerns.  I do hope that you are able to join us at 7:00 on Wednesday, March 24.  Please direct any questions to ron@compass-school.org.

Ron BosLun

Compass School Math/Science Teacher, 7th Grade Advisor

(802)463-2525

FAX (802)463-2520

ron@compass-school.org

Governor’s Institute

Applications are being accepted for this summer’s Governors Institutes. These are 1-week or 2-week summer enrichment programs open to high school students who have finished 10^th or 11^th grade. (Sometimes they accept 9^th graders.) We have had many students attend in the past and have always loved the experience. Great to have on the resume too! Programs are in Arts, Asian Cultures, Current Issues, Engineering, Information Tech., Math, and Science. Generous financial aid is usually available.  Application information available on their website:  http://www.giv.org ; applications are to be tuned in to the Compass office, and are due March 18^th.

information and application are available at the web site.

April Follies Rehearsals Begin

Students have begun rehearsing for this year's play April Follies - a series of one acts, in fact), which will go up the first weekend of April.  

Go Louise’s web page on the Compass sit to get details of the rehearsal schedule.

Welcome to our collection of one act plays, April Follies, a mixture of comedy and suspense, featuring student directors working with Louise and Ron, with 7 PM performances on Friday and Saturday, April 2-3, as well as a 2:00 matinee on Saturday the 3^rd.  Cast, crew, and directors have been working hard as we prepare for these shows as well as the in-school performance on Thursday, April 1.  Mark your calendars!

We have a list of needs for the show....

toy guns for the western (maybe even cap guns if they still exist)

Cowboy hats/boots

Wigs

3 typer writers

4 black chairs

We could have a parent volunteer to head-up intermission treats.

Writing Workshops with Kathy Izzo!  Students are invited to participate in a free series of writing workshops with writer Kathe Izzo from NYC. Sessions will be held from 2:30-4:00pm on the following Fridays: March 5, March 19, April 9, and May 7. (Students may attend some or all of the sessions.) Writing will explore the teenaged voice and will be developed for use in the VOICES Project radio show to be broadcasted in May from Bellows Falls. Please contact Lauren (lauren@compass-school) with questions.

The BFUHS Drama Club presents OKLAHOMA!

Bellows Falls Union High School auditorium

Friday March 12th at 7 PM

Saturday March 13th at 2:30 PM and 7 PM

$5 General Admission

$3 Seniors

Bake sale to benefit Project Graduation at intermission

Call for Art Supply Donations: After 2 museums, lots of end-of-trimester projects, and Winterm, our art supplies are starting to get a bit worn out here at Compass. If you happen to have art supplies sitting around the house that aren’t being used, we’d be delighted to take them! We’d also welcome any art supply donations if you feel like picking up an extra box of crayons, markers, glue, construction paper, paintbrushes, paints, etc. Thanks!

March Dates

March 19            Winter Carnival

April Dates

April 2                        April Follies (one act plays)

Apirl 8                        Compass Film Festival

April19-23            Spring Break

 SAVE THE DATE: Benefit for Homeless Youth Project: April 18 (Ron Bos-Lun opener, Mark Erelli Headliner)

On Sunday April 18, singer-songwriter Mark Erelli will be performing a benefit concert to raise funds for  a project to house homeless youth in Brattleboro. The project is being coordinated by Youth Services staff.  Ron Bos-Lun (Compass teacher, local singer/songwriter and volunteer at  Bellows Falls Warming Shelter) will perform a short opening set.

Erelli has performed numerous times in Brattleboro. His unique blend of musical styles with compelling lyrics addressing a myriad of important issues are well suited to the Windham County, Vermont audience. The concert will be held at the Hooker Dunham Theater and Gallery at 7:30  pm. The show is expected to sell-out so it is strongly suggested you purchase tickets in advance.

You can  purchase tickets from Ron or Michelle Bos-Lun (802 732 7916 or michelle.boslun@youthservicesinc.org)  or at Youth Services’ office at 32 Walnut St in Brattleboro or at Turn It Up in Brattleboro.  Advance sale tickets will be $18 general admission or $16 for youth/seniors. If there are tickets available at the door they will be $20. Tickets go on sale March 15  (you may reserve tickets prior to that at the phone number or email address above).

Please support this important project that will address the problem of youth homelessness in Brattleboro by establishing a safe, affordable option for youth housing.

If you have any questions you may contact Michelle Bos-Lun at Youth Services.

Michelle

Michelle Bos-Lun

Youth in Transition Housing Coordinator

Youth Services, Brattleboro

802 258 8038 (work cell)

802 257 0361 (main office)

michelle.boslun@youthservicesinc.org

Ultimate Frisbee Schedule

Compass School Apparel Order Form-Return to Compass School Attn: Austin

Style                      Navy            Dark Green                  Black           Maroon

Please indicate size: (child’s small through XXL) and number desired.  Thank you.