Compass School

A Great Year! Thanks, and Have a Wonderful Summer!
Wow, it’s hard to believe that school is already wrapping up. As we finish up with highpoints such as the moving graduation ceremony last Saturday, roundtables, exhibitions, presentations of learning, project week… we celebrate a very rich and successful year at Compass. This work is never easy, but the impressive evidence of significant learning and the outpouring of gratitude that we have been experiencing in recent weeks affirm the value of our efforts. Thank you to the parents for your wonderful commitment to your children’s education. Thank you to the Compass faculty for your extraordinary dedication and great work. And I’d like to especially commend the students for your impressive achievements this year, not only in terms of academics but also in the areas of leadership, initiative, community involvement, respect, and personal development. We are so fortunate to have each other and the great learning environment we have created. Excellent job, everyone!
And I’d like to wish everyone in the Compass community a restful, safe and expansive summer!

“The Compass Journal Spring Edition: The Annual Report” is now available at school. We hope every family will take one of these excellent summaries of the year at Compass. These can be good promotional materials for the school to share with others, so if you know someone else who might appreciate reading this, please ask for more. (As they cost over $1 each to print, please only take them if they will go to good use. Thanks.)

Special Schedule— Final Celebration—Thursday June 5th — The school day for students will run from 12:30-8:00pm. Students will set up exhibitions of their project week work in the afternoon. Families are invited to view the work on display starting at 4:30. Please join us for a pot luck dinner at 5:30pm (please bring a dish to share). We will then have a closing ceremony and celebration 6:30-8:00pm.
Note on set-up and clean-up: Thank you for your response to help on Thursday’s pot luck.  We now have a set crew.  We will need people to help clean up – if many of us stay just a little bit later to help put things away – clean up will go much faster.  Many hands make light work.  Looking forward to seeing everyone.    Thank you!!   –Janice

The Quilt Raffle Drawing will take place at June 5th celebration!
Drawing to be Thursday, June 5, 2008 @ Closing Ceremony.  Thank you to JANET L. BROAD for making and contributing the quilt for a scholarship fundraiser.  We met our goal by raising $1,013.00.  Thanks to all of you who bought and sold tickets.  Our goal was reached because of parental support in selling tickets.  One parent sold over $200 worth!!  Your enthusiasm about this beautiful quilt created a great challenge among many of you to reach our goal and that we did!!.  Although we will miss its beauty in the front entryway, we are pleased to pass this along to a family who supports our scholarship fund.  A BIG THANK YOU to all.  –Janice

Last Day of School—Friday June 6th—We will do a thorough school clean-up in the morning, and then we will head to the Saxtons River Rec Area for lunch and fellowship. Lunch will be provided, and students are welcome to bring swimsuits. Students may be picked up at the Rec. at 1:30 or back at school at 2:15.

Juniors need to bring in $5 to Julia for the senior gift.  The only people who have contributed are: Avery, Soo Mi, Annelise, Kori, and Hannah V-C.  Please remember to bring it in by Friday!

Would You Like to Host an Exchange Student Next Year?
Please contact Bruce  bruce@compass-school.org

Outstanding Balances—  Please be sure to take care of outstanding balances on your accounts such as lunches, network fees, tuition insurance, books, uniforms, tuition etc. Thank you.

Please Return Books and Materials—Please make a point of checking homes, book bags, etc., and return all Compass books and materials. Thank you.

Staff Changes for 08-09
We sadly say good bye, hopefully temporarily, to the incomparable Alexandra Zuser, who is due to bring a new child into her family at the end of summer. Alexandra has brought her immense talents with teaching math, in addition to adding a wealth of interests from quantum theory to Yearbook to art. We are optimistic we can fill these big shoes with the return of Ron Bos-Lun, along with Victoria Roberts coming back from maternity leave to job share with former Compass Spanish teacher Elizabeth Nieuwsma. The return of these beloved teachers speaks strongly to the quality of the Compass experience for teachers as well as students. We will be able to hit the ground running with the return of these Compass veterans.

Message From Ron
Greetings from Ron, former and future Compass teacher.  It was a joy to be back at Compass for graduation, and I look forward to seeing folks on Friday.  Our return westward across the Connecticut River is a bit complicated, and the Bos-Luns are potentially available for house-sitting in beloved Vermont immediately.  For the next month, there will be only two or three of us, as Michelle will be in California today (Wednesday), then driving across the country with her sister and niece, and Aaron is still in Washington, DC, leaving just Emily and me, with Adam joining us some of the time.  We are good with plants, pets, gardens, lawns, and such.  Something close to Putney may be ideal, but we’d consider anything from Brat to BF for any amount of time from now until mid-July.

Emily is also seeking summer employment and is open to a variety of possibilities.  She is especially interested in cleaning, house-keeping, or pet-sitting.
Please contact Ron at (603)899-2033, (802)257-9309, (802)732-7016 or ron.boslun@gmail.com
Many thanks - Ron

REPORT CARDS
Report cards will be mailed out at the end of next week, provided all student books and materials have been returned and any outstanding bills are paid.

Tutoring Available—A number of Compass teachers are available for paid tutoring over the summer:
Julia is available for private (or small group) tutoring of writing and/or literature this summer.  julia@compass-school.org  home-802-869-1667
Louise is available for math tutoring. louise@compass-school.org  cell-603-674-9360
Elissa is available for Spanish tutoring.   elissa@compass-school.org  home-802-387-2522
Amah is available for tutoring pre-algebra, algebra, and writing. amah@compass-school.org cell-802-289-1151

Summer reading
We have a LONG reading list for summer reading for our students – viewable on the Compass web site in the Resources section.   (http://www.compass-school.org/resources/summerreading.html)
We are asking each student to read at least 50 days over the summer (from this list or not). Summer is a great time for reading and a chance to explore learning outside school assignments. Any student who submits a reading log (included at the end of this newsletter or downloadable from our website) during the first week of school in September will be awarded a special prize!

Summer News
We will be sending a summer mailing to all 08-09 families in early July, which will include the full calendar for next year, health forms, and other news. If you have news to share in this newsletter, please send it to school to Janice or Eric. The entire staff will be at school full time next week (June 9-13). The office will be open through the rest of June. We will be in school at irregular intervals throughout the summer. We will be answering messages and checking the mail all summer. Please contact us with any questions or concerns, or just to say “hi”! The full faculty will be back full time starting August 20. The first day of school for students will be Tuesday, September 2nd.

Upcoming Dates:
June 5 …. School day 12:30-8pm   5:30 family pot luck, 6:30 closing ceremony for students and families
June 6 …. Last day of school for students
June 9-13 … staff week

Have a great summer!

Sept. 2 … first day of school for 08-09!

50 DAYS OF READING!!!
Your challenge is to read for 50 days this summer (not necessarily consecutively). Go to our website for ideas: (http://www.compass-school.org/resources/summerreading.html)
Please have a parent or friend initial your reading records, and maybe even discuss the reading with them!  This page will be collected at beginning of the year, for proof that you met the challenge. Prize for anyone who completes this challenge and turns in their log during the first week of school in September!

Great Senior Roundtables!— Once again the senior portfolio roundtables proved to be a most extraordinary and inspiring exhibition of the meaning of a Compass education. While simultaneously a demanding test of individual accountability and a celebration of the uniqueness of each student, the senior roundtable has become a powerful rite of passage for Compass seniors and their families. With poise, intelligence, insight, and heart, each student was able to demonstrate his or her readiness for graduation to a panel including family, peers, teachers, board members, and outside community representatives. The portfolio process requires students to show mastery in the Compass learning realms, but it celebrates the unique ways each student has achieved this.

Here are some reflections in the students’ own words:

“I have changed drastically, my appearance, my mannerisms, and my attitude.  I was in an environment where speaking up and sometimes disagreeing were encouraged. I stood up straighter; I asserted my place for the first time ever. I was no longer invisible, and I no longer wanted to be.”

“This school taught me the actual smart kid stuff, like how to do calculus and how to write better papers… But what I have learned and experienced at Compass goes beyond just the five realms. I have learned how to define myself, how to make friends, and most importantly how to be confident in the decisions I make.”

“I want to thank you with all of my heart for not giving up on me, and giving me the chance to become a person we can all be proud of.”

“This year I challenged myself.”

“I developed my own style.”

“Since freshman year, I have laughed, cried, learned things I never thought I would, and found interest and even passion in things that were before only a mystery.”

“My senior year surpassed all of my expectations.”

“As I write out a poem, it transforms as I write in a way that is somewhat magical, becoming something new one line at a time. High school has been like that.”

“I have definitely grown in many academic areas. I am able to take good notes, draft papers, organize information, take tests (and pass them). I am confident that I will be ready for college.”

“I don’t expect to stop growing when I leave. The seed has been planted and my roots are now too strong for me to stop.”

“I’ve struggled to get to where I am, and for the first time since I can remember, I’m proud of myself.”

“I’ve changed, I’ve become more rational, emotional, more reasonable, and I hope more intelligent. However the best part of looking back on high school is the simple realization that I haven’t stopped learning and chaning.”

“The thing that Compass has most allowed me to do is find my own voice.”

“Getting this type of education has been a life changing experience.”

Compass Graduation— Saturday May 31st at 2pm. The whole Compass community is invited! (Overflow parking next door at BDR trucking – park on the side of the lot closest to Compass.)

Senior Celebration Potluck – Seniors and their families are invited to a celebratory potluck at Compass this Friday May 30th at 6pm.

Project Week
Project week will be held May 29th-June 5th. This is a chance for students to demonstrate mastery on either a teacher organized or student directed academic project. There will be some faculty offerings, and the possibilities for student initiated projects are endless, and include the chance for job shadowing or internships in the community or self-designed academic projects. Each project must have a research component as well as a written piece and a visual exhibition that will be shared for our Community Celebration June 5th.

Schedule note: Dismissal is now 2:10pm each day.  (With the exception of June 5th which is a special 12:30-8pm school day.)

10th Grade Portfolio Roundtables
Portfolio Roundtables are required of all 10th graders, and will be scheduled for the afternoons of project week on Thursday May 29 and Friday May 30. Please call the office to sign up for a slot. At the roundtable, you will have a chance to look over your child’s work and to hear/read their reflections on their learning.

8th Grade Graduation, May 29th: Put the 8th grade graduation on your calendar: Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 6:30pm!! Please join us for a special night of celebration and potluck desserts.

Final Celebration—Thursday June 5th — The school day for students will run from 12:30-8:00pm. Students will set up exhibitions of their project week work in the afternoon. Families are invited to a pot luck dinner at 5:30pm (please bring a dish to share). We will then have a closing ceremony and celebration 6:30-8:00pm. Parents: please contact Anthony if you can help with set-up and/or clean-up that night—email Anthony at marlinadad@msn.com or call him at home at 463-9896. Thanks!

The Quilt Raffle Drawing will take place at June 5th celebration!

Last Day of School—Friday June 6th—We will do a thorough school clean-up in the morning, and then we will head to the Saxtons River Rec Area for lunch and fellowship. Students may be picked up at the Rec. at 1:30 or back at school at 2:15.

Would You Like to Host an Exchange Student Next Year?
We are in communication with a 10th grade female exchange student from Spain named is.  We will have the full file in a weeks time, but until then, please let us know if you are interested in hosting a student from September of this next year for all or part of the year.  Please contact Bruce  bruce@compass-school.org

LUNCH NOTICE
As of Tuesday May 27th we will no longer be accepting charged lunches.  All lunches must be paid for at lunch time.  Please pay all owed lunches by Friday May 30th.  Thank you!

Outstanding Balances Please be sure to take care of outstanding balances on your accounts such as lunches, network fees, tuition insurance, books, uniforms, tuition etc. Thank you.

Please Return Books and Materials—Please make a point of checking homes, book bags, etc., and return all Compass books and materials. Thank you.

Staff Changes for 08-09
We sadly say good bye, hopefully temporarily, to the incomparable Alexandra Zuser, who is due to bring a new child into her family at the end of summer. Alexandra has brought her immense talents with teaching math, in addition to adding a wealth of interests from quantum theory to Yearbook to art. We are optimistic we can fill these big shoes with the return of Ron Bos-Lun, along with Victoria Roberts coming back from maternity leave to job share with former Compass Spanish teacher Elizabeth Nieuwsma. The return of these beloved teachers speaks strongly to the quality of the Compass experience for teachers as well as students. We will be able to hit the ground running with the return of these Compass veterans.

Annual Plant Sale: Saturday,  May 31st 9am-12pm @ the Westminster West School (3724 Westminster West Rd., about 8 miles from the Putney General Store).  There will be a wide variety of annuals and perennials.  Come early for the best selection.  This is a fundraiser for the Westminster West School.  Please call Rachael Shaw for questions and for any plant donations, 869-3184.
Sign of the Times is pleased to present their original work Eyeth/Earth
Saturday, May 31st at 3:00 and 7:30, two shows only at New England Youth Theatre, 100 Flat Street, Brattleboro, Vermont.   Tickets: $5/No reservations will be taken.
Sign of the Times is comprised of 7 deaf and 7 hearing teenage actors. They have been rehearsing a series of short plays three times a week since May 1st at the Austine School. The company employs a variety of rehearsal and performance techniques to create new work for the stage including clowning, improvisation, mime, and deaf/hearing “shadow” acting.

Upcoming Dates:
May 28 …. Last day of third trimester
May 29-30 … 10th grade roundtables- afternoon slots
May 29 …. 8th Grade Graduation–  6:30pm
May 29-June 5 ….Project Week
May 30 …. Senior potluck– 6pm
May 31 …. Graduation 2pm
June 5 …. School day 12:30-8pm   5:30 family pot luck, 6:30 closing ceremony for students and families
June 6 …. Last day of school for students
June 9-13 … staff week

While some schools end the year by coasting the last few weeks, we end with a flurry of events in which students synthesize, exhibit, and celebrate their learning. There is a lot going on, and we honor everyone’s time, hard work, and commitment…

Great Senior Project Presentations— The seniors did an excellent job presenting their senior project exhibitions on Friday. Projects ranged from working on an organic farm in Hawaii to volunteering at a border station in Mexico, cultural field research of towns in the eastern U.S., travel to Scotland with a focus on retro-technology clockworks, computer generated animation, original film making and editing, originally composed and recorded music, an exploration of artistic inspiration and creativity, belly dancing, a graphic arts and printing job shadow, advertising, and a study of school climate in rural and urban settings. The Big Room was alive all day with displays, visitors, presentations, and discussions. Great work!

Staff Changes for 08-09
We sadly say good bye, hopefully temporarily, to the incomparable Alexandra Zuser, who is due to bring a new child into her family at the end of summer. Alexandra has brought her immense talents with teaching math, in addition to adding a wealth of interests from quantum theory to Yearbook to art. We are optimistic we can fill these big shoes with the return of Ron Bos-Lun, along with Victoria Roberts coming back from maternity leave to job share with former Compass Spanish teacher Elizabeth Nieuwsma. The return of these beloved teachers speaks strongly to the quality of the Compass experience for teachers as well as students. We will be able to hit the ground running with the return of these Compass veterans.

Congratulations to Sara L. who also has been accepted to the Governor’s Institute this summer, and whose name was inadvertently omitted in last week’s newsletter.

Weekend Rock Climbing Exploratory
The rock climbing exploratory will head to Green Mountain Climbing Center in Rutland, VT on Saturday, May 24th. We’ll be meeting at Compass at 10am. Lunch will be provided, but bring snacks and a full water bottle. We had a great time last weekend and are looking forward to another day of climbing!

Project Week
Project week will be held May 29th-June 5th. This is a chance for students to demonstrate mastery on either a teacher organized or student directed academic project. There will be some faculty offerings, and the possibilities for student initiated projects are endless, and include the chance for job shadowing or internships in the community or self-designed academic projects. Each project must have a research component as well as a written piece and a visual exhibition that will be shared for our Community Celebration June 5th. Students have done sign-ups, and individual project contracts are due by the end of this week.

Schedule note: May 22 is the last day of 3rd trimester exploratories. Dismissal after that date is 2:10pm each day. (But 8th graders need to stay until 4pm on Tuesday May 27th.)

8th Grade Science NECAP’s: 8th graders need to take NECAP exams on May 27th and 28th. Although school is dismissed at 2:10 on Tuesday, May 27th, 8th graders will need to stay until 4pm to take the first few sections of this exam. They will complete it from 12:40-2:10 on Wednesday, May 28th. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

Senior Roundtables—Senior portfolio roundtables will take place this week the afternoons/evenings of May 21, 22, & 23. Each senior will present his or her portfolio and describe readiness for graduation to a committee consisting of teachers, parents, board, community members, and peers. This has become a major rite of passage in the Compass School experience. Best of luck to the seniors!

Compass Graduation— Saturday May 31st at 2pm. The whole Compass community is invited!

10th Grade Portfolio Roundtables
Portfolio Roundtables are required of all 10th graders, and will be scheduled for the afternoons of project week on Thursday May 29 and Friday May 30. Please call the office to sign up for a slot. At the roundtable, you will have a chance to look over your child’s work and to hear/read their reflections on their learning. The roundtable panel is comprised of 2 teachers, the presenting student and parent(s), and a student peer chosen by the presenting student. We hope at least one parent can attend this important process for sharing student work and celebrating their accomplishments.

Upcoming Middle School Events:
8th Grade Roundtables, May 22, 23, 27, and 28, 8:30am-12noon

7th Grade Presentations of Learning, May 21st: 7th grade PoL’s will take place today– Wednesday, May 21, 2008 from 8:30-2:15.

8th Grade Graduation, May 29th: Put the 8th grade graduation on your calendar: Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 6:30pm!! Please join us for a special night of celebration and potluck desserts.

Final Celebration—Thursday June 5th — The school day for students will run from 12:30-8:00pm. Students will set up exhibitions of their project week work in the afternoon. Families are invited to a pot luck dinner at 5:30pm (please bring a dish to share). We will then have a closing ceremony and celebration 6:30-8:00pm. Parents: please contact Anthony if you can help with set-up and/or clean-up that night—email Anthony at marlinadad@msn.com or call him at home at 463-9896. Thanks!

Would You Like to Host an Exchange Student Next Year?
Compass is preparing to welcome the next wave of exchange students through PAX, the Program of Academic Exchange, the same program that brought Cristina, Daniel and Miguel to our school this year. We want to ask you to consider the possibility of hosting one of several students who will be attending Compass in the fall. Hosting a student from another country is a great opportunity to learn first-hand about another culture and also for your family to share your life with a student who is eager to discover life in America.

The first student accepted for next year is Mario Lopez from Spain. He is 15-years old and a strong student. He is also an accomplished guitarist—playing both classical and electric–and likes sports as well. Although he lives in Madrid, he enjoys rural life and is looking forward to getting to living in Vermont and to skiing here. You can view his profile at http://pax.org/asp/pax.asp?st_id=13129&p=4649

If you’re interested in the possibility of hosting Mario, or other students who will also be coming to Compass, please contact Bruce Chase or Ann Newsmith, PAX community coordinator, at 802-257-4710, or ann_newsmith@verizon.net

LUNCH NOTICE
As of Tuesday May 27th we will no longer be accepting charged lunches. All lunches must be paid for at lunch time. Please pay all owed lunches by Friday May 30th. Thank you!

Outstanding Balances

Please be sure to take care of outstanding balances on your accounts such as lunches, network fees, tuition insurance, books, uniforms, tuition etc. Thank you.

Annual Plant Sale: Saturday, May 31st 9am-12pm @ the Westminster West School (3724 Westminster West Rd., about 8 miles from the Putney General Store). There will be a wide variety of annuals and perennials. Come early for the best selection. This is a fundraiser for the Westminster West School. Please call Rachael Shaw for questions and for any plant donations, 869-3184.

Sign of the Times is pleased to present their original work Eyeth/Earth
Saturday, May 31st at 3:00 and 7:30, two shows only at New England Youth Theatre, 100 Flat Street, Brattleboro, Vermont. Tickets: $5/No reservations will be taken.
Sign of the Times is comprised of 7 deaf and 7 hearing teenage actors. They have been rehearsing a series of short plays three times a week since May 1st at the Austine School with the aid of two interpreters. The company employs a variety of rehearsal and performance techniques to create new work for the stage including clowning, improvisation, mime, and deaf/hearing “shadow” acting.

Lifegaurding Course
Southern Vermont Health and Recreation center in Springfield, Vermont is offering a lifegaurding course: June 3-19 – classes on Tues. and Thurs. 5-9pm
Must be at least 15 years old with strong swimming skills. Phone: 802-885-2568

Upcoming Dates:
May 21,22,23 …. Senior graduation roundtables
May 21….. 7th Grade PoL’s (8:30-2:30)
May 22 …. Last day of 4th quarter exploratories
May 22, 23, 27, 28…. 8th Grade Roundtables (8:30-12)
May 27 ….. 8th graders have school until 4pm – NECAP tests
May 28 …. Last day of third trimester
May 29-30 … 10th grade roundtables- afternoon slots
May 29 …. 8th Grade Graduation 6:30pm
May 29-June 5 ….project week
May 31 …. Graduation 2pm
June 5 …. School day 12:30-8pm 5:30 family pot luck, 6:30 closing ceremony for students and families
June 6 …. Last day of school for students
June 9-13 … staff week

May 14th, 2008Senior Project Presentations—Friday May 16th, 10:30am-2:10pm.

Everyone is invited to the Senior Project Exhibition on Friday, 5/16 from 10:30 a.m.-2:10 p.m., with a break from 12-12:45 p.m. The seniors will be set up in the big room and a couple classrooms in order to engage us all in their learning. Projects range from film-making to perfume marketing.

Congratulations to the 9-10th grade Humanities Art for Social Change exhibit at the Latchis Gallery! The exhibition received rave reviews! If you missed it, much of this work is now on display on the bulletin boards at Compass.

Great Spring Trips!
The trips last week to New York and Baltimore all went really well. Special thanks to all the teachers who worked so hard and spent time away from families to make these experiences possible. And enormous thanks to the parent volunteer chaperones! – John Fiske, Luanne Closter, Priscilla Tansley, Sue Rowell, Matt Broad, Catie Syrotiak, and Paul Engels.

Congratulations to our students who have been accepted into Governor’s Institutes for this summer!:
Annelise K., Kyle T., Pete T., Connor K., Meghan M., and Kristi R.

…and to Allison A., who received the Asia Scholarship from World Learning to travel to China this summer!

Weekend Rock Climbing Exploratory
The rock climbing exploratory will head to The Wall in Quechee, VT on Saturday, May 17th. We’ll be meeting at Compass at 10am. Lunch will be provided, but bring snacks!

Project Week
Project week will be held May 29th-June 5th. This is a chance for students to demonstrate mastery on either a teacher organized or student directed academic project. There will be some faculty offerings, and the possibilities for student initiated projects are endless, and include the chance for job shadowing or internships in the community or self-designed academic projects. Each project must have a research component as well as a written piece and a visual exhibition that will be shared for our Community Celebration June 5th. Student interests will be surveyed this week, and sign-ups will be next week.

Schedule note: May 22 is the last day of 3rd trimester exploratories. Dismissal after that date is 2:10pm each day.

Senior Roundtables—Senior portfolio roundtables will take place the afternoons/evenings of May 21, 22, & 23. Seniors and their parents should have signed up for slots with their advisors.

Graduation Roundtable “Evaluators” — The Graduation Roundtables have become a significant rite of passage at Compass. A key part of their success is the involvement of outside community members not associated in any way with the school who sit on the roundtable committee and help make the decision about the student’s readiness to graduate. The roundtable meetings are each approximately one hour long and will be scheduled on May 21, 22, and 23. If you know anyone who might be interested in serving on a graduation committee, please forward their name to Eric who will invite their participation.

Compass Graduation— Saturday May 31st at 2pm. The whole Compass community is invited!

10th Grade Portfolio Roundtables
Portfolio Roundtables are required of all 10th graders, and will be scheduled for the afternoons of project week. At the roundtable, you will have a chance to look over your child’s work and to hear/read their reflections on their learning. The roundtable panel is comprised of 2 teachers, the presenting student and parent(s), and a student peer chosen by the presenting student. We hope at least one parent can attend this important process for sharing student work and celebrating their accomplishments.

Upcoming Middle School Events:
8th Grade Roundtables, May 22, 23, 27, and 28, 8:30am-12noon : If you are a parent/guardian of an 8th grader, please contact Janice in the office to schedule a time for your child’s Roundtable. A parent or guardian is a required member of Roundtable committees. Please contact Lauren (lauren@compass-school.org) if you have any questions.

7th Grade Presentations of Learning, May 21st: 7th grade PoL’s will take place on Wednesday, May 21, 2008 from 8:30-2:15. If you are a parent/guardian of a 7th grader, please contact Janice in the office to sign your child up for a time slot that works for you. Thanks!

8th Grade Graduation, May 29th: Put the 8th grade graduation on your calendar: Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 6:30pm!! Please join us for a special night of celebration and potluck desserts.

NECAP Science Test for 8th graders
New this year, Vermont has added a spring science test to the battery of tests given to public school students in the state. We will be administering this test to our 8th graders during the next two weeks.

REMINDER QUILT RAFFLE - Attention to all who have quilt raffle tickets - Please return all raffle tickets and money by Wed May 14th so we can make arrangements for the drawing. Thank you!

Would You Like to Host an Exchange Student Next Year?
Compass is preparing to welcome the next wave of exchange students through PAX, the Program of Academic Exchange, the same program that brought Cristina, Daniel and Miguel to our school this year. We want to ask you to consider the possibility of hosting one of several students who will be attending Compass in the fall. Hosting a student from another country is a great opportunity to learn first-hand about another culture and also for your family to share your life with a student who is eager to discover life in America.

The first student accepted for next year is Mario Lopez from Spain. He is 15-years old and a strong student. He is also an accomplished guitarist—playing both classical and electric–and likes sports as well. Although he lives in Madrid, he enjoys rural life and is looking forward to getting to living in Vermont and to skiing here. You can view his profile at http://pax.org/asp/pax.asp?st_id=13129&p=4649 <http://pax.org/asp/pax.asp?st_id=13129&p=4649>
If you’re interested in the possibility of hosting Mario, or other students who will also be coming to Compass, please contact Bruce Chase or Ann Newsmith, PAX community coordinator, at 802-257-4710, or ann_newsmith@verizon.net

Order the Yearbook – deadline today!
Be sure to order your copy of the Compass School Yearbook! Prepay $13 for a book or $3 for a CD. You will NOT be guaranteed a copy of the yearbook if you do not preorder, so get your order and payment in to Janice ASAP. (Final deadline will be May 14th.) Note from Janice: Thank you all families who have ordered the yearbook and or CD. We have almost 50 yearbook orders (that is impressive). It would be helpful to receive payment of these orders ASAP to help defray cost of printing. Thank you.

Outstanding Balances

Please be sure to take care of outstanding balances on your accounts such as lunches, network fees, tuition insurance, books, uniforms, tuition etc. Thank you.

Lifegaurding Course
Southern Vermont Health and Recreation center in Springfield, Vermont is offering a lifegaurding course: June 3-19 – classes on Tues. and Thurs. 5-9pm
Must be at least 15 years old with strong swimming skills. Phone: 802-885-2568

Upcoming Dates:
May 16 … senior project presentations at Compass, 10am-2pm
May 21,22,23 …. Senior graduation roundtables
May 21….. 7th Grade PoL’s (8:30-2:30) Parents- sign up for a slot
May 22 …. Last day of 4th quarter exploratories
May 22, 23, 27, 28…. 8th Grade Roundtables (8:30-12) Parents- sign up for a slot
May 26 …..No School – Memorial Day
May 28 …. Last day of third trimester
May 29 …. 8th Grade Graduation 6:30pm
May 29-June 5 ….project week
May 31 …. Graduation
June 5 …. School day 12:30-8pm Evening pot luck and closing ceremony for students and families
June 6 …. Last day of school for students
June 9-13 … staff week