The Campus Store is Open until June 14

look awesome while Supporting Compass!

Profits from purchases from this store support student activities at The Compass School.

Please read the important information below before placing your order. 

DEADLINE: June14, 2023

  • NO LATE ORDERS ACCEPTED

  • ESTIMATED COMPLETION: 7/6/23-7/13/23

  • PLEASE PROVIDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS THAT IS CHECKED OFTEN. THIS IS OUR PRIMARY LINE OF COMMUNICATION, AND FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN EMAIL IN A TIMELY MANNER MAY RESULT IN A DELAY OF YOUR ORDER.

  • PLEASE DO NOT REACH OUT REGARDING ORDER STATUS BEFORE THE ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE. 

  • IN CASE OF A BACK ORDER YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED BY EMAIL AND GIVEN 24 HRS. TO PICK A REPLACEMENT OR A REFUND WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE ITEM. 

  • ALL SALES ARE FINAL. THERE ARE NO RETURNS, EXCHANGES OR REFUNDS/CREDITS.

This Week at Compass (5/23 through 5/26) 

Portfolio Week

 (2:15pm dismissal all week).   

Students at each grade level have some form of final reflection presentation, and we invite parents to join these. Please contact your child's advisor, or call the office to sign up for a time slot. See details below for each grade level.

  • Grade 7 -- Presentations of Learning (15 minute slots) are being scheduled throughout the school day on Thursday 5/25. Parents are invited, in-person or remote.

  • Grade 8 -- Roundtables (1 hour slots) are scheduled Thursday 5/25 and Friday 5/26. Parents strongly encouraged to attend in person.

  • Grade 9 -- "YEAR" meetings (30 minute slots) are scheduled Wednesday 5/24 through the school day. Parents are invited, in-person or remote.

  • Grade 10 -- Roundtables (1 hour slots) are scheduled Thursday 5/25 and Friday 5/26. Parents strongly encouraged to attend in person.

  • Grade 11 -- "YEAR" meetings (30 minute slots) are scheduled Wednesday 5/24 through the school day. Parents are invited, in-person or remote.

  • Grade 12 -- Roundtables (1.5 hour slots) are scheduled all week at 3pm and 5pm slots. Parents strongly encouraged to attend in person.

This time of reflection, celebration, and goal setting is a valuable part of our learning and growth.

What’s ahead?

May 30-June 5 -- Project Week

 As is our tradition, we end the school year with Project Week, where students engage in individually designed projects, with a few group projects also offered.  Project week is a chance for students to do something fun and meaningful for their own learning. Students need to complete a project proposal form (copy attached). With parental permission and signature, students may engage in a project at home or at a site in the community-- for that, they need to put those details in their proposal.

The group projects offered this year were:

--Trail Maintenance with Ron

--Court Sports Development with Ann

--American Sign Language  (Whistle facilitates)

--Painting Wall Hangings with Cynthia Parker-Houghton

But students were also encouraged to create their own individual project.

Ideas for projects have included things such as: Arts: Create a mural, movie, dance, poems, short stories; Immersion: Try being an artist, or a poet, or a scientist; Learn a skill: Fix a car, build a cabinet, cook Chinese food; Academic Discovery: Research an animal species, read about WWII, conduct a science experiment; Community Service: Do yard work for an elderly neighbor, volunteer at a farm, connect with an activist organization, do a job shadow, assist your parent’s business. 

For those students working at school, dismissal is 2:15 during project week.

A Big 1980s THANK YOU from the 9th & 10th Grades

The 9th and 10th grades want to send a huge THANK YOU to everyone who played a part in making last week's first-ever 1980s living museum a smashing success!

Special thanks go to:

-- All who attended and helped bring our museum to life

-- Families and staff who generously loaned us artifacts from the 1980s.

-- Faculty who helped the humanities team along the way and who were willing to have their classrooms completely transformed for the event

-- The 9/10 students for working hard these past few weeks and families for supporting the process Congratulations on a truly tubular museum!!

- Gabriel Allen-Fahlander,, Humanities Teacher & Middle School Coordinator

Compass Newsletter (for the week starting May 15)

Spring Trips!

We have a normal class schedule for Monday and Tuesday this week, and then Spring Trips.  More details have been sent to families by grade level.

7th/8th Graders: Trip to Burlington! Staying overnight  at Rock Point School in Burlington. Leaving Compass at 8:30am on Wednesday May 17.  Returning around 4pm on Thursday May 18. (No school for 7th/8th graders on Friday May 19)

9th/10th Graders: Trip to Cape Cod! Staying at Camp Farley in Mashpee, MA  Leaving Compass at 8:30am on Wednesday May 17.  Returning Friday May 19 around 4pm. Lots of details have been sent home.

11th Graders: Wed. 5/17 meet at Compass by 9am or at CCV in Brattleboro at 9:30am. Tour CCV. Other Brattleboro activities.    Thur. 5/18-- Meet at Compass at 8:15am. Tour Chroma Technologies. Other activities. School day over at 2:15pm   (No school Friday May 19.)

12th Graders: Wed. 5/17, Thur. 5/18, and Fri. 5/19 -- come to Compass all three days to work on Roundtables.  School day over at 2:15pm each day.

Education Bill Update--Good News!

H.483 remained held in the Senate Education Committee as the Vermont legislature adjourned for 2023. The advocacy to oppose this bill that we and others expressed to our legislators has been credited as a significant factor in the committee’s decision to not move the bill forward. Well done, Compass community!

Re-enrollment for 2023-24

We've received our information from the State, and are now ready to move forward with re-enrollment for the upcoming year. For those new to it, there are two parts to this process:

1. COMPLETING FINANCIAL AID (IF APPLICABLE): If you have applied for aid in the past, you'll receive an email from Ingrid in the next few days.

2. SIGNING YOUR CONTRACT:  We will begin sending emails to families with instructions on how to access contracts and enrollment forms for the coming fall.  Keep an eye out for those and, as soon as you can, log into your account and get things signed.  We're expecting a busy upcoming year!

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out: office@compass-school.org

School Store is Open!-- Compass clothing available

You can follow this link to purchase Compass School clothing:

https://compassschoolvt.itemorder.com/

Senior Project Exhibitions--  Tuesday May 16 at 12:30-2:30pm

The seniors will be sharing their senior project exhibitions at school on Tuesday May 16th at 12:30pm-2:30pm in the Big Room. Families are welcome to come check them out!

Junior Comp Project Exhibitions-- well done!

Thanks to the juniors for sharing their comp projects at school on Friday. It was great to hear about their work!

Congrats to the 9th/10th graders for their 1980s living museum!

…And it was wonderful to see so many parents, family, and guests! Well done!



Spring Trips!

We are approaching Spring Trips May 17-19.  More details have been and will continue to be sent to families by grade level.

7th/8th Graders: Trip to Burlington! Staying overnight  at Rock Point School in Burlington. Leaving Compass at 8:30am on Wednesday May 17.  Returning around 4pm on Thursday May 18. (No school for 7th/8th graders on Friday May 19)

9th/10th Graders: Trip to Cape Cod! Staying at Camp Farley in Mashpee, MA  Leaving Compass at 8:30am on Wednesday May 17.  Returning Friday May 19 around 4pm. Lots of details have been sent home.

11th Graders: Wed. 5/17 meet at Compass by 9am or at CCV in Brattleboro at 9:30am. Tour CCV. Other Brattleboro activities.    Thur. 5/18-- Meet at Compass at 8:15am. Tour Chroma Technologies. Other activities. School day over at 2:15pm   (No school Friday May 19.)

12th Graders: Wed. 5/17, Thur. 5/18, and Fri. 5/19 -- come to Compass all three days to work on Roundtables.  School day over at 2:15pm each day.

Head of School Search Update (5/10)

Our Next Head of School! 

The Search Committee along with the Board of Directors are excited to announce that we have our new head of school on board for next year!

While we are unable today to announce their name as other parties have yet to be informed, we are permitted to tell you, our Compass school community, this news and share this update. The formal announcement will come shortly over email and later posted to the website.

Our new head of school has a wonderful set of experiences, skills, and credentials that fit beautifully with Compass School, along with enormous excitement for promoting progressive education in our region.  All of us are so thrilled and excited to have such an enthusiastic and qualified new leader joining our school family!

Note from Eric: I am so pleased to be welcoming our new head of school, and equally excited about our wonderful and dedicated veteran faculty members who will be here to carry on and evolve our program. We are excited for our work ahead to keep making Compass a uniquely positive and responsive educational community. We are also grateful for our students and families for all you do to contribute to this community of learners.  I am here at Compass through June and excited to do everything I can to help finish a great school year and to work on the transition ahead. 

Compass presents the 1980s Living Museum on Thursday, May 11

The 9th and 10th grade humanities classes are excited to remind you that we are just one week away from our First-ever 1980s Living Museum!

The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 11 from 5:30-7pm. 

We hope you can all join us and explore our exhibits as America in the 1980s comes back to life. Costumes for visitors are optional but highly encouraged. Please mark your calendars! 

Families of 9/10th grade students: Please note that students are asked to stay at school between 4-5:30 to complete final preparations for the event, and to stay for a quick cleanup from 7-7:30. We plan to order pizza for an early dinner before doors open. 

Please contact Gabe or Ann with any conflicts or questions.

Compass Film Festival this Wednesday, April 26 from 6pm-8pm

The 11th/12th grade filmmaking class will present their films this Wednesday evening at 6pm. This year they will present a broad range of film styles, including historical documentary, travelogue (from Spain), stop motion animation, dramatic film with narrative, silent film, and more.

Following the films, local professional filmmakers will be on hand to provide feedback and commentary, and there will be a Q&A session with the student filmmakers. 

Free admission! Snacks and drinks will be available by donation.

Come enjoy!

Support Compass with Baked Goods on April 22nd and 29th

Compass School junior, Tristen Free, and her will be holding a bake sale on Saturday, April 22 at the Springfield Cinema 3, and next Saturday, April 29 at Keene Cinemas to support the Compass scholarship fund.

The Free family run both area cinemas, and we are thrilled for their involvement and initiative in supporting present and future Compass students.

Tristan is asking for donations of baked goods to be brought in to school this Friday, April 21 and next Friday, April 28. We know this notice is last minute for this Friday, sorry!!... but if you can make something on short notice, great! 

Read the Letter to the Compass Community from the Free Family below.

Dear Parents of Compass School,

We are excited to announce our upcoming bake sale on April 22nd and April 29th, in support of scholarship funding for our school. The bake sale will take place at Springfield Cinemas 3 and Keene Cinemas 6, and we are looking for your help in making it a success!

We are accepting donated baked goods on April 21st and April 28th, and Tristen Free will be available to receive your donations. We encourage you to get creative with your baking and donate your favorite treats - cookies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins, bread, and more! Every little bit helps, and your support will go a long way in keeping lunch funding for our students.

If you are unable to donate baked goods, we still need your support in spreading the word about the bake sale. Please let your friends, family, and colleagues know about our upcoming event and encourage them to come out and support us: Saturday 4/22 at Springfield Cinemas; Saturday 4/29 at Keene Cinemas.

Thank you in advance for your generosity and support. We look forward to seeing you at the bake sale!

(Side note for making baked items, finger food is a must as we are a functioning business, and we would prefer if you could stay away from frosted items. Such as cupcakes or anything else drippy.”)

Thanks so much!!!

Sincerely, The Free Family.

Compass Newsletter for April 18-21

Education Bill Updates

Concurrent with sending out this newsletter, I have also sent a new email update about h.483, a bill about oversight of independent schools.

I (Eric) testified last Wednesday before the committee in Montpelier, and I submitted written testimony. I was also able to speak with a number of other legislators. It seemed to go really well, and I learned a lot too. I was able to strongly advocate against the provisions in H.483 about mandating a blind admissions process and about no public money "subsidizing" private-pay students.  I was also able to strongly advocate for the value of small schools, and to present Compass School as a valuable part of our community's overall educational offeringings that is very worthy of public support.

Pasted below and attached is my written testimony which I read and submitted, if you're interested. (It has also been distributed in the Vermont Independent Schools Association newsletter.) My statement was followed by some productive Q&A with the senators.  There is definitely more resistance in the Senate to the anit-independent school forces that are more powerful in the House.

Windham County Senator Nader Hashim, a member of the Senate Education Committee, is a key vote on H.483. Sen. Hashim has spoken favorably about independent school concerns. However, we know he is under intense pressure from other stakeholders to support H.483's damaging provisions.

Sen. Hashim can more easily withstand the pressure if he knows he has the support of many Windham County voters. I encourage you to email him and request he support Windham County's independent schools by voting "No" on H.483. Email to: nhashim@leg.state.vt.us

A simple request that he vote "No" is sufficient. If anyone wishes to say more, they may write about the value of having independent school options in Windham County and their personal experiences with Compass School.

Here too is an Op Ed in VT Digger written by Representative Michelle Bos-Lun expressing opposition to the bill.

Upcoming School Schedule and Events!:

  • Monday April 17-- teacher inservice day

  • Tuesday April 18-- resume normal schedule (M/Tu/Th 8:15-4:00; W/F 8:15-2:15)

  • Wed. April 26-- 6pm-8pm--Compass Film Festival! (produced by 11th/12th filmmaking class)

  • Spring school trips in May:

    • middle school to Burlington overnight-- Wed. 5/17-Thurs. 5/18 (no school for middle school on Friday 5/19)-- Staying at Rock Point School in Burlington.

    • 9th-10th graders to Cape Cod-- Wed. 5/17-Fri. 5/19 -- Staying at Camp Fairly in Mashpee, MA

Upcoming Lunch Menu

Mon 4/3 Chicken fajitas

Tue 4/4 Burgers

Wed 4/5 Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad 

Thu 4/6 Chicken filet sandwich

Fri  4/7 Pizza

A rigorous, relevant, and respectful learning community for grades 7 -12 in Westminster, Vermont.