Compass Family Update
February 13, 2017
What's happening at Compass?
Monday, February 13, 2017
- Chestnut Class (3rd Grade) Field Visit to The Wyckoff House Museum
Wednesday, February 15th, 2017
- 8:20AM: Join us in the gym for Community Gathering
- February Birthday Celebration at Community Gathering
Thursday, February 16th, 2017
- 6:00PM-7:30PM: All School FSC Meeting in the Cafeteria (FREE dinner and childcare)
February 20th-24th, 2017: School Closed: Mid-Winter Recess
February 27th, 2017: Half Day for Students 12PM Dismissal
New Education Secretary: What does it mean for Compass?
In light of the recent news of the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as the new Secretary of Education, we would like to share some information with you. Please see some info below about charter schools as well as some curated articles about Betsy DeVos. Please reach out if you have additional questions.
What is a charter school?
A publicly funded independent school established by teachers, parents, or community groups under the terms of a charter with a local or national authority.
Our charter was authorized by the New York State Education Department. There are two other authorizers: State University of New York (SUNY) and New York City Department of Education (DoE). The latter no longer accepts new applications.
Charter schools typically need their charter renewed every five years in order to be approved.
Charter schools are allowed to, but are not required, to sign a union contract with the local teachers’ union.
- Charters have significantly more freedom than traditional, “district” public schools. They have the freedom to utilize whatever curriculum they wish and are free to hire and fire whomever they like.
- Charter schools in New York State are non-profits. There are some for-profit charter schools in the country, but this is not allowed in New York State. Compass is a non-profit and has 501c3 status as a non-profit educational institution.
Attendance Quote of the Week
Hi Compass Families,
We're noticing that many of our students have missed several days of school or have been late to school on a regular basis. We are concerned about the negative implications that come from poor school attendance. We will use this space in the coming weeks to share some information about the importance of school attendance.
This week's attendance quote:
"The academic impact of missing that much school is the same whether the absences are excused or unexcused."
Have you see this ad campaign to increase school attendance in NYC?
Holiday Policy Reminder
All School FSC Meeting on Thursday Evening (Dinner and Childcare Provided)
There will be FREE Chipotle for dinner at 6, FREE childcare, and updates on our initiatives and plans for the rest of the school year starting at 6:30.
We hope to see most of you at this All-School Meeting. If you are planning to attend, please RSVP to the FSC (fsc@brooklyncompass.org) so we know how much food to order.
If you have any questions about this meeting or anything related to the Family School Collaborative, please contact the leaders at fsc@brooklyncompass.org.
Parks Without Borders Community Meeting
Through the Parks Without Borders program, Fort Greene Park was chosen to receive a share of $40 million for the redesign of its entrances, edges, and underused spaces. At this meeting, NYC Parks will present new design ideas and other updates, and we need your feedback. Parks Without Borders is a new design approach to connecting open spaces to neighborhoods across the city.
Parks Without Borders meeting Fort Greene Park
· Ingersoll Community Center, 177 Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn
· Thursday, February 16, 6:30 p.m.
· Free - for all community members and park users to share your thoughts on the new design
If you’re interested in learning more, please feel free to contact me via telephone or email.
Refreshments will be provided and children are welcome.
**Please forward and share the flyer with your contacts(attached).
Thank you for your continuous support!
Winter Fling Thanks!
Special thanks to the following people:
Winter Fling Committee:
Leigh Kader
Heidi Gunter
Liza Vadnai
Abigail Walch
Stephanie Vanamee
Vanessa Setton
Joseph Setton
Josh Madell
Sonya Facey
Hili Tsarfati
Winter Fling Volunteers:
Johanna Bauman
Katie Kirkpatrick
Matt Sloan
Sara McKay
Rosey Strub
Clare Hussain
Amanda Goodwin
Shawn McGibeny
Winter Fling Performers:
Ron Jean-Gilles
Vlada Tomova
Chris Rael
Gerad Argeros
Brian Rosenworcel
Jim Knable
Millie Benson
Claudia Mogel
Saskia Lane
Dave McClelland
Claire Moore
Seth Nix
The co-chairs will be reaching out this week to share the winners of the staff raffle as well as other silent auction items. Please stay tuned to find out how much money was raised at the event. Thank you all for helping to make the event such a success!
Updates from the Studios
Visual Arts Studio Update from Suzanne
Happening this week in visual art:
Kindergarten will print with different circular objects gathered from around the school.
First grade will continue exploring paper sculpture.
Second grade will be paper weaving with painted paper that they create,
Third graders will be creating collograph relief prints.
Sustainability Studio Studio from Kirsten
Thanks to the staff and families who started following the sustainability studio Instagram (@compass_sustainabilitystudio)!
The Kindergarteners are about to study animal homes, the first graders are starting their body systems project, the second graders are going to be learning how living things are connected in ecosystems. The third graders are learning about traits and animal adaptations. Follow along on Instagram to see all their great work!
Warmly,
Kirsten
BOX TOPS DEADLINE
Reminder that we participate in BOX TOPS COLLECTIONS! For every Box Top we collect, the school gets 10 cents! Collection cans are located throughout the school hallway. Although we accept tops anytime throughout the school year, we have a submission deadline coming up.
Please bring in all your box tops by FRIDAY FEB 17th, before you leave for break.
Look for this label on many of your favorite products such as Annie's, Cheerios, Kleenex, Nature Valley, Ziplock, Lysol, Hefty, and Cascadian Farms!
For a full list of products: http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products
*Please be sure the date on your top doesn't get cut off and that it is not expired, or it will not be counted.
Ordering School Photos This Year? Deadline is 2/28
School photos are ready for purchase! Thank you to Compass parent and photographer, Lucy Schaeffer, for donating her time to our School Photo Fundraiser.
You should have received an email with instructions for how to order photos. If you have questions about how to order, please email our Photo Volunteer, Alex, at ayzamoyski@gmail.com.
School Pictures are available for purchase through February 28th. Please place your orders by this date. Thanks!
Our Healthy School Fund: February
If you have not already contributed to the Healthy School Fund for September and October, please do so as soon as possible. We ask that you contribute $30 per child per month. Directions for payment are listed below. Please let us know if you have questions. If you need support in making contributions to the Healthy School Fund, please let us know and we will do our best to support you.
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Various ways you can make payments to Compass (for the Healthy Snack Fund, t-shirts, school lunches) include:
- Mail or hand-deliver a Cash, Check, or Money Order to Todd or Chelsea (For the time being, please only give money to these two Compass employees. Haleema, our new Finance Manager, will be setting up a new process for receiving funds in the near future.)
- Venmo: username = compasscharter
- Square Cash = send your contribution to Todd’s work email address: todd@brooklyncompass.org.
- Here are slightly sophisticated directions for how to setup an automatic payment through Square Cash if that helps you.
- Chase QuickPay = send your contribution to Todd’s work email address: todd@brooklyncompass.org. Chase's platform allows you to easily setup a recurring payment.
- Online: https://brooklyncompass.org/donate/
Snack Menu
2016-2017 School Year Calendar
Click HERE to access our public Compass calendar.
*Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the calendar. We update this often with events such as field trips and FSC events for families.
Compass Charter School
Follow us on Instagram @brooklyn_compass
Feel free to reach out anytime with questions or to catch up. Our contact info is listed below.
Brooke Peters, Co-Director of Curriculum and Instruction (Grades K-1)
718-310-3588, extension 503
Michelle Healy, Co-Director of Curriculum and Instruction (Grades 2-3)
718-310-3588, extension 504
Todd Sutler, Co-Director of Strategic Development
718-310-3588, extension 501
Email: info@brooklyncompass.org
Website: brooklyncompass.org
Location: 300 Adelphi Street, Brooklyn, NY, United States
Phone: (718) 310-3588
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CompassCharterSchool
Twitter: @compasscharter