Monday Morning Update
Options Program - February 3, 2020
COMPASS & OPTIONS SCHOOL NEWS
ACADEMIC SUPPORT SESSIONS ~ We are offering the following workshops for scholars this week:
Writer’s Workshop Informative Essay Grades 3-5: Wednesday 9 am Join Here
Writer’s Workshop Informative Essay Grades 6-8: Wednesday 10 am Join Here
Writer’s Workshop Informative Essay High School: Thursday 11 am Join Here
The Giver Book Club Grades 7-9: Thursday 10 am Join Here
Lunch Bunch Story Hour Grades TK-2: Thursday 12 pm Join Here
Multiplication Games Grades 3-5: Friday 11:30 am Join Here
If you would like to catch up on any of the academic workshops offered in the month of January, you may access the recordings here!
ASSESSMENTS ~ The Diagnostic Test Window is open!
All scholars should login this week and take the diagnostic assessments:
Istation diagnostic assessments (for scholars in grades TK-5),
Edgenuity MyPath diagnostic assessments (for scholars in grades 6-12)
Grades TK-5: log into Istation using our Getting Started Guide.
Grades 6-12: log into Edgenuity using our Scholar Guide: Edgenuity.
Complete your reading and mathematics assessments. Please contact your teacher or EF if you have any questions.
Constructed Writing Prompt (for scholars in grades 3-8,11) Your EF will email you the writing prompt and instructions.
Find more information about Testing Resources in the Parents & Scholars section of our website under Academic Resources (remember the password to access this section is loveCCS).
AVID ~ Tips on getting a strong start to the new semester:
1. Get organized. Getting organized now will help you keep up with your lessons and assignments the whole semester rather than playing catch-up later on. Do this by using a calendar or agenda to creating a daily study schedule, and having a system for organizing notes and class resources.
2. Study effectively. Find time to study in a distraction-free environment, and use tools like StayFocused to help stay off of “procrastinating” websites so that you can focus on class concepts and assignments.
3. Take (GOOD) notes. Experimenting with different note-taking systems such as Cornell notes and 3-column notes will help you organize information and process it in a meaningful way.
4. Reflect on your first semester, make changes, and don’t get discouraged.
Go be amazing and have a great semester!
BLOG ~ Check out our latest blog: How Compass Charter Schools Helped Me Discover My Passion for Medicine! Meet Amber Naqvi, CCS alumnus, who is a college graduate at 18, medical scholar, planning to begin residency by 21, and working as a registered EMT!
CCS NEWS ~ CCS celebrates National School Counseling Week 2020 this week, with a theme of "School Counselors: Helping Build Better Humans." We will highlight the tremendous impact our Counseling Services Department has in helping scholars achieve school success and plan for a career.
COFFEE WITH COMPASS ~ Coffee with Compass returns this month with a stop in Simi Valley (next, Tuesday, February 11) and Temecula (Wednesday, February 19). Visit ParentSquare to learn more and to RSVP!
ENERGY BUS TIP OF THE WEEK ~ Just for today, I will live through the next 12 hours and not try to tackle all of life's problems at once. Also, don’t forget to check out this week’s Make a Difference Monday Message from the Energy Bus!
LEARNING COACH SUPPORT SESSION ~ Learning Coaches joined Scholar Success Coordinator, Lindsey Chalco-Paz, last week for an overview and discussion on the mid-year diagnostic assessments. If you were not able to join us, please take some time to watch the recording here.
OPTIONS HANDBOOK HIGHLIGHT ~ Work Sample Guidelines - TK-8th grades: From the breadth of learning experiences demonstrated in the portfolio, the EF will select two assignments per learning period in the areas of Language Arts, Math, Science, or Social Studies to keep on file. 9-12th grades: from the learning experiences demonstrated in the portfolio in each of the scholar’s courses, the EF will select two assignments per learning period to keep on file.
Written work samples should:
● be from curriculum at the scholar’s grade level (or above) / courses;
● be representative of the scholar’s abilities;
● be neat and legible;
● contain the scholar's name on the page;
● not contain any religious materials or references;
● (for math) show problems worked out or explained in detail by the scholar;
● preferably NOT be multiple choice worksheets;
● be graded and/or have written comments by the learning coach (parent);
● (for photos or videos),
-be clear and have enough light;
-include the scholar with the project or work;
-demonstrate the learning;
-have a clearly written summary of the learning. (Use several photos if needed.)
VENDOR NEWS
Northern California
Lake County
Aikido of Konocti (Cobb)
Napa
Read it Right Dyslexia Tutoring (Napa)
Southern California
Los Angeles County
Platinum Gymnastics (Simi Valley)
Orange County
Fountain Valley Music Lessons (Huntington Beach)
Inspired by Kingston (Fullerton)
San Diego County
Mathnasium of Mira Mesa/Scripps Ranch
Mathnasium of Chula Vista
MuzikAdict Piano Studio (El Cajon)
Materials
Honest History Co.
Bella Luna Toys
Special Reads for Special Needs
Learning A-Z
COUNSELING NEWS
FEATURED COUNSELING SERVICES LESSONS
SEL Workshop: Emotions - tomorrow, Tuesday, February 4 from 12- 12:30 pm for scholars in grades 4th - 12th.
Some people say there are six basic emotions--anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise--which are expressed in varying degrees as feelings. Sometimes, it can be hard to manage our emotions. When we don’t manage our emotions well, we may not be compassionate toward others or get the compassion we need. When we are happy, our needs are being met, when we are upset or worried, our needs are not being met. In this interactive lesson, scholars will label emotions, describe what they look like, and list the situations that might cause them. Please join Ms. Bateman and Mrs. Wingate in the Counseling Learning Lab to learn more about building confidence.
Middle & High School Let’s Get Organized - next Tuesday, February 11 - 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
Begin the spring semester with this workshop that will provide an opportunity for scholars to take an executive functioning assessment, participate in creating an individualized daily schedule and practicing how to spot disorganization. Please join Ms. Bateman and Ms. Olson in the Counseling Learning Lab to learn more about organization.
UPCOMING SAT TEST
Test Date: March 14, 2020
Registration Deadline: February 14, 2020
You can find more information about the SAT at www.collegeboard.org.
Enjoy a detailed list of Spring 2020 helpful college and career planning resources for middle and high school scholars.
EXCEPTIONAL SCHOLAR SERVICES
FEATURED ARTICLE ~ President Donald Trump signed the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act (CARES) into law Monday, which allocates $1.8 billion in funding over the next five years to help people with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Read the full article here.
FIELD TRIPS & EVENTS
Upcoming Engagement Event Registration Deadlines
*Note deadlines may be several days prior to the actual event*
Friday, February 7 ~ Spirit of Math Contest Sign Up Due
Friday, February 7 ~ (SA) Amazon Warehouse Tour (February 20 Event)
Friday, February 7 ~ (SO) Schulz Museum and Ice Skating at Snoopy’s Home (February 25 Event)
Friday, February 7 ~ (SO) Valentine’s Day Craft Event (February 10 Event)
Friday, February 13 ~ Virtual Scholar Workshop - Hip Hop Dance (February 13 Event)
Friday, February 14 ~ (SD) Oasis Camel Dairy (February 24 Event)
Friday, February 14 ~ (OC) Bowers Museum (February 28 Event)
Friday, February 14 ~ (KE) Calm Zoo (March 11 Event)
Friday, February 14 ~ (SD) LEGOLAND (March 13 Event)
Friday, February 14 ~ (SD) Deering Banjo Factory Tour (February 18 Event)
Friday, February 14 ~ (CC) Marine Science Institute (February 14 Event)
Friday, February 14 ~ (LA) Port of LA Boat Tour (4th grade and above only) (March 5 Event)
ENGAGEMENT NEWS
EVENT SPOTLIGHT ~ Join us for an Amazon Warehouse Tour on February 20 in Sacramento! Amazon tours provide a broad, high-level overview of fulfillment center operations for general audiences. The one-hour walking tour will take the group through the operations process of what happens after a customer clicks "Buy" on Amazon.com. Registrations are currently open and close this Friday, February 7. Click here to learn more and register!
LOCK YOUR MEDS PLEDGE CONTEST ~ Take the Lock Your Meds Pledge! Publix Pharmacies has partnered with the National Family Partnership’s Lock Your Meds® campaign in order to help spread the word about the dangers of unlocked medications. Join us and take a stand against prescription drug abuse by completing this online pledge!
CLUB SPOTLIGHT ~ The Peer Mentoring Club is a place for all the scholars participating in the Compass Peer Room program as mentors to meet in a virtual environment to connect and network with one another, discuss their experiences, give each other advice, come up with ways to promote the program, to learn from one another, and most importantly to build and foster relationships. To learn more about this club or any of our other Scholar Clubs, please visit the “Parents & Scholars” section of our CCS website.
Compass Charter Schools
- Kristy Smith, Director of Options Learning, at ksmith@compasscharters.org
- Karle Roberts, Options Regional Coordinator at kroberts@compasscharters.org
- Laura Harvey, Options Regional Coordinator at lharvey@compasscharters.org
- Michelle Vreeman, Options Regional Coordinator at mvreeman@compasscharters.org
- Sharlie Walker, Options Regional Coordinator at swalker@compasscharters.org
- Ruth Chavez-Rivera, Options Regional Coordinator at rchavezrivera@compasscharters.org
Email: info@compasscharters.org
Website: www.compasscharters.org
Location: 850 Hampshire Road, Suite P, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States
Phone: 855-937-4227
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompassCS/
Twitter: @CompassCS