Compass Chronicle
Online High School | September 2017
Welcome Back CCS! This newsletter is full of important information and exciting
updates about our school. We will share the Compass Chronicle with you every month to
help keep you informed and stay connected with us. Enjoy!
Welcome Back High School!
This is my 17th year in education--I have taught scholars in the seventh through twelfth grade, scholars who have struggled with their academics and I have worked with scholars in Advanced Placement programs! I have a Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fullerton in English and earned my teaching credential at the University of Redlands. I am currently completing my Master's in Curriculum Design and Instruction.
The High School staff are ready for the new school year and we are excited for what lies ahead!
Sincerely,
Janae Smith, High School Coordinator
What's New in High School?
We have a great deal of new and exciting things happening in High School!
All of our ninth grader scholars will be enrolled in AVID for the 2017-18 school year. They will learn how to organize their time, courses, and keep a detailed notebook as they practice additional skills to enhance their learning. Our goal is to have each scholar be college ready, whether that means going on to college or beyond.
Also, this month all of our scholars and learning coaches are invited to enter the CCS School Spirit Song Contest! We are encouraging all of our families to write lyrics and make music to create our new school spirit song! Click here to learn more and enter.
For additional resources, visit our Academic Resources and our High School YouTube Channel.
StrongMind
1. It's important that scholars and learning coaches work together to create a learning schedule. Utilizing the grade book and the projected time for each lesson can help with time management and pacing. If you need further assistance with this, please reach out to your teachers.
2. This year we are excited to have a messaging system. I strongly encourage scholars to utilize the message center when communicating with teachers to make sure any concerns are addressed.
3. iReady is a great tool that teachers can use to individualize scholar instruction and provide additional support. Scholars will find the iReady information in the My Compass course. For more information and log in questions, contact your My Compass teacher.
Coaches' Corner
We had a great time at our Back-to-School Picnics and a wonderful kick-off to the Coaches’ Corner while we were there! Thank you to everyone who attended and helped lead the first session. We look forward to getting to know our wonderful CCS learning coaches more over the upcoming months during our online Coaches’ Corner sessions.
We have some great topics already planned to get the year started but would also love to hear from YOU! So if you haven’t already, please complete the quick survey by Friday, September 22nd: http://tinyurl.com/Coaches-Corner-Feedback
Have questions about Coaches' Corner? Contact Karle Roberts, Family Engagement Coordinator at kroberts@compasscharters.org.
High School Staff Spotlight
This month we are featuring Jennifer Jennings, CCS High School English Teacher.
How long have you been teaching at CCS?
Jennifer: I have been teaching English at CCS for 4 years and this is the most exciting year yet!
What are your primary responsibilities as a teacher at CCS?
Jennifer: In my role, I teach high school English and I am the advisor for the Creative Writing Club. I also assist with AVID school certification and implement AVID Language Arts strategies as a member of the high school AVID site team.
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
Jennifer: I became a teacher for many reasons. I love learning, helping others learn, reading, and researching ideas that I find interesting to share with others. After high school, I wanted to continue learning and my parents pushed me to go to college and live on-campus. I was going to be the first person in my family to move away from home to go to college. Fast forward to today...I love being an English teacher and helping my online scholars!
What do you like to do outside of school?
Jennifer: In my free time, I love gardening. I live with two little Chihuahua-terrier mutts and my husband!
The Compass Blog
The Special Education Team
We are excited to be growing our Special Education team and we are ready to assist the scholars! As a kind reminder, we ask that scholars attend both their general education courses, learning labs and their special education service meetings.
Please join us in welcoming Lori Greenwell to our Compass Special Education Team! Lori has a moderate/severe special education credential. She attended Cal Poly Pomona and received her graduate certification from U.H. Manoa in Hawaii. Lori loves her two remarkable daughters, Kalei and Amanda. Teaching has been her life long passion along with ranching. She also has many four footed members of her family. Lori feels fortunate to be joining the highly skilled Compass Charter Schools family and we are thrilled to have her as well!
As a reminder, our Special Education team provides the following for our scholars with IEPs:
- SAI sessions from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm as assigned in math, written language, reading and transitional services. During these SAI sessions, scholars receive direct instruction to support their IEP goals.
- Morning Starter from 8:30-9:30 am for a daily check-in to support scholars in task management and executive functioning. Supported Learning is offered for scholars requiring additional scaffolding in their academic lessons.
- Scholar Resource Center (SRC) is open for "drop-in" support from 12:30-3:00 pm to assist with written assignments, projects, science labs, and math coursework.
- Transition Sessions held on Mondays and Wednesdays with a focus on college and career awareness and preparedness along with support in daily living skills as needed. Transition Sessions are scheduled as follows: the first week of the month is for 9th grade support, the second week of the month is for 10th grade support, the third week of the month is for 11th grade support, and the fourth week of the month is for 12th grade support.
Do you know your child's learning style? Each child has a specific mode or combination of modes in which they learn best.
- Visual Learners: learn best by seeing flash cards, visual images, matching games, pictures and diagrams, puzzles, watching someone do something, printed material, charts, pictures, posters, wall strips, desk tapes, video tapes, and computer programs.
- Auditory Learners: learn best by hearing and benefit most from cassette tapes, lectures, educational songs and rhymes, rhythm instruments, recitation, singing and reading aloud.
- Kinesthetic Learners: learn best by doing and touching from activities such as long nature walks, hands-on math and science kits, yard work, gardening, textured puzzles and manipulatives, typing instead of writing, drama, dance, lab experiments, and building models.
- Social Learners: learn best by interacting with others through one-on-one conversations, discussions, and group participation.
In addition to your scholar's preferred learning style, each scholar is believed to have multiple intelligences. It is good to be aware of your scholar's many intelligences. A good book to read on this topic is, “Multiple Intelligences: The Theory in Practice,” by Howard Gardner. Click here to share a free quiz with your child to help them identify their own multiple intelligence, and enjoy The Multiplle Intelligences song as well!
Counseling Team
As we begin this new school year with a fresh start, I want to highlight the importance of establishing some strong communication habits straight away! As school counselors, we are here for several purposes, but our main objective is to support your academic and personal success in any way that we can. In order to do this…WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please utilize the following checklist as it will assure that you are giving yourself the best chance for a successful school year by using all means of communication that the Counseling Services team offers to you!
Check your e-mails daily! Part of being a responsible virtual scholar is making sure that you are checking your e-mails at least twice per day. Put a reminder in your planners or Google Calendar to check your e-mails twice per day!
Send us current and working cell/home phone numbers! We cannot stress enough how important it is that we are able to contact you and your learning coach at all times!
Send us current mailing addresses! Similar to the importance of having your phone numbers, it is very important that we have your current and updated address.
Sign up for Remind! Remind is an amazing tool that allows our counseling team to send you direct messages via the Remind Application straight to your phone. Simply follow the directions on your Remind e-mail invitation to sign up!
Follow your counselor on Twitter! We will be constantly sharing vital resources via Twitter, so please follow both the counseling department’s twitter, as well as your personal counselor’s twitter: @CompasCounselor
The counseling team looks forward to getting to know each of you better this school year, as we begin co-planning your current and future academic career!
Special Program
Harvey Mudd College (HMC) Opportunity
HMC offers a spring fly-in program targeted at women in their junior year. The Women's Introduction to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (WISTEM) program brings scholars to campus and continues to engage with them via monthly webinars and assignments well into the fall of their senior year. Visit www.hmc.edu/wistem to learn more.
Enrollment Team Staff Spotlight
This month we hear from Vanessa Plascencia, Enrollment Coordinator, at CCS.
CCS: What is one of your favorite parts about working on the enrollment team?
Vanessa: My favorite part about working on the enrollment team, and CCS overall, is that we have built such a unique family. Everyone supports each other and does their best to help support our scholars/ families.
CCS: How long have you been working at CCS?
Vanessa: I have been with CCS for almost three years!
CCS: What drew you to work in education? Would you like to share your background in education?
Vanessa: I have always enjoyed helping others throughout my time in school. I have a great passion for working with kids and families to ensure that they receive opportunities to be successful! Previously, I worked for the Oxnard School District as a Paraeducator, Instructional Assistant, and administered CELDT testing.
CCS: Is there anything unique about you that you’d like our families to know?
Vanessa: I am the oldest of three children. My siblings and I are around ten years apart.
CCS: What is one random fact about you that we should know?
Vanessa: I love pineapples. Someone here at Compass explained to me that pineapples are a symbol of being welcoming. I think that represents who I am as a person. I welcome everyone and look forward to creating a bond with each person I meet.
CCS: What do you love most about working at CCS?
Vanessa: I love working collaboratively with everyone at CCS to ensure that we make the best decisions for each and every one of our scholars!
CCS News
September
Sept 16th ~ Heal the Bay at Torrance Beach (Register by Sept 12th)
Sept 20th ~ LA County Fair (Register by Sept 12th)
Sept 22th ~ Club Rush (Scholar Clubs Kick-Off) - Virtual Enrichment Event
Sept 25th ~ Fresno Chaffee Zoo (Register by Sept 11th)
Sept 26th ~ Fleet Center (Register by Sept 18th)
Sept 28th ~ The Sawdust Factory (Register by Sept 13th)
October
Oct 12th ~ San Diego Zoo (Register by Sept 25th)
Oct 13th ~ Big Fresno Fair (Register by Sept 28th)
Oct 16th ~ Magic Mountain Homeschool Day (Register by Sept 29th)
Oct 17th ~ Fine Art Class at Mission:Renassaince (Ages 5 to 12) (Register by Oct 2nd)
Oct 19th ~ Time Travelers Education Day at Fresno Civil War Revisited (Register by Oct 2nd)
Oct 19th ~ The Autry Museum (Register by Oct 3rd)
Oct 20th ~ Monterey Bay Aquarium (Register by Sept 28th)
Oct 23rd to 27th ~ Spirit Week
Oct 23rd ~ Amy's Pumpkin Patch (Register by Oct 9th)
Oct 24th ~ Pa's Pumpkin Patch (Register by Oct 9th)
Oct 25th ~ Underwood Family Farms (Register by Oct 10th)
Oct 26th ~ HIllcrest Family Farms (Register by Oct 11th)
Oct 27th ~ Oma's Pumpkin Patch (Register by Oct 12th)
Oct 31st ~ Harvest Celebration (Register by Oct 17th)
November
Nov 1st ~ San Diego Archaeological Center (Register by Oct 17th)
Nov 2nd ~ Lost Realms Pets (Register by Oct 18th)
Nov 2nd ~ Moorpark Zoo Presentation and Tour (Register by Oct 18th)
Nov 3rd ~ CCS Scholar Talent Show
Nov 7th ~ Museum of Tolerance (MS & HS Only) (Register by Sept 15th)
Nov 9th ~ Legoland (Register by Oct 11th)
Nov 14th ~ The Discovery Center - Fresno (Register by Oct 30th)
Nov 16th ~ Long Beach Airport Tour (Register by Nov 1st)
Nov 29th ~ Bates Nut Farm (Register by Nov 14th)
To view more information and register for CCS events, visit our website calendar: https://www.compasscharters.org/calendar/
Share Your Story!
Compass Charter Schools
Email: info@compasscharters.org
Website: www.compasscharters.org
Location: 850 Hampshire Road, Suite P, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompassCS/
Twitter: @CompassCS
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