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A Note from Ms. Brandee

 

Learning to Pay It Forward 


Greetings, Compass Community,
 
At Compass, we are so fortunate to have so many foundations and donors believe in our cause and contribute to our school so generously. 

In the last 8 years, we have received over $2 million dollars from outside sources that have helped to revitalize our campus and our programming. 

Most recently, we've received support closer to home from our Golf Tournament (coordinated by the Renzi family!) and our Co-Op (led this year by the trifecta team of Shannon Wilcox, Johanna Obara, and Nicole Mulanaphy).  Their contributions will help bring new play structures to the Compass campus in Summer/Fall of 2023!  Sadly, our current play structure has reached "end of life" according to the manufacturer. 

Our students have participated in the decision-making process.  Investigator Student Voice and Leadership members have led Morning Gathering events with the whole school population to identify the features that are most important to them, and then narrow down the choices. 

We started with over 50 to choose from and through a consensus building process, landed on 2 final sections.  We will be able to purchase both. 

Introducing our Students' Choices: 
Ordered! The Spinami 
Ordered! Front View of the New Play Structure 
Ordered! Back View of the New Play Structure
One of the ways that we were able to get the most of our purchasing power is that I signed us up for a "Community Build", which saved $10,000! and allowed us to put those funds toward purchasing higher end selections. 

Thanks in advance for rallying together come installation time!  More information to come once we get an install date. 

One of the other features that was an unanimous top choice was to include a zip line feature in our playground portfolio.  We have not yet secured the funding for this, but I have a lead ;)  

Keep your fingers crossed that the funding will come through for the kids' top wish list item: a ZipKrooz! 
Compass Kids' Wish List! ZipKrooz
Click to watch the ZipKrooz in action! 
 
When alumni visit campus, it is not unusual for them to exclaim,
 
"Ms. Brandee! 
I wish that we had had:
a pavilion,
a basketball court,
swings,
Gaga,
a new soccer field,
a renovated barn,
Farm Headquarters,
a whole Farm,
a middle school band/chorus program,
and an amphitheater

when I was at Compass

The current Compass kids are SO LUCKY!" 
~Said by every Compass alumni who visits campus

It's true, our current kids are reaping the benefits of nearly a decade of continuous improvement and change-making at our school.  They are so fortunate! 

At the same time, it's important to us that they don't get stuck in a "Gimme" or an entitled mindset.  We continue to engage our students in acts of gratitude for our funders.  We also are talking about the concept of "Paying It Forward" by supporting others in need.

Today, we launched a strong advisory/classroom competition to bring in non-perishable items for the North Kingstown Food Pantry.  So far, we have 50 pounds worth of donations and it is our collective goal to beat last year's record of 350 pounds.  We will have a big weigh in at next Wednesday's Morning Gathering! 

Truthfully though, I hope that we smash that 350 pound record :).  Please talk with your kids about our good fortune at Compass.  Remind them that there are many families who struggle financially and could use our help in the same way that others have helped our school.  Encourage them to express their gratitude for all that we've been given by donating canned goods

Thank you for helping us foster a generation of Compass kiddos who are grateful and generous; if they leave Compass with those social responsibility values, that will be a mark of our collective success. 

In Partnership,
Ms. Brandee 
 






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The Compass School · 537 Old North Rd · Kingston, RI 02881 · USA

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