School Overview

Quote:

"I found it easy to get used to things here. I just kept doing what I had to do. You just have to do your best and make it work."

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COMPASS Hosts MAAPS Regional Legislative Meeting to Discuss Special Education

Legislators from Boston attended a meeting this week at COMPASS School in Dorchester to discuss legislative and budget issues pertaining to Chapter 766 - private special education schools.

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COMPASS Participates in Children's League of Massachusetts Advocacy Day Program

Executive Director John Lydon, along with COMPASS School staff and students, participated in the Children's League of Massachusetts Advocacy Day Program at the State House on Feburary 8, 2011. Massachusetts Senate and House representatives spoke to the audience of League members and their constituents, and representatives heard from some of the students in attendance, who shared their hopes for themselves in words and in music.

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Pedro

Both Pedro and his older brother graduated with us, and his family has been very active with the school by cooking for various events, reaching out to parents and attending all of our functions. Pedro graduated in June 2009. In June 2007 Pedro was awarded a scholarship to travel to England as part of a youth ambassador group called "People to People." He has continued find ways to help fund his own education, as the recipient of a full scholarship to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Boston. He won a significant portion of that money in a statewide cooking contest.

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COMPASS Students Make and Sell Jewelry to Raise Money for Haiti Relief Fund

COMPASS clinician Pam Stich incorporated a beaded jewelry making class in to the students' BEAMS (Beginning, Engaging, Acquiring, Mastering, Strengthening) activity program, and in to some therapy sessions, to help students relax and engage more easily. The first jewelry BEAMS project was organized around a fundraiser in which students made jewelry to sell to staff and the public during COMPASS Cafe hours on Friday, February 12th, with the advertised goal of donating all proceeds toward a Haiti Relief Fund. Over 20 pieces of jewelry were sold, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets and rings, and 107 dollars was raised to help Haiti. A few students had experience with jewelry making and were able to design and make their own pieces, while other students needed more guidance and instruction. It was a great process and experience for the students to create something that people purchased as well as to know

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Ascer

Ascer was at the COMPASS School in October, 1995 when he learned of his brother's death, the result of a violent encounter in Mattapan. This incident and the circumstances under which Ascer learned of his brothers death, reading of it in The Boston Herald, put all our theories about violence prevention to the test. At COMPASS he focused on a newfound exceptional talent: art. Throughout the year, COMPASS staff worked with him, individually, as a team, and in the classroom, providing him opportunities to vent, to create, and to pursue what had once seemed a far-fetched dream - a college education. Some seven months after his brother's death, Ascer himself was on the front page of the Herald, pictured next to this headline: "Through fear and tears he rises up" In the article, Peter Gelzinis, the Herald reporter, recounted the story that had shaken and

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COMPASS Students Learning Through Urban Gardening

SLUG - Students Learning Through Urban Gardening - a program generously funded by Boston Natural Areas Network, is now up and running at COMPASS! High school students in the 9th - 12th grade and the vocational program have been busy planting, watering, and caring for seeds, sprouts, and beanstalks! There is much excitement for SLUG, and students often can be seen misting baby plants with water and getting their hands dirty. Worms are also a part of our curriculum, and students have maintained a worm bin for several weeks now! We hope to expand the worm program by feeding the worms vegetable refuse from the culinary arts program soon! The Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN), an urban open space preservation and stewardship organization, has started this new program in urban school-based vegetable gardening. The program provides participants with training and support, a SLUG Handbook relating curriculum

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COMPASS' Basketball Team Plays in GBBL Tournament

COMPASS' basketball team played in this year's Greater Boston Basketball League (GBBL) Tournament. Though the team did not win the tournament, they displayed a mature, solid performance. The team had a season record of 10-4 and will continue to improve, potentially contending for the GBBL championship next year.

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COMPASS Welcomes Two New Partnerships

Curry College has begun an internship program with COMPASS School for undergraduate students majoring in Criminal Justice. Students will be developing objectives with a college professor and COMPASS to help them to learn more about students who have been involved with the criminal justice system. Currently we have two student interns working in the school, Jennifer and Sara. The Intensive Support Program (ISP) at English High School is hosting a student intern, Lisa, from Northeastern University's Service Learning Program. Lisa's work will be incorporated into her courses at the University. ISP will benefit from direct service help and advice from the student's professors.

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2011 Washington DC Trip

Six students from four different towns enjoyed the annual Kip Sowpel Washington DC trip this year. Students saw the Capitol building, the Supreme Court, the Air and Space Museum, the National Mall and monuments, as well as taking in a Washington Nationals baseball game. Students expressed their excitment in the oppurtunity to have new experiences, with some students taking this fully to heart, even trying a new food or dish at every meal. The group really enjoyed their week's experience.

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