Welcome Back, Compass Family!
As we venture into this new year with fresh anticipation and excitement, I invite you to reflect and share one word for this new year. Please share on social media @CompassCs with #oneword2022. The word that I have chosen is “explore.” This word has two meanings for me, personally and professionally. On the personal front, I hope to explore more of what California has to offer this year, from state and national parks to zoos and aquariums and coffee shops to historic landmarks. If you have any recommendations on places to visit, please send them my way! On the professional front, I want to explore all that Compass offers our scholars, families, and staff. We have a tremendous amount of resources and supports available to all of our community, and I want to take time to intentionally look at each of these resources.
2021 was a year of exceptional growth and perseverance for Compass! Together, we pivoted to meet the requirements of AB 130 and AB 167 while staying focused on our mission and vision. In October, we celebrated 10 years of Compass Charter Schools serving scholars! We promoted our Orange County Learning Center with an amazing virtual tour, created a new webpage to house all of our promotional videos, and started the scholar-led newscast: The Firebird Report!
Moving forward into this new year and the month of January, I would like to shift focus to our core value of teamwork. Teamwork is vital as we continue our work on our school-wide Wildly Important Goal (WIG) of 100% of our eligible scholars graduating by the end of the school year! So, how can you best utilize teamwork at Compass this year?
At Compass, scholars are valued, collaborate, learn new skills alongside classmates, openly exchange ideas, actively contribute, and are connective to like-minded scholars. In addition, families are connected, build relationships or friends with other families, work with teachers and specialists, are engaged in conversations about curricula, resources, and strategies, maintain good communication, and share ownership and responsibility for learning with Compass. All of this can be accomplished by attending (and actively participating in) learning labs and workshops, participating in scholar clubs and field trips, and proactively engaging with our amazing staff.
Teamwork also occurs through our educational partners. In the coming weeks, we will be promoting our partnership with Wellness for Educators, who will be hosting workshops for scholars, families, and staff. The first series begins soon for scholars on anxiety. Look for more information in the Monday Morning Update and ParentSquare.
Personally, I strive to create an atmosphere that promotes teamwork in all that I do at Compass. I aim to set an example for others by regularly meeting with staff, families, and our board to sincerely listen and explore their insights and develop and improve from this feedback. I also work to create cross-functional teams and workgroups, to allow varied voices and perspectives to inform the important work of Compass.
I’d like to encourage scholars, families, and staff to share what teamwork means to them and why it is essential. How will you increase the teamwork at Compass going into this new year? As author Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha shares, “Teamwork is the secret that makes common people achieve uncommon results.” Let’s remember this as we venture into 2022!
I wish you continued health and success in this new year, and I look forward to seeing how you will write your next chapter. Save the date for this last week of January, when we will celebrate National School Choice Week, hosted by our Scholar Leadership Council. Thank you to each and every one of you for all that you do to make Compass the Gold Standard in Virtual Education. I celebrate you!
Compass Charter Schools (CCS) is a WASC-accredited virtual charter school that serves families throughout California. Have a question about our Compass Experience? Explore our website, or feel free to visit my webpage at https://www.compasscharters.org/about-us/superintendent-of-schools/.