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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
COMPS group fills the gap
A group of volunteers come together each week to care for and engage students in response to the new four-day school week
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
With Winfield-Mt. Union’s 2024-2025 school year moving to a four-day school week, about 18 community individuals have begun a new program to “fill the gap” for some of the area students. Hence, COMPS Day: COMmunity Partner Ship Day. The various adults who plan and “man” the partnership include numerous retired teachers, retired school personnel and child-focused/caring people. All adults involved are volunteers.
Crafty hands create fun projects at COMPS Days in Winfield. (Photo Submitted)
Crafty hands create fun projects at COMPS Days in Winfield. (Photo Submitted)
The Mt Union Canaan Community Church provided school supplies for Winfield's COMPS Days.(Photo Submitted)
Busy students are guided by busy adults during Winfield's COMPS Day activities. (Photo Submitted)
Linda Haight guides the COMPS Day students through the Winfield Museum along with a scavenger hunt. (Photo Submitted)
Kendall Prehn, Henry County Conservation Naturalist, gave the COMPS Day students a stars and planets presentation. (Photo Submitted)
Pat Coen shared some time with the COMPS Day students on Veterans' Day. He talked about his deployment to Afghanistan and read a book he wrote for his own kids while he was deployed. (Photo Submitted)
Busy students are guided by busy adults during Winfield's COMPS Day activities. (Photo Submitted)
COMPS Day originated during Vitality Team meeting discussions at the Presbyterian Church in Winfield. Church leaders previously considered how to assist area students with after-school tutoring prior to this school year. Since the Public Library already hosting students for early-out Wednesdays, the church’s direction was unsure.
With the four-day school being implemented, the COMPS Day combination between the church and library became a win-win-win endeavor. The planning stages prior to the 2024-2025 school year included a parent survey to determine interested families, connections with WMU administration and Public Library personnel, contacting area churches for support, and meetings to plan specifics of a new adventure.
Most materials have been donated from several of the retired teachers, school supplies from Mt. Union’s Canaan Community Church, and supplemental materials have been purchased. Financial support has been provided through a grant from the East Iowa Presbytery, as well as donations from Winfield’s First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Union Boosters, Hagge Insurance and from anonymous community individuals.
The purpose of COMPS Day is to provide a safe place for WMU students when not in school on Mondays. The COMPS Day time frame is from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Students start their COMPS Day at the host church, First Presbyterian in Winfield, and are escorted to the Winfield Public Library at 1 p.m. until dismissal time.
Activities within the COMPS Day at the church have included fun academics with games/books, puppets, crafts, puzzles, Bible lessons/songs, guest speakers, and community field trips. Snacks are provided by the WMU School, and students bring their own sack lunch. Presently, COMPS Day includes up to a dozen students ranging from preschool to sixth grade and two to four adults leading the activities.
The COMPS Day personnel are very grateful for all who have supported this new community adventure. It is hoped that COMPS Day will keep growing and evolving as the need directs.
