Compass News & Announcements: Week of January 20

Welcome to Third Quarter! We are off to a chilly start with two winter storms making an appearance, but we have a very full, always exciting winter quarter. Third quarter is a great time to join Compass and spice up the short, dreary homeschool days with new activities. New families are welcome. Make sure that you are following Compass on Facebook and receiving Compass emails to get announcements and updates.

For the classes that started last week, remember that Compass accepts last minute, same-day, walk-in and late registrations in most classes. Contact us with questions.

1. Don’t Miss Out!: There are more than a dozen 3rd quarter classes that are scheduled to begin this week and next instead of last week. Some of these had delayed starts due to instructor illness, absences, and make-ups, and some were delayed so we could enroll a few more students. Sign up for these classes today and jump right in first week:

  • Rhythm Rocks: Drum Jam (2nd-5th), Tuesdays at 2:00 pm. Starts 1/21/25
  • Young Actor’s Playhouse: Suddenly Small (1st-3rd), Tuesdays at 2:00 pm. Starts 1/21/25
  • Speak Up! Telling Your Story (Public Speaking/ 3rd-5th), Wednesdays at 1:00 pm. Starts 1/22/25
  • Extra, Extra Non-Fiction News Writing (Newspaper Staff/ 6th-12th), Wednesdays at 2:00 pm. Starts 1/22/25
  • Filmmaking Club (8th-12th), Wednesdays at 3:00 pm. Starts 1/22/25
  • Secret Pages Society: Adventures (Book club/ 4th-6th), Thursdays at 1:00 pm. Starts 1/23/25
  • Mental Math Fun: Brain Blast (5th-6th), Thursdays at 10:00 am. Starts 1/23/25
  • Compass Kids’ Chorus: Classic Disney (3rd-5th), Thursdays at 10:00 am. Starts 1/23/25
  • Middle School Musical: Broadway’s ‘Wicked’ (6th-8th), Thursdays at 11:00 am. Starts 1/23/25
  • Cracking Codes, Cryptology for Kids: Sleuths (3rd-4th), Thursdays at 1:00 pm. 1/23/25
  • Savvy Social Skills for Teens (9th-12th), Fridays at 12:00 pm. Starts 1/24/25
  • Artist’s Academy: French vs American Artists (5th-6th), Tuesdays at 10:00 am. Starts 1/28/25
  • Junior Art Studio: Multi-Media Masters (K-2nd), Tuesdays at 12:00 pm. Starts 1/28/25
  • Junior Art Studio: Multi-Media Masters (K-2nd), Wednesdays at 11:00 am or 12:00 pm. Starts 1/29/25

Classes that have a staggered start will still be 8 weeks long, and adjustments in dates will be communicated to enrolled families.

2. Materials Fees: Remember that many Compass cooking, science, art, crafting, diorama, music, and literature/book classes have material fees so teachers can purchase the books or supplies used in the class. Fees were due on the first day of class. If you did not pay supply fees, please take care of them this week so your student can continue uninterrupted in class.

3. Newspaper: The 2nd quarter edition of the Compass Collaborative student newspaper has been published. Read it online or pick up a paper copy at the front desk. ‘Congratulations’ and contributions are needed for the 3rd quarter edition.

4. Friday Teen Night: (January 24, 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm) Marvel, DC, or made-up. Teens are invited to dress like their favorite superhero and stay after classes for teen BINGO night with prizes. Regularly clothed mortals are welcome too. Read more and sign-up HERE.

5. Geography Bee (January 29, 4:00 pm- 5:30 pm) Area homeschooled students in 4th-8th grade are invited to participate in Compass’s 12th annual Geography Bee. Register on the Compass Activity Fees webpage.

6. Heart Surgery Field Trip (January 30, 7:15 am- 9:30 am) There are spaces for teens ages 13+ to join the field trip and witness a live, open heart surgery at Inova Heart & Vascular Institute’s Observation Dome. Participants must arrive at the Falls Church location by 7:15 in the morning. Contact Compass to be added to the list. 1-2 parent chaperones/drivers can be accommodated.

7. Instrument Test Drive (February 5, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm) Compass will host a band instrument “Test Drive” for students to try out various band instruments. In preparation for the 8-week spring band clinic and fall homeschool band options, students will have a chance to hold, blow, buzz, and beat a variety of instruments on display from Music & Arts.

8. Valentines Exchange (February 10-14) Sign-ups will begin on January 27 for the annual Valentine’s exchange. Participating students must bring their completed “mailboxes” to Compass on February 4-7. Each participant will be asked to bring at least 75 Valentines cards to share. Read more about the exchange HERE.

9. Alpha Rho Bake Sale (February 14, 10:00 am- 3:00 pm) Alpha Rho, the Compass chapter of the Homeschool National Honor Society, will hold a fundraising bake sale on Valentines Day. Proceeds of the sale will be donated to the Red Cross for victims of California’s wild fires. Cash donations will also be accepted.

10. President’s Day (February 17) Compass will be open, and Monday classes will be held on President’s Day.

11. Junior Spelling Bee (February 19, 4:00 pm- 5:00 pm) Area homeschooled students are invited to participate in this spelling bee for students under age 9. The top two winners progress to the Senior Spelling Bee. Register on the Compass Activity Fees webpage.

12. Senior Spelling Bee (February 26, 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm) Area homeschooled students ages 9-14 are invited to participate in this official Scripps bee. The winner will progress to the Fairfax County spelling bee. Register on the Compass Activity Fees webpage.

13. ‘Solstice Soiree’ Teen Dance (Saturday, March 1, 7:00 pm- 10:00 pm) NEW DATE Tickets will go on sale next week for the annual winter dance for Compass teens ages 14+ and their guests. Watch for details.

14. Blood Drive (late March) Alpha Rho will host a Red Cross blood drive in the Compass parking. Watch for details to support this charitable undertaking.

15. Music in the Park/Kings Dominion: (May 9, all day) The Compass homeschool concert band will participate in Music in the Parks. The band will play musical pieces for a panel of judges then proceed to Kings Dominion for a day of amusement park fun. Homeschooled students who have outside instruction/ prior experience with a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument can get rehearse with the Compass band in order to participate in this event. Contact Compass to connect to the band director.

16. Tutoring/ Music Lessons (Ongoing) Compass has tutors available in math, reading/writing, science, French, Spanish, Latin, ASL, Arabic, Mandarin, German, Russian, sewing, and more. Compass also has private music instruction in piano, guitar, violin, viola, ukulele, drums, songwriting, and all band instruments (woodwinds, brass, percussion). Contact Compass to ask about tutoring or private lessons.

17. Alpha Rho Chapter, National Homeschool Honor Society: (Ongoing) is still accepting new members through February 28 for this year. Applicants must submit standardized test score in 90th+ percentile (ITBS, CAT5, Stanford, PSAT, ACT, SAT). Alpha Rho does service projects and activities every other Friday at Compass. This organization looks good on college applications. See chapter webpage for more information.

18. Volunteer & Citizenship Awards: (Ongoing) Homeschooled students can sign up to earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) and the American Citizenship Award (ACA). (Free for Compass students; nominal fee for non-Compass area homeschoolers). Read more HERE and sign up on the Compass Activity Fees webpage.

19. Lost & Found: Remember to check the Compass Lost & Found for missing items. Lost coats, stray mittens, homeless water bottles, and a variety of other belongings end up in lost and found each day. Unclaimed items are donated at the end of each quarter. Please ask at the Suite D main desk.

20. Inclement Weather: Remember that Compass makes an independent determination about inclement weather and does not always follow the decision of local schools. In the event of a closure, an announcement is made by 7:00 am on our Facebook page, home page, and through our email list. Please check these sources before calling the office.