Compass has a busy spring calendar! Read below for reminders and announcements including some new activities, events, services, and resources:
**REMINDER: This week, April 14-18, is Spreak Break and Compass classes will not meet. Enjoy your spring adventures.**
Classes/Programs
(1) Mother’s Day Tea: Children will put on a delightful Mother’s Day Tea with help from Compass’s Chef Mimi. Enroll in a 3-hour workshop where kids will make 6 recipes; two finger sandwiches: Pimento Cheese and Cucumber; three sweets: Blueberry Loaf Mini-Muffins, Strawberry Danish, and Chai Cookies; and a delicious Raspberry Lemonade. Afterwards, the children will serve their mothers and enjoy tea on tablecloths with flowers and candles. Saturday, May 10, for children in 2nd-6th grade, minimum age 7. Choose from 9:00 am – 12:30 pm or 1:00 pm- 4:30 pm. $79.00 per child plus supply fee. Register online.
Events/Activities
(2) Trial Gymnastics Class: Students who will are interested in Compass’s new Junior Gymnastics class next year are invited to a free trial class on Wednesday, April 30 from 12:00 pm- 12:50 pm. Students will try tumbling and games on floor mats. The trial and class are for students in K-3rd grade (ages 5-8). Trial limited to 12 students. Contact Compass to RSVP.
(3) Band Instrument Test Drive: Students who are considering the Homeschool Concert Band (woodwinds, brass, or percussion) or Children’s Beginner Band for fall are encouraged to come to the Instrument Test Drive on Thursday, May 1, from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Representatives from Music & Arts, the Compass band director, and current band members will be on hand to answer questions, and visitors can handle, blow, toot, and tap a range of instruments. Learn about the Concert Band program, schedule, and instrument rentals. RSVP through SignUp Genius.
(4) Compass Prom “Enchanted Forest Ball“: The Compass high school prom for students ages 14+ and their guests will be held at the Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor Center on Saturday, May 3, from 7:00 pm- 10:00 pm. Enjoy an evening of music, dancing, food, fun, and friends under the magical decor of an enchanted forest. Tickets are now on sale the event link for $40.00 through April 26, or $50.00 the final week.
(5) Guitar Student Spring Showcase: Compass guitar students of Ney Mello will showcase their skills in a small, informal performance on Wednesday, April 30, at 4:00 pm in Activity Room C-25. This is a drop-in event, and anyone interested in small group or private guitar lessons is invited to attend.
(6) Food Truck Week: The annual Compass Food Truck week will take place on April 28 through May 2. Watch for the schedule of food trucks from 11am-2pm each day with fresh, onsite-prepared street tacos, burritos, kabobs, burgers, kids’ entrees, and more.
(7) Spring Marketplace: The Annual Spring Marketplace will be held on Wednesday, May 7 at Compass. Selling is limited to currently enrolled students and their families. Sign-ups are now open for those who wish to sell their hand crafted arts, home baked goods, or home grown items. If you have not attended a Marketplace, see the event slideshow. RSVP through the Sign Up Genius link.
(8) Picnic & Park Day: Save the date for our traditional Year End Picnic and Field Day at Bready Park in Herndon on Thursday, May 22. Bring a picnic lunch to eat from 12pm-1pm. Field day games are run by the teens of the Alpha Rho honor society from 1:15 pm- 2:30 pm. There is plenty of free play and playground time. The RSVP will come out in early May.
(9) Quads Chess Tournament: Students may register for the Annual Compass Quads Chess Tournament on Wednesday, May 21. There is a morning tournament at 9:30 am and an afternoon tournament at 1:00 pm. Many students play in both. Homeschool chess players from beginners to ranked players are welcome. Register on the Activity Fees webpage.
(10) Graduation: The Commencement Ceremony for the class of 2025 will take place at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 31 in the auditorium of the Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor’s Museum. Graduating seniors should watch for copious details, and anyone interested in participating who had not confirmed in the fall should email Programs@compassclasses.com
Fall Look-Ahead
(11) Fall Schedule: The schedule of fall classes will be printed and distributed around May 1. Families can watch classes being added online as batches are uploaded every few days. Early registration for fall begins on Tuesday, May 13, at 6:00 am.
(12) Small Group/Semi-Private Classes: If you are interested in organizing a small or semi-private group class—whether for siblings, a group of friends, a microschool cohort, or another homeschool subgroup—taught by a Compass teacher at Compass but tailored to your focus and audience, please let us know before the schedule is finalized.
(13) COVID Cautious Masked Classes: Several homeschool families have expressed interest in a series of classes for COVID Cautious families who still wear high quality masks in public. If you would like to be added to the list to receive information about this option, please contact Compass.
Clubs/Extracurriculars
(14) High School Mock Trial Information Session: The Compass Mock Trial Team coaches and members will host an information session on Friday, May 2, at 4:00 pm. Rising 9th-11th grade students and their parents are invited to find out what participation on this award-winning team entails. Students with skills in debate, public speaking, acting, an interest in law, or the strong desire to learn are encouraged. Potential members from the at-large homeschool community are invited. RSVP for the information session to CompassMockTrial@gmail.com.
(15) New! Quiz Bowl Teams Fall 2025: Starting in Fall 2025, Compass will be hosting Quiz Bowl teams at the middle school and high school level. Members will compete in several area quiz bowl tournaments and bees with the opportunity to progress to regional and national competitions. Middle school team members will meet one afternoon per week, and high school members will meet twice weekly: for an in-person afternoon practice and an online skills/strategies class. Potential members should contact Compass to be placed on the interest list to receive more information. Potential members from the at-large homeschool community are invited.
(16) Civil Air Patrol: The William Knight Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol meets weekly at Compass on Thursday evenings from 7:00 pm- 9:00 pm. The CAP cadet program is open to students ages 12-18 and offers training in aerospace/aviation education, leadership, and character development. Potential members are invited to visit meetings throughout the month of May, and a new Great Start beginners cohort begins in June. Interested students should contact the squadron.
Resources
(17) Year-End Evidence of Progress Services: Compass has two new services to help homeschool families meet Virginia state requirements for Evidence of Progress reporting. Starting in April, Compass will be offering the BASI Survey standardized test and individual evaluations. Read more about these options on the new Evidence of Progress webpage and sign up for testing or an evaluation on the Activity Fees webpage.
(18) Summer and Fall Reading Groups: Turn your homeschool language arts instruction over to an expert with Compass’s Reading Rally program. Reading Rally is a comprehensive language arts program taught at multiple levels. A 12-week summer reading session will be held for children needing to catch up or get ahead in language arts in just one class session per week. Children joining Reading Rally must complete a brief skills inventory with reading specialist Catherine Vanlandingham. Families can pre-pay for an assessment on the Compass activities page, and Mrs. V will contact to schedule.
(19) Historic Encounters Day at Claude Moore Heritage Farm Museum: This is a homeschool-specific living history event on Monday, May 12 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm where families will interact with costumed living history interpreters, see live demonstrations, and engage in hands-on activities to explore Virginia’s past. Pre-registration is required. Regular admission is $10.00 per person, but Compass families can pay just $5.00 each for the 20+ person admission when you indicate Compass at checkout. See the museum website for link.
Miscellaneous
(20) Teacher Appreciation Week: Compass families are encouraged to recognize their Compass teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, Monday, May 5, 2025 – Friday, May 9, 2025.
(21) LINK Against Hunger Food Pantry: The Compass Alpha Rho chapter of the National Homeschool Honor Society has “adopted” the LINK Food Pantry in Herndon which serves 200 familes per month. Alpha Rho is leading a collection of 5 specific food items that are rarely donated but often requested. From Monday, April 21 – Friday, May 9, Compass families are asked to donate the following new, unexpired grocery items in regular sized packages: sugar, vegetable oil, canned fruits, jelly, and bagged, dried beans. Place donations in the box in the 520 vestibule.
(22) Ink Jet/ Laser Jet Cartridges: Alpha Rho will also begin taking donations of empty or used ink jet and laser printer cartridges. Help keep these recyclable items out of landfills! Alpha Rho will sort and package cartridges in bulk and trade in for a small cash rebates. Cash earned from your discarded cartridges will be used to pay for service project efforts. Please ask at parents’ place of business too. Place donations in the box in the 520 vestibule beginning April 21.
(23) Student Awards: Homeschooled students are encouraged to earn the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) and the American Citizenship Award (ACA) this year. Many students increase their volunteer efforts over the summer for the PVSA, and many families cover topics in civics and citizenship for the ACA as part of their homeschool curriculum. Work must be completed and entered by August 31, 2025. Compass students can earn these awards at no cost, and other area homeschoolers can earn them for a nominal fee through Compass’s partnership with Volunteer Scholars. Learn more about the PVSA and ACA, and sign up on Compass’s Activity Fees webpage.
General
(24) Questions/Facility Tours: Compass has an online system to schedule a time for a facility tour and Q/A (new or prospective families), elementary/middle school consultation (current families) or high school consultation (current families). Come with questions about homeschooling, high school concerns (transcripts, credits, coursework, etc.), or Compass in general.
(25) HSLDA Discount: Compass families are invited to use code 306160 to get a discount of $15.00 a family membership to HSLDA. HSLDA is a national organization based in Purcellville, VA, that “defend[s] homeschool freedom and equip[s] homeschool” families. See their website for advice on homeschooling and membership.
(26) 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.
