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Students will learn to think like inventors and designers when creating 3D! 3D design is used not only for modeling and fabricating objects but is also at the heart of many cutting-edge technologies such as AR and VR, video game design, interactive exhibits, and more. 3D printing is used in nearly all industries and design fields today from art to animation, manufacturing to medicine, and engineering to entertainment.
In this class, students will first learn to use Tinkercard, a 3D modeling software that works in solid forms (like LEGO bricks). Then, students will transition to MeshMixer, a software that creates smooth, curved, organic shapes (like clay). They will learn to think about their design from all angles and how to subtract forms to create holes, voids, and concave features, and add forms to create projections, contours, appendages, and convex details. They will discover the limitations of 3D printing and how to handle overhanging elements or delicate details.

Students will practice the artistic design process with simple sketches before diving into the software. They will be encouraged to use reference material, whether photos, a model, or even by modifying existing, public domain 3D files. Students will use an iterative printing process in which they print their project, check it for design intent, functionality, or fit, make modifications, and print again. The class will learn how to save and convert between 3D solid object files (.stl) and object files (.obj) and work with metadata fields to protect the intellectual property of their designs.

To demonstrate the range and capability of 3D-printed designs, favorite student projects include D & D miniatures, cosplay props, Minecraft-designed creations, and beloved characters such as anime, baby Yoda, and Pokemon creatures.

Second semester, continuing students will progress to more complex assemblies including multiple parts and parts with hinges. Second semester, some students may wish to work with alternative filaments such as TPU (rubber), metal, or magnetized filament. Because of the studio format, new students can enroll second semester.

The class instructor is a design engineer with 3D Herndon and expert in 3D technologies and other areas of design and invention. A typical class will be structured with 5-10 minutes of lecture or demonstration of a new design skill, followed by 40 minutes of design "studio" time where students can receive trouble-shooting support and design tips from the instructor and have dedicated work time, and 5-10 minutes of sharing time at the end of class. As a studio class, students will work on individual projects at their own pace.

Topics in this Series: As an open studio for individual projects, students may continue from one semester to the next or enroll mid-year. Students continuing from first semester receive priority pre-registration for second semester.

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $25.00 is due payable to Compass on the first day of class for 3D printing and filament. This provides the student with 800 g of printed product per semester. Students who are prolific designers and print often will be asked to pay an additional $5.00 per 100 g or fraction thereof.

This is the 2nd semester continuation of 5th Grade Math Mammoth:

5th grade math is a full-year, complete math curriculum for students who have covered the 4th grade equivalent math skills (see prerequisites). This course uses the Grade 5 Math Mammoth curriculum which homeschool guru Cathy Duffy (cathyduffyreviews.com) calls "an amazingly well-developed program." She praises the program saying, "Math Mammoth has created a very high-quality product... the content is also top-notch. Some people have compared Math Mammoth with Singapore Math since both programs teach for mastery and understanding." Read more about Math Mammoth here: https://www.mathmammoth.com/complete-curriculum

This class meets twice a week and is designed to be a complete program in which students receive instruction in person at Compass and complete homework on off-days at home. Parents do not have to select a curriculum or deliver the instruction, but rather are expected to ensure that assignments are being completed on time and assisting the student in checking attempted homework.

Topics covered in Grade 5 Math Mammoth include:

Chapter 1: The Four Operations
Chapter 2: Large Numbers and the Calculator
Chapter 3: Problem Solving
Chapter 4: Decimals, Part 1
Chapter 5: Graphing
Chapter 6: Decimals, Part 2
Chapter 7: Fractions: Add and Subtract
Chapter 8: Fractions: Multiply and Divide
Chapter 9: Geometry

5th Grade Math is being offered at Compass as a full year class with 60 in-person class meetings. (28 sessions in first semster and 32 sessions in second semester- separate registration.) Attendance is very important. In the event of a missed class due to illness or travel, students may cover the missed lesson through online recorded lectures by the author available on YouTube.

Prerequisites: Grade 4 Math or equivalent, with experience/familiarity in following:

-Addition and subtraction
-Early algebraic thinking
-The order of operations
-Graphs
-Large numbers and place value
-Rounding and estimating
-Multi-digit multiplication
-Word problems
-Some basic conversions between measuring units
-Measuring length
-Time calculations
-Long division
-The concept of remainder
-Factors
-Area and perimeter
-Measuring and drawing angles
-Classifying triangles according to their angles
-Adding and subtracting fractions and mixed numbers (like fractional parts)
-Equivalent fractions
-Comparing fractions
-Multiplying fractions by whole numbers
-The concept of a decimal (tenths/hundredths)
-Comparing decimals

Placement:To gauge if a child is ready for Grade 5 math, parents should administer the Math Mammoth end-of-4th-grade placement test. A score of 80% is recommended to place into Grade 5.

Enrollment: This course is priced as a small group class with a minimum of 5 students. If 3-4 students enroll, families will be asked to pay an additional fee for the class to run with low enrollment. If 1-2 students enroll, Compass will present options for private or semi-private instruction.

Assignments: Assignments will be made in class as a range of pages to complete on the topics that were taught in class. The instructor will follow up with an email repeating the assigned pages.

Assessments: Each class, the instructor will check that students have completed the assigned homework. Homework will be recorded as attempted or not attempted. Parents will be provided with an answer key for homework. Students will have take-home unit tests that will be graded by the instructor. Parents may track unit test scores in order to assign their own grades and complete homeschool record-keeping.

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $26.00 is due payable to Compass on the first day of class for Grade 5A, color edition worktext books.

What to Bring: Students should bring a spiral notebook, pencil, and their worktext to class each week.

Prerequisites: 80% min score on placement test. See description

Calling crooked criminals who commit creepy crimes! Convening colorful characters who corroborate clues and constables who collaborate to crack the case! Connect with a kooky cast in Detective Drama. Using materials from a commercial mystery role playing game (RPG), students will be guided through the facts of a fictitious case. Student sleuths will be follow clue cards, eclectic evidence, and phony forensics to uncover a crime. Emphasis will be on critical thinking, problem solving skills, and improvisation through the portrayal of unique characters involved in the crime. Students will be encouraged to develop a strong, compelling character, an original costume, a backstory, and of course, an alibi.

Third quarter, students shall delve into the century-old conundrum circling the theft of the crown jewels of Ireland. Crafty criminals clandestinely cribbed the treasure from beneath the watchful eyes of a gaggle of guards. Daring detectives must crack the codes, sidestep the snares, and solve the saga.

In this workshop, students will experiment with acting and improvisation and working as a team. This class is best suited for students who are active listeners, are flexible and easily adapt, have a sense of humor, and enjoy working in a collaborative group. Students need to be able to stay in sync with the flow of the class. This is not an "anything goes" or free-for-all class. Because of the age of the students in this class, only capers such as burglaries or kidnappings will be portrayed instead of murders.

Topics in this Series: Missing from the Museum (Quarter 1), The Computer Caper (Quarter 2), Pocketing the Prized Jewels (Quarter 3), and Brazen Bank Robbery (Quarter 4). There is a class supply fee of $20.00 due payable to the instructor on the first day for the class RPG materials, printing, props, and investigation folders.

Kids take to the stage as they collaboratively write and perform their very own play with unique characters and an original storyline. What happens when sly sleuths and devious detectives team up to thwart threatening thieves?

Students will begin with improvisational games to get to know each other and start to brainstorm about their original play. Through group activities and guided discussion, the student actors will decide on characters, conflict, and conclusion, and the story they want to tell. The script will be developed and customized for this class with input from the students.

The class will learn the practical aspects of acting, as they work on script read-through, blocking, costume/prop design, and planning the show. Student actors will explore skills such as stage movement, character development, emotional expression, and observation/concentration while learning to portray their original character. Students will develop their own "actor's toolkit" of voice, body, and imagination in this creative process! Actors will grow in confidence and communication skills in preparation for a final sharing with parents on the last day of the quarter.

Once the script is fully developed with everyone's parts, it will be emailed to parents. Parents will be expected to help their children memorize their script/lines/cues and assemble a simple make-at-home costume, ideally from clothing items and accessories you already own and a little creativity.

Note: Students who are emerging readers (not able to read at a 3rd/4th grade level) would be better suited to the Young Actor's Playhouse class, rather than this level.

Topics in this series: Medieval Mayhem (Quarter 1), Wacky Wednesday (Quarter 2), Spy Spoof (Quarter 3), Kooky Cooking Contest (Quarter 4).

It's not always what it seems! Sometimes, a thrilling performance seems to lead the audience in one direction only to make a theatrical turn-around to reveal a different tale. Teens will enjoy the creativity and camaraderie of selecting, casting, rehearsing, and performing a short play that presents a comical about-face. The class will begin by reading through two possible scripts to select one that bests suits their group and grabs their interest.

Students, along with their acting coach, will cast, rehearse, and coordinate a class performance. Teens will enjoy taking on unusual personas and bringing their characters to life while interacting with classmates. They will be encouraged to design and assemble simple costumes, props, and backdrops from items at home. They will be expected to learn their lines and fully participate in planning their performance. The group will perform the 45-60 minute piece for family and friends at the end of the semester.

Classes in acting and theater education build a teen's confidence along with improving their social and communication skills. This class is best suited for students who are active listeners, are flexible and easily adapt, have a sense of humor, and can work collaboratively in a group. Students need to be able to stay in sync with the flow of the class.

Topics in this Series: One Act Spin-Offs and Spoofs (Semester 1) and It's Not What it Seems (Semester 2)

Workload: Students should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week outside of class.

Assignments: If any, will be posted in a Google Classroom.

Assessments: Informal, qualitative feedback will be given in class throughout the semester. A quantitative score/grade will not be provided.

Supply Fee: A class fee of $40.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class for a copy of the licensed script, performance royalty, and project materials.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in Fine Arts for purposes of a high school transcript.

Acting is an adventure! Young actors work together to create and perform their very own play with unique characters and an original storyline. What happens when everything is shrunk so trees are as tall as towers and bugs are the size of buildings?
Young actors will create their own suddenly shrunken scenarios.

Students will begin with improvisational games to get to know each other and to begin to brainstorm about their original play. Through group activities and guided discussion, the young actors will decide on characters, conflict, and conclusion, and the story they want to tell. The script will be developed and customized for this class with input from the students.

Young actors will explore skills such as sensory awareness, listening, stage movement, character development, emotional expression, and observation/concentration while learning to portray their original character. Young actors will learn aspects of acting by script read-through, blocking, costume/prop discussion, and planning the show. Through individual and group activities, young actors build confidence in preparation for a final sharing for parents.

Students will work from a simple, written script, but emerging readers can be accommodated. Parents will be emailed the script after the 3rd or 4th class and will be expected to help their children memorize their lines and assemble a simple make-at-home costume, ideally from clothing items and accessories you already own and a little creativity. All actors must be at least age 6 to sign up for this class.

Topics in this series: Pirate's Paradise (Quarter 1), Outback Odyssey (Quarter 2), Suddenly Small (Quarter 3), and Clown College (Quarter 4).

Sew it begins! From ship decks to village markets, loose, billowy shirts have outfitted adventurers for centuries. In this advanced sewing course, students will create a puffy pirate or peasant-style shirt while mastering gathering, sleeves, and neckline finishes.

For this project, students will learn accurate measuring and fitting, pattern reading and layout, flat lining patterns, cutting fabric on the grain, pressing, felling seams, sewing boning channels, interfacing and lining, edge binding, top-stitching, eyelet installation and lacing, and adding trim and embellishment.

Students will be guided by instructor Judith Harmon who has a degree in costume design, creates the costumes for many local theaters, and teaches Compass sewing classes. The class is recommended for intermediate to advanced stitchers, including students who have taken her Learn to Sew classes. Students who are unfamiliar with machine sewing should schedule at least 4 hours of private sewing lessons through Compass before the start of class. Introduction to sewing will not be taught in this class.

Students will also need to bring a portable sewing machine to class each week. If you are purchasing a new sewing machine for the class, a Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machine, 4400 series, model is recommended. ($160-$180 from Amazon or Michaels). Students who are bringing a pre-owed or loaned sewing machine are expected to have the machine professionally serviced before the start of class. Students must bring bobbins, replacement needles, the foot pedal, power cord, owner's manual, and extension cord to class each week. A student who forgets his/her sewing machine or who must send their machine to the shop may rent one from the instructor for $20.00 per hour. Students should also bring a basic sewing kit.

Prerequisites: Recommended for intermediate to advanced stitchers such as those who have taken the Learn to Sew class or have experience using sewing machine. Alternatively, the student must enroll in 4-hours of private sewing instruction before the start of class.

Workload: Students should expect to spend 1 hour per week outside of class finishing whatever step could not be completed in class.

Assignments: Will be made in class and notes/lectures will posted in the Google Classroom platform.

Assessments: Informal feedback will be provided as students work.

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $25.00 is due payable to the instructor for sewing patterns and additional classroom materials. Optional: Students can also elect to purchase a basic sewing kits from the instructor for $25.00. On the first day of class, after students have selected their patterns, they will be given a supply list of fabric to purchase.

What to Bring: Sewing machine (recently serviced, with owner's manual foot pedal, power cord, bobbins, and replacement needles); basic hand-sewing kit.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in Art, Career Exploration, or General Elective for purposes of a high school transcript

Adventures in Art is an engaging, hands-on creative experience designed for growing artists! Each week, students will explore a new artist or artistic style, learn interesting background facts, study inspiring examples, and create their own artwork inspired by what they observe. Working with a wide variety of materials, students will experiment with color, pattern, texture, and design as they develop their skills and bring their creative ideas to life.

Third quarter, students take a creative trip to France and Italy, discovering how artists from different places and times bring their ideas to life in unique ways. Each class explores a new style, followed by a fun, hands-on project where students draw, paint, sculpt, and create their own inspired masterpieces. Along the way, they experiment with realistic and expressive styles while building creativity and confidence. Featured artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, Michelangelo, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Georges Seurat, Raphael , and Marc Chagall.

A partial list of projects this quarter include: simple portrait drawing, mini water lily painting, action figure drawing, cut paper shape, collage, clay face sculpture, pointillism dot art, and split-style artwork using pencils, erasers, black markers, and colored pencils, watercolor paints, paintbrushes, white drawing paper, specialty canvases, colored construction paper, pre-cut colored paper, glue sticks, scissors, air-dry clay and basic sculpting tools.

Topics in this series include: Stellar Celestial Subjects (Quarter 1), Creatures in Color (Quarter 2), A Tale of Two Styles (Quarter 3) and Murals, Monuments & Museums (Quarter 4).

In this fun, hands on class, students are introduced to the world of artificial intelligence through games, challenges, and creative activities. They will explore where AI shows up in their everyday lives, learn how it works in simple terms, and begin to understand the difference between human thinking and computer responses.

How can you use AI safely, and what should you do when something doesn't seem right? Third quarter, students become AI Safety Superheroes as they learn how to use technology responsibly. Through role-play scenarios, fact-check races, and safety challenge cards, students will practice making smart choices when using AI tools. They will learn to spot mistakes, question information, and decide what to trust using fun games and decision-making challenges.

This class is designed to spark curiosity and teach how to use these tools safely and responsibly. Technology access in this class is instructor-led demonstrations with classroom projections, supported by small group stations with one laptops per 2 to 3 students.

Topics in this series include: How It Works (Quarter 1), Ask Clever Questions (Quarter 2), Real or Fake? (Quarter 3) and Build & Create (Quarter 4)

This class moves students beyond basic understanding and into actively using AI as a tool for learning, problem-solving, and creativity. Students will explore how AI systems work, practice writing more precise prompts to improve results, and learn to identify errors and bias in AI responses. Through hands-on activities, students will strengthen their critical thinking while gaining practical experience.

Can you tell when AI gets it wrong or when it might be unfair? In this quarter, students sharpen their critical thinking as they learn to spot mistakes and recognize bias in AI responses. Through activities like real vs. AI detection challenges, bias games, fact-check competitions, and an AI vs. Human challenge day, students will test what they see and question what they read. They will learn that AI is a powerful tool- but not always a perfect one- and build the skills to evaluate information carefully and make thoughtful, informed decisions.

The focus is on helping students become thoughtful, confident users who can direct and evaluate AI effectively, rather than simply relying on it. Technology access in this class is instructor-led demonstrations with classroom projections, supported by small group stations with one laptops per 2 to 3 students.

Topics in this series include: How It's Built (Quarter 1), Ask Perfect Prompts (Quarter 2), Fair or Flawed (Quarter 3), and Real-World Solitions (Quarter 4).

From freedoms to federalism and enfranchisement to empowerment, students will engage with American Government from a unique, thoughtful perspective. This course is facilitated by college professor Dr. Albert Thompson, a historian of the state, culture, and conflict who was homeschooled through high school. He uses an engaging storytelling style to encourage high school students to use "historical data to advance solutions to contemporary problems."

Second semester, the class will consider how the US Government works today and what aspects of the Founders' vision remains intact. Students will cover how the American Government System evolved into its present 21st century form, through an examination of the Jacksonian, Civil War, Progressive, New Deal, and Great Society eras. The class will learn about the conflicts that arose between the states and the federal government as federal power increased. They will explore the rivalries and disputes between elected leaders and bureaucrats as the Administrative State rose to power the 20th century.

This semester covers the period in American Government from 1804-present with a focus on 1890 and beyond, including the evolution of the Constitution through the amendments, the shifting balance among the three branches, the impact of Supreme Court decisions, and the growth of Federalism.

Topics in this Series: Setting Up the Great Republic (Semester 1) and How the Republic Works Today (Semester 2). Students continuing from first semester receive priority pre-registration for second semester.

Prerequisites: None

Workload: Students should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week on readings. Readings should be treated as pre-readings which students complete before class in order to engage in in-class discussion.

Assignments: Reading assignments will be communicated weekly to students by email. This class will not have written assignments or projects.

Assessments: The instructor will not give quizzes or provide assessments. Parents may give the textbook Review Questions and/or Critical Thinking Questions that are available for each unit for purposes of assessing their own student's understanding of major themes. The instructor will provide the answer keys.

Textbook/Materials: The class will use American Government, , 3rd edition, a free, online open-source textbook from OpenStax. OpenStax is a nonprofit educational initiative based at Rice University. Contributing authors come from a variety of universities. Students may read the book online, download a Kindle version, download a pdf, or order an print copy from Amazon (ISBN-13: 978-1711493954 for $41.00).

What to Bring: Paper or notebook; pen or pencil; assigned chapter.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in American Government or Civics for purposes of a high school transcript. (Full credit for both semesters.)

More than 70% of the Earth's surface is water! Understanding the planet's oceans and freshwater systems is critical to understanding life on our planet- from beginnings in the seas to the water cycle that supports ongoing life. The study of aquatic and marine biology provides a basis for understanding much of the chemistry, physics, biology, and meteorology on our planet. Budding marine biologists will travel inland to learn about freshwater systems like lakes and ponds, rivers and streams before returning to the coast to study marshes and estuaries followed by extreme marine environments. The focus will be on hands-on, dynamic learning, and students will engage in several demonstrations and experiments in each class.

Third quarter, students will focus on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of estuarine systems. The class will learn about salinity gradients, nutrient cycling, and biological communities in temperate estuaries and tropical mangrove swamps. Students will study the amazing adaptations that allow plants and animals in these habitats to tolerate rapid changes in temperature and salinity. The group will also discuss human impacts to estuarine habitats, including habitat loss, water diversion, and eutrophication.

Topics in this Series: Lakes and Ponds (Quarter 1); Rivers and Streams (Quarter 2); Marshes and Estuaries (Quarter 3); and Extreme Marine (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Art in Action is a dynamic, hands-on program designed to expand students' artistic skills and creative thinking. Each week, students will study a different artist or artistic movement, explore key concepts and techniques, and analyze examples of notable works before creating their own original pieces inspired by what they have learned. Using a variety of media, students will refine their understanding of color, composition, texture, and design while developing greater confidence and independence in their artistic expression.

Third quarter, students "travel" around the world through art, exploring how different cultures use symbols, patterns, and storytelling to share ideas and traditions. Through hands-on projects, students will discover how artists communicate meaning and identity while learning to create with respect for cultural traditions and perspectives. Featured countries and regions include Ghana, China, Japan, the United States (indigenous cultures), Mexico/Mesoamerica, Egypt, India, and and Aboriginal Australia.

A partial list of projects this quarter includes: Adinkra symbol masks, ink brush paintings, ukiyo-e wave prints, symbolic storytelling pieces, geometric pattern designs, hieroglyphic art, mandala patterns, and dot painting using watercolor, acrylic and tempera paints, cardboard, tag board, construction paper, fabric scraps, yarn, beads, feathers, raffia, natural materials, glue, scissors, markers, oil pastels, clay (air-dry), modeling tools, , colored sand, chalk, stencils, stamps, and pattern templates.

Topics in this series include: Abstract Adventures (Quarter 1), Watercolor Wonders (Quarter 2), Global Gallery (Quarter 3), and Fantasy & Fiction- Harry Potter Inspired Art (Quarter 4)

Did you know that a single image from the James Webb Space Telescope can contain thousands of galaxies, each with billions of stars, and that some of that light has traveled for over 13 billion years to reach us? Or that scientists can detect distant planets by measuring a tiny flicker of starlight? Space is vast, dynamic, and measurable. In this course, students will explore the universe from our solar system to deep space, using the tools and methods of modern astronomers. Through hands-on investigations, models, and simulations, students will discover how we know what we know about a universe we cannot touch and begin to think like scientists exploring the final frontier.

Second semester expands outward into the deep universe, focusing on the life cycles of stars, the structure of galaxies, and the groundbreaking discoveries made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope. Students will begin by studying light- the key to understanding the universe- through hands-on exploration of the electromagnetic spectrum and spectroscopy, learning how scientists determine the composition and motion of distant objects. They will trace the birth, life, and death of stars, model stellar evolution, and explore dramatic phenomena such as supernovae and black holes. Students will then investigate galaxies, cosmic expansion, and the evidence for redshift, dark matter, and dark energy through interactive demonstrations and simulations. Using real JWST images, students will analyze some of the earliest galaxies ever observed and consider what they reveal about the origins of the universe. The semester concludes with a "Cosmic Mystery" project and discussions of future space exploration, connecting classroom learning to the next generation of scientific discovery.

Butter, batter, and bold bakes. Step into the rhythm of real baking as students build skill and confidence in the kitchen. In Baker's Batch, students mix, measure, and master the techniques behind favorite desserts while learning to think like true bakers. Each week, they create a fresh batch of treats such as cakes, pies, cookies, bars, breads, and pastries, sharpening skills like precision measuring, timing, and presentation. From first mix to final bite, this class is all about consistency, creativity, and leveling up in the kitchen. This quarter, the Compass bakers' culinary adventures will include:

• Chocolate Bundt Cake
• Chocolate Mousse Pie
• Inside-Out Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Amaretto Chocolate Cloud Cake (contains nuts)
• Chewy Chocolate Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Chocolate Ganache Cake
• Pouding au Chocolat
• Students will be eating what they make each week and bringing home the recipes and leftovers. This engaging sweets class will get students excited about helping in the kitchen and entertaining. They will learn important baking skills such as safety, sanitation, measuring, knife skills, and other tricks of the trade. Culinary vocabulary is introduced each week.

  Notes: Students with allergies to food ingredients or dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated in this class. Recipes may contain nuts, dairy, wheat, gluten, and eggs. All food supplies will be conventional, mass market ingredients. Specialty food preparations/certifications such as halal, kosher, and organic will not be used due to cost and sourcing logistics.

  Topics in this Series: Piece of Cake (Quarter 1); Easy as Pie (Quarter 2), Chocolate Works (Quarter 3), and Dessert First (Quarter 4).

  Assessments: Qualitative Feedback will be given in class. Formal grades/assessment will not be given.

  Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to the instructor on or before the first day of class.

  What to Bring: None- Disposable aprons and take-home containers provided.

  What to Wear: Students should wear clean clothes and have long hair tied back, braided, or secured under a bandana (male and female).

  Cooking Class Requirements: For more information and FAQs, see the Compass Cooking Classes webpage.

Young dancers will practice skills in musicality, balance, flexibility, and coordination as they learn to dance as a group. Each quarter, a different musical fairytale ballet will provide the inspiration and the music for the class. Dancers will become familiar with the story of the ballet and the orchestral music as they go through their own routine. The music, story, and characters will serve as an inspiration for creative movement.

Third quarter young dancers will learn the story of Swan Lake, a timeless ballet about the princess Odette based on German and Russian folk tales and composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875- 76. In class, dancers will learn to recognize, understand, and apply techniques from the Vaganova ballet method such as: 1st - 6th positions, marching and skipping, demi plie, grand plie, saute, bourree, grand jete, and tendu. Students will also develop their physical conditioning and learn teamwork. A demonstration of skills learned will be showcased for parents on the last class each quarter.

Ballet students are expected to wear appropriate attire. Young ladies must wear a leotard with skirt (attached or detached), pink tights, and soft pink ballet shoes in canvas or leather. Young men must wear a slim-fitting white t-shirt, black shorts, white socks, and soft black ballet shoes in canvas or leather. Students must be age 4 by the start of class.

Topics in this series: The Little Humpbacked Horse (Quarter 1); The Nutcracker (Quarter 2); Swan Lake (Quarter 3); and Don Quixote (Quarter 4).

Prerequisites: None

Start on the right note and discover the excitement of making music with others! Beginner Band introduces students to the fundamentals of playing, reading music, following a conductor, and performing with others within Compass's comprehensive, multi-level homeschool band program.

Beginning band students will learn how to hold their instruments with proper posture and hand position and correct embouchure (mouth position and blowing technique) for the instrument. They will receive instruction on the parts of their instruments and how to safely, correctly, and independently assemble and clean them. Students will learn the fundamentals of music reading and practice simple songs as a group.

Students in beginner band may select from one of the following band instruments. Most instruments are appropriate for all ages, but a few are recommended for grades 7th and up due to the weight of the instrument or distance of the fingering:

Woodwind:

• Flute
• Clarinet
• Alto saxophone

Brass:

• Trumpet
• Trombone
• Euphonium (7th+ grade)
• French Horn (7th+ grade)
• Tuba (7th+ grade)

Percussion:

• Drum practice pad
• Bell kit
• Xylophone kit
• PLUS, percussionists will learn on and rotate through a variety of drums and mallet instruments owned by Compass (snare drums, bass drum, cow bell, bells, tambourine, etc.)

Beginning band students are expected to practice 10 minutes per day, 5 times per week. Parents will be asked to sign a weekly practice log, and students completing their target 50 minutes per week will earn small weekly incentives.

Students will need to rent or purchase an instrument and accessories. See the band instrument webpage.

There is a $30.00 supply fee due payable to Compass on/before the start of class for the Level I instrument-specific music book.

Take command of the battlefield as you design and deploy your own 3D military diorama. On June 6, 1944, Allied forces launched Operation Overlord, landing 156,000 troops on the heavily fortified beaches of Normandy in the largest amphibious invasion in history. Soldiers faced machine-gun fire, obstacles, and rough seas as they fought to establish a foothold in Nazi-occupied France. This class follows the planning, execution, and consequences of D-Day as it opened the path to the liberation of Western Europe.

Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, and historical maps, students will each form a 10" X 14" shaped, foam diorama with landscape elements (hills, valleys, rivers, ridges, vegetation, airfields, etc) to represent a scene of a famous historical engagement. Students will each receive scale miniature naval ships to populate their scene. Once individual projects are constructed, students will combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to approximate the larger battlefield terrain. Students will spend the remainder of the quarter learning about the tactics and outcomes of the military engagement while playing a table-top strategy game. Student strategists will use a simplified version of the Axis and Allies gaming rule system for moving troops and equipment. Along with their classmates, students will see how this battle progressed and test different outcome scenarios that might have occurred with different battlefield choices.

The instructor will use maps and visual presentations to explain the historical background and circumstances leading up to the specific battle. Course documents, such as period maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Topics in this year's series include: Pearl Harbor (Quarter 1), Guadalcanal (Quarter 2), D-Day (Quarter 3), and Battle of the Bulge (Quarter 4).

Discover the world of robotics using kids' favorite, interlocking building bricks! Students will build and program 3-4 different whimsical, mechanized projects each quarter using the WeDo 2.0 robotics system by LEGO Education.

Third quarter, students will build, program, and model perfect pets such as a Tom & Jerry (cat and mouse), a baby bird, a bunny, and a dog.

Their robots will be built using special-shaped LEGO components from the WeDo Educational set, motors, motion sensors, tilt sensors and a programmable, Bluetooth control unit ("brain"). Student will use classroom tablets to program the control units using an intuitive drag-and-drop coding modules.

Prior experience with LEGO or coding is not required. All equipment is furnished.

Topics in this Series: Under the Sea (Quarter 1), Wings and Things (Quarter 2); Perfect Pets (Quarter 3), and Reptiles Robots (Quarter 4).

Best Books for Boys is a book club just for preteen boys. Each quarter, students read one standout novel and spend class time going deeper. Boys act out scenes, debate what characters should have done differently, write sequel pitches or alternate endings, and explore the real-world connections behind the story. Through conversation and guided activities, students begin to read more closely, noticing how authors develop characters, build suspense, and make deliberate choices about how a story unfolds.

Each quarter, one book is the teacher's selection and a second book is chosen by the class from a short, approved list. Students read assigned chapters at home and come to class prepared to share their reflections and discuss the books. All books are selected from Newbery Medalists and Honor Books, Caldecott Medal titles, Parents' Choice Award winners, and proven classics of children's fiction.
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This year's themes and teacher's choice books: Quarter 1: Ingenuity (The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly, 2025 Newbery Medal); Quarter 2: Courage (Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson, 2024 Newbery Medal); Quarter 3: Determination (When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, 2010 Newbery Medal); and Quarter 4: Curiosity (The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers, 2024 Newbery Medal).

Level: This class is designed for 5th and 6th graders. 4th grade students reading above grade level are welcome.

Novels: The cost of a new, mass-market paperback edition of the first book title is included in the class tuition. Parents are responsible for buying or borrowing a copy of the second book from the library, once selected.

What to Bring: Current novel, paper, pen or pencil, and a highlighter. Sticky notes or adhesive flags are helpful for marking key moments.

This boxing fundamentals class helps teens build coordination, confidence, and controlled athletic movement in a safe and structured environment.

Students will learn proper boxing stance and footwork, practice space awareness and movement control, and develop correct punching mechanics through guided drills. Conditioning exercises will improve balance, focus, and overall fitness while building strength and endurance.

All power punches are directed only at heavy bag- never at another student. Students will practice shadow sparring, a non-contact drill that focuses on movement, timing, and technique rather than striking an opponent.

Safety is a top priority. There will be no head contact, no hard punches to the body, and no student-to-student striking of any kind. The class emphasizes discipline, self-control, and skill development rather than aggression.

BoxFit for Teens offers a positive outlet for energy while helping students improve coordination, fitness, and confidence in a supportive, supervised setting.

The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Teens may enroll in Total Training at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order.

All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. BoxFit continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

Enter the BuildZone and step into a world of endless possibilities, where over 10,000 building components are at your fingertips! From Keva Planks to K'Nex, Magnatiles to Marble Runs, Tubelox, Chaos Tower, and Pipe Builders-this is the ultimate mash-up of all things construction.

Here, you're the architect, the engineer, the mastermind. Stack it, snap it, connect it- then remix it! What happens when you combine pieces from totally different sets? You get taller towers, stronger structures, and mind-blowing mega builds! Build solo masterpieces or team up for cool collaborations. Every session is a chance to dream big, build bigger, and let your imagination break all the rules.

This is a hands-on afternoon lab intended to provide opportunities for kids to socialize and tap into their creative energy in a relaxed club setting. No formal curriculum or lessons are provided. This is a supervised free-build session. All participants are expected to help pick up and to follow all Compass rules on indoor behavior including respecting materials, supplies, and furnishings.

Prerequisites: None

If you like to "Turn Up the Music" (Chris Brown, 2012), "Play That Funky Music" (Wild Cherry, 1976), or "Dance to The Music" (Sly & The Family Stone, 1967), then you know that there is an impressive variety of American music. America is the birthplace of some of the most influential genres of music and musicians in the world. Much of the world's modern music has roots in American blues, jazz, or rock, while American music has elements from West Africa, the West Indies, and diverse communities such as New Orleans, Detroit, Memphis, St. Louis, Nashville, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the Bronx. American music has influenced behavior and culture such as dance, entertainment, fashion, technology, popular opinion, lexicon, marketing, and more.

This is a focused class in music appreciation for students who enjoy listening to or playing music. The class will evaluate a century of American music by listening to and discussing influential performers, writers, and producers. Students will learn to identify music elements unique to each genre- melody, rhythm, harmony- and will develop a musical vocabulary to help them think and talk about musical works. They will also explore innovations in instruments and technologies that evolved with the music, such as drums being placed in a "set" at the advent of jazz music, the rise of electric instruments, and electronic production/mixing.

Second semester will explore music from the 1970s to the present encompassing the genres of post-pop, heavy metal, hip hop, rap, grunge, punk rock, new age, alternative rock, Indie rock, post-punk and new fusion. Featured artists will include Michael Jackson, Prince, Van Halen, Nirvana, Metallica, Snoop Dog, Elise Trouw, Domi, Jacob Collier, Gunna, Pop Smoke, Esperanza Spalding, and more. Discover why Kurt Cobain was influenced by the Pixies, how Taylor Swift channels Joni Mitchell, and Lady Gaga's music resembles that of Madonna. Find out why Rolling Stone Magazine declared that without "Soul Queen" Aretha Franklin, there would be no Beyonce, Whitney Houston, or Adele.

Like other fine arts classes, music appreciation is a fun break from academics which enriches and engages students in a topic they enjoy. Genres that will not be highlighted in this course include gospel, folk, country, western, tejano, reggae, zydeco, or salsa.

Topics in this Series: 19202-1960s (Semester 1), 1970s-2020s (Semester 2), etc.

Teens will enjoy the logic and challenge of the timeless strategy board game as they learn and play chess with classmates. This is a multi-level class open to Beginners, Advanced Beginners, or Intermediate Players. Instruction will be differentiated based on the make-up of the class, and teens will be placed in pairs or groups depending on experience. Each session will be with some time dedicated to a lesson and some time reserved for in-class matches that are monitored and supported by the coach. Beginners may play as a group against the instructor which is a low-pressure way to learn the game. Teens who are engrossed in their games may continue their play into Friday Teen Game Night.

Learning and playing chess supports problem solving, decision making, critical and creative thinking, general cognitive ability, scholastic skills, and mathematical achievement (Univ. of Minnesota). Experts suggest that the game of chess teaches analytical and disciplined thinking skills, while raising self esteem, teaching motivation and determination, and sportsmanship (Kasparov Foundation).

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in logic/reasoning or and elective for purposes of a high school transcript.

Two armies. One battlefield. Infinite possibilities.

Across a checkered board, two mighty monarchies prepare for battle. In this legendary clash of kings and queens, which side will triumph in a test of wit, patience, perseverance, and strategy? Students will explore the logic and thrill of the timeless game of chess under the expert guidance of an International Chess Master. Whether you're a budding tactician or a curious beginner, prepare to sharpen your mind and rise to the challenge.

In Advanced Beginning Chess, students will use the Explorers Level curriculum developed by Grandmaster Babaev for his GMChessPrep program. During Quarter 3, the focus will be on classic tactics, calculation, and pattern recognition. The class will be introduced to tactical themes and escapes including fork, pin, double attack with king, queen, and pawn, double check, and double checkmate. Students will learn classic mating patterns like Legall's Mate, Two Rooks on the 7th Rank, and Queen and Bishop Mate. Finally, students will practice tactical puzzles like Mate in 1, and Fork/Pin/Double Checkmate. The group will be introduced to computer play with limited pieces to boost creativity and problem solving strategies.

Learning and playing chess promote problem solving, decision making, critical and creative thinking, general cognitive ability, scholastic skills, and mathematical achievement (Univ. of Minnesota). Experts suggest that the game of chess teaches analytical and disciplined thinking skills, while raising self esteem, teaching motivation and determination, and sportsmanship (Kasparov Foundation). Each class will be spent part on instruction and part on playing time in practice matches with classmates while the instructor gives tips and reminders.

Compass chess students will be given access to GMChessPrep's online portal for virtual chess practice opportunities between classes. Also, students who are absent can request a make-up session during a regularly scheduled GMC online evening group class.

Prerequisites: Beginner Chess

Two armies. One battlefield. Infinite possibilities.

Across a checkered board, two mighty monarchies prepare for battle. In this legendary clash of kings and queens, which side will triumph in a test of wit, patience, perseverance, and strategy? Students will explore the logic and thrill of the timeless game of chess under the expert guidance of an International Chess Master. Whether you're a budding tactician or a curious beginner, prepare to sharpen your mind and rise to the challenge.

In Beginning Chess, students will use the Foundation Level curriculum developed by Grandmaster Babaev for his GMChessPrep program. During Quarter 3, the goal is to begin to understand checks, tactics, and board etiquette. Students will learn about check and three ways to escape- block, capture, and move. The class will learn the definitions, differences, and examples of checkmate and stalemate, and practice drills. They will also learn chess etiquette, game results (wins, draws), and chess notation.

Learning and playing chess promote problem solving, decision making, critical and creative thinking, general cognitive ability, scholastic skills, and mathematical achievement (Univ. of Minnesota). Experts suggest that the game of chess teaches analytical and disciplined thinking skills, while raising self esteem, teaching motivation and determination, and sportsmanship (Kasparov Foundation). Each class will be spent part on instruction and part on playing time in practice matches with classmates while the instructor gives tips and reminders.

Compass chess students will be given access to GMChessPrep's online portal for virtual chess practice opportunities between classes. Also, students who are absent can request a make-up session during a regularly scheduled GMC online evening group class.

Two armies. One battlefield. Infinite possibilities.

Across a checkered board, two mighty monarchies prepare for battle. In this legendary clash of kings and queens, which side will triumph in a test of wit, patience, perseverance, and strategy? Students will explore the logic and thrill of the timeless game of chess under the expert guidance of an International Chess Master. Whether you're a budding tactician or a curious beginner, prepare to sharpen your mind and rise to the challenge.

In Intermediate Chess, students will use the Strategists Level curriculum developed by Grandmaster Babaev for his GMChessPrep program. During Quarter 3, the focus will be on pattern recognition, short games, and positional awareness. The group will learn about tactical combinations such as discovered check & mate, a discovered attack, a Mate in Two, and winning a piece in a tactical gain. Students will learn 30 short games including, strong openings, early middle game attacks, defenses and blunders, and special tactics on f7 and diagonal h5-e8.

Learning and playing chess promote problem solving, decision making, critical and creative thinking, general cognitive ability, scholastic skills, and mathematical achievement (Univ. of Minnesota). Experts suggest that the game of chess teaches analytical and disciplined thinking skills, while raising self-esteem, teaching motivation and determination, and sportsmanship (Kasparov Foundation). Each class will be spent part on instruction and part on playing time in practice matches with classmates while the instructor gives tips and reminders.

Compass chess students will be given access to GMChessPrep's online portal for virtual chess practice opportunities between classes. Also, students who are absent can request a make-up session during a regularly scheduled GMC online evening group class

Prerequisites: Advanced Beginner Chess

Ready to show your true colors? Grab a brush, dive into dazzling paints and let bold brushstrokes, brilliant blends, and boundless creativity spill across the canvas. In Colorful Canvas, every artist brings their imagination to life- one vibrant masterpiece at a time.

Let your creativity run wild in this exciting multimedia art class as students combine painting with collage and a variety of materials to create artwork that goes beyond the flat surface. Artists will experiment with three-dimensional and relief techniques, layering materials to build texture, depth, and raised effects while learning how to construct, assemble, and enhance their work in creative ways. This class encourages imagination, creative risk-taking, and personal expression while strengthening core art skills.

Students will complete several mixed media and dimensional projects on canvas boards and other substrates inspired by a variety of themes, including animals, landscapes, fantasy, still life, and abstract art, along with fun projects inspired by famous artists.

There is a $20.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class. Topics in this series include: Tempera Painting (Quarter 1), Acrylic Painting (Quarter 2), Multimedia Painting (Quarter 3), and Watercolor Painting (Quarter 4).

Everyone can learn to sing! This quarter, children will sing well-known scores from the beloved Broadway musical featuring the aspirations and antics of orphan Annie. The group will learn classics like "Its the Hard Knock Life", "Tomorrow", and "Little Girls."

The quarter's repertoire will include at least one group choral number. Students will work on other music as solos, duets, or small group numbers. This introduction to vocal development and performance includes posture, breathing, intonation, and the principles of blending vocal harmonies. Basic musical notation will be introduced as well as melodic and harmonic intervals. No previous musical experience is required- just the joy of singing! Singers will be expected to memorize pieces and participate in a showcase for parents at the end of the quarter.

There is a $25.00 fee for sheet music due payable to Compass on the first day of class.

Everyone can learn to sing! This quarter, children will sing songs from the silver screen such as "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" from The Lion King,
"Shiny" from Moana, "Try Everything" from Zootopia, or "You've Got a Friend in Me" from Toy Story. Once the group is formed and their musicality is evaluated, the instructor will offer a selection of pieces tailored to the ensemble.

The quarter's repertoire will include at least one group choral number. Students will work on other music as solos, duets, or small group numbers. This introduction to vocal development and performance includes posture, breathing, intonation, and the principles of blending vocal harmonies. Basic musical notation will be introduced as well as melodic and harmonic intervals. No previous musical experience is required- just the joy of singing! Singers will be expected to memorize pieces and participate in a showcase for parents at the end of the quarter.

Topics in this series include: Broadway Beats (Quarter 1), Classic Chorals (Quarter 2), Screen Sensations (Quarter 3), and Hollywood Hits (Quarter 4).

Can your child sit in a circle for story time? Line up for lunch? Take turns talking? This one-day, 3-hour (half-day) program is a "taste" of kindergarten for 5- year-olds. Start your child's week off right with "Mornings with Miss M" at Compass Kindergarten. Children will work in a small group with an experienced early elementary educator for this dynamic, play-based program that offers regular interaction and socialization.

This fun, activity-based program will create rhythm and routine in a homeschooled kindergartner's week and give them a sense of community and a peer group. Children will practice routines and transitions as they move through the morning. Each session will include some simple structure such as a daily arrival song/greeting, circle time, story, snack time, activity, lunch, active game, and closing/goodbyes. Through games and activities, they will also practice key childhood social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and entering play with others. Academic basics such as the ABCs, days of the week, colors, shapes, and number sense will be integrated into activities involving fairy tales, nature and art. The teacher will provide ideas for parents to work on at home with their child during the week.

Compass Kindergarten is offered in three weekly sessions: Monday, Wednesday, or Friday. Registration is stand-alone for each day so parents can register for one, two, or all three. While each kindergarten class will give children the opportunities for learning and playing in a social environment along with classroom routines, each of the three days will focus on a particular area of study and discovery of how each is connected.

On Fridays, the focus will be on science and exploration of the natural world through stories, crafts, and observations both inside and outside the classroom. Themes include seasons, weather, local animals, and the five senses. As a bonus, Compass kindergarten students assist in carring for the Compass lab animals (1 gecko, 3 bearded dragnons, 1 fire-bellied toad, and 1 rat.)

Readiness: Students must be age five (5) by the start of the program or have the teacher's approval for younger. To be successful in this program, entering kindergartners must be able to do the following preschool-level skills: (1) be able to separate from parents with little discomfort; (2) be able to sit and listen to a story or stay on a task for 10 minutes; (3) be able to follow simple, age-appropriate directions from the teacher or another adult; (4) be able to write and recognize his/her first name; (5) be able to hold and use crayons and scissors correctly; (6) be completely self sufficient in a public restroom (wiping, flushing, washing hands, etc.)

Other Notes: Children should bring a bagged lunch and water bottle to each session. There is a $50.00 material fee for class consumables due payable to the teacher on the first day of class.

Parents can choose to drop children off for this program (different than Compass's school-year policies for 55 minute classes.)

Registration for this program is by 16-week semester.

Parents who are shopping around or applying to alternate kindergarten programs should review the Compass withdrawal policy.

Kids will enjoy making delicious recipes and family favorites that feature a variety of fruits, vegetables, and fresh ingredients. Recipes are selected to be nutritious, fun, and simple to make. Each class will focus on a portion of a meal including appetizer, salad, soup, side dish, main dish, and dessert. The Compass chefs' culinary adventures will include:

• Mushroom Tartlet
• Lemony Cabbage Salad
• Pumpkin Sage Soup
• Roasted Carrot And Red Onion
• Turkey Stuffed Peppers
• Harvest Chicken Casserole
• Easy Baklava Wedges (contains nuts)
• Pull Apart S'Mores Sliders

Students will be eating what they make each week and bringing home the recipes and leftovers. These engaging cooking classes will get students excited about helping in the kitchen, experimenting, and trying new foods. Students will be exposed to healthy ingredients they may not regularly eat. They will learn important kitchen skills such as safety, sanitation, measuring, knife skills, and other tricks of the trade. Culinary vocabulary and terms are introduced each week, with no-pressure verbal review of those words the following week.

Notes: Students with allergies to food ingredients or dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated in this class. Recipes may contain nuts, dairy, wheat, gluten, and eggs. All food supplies will be conventional, mass market ingredients. Specialty food preparations/certifications such as halal, kosher, and organic will not be used due to cost and sourcing logistics.

Topics in this Series: Fall Fare with Flair (Quarter 1), Festive Fall Flavors (Quarter 2), Winter Warm-Ups (Quarter 3), Savory Spring Specialties (Quarter 4).

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to the instructor via Zelle or Venmo on or before the first day of class.

What to Wear: Students should wear clean clothes and have long hair tied back, braided, or secured under a bandana (male and female).

Cooking Class Requirements: For more information and FAQs, see the Compass Cooking Classes webpage.

Little Kids will enjoy making delicious recipes and family favorites that feature a variety of fruits, vegetables, and fresh ingredients. Recipes are selected to be nutritious, fun, and simple to make. Each class will focus on a portion of a meal including appetizer, salad, soup, side dish, main dish, and dessert. The Compass chefs' culinary adventures will include:

• Mushroom Tartlet
• Lemony Cabbage Salad
• Pumpkin Sage Soup
• Roasted Carrot And Red Onion
• Turkey Stuffed Peppers
• Harvest Chicken Casserole
• Easy Baklava Wedges (contains nuts)
• Pull Apart S'Mores Sliders

Students will be eating what they make each week and bringing home the recipes and leftovers. These engaging cooking classes will get students excited about helping in the kitchen, experimenting, and trying new foods. Students will be exposed to healthy ingredients they may not regularly eat. They will learn important kitchen skills such as safety, sanitation, measuring, knife skills, and other tricks of the trade. Culinary vocabulary and terms are introduced each week, with no-pressure verbal review of those words the following week.

Notes:(1) Students with allergies to food ingredients or dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated in this class. Recipes may contain nuts, dairy, wheat, gluten, and eggs. All food supplies will be conventional, mass market ingredients. Specialty food preparations/certifications such as halal, kosher, and organic will not be used due to cost and sourcing logistics. (2) Children must be minimum age 6 for this class and be able to listen to and follow instructions.

Topics in this Series: Fall Fare with Flair (Quarter 1), Festive Fall Flavors (Quarter 2), Winter Warm-Ups (Quarter 3), Savory Spring Specialties (Quarter 4).

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to the instructor via Zelle or Venmo on or before the first day of class.

What to Wear: Students should wear clean clothes and have long hair tied back, braided, or secured under a bandana (male and female).

Cooking Class Requirements: For more information and FAQs, see the Compass Cooking Classes webpage.

Teens will enjoy making delicious recipes and family favorites that feature a variety of fruits, vegetables, and fresh ingredients. Recipes are selected to be nutritious, fun, and simple to make. Each class will focus on a portion of a meal including appetizer, salad, soup, side dish, main dish, and dessert. The Compass chefs' culinary adventures will include:

• Mushroom Tartlet
• Lemony Cabbage Salad
• Pumpkin Sage Soup
• Roasted Carrot And Red Onion
• Turkey Stuffed Peppers
• Harvest Chicken Casserole
• Easy Baklava Wedges (contains nuts)
• Pull Apart S'Mores Sliders

Students will be eating what they make each week and bringing home the recipes and leftovers. These engaging cooking classes will get students excited about helping in the kitchen, experimenting, and trying new foods. Students will be exposed to healthy ingredients they may not regularly eat. They will learn important kitchen skills such as safety, sanitation, measuring, knife skills, and other tricks of the trade. Culinary vocabulary and terms are introduced each week, with no-pressure verbal review of those words the following week.

Notes: Students with allergies to food ingredients or dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated in this class. Recipes may contain nuts, dairy, wheat, gluten, and eggs. All food supplies will be conventional, mass market ingredients. Specialty food preparations/certifications such as halal, kosher, and organic will not be used due to cost and sourcing logistics.

Topics in this Series: Fall Fare with Flair (Quarter 1), Festive Fall Flavors (Quarter 2), Winter Warm-Ups (Quarter 3), Savory Spring Specialties (Quarter 4).

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to the instructor via Zelle or Venmo on or before the first day of class.

What to Wear: Students should wear clean clothes and have long hair tied back, braided, or secured under a bandana (male and female).

Cooking Class Requirements: For more information and FAQs, see the Compass Cooking Classes webpage.

Tweens will enjoy making delicious recipes and family favorites that feature a variety of fruits, vegetables, and fresh ingredients. Recipes are selected to be nutritious, fun, and simple to make. Each class will focus on a portion of a meal including appetizer, salad, soup, side dish, main dish, and dessert. The Compass chefs' culinary adventures will include:

• Mushroom Tartlet
• Lemony Cabbage Salad
• Pumpkin Sage Soup
• Roasted Carrot And Red Onion
• Turkey Stuffed Peppers
• Harvest Chicken Casserole
• Easy Baklava Wedges (contains nuts)
• Pull Apart S'Mores Sliders

Students will be eating what they make each week and bringing home the recipes and leftovers. These engaging cooking classes will get students excited about helping in the kitchen, experimenting, and trying new foods. Students will be exposed to healthy ingredients they may not regularly eat. They will learn important kitchen skills such as safety, sanitation, measuring, knife skills, and other tricks of the trade. Culinary vocabulary and terms are introduced each week, with no-pressure verbal review of those words the following week.

Notes: Students with allergies to food ingredients or dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated in this class. Recipes may contain nuts, dairy, wheat, gluten, and eggs. All food supplies will be conventional, mass market ingredients. Specialty food preparations/certifications such as halal, kosher, and organic will not be used due to cost and sourcing logistics.

Topics in this Series: Fall Fare with Flair (Quarter 1), Festive Fall Flavors (Quarter 2), Winter Warm-Ups (Quarter 3), Savory Spring Specialties (Quarter 4).

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to the instructor via Zelle or Venmo on or before the first day of class.

What to Wear: Students should wear clean clothes and have long hair tied back, braided, or secured under a bandana (male and female).

Cooking Class Requirements: For more information and FAQs, see the Compass Cooking Classes webpage.

Students will learn the language of undercover agents in this children's cryptology class. Cryptology is the science of secret writing which uses math and logical reasoning to decode and create mystery alphabets. Each week, students will learn one or more ciphers and will practice using them to decode messages and write secret messages to each other!

Student sleuths will continue their undercover operations with all-new codes such as the Atbash Cipher, Running Key Cipher, and Four-Square Cipher. Students will also learn about fingerprinting, a key clue to real sleuths solving crimes and will mix and test an invisible ink that can only be read under a black light. The quarter will culminate in a collaboration to crack a variety of codes to flee a classroom Escape Room which may include challenges such as coded letters, picture clues, mirror image writings, puzzling word searches, and cryptograms.

Topics in the Series: Spies (Quarter 1), Secret Agents (Quarter 2), Sleuths (Quarter 3), and Superheroes (Quarter 4).

Crafty Kids Club is a weekly afternoon meet-up for COVID-Cautious kids of all ages. Kids gather and socialize while completing a craft encompassing a wide variety of materials and techniques such as: wooden, wearables, simple sewing, painting, sculpting, paper, beading, and mixed media.

Kids will enjoy the camaraderie of working alongside a group of friends in Crafty Kids Club, and parents will appreciate the break!

Parent Notes:
- All the supplies are provided: No need to search high and low for the needed materials.
- Reduce waste and clutter: No need to buy large quantities of specialty supplies for a one-time project.
- Reduce clean-up: Leave the glue, paint, and glitter mess at Compass.
- Kids get to experiment with a variety of materials and techniques, even if YOU are not crafty.
- Crafting improves dexterity and fine motor skills, and an afterschool club makes a great social outlet.

Don't write poetry? Think you can't draw? Maybe not, but you may still want a creative way to record your thoughts, feelings, dreams, and ideas! Journaling is an ongoing process of discovery and exploration that allows one to be conscious of and connect with his/her own thoughts, emotions and ideas. It is a form of expression that supports both academic and personal growth.

Creative journaling is not writing daily "Dear Diary" style entries on dated pages. Instead, students will explore various journaling methods, blending self-expression and self-discovery to guide them in learning new ways to problem-solve, achieve goals, and process emotions. Students will work with several writing techniques and a range of art media to develop a personal journal throughout the quarter and will have the opportunity to expand on it in subsequent quarters. Techniques such as freeform writing, black-out poetry, stream-of-consciousness writing, and creative list making will be explored, in addition to experimenting with a wide variety of layered techniques and mixed media with collage, photography, cardstock, book pages, art markers, stencils, tempera sticks, acrylic, paints, washi tape, and stickers. Weekly prompts will cover a range of topics such as gratitude, compassion, ambitions, choices, fear, self-care, and self-esteem as they relate to the students' personal lives and current events. Conversation around the prompts will complement the students' work in their individual journals.

Topics in this Series: Journal work is done in an open studio environment that allows students to join in any quarter throughout the year.

Lab/Supply Fee: A supply fee of $35.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Fee covers art journal for student to use in class and shared class supplies (paints, inks, brushes, markers, collage materials, glue, washi tape, etc.)

What to Wear: Students may wish to have an apron or old shirt to wear when working with paints.

Design it. Build it. Share it. Bring your ideas to life in Roblox Studio as you design 3D models, build interactive environments, and create original digital experiences.

Digital Lab is a computer lab environment in which students work through the Black Rocket curriculum under the direction of computer science coaches. The lab environment allows students to enroll at any quarter, fosters brand new coders, and encourages those with prior coding experience. All digital tools and software used in class are safe, locally installed educational editions accessed only by the student and not connected to any public platforms.

The class tuition includes a student technology fee that covers the use of instructor-provided classroom laptops loaded with the required software, applications, and licenses. At the end of the class, students will receive access to Black Rocket's interactive learning platform to continue their coding journey at home.

Topics in this Series: Minecraft Designers (Quarter 1), Minecraft Coders (Quarter 2), Roblox Designers (Quarter 3), and Roblox Coders (Quarter 4).

Design it. Build it. Share it. Bring your ideas to life in Roblox Studio as you design 3D models, build interactive environments, and create original digital experiences.

Digital Workshop is a computer lab environment in which students work through the Black Rocket curriculum under the direction of computer science coaches. The lab environment allows students to enroll at any quarter, fosters brand new coders, and encourages those with prior coding experience. All digital tools and software used in class are safe, locally installed educational editions accessed only by the student and not connected to any public platforms.

The class tuition includes a student technology fee that covers the use of instructor-provided classroom laptops loaded with the required software, applications, and licenses. At the end of the class, students will receive access to Black Rocket's interactive learning platform to continue their coding journey at home.

Topics in this Series: Minecraft Designers (Quarter 1), Minecraft Coders (Quarter 2), Roblox Designers (Quarter 3), and Roblox Coders (Quarter 4).

Anyone can learn to draw! A professional artist will teach kids how to draw a variety of projects by breaking down complex forms and figures into simple shapes and giving them dimensions through shading, shadow, and textures. Projects will focus on fantasy and fictional subjects which are a great choice to keep beginning artists from becoming frustrated when their work does not look "the real thing."

Third quarter, students will develop their drawing skills on projects featuring fantasy figures. Kids will enjoy projects with dragons, ogres, ghouls, aliens or elves where they can practice drawing techniques without the pressure of trying to replicate real life. The class will learn to draw simple costumes and props around their character to convey setting without drawing elaborate landscapes, and they will learn how to express thoughts and conversation through dialogue bubbles.

This is not a "follow-the-leader" or copy/mimic art class, but rather a supportive environment where students are encouraged to create their own fantasy characters and scenarios. They will receive individual coaching and feedback to develop the characters that they dream up rather than trying to replicate well-known existing characters like DC, Marvel, Disney, or Looney Tunes. Young artists having fun playing off each other's ideas to draw outrageous imaginary characters and worlds. The instructor will often use prompts to get the ideas flowing and to encourage collaboration. The instructor has a class rule that illustrations must be rated "G" with no violence (guns, knives, blood/gore) and will often suggest alternatives such as battle with unexpected objects like baguettes or bananas!

Students' practice illustrations and draft renderings will be drawn with regular #2 pencil in sketchbooks, but they are welcome to add color to their work with colored pencils or markers, if desired. There is an $18.00 material fee payable to the instructor on the first day for a sketchbook and shared classroom art supplies. Topics in this Series include: Comic Art and Characters (Quarter 1); Comics with a Cast of Characters (Quarter 2), Fantastical Figures (Quarter 3), and Playful Portraits (Quarter 4).

Which dinosaurs ruled at the height of the dinosaur age? Discover the Cretaceous world, from T. rex stalking the plains of North America to herds of Triceratops and other iconic giants. Explore changing continents, plant life, and predator-prey battles in the final chapter of the dinosaurs.

Each student will create an individual diorama. Students will craft and hand-shape their scene on a 10" X 14" foam board using artistic, model-making techniques. They will customize their dioramas with landforms, landscape elements, and vegetation. Once individual projects are constructed, students will populate them with miniature figures and combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to create a larger terrain. Students will then compete in a pre-history-based survival strategy game. Each student will have at least one board and set of miniatures to take home with them.

Course documents such as maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. Students must be minimum age 8 to take this class.

Topics in this series include: Ancient Seas (Quarter 1), Cretaceous North America and Asia (Quarter 2), Cretaceous South America and Africa (Quarter 3), Ice Age Giants (Quarter 4). There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Prerequisites: Minimum age 8

Discover the turning point of the American Civil War at Gettysburg, from three days of thunderous battle to the moment that stopped the Confederate advance and changed the course of history.

Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, and historical maps, students will create a 10 X 14 diorama board of a famous battle from American History. They will customize their dioramas with landforms, waterways, plant life, and paint and populate it with 1:72 scale invading armies and their adversaries for historical re-enactments. Once individual projects are constructed, students will combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to approximate a larger battlefield terrain. Students will spend the remainder of the quarter learning about the tactics and outcomes of the conquest while playing a table-top strategy game. Student strategists will use a custom historical wargaming rule system for moving troops and siege equipment. Along with their classmates, students will see how battles progressed and test different scenarios that might have occurred with different battlefield choices.

Course documents such as maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. Topics in this series include: Lexington & Concord (American Revolution)- Quarter 1; The Alamo (Mexican-American War)- Quarter 2; Gettysburg (Civil War)- Quarter 3; and The Battle of San Juan Hill (Spanish-American War)- Quarter 4. There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Prerequisites: Minimum age 8

Create a beat and make a track worth putting on repeat! Students will build on their music production skills using Soundtrap, with a focus on writing melodies, arranging music, and producing complete songs. Students will also explore different applications of music production through projects such as songwriting, composing music for video games, and creating radio commercials or podcasts.

No prior experience is required. While this course is designed for students continuing from Electronic Music Production I, complete beginners are welcome. New students will learn the fundamentals of music production through introductory lessons and projects, while returning students work on more advanced material. Instruction and projects will be adapted to accommodate both groups, allowing students of different experience levels to learn and create alongside one another.

Students do not need to play an instrument or be able to read music for this course. Instead, they need to have a love of music and the desire to create their own, original songs.

In this 13-week course, students will learn the core skills of Electronic Music Production from industry professional, DJ, producer, and musician Eric Jao (aka DJ Enferno). Eric brings 30+ years of working in the music industry, including touring the world with Madonna and creating music for Linkin Park and Cirque Du Soleil. He's an Ableton Certified Trainer and the creator of the Electronic Music ELEMENTS curriculum, which he will teach in person at Compass.

Meet your instructor here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5en5nx5zag

Workload: Students should expect to spend 1 or more hours per week outside of class.

Assignments: Students will be encouraged to continue to work on their music at home.

Assessments: Will not be given.

What to Bring: Students should bring a laptop (Windows or Mac), tablet, or Chromebook and headphones to class each week.

Non-Meeting Days: In addition to the scheduled days-off on the published Compass schedule, this 13-week class does not meet on 1/25/27, 3/29/27, or 4/19/27.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component partial credit in Fine Arts or Career Exploration for purposes of a high school transcript.

This British Literature course focuses on developing critical reading and writing skills through the study of both canonical and postcolonial texts written in English. Drawing from a range of genres, time periods, and geographical regions, students will encounter diverse voices and perspectives.

Literature: Third quarter will explore the Romanticism movement in England through Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and other writings of the period.

Writing Lab: An essential component of this course will be an in-class Writing Lab. Students in this class should have mastered the basics of academic writing, such as constructing a thesis statement, organizing their thoughts with effective topic sentences and transition statements. Students will learn to write critical response papers and a complete literary analysis essay including how to support their ideas with textual evidence, organize a logical argument, and cite sources in MLA format. Over the course of the year, students will develop familiarity with a variety of writing styles and forms including rhetorical analysis, literary analysis, critical response, close reading, opinion essay, and personal essay.

Prerequisites: Students taking this class should have an understanding of the types of literature (from Intro to Genres). Students are expected to take an active role in discussion and complete all writing assignments.

Topics in this Series: Anglo-Saxon (Quarter 1), Elizabethan (Quarter 2), Roamticism (Quarter 3), and Regency (Quarter 4).

Class Meetings: There will be two weekly, in-person class meetings: Tuesdays and Fridays.

Workload: Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week outside of class.

Assignments: All assignments will be posted in a Google Classroom management site. Students will need their own gmail accounts to access Google Classroom.

Assessments: Students' written assignments will be graded using a rubric and assigned points that the homeschool parent can use when assigning an overall class grade.

Textbooks/Materials: Students will use clean, inexpensive copies of each novel for annotation and must be able to reference passages using consistent page numbers. Copies of the mass market paperback edition(s) is included in the class tuition.

Supply Fee: Included

What to Bring: Students should bring the current literature, paper, pen or pencil and highlighter to class each week. Some students may wish to bring paper clips, adhesive flags or post-it notes for marking passages/pages. Students should also bring a laptop to class one day per week for in-class writing.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a partial credit (one quarter) or full credit (all four quarters) in English for purposes of a high school transcript.

Prerequisites: Introduction to Genres or the Equivalent

In this Senior English course, students will engage deeply with World Literature while developing advanced literary analysis skills. Students will read a diverse body of global literature to identify symbolism, imagery, recurring themes and to develop an understanding of the narrative perspectives used. Through these works, the class will also examine the cultural, social, and historical contexts that shaped literature across different regions and time periods.

This course can be taken-on level or at the Advanced Placement (AP) level which will introduce college-level analytical writing and prepare the student for the AP Literature and Composition exam. AP students must also register for the Extended Coursework option.

Literature: Third quarter will examine the theme of Conformity and Courage through works such as Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen.

Composition: An essential component of this course will be an in-class Writing Lab. Students in this class should have mastered the basics of academic writing, such as constructing a thesis statement, organizing their thoughts with effective topic sentences and transition statements. This class will strengthen students' textual analysis skills with an emphasis on rhetorical analysis- the study of how a text creates meaning. Over the course of the year, students will develop familiarity with a variety of writing styles and forms including rhetorical analysis, literary analysis, critical response, close reading, opinion essay, and personal essay.

Topics in this Series: Fate & Free Will (Quarter 1), Culture & Conflict (Quater 2), Conformity & Courage (Quarter 3), Power & Prejudice (Quarter 4).

Prerequisites: Successful completion of year-long coursework in British and American Literature or the equivalent.

Class Meetings: There will be two weekly, in-person class meetings: Tuesdays and Fridays.

Levels: Two levels meet together: On-Level and Advanced Placement (AP). AP requires additional reading, writing, and AP skills practice. All students register online for the same course. AP students are required to also register for the AP World Literature: Extended Coursework activity which covers differentiated assignments, additional instruction, and feedback on AP-style writing and test preparation. Once the course begins, students may move down a level (from AP to On-Level) at any time, but may not "bump up." Students taking the AP level may designate the course as SP on their transcript and add one quality point when calculating their GPA.

Workload: On-level students should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week outside of class. AP students should expect to spend 4-5 hours per week.

Assignments: All assignments will be posted in a Google Classroom management site. Students will need their own gmail accounts to access Google Classroom.

Assessments: Students' written assignments will be graded using a rubric and assigned points that the homeschool parent can use when assigning an overall class grade.

AP Testing: The AP English Literature and Composition exam fee (May 2027) is not included in tuition. Families are responsible for registering and paying for their student's AP exam at their local public high school by the end of October 2026.

Textbooks/Materials: The cost of new, mass market paperback editions are included in class tuition because students need clean copies for annotation and must be able to reference identical page numbering.

Supply Fee: Included

What to Bring: Students should bring the current literature, paper, pen or pencil and highlighter to class each week. Some students may wish to bring paper clips, adhesive flags or post-it notes for marking passages/pages. Students should also bring a laptop to class one day per week for in-class writing.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a partial credit (one quarter) or full credit (all four quarters) in English for purposes of a high school transcript.

Prerequisites: American Literature or the Equivalent

In this introductory high school English workshop, students will be introduced to the concepts of literary genres and analytical writing. Each quarter, the class will examine one select work or genre. Students will learn to recognize figurative language, tone, subtext and diction, identify symbolism and imagery, and develop an awareness of narrative perspective and of the social-historical contexts in which these works were created. Third quarter will feature The Play Romeo and Juliet Folger Edition by Shakespeare.

Composition: Students will also learn the fundamental components of academic writing, including how to construct a thesis statement that makes an argument, how to support their ideas effectively with textual evidence, how to organize an argument logically, and how to cite sources in MLA format. Some class periods will be dedicated Writing Lab session in which students write in-class in order to get on-the-spot support and feedback from the teacher. Students should bring laptops to these class sessions.

Topics in this Series: The Novel (Quarter 1), Poetry (Quarter 2), The Play (Quarter 3), and The Epic (Quarter 4). Students who continue from one quarter to the next will receive priority registration.

Prerequisites: Students should be able to read at grade level, and it is recommended that students have had a middle school writing class.

Workload: Students should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week outside of class.

Assignments: All assignments will be posted in a Google Classroom management site. Students will need their own gmail accounts to access Google Classroom.

Assessments: Students' written assignments will be graded using a rubric and assigned points that the homeschool parent can use when assigning an overall class grade.

Textbooks/Materials: Students will use clean, inexpensive copies of each novel for annotation and must be able to reference passages using consistent page numbers. Copies of the mass market paperback edition(s) is included in the class tuition.

Supply Fee: Included
What to Bring: Students should bring the current novel, paper, pen or pencil and highlighter to class each week. Some students may wish to bring paper clips, adhesive flags or post-it notes for marking passages/pages.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a partial credit in English for purposes of a high school transcript. (Full credit if all 4 quarters are taken.)

Prerequisites: Reading and Writing at Grade Level

Welcome to the Extreme Animal Kingdom, where the most incredible creatures on Earth push the limits of life itself! In this thrilling, hands-on exploration, students will encounter animals with jaw-dropping abilities and unbelievable adaptations. Some glow in the dark, lighting up the ocean depths like living lanterns, while others thrive in boiling, toxic waters near undersea volcanoes. Tiny organisms can freeze solid or dry out completely-then come back to life years later. Some animals can live without oxygen or regrow entire body parts, while others can change color in an instant or turn nearly invisible. Lightning-fast predators can run as fast as a car or punch with the speed of a bullet, while ingenious builders create intricate homes and traps. From animals smaller than a speck of dust to giants larger than a bus, students will discover how life survives, adapts, and thrives in the most extreme environments on Earth. Get ready to explore the strange, the surprising, and the truly wild!

Slither, crawl, and snap into the fascinating world of reptiles and their relatives, the amphibians and the birds. Students will learn how these cold-blooded creatures survive in harsh environments using camouflage, venom, and unique adaptations. From sun-loving lizards to powerful crocodilians, this unit reveals the survival strategies of some of Earth's most ancient animals. Discover what makes these creatures both resilient and remarkable.

opics in this Series: Microscopic & Marine Marvels (Quarter 1); Amazing Arthropods (Quarter 2); Remarkable Reptiles & Relatives (Quarter 3); Marvelous Mammals (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Paris. Milan. Madrid. What's on the runways in 2027? Wide disco collars, chic trench coats, and layered skirts in simmering neons, crochet knits, and faux leather. Do you study the pages of Glamour, Vogue, Marie Claire, and wish to be involved in the world of trendy fashion? Perhaps you follow fashion influencers on Instagram. Or, do you enjoy the satisfaction of designing apparel yourself, your way? If so, this class is for you. Each week this course will cover two aspects: the history of fashion and fashion design.

Fashion trends are often cyclical, and elements of style are reimagined every few decades. Students will seek inspiration for new designs and style remixes by learning about the history of fashion in eastern and western cultures for the last century. First semester, students will look at fashion trends by decade from 1900 through the 1960s. This semester will cover chapters 1 through 3 in the textbook.

With inspiration from historical design trends, students will learn how to create fashion renderings, from initial concepts through a chic, coordinated collection. First semester, the class will learn about color theory, color psychology, and composing color palettes. They will learn to draw their designs by sketching a croquis (a quick, rough sketch of a garments on a proportioned figure.) Students will practice vision boarding and developing a story board. This class does not include sewing the fashions.

Topics in this Series: Fashion History & Design 1900s-1960s (Semester 1), Fashion History & Design 1970s-Today (Semester 2).

Prerequisites: None.

Workload: Students should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week outside of class on reading assignments and completing design activities.

Assignments: Projects and readings will be given out in class and will also be communicated via email.

Assessments: Individual feedback is given in class. Formal assessments will not be given.

Textbook: Students should purchase Fundamentals of Fashion Design, 3rd Edition, by Richard Sorger and Jenny Udale (ISBN# 978-1474270007) before the first class. Additional information will be distributed as handouts in class.

Lab/Supply Fee: None.

What to Bring: Images/sample photos, swatches, and other assigned materials.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in Fine Arts or Career Education for purposes of a high school transcript.

Fencing is the clashing of steel and competitive spirit combined with the battle of the wits. Apply the rules of Olympic fencing, and you have a physically and mentally challenging game of strategy, often called, "physical chess."

In Beginning Fencing, students will learn the rules of the sport as well as footwork, attacks, parries, responses, and how to judge matches. Beginning students will use the epee, a thin, lightweight sword with broad hand guard and will wear a wireless electronic scoring sensor over layers of protective gear. Returning students will work with both the epee and foil.

The physical benefits of fencing are an increase in agility, balance and coordination. Fencing also provides mental benefits such as improved focus, strategy and confidence. Fencing is safety-oriented with blunt tip weapons, chest protectors, chest/sleeve pads, fencing jacket, gloves, and face mask.

Students may enroll any quarter. All equipment is provided by the instructor. Students are asked to wear full length, comfortable athletic pants such as running pants or sweatpants (no jeans, no shorts, no dresses or skirts), and low-heeled athletic shoes.

Prerequisites: None

Filmmaking demands more than creativity- it demands technical skills that bring your vision- or someone else's- to life on the screen.

Semester two: turn raw footage into a finished film! Students will explore how editing, sound, and special effects bring a story to life. They practice capturing clear dialogue and location sound, then build atmosphere through sound effects, basic mixing, and sound design. Using timeline editing, students develop continuity, control pacing, and discover how the choice and timing of each cut can shape an actor's performance, build suspense, or change a scene's meaning. Collaborative projects introduce workflows for organizing footage, sharing creative decisions, and refining scenes, with finishing touches that transform individual shots into a cohesive movie.

This semester-long course focuses on developing practical film production skills using accessible, everyday equipment. Students learn to work with smartphones, public domain software, and low-cost tools while building habits that mirror real-world production environments. The course emphasizes practice and discipline, requiring students to complete weekly production deliverables that demonstrate steady progress in sound, editing, and special effects

Equipment: All students must have access to a smartphone with video capability, basic stabilization such as a tripod or handheld grip, an external microphone option, headphones for monitoring audio, a set of clip-on phone lenses, and a video-capable laptop. The total cost of required equipment is designed to remain under $100. Students are expected to bring required equipment to each class.

Workload: Students are expected to complete and upload weekly deliverables. Students should expect 1 hour of filming homework per week.

Assessments: Students will not receive a formal grade in this elective course, however, through in-class review sessions, they will receive ongoing feedback to apply to their work. Consistent effort, visible improvement, and professional conduct during filming are required throughout the course.

Certificate Option: This course is one of several a student can complete to earn a Certificate in Film Production. Students seeking recognition through the certificate must submit a substantial portion of weekly production work, demonstrate consistent participation, and present a body of work that shows clear skill progression over time.

Credit: Homeschool families may want to count this course as a partial credit in fie arts or career exploration on a homeschool transcript.

Bonjour and get ready for a full year French Fundamentals! French Fundamentals is a year-long class whis covers that same content and uses the same textbook as high school French I.

This level is for middle school-aged students who have taken at least two quarters of French Foundations with the instructor, but who are not yet ready to age up and attend Friday high school classes. The expectation is that middle school-aged Fundamentals students will be ready for high school French II the following school year. Registraton for Fundamentals is by semester.

The corresponding French I description follows:

French I is a conversation-focused program in which students will build their vocabulary quickly and learn essential grammar skills in French. Vocabulary will include numbers, time, dates, seasons, school, free time activities/hobbies, likes/dislikes, personal descriptions, family relationships, emotions, food/restaurants, and places/locations in town. There will be a strong emphasis on competency using regular and irregular present tense verbs and common grammar concepts such as articles, pronouns, adjectives, and comparative phrases.

Class will be conducted primarily in French and will focus on listening and speaking skills, asking and answering questions, and correct use of grammar. At home, students will be responsible for memorizing vocabulary and grammar, completing homework assignments, and watching both grammar instruction and language immersion videos.

Workload: Students should expect to spend 30-45 minutes per day, 4 days per week on homework outside of class.

Assignments: Are sent by e-mail to parents and students. Students must have access to a computer and internet service for computer-based videos and practice tools that are assigned as homework and are essential to success in the class.

Assessments: Quizzes, tests, and individual performance reviews will be given to all students at regular intervals to provide parents with sufficient feedback to assign a grade.

Textbook: Students should purchase or rent the required textbook for this class: Bien Dit!: Student Edition Level 1 2013 (French Edition) (ISBN-13 978-0547871790)

Fun Fit PE encourages young elementary schoolers to move and play during the day! Kids will enjoy games such as flag tag, tug-of-war, soft dodge ball, relays, and silly obstacle courses with challenges such as crab crawl, log roll, or bunny hop. Activities will engage hand-eye coordination, gross motor skills and improve accuracy, endurance, speed, agility, and flexibility.

Fun Fit PE is a fun, supportive, small-group experience with a dedicated coach where the emphasis is on doing one's best and individual improvement rather than competition or comparison with classmates. Equally as important, young athletes get to practice valuable life skills such as working with teammates, good sportsmanship, taking turns, cooperation, and communicating with the coach.

All activities will take place on the thick mats of Compass's new physical fitness center. Children will play in socks or bare feet as shoes cannot be worn on the mats. They should wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring a reusable water bottle.

The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Children may enroll in Fun Fit PE at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order.

Welcome to Fun with Physics, where the world around you comes alive! Physics is happening everywhere- when you push a swing, roll a ball, or watch something fall. In this hands-on class, students will explore how things move, what makes them stop, and how energy is all around us. Get ready to experiment, explore, and discover the science you can see, feel, and play with every day!

Third quarter our young scientists will investigate how and why things move by exploring forces, motion, light, sound, and different forms of energy. They will learn about friction, balance, and how energy can change forms. Sample projects include building ramps and testing motion, exploring reflection with mirrors, and creating simple sound and light experiments.

Topics in this Series: Messy Matter & Mixtures (Quarter 1); Squishy Science & Solids (Quarter 2); Mighty Motion & Energy (Quarter 3); Wacky Waves & Wonders (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

FUNctional Fitness is a dynamic PE program for that incorporates well-rounded exercises to get kids up and moving mid-day! No two workouts are the same, but each day's activities incorporate exercises that target 10 areas: cardio-vascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. FUNctional Fitness focuses on functional movements that are fundamental to all aspects of play and exercise- pulling, pushing, running, throwing, climbing, lifting, and jumping. Work-outs are scalable and adaptable to different individual's own level, and the emphasis is on fun, safety, and personal accomplishment rather than competition among classmates. When the weather permits, some exercises may be taken outdoors. The physical challenges of FUNctional Fitness will foster self-confidence, focus, and help instill a foundation for a lifetime of fitness.

The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in FUNctional Fitness at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order.

All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. FUNctional Fitness continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

FUNctional Fitness is a dynamic PE program for that incorporates well-rounded exercises to get tweens up and moving mid-day! No two workouts are the same, but each day's activities incorporate exercises that target 10 areas: cardio-vascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. FUNctional Fitness focuses on functional movements that are fundamental to all aspects of play and exercise- pulling, pushing, running, throwing, climbing, lifting, and jumping. Work-outs are scalable and adaptable to different individual's own level, and the emphasis is on fun, safety, and personal accomplishment rather than competition among classmates. When the weather permits, some exercises may be taken outdoors. The physical challenges of FUNctional Fitness will foster self-confidence, focus, and help instill a foundation for a lifetime of fitness.

The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in FUNctional Fitness at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order.

All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. FUNctional Fitness continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

FUNctional Fitness is a dynamic PE program for that incorporates well-rounded exercises to get tweens up and moving mid-day! No two workouts are the same, but each day's activities incorporate exercises that target 10 areas: cardio-vascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. FUNctional Fitness focuses on functional movements that are fundamental to all aspects of play and exercise- pulling, pushing, running, throwing, climbing, lifting, and jumping. Work-outs are scalable and adaptable to different individual's own level, and the emphasis is on fun, safety, and personal accomplishment rather than competition among classmates. When the weather permits, some exercises may be taken outdoors. The physical challenges of FUNctional Fitness will foster self-confidence, focus, and help instill a foundation for a lifetime of fitness.

The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in FUNctional Fitness at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order.

All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. FUNctional Fitness continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

FUNctional Fitness is a dynamic PE program for that incorporates well-rounded exercises to get tweens up and moving mid-day! No two workouts are the same, but each day's activities incorporate exercises that target 10 areas: cardio-vascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. FUNctional Fitness focuses on functional movements that are fundamental to all aspects of play and exercise- pulling, pushing, running, throwing, climbing, lifting, and jumping. Work-outs are scalable and adaptable to different individual's own level, and the emphasis is on fun, safety, and personal accomplishment rather than competition among classmates. When the weather permits, some exercises may be taken outdoors. The physical challenges of FUNctional Fitness will foster self-confidence, focus, and help instill a foundation for a lifetime of fitness.

The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in FUNctional Fitness at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order.

All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. FUNctional Fitness continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

Who really has the power? Can a president actually get fired? Who gets the final say on the laws?

Students will explore the structure and function of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches through engaging discussion, media, and activities. They will examine the powers and responsibilities of each branch, study notable leaders and landmark Supreme Court cases, and learn how checks and balances shape decision-making. Students will also identify their own representatives and consider how elections work.

Students will continue their work within the mock government, applying what they learn about the three branches through elections, roles, and decision-making within the classroom simulation.

Compass cooks will enjoy a culinary tour of the world with Global Gourmet classes! Menus feature a variety of fruits, vegetables, and fresh ingredients seasoned and prepared to represent regional flavors and traditional dishes from the featured country. Recipes are selected to be nutritious, fun, and simple to make. The Compass chefs' gastronomy adventures will include a trip to China with:

• Baked Crab Rangoon (contains shellfish)
• Egg Drop Soup
• Chinese Chicken Salad (contains nuts)
• Vegetable Fried Rice
• Green Onion Cakes
• Cashew Chicken Stir Fry (contains nuts)
• Lo Mein
• Almond Cookies (contains nuts)

Students will be eating what they make each week and bringing home the recipes and leftovers. These engaging cooking classes will get students excited about helping in the kitchen, experimenting, and trying new foods. Students will be exposed to healthy ingredients they may not regularly eat. They will learn important kitchen skills such as safety, sanitation, measuring, knife skills, and other tricks of the trade. Culinary vocabulary and terms are introduced each week, with no-pressure verbal review of those words the following week.

Notes: Students with allergies to food ingredients or dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated in this class. Recipes may contain nuts, dairy, wheat, gluten, and eggs. All food supplies will be conventional, mass market ingredients. Specialty food preparations/certifications such as halal, kosher, and organic will not be used due to cost and sourcing logistics.

Topics in this Series: German (Quarter 1),French Canadian (Quarter 2), Chinese (Quarter 3), Peruvian (Quarter 4).

Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to the instructor on or before the first day of class.

What to Bring: None- Disposable aprons and take-home containers provided.

What to Wear: Students should wear clean clothes and have long hair tied back, braided, or secured under a bandana (male and female).

Cooking Class Requirements: For more information and FAQs, see the Compass Cooking Classes webpage.

Discover geography and diverse cultures in this interactive, imaginary tour of the world. Each quarter, students will take a classroom journey to two distinct nations. They will locate the highlighted countries on the world map and complete a map project before buckling in for a fictional flight to the featured locales. Once they have "arrived" in the country, they will begin with an introduction to home and school life by meeting a child through a story or video. Students will learn to recognize similarities and appreciate differences when they compare that child's home, clothing, food, town, daily activities, and school to their own. In subsequent weeks, our Globe Trotters will learn about the culture and traditions of the country through songs, games, projects, and activities that highlight elements like folktales, customs, celebrations, distinct features, language, points of interest, or native species.

Third quarter, students will journey to China and England. China is the world's most populous country. Its territory is the third largest in size, encompassing great snowy mountains, large desert basins, steppes, mangrove swamps, and rainforests. China has rich mineral and natural resources and unique animal species such as the giant panda, pangolin, and giant salamanders found nowhere else. China's famed Great Wall is experienced by millions of visitors each year. England is part of Great Britain and has a longtime relationship with the US. In England, visitors can find the ancient rock sculptures at Stonehenge, Roman ruins in the form of forts, roads, and aqueducts, Early Medieval, and Gothic construction. England has a rich literary history consisting of pagan folklore with goblins, elves, and witches and Middle Ages Robin Hood, King Arthur, Beowulf, to the modern Harry Potter franchise. The modern monarchy in Great Britain is still revered around the world. Example projects from these countries many include a celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year and tile-making, embroidery, and high tea (England).

Students will be excited by geography and culture when approached through this engaging, multi-disciplinary exploration of diverse countries of the globe! Topics in this Series include Egypt and Korea (Quarter 1); Philippines and Germany (Quarter 2); China and England (Quarter 3); New Zealand and Ghana (Quarter 4). A supply fee of $25.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Great Books for Girls is a book club just for preteen girls. Each quarter, students read one high-quality novel and spend class time doing more than just discussing it. Girls act out scenes, debate character decisions, write alternate endings or origin stories, and dig into the research behind the story. Through conversation and guided activities, students begin to read more closely and notice how authors build characters, develop themes, and make choices about how to tell a story.

Each quarter, one book is the teacher's selection and a second book is chosen by the class from a short, approved list. Students read assigned chapters at home and come to class prepared to share their reflections and discuss the books. All books are selected from Newbery Medalists and Honor Books, Caldecott Medal titles, A Mighty Girl book lists, Parents' Choice Award winners, and proven classics of children's fiction.

This year's themes and teacher's choice books: Quarter1: Leadership (When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller, 2021 Newbery Medal); Quarter 2: Strength (One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome, 2025 Newbery Honor); Quarter 3: Imagination (The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera, 2023 Newbery Medal); and Quarter 4: Independence (Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, 2025 Newbery Honor).

Level: This class is designed for 5th and 6th graders. 4th grade students reading above grade level are welcome.

Novels: The cost of a new, mass-market paperback edition of the first book title is included in the class tuition. Parents are responsible for buying or borrowing a copy of the second book from the library, once selected.

What to Bring: Current novel, paper, pen or pencil, and a highlighter. Sticky notes or adhesive flags are helpful for marking favorite passages.

Students will continue to learn the fundamentals of playing the guitar. In this class, students will continue to learn basic melodies, chords, and strumming patterns for familiar songs from a variety of genres such as, "Sweet Jane" (by The Velvet Underground), "House of the Rising Sun," (by Eric Burdon and The Animals) and "Willow" (by Taylor Swift) chosen by the instructor and students. Students are encouraged to bring in music they are interested in learning. New chords and new songs will be added each week as students also learn to read music and basic music theory. Students will also learn how to hold, tune, and care for their guitars. Each student will need a least a beginner level acoustic guitar. Students should be able to read at grade level for this class and should plan to practice at home several times each week. Students should expect to spend 20-30 minutes per day most days practicing chords and melodies from class. There is a materials fee of $11.00 payable to the Compass on the first day of class for a tablature notebook for any student who does not have one from a prior class. New students who wish to enroll 2nd semester should have at least 12-15 hours of prior instruction in order to match the pace of the enrolled students.

You've dreamed about going to Hogwarts, and now is your chance to experience a year of magical classes! In this maker class, students will create projects inspired by their core classes at Hogwarts (Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Potions, and Transfiguration) and a Hogwarts guest professor. Students learn to work with a variety of materials and learn a broad range of crafting skills such as hand-sewing, painting, papercrafting (including precision cutting, folding, and stenciling) sculpting, and wireworking to create magical pieces inspired by the World of Harry Potter.

Welcome to the third term at Hogwarts! In addition to your core wizarding classes, special projects will be inspired by guest Professor Flitwick such as Dragon Scale Face Paints and Floating Candles.

This is a great class for Harry Potter fans who love the magical world, even for those who have not read all of the books or watched all of the movies. Projects and class discussions are geared to not reveal significant series spoilers. Note: A few classes may include a Harry Potter-inspired food creation or personal care product. The ingredients will be identified in advance, and students with food or ingredient allergies or dietary restrictions will need to check before handling/consuming. Substitute ingredients cannot be provided for those with food allergies or restrictions.

Topics in this Series: Quirrell's Creations (Quarter 1); Pomfrey's Potions (Quarter 2); Flitwick's Favorites (Quarter 3); and Lockhart's Fabrications (Quarter 4)

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $35.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Enjoy a day on the snowy slopes skiing with homeschool friends at Liberty Mountain Resort in Fairfield, PA.

Date: Monday, February 22, 2027

Options:

• Full Adventure Package: includes group transportation, equipment rental, lesson, lift ticket & lunch
• Meet Us There Package: includes equipment rental, lesson, lift ticket & lunch

Schedule:

• 8:30 am (bus departs)
• 10:30 am – 3:00 pm “on the mountain” lessons/skiing
• 5:00 pm (bus returns to Compass)

Notes:

• Minimum age 7 for lessons. Ages 7-9, must have a participating parent or designated adult
• This event can be drop-off for children ages 10+
• This program is being coordinated by MC Youth Ski Club which is owned by a Compass parent.
• All participants will be required to set up access and sign waivers through MCYSC’s online portal prior to the trip.

Prerequisites: None

Enjoy a day on the snowy slopes skiing with homeschool friends at Liberty Mountain Resort in Fairfield, PA.

Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2027

Options:

• Full Adventure Package: includes group transportation, equipment rental, lesson, lift ticket & lunch
• Meet Us There Package: includes equipment rental, lesson, lift ticket & lunch

Schedule:

• 8:30 am (bus departs)
• 10:30 am – 3:00 pm “on the mountain” lessons/skiing
• 5:00 pm (bus returns to Compass)

Notes:

• Minimum age 7 for lessons. Ages 7-9, must have a participating parent or designated adult
• This event can be drop-off for children ages 10+
• This program is being coordinated by MC Youth Ski Club which is owned by a Compass parent.
• All participants will be required to set up access and sign waivers through MCYSC’s online portal prior to the trip.

Prerequisites: None

Rovers roam, rockets rise, and researchers reveal remarkable results. Viral videos and bold breakthroughs flood the feed, but what is solid science and what is sensational spin? In this class, students become critics and commentators on science in the news. Each week, they will examine recent discoveries, products, and claims drawn from headlines and social media, digging into the science behind the stories. Is a breakthrough truly groundbreaking, or just overhyped? Who is behind the research- a reputable institution or a questionable source? And what real impact might these ideas have?

From AI-guided Mars rovers to scientists tackling microplastics and next-generation energy, students will investigate fascinating topics while learning to evaluate the strength of scientific evidence. They will consider testing methods, sample sizes, and sources in order to separate solid science from speculation and become thoughtful consumers of scientific information.

This class is especially well suited for students who enjoy reading, discussion, and current events, including those who may not be drawn to traditional lab-based science classes. It also offers a valuable perspective for science-minded students who want to engage more deeply with real-world applications of science. Students should be reading at or above grade level and can expect to spend 30 minutes to one hour each week engaging with assigned articles or videos.

Topics: This is a quarter-long class that examines new claims and scientific announcements in the news. Each quarter is unique, and students can take all four (4) quarters with no repeated information.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a partial credit in science for purposes of a high school transcript.

Engineering is the discipline of turning ideas into reality- using mathematics, science, and creativity to design solutions that shape the world around us. From bridges and buildings to medical devices, renewable energy systems, and cutting-edge technology, engineers work across an extraordinary range of fields. The demand for these skills is strong and growing especially in areas like software development, data science, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing. This course introduces students to the mindset and methods of engineers- problem solving, design thinking, collaboration, and innovation- while exploring the wide variety of pathways available in this dynamic and high-impact field.

The second semester, Innovation and Implementation, shifts from foundational knowledge to the execution of engineering ideas. Students will engage in a long-form, project-based experience that emphasizes prototyping, iteration, and the real-world constraints engineers face when bringing ideas to life. Beginning with ideation and human-centered design, students will learn to generate innovative solutions grounded in the needs of real users. They will explore materials science, compare prototyping methods, and use tools such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to develop and refine their concepts. Throughout the semester, students will design, build, test, and improve a capstone project, documenting failures, analyzing data, and optimizing their designs for performance, efficiency, and practicality. Case studies will highlight the importance of communication and ethics in engineering, while discussions of manufacturing will connect individual prototypes to large-scale production. This highly hands-on semester culminates in an Engineering Showcase, where students present their innovative solutions, demonstrating both technical skill and the ability to think creatively, iterate thoughtfully, and solve meaningful problems.

Prerequisites:Completion of Algebra I

Workload: Students should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week outside of class reading and completing projects.

Assignments: All assignments and readings will be posted on password-protected Canvas classroom management site.

Assessments:Completed assignments, projects, and participation will be assessed points. Parents can calculate a letter grade using the student's points earned divided by points available. Parents may view all scoring and comments at any time through the Canvas site.

Lab/Supply Fee: A lab fee of $25.00 is due payable to the instructor on or before the first day of class.

What to Bring: Paper or notebook, pen or pencil, and laptop when requested.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count both semesters of this course as a half credit in science or a career exploration election.

Prerequisites: Algebra I

Jiu-Jitsu Fit is a fun, interactive, physical fitness program for tweens incorporating the Brazilian self-defense martial art of Jiu-Jitsu. Students will follow a well-rounded physical fitness program that incorporates moves and strategies of Jiu-Jitsu to increase strength, flexibility, conditioning, endurance, coordination, balance, and fun! Students will practice techniques for resolving conflicts, dealing with bullies, projecting confidence, and developing stranger awareness in the games and exercises they complete in class. Jiu-Jitsu Fit helps tweens stay active, builds self-esteem, and encourages teamwork. Jiu-Jitsu uses grappling and ground work in addition to standing self-defense positions.

The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in Jiu Jitsu Fit at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order.

Some partner work may be co-ed. Students will work on mats in socks or bare feet and should come to class wearing loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants and bring a refillable water bottle.

Junior Art Studio is a colorful, hands-on art adventure designed especially for our youngest artists! Each week, students will discover a new artist or art style, learn a few fun facts, explore inspiring examples, and then create their own masterpiece inspired by what they have seen. Using a wide variety of materials, students will experiment with colors, patterns, textures, and embellishments as they bring their ideas to life.

Third quarter, students explore how art reflects identity, storytelling, and connections to nature within Native American cultures. This class introduces students to Native American art through a respectful and developmentally appropriate lens, focusing on broad cultural themes such as storytelling, symbolism, nature, and patterns to understand how art can communicate meaning across cultures. Students engage in hands- on projects that encourage personal expression while building awareness of artistic traditions. Care is taken to ensure that activities honor cultural significance, promoting both creativity and cultural respect.

A partial list of projects this quarter includes: personal symbol drawings, paper weaving, totem pole designs, dreamcatcher-inspired art, animal drawings, pattern design artwork, story-based composition, and a headdress creation using yarn, paper plates, beads, feathers (craft), markers, construction paper, glue, paints, specialty paper, chalk pastels and oil pastels.

Topics in this series include: Color Quest (Quarter 1), Destination Discoveries (Quarter 2), Native Nations (Quarter 3), and Multi-Media Mix (Quarter 4). There is a $25.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day.

Students will use LEGO to design and build simple engineering projects out of everyone's favorite building toy! In this 90 minute class, students will explore concepts and vocabulary in physics, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, aerospace engineering, and architecture while playing with their creations.

Third quarter, students will build for an icy winter environment and explore constructions like a bobsled course, snow plows, snow mobiles, a Polar Express train, and gondola ski lifts!

Each class begins with 10-minutes of free build from tubs of LEGO components followed by a short discussion and demonstration of the day's project and concepts. Students build individually or in groups. Instructors will provide individual assistance, facilitate challenges, performance testing, competitions, and modifications to projects. Some projects may have been introduced in prior year's sessions, but each new build is unique, and student's building skills and understanding will have grown.

Notes:(1)Students must be minimum age 5 and able to separate from their parents for this class. (2) Projects are built from shared, Compass-owned components, so students will not bring completed projects home. Parents, however, can step into class 15 minutes before the end of each session to photograph their child's construction.

Topics in this Series: Fantastic Fliers & Space Racers (Quarter 1); Articulated Aniamls (Quarter 2); Winter Wonders (Quarter 3); Construct a Carnival (Quarter 4)

Prerequisites: Minimum age 5

Tumble, turn, twist, and twirl! Junior Gymnastics is a beginner-level class designed to support the development of motor skills in children while introducing beginning athleticism through gymnastics. This class incorporates fundamental movements like hopping, skipping, jumping, and balancing while building strength, flexibility and coordination. Gymnastics encourages children to explore their body's movement through play and exercise.

Each session will include warm-up activities, cool-down exercises, and fun play with props like parachutes, while each quarter has a different gymnastics focus. Third quarter "Vault Ventures" introduces power and momentum with jumps from a low vault platform and stacks of mats. All work will be done on padded floor mats and portable equipment on loan from the instructor's gymnastics school.

Students should wear workout attire, but preferably not lose or floppy clothing. Students with long hair are asked to tie their hair back. Students will play and exercise in socks, so they should not come in sandals, crocs, or slides.

Topics in this series include: Floor Fun (Quarter 1), Beam Basics (Quarter 2), Vault Ventures (Quarter 3), and Rhythmic Routines (Quarter 4).

Toffee. Taffy. Truffles... End the day on a sweet note! Kids will enjoy making and eating delicious confections. Each week they will prepare a fresh, handmade dessert or sweet such as: pies, cakes, cookies, tarts, trifles, mousses, puddings, candies, fudge, brittle, or chocolates. The class will include some icing, decorating, and garnishing techniques for completed desserts. This quarter, the Compass bakers treats include:

• Chocolate Bundt Cake
• Chocolate Mousse Pie
• Inside-Out Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Amaretto Chocolate Cloud Cake (contains nuts)
• Chewy Chocolate Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Muffins
• Chocolate Ganache Cake
• Pouding au Chocolat

Students will be eating what they make each week and bringing home the recipes and leftovers. This engaging sweets class will get students excited about helping in the kitchen and entertaining. They will learn important baking skills such as safety, sanitation, measuring, knife skills, and other tricks of the trade. Culinary vocabulary is introduced each week.

Notes: Students with allergies to food ingredients or dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated in this class. Recipes may contain nuts, dairy, wheat, gluten, and eggs. All food supplies will be conventional, mass market ingredients. Specialty food preparations/certifications such as halal, kosher, and organic will not be used due to cost and sourcing logistics.

Topics in this Series: Piece of Cake (Quarter 1); Easy as Pie (Quarter 2), Choco Works (Quarter 3), and Dessert First (Quarter 4).

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

What to Bring: None- Disposable aprons and take-home containers provided.

What to Wear: Students should wear clean clothes and have long hair tied back, braided, or secured under a bandana (male and female).

Cooking Class Requirements: For more information and FAQs, see the Compass Cooking Classes webpage.

Krav Maga is the Israeli martial art which teaches self defense and fitness. Students of Krav Maga are taught a series of strategies to assess and respond to common situations, such as facing a bully. Kids are always taught first and foremost to get away, to get help, and to try to deescalate the situation. When that fails, students practice a technique that includes a warning strike followed by escape, and finally, they learn how to stand up for themselves and how to counterattack if a situation escalates and becomes threatening. Kids are empowered and gain confidence when they rehearse how to handle real-life situations. Exercises and in-class practice incorporate balance, coordination, energy, and other key elements of fitness along with life skills such as confidence, teamwork, respect, discipline, and respect.

Students may enroll in Krav Maga at any time, and everyone will begin as a white belt. Each quarter, students will practice the full range of skills, but there will be two "featured" moves that a student can earn a belt stripe for being able to demonstrate. Featured moves will include a combative strike and a defensive escape technique. No one stripe is a prerequisite for any other color, and color stripes can be earned in any order.

Third quarter, students will have the chance to earn a Brown Stripe. The featured moves include:

• Red Stripe

- 360 Defense and Headlock Release

• OrangeStripe

- Inside Defense and Release from Front Choke

• Yellow Stripe

- Using Your Environment and Wrist Grab Releases

• Green Stripe

- Kick Defense and Ground Choke Release

• Blue Stripe

- Body Defense and Shirt Grab Releases

• Purple Stripe

- Protecting Others and Ground Headlock Release

• Brown Stripe

- Ground Strike Defenses and Bearhug Releases

• Black Stripe

- Ground Kick Defenses and Back Choke Releases

Students will be able to test for belt promotions to move through the ranks of white belt, yellow belt, orange belt, etc. On average, it is estimated that a student will be ready for a belt test after four quarters/four color stripes. Belt testing will be by coach approval.

What to Bring: Refillable water bottle.

What to Wear: In lieu of a full martial arts uniform, participants should wear their class t-shirt and belt along with shorts, leggings, or loose, comfortable athletic pants, and comfortable athletic shoes or sneakers.

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $6.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class- for new students only- for a white belt to collect the colored stripes! A belt test fee of $25.00 is due payable to the instructor when a student is ready to test for promotion.

Topics in this Series: Blue Stripe (1st Quarter), Purple Stripe (2nd Quarter), Brown Stripe (3rd Quarter) and Black Stripe (4th Quarter).

Learn to sew to create one-of-a kind articles of clothing, home decor, crafts, or handmade items for your side business like Etsy or Ebay. Sewing can be a relaxing hobby, a profitable side gig, and a practical money-saving life skill. Don't settle for store-bought when you can learn to sew the custom creations you envision!

Second semester, Beginner students will learn the basics of hand sewing. Skills that will be introduced this semester include: quilter's knot, stitches (basting, running, backstitch, whip, ladder), tying a knot, and anchoring a knot. Students will learn to identify and use sewing tools such as fabric scissors, straight pins, thimbles, seam ripper, and various needles. Advanced Beginner students (those continuing from first semester or those with prior experience), will learn how to read and cut our a sewing pattern, how to take body measurements and match to pattern measurements, and how to select the best fabric for a pattern. Advanced Beginner students will learn how to finish pieces by selecting and attaching closures (buttons, button holes, grommets, zippers, & hook and eyes); gathering and pleating, using binding and bias tape, and attaching pockets and waistbands.

Students will also begin with get-to-know their sewing machines including different components, attachments, and functions, along with care, use, and maintenance of their machines. They will learn Identify parts of sewing machine; how to fill a bobbin and thread the machine; types of machine needles and how to change a needle, and how to control speeds. Students will practice machine stitches (straight, zig-zag, backstitch) and adjusting the length and width, learn about seam allowance, and sewing corners and curves. Students will begin with simple stitching exercises, and their first project will be sewing a pin cushion that they will use throughout the year.

As part of learning to sew, students will learn about different types of fabrics, what each is best used for, and how to identify grain lines, bias, and selvedge. The class will discover how garments are assembled by deconstructing an article of clothing from its seams. Students will learn how to read a sewing pattern and take measurements The group will learn about hems and elastic along with closures and how/where to use them. Second semester's Beginner project will be sewing a custom pair of pajama pants, while the Advanced Beginner project will be a small block quilt.

Topics in this Series: Learn to Sew: Beginner (Semester 1), Learn to Sew: Beginner and Advanced Beginner (Semester 2). Students continuing from first semester receive priority pre-registration for second semester.

Prerequisites: None

Workload: Students who practice at home will find that their sewing skills are refined and perfected more quickly. Students should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week outside of class practicing the sewing skill/step covered in class.

Assignments: Projects will be given out in class and will also be communicated via Google Classroom.

Equipment/Fabric: Students must bring to class each week:

• A portable sewing machine with bobbins. (If you are purchasing a new sewing machine for the class, a Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machine, 4400 series, model is recommended. These can be purchased from Amazon or Joann Fabrics for $160-$180. Students who are bringing a pre-owed or loaned sewing machine are expected to have the machine professionally serviced before the start of class.)
• The sewing machine owner's manual
• An extension cord
• Bobbins
• Instructor-provided hand sewing kit
• Fabric for class assignments. (A list of needed fabric and sewing patterns will be sent out the first day of class, with the recommended quantity, type, and deadlines.)

Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $50.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class for a project box, including a sewing kit (with 1 pack of sewing machine needles, thread, and hand sewing essentials), and other materials used in class.

Little Bot Builders is a busy, bouncy robotics and maker lab where our youngest engineers, ages 5-6, build, tinker, test, and discover how things work.

Third quarter, students will continue building their confidence with robotics by exploring circuit boards, counters, remote communication, and engineering design. They will learn how inventors improve their ideas by testing, adjusting, and rebuilding designs.

Projects may include building traffic lights with counters and creating a simple remote-control car. Students will practice using step-by-step thinking, troubleshooting, and iterative design as they make their projects more complex and capable.

There is a $25.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class. Topics in this series include: Motors & Makers (Quarter 1), Power & Prototypes (Quarter 2), Circuits & Controllers (Quarter 3), Waves & Wonders (Quarter 4).

Can your little one settle for story time? Share, smile, and socialize during play? Follow fun, familiar directions? This one-morning, 2-hour program is a "taste" of preschool for homeschooled youngsters. Young children will learn and play in a small group with an experienced child developmental specialist/preschool educator for this dynamic program that offers regular interaction and socialization.

Your little one will enjoy being with same-aged peers, building independence, and tackling new skills for a few hours each week. Little Learners Lab will introduce foundational concepts needed for future learning such as pre-reading skills (such as letter recognition); pre-writing skills (such as tracing or highlighting); and pre-math skills (such as colors, patterns). This play-based and language-based program will feature circle time, seasonal themes, songs, and stories. Games and free play time will allow young children to practice key childhood social skills such as sharing, taking turns, and entering play with others. Activities that incorporate multi-modalities and strengthen fine motor skills will be introduced. A mid-morning break consisting of a small snack (such as goldfish crackers, teddy grahams, or animal crackers) and water will be furnished at each session. The teacher will also provide ideas for parents to work on at home with their child during the week.

Little Learners Lab Preschool is offered in three weekly sessions: Tuesday morning, Wednesday afternoon, and Thursday morning. Registration is stand-alone for each day so parents can register for 1,2,or 3 sessions. As a learning lab, Compass may invite 1-3 high school students, ages 13+, to serve as classroom aides and learn about early childhood education/development.

Readiness: Students must be age 3-1/2 (42 months) by the start of the session (no exceptions). To be successful in this program, entering preschoolers must be able to do the following: (1) separate from parents with little discomfort; (2) be able to sit and listen to a story or stay on a task for 10 minutes; (3) be able to follow simple, age-appropriate directions from the teacher or another adult; (4) be able to voice needs or requests; and (5) be completely potty trained and able to use a public restroom (wiping, flushing, washing hands, etc.) with minimal oversight of a classroom aide.

Other Notes:
-There is a $40.00 material fee for class consumables due payable to the teacher on the first day of class.
-Parents must remain at Compass while their children are in preschool.
-Registration for this program is by 14- or 16-week semester with priority registration for continuing students.
-Parents who are shopping around or applying to alternate preschool programs should review the Compass withdrawal and refund policy.

A powerful hurricane season forecasted. Polar ice caps receding. Hydraulic fracking. Solar power. Everywhere we look, environmental science is in the news! Living Planet is a middle school environmental science class which merges the fields of geology, biology, chemistry, and meteorology to explain the earth as an interconnected system with both natural and human-made influences. This year middle schoolers will sample environmental science topics in a lab-based investigation.

Third quarter, students will focus on water. The class will study the global water cycle, water chemistry and water quality, water tables, water reclamation, desalination, as well as environmental issues related to water resources including pollution and freshwater limitation.

Topics in this series include: Geology & Soils Lab (first quarter); Atmosphere Lab (second quarter); Water Lab (third quarter); and Climate Patterns Lab (fourth quarter). There is a $20.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class for consumable materials.

LEGO Mindstorms components and motors are not just for building robots! These interconnecting pieces can be constructed into an infinite number of unique, mechanized machines- much like an erector set!

Each quarter, students will build three or four unique inventions like a paper plane launcher, crossbow, a racing robot, and turntable. Students will incorporate simple machines, complex machines, and small motors into their projects. They will work with wheels, axles, beams, pulleys, tracks, gears, and specialty components used only in these classes.

Topics in this Series: Inventions (Quarter 1); Creations (Quarter 2): Innovations (Quarter 3); and Apparatus (Quarter 4).

Explore the world of gargantuan gods, humble heroes, and malevolent monsters! Some ancient myths have plots that rival today's comics and blockbuster movies. Many myths still have millennia-old appeal because of their timeless tales of good versus evil, life and death, creation and the afterlife. This class explores the origins of early mythology, from the Egyptians to the Greeks, Romans, Celts, Aztecs, and more through epics, plays and poetry. Readers will explore the realm of mythology through short stories, class discussion, analyses, extension activities and projects that will boost comprehension and the understanding of myths as the basis for many other forms of modern media. Students will enjoy reading and discussing battles, romance, treachery, larger than life heroes and characters, intricate gods and goddesses, and all sorts of fantastical creatures!

Third quarter, the class will explore Gods and Goddesses, the powerful and unpredictable beings who ruled the natural world and guided human fate. As examples, students will read about Zeus and the Olympians, Athena's contest with Arachne, and Loki's punishment among the Norse gods. They will also discover stories of creation and power from around the world, including Ganesha, Ra's journey across the sky, and Quetzalcoatl the creator.

Topics in this Series include: Heroes (Quarter 1); Monsters (Quarter 2); Gods and Goddesses (Quarter 3), and Origin Tales (Quarter 4).

Each week, students will tackle math puzzles, challenges, and learn new "tricks" and techniques to solve a variety of math problems, all while learning about the masterminds behind founding principles of modern mathematics. Students will learn about the life and times of a great mathematician and then explore key concepts, principles, and formulas introduced by the featured master. Students' problem- solving skills will be honed as they examine the historical, cultural, and personal context for discoveries in mathematics. The class will work sample problems and use experiments and manipulatives to demonstrate the formulas, theories, short-cuts, or alternate approaches suggested by famous mathematicians.

, Third quarter, students will be exposed to a wide variety of mathematical terms and concepts from the ancient scientists Archimedes, Newton, Keplar, and Galileo.

Topics in this Series: Geometry Challenges (Quarter 1); Pattens & Problems Solvers (Quarter 2); Great Discoveries (Quarter 3); and Modern Challenges (Quarter 4).

Mega Maps is an interactive examination of the Age of Discovery, a period from the 15th to the 17th century in Europe. Against the backdrop of a giant, classroom-sized map, students will follow the European explorers who embarked on voyages of discovery, mapped new territories, established trade routes, and encountered new cultures and peoples. Students will engage in an inquiry-based investigation of the prominent explorers, learning about their finds and failures to gain an understanding of world history and geography, region-by-region. The class will cooperatively create the mega map adding features and details week by week as their understanding of the region expands. All students will contribute to coloring countries, depicting demarcations, rendering rivers, sketching seas, mapping mountains, delineating deserts, situating cities, crafting clay contours, and fashioning famous landmarks. The custom mega map will serve as a giant game board for in-class simulations, scavenger hunts, strategy games, and more.

Third quarter, the class will follow explorers like Battuta, Henry the Navigator, da Gama, Dias, Livingstone, and Burton to Africa. There, these explorers led expeditions to areas now known as North Africa, the West African Coast, East Africa, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Kenya, Madagascar, the Cape of Good Hope and the Nile. Students will trace the voyages and expeditions of these explorers on the mega map to understand the establishment of colonies, the exchange of goods and ideas between continents, and the intermingling of diverse cultures.

There is a $15.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the start of class. Topics in this Series: South & Central America (Quarter 1); North America & the Caribbean (Quarter 2); Africa (Quarter 3), and Asia (Quarter 4).

Embark on a imaginative afternoon journey with "Misunderstood Minions!" This engaging club is for middle school students who adore fiction tales, creative adventures, and the thrill of tabletop role-playing games. During each club meeting, the group will weave a captivating story where each participant takes on the roles of villains, heroes, and "henchmen"- the mad minions who carry out an evil plot. Each meeting presents a new chapter, filled with challenges, mysteries, and opportunities for mischief. Tweens will unleash their creativity and collaborate with others to shape the adventure, solve puzzles, and make decisions to advance the story.

The club is facilitated by an experienced game master Judith Harmon, author of the "Misunderstood Minions" gaming framework, who will guide students through the art of role-playing. Tweens will connect and form friendships with other middle schoolers who share a love of exaggerated stories and imaginative play- in person! This class is best suited for students who are active listeners, flexible, and easily adapt, have a sense of humor, and can work collaboratively in a group. Students need to be able to stay in sync with the flow of the class. This is not an "anything goes" or free-for-all class. Previous role-playing experience is not required, but this club serves as a great introduction for tweens and teens who might be interested in embarking on Dungeons and Dragons.

Cash rules everything around us, from snacks and shoes, concert tickets and clothes, and the future ahead. "A penny saved is a penny earned," but small choices now can lead to big results later. If "money makes the world go 'round", how can you plan for the future? What decisions can you make now to reach your goals?

Third quarter, students will explore the mindset and skills needed to become an entrepreneur. They will investigate how businesses begin by identifying problems and opportunities within their communities. Students will brainstorm and refine business ideas, define target audiences, and analyze competitors. They will learn how businesses generate revenue, set prices, and determine how many sales are needed to break even. The unit also covers start-up and operating costs, funding sources, and the basics of managing money as a business owner. Students will develop branding elements such as names, logos, and slogans, and practice communicating their ideas through marketing strategies and elevator pitches. The quarter culminates in a structured business plan project and presentation.

Students will collaborate on idea-generation activities, conduct market research, and participate in creative challenges such as branding and pitch development. Through project-based learning, presentations, and peer feedback, they will experience the full process of launching and pitching a business concept.

Topics in this series include: Earn & Spend (Quarter 1), Invest & Grown(Quarter 2), Create & Launch (Quarter 3), and Dream & Achieve (Quarter 4)

Cash rules everything around us, from snacks and shoes, concert tickets and clothes, and the future ahead. "A penny saved is a penny earned," but small choices now can lead to big results later. If "money makes the world go 'round", how can you plan for the future? What decisions can you make now to reach your goals?

Third quarter, students will explore the mindset and skills needed to become an entrepreneur. They will investigate how businesses begin by identifying problems and opportunities within their communities. Students will brainstorm and refine business ideas, define target audiences, and analyze competitors. They will learn how businesses generate revenue, set prices, and determine how many sales are needed to break even. The unit also covers start-up and operating costs, funding sources, and the basics of managing money as a business owner. Students will develop branding elements such as names, logos, and slogans, and practice communicating their ideas through marketing strategies and elevator pitches. The quarter culminates in a structured business plan project and presentation.

Students will collaborate on idea-generation activities, conduct market research, and participate in creative challenges such as branding and pitch development. Through project-based learning, presentations, and peer feedback, they will experience the full process of launching and pitching a business concept.

Topics in this series include: Earn & Spend (Quarter 1), Invest & Grown(Quarter 2), Create & Launch (Quarter 3), and Dream & Achieve (Quarter 4)

Can you crack the case before time runs out? Each week, students are presented with a new medical mystery. Armed with clues like a patient's age, symptoms, and history, they must ask the right diagnostic questions to uncover what is really going on. Has this patient traveled out of the country? Has he eaten a new food? Does she have a fever, rash, or weight loss? As they narrow down the possibilities, students will determine whether the illness is bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic while learning how diseases spread, how they are treated, and how they can be prevented.

Third quarter, the mystery patients will be suffering from fungal infections. A partial list of featured diseases includes: Rabies, Influenza, and HIV/AIDS. Lab activities will utilize safe, lab-friendly organisms (e.g., non-pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and prepared slides).

Topics in this series include: Baffling Bacteria (Quarter 1), Foul Fungus (Quarter 2), Vile Viruses (Quarter 3), and Pesky Parasites (Quarter 4). There is a $20.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the start of class.

Our readers and writers will explore classic tales in a variety of creative, multi-media interpretations. Pulling from classic children's literature including fairy tales, fables, and favorites, such as Newberry Award medalists, the group will explore 3-4 well-known stories each quarter (generally spending 2 weeks per tale).
Third quarter will feature the tales of Excalibur (from Arthurian Legend) and Thor's Mighty Hammer.

For each story, the instructor will share a lively read-aloud of the featured story. Next, the class will watch a short clip of an animated, televised, or stage version of the same story. Finally, the group will hear a re-telling of the same story from a different angle, such as one adapted to a different theme, a different era, or a different culture.

Students will discuss what was the same and what was different among the different adaptations. Was a character added or omitted? Was the performed version true to the original? Finally, students will write and illustrate their own, original re-telling of the story by changing characters, setting, or even crafting a surprise, new ending. New Twists on Old Tales introduces some basic literary elements and rudimentary literary analysis skills to encourage children to think more deeply about what they read.

Topics in this Series: Favorite Fables (Quarter 1), Fantasy Fiction (Quarter 2), Marvelous Myths (Quarter 3), and Astonishing Adventures (Quarter 4)

Parlez-vous fun? Whether you are a seasoned francophone or simply a fan of all things French, this lively club is your passport to language, culture, and connection. Students will practice conversational French in a relaxed, welcoming setting while diving into games, short TV clips, current events, and even French cartoons. From bonjour to bon appetit, every meeting offers something new to explore.

Throughout the quarter, members will celebrate French culture and traditions, learning about holidays, customs, and everyday life across the French-speaking world. And because no French experience is complete without food, the club will head to the kitchen once or twice each quarter to prepare (and enjoy!) classic treats like crepes, madeleines, and macarons.

Come for the conversation- stay for the culture, camaraderie, and cuisine!

Step outdoors and into nature's living laboratory! This outdoor science class immerses students in real-world field study where the woods, streams, and wetlands become the classroom. Each week, explorers will practice the methods of natural scientists as they investigate ecology, geology, zoology (local wildlife), botany (plants), ornithology (birds), mycology (fungi), and entomology (insects), in our own suburban ecosystem.

Students will observe natural systems in action as they examine life cycles, the water cycle, and the local watershed; explore suburban wetlands; and uncover the balance between producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as predator- prey relationships and food webs. Seasonal cycles will guide discoveries as young naturalists watch habitats transform and learn how plants and animals adapt throughout the year.

Each week, students will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon with a senior naturalist and outdoor educator. This program offers a refreshing break from sit-down, indoor, and screen-based learning,encouraging movement, fresh air, curiosity, and hands-on discovery. Students will learn to stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn things over, and peek beneath the surface to uncover nature's hidden wonders. A portion of every session will focus on developing confidence and comfort in the outdoors. Emphasis will be placed on safe, respectful, and responsible exploration, environmental stewardship, and appreciating what we find in nature. Students will also enjoy nature-based games that reinforce teamwork and exploration skills.

See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Step outdoors and into nature's living laboratory! This outdoor science class immerses students in real-world field study where the woods, streams, and wetlands become the classroom. Each week, explorers will practice the methods of natural scientists as they investigate ecology, geology, zoology (local wildlife), botany (plants), ornithology (birds), mycology (fungi), and entomology (insects), in our own suburban ecosystem.

Students will observe natural systems in action as they examine life cycles, the water cycle, and the local watershed; explore suburban wetlands; and uncover the balance between producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as predator- prey relationships and food webs. Seasonal cycles will guide discoveries as young naturalists watch habitats transform and learn how plants and animals adapt throughout the year.

Each week, students will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon with a senior naturalist and outdoor educator. This program offers a refreshing break from sit-down, indoor, and screen-based learning,encouraging movement, fresh air, curiosity, and hands-on discovery. Students will learn to stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn things over, and peek beneath the surface to uncover nature's hidden wonders. A portion of every session will focus on developing confidence and comfort in the outdoors. Emphasis will be placed on safe, respectful, and responsible exploration, environmental stewardship, and appreciating what we find in nature. Students will also enjoy nature-based games that reinforce teamwork and exploration skills.

See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Venture outdoors each week to explore the woods with a senior naturalist and mentor while learning valuable survival skills. Students will learn how to construct a temporary shelter, make cordage, craft a bow and arrow, identify edible plants, track animals, and purify water. The group will learn knife safety and skills like whittling a spoon and spatula; how to use maps and compass (orienteering), and basic first aid. Students will practice animal and plant identification and will catch and identify macro-invertebrates to determine stream health (outdoor temperatures permitting.)

Emphasis will be on becoming comfortable with things you encounter outdoors, safe exploration of the woods, how to be a good steward of nature, and what to do if you ever became lost or injured in the woods. Skills will be reintroduced and adapted each each quarter because the available plants, animals, materials, and water sources change with each season. Students will have a blast, develop greater self-confidence, and build a strong connection to nature and to the real world! Explorations in the woods is for enrolled students only, and tag-along parents and siblings cannot be accommodated. For information on where the class meets, what to wear, and inclement weather, see the webpage for Compass's Outdoor Classes.

See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Learn history and geography through hands-on, interactive play rather than by studying flat, dull maps! Many great games feature play on map-based boards that can be used as teaching tools. Visual and kinesthetic learners will remember where Mongolia and Madagascar are when they have amassed miniature armies there! The instructor will use board games from his personal collection as teaching tools. In addition, he creates custom boards to use with modified game rules and playing pieces.

Third quarter, students will learn about the Imperial Asia with a focus on Feudal Japan using a custom table-top map of Japan and the rules and playing pieces adapted from the game Ikusa (aka Shogun) and Axis and Allies. Students play using actual Japanese clan names as they learn about feudal Japanese shoguns, samurai, and feudal warfare. The game continues week-to-week with students reviewing the geography as they set the game back up. For this conflict, students learn which regions were engaged and where they were located, capitals and key cities, shared borders and boundaries, and prominent geographic features and waterways. They gain an understanding of why feudal clans were at war and how those events influenced history and the modern map.

Topics in this series include: The 18th Century World (Quarter 1); The American Civil War (Quarter 2), Imperial Asia (Quarter 3), and The World at War- WWI (Quarter 4).

Seventy-seven percent of Americans ages 18 - 34 do not recognize either senator from their home state and 53 percent of millennials cannot name even one US Supreme Court justice. Yet there are celebrities from Hollywood, the NFL, and the music industry who have a recognition rate of 98%. Why are so many young Americans disconnected and disinterested in politics, government, economics, and most current events? One reason may be because these subjects seem dull and dated. They require looking backward and may appear devoid of things teens care about. Yet, an understanding of these issues is what is needed to ensure engaged, informed citizens who understand our country's policies and politics.

This course will examine the top stories and news of the day and put them in the context of our political institutions and free enterprise system. The class will select topics and trends from the news and evaluate what is "really" behind them. Migrants gathering along our southern border: Can a president change our immigration policy? Mounting student loan burden: Can Congress erase the debt? Governors failing their states: What is a recall? This class will help students understand current events and contemporary controversies by connecting them to the building blocks of political science: American history, government, politics, and economics.

This class will employ a Socratic method of teaching. Students should be active, engaged contributors, who come to class prepared to participate in weekly discussions. Each class meeting will be approximately 2/3 discussion of current topics and 1/3 discussion/lecture on connecting the issue to relevant principles in political science and public policy. Students will be assigned weekly readings or short news videos/documentaries which will provide background and context on the issues they are discussing.

Prerequisites: None

Workload: Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week outside of class on homework.

Assignments: Assignments will consist of reading newspapers or magazine articles, viewing newsclips, and replying to online prompts. PDF articles and assigned links will be posted in the class Canvas portal.

Assessments: Points will be awarded for the class participation and online responses to class discussion and prompts.Parents can assign a grade based on the number of points earned as compared to the number of points available.

Textbook/Materials: Students should subscribe to the Washington Post, New York Times, or Wall Street Journal where they will read current topics. In addition, students will each select an online, independent newspaper from a secondary market to follow.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as partial credit in Humanities/Social Studies for purposes of a high school transcript. (Full credit for both semesters)

Big creativity for little hands! This playful, hands-on
class is designed especially for our youngest artists to explore a wide variety of art materials in a fun and supportive environment. Each week, preschoolers will dive into themed projects using tempera paints, finger
paints, watercolors, markers, pastels, and more.

Let's get touchy-feely with art! Third quarter, preschoolers will explore how art can look and feel through exciting, hands-on projects. From
smooth and soft to bumpy and bold, young artists will discover texture in creative ways while in this sensory-rich class.