Compass News & Announcements: Week of 3/4/24

(1) Spring Registration is open and ongoing for 4th quarter which begins Monday, March 18 – Friday, March 22. Spaces remain in several dozen classes including our new Band-Ready Spring Clinics (brass, percussion and woodwinds sections) and spring Swimming Lessons. Review available classes online.

(2) Summer Workshop Registration will open on Tuesday, March 12 at 6:00 am for more than 5 dozen summer workshops. Summer workshops are half-day special topics, and most meet for just 2, 3, or 4 days. Check the schedule for some 1-day workshops and two, 5-day high school science boot camps. There is a 10% early registration discount offered through April 26 on Summer Workshops. Review our summer options online.

Schedule Notes

(3) Last Week of the Quarter/ Make-Up Classes: The three days of snow in mid-January and several teacher illnesses have caused many Compass classes to continue into the make-up week. All classes meet on their scheduled day at their usual time and assigned room, unless noted otherwise.

All Monday classes will meet on March 11 to make up for the snow cancelation on January 15

All Tuesday classes will meet on March 12 to make up for the snow cancelation on January 16

All Friday classes will meet on March 15 to make up for the snow cancelation on January 19

Wednesday classes that have make-up sessions on March 13 are:

  • Art in Action (10am)
  • Science Kids (10am)
  • Up Close! Micro Investigation (11am)
  • Junior Art Studio (11am and 12pm sessions)
  • Krav Maga for Kids (12 pm)

Thursday classes that have make-up sessions on March 14 are:

  • Number Ninjas (10am)
  • Preparation for Pre-Algebra (10am)
  • Pre-Algebra (10am)
  • Manipulating Math (11am)
  • Algebra I (11am- Chelf)
  • Algebra I (12pm- Hallworth)
  • Kids Biochemistry (12pm)
  • All About Astronomy (1pm)
  • Decoding DNA (1 pm)
  • Math Masterminds (2pm)

(4) Other Schedule Notes:

  • Art in Action: There is a special, additional make-up session planned for Thursday, March 14 from 10:00 am – 10:55 am
  • Junior Art Studio: There are two special, additional make-up sessions planned. Students should select from: Wednesday, March 13 from 1:30 pm- 2:25 pm OR Thursday, March 14 from 11:00 am – 11:55 am.
  • Cover-to-Cover will have a special, 2nd class meeting from 3:00 pm- 3:55 pm on Tuesday, March 12 (in addition to the earlier class meeting from 1:00 pm- 1:55 pm)
  • Drum Jam will meet on Friday, March 15 from 2:00 pm- 2:55 pm for its final make-up session.
  • Ultimate Magic Academy was a 7-week class that concluded on Feb 28
  • Mrs. Fredrick’s private piano, flute, and voice students should follow the make-up schedule worked out with her.

(5) Save the Dates: Spring is a busy season at Compass. Please add the following events to your calendar and watch for additional details.

  • Summer Registration Opens: March 12
  • Spring Classes Begin: Week of March 18
  • Spring Break: Week of April 1
  • Career Panel: Friday, April 12 (for high school students)
  • High School Open House: Wednesday, April 17
  • High School Prom: Saturday, April 27
  • Spring Marketplace: Wednesday, May 1
  • Food Truck Week: Tuesday-Friday, May 7-10
  • Fall Registration Begins: Tuesday, May 14
  • Homeschool Quads Chess Tournament: May 22
  • Year-End Picnic & Park Day: May 23
  • Graduation: June 1

(6) 2024-25 Calendar For early planners, next year’s academic schedule can be previewed online.

WORKSHOPS

(7) The Artistry of Writing is a series of new, 2-hour workshops led by a NYT best selling author. Learn great writing techniques that make your stories come alive! Workshops are for students in 7th-12th grade. Daring Dialogue (Tuesday, March 19, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm); Astounding Action Scenes (Tuesday, April 9, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm); and Suspenseful & Scary Scenes (Tuesday, April 23, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm). Read more details and sign up though the session links.

(8) First Aid & CPR for Teens: This is a 2-day workshop where teens will earn 4 certifications from the American Heart Association. These are essential skills for babysitters, camp counselors, life guards, many other teen jobs, and for those heading off to college. Workshop meets Monday, March 18 and Monday, March 25 from 1:00 pm- 4:00 pm. Read more details and sign up online.

SPECIAL EVENTS

(9) Government & Criminology Field Trips for Teens: Compass’s Criminology instructor, Tayler Shreve is organizing several field trips for high schoolers: Supreme Court tour on March 25 from 9:30 am- 11:30 am; US Capitol tour on April 15 from 8:50 am – 11:00 am with additional meeting with Congresswoman Norton (DC) from 11:00 am- 12:00 pm. Tours of a local courthouse and the White House are being scheduled. Ms Shreve is opening these field trips up to other Compass teens, ages 13+. Individual families will schedule transportation to the sites. There is a limited number of spaces on each tour. Some parents may be able to join the groups, but younger siblings cannot be accommodated. Email shreve.compass@gmail.com for more details and to be added to the lists.

(10) Spring Marketplace: Sign-ups are now open for our annual Spring Marketplace where students and parents can sell items that they make, bake, or grow on Wednesday, May 1. Some families like to get a head start on their items. For ideas, please see our Marketplace slideshow.

(11) Annual Homeschool Quads Chess Tournament: Registration is now open for two tournament sessions: AM and PM on Wednesday, May 22. Register on the Activity Fees page.

RESOURCES

(12) Compass is pleased to introduce a partnership with Todd Lanier, Ed.S. Mr. Lanier has more than 30 years experience as a consultant and counselor who performs educational assessments such as complete psychoeducational testing, screenings, IQ batteries, coaching and counseling. He has worked with many homeschooled students including some former and current Compass families. He works with students who have a range of learning differences including ADHD, 2e, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ASD, processing disorders, anxiety, and executive functioning challenges. Mr. Lanier will now hold some of his appointments and perform testing at Compass. Families should contact him directly through his practice Lanier Education Group or stop by the Compass front desk or office for his information.

(13) Compass writing teacher Shannon McClain is beginning to schedule year-end evaluations to meet Virginia’s Evidence of Progress requirement. Mrs. McClain holds some evaluations at Compass. Families should contact her directly through her businss, Educational Advocacy & Support, LLC or stop by the Compass front desk or office for her information.

(14) Jennifer Nowicki is a Certified Academic Language Therapist, Certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Specialist, Certified Reading Specialist (M.ED., CALT, C-SLDS) and a former homeschool mom is now co-located at Compass full time in private office H-10. Families seeking support or skills assessment in these areas can reach her through her website or pick up a business card at the Compass front desk or office.

CLUBS/EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

(This is a partial list of clubs. See past news for full list.)

(15) PenPoint Literary & Arts Magazine: The senior editorial board is seeking junior staff members and assistant editors ages 14+ in the areas of writing, art, layout or graphic arts. PenPoint is an annual anthology that publishes the writing and art of homeschooled teens from across the country. The PenPoint staff collaborates virtually on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Register for the staff to get started. The PenPoint staff is also seeking essays, short stories, poetry, photography, and art from students in 7th-12th grade to be included in the annual publication. See current submission guidelines.

(16) First LEGO League Robotics Team (grades 5-7 in fall 0f 2024) is seeking 2-3 additional members for its Spring Pre-Season to practice and prepare for the fall competition cycle. The team meets Mondays from 3:00 pm- 4:30 pm. Prospective members should have had at least a class in Robotics Fab Lab, LEGO Robotics Training Team, Build it Better or Experiments in Engineering, or have equivalent intro robot experience. There is no cost for Compass students and a $100 participation/facility/equipment fee for non-Compass students.Drop in the next Monday meeting or Contact Compass for your information to be forwarded to the organizer.

(17) Kids’ Game Day (for ages 8-13) is held weekly on Tuesdays at 3:00 pm at Haley M. Smith Park for outdoor play (324 Van Buren Street, Herndon VA 20170) or at Compass for indoor board/card games. Contact Compass to be added to the list for meet-up information.

(18) Middle School Social Club (for ages 12-14) will meet next on Wednesday, March 27, from 3:00 pm- 5:00 pm at Compass. Contact Compass to be added to the list for meet-up information.

(19) TGIF Teen Game Night and Teen Jam Sessions are held weekly on Fridays from 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm in Suite D. These casual, drop-in social events are for current Compass teens age 13+.

MISCELLANEOUS

(20) Lost & Found: The lost and found cabinet is quite full. If your family has lost a belonging at Compass, please check with the Front Desk. All items not claimed by the end of the quarter will be donated.

(21) Co-Working Offices: Parents may rent quiet Co-Working Offices in Suite H while their children are in class. Offices are available for $20.00 per hour with a 1-hour minimum. Parents who wish to rent an office must contact Compass to be added as a parent user and then set up user name, password, and reservation through the online system.