4th Quarter classes begin the week of March 17, 2025.
You can see key dates in our Google calendar or view our Academic Calendar. You can also view the schedule as a grid (below) or as a list.
Quarter beginning March 17, 2025 |
Tuesday
First Lego League (FLL) Robotics Team (Compass Student)
Quarter(s): 3,4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 5
FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is a guided, robotics competition that encourages teamwork, discovery, innovation, and problem-solving. The club is open to all area homeschooled students, whether or not they are enrolled at Compass. There a $20.00 team materials fee for Compass homeschooled students to participate.
3:00 pm-4:00 pm
2nd-4th
(Semester Long)
Preparation for Pre-Algebra
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Tue, Thu
Open Spots: 6
Preparation for Pre-Algebra is a year-long curriculum that will teach the fundamentals a student must master before embarking pre-algebra, algebra, and beyond. The class will review arithmetic skills, operations, and number theory. Key topics include fractions, rates, ratios, decimals, and percentages. Students will learn the computational operations of adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions and decimals. They will learn what decimals stand for, how they relate to fractions, and how to convert between the two. They will discover how rates and ratios are also fractions. Students will learn how to work with negative numbers including strategies for completing all four common operations with negative numbers. The class will also cover exponents and orders of magnitude to make sense of really small and really big numbers and common operations. This class will also emphasize real world applications of the mathematical concepts through word problems so students become comfortable switching between prose (written descriptions) and mathematical representation (numbers, symbols) of real world examples such as money, mileage, weights, percentages, and scientific measures. Prerequisites: This course can be considered a pre-pre-algebra class that will teach the core concepts typically covered in later elementary school/early middle school after a general arithmetic curriculum and before pre-algebra. While different curriculums and student pacing will vary, this class would be appropriate for a student who has successfully covered long division, multiplication of multiple digit numbers, and an introduction to simple fractions and who has complete mastery of multiplication facts, skills often aligned with 5th grade mathematics. Workload: Students should expect to spend 3-4 hours per week outside of class to complete practice problems, homework, and assessments. Assignments: The Canvas online class management system will be used to post assignments and scores. Students should have their own e-mail address to be set up users of the Canvas system. Parents can also be set up as Canvas guests/observers for purposes of tracking the student's progress and workload. Assessments: In this class, the instructor will assess a student's progress by: checking that weekly homework sets are complete; spot-checking the full solution 1-2 select problems in class each week, and giving quarterly take-home tests. Points will also be awarded for class participation. Parents will be able to view accumulated points awarded in the class for purpose of determining a parent-awarded course grade. Textbook: Students should rent of purchase the class text: EP Math 5/6 Workbook (ISBN# 979-8643323693).
10:00 am-10:55 am
6th-7th
(Year Long)
Pre-Algebra
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Tue, Thu
Open Spots: 11
This is a complete course in Pre-Algebra that will provide an introduction to basic algebra concepts and a review of arithmetic algorithms with an emphasis on problem solving. The major topics covered in this course are Numbers and Operations, Expressions and Properties, Equations and Inequalities, Functional Relationships and Ratios, Percent and Proportions. Students will learn to use formulas to solve a variety of math problems encompassing geometry, measurement probability, and statistics. Students will also be applying their learning to real life scenarios to solve problems. Prerequisites: Students must be fluent in the four basic operations- addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They will need to show proficiency and have a thorough command of basic computation. In addition, a basic, introductory understanding and ability to work with fractions and decimals is required to solve equations and simplify expressions. If you are unsure about your child's readiness for this class, the instructor will recommend one or more practice platforms and/or assessments to confirm placement. Workload: Students should expect to spend 3-4 hours per week outside of class to complete practice problems, homework, and assessments. Assignments: All assignments will be posted on password-protected Canvas classroom management site. There, students access assignments, upload homework, link to quizzes and tests, track grades, and message the instructor and classmates. Assessments: All chapter tests will be taken outside of class with parental oversight to maximize in-class instructional time. Points will be assigned for completed homework, quizzes, and tests. A letter grade will not be assigned, but parents can use total points earned versus total points offered to assign a grade for purposes of a homeschool transcript. Parents can view total points earned at any time through the Canvas site. See the instructor's webpage for detailed homework and test policy, including late work and re-work. Textbook: The selected textbook is available free online, and a link will be posted on Canvas. Students who prefer a hard copy textbook may purchase or rent McDougall Littell's Pre-Algebra (ISBN #978-0618250035). As an alternative, for any student who struggles with reading, the textbook can be purchased as an audio CD (ISBN #978-0618478828). What to Bring: TI-34 calculator Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a full credit in Mathematics for purposes of a high school transcript.
11:00 am-11:55 am
7th-9th
(Year Long)
Algebra I (Tue, Thu)
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Tue, Thu
Open Spots: 7
This is a complete course in high school Algebra I which will cover fundamental concepts in algebra and provide a solid foundation of mathematical literacy, problem solving, reasoning, and critical thinking skills that are necessary for the exploration of more advanced and rigorous topics in mathematics. This course is designed to emphasize the study of algebraic problem-solving with the incorporation of real-world applications. Topics in Algebra I include number systems, linear systems, rational numbers, complex numbers, exponents, roots, radicals, quadratic equations, polynomials, factoring, absolute values, ratios, and proportions. In addition, the course will cover solving and graphing systems of functions, linear equations, and inequalities. Students will explore these topics through class discussions, practice problems, and open-ended problem-solving. Prerequisite: Students should have a solid foundation in pre-algebra topics in order to take this class. In addition, students should be capable of copying the sample problems and solutions worked in class on the white board to his/her own notes as examples for completing homework. Workload: Students should expect to spend 3-4 hours per week outside of class to complete practice problems, homework, and assessments. Assignments: The Canvas online class management system will be used to post assignments and scores. Students should have their own e-mail address to be set up users of the Canvas system. Parents can also be set up as Canvas guests/observers for purposes of tracking the student's progress and workload. Assessments: In this class, the instructor will assess a student's progress by: checking that weekly homework sets are complete; spot-checking the full solution 1-2 select problems in class each week, and giving quarterly take-home tests. Points will also be awarded for class participation. Parents will be able to view accumulated points awarded in the class for purpose of determining a parent-awarded course grade. See the instructor's webpage for detailed homework and test policy, including late work and re-work. Textbook: Students should purchase or rent the required textbook for this class: Algebra I: Expressions, Equations, and Applications by Paul A. Foerster. It is available in a few different editions, each of which is virtually identical: 2nd edition (ISBN-10 020125073X, ISBN-13 978-0201250732), 3rd edition (ISBN-10 0201860945, ISBN-13 978-0201860948), and Classic edition (ISBN-10 020132458X, ISBN-13 978-0201324587). It is also available under the title Foerster Algebra I, Classics edition (ISBN-10 0131657089, ISBN-13 978-0131657083). A calculator is not needed for this course. Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a complete credit in Algebra I for purposes of a high school transcript.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
7th-10th
(Year Long)
Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences: Lecture (On-Level or Honors)
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 11
This is a place-holder for the Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences lecture. Students should register for the Atmospheric & Oceanic Science Lab, which will automatically enroll them in both class sections.
10:00 am-10:55 am
9th-12th
(Year Long)
Dynamic Dioramas: Myths & Legends- William Wallace and the ...
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 3
In 1296 King Edward I of England invaded Scotland and, after a victory at the Battle of Dunbar, controlled the Scottish lowlands, leaving the rugged highlands free. A small but highly motivated Scottish army of fiercely independent highlanders was led by William Wallace and Andrew Morey. They defeated the English at Stirling Bridge in 1297, where Morey was mortally wounded. His death left Wallace the "Guardian of Scotland." The next year, the English invaded again, defeated, and captured Wallace at the Battle of Falkirk. Though he escaped, he was recaptured in 1305 and brutally executed by the English. This made him a martyr to freedom and inspired continued rebellions for centuries. Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, and historical maps, students will create a 10" X 14" diorama board of the battle of Stirling Bridge or Falkirk 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: King Arthur (Quarter 1), 1001 Arabian Nights (Quarter 2), Joan of Arc (Quarter 3), William Wallace and the Scottish Uprising (Quarter 4). There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
3rd-5th
Modeling the Great Conquests: Saladin and the Crusaders
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
In the year 1175, Saladin consolidated his power over the Muslim Kingdoms from Egypt to Syria, and was set to begin the campaign that would crush the Crusader States for good. This Quarter will focus on the battles of the horns of Hama and Hattin, as well as the sieges of Jerusalem and Acre. Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, and historical maps, students will create a 12 X 18 diorama board, and populate it with dozens of 1:72 scale Crusader and Saracen Knights 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 Crusades while playing a table-top strategy game. Student strategists will use a simplified version of the Fire and Fury historical war gaming 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 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 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the start of classes. Topics in this series include: Viking Invastions (Quarter 1), Charlemagne, Rebuilding an Empire (Quarter 2), William the Conqueror 1066 (Quarter 3), Saladin and the Crusaders (Quarter 4).
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
6th-8th
Battle Strategies & Dioramas: America's Wars- San Juan Hill...
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
In the late 19th century, the US had expanded rapidly across North America, leaving nowhere to go but overseas. To this end, we began to build a powerful, modern navy of steel warships, like the USS Maine. These ships sailed the world, "showing the flag" and letting our allies and enemies alike know that the US was an industrial force to be reckoned with. This went well until February 1898, when the USS Maine unexpectedly blew up in Havana harbor, where she'd been "showing the flag" in case the Cuban revolts against the Spanish there threatened American financial interests. Never one to miss an opportunity to sell newspapers, William Randolph Hearst (among others) reported that the ship had been sunk by a Spanish mine. This was not true, but that did not matter to "yellow journalists" who were the "fake news" or tabloids of that time. The story sold well and whipped the American people into a war frenzy. "Remember the Maine!" became the battle cry of the coming Spanish-American war. This class will cover the beginning of America's overseas empire, pre-World War 1 American politics of the Gilded age, and the beginning of the age of modern war.
Students will engage in a hands-on 3D battle strategy game using the military dioramas that they make! Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, paint, and miniatures, each student will craft a 10 X 16 diorama. In class, they will view historical maps, artistic renderings, and/or photographs to understand the topography and development of this time and place in history. Students will customize their dioramas with landforms, landscape elements, waterways, and structures to represent a scene from this period. Once individual projects are constructed, students will populate them with 1:72 scale miniature figures. Students will combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to approximate a larger battlefield. 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 Fire and Fury historical war 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. 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. There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Topics in this year's series include: Lexington & Concord (Quarter 1); The Alamo (Quarter 2); Gettysburg (Quarter 3); and Invasion of San Juan Hill (Quarter 4)
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
6th-8th
Artist's Academy: Origin Art
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 5
Tween artists can get in on the action as they learn about a different artist or artistic style each week and create a representative piece using a wide range of artistic supplies such as tempura and water color paints, pastels, pencils, cray pas, oil pastel crayons, specialty papers, sculpting media, and embellishments. Fourth quarter, tweens will consider origin art from Africa, Egypt, China, Japan, and Incan and Mayan civilizations. The class will look at some of the artistic and cultural contributions of these groups and create representative art pieces. Students will use a variety of art materials, specialty papers, and canvases. Topics in this Series: Mysteries of Abstract Art (Quarter 1), Watercolor Explorations (Quarter 2), French vs American Artists (Quarter 3), Origin Art (Quarter 4). Supply Fee: There is a supply fee of $25.00, payable to the instructor on the first day of class which covers consumable class materials such a specialty papers, watercolor pencils, and paints.
10:00 am-10:55 am
5th-6th
Art in Action: Stellar Celestial Subjects (TUE)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Elementary artists can get in on the action as they learn about a different artist or artistic style each week and create a representative piece using a wide range of artistic supplies such as tempura and water color paints, pastels, pencils, cray pas, oil pastel crayons, specialty papers, sculpting media, and embellishments. Fourth quarter, students will study art motifs and methods inspired by the moon, earth, and space. Projects will include feature phases of the moon, planets and space, textured and marbled planet art, Earth Day-inspired art. Topics in this Series: Media of the Masters (Quarter 1); Animal Artists (Quarter 2); Murals, Monuments, and Museums (Quarter 3); Stellar Celestial Subjects (Quarter 4). Supply Fee: There is a supply fee of $25.00, payable to the instructor on the first day of class which covers consumable class materials such a specialty papers, watercolor pencils, and paints.
11:00 am-11:55 am
3rd-4th
Junior Art Studio: Native American Art (TUE)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 6
This class is a multi-media art sampler for our youngest artists! Each week, students will learn a few fun facts about a type of art, artist, or culture and view sample works. Then, they will create a project in the style of the featured artist or culture using a wide variety of materials, colors, patterns, textures, and embellishments. Young artists will have the opportunity to work with a different media each week such as tempera paint, various papers, color pencils, markers, tissue paper, translucent tracing paper, cray pas, oil pastels, charcoals, and watercolors.
Fourth quarter, Junior artists will discover that Native Americans used items found in nature to make creative jewelry, baskets, drawings, paintings, ceramics, metalwork, masks, textiles, weaving, and other arts. With the use of feathers, grass, wood, bark, rocks and clay, they created art that was both practical and beautiful. Students will explore these techniques through projects like a paper plate dream catcher, a rain stick, make feather bead necklaces, design a section of a Native American blanket, a totem, a Buffalo hide map, and a painted talking stick.
Topics in this Series: Imitate the Impressionists (Quarter 1); Destination Art (Quarter 2); Multi-Media Masters (Quarter 3); Native American Art (Quarter 4). Supply Fee: There is a supply fee of $25.00, payable to the instructor on the first day of class which covers consumable class materials such a specialty papers, watercolor pencils, and paints.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
K-2nd
Decorative Arts Studio: Upcycled Sculpture for Kids
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
Student artists will enjoy working hands-on, in 3-dimensions with a variety of sculpting and crafting materials to create original Decorative Arts. Assembling decorative items is multi-sensory, and students enjoy the tactile experience of shaping, stacking, forming, flattening, and layering a selection of materials to create unique, personal projects. Decorative art engages a different artistic skillset than coloring, drawing, and writing, and encourages creativity to represent objects in three dimensions. In this studio environment, students will create original hand-made pieces using a range of artistic techniques and a myriad of materials to choose from. Fourth quarter, students will create unique sculptures and decorative items from salvaged materials. Upcycling and recycling are conscientious ways to transform and reuse materials that would ordinarily be discarded! Everyday throw-aways such as cans, bottles, lids, and cardboard tubes will be turned into sculptures. Example past projects include bottle top "mosaics", cute bottle people, and re-envisioned florist vases. Some projects will take two weeks to complete with the first week dedicated to the construction and second week focused on finishing techniques such as painting and embellishing. A supply fee of $20.00 per student is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Topics in this Series: Sculpture Skills (Quarter 1), Marvelous Mosaics (Quarter 2), Fiber Arts Fun (Quarter 3), and Upcycled, Recycled Projects (Quarter 4).
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
3rd-5th
Decorative Arts Studio: Upcycled Sculpture for Kids
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 6
Student artists will enjoy working hands-on, in 3-dimensions with a variety of sculpting and crafting materials to create original Decorative Arts. Assembling decorative items is multi-sensory, and students enjoy the tactile experience of shaping, stacking, forming, flattening, and layering a selection of materials to create unique, personal projects. Decorative art engages a different artistic skillset than coloring, drawing, and writing, and encourages creativity to represent objects in three dimensions. In this studio environment, students will create original hand-made pieces using a range of artistic techniques and a myriad of materials to choose from. Fourth quarter, students will create unique sculptures and decorative items from salvaged materials. Upcycling and recycling are conscientious ways to transform and reuse materials that would ordinarily be discarded! Everyday throw-aways such as cans, bottles, lids, and cardboard tubes will be turned into sculptures. Example past projects include bottle top "mosaics", cute bottle people, and re-envisioned florist vases. Some projects will take two weeks to complete with the first week dedicated to the construction and second week focused on finishing techniques such as painting and embellishing. A supply fee of $20.00 per student is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Topics in this Series: Sculpture Skills (Quarter 1), Marvelous Mosaics (Quarter 2), Fiber Arts Fun (Quarter 3), and Upcycled, Recycled Projects (Quarter 4).
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
3rd-5th
Decorative Arts Studio: Upcycled Sculpture for Tweens
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 3
Student artists will enjoy working hands-on, in 3-dimensions with a variety of sculpting and crafting materials to create original Decorative Arts. Assembling decorative items is multi-sensory, and students enjoy the tactile experience of shaping, stacking, forming, flattening, and layering a selection of materials to create unique, personal projects. Decorative art engages a different artistic skillset than coloring, drawing, and writing, and encourages creativity to represent objects in three dimensions. In this studio environment, students will create original hand-made pieces using a range of artistic techniques and a myriad of materials to choose from. Fourth quarter, students will create unique sculptures and decorative items from salvaged materials. Upcycling and recycling are conscientious ways to transform and reuse materials that would ordinarily be discarded! Everyday throw-aways such as cans, bottles, lids, and cardboard tubes will be turned into sculptures. Example past projects include bottle top "mosaics", cute bottle people, and re-envisioned florist vases. Some projects will take two weeks to complete with the first week dedicated to the construction and second week focused on finishing techniques such as painting and embellishing. A supply fee of $20.00 per student is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Topics in this Series: Sculpture Skills (Quarter 1), Marvelous Mosaics (Quarter 2), Fiber Arts Fun (Quarter 3), and Upcycled, Recycled Projects (Quarter 4).
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
6th-8th
Write to the Point: Essays & Short Stories
Quarter(s): 3,4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 4
Write to the Point is a comprehensive, middle school-level writing class that will prepare 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students for high school level composition. The class will practice the fundamentals of composition through weekly writing assignments that encompass a variety of writing formats. Second Semester, students will learn to "stick to the point" in their writing. They will be challenged to identify their audience, define their purpose, and back-up their topic, thesis, or moral across multiple paragraph compositions. Creative writing exercises and tools for quick and effective essay composition will be provided while the class will continue to review writing basics such as grammar, agreement, and tense. Students will also learn tips for effective revision, editing, and feedback. In this class, students will have the flexibility to choose topics relevant to their own interests as they work on essays and short stories. Part of each in-class session will be dedicated to sharing and review of writing completed at home. Sometimes, students will be paired with classmates for peer review of grammar; other times, the class will collaborate through shared GoogleDocs for review and feedback of others' writing. Students should bring a laptop and charging cord to class each week for accessing in-progress assignments. Topics in this series include: Paragraphs & Articles (Semester 1) and Essays & Short Stories (Semester 2).
10:00 am-10:55 am
7th-9th
(Semester Long)
Great Graphic Novels: Classic Adventure Quests
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
Get your child to read the classics without a clash! Children will become familiar with the world's best-known authors and timeless tales through the approachable illustrated format of graphic novels. Kids will not realize they are reading literature and being introduced to literary analysis as they read these entertaining, illustrated, short-form stories. Fourth quarter, students will embark on classic adventure quests from a family stranded and surviving on a deserted island in The Swiss Family Robinson by Wyss to a sea captain obsessed with capturing an elusive whale in Moby Dick by Melville. The class will search for buried treasure and fight off marauding pirates in Treasure Island by Stevenson. Through colorful, dramatic graphics and an approachable conversational tone, graphic novels show kids that literature can be enthralling! Each quarter will begin with an overview of the graphic novel genre including vocabulary unique to the illustrations and format (panels, speech bubbles, etc.) by looking at several other examples of graphic novels. Each week, students will read a portion of a graphic novel at home from the Saddleback Educational Publishing Graphic, Illustrated Classics Series. In class, literary elements and character analysis will be discussed. Extension activities such as reading, listening, or watching excerpts of other tellings of the same tale will take place in class. Students will think they are talking about cool, comic-style books, but the facilitated class discussion will introduce kids to classic works of literature and perhaps interest them to later read the complete novel. Students are expected to read approximately one half of one graphic novel (25-30 pages) per week which they may read individually or read aloud with their families. These novels are generally considered at the ages 8-12 reading level. Collect all 12 (3 per quarter)! Build an illustrated classic library. Because students will need the same editions of all three graphic novels to be able to refer to the passages on the same page numbers, class sets of the graphic novels will be purchased for students. A supply fee of $48.00 will be due payable to Compass on or before the first day of class for 3 novels. Topics in this series include: The Most Extreme Adventures (Quarter 1); Best of British Books (Quarter 2); Shakespeare Shorts (Quarter 3), and Classic Adventure Quests (Quarter 4).
11:00 am-11:55 am
5th-6th
Word Masters: Verbal Analogies and Vocab Challenges (Q4)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 1
Word Masters is a language challenge for students who enjoy word games, building their vocabulary, and verbal adventures. Why study lists of words if you can make a game of it? The best way to learn new words is to use them! This class is inspired by the annual Word Masters Challenge (www.wordmasterschallenge.com). Each week students will tackle new vocabulary words and practice them through analogies and critical thinking challenges. Students will examine word meanings, relationships, synonyms and antonyms with in-class activities and games such as Pictionary, Scategories, Charades, and Apples-to-Apples. Word Masters will improve a student's reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, logic skills, and the ability to think analytically and metaphorically. Students can repeat Word Masters as new word lists will be introduced each quarter.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
4th-6th
Comprehension Connections: Critical Thinking Through Non Fiction
Quarter(s): 3,4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Middle school students will learn how to improve their critical thinking for a deeper understanding using strategies in reading comprehension, research, and debate. They will discuss and define critical thinking and learn the skills associated with it: researching, sorting information for a variety of purposes, identifying underlying assumptions, defining terms, evaluating evidence, considering opposing points of view, and spotting classic logical fallacies. In this semester, students will be asked to present opinions or consider dilemmas and claims ranging over a wide variety of historical or contemporary topics that may be drawn from literature, law, religion, or comparative worldviews. Students will learn to ask, "Is this a good argument? Is it well constructed and convincing?" They will discover how to break a whole concept into its component parts to formulate and build clear, compelling, persuasive arguments. The semester will build up to an exciting debate in the Lincoln-Douglas format. Students will have to choose a contemporary question (e.g. "Is AI bad for society?"), and they will work together to research arguments for or against that question. The Positive and Negative teams will develop arguments, write speeches, and work to develop arguments for their positions! Middle school students should expect to spend an average of two hours per week on reading and short written responses for this class. Topics in this series include: Topics in this series include: Comprehension Connections (Semester 1) and Critical Thinking (Semester 2).
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
7th-8th
(Semester Long)
Rhetoric and Reasoning through Written Works: A Course in C...
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 7
According to Aristotle, "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." In this year-long course, high school students will practice strategies to improve their reading comprehension for deeper understanding through critical thinking. They will also improve their ability to argue and persuade in writing. Using texts on argumentation and rhetoric by Ward Farnsworth, students will learn how to read carefully, define terms, spot logical fallacies, and construct clear, logically compelling, persuasive arguments. The class will be introduced to terminology and techniques in the formal disciplines of logic and rhetoric. In the first semester, the class will focus on internal skills: how to understand and evaluate arguments according to logical reasoning and critical thinking. In the second semester, the group will focus on external skills: how to build and communicate arguments that are both compelling and persuasive. Class reading selections will include selections from Farnsworth's books Classical English Argument and Classical English Rhetoric, as well as selections from famous speeches. The class may draw from history, literature, law, political theory, religion, contemporary topics, and comparative worldviews. Prerequisites: Students must read at grade level for this course. Textbooks: Students should purchase or rent Farnsworth's Classical English Rhetoric by Ward Farnsworth (ISBN: 978-1567923858) and Farnsworth's Classical English Argument by Ward Farnsworth (ISBN: 978-1567927986) Workload: Students should expect to spend 3 hours per week outside of class. Reading assignments will not be especially long, but students will be expected to read thoroughly and carefully. Assignments: Will be posted on a Google Classroom site for students and parents to access. Assessments: Papers and assignments will be evaluated and scored which are treated as grade recommendations to parents. Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as full credit in English for purposes of a high school transcript.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
9th-12th
(Year Long)
Spanish Para Pequenos (Spanish for Little Ones)- TUE
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Hola! Spanish Para Pequenos (Spanish for Little Ones) is a fun, play-based, Spanish immersion class for young children. Following the native language-learning process, children will be exposed to the sounds, letters, and high-frequency words in Spanish through songs, games, stories, puppets, and other interactive activities. The teacher will provide all necessary toys and objects to give young children tangible, and hands-on ways to apply new concepts in practical real-life situations. The instructor uses some Montessori-style activities that create a high-energy, playful environment, engaging tactile and kinesthetic learners alike while appealing to children's natural curiosities. The vocabulary and language structures presented in each session follow a new letter of the alphabet each week that will include greetings, simple phrases, foods, colors, numbers, animals, common action verbs, calendar phrases, articles of clothing and seasonal topics. Vocabulary will be repeated and reviewed often to aid in the retention of the language, and will primarily develop listening and speaking skills. The goal of this introductory course is to lay foundations in phonics and essential vocabulary words while having fun and building confidence in a foreign language. Who knows, your child might just come home singing their new favorite Spanish nursery rhyme! This is a 7-week class with the last meeting on 5/13
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
K-2nd
Calculus (Honors or AP A/B)
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Tue, Fri
Open Spots: 5
This is a complete course in high school Calculus which will cover fundamental concepts and provide a solid foundation of mathematical literacy, problem solving, reasoning, and critical thinking skills that are necessary for the exploration of more advanced and rigorous topics in mathematics. Topics in Calculus include limits of functions (one-sided and two-sided limits, limits at infinity and infinite limits, limits of sequences, and continuity of functions), derivatives (various definitions of derivatives, estimating derivatives from tables and graphs, rules of differentiation, properties of derivatives, separable differential equations, and the Mean Value Theorem), applications of derivatives (related rates, optimization, and exponential growth and decay models), integrals (basic techniques of integration including basic antiderivatives and substitution), applications of integrals (in finding areas and volumes, describing motion, and as accumulation functions), and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Students will explore these topics through class discussions, practice problems, and open-ended problem-solving. Prerequisite: Students should have a solid foundation in PreCalculus in order to take this class. Level: This course is offered at two levels, Honors and Advanced Placement (AP). The scope and sequence are identical, however AP students may have additional practice problems. Students who wish to take the AP exam must register and pay for their own exam through the College Board in fall 2024 for the May 2025 exam. Workload: Students should expect to spend 1-1.5 hours per day on reading, review, and homework on most non-class days. Homework assignments will run on a 7-day cycle, with assignments posted on Thursdays and due the following Thursday. Students are advised to start homework once it is assigned (i.e., not wait until the night before it is due). Weekly homework assignments will be of a length that a student should be able to complete them in two or three at-home work sessions. Solutions will be provided for some homework problems, but students are expected to show all steps of their work. Assignments: The Canvas online class management system will be used to post assignments and scores. Students should have their own e-mail address in order to be set up as users of the Canvas system. Parents can also be set up as Canvas guests/observers for purposes of tracking the student's progress and workload. Assessments: Student progress will be assessed by: (1) The instructor checking that weekly homework sets are attempted and complete and (2) detailed grading of periodic take-home tests. Parents will be able to view accumulated points awarded in the class for the purpose of determining a parent-awarded course grade. See the instructor's webpage for detailed homework and test policy, including late work and re-work. Textbook: Students should purchase or rent the required textbook for this class: Calculus: Single Variable/Early Transcendentals, 8th edition by James Stewart (ISBN-13 9781305270336). A scientific calculator similar to the Casio fx-115ES PLUS is required for this class, and it is highly recommended that students preparing for the AP exam have a graphing calculator similar to the TI-83. Students without a graphing calculator must have access to desmos.com and/or wolframalpha.com for graphing assignments. Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a complete credit in Calculus for purposes of a high school transcript.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
11th-12th
(Year Long)
Aquatic Biology: Extreme Marine
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
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. Fourth quarter, students will journey to some of the most extreme marine systems on the planet. The class will investigate underwater caves, polar seas, deep sea trenches, submarine canyons, and hydrothermal vents. Students will watch footage from submersibles exploring these environments and study the unique plants and animals that inhabit these regions. 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.
10:00 am-10:55 am
5th-6th
Eco Scientist: All About Islands
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 1
Become a world-traveling eco adventurer and earth scientist without leaving Compass! Study the world's most exciting and diverse ecosystems and learn about the incredible biologic and geologic phenomena that shape them. Venture into caves and coasts, tundra and taiga, and forests and fjords. Each week, student scientists will begin by locating the fascinating features on a map before learning about these incredible habitats from the ground-up, starting with the geology of a place, then working their way through the climate, biome, flora, and fauna. Hands-on labs and in-class activities will reinforce regional and ecological diversity by examining rock types, classifying plants, observing insects, or modeling weather phenomena. This quarter's expedition takes us to Iceland, the Galapagos, Hawaii, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean and South Pacific island regions. The class will learn about the ecological theory of island biogeography which describes the different patterns of species colonization and evolution observed on islands. No study of islands would be complete without understanding the geologic forces that make many of them volcanoes! Students will look at where volcanoes are located throughout the world including some right here in the United States Topics in this Series: The Americas and Antarctica (Quarter 1); Northern Latitudes (Quarter 2); Africa & Asia (Quarter 3); and All About Islands (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.
11:00 am-11:55 am
3rd-4th
Environmental Science: Climate Change and Current Issues
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
A powerful hurricane season forecasted. Polar ice caps receding. Hydraulic fracking. Solar power. Everywhere we look, Environmental Science is in the news! Environmental science is an exciting interdisciplinary study that 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 hands-on, lab-based investigation.
Fourth quarter, students will examine emerging issues in the environmental sciences, including threats to biodiversity, sea level rise, ocean acidification, climate change, and monitoring for pandemics. Hands-on experiments and modeling will be used to understand the environmental phenomena in the news. The class will learn about methods scientists use to assess environmental threats and some steps being taken to manage them, including the design of habitat reserves, geoengineering, population monitoring, etc.
Topics in this series include: Geology and Soil Sciences (first quarter); Atmospheric Science (second quarter); Water Science (third quarter); and Current Issues in Environmental Science (fourth quarter). There is a $20.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class for consumable materials.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
7th-8th
Geo Detective: Exploring Ecosystems (1 PM)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Geo-Detectives discover the many mysteries of Earth Science. From large-scale disasters that come from inside the planet to microscopic contaminants in the water and soil, Geo-Detectives look high and low to understand the forces, systems, and cycles that continue to shape the Earth, its climates and ecosystems. Geo-Detectives will explore concepts as diverse as fossils to fault lines, ozone to ocean trenches, and trade winds to tundra. Hands-on labs and in-class activities will reinforce geological phenomena such as examining fossils, classifying rocks, reading the seismographic charts, or modeling the water cycle. Fourth quarter, students will focus on the biological components of the world's climate zones. The class will investigate how global weather patterns affect the formation of ecological communities of plants and animals in a region. Students will learn how the physical characteristics (temperature range, precipitation, light exposure, etc.) of a habitat determine the type of plants and animals that can colonize and survive in a region. Kids will also learn about the amazing range of physical and behavioral adaptations organisms have evolved to flourish in various biomes. Topics in this Series: What a Disaster! Volcanoes, Tsunamis & Earthquakes (Quarter 1); Wacky World Weather (Quarter 2); Sensational Cycles and Seasons (Quarter 3); and Exploring Ecosystems (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
1st-2nd
Geo Detective: Exploring Ecosystems (2 PM)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Geo-Detectives discover the many mysteries of Earth Science. From large-scale disasters that come from inside the planet to microscopic contaminants in the water and soil, Geo-Detectives look high and low to understand the forces, systems, and cycles that continue to shape the Earth, its climates and ecosystems. Geo-Detectives will explore concepts as diverse as fossils to fault lines, ozone to ocean trenches, and trade winds to tundra. Hands-on labs and in-class activities will reinforce geological phenomena such as examining fossils, classifying rocks, reading the seismographic charts, or modeling the water cycle. Fourth quarter, students will focus on the biological components of the world's climate zones. The class will investigate how global weather patterns affect the formation of ecological communities of plants and animals in a region. Students will learn how the physical characteristics (temperature range, precipitation, light exposure, etc.) of a habitat determine the type of plants and animals that can colonize and survive in a region. Kids will also learn about the amazing range of physical and behavioral adaptations organisms have evolved to flourish in various biomes. Topics in this Series: What a Disaster! Volcanoes, Tsunamis & Earthquakes (Quarter 1); Wacky World Weather (Quarter 2); Sensational Cycles and Seasons (Quarter 3); and Exploring Ecosystems (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
1st-2nd
Creative Writing & Puppets (Masked-Private) (Q4)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Creative Writing & Puppets (masked-Private)
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
2nd-5th
Crafty Kids Club (Masked-Private) (Q4)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Crafty Kids Club (masked-Private) with Judith Harmon Judith Harmon facilitates the crafting each week. Projects are selected to showcase a variety of materials and crafting techniques and to promote creativity and imagination. Each quarter, students will complete projects organized around two themes from among eight craft categories: wooden, wearables, simple sewing, painting, sculpting, paper, beading, and mixed media.
- 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.
- Spring into Spring (sample projects: tissue paper flowers and yarn-wrapped bugs)
- Traveling the World (sample projects: India's rangoli and paper Celtic knots)
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
2nd-5th
Reading Ready (Q4)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 3
Reading Ready is a supplemental reading class for 5- and 6- year-old kindergartners. The class is whole language inspired with phonics games, partner reading, and self-created spelling lists for home. The group will explore habits of good readers through in-class read-alouds and extension activities inspired by the best examples of well-loved children's literature from authors such as Leo Lionni, Robert McCloskey, Eric Carle, AA Milne, Michael Bond, Janell Cannon, Mem Fox, Hans Christian Andersen, Aesop, the Brothers Grimm, and others. Other books may also be selected based on the interests and level of the enrolled children. Children may repeat this class each quarter as new books will be introduced each session, and stories will not be repeated. Note:: This class is designed for students to enjoy a fun, new dimension of reading with peers and a teacher, but this will not take the place of a comprehensive language arts curriculum and daily reading practice. Reading/Skills Readiness; Enrolling students must be able to (1) write and recognize his/her first name; (2) recognize each letter and corresponding sound of the alphabet; (3) familiar with simple blends; (4) know a few beginner sight words (such as I, am, and no); and (5) hold and use crayons and scissors correctly. Social Readiness; Students must be age five (5) by the start of the class. To be successful in this program, 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 completely self-sufficient in a public restroom (wiping, flushing, washing hands, etc.)
10:00 am-10:55 am
K
Wee Writers (Q4)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Wee Writers is a simple journaling class for emergent kindergarten writers ages 5 and 6. Beginning writers will use basic sight words and phonetics while writing about feelings and experiences. Students will learn basic sentence structure with noun-verb construction, initial capital letter, and ending punctuation. Beginning sentences such as, "I lik cak." or "I drnk wtr." would be typical of emergent writers. Students will illustrate their journal entries and have opportunities to share and discuss their writing with peers. Children may repeat this class each quarter as new writing activities will be introduced each session. Note:: This class is designed for students to enjoy a fun, new dimension of writing with peers and a teacher, but this will not take the place of a comprehensive language arts curriculum and regular writing practice. Writing Readiness; Enrolling students must be able to (1) recognize and write his/her first name; (2) recognize and write each letter of the alphabet and know the corresponding sounds; and (3) hold and use crayons and scissors correctly. Social Readiness; Students must be age five (5) by the start of the class. To be successful in this program, 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 stay on a task for 10 minutes; (3) be able to follow simple, age-appropriate directions from the teacher or another adult; (4) be completely self-sufficient in a public restroom (wiping, flushing, washing hands, etc.)
11:00 am-11:55 am
K
Chemistry: Lecture (On-Level or Honors)
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 9
This is a place-holder for the Chemistry lecture. Students should register for the Chemistry Lab, which will automatically enroll them in both class sections.
10:00 am-10:55 am
10th-12th
(Year Long)
Successful Social Skills for Kids (TUE- Q4)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 3
Successful social skills can help kids navigate almost every aspect of their lives. Building confidence in social settings can help improve self esteem and comfort in group settings, sports, new endeavors, with family, in public, or just hanging out with friends. Every child can benefit from improved social skills, but some need a little more practice. In this class, kids will work with a certified, licensed therapist to develop strategies for navigating different social challenges- from conversation skills and identifying feelings and emotions, to seeing perspective, handling stress, talking to parents, making friends, tolerating siblings, and more. The small group class will be highly interactive with games, role playing, videos, modelling behavior, and projects using a evidence-based, social-emotional curriculum Kids will benefit most from taking Social Skills for several quarters. Some activities will be new each quarter, and some will be repeated for reinforcement. As new students join the group, the dynamic will shift, better imitating real life scenarios. Kids' confidence and comfort level will grow when they have multiple quarters to practice their social skills.
11:00 am-11:55 am
3rd-5th
Successful Social Skills for Tweens (TUE-Q4)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
Successful social skills can help tweens/teens navigate almost every aspect of their lives. Building confidence in social settings can help improve self esteem and comfort in group settings, sports, new endeavors, with family, in public, or just hanging out with friends. Every tween and teeen can benefit from improved social skills, but some need a little more practice. In this class, students will work with a certified, licensed therapist to develop strategies for navigating different social challenges- from conversation skills and identifying feelings and emotions, to seeing perspective, handling stress, talking to parents, making friends, tolerating siblings, and more. The small group class will be highly interactive with games, role playing, videos, modelling behavior, and projects using a evidence-based, social-emotional curriculum Tweens and teens will benefit most from taking Social Skills for several quarters. Some activities will be new each quarter, and some will be repeated for reinforcement. As new students join the group, the dynamic will shift, better imitating real life scenarios. Their confidence and comfort level will grow when they have multiple quarters to practice their social skills.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
6th-8th
Writing Well (Q4)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Writing is not only a critical skill for school and life, it gives kids a voice! In this class, fifth and sixth graders will gain confidence, increase writing fluency, and learn how to incorporate writing into everyday work and play. The objective of this class is for each student to progress and improve his/her own writing. This class does not have a fixed curriculum trying to achieve the same outcome and same skillset for each child, because each comes to class with different writing experience and varying needs. Instead, through personalized feedback from the instructor and peer feedback exercises, student writers will improve their writing skills from where they started. Students will learn the steps of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Key skills practiced at this level include organizing one’s thoughts, defining a purpose and audience for the paper, formulating a topic sentence or main idea, developing supporting details, using correct sentence structure (for example, initial capitalization and end punctuation). Students will always be encouraged to write about what interests them. They will write for a few minutes in class each week and will be expected to write short assignments at home and submit their work to the instructor for feedback. Each week, the instructor will share brief lessons on grammar (such as correct capitalization, agreement, tenses, parts of speech, use of adjectives/adverbs), and/or style (for example, using metaphors, adding details, building tension). Examples and exercises will be presented from a variety of styles and genres with the instructor using models from fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Students should be on or near grade level for reading. Writing Wonders is offered each quarter under the same class name, but students may take it each quarter to continue to improve their writing skills.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
5th-6th
Writing Wonders (Q4, TUE)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 4
Writing is not only a critical skill for school and life, it gives kids a voice! In this class, third and fourth graders will gain confidence, increase writing fluency, and learn how to incorporate writing into everyday work and play. The objective of this class is for each student to progress and improve his/her own writing. This class does not have a fixed curriculum trying to achieve the same outcome and same skillset for each child, because each comes to class with different writing experience and varying needs. Instead, through personalized feedback from the instructor and peer feedback exercises, student writers will improve their writing skills from where they started.
Students will learn the steps of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Key skills practiced at this level include organizing one’s thoughts, defining a purpose and audience for the paper, formulating a topic sentence or main idea, developing supporting details, using correct sentence structure (for example, initial capitalization and end punctuation). Students will always be encouraged to write about what interests them. They will write for a few minutes in class each week and will be expected to write short assignments at home and submit their work to the instructor for feedback. Each week, the instructor will share brief lessons on grammar (such as correct capitalization, agreement, tenses, parts of speech, use of adjectives/adverbs), and/or style (for example, using metaphors, adding details, building tension). Examples and exercises will be presented from a variety of styles and genres with the instructor using models from fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.
Students must be a minimum age 8 to take this class and should be on or near grade level for reading. Writing Wonders is offered each quarter under the same class name, but students may take it each quarter to continue to improve their writing skills.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
3rd-4th
Take Flight! Elements of Aeronautical Engineering
Quarter(s): 3,4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 3
Discover what gets a plane off the ground! Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of aeronautical engineering. They will learn about different types of aircraft and the major components and systems, such as fuselage (body) design, wing design, powerplant (engines), and avionics. The class will learn about aerodynamics and factors that affect aircraft performance; different types of engines used in aircraft and the principles of engine design and operation; and various avionics systems including navigation, communication, and flight control systems. Each week, students will engage in a variety of hands-on activities to test and explain different concepts in aeronautics such as building a model engine, designing and testing wing shapes, creating a mock-up of an instrument panel, learning to read technical drawings and blueprints, and more. Concepts covered in class will demonstrate practical applications in mathematics, physics, geometry, the scientific method, and data analysis.
10:00 am-11:30 am
6th-8th
(Semester Long)
Beginner Bots: Reptile Robots (TUE)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 3
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. Fourth quarter, students will build, program, and model rowdy reptiles such as a crocodile, a snake, a Komodo dragon, and a T-Rex. 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).
10:00 am-10:55 am
2nd-4th
Robot Fab Lab: Atlantis Explorer (TUE)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
Student engineers will be challenged to design, build, and program a humanoid robot. Students will learn how to construct and program an upright, articulated robot that can operate in our human world with common human chores such as walking around furniture, opening a door, and detecting sneaky siblings. Students will use the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 robotics sets. They will build with motors, wheels/axles, gears, levers, and special components. Students will have to install touch, sound, color, gyro, ultrasonic, and/or infrared sensors while also learning to program sequences and commands that use input/output devices for controlled movements and precise turns. Using the drag-and-drop EV3 programming menu, students will learn to program their robots while experimenting with key concepts such as fixed values, variables, loops, and logic constructs. This course integrates science, engineering and computational thinking while introducing physical constraints, units of measurement, and coordinate systems. But, don't worry, this is a beginning robotics class. Prior experience is not expected, but returning students are welcome. Each student will build his/her own robotic project, so students can progress and customize at their own pace. In general, in this class, students will spend two weeks assembling, three weeks programming, and two weeks testing and re-designing. Topics in this Series: Maze Runner (Quarter 1), Sumo Bots (Quarter 2), Mars Rover (Quarter 3), and Explore Atlantis (Quarter 4).
11:00 am-11:55 am
5th-6th
Engineering Challenge: Green (Sustainable) Lab
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
Focus on the "E" in STEM- Engineering! Discover the everyday challenges we can solve through engineering in this hands-on, project-focused class! Students will tackle simulated challenges that span a variety of engineering disciplines and practice the three main steps of the engineering design process by asking, "What is the problem?", "What are possible solutions?" and, "How can I improve on the design?" Fourth quarter, the class will learn about careers of Sustainable or "Green" Designers and Engineers and their responsibility for designing, reusing, and adapting products and processes to conserve energy, reduce consumption, promote sustainability, without sacrificing economic viability and efficiency. Students will model green engineering challenges with projects such as designing a water filter, building a windmill, and building a solar cell. Students will work together to solve problems and brainstorm options given a variety of project materials. For each project, students will be challenged to adjust their designs, make modifications, re-design to optimize their creations, and retest performance. Basic building, measuring, data collection, and equations will be used to challenge all minds in engineering! There is a $25.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the start of class. Topics in this Series include: Civil Lab (Quarter 1); Electrical Lab (Quarter 2); Mechanical Lab (Quarter 3); and Green (Sustainable) Lab (Quarter 4).
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
5th-6th
Junior Engineering with LEGO: Construct a Carnival (TUE)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
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. Fourth quarter, students get ready for weekend get-aways and vacation time by building creations for an amusement park! Projects will include a ferris wheel, merry go round, teacup ride, daring swings, and a monorail. 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)
1:30 pm-2:55 pm
K-2nd
Acting- Kids' Theater: Kooky Cooking Contest
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
Kids take to the stage as they collaboratively write and perform their very own play with unique characters and an original storyline. In a cook-off gone nuts, will celebrity chefs and kooky cooks stay cool as a cucumber or cry over spilled milk? Will it be easy as pie to take the cake and this complete crazy cooking competition? 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 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.
10:00 am-10:55 am
3rd-5th
Tweens Acting Out: Rock Star Rivalry
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Tweens take over as they collectively brainstorm and collaboratively write their own play. Find out what happens when tweens "act out" the unique characters and an original storyline they created. Punk versus funk, rock versus rap. What riotous reactions happen when melodramatic musicians with enormous egos take to the stage? 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 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 the students' input. The class will learn the practical aspects of acting, as they work on script read-through, blocking, costume/prop design, and planning the show. 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 final day of the quarter. Once the script is fully developed, it will be emailed to parents. Parents will be expected make sure their tweens memorize their script/lines/cues and assemble a simple make-at-home costume, ideally from clothing items and accessories they already own and a little creativity. Topics in this Series: Haunted House of Horrors (Quarter 1), Chaos in the Courtroom (Quarter 2), No Exit Escape Room (Quarter 3) and Rock Start Rivalry (Quarter 4).
11:00 am-11:55 am
6th-8th
Magical Creatures' Quest: A Middle School Role Playing Club) (Q4)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Embark on a magical afternoon journey with "Magical Creatures' Quest: A Familiar Problem!" This enchanting club is for middle school students who adore whimsical tales, creative adventures, and the magic of tabletop role-playing games. During each club meeting, the group will weave a captivating story where each participant takes on the role of a magical animal on a quest to reunite with its owner. Are you more like a daring dragon, mysterious mermaid, playful Pegasus, or a fearless fairy? Each meeting presents a new chapter, filled with challenges, mysteries, and opportunities for magical 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 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 magical stories and imaginative play- in person! 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.
3:00 pm-3:55 pm
6th-8th
Cooking for Little Kids: Savory Spring Specialties (TUE 10AM)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 3
Students 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:
Students
- Sprigs and Prosciutto in a Blanket (contains pork)
- Miso Soup
- Carrot Salad
- Cashew Rice Pilaf (contains nuts)
- Teriyaki Salmon and Quinoa Bowl
- Cauliflower Stir Fry with Toasted Peanuts (contains nuts)
- Cowboy Casserole
- Strawberry Shortcake
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. This class is best suited for students who can follow instructions, complete sequential tasks, and work in a group. For the Little Kids level, students must be minimum age six (6) by the start of class and must be developmentally on-level for fine motor skills and ability to follow directions.
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 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.
10:00 am-10:55 am
1st-3rd
Cooking for Little Kids: Savory Spring Specialties (TUE 11AM)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
Students 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:
Students
- Sprigs and Prosciutto in a Blanket (contains pork)
- Miso Soup
- Carrot Salad
- Cashew Rice Pilaf (contains nuts)
- Teriyaki Salmon and Quinoa Bowl
- Cauliflower Stir Fry with Toasted Peanuts (contains nuts)
- Cowboy Casserole
- Strawberry Shortcake
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. This class is best suited for students who can follow instructions, complete sequential tasks, and work in a group. For the Little Kids level, students must be minimum age six (6) by the start of class and must be developmentally on-level for fine motor skills and ability to follow directions.
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 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.
11:00 am-11:55 am
1st-3rd
Cooking for Kids: Savory Spring Specialties (TUE)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 1
Students 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: Students
- Sprigs and Prosciutto in a Blanket (contains pork)
- Miso Soup
- Carrot Salad
- Cashew Rice Pilaf (contains nuts)
- Teriyaki Salmon and Quinoa Bowl
- Cauliflower Stir Fry with Toasted Peanuts (contains nuts)
- Cowboy Casserole
- Strawberry Shortcake
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
3rd-5th
Cooking for Tweens: Savory Spring Specialties (TUE)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Students 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: Students
- Sprigs and Prosciutto in a Blanket (contains pork)
- Miso Soup
- Carrot Salad
- Cashew Rice Pilaf (contains nuts)
- Teriyaki Salmon and Quinoa Bowl
- Cauliflower Stir Fry with Toasted Peanuts (contains nuts)
- Cowboy Casserole
- Strawberry Shortcake
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
6th-8th
Kids' Confection Kitchen: Tasty Treats (TUE)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 3
Toffee. Taffy. Truffles... End the day on a sweet note! Students 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' culinary adventures will include:
- Carrot Cake Blondies
- Angel Cake with Fresh Berries
- Hummingbird Cake
- Key Lime Icebox Cake
- Rhubarb Custard Pie
- Grasshopper Pie
- Orange Chiffon Cake
- Lemon Bars
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
5th-8th
FUNctional Fitness and Cross-Training (PE) for Tweens: Green
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
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!
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
6th-8th
FUNctional Fitness and Cross-Training (PE) for Kids: Green (TUE)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
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!
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
2nd-5th
Swimming: Beginners/ Adv. Beginners (Tue Q4)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 0
Homeschool Swim Lessons are taught at the Reston YMCA located 0.9 miles/ 3 minute drive from Compass's classroom facility. For more information on swimming lessons, see the program webpage. During the first lesson, students will be observed and determined to be Beginner or Advanced Beginner level, and the class will be divided accordingly among two instructors. Beginners level is for students with little to no swim experience and will cover YMCA Level 1 skills such as water acclimation, floatation, water movement, putting face in the water, swimming 5 feet without a floatation device, and becoming comfortable on back in water. Advanced Beginners level will review all skills in beginner-level class and add YMCA Level 2 skills such as stamina, swimming one length of the pool (25 yards), performing elementary backstroke, rotary breathing, becoming comfortable in deep water, and stroke introduction to include: front crawl, backstroke, and elementary breaststroke. Please note that these skills will be introduced and progress at different rates depending on the comfortable level and experience of enrolled students and may take more than one quarter to complete. At times, students might be moved to a different swimming group (same day, same time, different instructor) to better match the experience level of enrolled children. Lessons are 40 minutes long, running from 0:05 until 0:45 after the hour, leaving enough time to towel dry, change clothes, and return to Compass for your next class. Students should bring a swimsuit, towel, and change of clothes. Googles and swim caps are optional. A parent (or parent proxy) is required to remain on site. Parents may wait on poolside benches or lobby seating. YMCA waivers must be signed and returned for each swimmer. All registration is completed through Compass. All YMCA swimming classes are taught by certified, experienced, background-checked adult instructors with experience teaching children. Consider enrolling your child in both Tuesday and Thursday classes to improve their rate of learning.
10:05 am-10:45 am
1st-3rd
Nature Quest: Spring- Adventurers (Tue)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
Experience the thrill of spring- nature's fastest paced season! Watch as the forest transforms each week with new leaves, flowers, nests, and the full stream bursting with life. It is the time for harvesting wild edibles, enjoying bird-song, and relishing the sights and smells of wildflowers and the fresh spring air.
Step outdoors to each week to explore nature with a senior naturalist/outdoor educator. Take a break from sit-down classes, indoor activities, and screen time to explore the natural world, get fresh air, and exercise. The group will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon while they discover all the secrets that woods hold when you stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn-over, and peek under!
A portion of each session will be seeking and discussing what is found each season. Students will get to know native animals and key types of plants and trees in our area. Emphasis will be on becoming comfortable with things they encounter outdoors, observing and appreciating discoveries in nature, safe exploration of the woods, and how to be a good steward of nature. The class will also discuss outdoor skills such as shelter and outdoor safety. Students will play games in the woods to practice outdoor skills.
Visit the Compass Nature Quest class webpage for more information on the program, location, and Frequently Asked Questions. Students should come prepared for class with outdoor/play clothes, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and/or insect repellent, a hat, and jacket or layered outerwear depending on the weather/temperature. The group exploration/activities in the woods are for enrolled students only, and tag-along parents and siblings cannot be accommodated.
Students must be age 5 by the start of the class, and they must be comfortable separating from their parents for the duration of the class, remain with the group, and follow instructions.
11:05 am-11:50 am
K-2nd
Nature Quest: Spring- Pathfinders (Tue)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
Experience the thrill of spring- nature's fastest paced season! Watch as the forest transforms each week with new leaves, flowers, nests, and the full stream bursting with life. It is the time for harvesting wild edibles, enjoying bird-song, and relishing the sights and smells of wildflowers and the fresh spring air. Step outdoors to each week to explore nature with a senior naturalist/outdoor educator. Take a break from sit-down classes, indoor activities, and screen time to explore the natural world, get fresh air, and exercise. The group will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon while they discover all the secrets that woods hold when you stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn-over, and peek under! A portion of each session will be seeking and discussing what is found each season. Students will get to know native animals and key types of plants and trees in our area. Emphasis will be on becoming comfortable with things they encounter outdoors, observing and appreciating discoveries in nature, safe exploration of the woods, and how to be a good steward of nature. The class will also discuss outdoor skills such as shelter and outdoor safety. Students will play games in the woods to practice outdoor skills. Visit the Compass Nature Quest class webpage for more information on the program, location, and Frequently Asked Questions. Students should come prepared for class with outdoor/play clothes, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and/or insect repellent, a hat, and jacket or layered outerwear depending on the weather/temperature. The group exploration/activities in the woods are for enrolled students only, and tag-along parents and siblings cannot be accommodated.
12:05 pm-12:50 pm
3rd-4th
Outdoor Survivor: Spring (Tue)
Quarter(s): 4
Day(s): Tue
Open Spots: 2
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 debris shelter, make cordage, identify edible plants, track animals, purify water, perform basic first aid, and use maps and compass (orienteering). Students will get to know native animals and key types of plants and trees in our area. 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 woodsis 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 Nature Quest program.
1:05 pm-2:55 pm
5th-6th
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