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

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

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

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

The class instructor is a design engineer with 3D Herndon and expert in 3D technologies and other areas of design and invention. A typical class will be structured with 5-10 minutes of lecture or demonstration of a new design skill, followed by 40 minutes of design "studio" time where students can receive trouble-shooting support and design tips from the instructor and have dedicated work time, and 5-10 minutes of sharing time at the end of class. As a studio class, students will work on individual projects at their own pace.
Topics in this Series: As an open studio for individual projects, students may continue from one semester to the next or enroll mid-year. Students continuing from first semester receive priority pre-registration for second semester.

Prerequisites: None

What to Bring: Students will need to bring a laptop to class for design work.

Workload: Students should expect to spend 0-1+ hours per week outside of class.

Assignments: Project criteria will be explained in class to students.

Assessments: Informal, qualitative feedback will be given in class throughout the semester as the student works.

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

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

Why read about key military battles on maps or in books when you can learn about them hands-on, in three dimensions, using historical miniature gaming? In 3D History, pivotal engagements come to life for new and experienced students, as they navigate a table-top terrain, deploy hundreds of miniature soldiers, ships, and tanks... all while playing a military strategy game. Each student will have the opportunity to fight a battle from both sides, allowing them to test various strategies, try multiple scenarios, predict different outcomes, and rewrite history- an effective way to gain a deeper understanding of what actually happened and why!

In 1942, American General Douglas MacArthur was forced to leave the Philippines in the face of the seemingly unstoppable Imperial Japanese juggernaut in the South Pacific. Just two years later, he made good on his promise to return. However, this time he had the most powerful armada the world has ever seen at his back, the culmination of years of work of The Arsenal of Democracy. More than 600 cutting-edge ships, dwarfing almost every other navy combined, carried a million soldiers and marines from the Allied Forces. Faced with overwhelming material and manpower superiority, the Japanese leveraged what remained of their skill and determination to fight to the last ship, the last bullet, the last blade, and the last man, to stop the Americans and end the war as quickly as possible.

Students will fight the last battles of the Pacific theater on land, sea, and air using a wide range of miniature soldiers, aircraft, vehicles, and ships. From massive naval action around the Philippines and Okinawa to the shores of Iwo Jima, students will simulate a variety of jungle and island-hopping combat engagements using a modified version of the Axis and Allies war at sea system. Students will study the technical and strategic elements that led to the outcomes of the battle and attempt to recreate the Japanese or Allied successes (or failures). At the end of each semester, every student will understand the conditions that led to war, the objectives for both sides, and how successful or realistic these objectives were, both from a modern academic point of view and from the historical point of view given each country's available information. This will be accomplished with primary sources, newsreels from the time, propaganda material, and modern analysis. The instructor will provide online access to all of this material via Google Drive and a class YouTube Playlist.

Note: This is a 1 hour, 55 minute class with a 10-minute break part way through.

Topics in this Series: Rising Sun & Sudden Strikes- Early Pacific (Semester 1) and Final Push & Pacific Fall- Late Pacific (Semester 2).

Workload: Students should expect to spend 0-1 hours per week outside of class.

Assignments: Period maps, photographs, and re-creations will be posted on a class Google Drive, and video links from YouTube will be e-mailed to parents and students for homework or supplemental investigation.

Assessments: Will not be given.

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

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

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

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

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

Who doesn't love a good "Whodunnit" mystery? In this workshop, tween actors will work together to bring a cast of characters to life through creative adaptations and interpretive improvisation. Using materials from a commercial murder mystery role playing game (RPG), students will assume the personas of outrageous and offbeat characters. As the drama unfolds in rounds guided by clue cards, eclectic evidence, and fictitious forensics, a victim, a motive, and eventually the guilty party will be revealed.

Step into a world of wealth, wit, and whispered wickedness at the Wyndham Foundation's dazzling centennial celebration. The chandeliers shimmer, the socialites sparkle, and the stakes soar sky-high in 1880s Newport. But beneath the brilliance brews betrayal. Before the final toast is tasted, a rising star of society is struck down. Polite smiles mask petty rivalries, and proper manners hide perilous motives. In this glittering game of greed and gossip, who will be exposed as the culprit cloaked in couture?

Student actors will be guided through the development of a strong, compelling character, complete with unique ways of speaking, gesturing, and moving, an original costume, a backstory, and of course, an alibi. In this workshop, students benefit from experimenting with acting and improvisation and working as a team. This class is best suited for students who are active listeners, are flexible and easily adapt, have a sense of humor, and enjoy working in a collaborative group. Students need to be able to stay in sync with the flow of the class. This is not an "anything goes" or free-for-all class.

Supply Fee: A class fee of $25.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class for a script and costs related to props and performance license fee.

Topics in this series: Faireground Foul Play (Quarter 1), Murder in the Museum (Quarter 2), Grisly Golden Gala (Quarter 3), and Highlands Homicide (Quarter 4).

Two rookie detectives are grilling a motley crew of suspects and witnesses in a small-town crime. These suspicious characters are combative, ridiculous, and downright incompetent, but none of them seems guilty. One is the high school mascot, while another appears to be a character right out of a popular video game. With the clock ticking and their jobs on the line, can this good cop and bad cop duo collar a suspect before it's too late? Tweens will appreciate the quirky, off-beat humor of this scripted comedy. They will enjoy the creativity and camaraderie of working together to bring this humorous piece to stage.

Students, along with their acting instructor, will cast, rehearse, and coordinate a class performance of this comedy. Students will be encouraged to design and assemble simple costumes, props, and backdrops from items at home. Student actors will be expected to learn their lines and participate fully. This class is best suited for students who are active listeners, are flexible and easily adapt, have a sense of humor, and can work in a collaborative group. Students need to be able to stay in sync with the flow of the class. This is not an "anything goes" or free-for-all class. The students will perform for family and friends at the end of the semester.

Topics in this Series: 10 ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalpse (Semester 1) and Good Cop, Bad Cop (Semester 2).

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

Social dancing does not have to be slow or stuffy! There is energy in the ballroom with Action Dance! Students will learn the beginning waltz, foxtrot, and swing dancing, which originated in Harlem and is known for its spirited stepping and spinning to jazz and big band music. The class will examine the evolution of East Coast swing and its offshoots along with some West Coast swing, Lindy Hop, the Charleston, and the DC native Hand Dance. They will also learn some 2-step and country swing. Emphasis in the class will be on having fun and learning techniques to help dancers be comfortable and relaxed. Social dances encourage confidence, social presence, posture, and poise in teens. Social dancing is partner-based dance; consider signing up with a friend! Please note that in order to demonstrate some steps and forms, students may occasionally be invited to partner with their instructor.

Topics in this Series: Caribbean & Latin (Semester 1), Swing & Smooth (Semester 2), etc. Students continuing from first semester receive priority pre-registration for second semester.

Prerequisites: None

Assessments: Informal feedback will be given in class. Formal assessments or grades will not be given.

What to Wear: Students should wear loose, comfortable clothing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is a complete course in high school Algebra II 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 Algebra II include linear functions, systems of equations and inequalities, quadratic functions and complex numbers, exponential and logarithmic functions, rational and irrational algebraic functions, and quadratic relations and systems. In addition, this course will cover higher degree functions with complex numbers, sequences and series, probability, data analysis, and trigonometric and circular functions. Students will explore these topics through class discussions, practice problems, and open-ended problem solving.

Prerequisite: Students should have a solid foundation Algebra I in order to take this class.

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: Algebra and Trigonometry: Functions and Applications- Prentice Hall Classics (ISBN-10 0131657100, ISBN-13 978-0131657106). A scientific calculator similar to the Casio fx-115ES PLUS is required for this class.

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

Prerequisites: Algebra I

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

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

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

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

Prerequisites: None

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wish you could learn how apps, data, the internet, and technology shape the world-but don't know where to start? AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to the broad and creative field of computer science, asking powerful questions like: "How do computers solve problems?" and "How does technology impact our lives?" It explores how data is used to make decisions, how the internet connects the world, and how computing influences everything from communication to culture. It examines topics like how information is stored and shared, how programs are designed, and how technology can both help and challenge society.

AP Computer Science Principles is a year-long, college-level course that provides a wide-ranging introduction to computing. Students will learn how to design and evaluate programs, develop algorithms, and use abstraction to manage complexity. The course emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and problem solving, as students create original programs and analyze how computing systems work. Students will also explore how data is collected and used, how computer networks function, and how computing innovations affect society, including issues such as bias, privacy, and the digital divide.

Five major areas from the College Board's AP Computer Science Principles framework are covered: (1) creative development; (2) data; (3) algorithms and programming; (4) computer systems and networks; and (5) the impact of computing.
Calendar:

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

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

Assignments: All assignments will be posted on a Google Classroom site. There, students access assignments, upload homework, take automated quizzes and tests, track grades, view scores and narrative feedback, and message instructor and classmates. Parents may be set up as "observers" on the account to view assignments, scores, and other feedback.

Assessments: Completed homework, projects, presentations, quizzes, tests, and class participation are graded and receive points and other feedback from the instructor. Parents can calculate a letter grade using the student's points earned divided by points available; the instructor has programmed an automatic gradebook that does this in Canvas, based on a scale derived from several area high schools.

Textbook/Materials: Students will use the Ozaria platform to learn to code Python. They will need to purchase an access code for a student license through the teacher for $50.00.

Non-Meeting Days: This is a 24-week class. In addition to the scheduled days-off on the published Compass schedule, this class will not meet on 12/18/26 , 3/12/27, 5/14/27, 5/21/27, plus one fall date TBD and one spring date TBD.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a full credit in technology/career elective for purposes of a high school transcript.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Are you interested in learning a new language that is used here in America? Are you intrigued by a modern language that has no written form? Do you want to find out why American Sign Language is much more closely linked to French Sign Language than British Sign Language? If so, American Sign Language (ASL) is a great language for you!

In this class, students will learn the basic skills in production and comprehension of ASL while covering thematic units such as personal and family life, school, social life, and community. Each unit will include presentations and readings on Deaf culture and Deaf history. Students will learn fingerspelling and numbers, developing conversational ability, culturally appropriate behaviors, and fundamental ASL grammar. Class time will be dedicated to interactive ASL activities and face-to-face signing practice with the instructor and partners. This course will focus on Units 1-3 of the TRUE+WAY ASL curriculum introducing students to foundational ASL skills in a supportive, interactive environment.

ASL students will have a Deaf instructor. She regularly teaches all-hearing classes and is an excellent role model for students to meet and interact with a native speaker of ASL and to learn natural facial expressions, gestures, and body language used in Deaf communications. ASL students will have more confidence when they encounter Deaf instructors in college or greet speakers of ASL in social settings. Because the instructor is Deaf, students are not permitted to speak aloud in class. This approach improves visual attention and encourages immersion in the language. Students will be able to ask questions of the instructor by writing on individual whiteboards, but they will be encouraged to sign in order to communicate with the instructor. Lessons are facilitated with Power Point presentations, and a professional ASL interpreter will assist the class on the first day of class. Enrolled students are not expected to know any sign language prior to beginning ASL I.

Hundreds of colleges and universities, including all public institutions of higher learning in Virginia, accept ASL as a distinct foreign language. This allows hearing and Deaf students to fulfill foreign language requirements for admission to college. Teens who have difficulty writing, spelling, or have challenging pronunciation in English, can be successful with ASL as a second or foreign language choice. Penn State University research demonstrated that the visual and
kinesthetic elements of ASL helped to enhance the vocabulary, spelling, and reading skills in hearing students.

Workload: Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours each week outside of class on vocabulary
exercises, readings, and signing practice.

Assignments: Homework assignments will be posted online in the Canvas digital classroom platform. There may be some brief written assignments, but for most homework assignments, students will be asked to post short videos of themselves signing. Students will need either a camera phone or webcam to complete these assignments.

Assessments: The instructor will assign points using a class rubric for the parent's use in assigning a course grade. Course rubrics will evaluate students on their sign production, fingerspelling, ASL grammar, facial expressions including "above the nose" grammar (brows and body movement), and "below the nose" modifiers (lip expressions).

Textbook/Supply Fee: There is a supply fee of $45.00 payable to the online publisher for the digital access code for the interactive e-textbook, TRUE+WAY ASL for 3 units. With their subscription, students may also access a free searchable, bilingual ASL & English dictionary, called What's the Sign?

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

This is a 29-week class, with a non-meeting day of 4/23/2027.

Students of ASL will continue to improve their fluency in this 3rd year course. As students become more advanced signers, emphasis will be on focusing on the meaning of a conversation (whole) and storytelling rather than individual signs (parts) or phrases. In conversation, students will learn to confirm information by asking questions in context. Third year students will continue to build their vocabulary, apply ASL grammar, and will learn to describe places, give directions, give opinions about others, discuss plans and goals, ask for advice, give opinions, make comparisons and use superlatives, and narrate stories.

Other skills covered in ASL III include expressing year, phone numbers, time, and currency in numbers, giving directions, locations, etc. Each unit will include presentations and readings on Deaf culture and Deaf history. Class time will be dedicated to interactive ASL activities and signing practice. This course will focus on Units 7-9 of the TRUE + WAY ASL curriculum, emphasizing expanded communication skills, storytelling, and more advanced ASL concepts in an immersive, interactive setting.

ASL students will have a Deaf instructor. She regularly teaches all-hearing classes and is an excellent role model for students to meet and interact with a native speaker of ASL and to lean natural facial expressions, gestures, and body language used in Deaf communications. ASL students will have more confidence when they encounter Deaf instructors in college or greet speakers of ASL in social settings. Because the instructor is Deaf, students are not permitted to
speak aloud in class. This approach improves visual attention and encourages immersion in the language. Students will be able to ask questions of the instructor by writing on individual white boards, but they will be encouraged to sign in order to communicate with the instructor. Lessons are facilitated with Power Point presentations, and a professional ASL interpreter will assist the class on the first day of class.

Hundreds of colleges and universities, including all public institutions of higher learning in Virginia, accept ASL as a distinct foreign language. This allows hearing and Deaf students to fulfill foreign language requirements for admission to college. Teens who have difficulty writing, spelling, or have challenging pronunciation in English, can be successful with ASL as a second or foreign language choice. Penn State University research demonstrated that the visual and
kinesthetic elements of ASL helped to enhance the vocabulary, spelling, and reading skills in hearing students.

Prerequisite: ASL II students who wish to enroll in ASL III must pass a proficiency exam and receive instructor approval.

Workload: Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours each week outside of class on vocabulary lessons, , readings, and signing practice.

Assignments: Homework assignments will be posted online in the Canvas digital classroom platform. Through Canvas, students will be asked to post short videos of themselves signing as homework. Enrolled students will be asked to review ASL 1 and 2 vocabulary, grammar, and facial expressions.

Assessments: The instructor will assign points using a class rubric for the parent's use in assigning a course grade. Course rubrics will evaluate students on their sign production, fingerspelling, ASL grammar, facial expressions including "above the nose" grammar (brows and body movement), and "below the nose" modifiers (lip expressions).

Textbook/Supply Fee: There is a supply fee of $45.00 payable to the online publisher for the digital access code for the interactive e-textbook, TRUE+WAY ASL for 3 units. With their subscription, students may also access a free searchable, bilingual ASL & English dictionary, called What's the Sign?

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

This is a 29-week class, with a non-meeting day of 4/23/2027.

Prerequisites: ASL II

Bee-come a beginner beekeeper! This series introduces students to the fascinating world of honeybees, exploring their behavior, life cycle, and vital role in our ecosystem. Students will discover how a hive functions as a highly organized community and learn about the remarkable process by which bees transform nectar into honey, a natural sweetener prized for thousands of years.

Third quarter, learn about honey harvesting, what makes some honey dark and other honey light, how to make amazing things with honey byproducts such as beeswax, and how to measure the quality of honey. Students will peer into an exciting refractometer to measure the moisture content of honey. They'll get hands-on with Jack's honey scale to grade honey color. Finally, they'll assume the roles of imaginary judges at a state or county fair, tasting and scoring honey on score sheets and naming the blue ribbon winner just like in real life!

Note: Since beekeeping can be a family affair, this is a family style class. Students of all ages and parents may enroll. Children under age 8 must have a parent registered with them.

Topics in this series: Dive Into the Hive (Quarter 1), Busy as a Bee (Quarter 2), Hello Honey (Quarter 3), and Sweet as Honey (Quarter 4).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turn up the tempo and take your musical skills to the next level! Advanced Beginner Band helps students strengthen technique, improve music-reading fluency, and tackle more challenging selections within Compass's comprehensive, multi-level homeschool band program.

Students in Advanced Beginner Band will meet and play together to continue to develop their skills on their selected instruments. To be considered for this level, students must have the following competencies on their chosen percussion, woodwind, or brass instrument:

• Minimum of one semester playing experience;
• Know how to assemble and disassemble the instrument correctly;
• Know how to properly care for and clean instrument;
• Demonstrate correct posture, hand position, and embouchure (woodwinds/brass);

Advanced beginner band students are expected to practice 15 minutes per day, 5 times per week. Parents will be asked to sign a weekly practice log, and students completing their target 75 minutes per week will earn small weekly incentives.

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

There is a $26.00 (wind instruments) or $32.00 (percussion) supply fee due payable to Compass on/before the start of class for the Level 2 instrument-specific music book.

Prerequisites: See description

Find your rhythm, refine your sound, and rise to the challenge of a performing ensemble! Intermediate Band is designed for experienced student musicians ready to develop greater independence, musical expression, and polished ensemble skills within Compass's comprehensive, multi-level homeschool band program.

Intermediate Band is designed for students who are ready to play more complex music, strengthen their technique, and develop greater confidence performing as a group. Students will rehearse several selections in preparation for a spring band event, such as a theme park performance, community park program, or public venue.

To be considered for this level, students must have the following competencies on their chosen percussion, woodwind, or brass instrument:

• Be able to play a concert B flat scale for one octave, minimum
• Play a short solo for the band director of at least 30 seconds. This can be played live over Zoom, recorded and submitted by email, or in-person at the meet-the-director party

Intermediate band students are expected to practice 20 minutes per day, 5 times per week. Parents will be asked to sign a weekly practice log, and students completing their target 100 minutes per week will earn small incentives. It is highly recommended that students additionally take private weekly lessons to develop techniques and nuances specific to their individual instrument.

There is a $15.00 supply fee due payable to Compass on/before the start of class for the for sheet music.

Prerequisites: See description

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

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

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

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

This full-year lab science course introduces classic biology topics updated for the 21st century. Biology studies living things and their relationships from microscopic to massive, ancient to modern, arctic to tropic. Our survey includes: (1) cellular and molecular biology, (2) ecology, (3) genetics, (4) biology of organisms (with selected human health and anatomy topics), and (5) evolution and diversity.

You will observe microscopic organisms and give monarch butterflies a health exam before tagging them for their 2,800 mile migration to Mexico. You will extract DNA, model its processes, and learn how scientists manipulate this magnificent molecule to make mice glow. You will observe animal behavior, test your heart rate, and practice identifying and debunking pseudo-science.

By the end of the course, students will be able to explain the nature of science as a system of knowing; cite evidence for foundational theories of modern biology; explain basic biological processes and functions; describe structures and relationships in living systems; outline systems of information, energy, and resources; demonstrate valid experimental design; discern ethical standards; relate their values and scientific ideas to decision-making; and apply biology knowledge to their own health.

Students are responsible for pre-reading and reviewing new material such as readings from the textbook and additional popular and scholarly sources, videos, and animations PRIOR to class meetings. In-person sessions focus on active discussion, clarification, exploration of content, review, modeling, and hands-on activities.

Labs address not only technical skills and sequential operations, but also forming testable predictions, collecting data, applying math, drawing conclusions, and presenting findings. Hands-on dissection, always optional, is taught with preserved crayfish and fetal pigs.

Sensitive issues: human reproduction is not taught separately, but mentioned as students learn about other, related topics such as sperm, eggs, stem cells, genetic disease, hormones, fetal development, breast-feeding, adolescence, and HIV. While there may be some debate-style discussion of topics such as GMO, abortion will not be debated. Birth control and sex education are not covered, but distinctions between gender and biological sex are discussed in detail in the genetics unit. Evolution is embedded in every topic, from molecular to ecological, inseparably from other content. It is addressed in a scientific context, not from a faith standpoint.

Levels: The course provides a substantive, full-credit experience on either an Honors or On-Level track. All class members share core material and participate in the same labs. Honors has longer or additional readings, more analytical work, and more thorough and difficult assessments. Brief, required summer assignments are due in August for those who elect to take Honors. Students register online for the same course, but must indicate which level they wish to study via e-mail by August 15. Students may move down a level (from Honors to On-Level) at any time.

Prerequisites: It is recommended that students are concurrently enrolled in Algebra or a higher-level math and have successfully completed a full-year science course prior to taking biology. Students should also be very strong, independent readers and able to understand graphs, tables, percentages, decimals, ratios, and averages.

Class Meetings: This class will be taught in a Hybrid format with an online lecture on Mondays (9:00 am - 9:55 am) over a live, online platform and in-person lab and activities on Fridays (9:30 am - 10:55 am). Registration for the Lab section will automatically enroll the student in the Lecture section.

Workload: All students should expect to spend 4-6 hours outside of class reading and preparing homework. Homework includes term cards, brief written responses, weekly online quizzes, unit tests, occasional lab reports, and some creative assignments including sketching. Students will sometimes prepare short, in-class presentations, participate in group projects, run simulations, or conduct simple experiments at home.

Assignments: All assignments will be posted on password-protected Canvas classroom management site. There, students access assignments; upload homework, take automated quizzes and tests; track grades; message instructor and classmates; and attend virtual conferences.

Assessments: Completed homework, projects, quizzes, and tests receive points and narrative feedback. Parents can calculate a letter grade using the student's points earned divided by points available, in weighted categories that include assignments, reading quizzes, tests, and participation and presentations. Parents may view all scoring and comments at any time through the Canvas site.

Textbook/Materials: Students must purchase or rent the textbook Biology Now: Third High School Edition (2022) published by WW Norton. A 360-day digital license directly from the publisher costs $53.00 HERE (ISBN: 978-0-393-54247-9) or $130 when bundled with a hardcover text (ISBN 978-0-393-54010-9). Used books may be available from past year's students. Core textbook readings are supplemented by the instructor with updated information drawn from sources such as peer-reviewed science journals, popular science publications, and podcasts.

Lab/Supply Fee: A lab fee of $130 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Supplies/Equipment: Students will need access to a computer/internet, compound microscope with 400X magnification and cool lighting, splash goggles, water-resistant/acid-resistant lab apron, kitchen or postal scale, 3-ring binder, approximately 400- 3"x5" index cards; and plain, lined, and graph paper. Some of these supplies are used at home. Weekly "Read Me First" web pages and class announcements on Canvas tell students what items to bring to class.

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

Prerequisites: Recommended: Concurrent enrollment in Algebra I and completion of a prior year-long science course

The best way to understand a biome is to build (a model) one! A biome is a large zone on Earth characterized by its climate, soil, vegetation, and organisms with special adaptations for the unique environment. In modeling biomes, students will learn how they are different than similar ecological concepts like habitats and ecosystems. Students will discover how human activities, such as deforestation and habitat destruction, are transforming biomes.

In this science-themed diorama class, students will be exposed to concepts such as trophic levels, the water cycle, biological competition, geographic isolation, convergent evolution, species diversification, natural vs unnatural climate change, food webs, habitat loss, and ecological niches, while they are working on their models.

Coral reefs are vibrant marine ecosystems found off coasts in warm, clear, shallow water. These underwater formations are formed by the accumulation of calcium carbonate skeletons produced by corals. Coral reefs provide habitats for an array of marine life, including colorful fish, sea stars, anemones, and larger predators like sharks and rays. The intricate reef structure offers shelter, breeding grounds, and feeding for countless ocean species.

Each student will create an individual diorama. Students will craft and hand-shape their scene on a 10 x 14 inch foam board using artistic, model-making techniques. They will customize their dioramas with landforms, waterways, plant life, and paint. Once individual projects are constructed, students will populate them with miniature figures and combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to create a larger terrain. Students will then compete in a zoology-based survival strategy game. Each student will create one board and receive a 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 series include: Mangrove Swamps (Quarter 1), Marshlands (Quarter 2), Coral Reefs (Quarter 3) and Deep Sea Trenches (Quarter 4).

Prerequisites: Minimum age 8

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

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

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

Prerequisites: None

The Checkmate Champs Chess Club meets weekly at Compass for supervised play. Students will be paired by experience and ability. Players are expected to be familiar with the basic rules of chess or be currently enrolled in a chess class. There will be no formal instruction during club meetings. Checkmate Champs is a friendly, low-stakes atmosphere where players will have the chance to play in person, OTB ("over the board") and practice winning and losing graciously, self-discipline, concentration, and critical thinking. Club members will learn about local tournaments and may chose to register and play as a team.

Two armies. One battlefield. Infinite possibilities.

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

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

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

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

Prerequisites: Beginner Chess

Two armies. One battlefield. Infinite possibilities.

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

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

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

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

Prerequisites: Advanced Beginner Chess

**Returning students meet for 1 hour (2:00 pm- 2:55 pm) first semester and for 2 hours (1:00 pm- 2:55 pm) second semester so they do not have to repeat instruction in Python coding.**

Imagine a phone app that could quickly reunite lost pets, connect the poor with resources that they need, or report a problem in the community! Code for a Cause is the Compass-based Technovation hub where middle school and high school girls will participate in the "world's largest technology entrepreneurship program for girls." Each year, Technovation teams solve real world problems through technology that they develop!
Through Technovation, girls work with women mentors, identify a problem in their community, develop a mobile app, and launch a startup. Since 2010, 140,000 girls around the world have developed mobile apps and small businesses to solve problems ranging from food waste and nutrition to women's safety, education, and much more. In this year-long program, girls will work in teams and learn the skills they need to change the world through technology.

First semester, the class will participate in team building activities and will be introduced to coding. Students will use Ozaria from Code Combat, a Python-based platform that applies stories and a gamified approach to teach the logic of coding and terminology. Once students understand these fundamentals, they will apply what they've learned in the PyCharm application outside of Code Combat's environment.

Second semester, students will form teams of 2-3 girls who will brainstorm and identify a community problem. They will propose a mobile app or AI solution to the issue and conduct market research to see if their idea is unique and feasible. Next, the team will begin developing an app following the Technovation curriculum using Python for the logic and Kivy for the Graphical User Interface. In class, girls will be coached step-by-step on the process of creating an interactive application. Finally, girls will learn how to brand their app, create a business plan, look at what it would take to bring the app to market and plan and record a pitch video for their app.

The weekly Technovation work sessions will be facilitated by an experienced Technovation coach and cybersecurity engineering student at GMU. In addition, there will be guest speakers spread throughout the semester talking on topics such as APIs, AI ethics, Marketing, Pitching to Investors, and more. Guest speakers in the past have had job titles such as CEO, Senior Cybersecurity Executive, Manager of Marketing and Communications, and Software Developer.

Participation in Technovation gives girls the confidence to pursue more computer science courses (70%) and the foundation to eventually major in computer science (26%). Technovation teams are in 100 countries, and the program is sponsored by Oracle, Google, 3M, Adobe Foundation, and others.

Level: All students will meet together, but student teams will compete in either Junior or Senior division depending the ages of the team members as of August 1, 2026: Junior Division is for girls ages 13-15, and Senior Division is for girls ages 16-18. In addition to the app and competition document, the Junior division has an additional submission of a User Adoption Plan. The Senior division has an additional submission of a Business Plan.

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

Assignments: Will be posted on Teams classroom for students, and key reminders will be emailed to parents.

Assessments: Students will receive informal feedback throughout the project.

Lab/Supply Fee: A software fee of $50.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class for access to Code Combat.

What to Bring: For this class, students should bring their laptop and charger. Chromebooks or Tablets cannot be used.

Non-Meeting Days: This is a 24-week class. In addition to the scheduled days-off on the published Compass schedule, this class will not meet on 12/18/26 , 3/12/27, 5/14/27, 5/21/27, plus one fall date TBD and one spring date TBD.

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

Welcome to the Compass Crochet Club- where creativity loops us together! Kids, tweens, and teens enjoy crochet because it's relaxing, hands-on, and lets them turn yarn into something uniquely their own. Whether they're stitching up scrunchies or crafting colorful creatures, it's even more fun when shared with friends in relaxing afternoon club.

For new beginners, Crochet Club is run as a facilitated, quarter long workshop that teaches the fundamentals needed to get crafting. Third quarter, Beginners will create a small throw using the Barclay's Stitch.

New students are welcome to join the club at any point during the year and will begin with foundational stitches and starter projects. Intermediate and advanced crocheters are encouraged to refine their skills, share tips and techniques, and serve as peer role models for newer members. More experienced participants may bring their own works in progress or contribute to meaningful service projects, such as crocheting NICU infant hats, caps for the homeless, or blankets for Project Linus. Parents are welcome to join the club and may register to learn and crochet alongside their children.

There is a $30.00 supply fee is due payable to the instructor on/before the first week of the club.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Registration for this program is by 16-week semester.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Cover-to-Cover, middle school-aged students will read renowned classics and award-winning young adult literature. This book discussion group will examine a different theme each quarter to introduce students to literary analysis. Students will read, examine, and compare two full-length novels that share similar themes through facilitated discussions and extension activities which encourage students to make personal connections to what is read. The group will evaluate themes, characters, setting, and writing style.

Third quarter, students will study the genre of Dystopian Literature with The Lord of the Flies by William Golding and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

Assigned chapters are expected to be read at home, either as read-aloud, individual silent reading, or listening to the unabridged audiobook. Students should come to class prepared to discuss the reading. Classroom discussions will emphasize the use of textual evidence when explaining thoughts and opinions. Students will be assigned creative, short assignments to enhance and demonstrate their understanding of each novel such as quote explications, thematic questions, or imagining a conversation between characters from different books.

Topics in this Series: Science Fiction (Quarter 1); Animal Tales (Quarter 2); Dystopian (Quarter 3); and Mystery & Detective (Quarter 4).

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

Supply Fee: Included

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

Prerequisites: Reading at Grade Level

Meet Triceratops, Tyrannosaurus rex, and Velociraptor! Travel millions of years back in time to the Cretaceous period, home to some of the most iconic dinosaurs of all time.

Third quarter, students will explore the rich and diverse world they lived in and discover how paleontologists piece together their history. Each class will include an engaging visual lesson and hands-on activities such as simulating an asteroid impact or building a Cretaceous garden of prehistoric plants. Students will complete their "field explorer" journal, creating a full bestiary from all three periods.

There is a $25.00 supply fee payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class. Topics in this series include: Triassic Time Travel (Quarter 1), Jurassic Jam (Quarter 2), Cretaceous Creatures (Quarter 3), and Museum Makers (Quarter 4)

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

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

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

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

Prerequisites: Minimum age 8

A shudder in San Francisco or a tremor in Tokyo may hit headlines- but what mysterious movements in Earth's mantle make continents quake and coastlines crumble? Relentless rivers, grinding glaciers, and wandering winds sculpt and scour the surface of our restless planet. Find out what further forces carve caverns, move mountains, forge fossils, and vent volcanoes. From the planet's fiery core to its powerful plates, Earth is a dynamic, dramatic sphere of stone and story.

Earth Science is an interdisciplinary field that unites geology, physics, and chemistry to explore the dynamic forces and phenomena on Earth. First quarter, students will examine the solar system, Earth's early history, orbital patterns, seasonal cycles, and long-term changes, including the emergence of water and the atmosphere. Second quarter, the class will focus on large-scale geology which includes plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain-building. Third quarter, students will investigate the water cycle, rock cycle, sedimentary geology, erosion mechanisms, and the cryosphere. Students will vote on fourth quarter's theme(s) from among topics like atmospheric science, oceanography, paleontology, or planetary science.

In this year-long laboratory science course, students will pair weekly discussions with hands-on experiments and activities such as rock classification, tectonics using an earthquake table, spectra/light analyses, and more. Students' laboratory work may also include citizen scientist projects using data and images collected by NASA and other institutions. Some lab activities will require laptops and spreadsheet software to analyze data.

Note: This Earth Science course is taught using current scientific models and evidence-based frameworks. The class includes topics such as planetary formation, geologic time, plate tectonics, fossils, and geologic dating. As part of studying the fossil record and geologic time, students will examine observable changes in species over time. The course does not focus on evolutionary mechanisms or theories in depth, but will address patterns of change as they relate to Earth's history and paleontology. All content is presented within prevailing scientific frameworks and may differ from some faith-based interpretations of origins. Families are encouraged to review the course description to ensure it aligns with their educational preferences.

Level: Earth Science is an ideal introduction to high school science and recommended for most 9th graders. The course combines rigorous scientific thinking with topics that are concrete and easy to visualize, such as weather, rocks, and oceans. Students practice data analysis, graphing, and evidence-based reasoning without the need for advanced mathematics. This course builds strong foundational skills and academic discipline needed for future laboratory sciences.

Prerequisites: Students must be concurrently enrolled in Algebra or a higher-level math. 8th graders may only enroll if they are enrolled in Algebra I and have successfully completed Compass's Integrated Middle School Science class, a year-long equivalent, or obtain permission from the instructor.

Class Meetings: This class will have two class meetings per week- an in-person lecture on Mondays (10:00 am - 9:55 am) and in-person lab and activities on Fridays (9:30 am - 10:55 am). Registration for the Lab section will automatically enroll the student in the Lecture section.

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

Assignments: All assignments will be posted on password-protected Canvas classroom management site. There, students access assignments, upload homework, take automated quizzes and tests, track grades, and message the instructor and classmates.

Assessments:Completed assignments and quizzes will be assessed points. Parents can calculate a letter grade using the student's points earned divided by points available, in weighted categories that include assignments, labs, quizzes, tests, projects, and presentations. Parents may view all scoring and comments at any time through the Canvas site.

Textbook/Materials: Students will use an open source (no cost) digital textbook from Virginia Tech: https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/1264. Students will need to bring a laptop to some lab sessions.

Lab/Supply Fee: A lab fee of $100.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

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

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

Prerequisites: Co-Requisite: Algebra I

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 journey begins at the highest point on earth Mt. Everest. The class will journey through Asia and India and see how these land masses have changed over geologic time. Why are there elephants in India and Africa, but not in the Middle Eastern lands that connect them? Students will follow the elephant's trail through time and explore the African continent and the world s largest rift valleys where the earth is literally tearing apart!

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.

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?"

Third quarter, the class will learn about the careers of Mechanical Engineers and their responsibility for designing, constructing, testing, and maintaining functional devices and machines from ships to appliances, turbines, and vehicles. Students will model mechanical engineering challenges with projects such as a mechanical claw, catapults, tetrahedral kits, pneumatic devices, and a contraption to rescue an animal who is stuck in a drain pipe.

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: Electrical Lab (Quarter 1); Civil Lab (Quarter 2); Mechanical Lab (Quarter 3); and Green (Sustainable) Lab (Quarter 4).

This American Literature course is designed to prepare students for college-level academic writing. Students will strengthen their critical reading and textual analysis skills by examining the concept of the American Dream and exploring what it means to be American through texts spanning the 18th century to the present. Throughout the course, students will read and respond in writing to both fiction and nonfiction works. Written assignments will emphasize rhetorical analysis, with a focus on subject, purpose, and audience.

Literature: Third quarter will explore the themes of Voice and Identity in the Harlem Renaissance through Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and other selections from the period.

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

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

Topics in this Series: Freedoms & Foundations (Quarter 10), Promise & Illusion (Quarter 2), Voice & Identity (Quarter 3), and War & Memory (Quarter 4).

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

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

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

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

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

Supply Fee: Included

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

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

Prerequisites: British Literature or the Equivalent

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supply Fee: Included

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

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

Prerequisites: American Literature or the Equivalent

From script to screen-bring your project to life! Building on the script(s) developed in the first semester, students will move into the full production process as they shoot and edit their own short films. Under the guidance of a local award-winning filmmaker and author, students will gain real experience on a film set, applying creative skills, and problem-solving on the go.

This course is a creative studio that emphasizes the art of filmmaking and the design elements that bring stories to life on screen, including costumes, sets, and acting. Students will execute key roles within a film crew, such as director, director of photography, and production support positions, while learning how a set operates from start to finish. They will collaborate to plan scenes, organize shoots, and manage the logistics of production.

Students will receive introductory exposure to camera techniques, lighting, and sound. Editing is a central component of the semester, as students use editing software to assemble footage, refine pacing, and produce a cohesive final product. The class emphasizes teamwork, visual mastery, and adapting to real-world production challenges. The semester culminates in the completion and presentation of a short film, created individually or in small groups, showcasing each student's work from production through final edit.

For more in-depth instruction on the technical aspects of filmmaking, students are encouraged to enroll in the one of the companion technical filmmaking classes.

Schedule & Expectations
This course requires extended filming sessions outside of regular class time. Three extended filming days are built into the schedule, and attendance is essential. Students should arrange transportation to locations near Compass and arrive fully prepared with props, costumes, equipment, and memorized lines. Some additional flexibility may be required due to weather, illness, or unavoidable logistical issues.

• Monday, March 8 (Week 8): 2:00 - 6:00 pm
• Monday, April 5 (Week 10): 2:00 - 6:00 pm
• Monday, April 12 (Week 11): 2:00 - 6:00 pm

Editing will take place during Weeks 12- 15. Barring any unforeseen issues, the course will conclude with a Red Carpet Premiere for families and friends at Compass on Monday, May 17 (Week 16) at 2:00 pm

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

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

The corresponding French I description follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bonjour and welcome to the second year of high school French. This is a conversation-focused program in which students will build their vocabulary quickly and learn essential grammar skills in French. Students will cover the broad themes and vocabular for: my family and my friends, celebrations, shopping, high school, a typical day, and the good old days.

The class will begin with a review of adjective-noun agreement, negations, and regular -er, ir-, and -re verbs. They will review and continue to expand their list of irregular verbs such as avoir (to have) and etre (to be). Students will be introduced to the passe compose and Imparfait (imperfect) tenses, and they will learn how to use negations, direct and indirect pronouns, and reflexive verbs with present, past, and imperfect tenses. The class will practice comparative and superlative statements, and will continue to have brief cultural lessons integrated in their units.

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

Prerequisite: French I

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

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

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

Textbook: Students should purchase or rent the required textbook for this class: Bien Dit! Level II: Student Edition Level 1 2018 edition (ISBN-13 978-0544861343)

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

Prerequisites: French I

Salut! French with Friends is an introductory French class for elementary-aged students. The class will be taught in a predominantly immersion environment. Limited cues in English will be used to prompt students or explain difficult concepts. French language instruction will be presented in a natural learning sequence beginning with nouns (such as colors, numbers, clothing, foods, animals, family members, days/dates, etc), adjectives, beginning verbs, greetings, and simple phrases. Songs, games, stories, and hands-on activities will be used in class to review vocabulary and phrases. Emphasis will be on conversation, but students will be encouraged to learn to spell and sound out written French. Aspects of Francophone culture such as holidays, foods, and traditions will be incorporated in the classes.

Each quarter introduces new themes and new vocabulary in French, so continuing students can continue to build their language basics. However, themes and units are non-sequential, so students may enroll in this level in any quarter. The goal of this introductory course is to lay foundations in sounds, vocabulary, and simple phrases while having fun and building confidence in a foreign language. Fluency should not be expected at this level.

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is a complete course in high school Geometry 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. Students will learn deductive reasoning, and logic by completing geometric proofs. Topics in geometry include: lines, angles, congruence, concurrence, inequalities, parallel lines, quadrilaterals, transformations, area, similarity, right triangles, circles, regular polygons, and geometric solids. Students will explore these topics through class discussions, practice problems, and open-ended problem solving.

Prerequisite: Students should have a solid foundation in Algebra I in order to take this class.

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: Geometry: Seeing, Doing, Understanding, 3rd edition (ISBN-10 0716743612, ISBN-13 978-0716743613) A calculator is not needed for this course.

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

Prerequisites: Algebra I

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why do Latter-day Saints baptize the dead, the Amish prefer plain horse-and-buggy travel, and some West Virginian churches practice perilous serpent handling? If questions like these spark your curiosity, you are ready to explore the fascinating world of global religions!

In this deeply philosophical course, we'll dive into the major religious traditions that shape civilizations around the globe. Students will examine Protestantism, the Latter-day Saint Movement, Native American and other indigenous beliefs, UFO cults, televangelism, anabaptist descendants (such as the Amish), neopaganism, and more. The class will consider the rituals, tenets, and distinctive creeds of each tradition.

Students can expect to learn through engaging visuals (such as maps, architecture, and wardrobe), provoking discussion, and music (such as hymns and hauntingly beautiful chants). Respectful participation is key and sense of intrigue is required.

Your instructor brings both academic depth and lived experience to the classroom. With two degrees in history and extensive field experience in world religions- including five years teaching Catholic education, three years as a historian for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and even officiating weddings for a Druid community- Ms Megale offers a unique and welcoming perspective on the world's belief systems.

Workload: Students will receive optional reading suggestions to supplement their learning. Lecture based with occasional group activities.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Did history really happen the way we are told? Who controls the story? What evidence can you trust?

Students will explore famous conspiracies and declassify cover-ups, including the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the curious reign of the Romanov dynasty, and the Watergate scandal.

Students will analyze timelines, examine historical accounts and discoveries, and evaluate evidence to weigh competing theories behind each mystery. Through guided discussion and intriguing lectures, they will use critical thinking to distinguish credible explanations from speculation, determining for themselves what might have happened and why these mysteries continue to endure.

Topics in this series include: Lost Worlds (Quarter 1), Unexplained Encounters (Quarter 2), Conspiracies & Cover-Ups (Quarter 3), and Gadgets and Guesswork (Quarter 4).

Homeschool musicians who play violin, viola, cello, or bass are invited to join this homeschool string ensemble! Musicians will have an opportunity to develop orchestral skills and enjoy the experience of practicing, playing, and performing as a group. The ensemble will start each week with tuning and warm-ups such as playing musical scales and simple exercises. Then the musicians will work on several group songs each semester where they will improve musical literacy, learn to follow the directions from the conductor, and learn to play in different keys-- as a group. During the final session of the semester, a concert will be held for friends and family.

This ensemble is intended for advanced beginner, intermediate, and advanced strings students who are concurrently enrolled in private lessons. As a guideline, a student should be able to play a D major scale in two octaves on his/her instrument to be prepared for string ensemble. Students are expected to be able to locate notes on their instruments, read music and be able to identify all rhythmical patterns.

The instructor will provide the ensemble repertoires, and these arrangements will be specially composed to accommodate the range of abilities of all stringed players in the ensemble. Participants are expected to prepare and practice at home for at least 15 - 20 minutes per day. The cost of the cost of photocopied music is included.

Wish you could take sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, and urban planning – but don't have room in your high school schedule? Human geography brings these together in the study of people, places, and cultures, asking two powerful questions: “Where?” and “Why there?” It explores how languages spread, why religions cluster, how migration reshapes cities, and where new technologies take root. It traces epidemics across borders, maps the rise of global pop culture, and investigates the disappearance of endangered languages. Human geography explores questions like: “Why do we find K-Pop karaoke in Cairo, Nigerian neighborhoods in Newark, and curry cuisine in Camden?” This is the classic interdisciplinary course for people interested in everything!

Human Geography is a year-long, multi-level high school social science course which examines how human activity and the surface of our planet interact. Seven themes from the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) Human Geography are covered: (1) nature and perspectives of geography; (2) population and migration; (3) cultural patterns and processes; (4) political organization of space, (5) agriculture, food production, and rural land use, (6) industrialization and economic development, and (7) cities and urban land use.

Levels: Three levels meet together: On-Level, Honors, and Advanced Placement (AP). Course materials are written at a college level, but amounts and types of homework are differentiated. Honors incorporates more analysis and writing; AP requires additional reading, writing, and AP skills practice. Some content and essay writing addressed on Mondays will be required for AP but optional – though beneficial – for Honors and On-Level.  All students register online for the same course. By August 1, students must designate their intent to take On-Level, Honors, or AP. Once the course begins, students may move down a level (from AP to Honors or Honors to On-Level) at any time, but may not "bump up.”

Class Meetings: There will be two weekly class meetings: (1) Mondays online from 10:00 am – 10:55 am in a virtual classroom with live instruction and synchronous participation and (2) Fridays in person from 12:00 pm- 12:55 pm. Monday virtual class meetings are recorded for those who cannot participate as scheduled.

Calendar: This 29-week course follows the Compass calendar with a few exceptions, including an earlier, staggered start online to accommodate AP testing. AP students will receive two weeks of online, asynchronous content beginning Monday, August 17 and Monday, August 24, with homework due each Thursday. During their third online week, AP students will be joined by Honors and On-Level for the first joint Monday meeting on August 31. Homework for all levels will be due that Thursday, September 3 and subsequent Thursdays. Friday in-person meetings begin September 11. The last day of class will be Friday, May 7, 2027. Check the course calendar for a few additional days off, assignments due on non-meeting days, early finish, etc.

AP-Level Option: Students wishing to enroll at the AP level must receive instructor approval. Consistent with the College Board’s support for open access with preparation, approval is meant to give families an accurate assessment of AP work, not to discourage interested and academically prepared students. Students who have previously taken a course with this instructor may seek approval through a brief conversation or Canvas Inbox. Students new to the instructor must complete a short questionnaire and brief written assignment based on a sample textbook chapter. The College Board allows students in ninth grade and above who enroll and complete this course at the AP level to designate it as “AP” on their transcript; and one quality point may be added when calculating GPA.

The AP Human Geography exam fee (May 2027) is not included in tuition. Families are responsible for registering and paying for their student’s AP exam at their local public high school by the end of October 2026.

Workload: Students should expect to spend 4-5 hours per week outside meetings for reading and homework, regardless of level. As noted above, AP students have summer work with Thursday assignments due August 20 and 27. Beginning September 3, all levels have Thursday homework.

Assignments: All assignments will be posted on a password-protected Canvas classroom site. There, students access assignments, upload homework, take automated quizzes and tests, track grades, view scores and narrative feedback, and message instructor and classmates. Parents, who need their own "observer" accounts on Canvas, may easily view assignments, scores, and other feedback. If Compass does not already have a separate email address for your student, please provide one by August 1 so the instructor may send separate student and observer invitations via Canvas.

Assessments: Completed homework, projects, presentations, quizzes, tests, and class participation are graded and receive points and other feedback from the instructor. Parents can calculate a letter grade using the student's points earned divided by points available; the instructor has programmed an automatic gradebook that does this in Canvas, based on a scale derived from several area high schools.

Textbook/Materials: All students must purchase or rent the 2021 (1^st) edition of Human Geography for the AP Course (ISBN 978-1319192242) by Hildebrandt ("red chili peppers" cover). AP students also need Advanced Placement Human Geography, 2nd ed, (ISBN 978-1663609663) by David L. Palmer (“handprint” cover).

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

Prerequisites: Instructor approval for AP level

Inside the Music is a fun, interactive guide to understanding how music really works. Designed for both instrumentalists and singers, this year-long program builds essential musicianship through games, movement, listening, and creative activities that make learning feel engaging, not overwhelming.

Students explore the fundamentals of music theory- from reading notes on the staff to understanding rhythm, pitch, scales, and chords through hands-on experiences and interactive classroom activities that reinforce each concept. Whether a student is just beginning or wanting to strengthen existing skills, this class provides a clear, structured path to deeper musical understanding and greater confidence.

Third quarter, students will develop a strong musical ear by learning to listen actively and connect what they hear to what they play or sing. They build skills in identifying steps, skips, and simple intervals by ear, recognizing major and minor sounds, and echoing rhythms and melodies with confidence. Activities include call-and-response exercises, listening games, and musical memory challenges.

Each quarter focuses on a different core skill and stands on its own, so students can join at any time and still gain meaningful, complete learning. This class is an excellent complement to private lessons, ensembles, or independent study, helping students move beyond simply playing music to truly understanding it.

Topics in this series include Rock the Rhythm (Quarter 1), Practice Pitch & Pattern (Quarter 2), Engage Your Ear (Quarter 3), and Compose & Create (Quarter 4).

Why do Mentos candies in Coke make a fizzy mess? What makes the different colors in fireworks? How can lizards grow new limbs? Middle schoolers can find the answer to these and dozens of other intriguing questions through science!

This year-long, hands-on science course is a survey of key concepts in the fields of Life Science, Physical Science (chemistry and physics), and Earth Science which will give 7th and 8th grade students the fundamentals they need to tackle high school-level Geology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Environmental Science. Topics covered in this course will not only provide a foundation for higher level science, but will also boost the student's confidence and fluency in discussing scientific issues, applying scientific terminology, and using scientific equipment. Content covered in this course will also enable a teen to become a more educated reader and consumer of scientific news and information.

General life science themes include life cycles, food webs, scientific classification, cell structure, and human body systems. Topics in chemistry include states of matter, atomic structure, elements and the Periodic Table, and chemical reactions and solutions. Themes in physics include motion, position, speed and acceleration, weight (mass), gravity, friction, buoyancy and density, and electricity and magnetism. The earth science unit will cover the rock cycle, minerals, rocks, fossils, weathering and erosion.

In this class, students will learn about the principles of scientific investigations and engineering practices, the Scientific Method, and preparation of formal lab reports. They will practice taking measurements, recording data, converting units of measure, and related mathematical concepts such as significant figures, International System of Units, scientific notation, graphs, and data analysis. Students will learn how to provide evidence to support explanations and solutions for their investigations.

This class is appropriate for a tween or teen who has had limited middle school level science and who wants to prepare for high school science.

In general, a topic will be discussed one week and then the corresponding lab or activity will be performed in class the following week. Microscope work will be used in some life science labs.

Meeting Dates: This is a 29-week course witht the week off to be announced.

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

Assignments: All class announcements and assignments will be communicated via a Google Classroom.

Assessments: Informal, qualitative and constructive feedback will be given on submitted assignments. A quantitative score/grade will not be provided.

Textbook: Students should purchase Everything You Need to Ace Science in One Big Fat Notebook: The Complete Middle School Study Guide by Workman Publishing (ISBN # 978-0761160953)

Materials: Students should bring the following supplies to each class: colored pencils, glue stick, pens or pencils to write with, and a ruler. In addition, a laptop computer will be needed some weeks in class for data collection and some weeks at home for online quizlets.

Lab/Supply Fee: A lab fee of $100.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Credit: This course is not recommended as a high school credit.

Prerequisites: 6th Grade Math

Building on foundational skills, this course moves into the clinical side of veterinary medicine, where students learn how to recognize, assess, and respond to illness and injury in animals. Students explore how veterinary teams diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions using observation, testing, and critical thinking.

Topics include common diseases and parasites, wound care, infection control, and emergency response. Students are introduced to diagnostic tools such as lab work, imaging, and patient history, and learn how veterinary technicians assist with procedures, administer medications, and support recovery.

Through case studies and real-world scenarios, students practice problem-solving and clinical reasoning while gaining insight into the fast-paced environment of veterinary care. This course is ideal for students considering careers in veterinary medicine, animal science, or related health fields.

Textbook/Materials: A community college-level textbook will be selected and identified by August 1

Workload:Students should anticipate 1 to 2 hours of homework each week.

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

Lab Fee:There is a $40.00 labe fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in Career Exploration/Elective/Science for purposes of a high school transcript. (Full credit for both semesters.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Red Stripe

- 360 Defense and Headlock Release

• OrangeStripe

- Inside Defense and Release from Front Choke

• Yellow Stripe

- Using Your Environment and Wrist Grab Releases

• Green Stripe

- Kick Defense and Ground Choke Release

• Blue Stripe

- Body Defense and Shirt Grab Releases

• Purple Stripe

- Protecting Others and Ground Headlock Release

• Brown Stripe

- Ground Strike Defenses and Bearhug Releases

• Black Stripe

- Ground Kick Defenses and Back Choke Releases

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

What to Bring: Refillable water bottle.

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

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

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

LEGO Robotics Challenge League is a dynamic, semester-long team experience where students dive into real FIRST LEGO League (FLL)- style challenges in a high-energy, collaborative environment. Students work in teams to design, build, and program robots while tackling a complete FLL challenge from a previous season. This league format gives students the opportunity to experience the full scope of FLL without the intense 6- 10+ hour weekly commitment of official competition teams.

Participants are divided into smaller teams that compete in exciting in-house robotics challenges, testing their designs, strategies, and coding skills against one another. Along the way, students develop critical 21st-century skills in engineering, programming, problem-solving, and teamwork. As teams iterate, test, and refine their robots, they build confidence, strengthen communication skills, and experience the thrill of competition in a supportive, engaging setting.

Throughout the semester, students will complete a full FLL challenge, including the Robot Game and elements of the Innovation Project. They will gain hands-on experience with LEGO Spike Prime components and use drag-and-drop coding to program autonomous robots. No prior robotics or programming experience is required, though familiarity with LEGO Technic components (gears, beams, and axles) is helpful.

FIRST LEGO League (FLL) is a globally recognized robotics program that combines engineering, research, and teamwork. Each year's theme challenges students to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems in areas such as the environment, transportation, accessibility, and exploration. In addition to the Robot Game, students engage in brainstorming, research, and design while practicing the engineering design process: build, test, refine, and improve.

At its core, LEGO Robotics Challenge League emphasizes both competition and collaboration. Students encourage and support one another while striving to improve their designs and performance. Inspired by FLL's Core Values- discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork, and fun- this program fosters both technical skill and character development. While teams compete in-house throughout the semester, this league focuses on growth, creativity, and the excitement of engineering in action rather than participation in regional competitions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Middle School Social Club is a biweekly get-together for students ages 12 - 14 who want a fun, low-pressure way to meet other middle schoolers, build friendships, and enjoy time together outside the classroom.

Every other week, students will take part in supervised group games, icebreakers, team challenges, and other collaborative activities designed to get everyone talking, laughing, and participating. Past activities have included field-day games and sand volleyball (outdoors), "Honey, I Shrunk the Middle Schooler!" (jumbo games such as giant Twister, Jenga, UNO, and checkers), BINGO, making personal pita pizzas, watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", and puzzle- and riddle-based group challenges.

Activities will vary from meeting to meeting, with an emphasis on participation, teamwork, conversation, and simply having fun with peers.

What happens when empires fight across the seas? Discover the age of exploration and conflict, from Spanish conquests to rival nations battling for land and treasure in the New World. As European wars spilled overseas, powerful navies clashed and carried riches across the Atlantic. When those wars ended, unemployed sailors turned to piracy, plundering ships and carving out their own fortunes.

Students will choose from among several options for their diorama: a battlefield, seaports, or a medieval town. Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, and historical maps, students will create a 12" X 18" diorama board and populate it with 1:72 scale historical figures. 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 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 battles progressed and test different outcome scenarios that might have occurred with different battlefield choices. Students will also receive dozens of miniatures to re-enact the historical battles! 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: Vikings Invade Europe(Quarter 1), Charlemagne Builds an Empire (Quarter 2), Pirates Plunder the New World (Quarter 3), Napoleon Falls at Waterloo (Quarter 4).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Prerequisites: Preparation for Pre-Algebra or Equivalent

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 or purchase the class text: EP Math 5/6 Workbook (ISBN# 979-8643323693).

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million. 77% of teens ages 12-17 have cell phones. One out of every two youth voters cast a ballot in 2020. From election polls to stock market data and weather reports to medical test results, statistics and probability are all around us. They are quoted in the podcasts we listen to, the news we watch, and the textbooks and articles we read. Statistics and probability are used in almost every field of study and career for forecasting, decision making, and tracking progress. In 2021-22, the government will release a tsunami of 2020 census statistics about our country's population. (Coincidentally, the odds of a tsunami hitting the east coast- less than the Powerball win.) But statistics and probability are also often misused, misquoted or incorrectly applied, so having a solid understanding of what these numbers represent will help make teens informed consumers and decision-makers.

This course will explore the collection and analysis of data, inferences and conclusions, and the use of this information. Themes include relationships between variables, gathering data, interpreting categorical versus quantitative data. The class will also cover sample surveys, experiments, and observational studies and evaluate randomness and probability. Finally, students will learn about making inferences, justifying conclusions, and using probability to make decisions.

Prerequisite: Students should have a solid foundation in Algebra I and Geometry in order to take this class. It is an ideal class for a student who needs an additional credit in high school math, but who may not wish to pursue more advanced mathematics courses such as Algebra II and Pre-Calculus.

Levels: The course provides a substantive, full-credit experience on either an Honors or On-Level track. All class members share core material and participate in the same class lectures. Honors students will receive additional, more challenging problems. Students register online for the same course but must indicate which level they wish to follow by the first day of class. Students may move down a level (from Honors to On-Level) at any time.

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: The required textbook for this class is "Stats In Your World" 1st edition by David E. Bock (ISBN-13: 978-0131384897).

Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a complete credit in Probability & Statistics for purposes of a high school transcript.

Prerequisites: Algebra I

Do you want to learn the world's fastest growing programming language that is used by Google, NASA, YouTube and the CIA? Python is a versatile, easy-to-learn beginner-level programming language and gateway to foundational concepts in computer science.

Second semester, students transition from writing simple scripts to building more complex, data-driven software using professional tools and workflows. Students begin by learning version control with Git and GitHub, establishing habits used by real-world developers. They will then explore core data structures, including lists and dictionaries, and learn how to store, organize, and manipulate collections of data. As their programs grow in complexity, students will practice iterating through data, handling errors with try/except blocks, and working with nested structures to model real-world systems. Instruction will also introduce function scope, modules and libraries, and file input/output, allowing students to create programs that are modular, reusable, and capable of saving data. Emphasis is placed on algorithmic thinking, including basic searching techniques, as well as ethical coding practices and proper attribution of sources.

This is a highly hands-on semester, with projects such as list makers, dice roller, digital dictionary, password generators, and interactive graphics programs. The course culminates in a midterm data management project and a final project in which students design and code a mini-game like Hangman or Wordle, demonstrating their ability to structure, organize, and implement code like a developing software engineer.

Prerequisites:Completion of Algebra I

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

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

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

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

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

Prerequisites: Python, Semester 1

Skip the takeout and make it yourself! Many of your favorite restaurant dishes can be recreated right at home with fresh ingredients and full control over what goes into your food. By cooking them yourself, you can avoid preservatives and additives while cutting costs. Get the flavor of dining out without ever leaving your kitchen.This quarter, Compass chefs will make:

• Chipotle's Queso Blanco
• Chick-Fil-A's Kale Crunch Salad
• Outback Steakhouse's Walkabout Soup
• Panda Express' Beijing Beef
• Chick-Fil-A's Grilled Chicken Sandwich
• Chuy's Jalapeno Dip
• IHOP's Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberry Butter
• Nothing Bundt Cake's Vanilla Classic

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

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

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 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.

Student engineers will be challenged to design, build, and program a robot to explore a simulated Martian challenge. Each rover will have to fit in a mock Mars lander and be able to drive out the lander door, down a ramp, and onto the Mars surface. Once in the Compass Mars environment, each lander must be able to maintain a course while driving over a bumpy terrain and pick up and collect red rocks while ignoring Martian rocks of other colors.

Student engineers will be challenged to design, build, and program a robot to complete several unique mazes in the fastest possible time. Students will learn to program their robots to make "decisions" when exploring an unfamiliar maze such as "go straight until you encounter a wall" and "turn to the right if you run into an obstacle."

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).

Standardized test scores continue to play an important role in college admissions- especially for homeschooled students. Test scores provide colleges with a trusted, objective measure of academic readiness. Even at test-optional schools, strong PSAT or SAT scores can strengthen an application, open doors to merit scholarships, and help students stand out in a competitive pool.
Students will learn to approach the test strategically, decode challenging questions, and improve both accuracy and confidence. This class is designed to remove the stress and mystery surrounding standardized admissions tests so students feel prepared and capable. Each week, students will build skills for both the math and English sections, gaining a clear understanding of test design, question types, and varying levels of difficulty in reading, grammar, and math. They will learn effective strategies for tackling multiple-choice questions, reading passages for comprehension, and making smart decisions when they are unsure of an answer. Rather than serving as a short-term cram session, this class focuses on teaching lasting techniques that students can apply whenever they choose to take a standardized test. The instructor will also provide a structured study plan for test-ready students and offer guidance on key aspects of the college admissions process. By the end of the course, both students and parents will have a clear understanding of the SAT testing process and feel confident in navigating the challenge of the test experience.
Prerequisites: For this class, students should be reading and have comprehension at or above grade level and have completed Algebra I. While geometry is included on the tests, completion of geometry is not assumed. Geometry formulas are provided within the tests, and the instructor will teach how to find and apply those formulas.
Workload: Students should expect to spend one hour per week on homework for this class. Assignments: Prior to the start of class, each student should have taken a scored, practice PSAT or SAT exam (found on the College Board website). All other assignments will be made in class and e-mailed to parents/students.
Assessments: Students will take a variety of in-class and at-home time, practice test sections. The instructor will not provide additional assessments beyond the practice tests.
Textbook: Students should purchase the
What to Bring: Students should bring their test book, notebook/paper, and a TI-83 or equivalent calculator to class to practice math questions that permit the use of a calculator. Phone calculators cannot be used.

Prerequisites: Algebra I

Little kids will learn the basics of hand sewing and discover it is "sew simple" to create fun things they can play with and use every day. Third quarter, little kids will sew an adorable dino family and their Jurassic accessories: a t-rex, stegosaurus, triceratops, baby dino in an egg, a palm tree, and a volcano.

Kids will learn practical sewing skills such as pinning and placement, a running stitch, attaching a button, scissor skills, and stuffing. The group will be working with pre-cut felt components from kits that will be enhanced with buttons and accessories. Since students may work at different rates, some projects may not be completed in class and will be sent home to finish sewing with the newly learned skills. Students should be at age/grade level for fine motor skills for this class and should be a minimum of age 6.

Topics in this series include: Plushie Pets (Quarter 1), Silly Sea Stuffies (Quarter 2), Dynamic Dinos (Quarter 3), and Cute Critters (Quarter 4). There is a supply fee of $35.00 due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

In this joyful, play-based class designed for young children ages 4 - 5, children will explore the building blocks of reading through fun and engaging phonological awareness activities. Using research-backed strategies inspired by the work of David Kilpatrick and the Zgonc Phonological Awareness Skills Program (Z-PASP), this course will help children develop key pre-reading skills through movement, music, rhythm, and interactive games.

Children will develop awareness of syllables, rhyming, alliteration, and the individual sounds in words (phonemes) through playful exercises. Activities include clapping syllables, sound matching scavenger hunts, oral blending and segmenting games, and rhyming songs. The class is designed to meet children where they are developmentally and nurture their language skills in a supportive, social environment.

Buenas tardes! Spanish Exploradores (Explorers) is a fun, immersive introductory Spanish class for older elementary students. Much like learning their native language, students will be exposed to the sounds, vocabulary, and phrases in Spanish through songs, games, stories, and hands-on activities. The teacher will bring objects each week to give students tangible, hands-on examples of the vocabulary being introduced. In this level, students will be encouraged to begin to combine adjectives with nouns and nouns with verbs.

Each quarter introduces new themes and new vocabulary in Spanish, so children can continue to build their language basics. However, themes and units are non-sequential, so students may enroll in this level in any quarter. While the theme might be the same as that of a younger level of instruction, more vocabulary will be introduced at the older level.

Limited cues in English will be used to prompt students in the first few weeks. The goal of this introductory course is to lay foundations in sounds, vocabulary, and simple phrases while having fun and building confidence in a foreign language. Fluency should not be expected at this level.

Recommendations/Workload: Students should be at grade level for reading in English and should be able to copy words from the board. Students will be expected to take notes, write new words, and complete activities with new vocabulary and short readings. Some homework will be assigned.

Textbook: Students will be working from Viva el Espanol- System B (ISBN #978-0076029648) from McGraw-Hill. Compass pre-purchases copies of this book from the publisher. A supply fee of $26.00 is due payable to Compass on/before the first day. Students will only need to purchase this book the first quarter they are enrolled.

Que pasa? Get ready for an exciting year of high school Spanish. This course is conversation-focused and designed to help students expand their Spanish vocabulary and grammar skills while learning to communicate in practical, real-life situations. Through engaging, culturally rich lessons, students will develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities in Spanish.

In this course, students will continue to build vocabulary around everyday topics, including daily routines, household chores, family activities, health and wellness, travel and transportation, shopping, and dining out. The curriculum will also explore cultural aspects of Spanish-speaking countries, such as popular celebrations, traditions, and regional differences, helping students make meaningful cultural comparisons and deepen their global awareness.

Grammar will continue to be taught in context, practiced through conversation, and reinforced with interactive activities. Students will review present tense verb forms (including stem-changing and irregular verbs) and will deepen their understanding of reflexive verbs, direct and indirect object pronouns, and the preterite tense of both regular and irregular verbs. Students will also be introduced to basic uses of the imperfect tense, comparisons, sequencing words, and more complex sentence structures that allow for more expressive communication in Spanish.

Class will be conducted primarily en espanol to build fluency and confidence in the language. A strong emphasis will be placed on listening and speaking through partner activities, role-plays, storytelling, question-and-answer practice, and real-world scenarios. Reading and writing tasks will further support spoken communication and deepen comprehension.

At home, students will be responsible for completing vocabulary and grammar activities, writing short responses or dialogues, and watching engaging immersion videos. This course will help students continue developing their ability to use Spanish in real-life contexts and lay a solid foundation for future language study.

Levels: The course provides a full-credit experience in either the Honors or On-Level track. All class members share core material and meet together. Honors level has additional readings, more detailed writing assignments, and more rigorous assessments. Students register online for the same course, but must indicate which level they wish to study via e-mail by August 15. Students may move down a level (from Honors to On-Level) at any time.

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

Assignments: Are sent by e-mail to parents and students. Students must have access to a computer for videos that are assigned.

Assessments: Quizzes and tests will be scored with a points system that parents can use in calculating a grade.

Textbook: This class will be using a Spanish language curriculum from Voces Digital which includes an online textbook, video clips, interactive media, and digital quizzes. Students must pay a digital access fee of $16.50 to Compass by Venmo, Zelle, cash or check. Once paid, students will receive an access code to set up their account. Hard copy textbooks are available through the publisher for an additional fee for students who prefer physical copies. (The digital portal access will still be needed.)

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

Prerequisites: Spanish I

Buenas tardes! Spanish Para Estudiantes is an immersive introductory Spanish class for middle school students. In a natural learning progression, students will be exposed to vocabulary and phrases in Spanish through in-class activities, interactive games, role playing, and conversations.

This is a conversation-focused class where students are encouraged to speak in class. Vocabulary and phrases will be introduced in thematic units such as weather, time, members of the family, clothing, food, places in town, hobbies and sports, holidays, etc. As students learn new vocabulary, they will be encouraged to begin to combine adjectives with nouns and nouns with verbs in short phrases, often in mock conversations with classmates.

Grammar will be introduced as it comes up in conversation and in phrases. Students will be exposed to pronouns, noun-verb agreement, adjective-noun agreement, familar vs. formal, ordinal and cardinal numbers, comparisons and superlatives, and more. They will learn present tense regular and irregular verbs as well as command and question structures and infinitive phrases.

This class is structured as predominantly immersion with cues provided through props/objects and gestures. Limited cues in English will be used to prompt students in the first few weeks.

Recommendations/Workload: Students should be at grade level for reading in English. Students are expected to take notes in class, and homework will be assigned.

Textbook: Students will be working from 5th edition "Spanish is Fun- Lively Lessons for Beginners"(ISBN 978-1634199285) from Amsco. Compass will pre-purchased copies of this book to ensure everyone has a copy for $34.00. Students will only need to purchase this book the first quarter they are enrolled.

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 instructor 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 sounds, vocabulary, and simple phrases while having fun and building confidence in a foreign language. Fluency should not be expected at this level. Who knows, your child might just come home singing their new favorite Spanish nursery rhyme!

Successful social skills help children navigate nearly every aspect of their lives. Building confidence in social settings can improve self-esteem and increase comfort in group environments- whether at school, in sports, trying new activities, spending time with family, or connecting with friends.

While all children benefit from strengthening social skills, some need additional guidance and practice. In this class, students will work with an educational specialist and former school counselor to develop practical strategies for common social challenges. Topics include conversation skills, recognizing and expressing emotions, perspective-taking, managing stress, communicating with parents, building friendships, and navigating sibling relationships.

This small-group class is highly interactive and engaging, incorporating games, role-playing, video examples, modeled behavior, and hands-on activities to reinforce learning.

Students benefit most from participating for multiple quarters. While some activities are repeated for reinforcement, new content is introduced regularly. As new students join, the group dynamic evolves, providing opportunities to practice skills in varied, real-life scenarios. Over time, children build greater confidence and comfort in their social interactions.

Note: This class is designed for neurotypical children. It is not intended as a therapeutic or clinical intervention for children who may require more specialized support.

The tantalizing aroma of cookies in the oven. A mouth-watering burst of mint. The silky feel of melted chocolate. The sticky sweet of fresh-made caramel. A subtle hint of lemon. Student bakers will enjoy these delicious sensations- and more- as they explore the world of baking homemade desserts.

Sweet Shop treats are scrumptious, fun, and simple to make. Each week they will prepare a fresh, handmade dessert or sweet such as: pies, cakes, cookies, tarts, trifles, mousses, puddings, candies, fudge, brittle, or chocolate. The class will include some icing, decorating, and garnishing techniques for completed desserts. This quarter, the Compass bakers' culinary adventures will include:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Prerequisites: None

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.

Prerequisites: None

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.

Intermediate level is for students who are proficient in Advanced Beginner level skills such as swimming one length of the pool (25 yards), performing elementary backstroke, and becoming comfortable in deep water. Intermediate swimmers will cover Levels 3 of the YMCA program including elementary breaststroke, backstroke, front crawl with rotary breathing all at 25 yards, with work towards Level 4 skills including stamina and increasing all swimming to 50 yards or more, plus breast stroke, elementary butterfly stroke and kick, elementary dives, and turns.

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.

Prerequisites: None

Teen writers will take inspiration from other writers in this semester-long creative non-fiction workshop:

• • "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." - Maya Angelou
  • "Good stories are not written. They are rewritten." - Phyllis Whitney
  • "You may not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page." - Jodi Picoult

This quarter will cover the basics of writing creative using examples of Flash Nonfiction and Literary Journalism (topical nonfiction). Each week, students will read an essay that demonstrates a particular narrative technique, perspective, or topical approach and then complete a writing exercise designed to emulate that technique. The class will culminate in sharing any essays that may develop out of these exercises in a workshop setting.

Topics in this Series: Creative Writing (Semester 1) , Creative Non-Fiction (Quarter 3), The Personal Essay (Quarter 4) Students continuing from first semester receive priority pre-registration for second semester.

Prerequisites: Reading/writing at a high school level (9th grade or higher)

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

Assignments: Weekly reading assignments will be posted on Google Classroom. Students will need their own email addresses to access the system, and parents may be set up as additional "observers" to their teen's account.