First quarter has flown by, with just two weeks of classes remaining! As we welcome fall, Compass has a very full calendar ahead, packed with extra events, activities, and opportunities for the whole family.
CLASSES/REGISTRATION
📅 2nd Quarter Fall Registration: Registration is open and ongoing for the 7-week fall quarter that begins on October 26.
🏷️ Early Registration Discount: The 10% Early Registration Discount for 2nd quarter classes ends on Friday, October 16, 2026 at midnight
⏰ In-Progress Class Registration: If you see a semester-long or year-long class that you would like to join, contact Compass to see if there is room and what the prorated class fee would be.
🏋️ Featured- FUNctional Fitness & PE Classes: Because of the popularity and full rosters of the Tuesday and Thursday classes, Compass has added FUNctional Fitness classes on Mondays and Wednesdays and is welcoming Coach Donny Smith, a seasoned fitness and strength training coach to teach some sections.
📚 Featured- Reading Rally Classes: Make reading unforgettable with rich stories, vivid characters, and books students actually want to read. In this small-group literature class, students cover a coordinated language arts curriculum with comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills through engaging books. Reading Rally is offered at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade levels.
🏊 Featured- Homeschool Swim Classes: Compass Homeschool Swim classes are taught at the nearby (0.9 miles) Reston YMCA for beginners, advanced beginners, and intermediate swimmers in small group classes of 3-5 swimmers in K-6th grade. Choose from Tuesday or Thursday morning lessons.
SPECIAL EVENTS
📖 Annual Homeschool Book Fair: Hundreds of titles and educational resources will be on sale from PaperPie- the parent company of Usborne Books, Smart Lab Toys, and more- on October 13- October 15, 2026. Shop this in-person sale for books, puzzles, manipulatives, and more. An experienced rep will be on hand with suggestions for different reading levels, various learning styles, gift ideas, and more. Enjoy the special Compass Buy 4, Get One More offer (in-person purchases only). Buy items “off the shelf” or order from the extensive catalog. Browse or order online if you can’t shop in person. Special orders pay no shipping if picked up at Compass. This sale is open to the public, from10:00 am- 3:00 pm, in the Suite C Commons, 510 Herndon Parkway.
🦴 National Fossil Day: Stop by the Suite D lobby on Wednesday, October 14 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm to celebrate National Fossil Day with fossil exhibits and a take-home fossil specimen to start your collection (supply limited).
🌿 Curious Naturalists Field School: Join senior master naturalist and environmental educator Sevim Kalyoncu for a bi-weekly small-group, guided family exploration. Registration is by date- go on one outing or several. Sign up on Compass’s Special Events Registration page:
- EC Lawrence Park (10/16/2026)
- Walker Nature Center (10/30/26)
- Riverbend Park (11/13/26)
- Reservoir Park at Beaverdam Reservoir (12/4/26)
🗺️ Field Trip Fridays: Join Compass Community Relations Manager Kerry Diederich for a monthly group field trips around the region where fun and learning combine while building community. Registration is by date- go on one field trip or several. Sign up on Compass’s Special Events Registration page.
- Colvin Run Mill (10/23/26)
- Cox Farms (11/6/26)
- Medieval Times (12/4/26)
🍳 Chef’s Specials: Join Chef Mimi for special, curated menus every other Friday. These 3-hour workshops feature a collection of recipes or cooking styles that cannot be completed in a regular, 55-minute class. Registration is by date- take one workshop or several. Sign up on Compass’s Special Events Registration page.
- Sushi from Scratch (10/23/26)
- Eating Through History- Medieval Fare (11/6/26)
- Kids’ Own Thanksgiving (11/20/26)
- Deck-the-House Gingerbread Workshop (12/4/26)
- Christmas Cookie Academy (12/11/26)
📅 Get Your Stuff Together! is a practical, interactive 2-session workshop on October 19 and October 26, 2026, from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm that helps teens build a personalized organization system for managing schoolwork, schedules, files, deadlines, and responsibilities. Students will test real-world tools and routines between sessions, then return to refine what works and leave with a system they can use more independently. Sign up on the Special Events Registration page.
📸 School Pictures: Photographer Angela Goodhart will take “school” photos the week of October 19-23, 2026. There is no sitting fee, and weather permitting, photos are taken outdoors in a natural setting. Sign up online through Sign-Up Genius:
- Monday, October 19
- Tuesday, October 20
- Wednesday, October 21
- Thursday, October 22
- Friday, October 23
🖌️ Special Effects Make-Up Workshops: Learn ghastly and ghoulish make-up tips from a special effects industry professional on October 23, 2026. Learn Blood, Bruises & Battle Scars from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm or Creatures & Corpses from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Register for one or both workshops. Sign up on Compass’s Special Events Registration page.
🏆 Fall Volunteer Scholars Awards Ceremony: Students who earned the American Volunteer Service Award, American Citizenship Award, or National Distinguished Student Leadership Award through Compass must attend the annual award ceremony on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm in the Activity Room.
🩸 Red Cross Blood Drive: Compass’s chapter of the homeschool National Honor Society is hosting its 2nd annual blood drive on October 29, 2026. Donate blood between 10:00 am – 3:00 pm to help community hospitals and trauma centers and help the honor society earn a scholarship for a graduating Compass senior. Call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit RedCrossBlood.org Enter: COMPASS in “Find a Drive” to schedule your appointment.
🎭 “Happily Never After” Teen Fall Costume Party: Saturday evening, November 7, 2026, from 7:00 pm- 10:00 pm. Compass high school students ages 14+ and their guests enjoy music, games, and refreshments. Tickets are now on sale on Compass’s Special Events Registration page.
👻 “Once Upon a Fright” Middle School Fall Costume Party: Sunday afternoon, November 8, 2026, from 5:00 pm- 7:00 pm. Compass middle school student ages 12-14 enjoy music, games, and refreshments. Non-Compass guests cannot be accommodated at middle school events. Tickets are now on sale on Compass’s Special Events Registration page.
CLUBS
🏅 National Honor Society: Homeschooled teens in 9th-12th grade are invited to join Compass’s chapter, Alpha Rho, of the National Homeschool Honor Society. The group meets twice a month on Fridays from 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm with one meeting and one service project per month. Read about qualifications and complete an application from the chapter website. Contact the advisor (hsaalpharho@compassclasses.com) about a “provisional membership” for students who have an upcoming or scheduled qualifying test score. Drop in on Friday, October 16, from 3:15 pm- 4:30 pm in room C-24 for a Compass honor society alumni panel discussing the college and post-college experiences. National Honor Society is open to non-Compass homeschooled teens.
❓ Quiz Bowl: Students in 5th-12th grade are invited to participate on Compass’s middle school and high school Quiz Bowl teams. Students who love facts, trivia, and knowledge, are invited to practice for bees (individual) or bowls (team events). Members meet over Zoom bi-monthly on Thursday afternoons from 3:00 pm- 4:00 pm and in-person before tournaments. Sign up on the Compass Club Registration page.
➗ Crazy 8s Math Club: Math like you’ve never seen it before! In Crazy 8s Math Club, kids experience math as something active, social, and genuinely fun. This national curriculum features high-energy games and hands-on challenges that appeal to students in grades 3-5 of all ability levels. Strengthen skills in addition, subtraction, and factoring while exploring number patterns, fractions, measurements, geometry, sequences, spatial reasoning, and more. The club meets on Wednesday afternoons from 3:00 pm- 3:55 pm. Sign up on the Compass Club Registration page.
🤸 Urban Motion Parkour Club: Push your limits! Teens train on real parkour obstacles, learning to vault, climb, and hurdle across obstacles with precision and power. With expert coaching and a high-energy setting, this club builds strength, agility, and confidence while giving teens the thrill of mastering movement. This club meets at Reston’s Mindshift Gym on Friday afternoons from 3:30 pm- 4:30 pm. Sign up on the Compass Club Registration page.
🚧 Build Zone Construction Lab: Kids can mix, match, stack, snap, and connect more than 10,000 building components to create solo masterpieces or giant collaborative builds. Build Zone is a supervised free-build club is designed for relaxed socializing and creative problem-solving, with no formal lessons or curriculum. Build Zone is for students in 2nd-6th grade and meets weekly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, OR Thursdays from 3:00 pm- 4:00 pm. Sign up on the Compass Club Registration page.
🩰 Ballet Theater Club: Dancers will learn original choreography created for Alchemy Ballet’s Andalusian-themed Nutcracker while developing coordination and artistry. Ballet Theater Club is for students in 3rd-6th grade. The group meets next door to Compass in the 510 building on Thursdays, from 3:00 pm- 3:55 pm. Sign up on the Compass Club Registration page.
🧶 Crochet Club: Spaces remain in Compass Crochet Clubs for 2nd quarter. Kids, tweens, teens and some parents relax, create, and connect while turning yarn into something uniquely their own. New beginners learn crochet fundamentals and experienced crocheters get support on more complex projects in this quarter-long guided workshop. Crochet Club meets Tuesdays OR Wednesdays from 3:00 pm- 3:55 pm each week. Sign up on the Compass Club Registration page.
♟️ Checkmate Champs Chess Club: Spaces are available for students who want to play chess over-the-board with other homeschooled kids in a friendly, low-stakes gathering. The group meets on Thursday afternoons from 3:00 pm- 3:55 pm each week. Sign up on the Compass Club Registration page.
🎉 Middle School Social Club: Kids in 6th-8th grade (ages 12-14) are invited to meet bi-weekly on Wednesday for supervised games and icebreakers. Sign up on the Compass Club Registration page.
LOOK AHEAD
📿 Mini Mosaic Jewelry Workshop: Create a one-of-a-kind piece of wearable art with longtime Compass teacher Shona D’Cruz using delicate mini millefiori, tiny ceramic and glass tiles, and natural stones. Choose from a pendant, bracelet, or pair of earrings while learning miniature mosaic techniques on Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm. Sign up on Compass’s Special Events Registration page.
🎨 Paint-Your-Own-Pottery Party: Paint, personalize, and create at this annual Compass event. Sign up Tuesday – Thursday, November 17 – 19 to transform unglazed pottery into one-of-a-kind works of art, personalized keepsakes, and unique holiday gifts. Choose a one-hour painting session and pre-pay for one or two pottery pieces. Registration is Coming Soon on the Special Events Registration page.
🦃 Thanksgiving: Compass is closed and classes do NOT meet during Thanksgiving week, November 23 – 27, 2026.
🎿 Homeschool Ski Adventures: Enjoy a day on the snowy slopes of Liberty Mountain Resort, skiing with homeschool friends. Choose the Full Adventure Package which includes group transportation or a Meet-Us- There Package, both including equipment rental, a lesson, lift ticket, and lunch. The bus departs Compass at 8:30 am, with lessons and skiing from approximately 10:30 am – 3:00 pm and return around 5:00 pm. This is a family event with parents and siblings welcome. Non-Compass homeschool families are welcome. This can be a drop-off event for students 10+. Choose 1, 2, or all 3 dates: Wednesday, January 27; Monday, February 8; or Monday, February 22. Registration is now open on the Special Events Registration page.
♟️ Grandmaster Gambit Simultaneous Chess Tournament: Take on Grandmaster Rashad Babaev in an exciting simultaneous chess exhibition as he plays dozens of boards and games at once! Compete individually, with a partner, or as a team and see if you can outplay the grandmaster while he keeps track of every game in the room. Youth teams, family groups, adult players, and non-Compass individuals/teams are welcome. It takes a community to defeat a Grandmaster. Saturday, January 30, 2027, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm. Registration is Coming Soon on the Special Events Registration page.
🌍 Geography Bee: The annual NoVA Homeschool Geography Bee will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2027 at 4:00 pm for homeschooled students in 4th-8th grade. Registration is now open on the Special Events Registration page.
🔤 Spelling Bees: The annual Junior Spelling Bee will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2027, at 4:00 pm for homeschooled students in K-2nd grade (under age 9). The annual Senior Spelling Bee will be held on Wednesday, March 3, 2027 at 4:00 pm for homeschooled students in 3rd-8th grade (under age 15). Registration is now open for both bees on the Special Events Registration page.
RESOURCES
👚 Spirit Wear: Compass apparel is now on sale! Select short sleeve t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirts, and hoodies from a range of colors and styles in youth and adult styles. The online shop from Reston Shirt is open through November 1! Buy now for cooler weather or for holiday gifts. Delivery will be in mid-November.
🎓 Compass2College gives homeschool students a structured four-year roadmap for navigating high school and preparing for competitive college admissions, with guidance on coursework, transcripts, GPA, testing, essays, leadership, service, and internships. Separate Foundations (grades 9–10) and Scholars (grades 11–12) levels provide age-appropriate support so families can plan ahead rather than scramble during senior year. Enroll in C2C on the Special Events Registration page.
✏️ Private Tutoring: Private tutoring is available on campus in math, writing, reading/comprehension, French, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, Arabic, Russian, sewing, cooking, executive functioning skills, and more. Ask at the Front Desk or contact Compass through the Private Tutoring/Lesson Request Form with your needs and availability.
🎵 Individual Music Lessons: Individual music lessons are available on campus in piano, guitar, ukulele, voice, violin, viola, trumpet, drumming, song writing, and music theory. Ask at the Front Desk or contact Compass through the Private Tutoring/Lesson Request Form with your interest and availability. Lesson slots are filling up quickly.
🗂️ Co-Working Offices: Six co-working offices are available for rent ($20-1 hour, $35-2 hours, $45-3 hours) for parents who must work or take video calls while their children are in class. Parents must email Compass to ask to be added to the Skedda room reservation system where they can reserve and pay for office space.
REMINDERS
Halloween Costumes at Compass: Students may wear costumes to Compass the week of October 26 – 30 subject to the following costume guidelines:
👻 Age-Appropriate: Costumes with excessive or realistic blood and gore are not allowed, as they may frighten our youngest students.
🎭 Dress Modestly: Costumes should follow the regular Compass dress policy regarding modesty and appropriate coverage.
🧤 Stay Functional: Avoid costumes or accessories that interfere with class activities—for example, furry claw gloves in art class, full-face masks in lab, or dresses in PE.
✨ Skip the Mess: Costumes that shed glitter, sequins, feathers, or other materials are not permitted.
📏 Mind the Size: Oversized costumes, such as inflatables or large box-style designs, are not allowed.
🍪 Safety First in Cooking Class: No costumes of any type are permitted in cooking or baking classes.
🧵 Take Care of Your Costume: Compass is not responsible for costumes that are damaged during class or play or for accessories left behind.
🧠 Use good judgment: Choose a costume that is fun, comfortable, safe, and considerate of others.
📋 Dress Code: Families are asked to review the Compass dress code with their students. Shirts must be full-length and cover the abdomen, shorts and skirts must be fingertip length, and undergarments must remain completely covered. These and the other dress code guidelines help ensure that attire is appropriate for Compass’s mixed-age educational environment.