Compass News & Announcements: Week of January 16-20


Welcome to winter quarter! The days may be short, but the list of Compass opportunities is long! We welcome our new and returning families!

(1) Registration for 3rd quarter (second semester) classes is ongoing! Compass welcomes last minute, same day, walk-in, or late registrations in classes that have openings.

(2) Classes Starting: Most classes begin the week of January 16. Watch for e-mailed class reminders. Enrolled families should receive an e-mail for each class their child is registered for. Please open and read these e-mails because they contain the teacher’s name, teacher’s email address, room assignment, plus details on supply fees and any days that are scheduled off in that class.

(3) Martin Luther King Jr Day: Monday classes will meet on January 16 even though it is federal holiday. Classes will also meet on President’s Day on Monday, February 20

(4) Private Instruction/Tutoring is available at Compass, by Compass teachers/partners in math, reading, writing, study skills, college prep, SAT/ACT prep, French, Spanish, Mandarin, history, and science. Also, one-on-one, private lessons or small group semi-private lessons are available in sewing, chess, piano, voice, violin, flute, clarinet, ukulele, recorder, guitar, and now, drumming. See the Private Instruction/Tutoring webpage, stop by the Front Desk, or email Compass to inquire.

(5) Winter/Spring Baking Workshops Posted: Chef Mimi has scheduled two chocolate-making workshops and two cookie-baking/decorating classes for Valentines Day. Weekend cooking/baking workshops are open to siblings, friends, and neighbors who do not ordinarily come to Compass. See the Registration Page for:

  • Valentine’s Tasty Truffles- Kids: February 5, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
  • Valentine’s Tasty Truffles- Tweens/Teens: February 5, 1:30 pm- 4:30 pm
  • Valentine’s Cookie Creations- Kids: February 11, 10:00 am- 1:00 pm
  • Valentine’s Cookie Kitchen with Decorating- Tweens/Teens: February 11, 1:30 pm- 4:30 pm

(6) Academic Competitions: Compass is host to a variety of academic competitions in the winter. Register for these on the Activity Fees Page:

  • AMC8 Math Exam (up to 8th grade) will be administered on Thursday, January 19, 2023, from 3:30 pm- 4:10 pm.
  • Greater Fairfax Homeschool Geography Bee (grades 4-8) will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, from 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm.
  • Junior Spelling Bee (ages 5-8) will be held on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, from 3:30 pm- 4:15 pm
  • Senior Spelling Bee (ages 9-15) will be held on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, from 4:00 pm- 6:00 pm

(7) President’s Volunteer Service Award: Students ages 6-18 are encouraged to earn the PVSA through Compass for community service work that they complete between 9/1/22 and 8/31/23. Read about award details online and sign up on the Activity Fees webpage. The award is provided at no cost to Compass students or other homeschoolers in northern Virginia. Students from other areas and those that are not homeschooled can pursue the PVSA through the Volunteer Scholars program.

(8) SAVE-THE-DATE- Winter Teen Party: Watch for upcoming details for the teen winter party on Saturday evening, February 18.

(9) SAVE-THE-DATE– Annual Valentines Exchange: The annual Valentines Exchange will take place February 8-14. Participating children will drop off decorated “mailboxes” on February 3, 6, or 7, and pick up their full boxes on February 15-17. Participants will need to prepare approximately 75 Valentines to pass out. Watch for more details and a link to sign up the last week in January.

(10) Are You Getting News? Make sure you are getting all of the Compass news! Check your email settings to make sure admin@compassclasses.com and support@compassclasses.com are on your safe senders list. If you use Gmail, check for Compass emails in your Promotions or spam folders. Please add the Compass phone number 703-539-5075 to your phone so you recognize a call or text from us. Finally, follow Compass on Facebook and Instagram for updates that go out through social media.

(11) Curriculum Donations: The Scholarium Foundation, a Compass-affiliated non-profit, accepts donations of new/like new homeschool curriculum, children’s books, educational games, math manipulatives, etc. Materials need to be less than 5 years old and have no writing or used/missing pages. Donated materials are resold to raise money for the President’s Volunteer Service Awards, and tax deductible receipts are available.

(12) Winter Weather: In the event of inclement weather, Compass will make an announcement by 7:00 am about whether or not to close or cancel a portion of the day’s classes. Compass does not strictly follow the lead of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).  A closure or delay of FCPS does not automatically mean that Compass will close or delay for inclement weather. Instead, the Compass director and staff will evaluate weather and road data and make an independent determination. This decision will be posted on the website home page, on the Compass Facebook page, and by e-mail to all enrolled students and instructors.

Meetings & Gatherings in the Coming Week:

Partner Programs:

(12) YMCA Day Passes/Child Care: Parents who must wait while their children are in class have a new option. The Reston YMCA is offering Compass family day passes for $10.00 (regularly $30.00/day to the public). The YMCA is just 0.9 miles from Compass with a clean, bright facility housing cardio equipment, weights, lap pool, gymnasium, sauna, and more. Parents with young children can place them in the spacious, YMCA-staffed ChildWatch center for up to two hours of free childcare during their workouts (8am-12pm only). The enrolled Compass student(s) must be age 8+ for the parent to leave the campus for this opportunity. Purchase Compass Day Pass at the YMCA front desk.

(13) Smart Minds Learning offers a Sunday school program teaching Arabic language classes and Islamic studies on Sundays at Compass from 10:00 am- 1:00 pm. Contact Smart Minds Learning for more information.

(14) Dance Fitness Class: Homeschool parent Mawada M. leads a ladies-only, Zumba-style dance fitness class on Sundays at Compass from 10:15 am – 11:15 am. There is an $8.00 per person weekly drop-in fee. Contact Mawada at 571-263-1997 for more information.

(15) Inner Power Life Coaching for Kids is offering two 6-week workshops at Compass: The Confidence Journey (help kids conquer fear, uncertainty, self-doubt and learn to move outside comfort zone with “I can do it mindset”) and The Power of Habit (develop effective habits). Taught by certified child life coaches. Every Saturday, Jan 28 – Mar 4 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. Contact Inner Power at wisdom.innerpower@gmail.com or (571) 420-1848 to enroll or for more information or ask for a flier at the Compass front desk.