Compass News & Announcements: Week of November 10-18

(1) Early Registration for 3rd quarter (second semester) classes opens Tuesday, November 15, at 6:00 am. See the full list of winter classes HERE or pick up a copy of the paper schedule worksheet at the front desk. Students in 9th-12th grade classes receive priority registration for the continuations of their classes. Parents should watch for links to complete priority registration.

(2) Annual Paint-Your-Own-Pottery Party: Students can get a head-start on holiday gifts and special keepsakes at our annual pottery painting event! Paint personalized ceramic mugs, bowls, plates, figurines, or ornaments. Register for start time of 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, or 1:00 pm on November 15, 16, or 17, and pre-pay for either 1 or 2 items. Completed pieces will be returned on Monday, November 28. Sign up HERE.  

(3) Holiday Sweets & Treats Workshops: Kids, tweens, and teens can join holiday fun and festivities when they learn to bake and decorate delicious sweets and treats in half-day weekend workshops in the Compass kitchen. Sign up for these on the Compass Class Registration page:

  • Cookie Academy- Tweens: Saturday, Nov. 19, 10:00 am- 1:00 pm
  • Cookie Academy- Teens: Saturday, Nov. 19, 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
  • Cookie Academy- Kids: Sunday, Nov. 20, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
  • Chocolate Crafters- Tweens: Saturday, Dec. 3, 10:00 am- 1:00 pm
  • Chocolate Crafters- Teens: Saturday, Dec. 3, 1:30 pm- 4:30 pm  
  • Deck-the-House Gingerbread Workshop- Little Kids: Sunday, Dec. 4, 11:00 am- 12:30 pm
  • Deck-the-House Gingerbread Workshop– Kids: Sunday, Dec. 4, 1:00 pm- 3:00 pm

(4) Calendar Reminders: Compass is open, and classes are scheduled on Friday, November 11. Compass is closed, and there are no classes during Thanksgiving week, November 21-25. The last week for most fall classes is December 12-16. Make-ups for some fall cancellations will be the week of January 9. Families should watch for e-mails about make-ups.

(5) Sewing Workroom: Compass is trying to build its community of tween, teens, and adults who sew. Like an old-fashioned quilting bee or a sewing circle, Sewing Workroom is a dedicated drop-in sewing work session each week. The next 4 sessions of Sewing Workroom are offered at NO COST in hopes of building the group. Participants will enjoy the camaraderie of working alongside other seamstresses and seamsters of all abilities. Sewing Workroom is overseen by an experienced sewing instructor. Bring all of your own materials. Parents are welcome to participate on their own or with their child(ren) ages 10+, and adult community members and teachers are invited. Those who crochet or knit are welcome. Sewing Workroom meets on Mondays at 3:00 pm. Drop in- Room 1.

(6) Academic Competitions: Compass is host to a variety of academic competitions. Registration has just opened for our annual Geography Bee and Spelling Bees. Register for most of these on the Activity Fees Page:

  • AMC10 Math Exam (up to 10th grade) will be administered on Wednesday, November 16, from 4:30 pm- 6:00 pm.
  • AMC8 Math Exam (up to 8th grade) will be administered on Thursday, January 19, from 3:30 pm- 4:10 pm.
  • Math Kangaroo (1st-12th grade) will be administered Thursday, March 16, 2023. Register by December 15 through the Math Kangaroo USA website HERE. Search by state to find the 3 test times offered at Compass.
  • 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) Compass Collaborative Newspaper: The Compass student newspaper needs elementary and middle school contributors to submit brief articles such as book or movie reviews or write-ups on favorite field trips or destinations. In addition, student art is needed (drawings, paintings, comics, etc.) Students may drop by the Compass desk right after art class to have their work scanned or photographed for the newspaper. In addition, we need student accolades for the ‘Congratulations’ column. If your child has won an award, recognition, scholarship, been admitted to college, or other honor, please drop us a note: TheCompassCollaborative@gmail.com

(8) Middle School Look-Ahead: Parents of middle school students in 6th-8th grade are invited to a casual presentation and facilitated Q & A discussion about key skills to master in middle school to be ready for high school- whether homeschool or brick-and-mortar- and what the homeschooled option can look like. Wednesday, November 16 at 3:00 am. Sign up HERE.

Compass Partner Opportunities:

(9) 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, trumpet, flute, clarinet, ukulele, recorder, and guitar. See the Private Instruction/Tutoring webpage, stop by the Front Desk, or email Compass to inquire.

(10) YMCA Day Passes/Child Care: Parents who must wait while their child is 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-staff 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.

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

(12) Dance Fitness Class: Homeschool parent Mawada M. leads a ladies-only, Zoomba-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.

Meetings & Gatherings in the Coming Week: