1st Quarter classes begin the week of September 8, 2025.
You can see key dates in our Google calendar or view our Academic Calendar. You can also view the schedule as a grid (below) or as a list.
Quarter beginning September 8, 2025 |
Wednesday
Private Math Tutoring- Virtual (55 min)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Private Math Tutoring - David Chelf
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
1st-Adult
BioChemistry Basics
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Why does too much caffeine give you insomnia? Does Gatorade after exercise really help? How does ibuprofen make pain go away? Answers to these questions and thousands more can be found in the field of biochemistry. Biochemistry is the 20th century branch of medicine that uses chemistry to study biological processes in living organisms at the cellular and molecular level. Biochemistry has connections to the fields of genetics, microbiology, forensics, immunology, and medicine. In this class, students will overview atomic structure and electron orbitals to understand how and why chemical bonds form. They will learn about the bipolar properties of the water molecule and several common chemical groups in order to understand and predict the behavior of larger molecules. Students will become familiar with the major classes of macromolecules present in living organisms (carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and fats) and use classic chemistry experiments to identify unknown macromolecules. The role of each type of macromolecule in your body's cells will be discussed. Students will investigate environmental conditions that can affect the structure of proteins and will design their own experiment to explore the ability of a protein to maintain its function after exposure to factors that will disrupt its native structure. In the DNA extraction lab, students will learn how each reagent they use is functioning on a biochemical level to enable the release of cellular DNA. Students will be invited to choose what source they would like to extract DNA from. The class's final investigation will be to understand how protein enzymes and nucleic acids work together in the processes of transcription and translation to produce new proteins. Topics in this Series: BioChemistry Basics (Semester 1), Decoding DNA and Genetics (semester 2). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $40.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.
10:00 am-10:55 am
7th-8th
(Semester Long)
Electricity is Elementary! Battery Blast
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Kids are curious about electricity- the magic that powers the toys, games, and electronics they love. In this class, kids will experiment with aspects of electricity- conductors, batteries, and circuits- to take the mystery out of electricity and inspire future engineers. Learn about electricity basics such as atoms and what makes a material a conductor or an insulator. In the first investigation of electric circuits, students will use their own bodies to complete a circuit that lights up LED lights and sounds a siren! The class will learn about open and closed circuits and discuss why the human body has a current. Students will learn to use a volt meter and measure their own body's voltage. Next, the class will explore the conductivity of fruits and vegetables. Kids will be asked to bring one or more samples of fruits or veggies from home to measure the voltage, experiment on, and compare results. They will also build circuits with these foods and experiment with attaching power sources in series to increase the voltage. The third area of exploration will be building paper circuits. Students will apply the principles they learned to build a light-up postcard. Finally, the class will learn about magnetism, what a magnet is, and why it behaves that way. Students will explore which items are attracted to a magnetic and which are not, and they will share their findings. Next, they will make their own magnets out of paper clips. We will discuss the magnetic poles of the earth and build a compass, to discover where we are. Topics in this Series: Battery Blast (Quarter 1); Cool Conductors (Quarter 2); Simple Circuits (Quarter 3); and Super Circuits (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $25.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.
11:00 am-11:55 am
1st-2nd
Experimenting with Electricity: Battery Blast
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Students will learn how to think like electrical engineers as they learn about conductors, batteries, and circuits to understand how electricity powers the things they use every day. Learn about electricity basics such as atoms and what makes a material a conductor or an insulator. In the first investigation of electric circuits, students will use their own bodies to complete a circuit that lights up LED lights and sounds a siren! The class will learn about open and closed circuits and discuss why the human body has a current. Students will learn to use a volt meter and measure their own body's voltage. Next, the class will explore the conductivity of fruits and vegetables. Kids will be asked to bring one or more samples of fruits or veggies from home to measure the voltage, experiment on, and compare results. They will also build circuits with these foods and experiment with attaching power sources in series to increase the voltage. The third area of exploration will be building paper circuits. Students will apply the principles they learned to build a light-up postcard. Finally, the class will learn about magnetism, what a magnet is, and why it behaves that way. Students will explore which items are attracted to a magnetic and which are not, and they will share their findings. Next, they will make their own magnets out of paper clips. We will discuss the magnetic poles of the earth and build a compass, to discover where we are. Topics in this Series: Battery Blast (Quarter 1); Cool Conductors (Quarter 2); Simple Circuits (Quarter 3); and Super Circuits (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $25.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
3rd-4th
Kids' Chemistry Lab: Atoms & Molecules
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Kids can understand basic chemistry when they can touch it and test it! In this hands-on class, kids will learn about the structure of atoms and how that accounts for the predictable behavior of molecules. They will learn about the periodic table and make 3D models of atoms and electron orbitals. Kids will learn to differentiate between different types of bonds (ionic, hydrogen, Van der Waals, covalent, polar covalent). They will perform both reversible and irreversible chemical reactions and learn how to identify each group. Kids will experiment with endergonic and exergonic reactions while learning to think about how energy is stored and released in the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. Kids will even try their hand at writing simple chemical formulas. Finally, students will design and run experiments to demonstrate gas laws using temperature, pressure, and volume. Topics in this Series: Kids' Chemistry Lab: Atoms & Molecules (Quarter 1); Kids' Chemistry Lab: Properties of Matter (Quarter 2); Kids' BioChemistry Lab: Manipulating Molecules (Quarter 3); and Kids' BioChemistry Lab: Discovering DNA (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $25.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
5th-6th
Reading Rally: Red Group 2 (Sem 1)
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
Reading and writing affect a student's achievement in all aspects of schoolwork, so strong language arts skills are fundamental to success in homeschooling and beyond. This weekly class is a small group of 3-6 students* who read and write at a similar level. Students follow a comprehensive language arts curriculum under the guidance of an experienced reading specialist. Each class meeting will include a short story with select vocabulary words, a graphic organizer, main themes, and embedded learning objectives. Students will continue to practice language arts skills at home with easy-to-implement "page a day" workbook activities assigned by the instructor and implemented by the parents. For most early elementary learners, enrollment in Reading Rally can serve as a complete, self-contained language arts curriculum where families will not need additional resources in reading, comprehension, composition, spelling, and grammar. Weekly readings are organized around thematic units. The instructor will teach students how to approach a new story as a fun reading puzzle. For example, before reading aloud in class, students will conduct a "picture walk" to overview and predict elements of the story from the illustrations, review a graphic organizer to assist in writing sentences, define vocabulary words, and preview summary questions. Then, the instructor will read the story aloud, model good reading practices, and encourage students to read. Students will only be asked to read aloud when they feel comfortable and have built trust in their group. All follow-up activities are designed around learning objectives such as decoding, comprehension, prediction, visualization, and verbalization. READINESS: As a comprehensive language arts curriculum, a student must be at a similar grade level ability in reading, comprehension, and writing. Early readers who have not learned to write, for example, or emerging readers who struggle with comprehenion, may not be a good fit for this class. In addition, students must have the hand-eye coordination and basic handwriting skills to be able to copy the instructor's many notes, examples, and definitions from the classroom white board into their own notebook. Grade level references in Reading Rally are based on scope, sequence and pacing that correlate to the Grade Level Equivalent (GLE) standards of learning. Students who are more than one year behind in GLE in language arts or who have a difference in skill level between their reading and writing may be recommended for 1-on-1 private instruction to make up ground in reading or writing skills. Additional class meetings or private instruction will be an additional cost. ATTENTION! (1) Parents should not register for a Reading Rally class until they have had a Language Arts Skills Inventory (i.e. brief assessment) and placement determination by the reading specialist. This must be scheduled separately through Compass at a cost of $125.00. The fee is due prior to the assessment and is not refundable in the event the child is not recommended for a reading group. (2) Parents should not assume a specific reading section until the student has been evaluated. Reading skill levels are not interchangeable, and refunds will not be issued if you do not "get" the level you prefer. It is recommended you get your reading group assignment before scheduling other classes. (3) The instructor has experience working with reluctant and fearful readers, those who are late bloomers, neurodivergent, dyslexic, and ESOL students. However, she might recommend a more complete evaluation by another professional if she suspects other learning differences are impacting the student's langauge arts learning. (4) Pricing is based a minimum 3 students in a level. In the event only 2 students are assigned to one level, the family will be asked to pay the upcharge to a 2-person semi-private class. (3) Students will work from a spiral bound copy of reading textbook and workbook by Pearson. A class fee of $60-$120 (varies by reading level) is due payable to Compass for the required books. Students continuing from one semester to the next will receive priority registration to remain with their reading group.
10:00 am-10:55 am
1st-2nd
(Semester Long)
Reading Rally: Green Group 2 (Sem 1)
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 4
Reading and writing affect a student's achievement in all aspects of schoolwork, so strong language arts skills are fundamental to success in homeschooling and beyond. This weekly class is a small group of 3-6 students* who read and write at a similar level. Students follow a comprehensive language arts curriculum under the guidance of an experienced reading specialist. Each class meeting will include a short story with select vocabulary words, a graphic organizer, main themes, and embedded learning objectives. Students will continue to practice language arts skills at home with easy-to-implement "page a day" workbook activities assigned by the instructor and implemented by the parents. For most early elementary learners, enrollment in Reading Rally can serve as a complete, self-contained language arts curriculum where families will not need additional resources in reading, comprehension, composition, spelling, and grammar. Weekly readings are organized around thematic units. The instructor will teach students how to approach a new story as a fun reading puzzle. For example, before reading aloud in class, students will conduct a "picture walk" to overview and predict elements of the story from the illustrations, review a graphic organizer to assist in writing sentences, define vocabulary words, and preview summary questions. Then, the instructor will read the story aloud, model good reading practices, and encourage students to read. Students will only be asked to read aloud when they feel comfortable and have built trust in their group. All follow-up activities are designed around learning objectives such as decoding, comprehension, prediction, visualization, and verbalization. READINESS: As a comprehensive language arts curriculum, a student must be at a similar grade level ability in reading, comprehension, and writing. Early readers who have not learned to write, for example, or emerging readers who struggle with comprehenion, may not be a good fit for this class. In addition, students must have the hand-eye coordination and basic handwriting skills to be able to copy the instructor's many notes, examples, and definitions from the classroom white board into their own notebook. Grade level references in Reading Rally are based on scope, sequence and pacing that correlate to the Grade Level Equivalent (GLE) standards of learning. Students who are more than one year behind in GLE in language arts or who have a difference in skill level between their reading and writing may be recommended for 1-on-1 private instruction to make up ground in reading or writing skills. Additional class meetings or private instruction will be an additional cost. ATTENTION! (1) Parents should not register for a Reading Rally class until they have had a Language Arts Skills Inventory (i.e. brief assessment) and placement determination by the reading specialist. This must be scheduled separately through Compass at a cost of $125.00. The fee is due prior to the assessment and is not refundable in the event the child is not recommended for a reading group. (2) Parents should not assume a specific reading section until the student has been evaluated. Reading skill levels are not interchangeable, and refunds will not be issued if you do not "get" the level you prefer. It is recommended you get your reading group assignment before scheduling other classes. (3) The instructor has experience working with reluctant and fearful readers, those who are late bloomers, neurodivergent, dyslexic, and ESOL students. However, she might recommend a more complete evaluation by another professional if she suspects other learning differences are impacting the student's langauge arts learning. (4) Pricing is based a minimum 3 students in a level. In the event only 2 students are assigned to one level, the family will be asked to pay the upcharge to a 2-person semi-private class. (3) Students will work from a spiral bound copy of reading textbook and workbook by Pearson. A class fee of $60-$120 (varies by reading level) is due payable to Compass for the required books. Students continuing from one semester to the next will receive priority registration to remain with their reading group.
11:00 am-11:55 am
2nd-3rd
(Semester Long)
Reading Rally: Blue Group 2 (Sem 1)
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 4
Reading and writing affect a student's achievement in all aspects of schoolwork, so strong language arts skills are fundamental to success in homeschooling and beyond. This weekly class is a small group of 3-6 students* who read and write at a similar level. Students follow a comprehensive language arts curriculum under the guidance of an experienced reading specialist. Each class meeting will include a short story with select vocabulary words, a graphic organizer, main themes, and embedded learning objectives. Students will continue to practice language arts skills at home with easy-to-implement "page a day" workbook activities assigned by the instructor and implemented by the parents. For most early elementary learners, enrollment in Reading Rally can serve as a complete, self-contained language arts curriculum where families will not need additional resources in reading, comprehension, composition, spelling, and grammar. Weekly readings are organized around thematic units. The instructor will teach students how to approach a new story as a fun reading puzzle. For example, before reading aloud in class, students will conduct a "picture walk" to overview and predict elements of the story from the illustrations, review a graphic organizer to assist in writing sentences, define vocabulary words, and preview summary questions. Then, the instructor will read the story aloud, model good reading practices, and encourage students to read. Students will only be asked to read aloud when they feel comfortable and have built trust in their group. All follow-up activities are designed around learning objectives such as decoding, comprehension, prediction, visualization, and verbalization. READINESS: As a comprehensive language arts curriculum, a student must be at a similar grade level ability in reading, comprehension, and writing. Early readers who have not learned to write, for example, or emerging readers who struggle with comprehenion, may not be a good fit for this class. In addition, students must have the hand-eye coordination and basic handwriting skills to be able to copy the instructor's many notes, examples, and definitions from the classroom white board into their own notebook. Grade level references in Reading Rally are based on scope, sequence and pacing that correlate to the Grade Level Equivalent (GLE) standards of learning. Students who are more than one year behind in GLE in language arts or who have a difference in skill level between their reading and writing may be recommended for 1-on-1 private instruction to make up ground in reading or writing skills. Additional class meetings or private instruction will be an additional cost. ATTENTION! (1) Parents should not register for a Reading Rally class until they have had a Language Arts Skills Inventory (i.e. brief assessment) and placement determination by the reading specialist. This must be scheduled separately through Compass at a cost of $125.00. The fee is due prior to the assessment and is not refundable in the event the child is not recommended for a reading group. (2) Parents should not assume a specific reading section until the student has been evaluated. Reading skill levels are not interchangeable, and refunds will not be issued if you do not "get" the level you prefer. It is recommended you get your reading group assignment before scheduling other classes. (3) The instructor has experience working with reluctant and fearful readers, those who are late bloomers, neurodivergent, dyslexic, and ESOL students. However, she might recommend a more complete evaluation by another professional if she suspects other learning differences are impacting the student's langauge arts learning. (4) Pricing is based a minimum 3 students in a level. In the event only 2 students are assigned to one level, the family will be asked to pay the upcharge to a 2-person semi-private class. (3) Students will work from a spiral bound copy of reading textbook and workbook by Pearson. A class fee of $60-$120 (varies by reading level) is due payable to Compass for the required books. Students continuing from one semester to the next will receive priority registration to remain with their reading group.
12:30 pm-1:25 pm
3rd-4th
(Semester Long)
Reading Rally: Silver Group, Part 2 (Sem 1)
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
Reading and writing affect a student's achievement in all aspects of schoolwork, so strong language arts skills are fundamental to success in homeschooling and beyond. This weekly class is a small group of 3-6 students* who read and write at a similar level. Students follow a comprehensive language arts curriculum under the guidance of an experienced reading specialist. Each class meeting will include a short story with select vocabulary words, a graphic organizer, main themes, and embedded learning objectives. Students will continue to practice language arts skills at home with easy-to-implement "page a day" workbook activities assigned by the instructor and implemented by the parents. For most early elementary learners, enrollment in Reading Rally can serve as a complete, self-contained language arts curriculum where families will not need additional resources in reading, comprehension, composition, spelling, and grammar. Weekly readings are organized around thematic units. The instructor will teach students how to approach a new story as a fun reading puzzle. For example, before reading aloud in class, students will conduct a "picture walk" to overview and predict elements of the story from the illustrations, review a graphic organizer to assist in writing sentences, define vocabulary words, and preview summary questions. Then, the instructor will read the story aloud, model good reading practices, and encourage students to read. Students will only be asked to read aloud when they feel comfortable and have built trust in their group. All follow-up activities are designed around learning objectives such as decoding, comprehension, prediction, visualization, and verbalization. READINESS: As a comprehensive language arts curriculum, a student must be at a similar grade level ability in reading, comprehension, and writing. Early readers who have not learned to write, for example, or emerging readers who struggle with comprehenion, may not be a good fit for this class. In addition, students must have the hand-eye coordination and basic handwriting skills to be able to copy the instructor's many notes, examples, and definitions from the classroom white board into their own notebook. Grade level references in Reading Rally are based on scope, sequence and pacing that correlate to the Grade Level Equivalent (GLE) standards of learning. Students who are more than one year behind in GLE in language arts or who have a difference in skill level between their reading and writing may be recommended for 1-on-1 private instruction to make up ground in reading or writing skills. Additional class meetings or private instruction will be an additional cost. ATTENTION! (1) Parents should not register for a Reading Rally class until they have had a Language Arts Skills Inventory (i.e. brief assessment) and placement determination by the reading specialist. This must be scheduled separately through Compass at a cost of $125.00. The fee is due prior to the assessment and is not refundable in the event the child is not recommended for a reading group. (2) Parents should not assume a specific reading section until the student has been evaluated. Reading skill levels are not interchangeable, and refunds will not be issued if you do not "get" the level you prefer. It is recommended you get your reading group assignment before scheduling other classes. (3) The instructor has experience working with reluctant and fearful readers, those who are late bloomers, neurodivergent, dyslexic, and ESOL students. However, she might recommend a more complete evaluation by another professional if she suspects other learning differences are impacting the student's langauge arts learning. (4) Pricing is based a minimum 3 students in a level. In the event only 2 students are assigned to one level, the family will be asked to pay the upcharge to a 2-person semi-private class. (3) Students will work from a spiral bound copy of reading textbook and workbook by Pearson. A class fee of $60-$120 (varies by reading level) is due payable to Compass for the required books. Students continuing from one semester to the next will receive priority registration to remain with their reading group.
1:30 pm-2:25 pm
4th-5th
(Semester Long)
Reading Rally: Lt Green Group, Part 2 (Sem 1)
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
Reading and writing affect a student's achievement in all aspects of schoolwork, so strong language arts skills are fundamental to success in homeschooling and beyond. This weekly class is a small group of 3-6 students* who read and write at a similar level. Students follow a comprehensive language arts curriculum under the guidance of an experienced reading specialist. Each class meeting will include a short story with select vocabulary words, a graphic organizer, main themes, and embedded learning objectives. Students will continue to practice language arts skills at home with easy-to-implement "page a day" workbook activities assigned by the instructor and implemented by the parents. For most early elementary learners, enrollment in Reading Rally can serve as a complete, self-contained language arts curriculum where families will not need additional resources in reading, comprehension, composition, spelling, and grammar. Weekly readings are organized around thematic units. The instructor will teach students how to approach a new story as a fun reading puzzle. For example, before reading aloud in class, students will conduct a "picture walk" to overview and predict elements of the story from the illustrations, review a graphic organizer to assist in writing sentences, define vocabulary words, and preview summary questions. Then, the instructor will read the story aloud, model good reading practices, and encourage students to read. Students will only be asked to read aloud when they feel comfortable and have built trust in their group. All follow-up activities are designed around learning objectives such as decoding, comprehension, prediction, visualization, and verbalization. READINESS: As a comprehensive language arts curriculum, a student must be at a similar grade level ability in reading, comprehension, and writing. Early readers who have not learned to write, for example, or emerging readers who struggle with comprehenion, may not be a good fit for this class. In addition, students must have the hand-eye coordination and basic handwriting skills to be able to copy the instructor's many notes, examples, and definitions from the classroom white board into their own notebook. Grade level references in Reading Rally are based on scope, sequence and pacing that correlate to the Grade Level Equivalent (GLE) standards of learning. Students who are more than one year behind in GLE in language arts or who have a difference in skill level between their reading and writing may be recommended for 1-on-1 private instruction to make up ground in reading or writing skills. Additional class meetings or private instruction will be an additional cost. ATTENTION! (1) Parents should not register for a Reading Rally class until they have had a Language Arts Skills Inventory (i.e. brief assessment) and placement determination by the reading specialist. This must be scheduled separately through Compass at a cost of $125.00. The fee is due prior to the assessment and is not refundable in the event the child is not recommended for a reading group. (2) Parents should not assume a specific reading section until the student has been evaluated. Reading skill levels are not interchangeable, and refunds will not be issued if you do not "get" the level you prefer. It is recommended you get your reading group assignment before scheduling other classes. (3) The instructor has experience working with reluctant and fearful readers, those who are late bloomers, neurodivergent, dyslexic, and ESOL students. However, she might recommend a more complete evaluation by another professional if she suspects other learning differences are impacting the student's langauge arts learning. (4) Pricing is based a minimum 3 students in a level. In the event only 2 students are assigned to one level, the family will be asked to pay the upcharge to a 2-person semi-private class. (3) Students will work from a spiral bound copy of reading textbook and workbook by Pearson. A class fee of $60-$120 (varies by reading level) is due payable to Compass for the required books. Students continuing from one semester to the next will receive priority registration to remain with their reading group.
2:30 pm-3:35 pm
5th-6th
(Semester Long)
Reading Rally: Purple, Part 2 (Sem 1)
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
Reading and writing affect a student's achievement in all aspects of schoolwork, so strong language arts skills are fundamental to success in homeschooling and beyond. This weekly class is a small group of 3-6 students* who read and write at a similar level. Students follow a comprehensive language arts curriculum under the guidance of an experienced reading specialist. Each class meeting will include a short story with select vocabulary words, a graphic organizer, main themes, and embedded learning objectives. Students will continue to practice language arts skills at home with easy-to-implement "page a day" workbook activities assigned by the instructor and implemented by the parents. For most early elementary learners, enrollment in Reading Rally can serve as a complete, self-contained language arts curriculum where families will not need additional resources in reading, comprehension, composition, spelling, and grammar. Weekly readings are organized around thematic units. The instructor will teach students how to approach a new story as a fun reading puzzle. For example, before reading aloud in class, students will conduct a "picture walk" to overview and predict elements of the story from the illustrations, review a graphic organizer to assist in writing sentences, define vocabulary words, and preview summary questions. Then, the instructor will read the story aloud, model good reading practices, and encourage students to read. Students will only be asked to read aloud when they feel comfortable and have built trust in their group. All follow-up activities are designed around learning objectives such as decoding, comprehension, prediction, visualization, and verbalization. READINESS: As a comprehensive language arts curriculum, a student must be at a similar grade level ability in reading, comprehension, and writing. Early readers who have not learned to write, for example, or emerging readers who struggle with comprehension, may not be a good fit for this class. In addition, students must have the hand-eye coordination and basic handwriting skills to be able to copy the instructor's many notes, examples, and definitions from the classroom white board into their own notebook. Grade level references in Reading Rally are based on scope, sequence and pacing that correlate to the Grade Level Equivalent (GLE) standards of learning. Students who are more than one year behind in GLE in language arts or who have a difference in skill level between their reading and writing may be recommended for 1-on-1 private instruction to make up ground in reading or writing skills. Additional class meetings or private instruction will be an additional cost. ATTENTION! (1) Parents should not register for a Reading Rally class until they have had a Language Arts Skills Inventory (i.e. brief assessment) and placement determination by the reading specialist. This must be scheduled separately through Compass at a cost of $125.00. The fee is due prior to the assessment and is not refundable in the event the child is not recommended for a reading group. (2) Parents should not assume a specific reading section until the student has been evaluated. Reading skill levels are not interchangeable, and refunds will not be issued if you do not "get" the level you prefer. It is recommended you get your reading group assignment before scheduling other classes. (3) The instructor has experience working with reluctant and fearful readers, those who are late bloomers, neurodivergent, dyslexic, and ESOL students. However, she might recommend a more complete evaluation by another professional if she suspects other learning differences are impacting the student's langauge arts learning. (4) Pricing is based a minimum 3 students in a level. In the event only 2 students are assigned to one level, the family will be asked to pay the upcharge to a 2-person semi-private class. (3) Students will work from a spiral bound copy of reading textbook and workbook by Pearson. A class fee of $60-$120 (varies by reading level) is due payable to Compass for the required books. Students continuing from one semester to the next will receive priority registration to remain with their reading group.
3:30 pm-4:25 pm
7th-8th
(Semester Long)
Modeling the Great Conquests: Alexander the Great
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
2000 years ago, wanting to conquer the world did not make you a super villain, but rather a legend. At less than 30 years old, Alexander of Macedon inherited a kingdom and turned it into an empire that stretched to the corners of the known world! Discover the major battles of Alexander's campaigns, with a special focus on the Battle of Issus in 333 BCE that led to the collapse of the Persian Empire. Learn about reforms to the Macedonian army, the unification of Greece, as well as how Alexander's strategic genius allowed him to defeat an army five times larger than his own. Students will engage in a hands-on 3D battle strategy game using the military dioramas that they make! Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, paint, and miniatures, each student will craft a 10 X 16 diorama. In class, they will view historical maps, artistic renderings, and/or photographs to understand the topography and development of this time and place in history. Students will customize their dioramas with landforms, landscape elements, waterways, and structures to represent a scene from this period. Once individual projects are constructed, students will populate them with 1:72 scale miniature figures. Students will combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to approximate a larger battlefield. Students will spend the remainder of the quarter learning about the tactics and outcomes of this conquest while playing a table-top strategy game. Student strategists will use a simplified version of the Fire and Fury historical war gaming rule system for moving troops and equipment. Along with their classmates, students will see how this battle progressed and test different outcome scenarios that might have occurred with different battlefield choices. Each student will have at least one board and set of miniatures to take home with them. Course documents such as maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Topics in this year's series include: Alexander the Great (Quarter 1); Hannibal (Quarter 2); Julius Caesar in Britain (Quarter 3); and Attila the Hun (Quarter 4).
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
6th-8th
Dynamic Dioramas: Biome Builders- Tropics (The Rainforest)- Wed
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
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. Tropical rainforest biomes are equatorial regions that are warm and wet with diverse vegetation that forms a canopy. Humidity and a covering of leaf litter create a layer of nutrients which supports a wide variety of vegetation. Tropical rainforests are famous for terrestrial biodiversity, including insects, birds, and mammals. 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: Tropics (The Rainforest)- Quarter 1; Tundra (The Arctic)- Quarter 2; Arid (The Desert)- Quarter 3; and Grasslands (The Savanna)- Quarter 4.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
3rd-5th
Battle Strategies & Dioramas: WWII European Theater- Operat...
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
Dragged into World War II relatively unprepared, the American army ballooned in size while having to learn how to fight a modern war with tanks and airplanes all while overseas. To split the German army's attention from the beleaguered Soviets, the Allies needed to open a second front of the war. Not yet ready to attack Fortress Europe, the Americans started off small by aiding the British against the combined Italian and German armies in North Africa. The campaign was difficult but served as the proving ground which produced as battle-hardened American soldiers, ready to take the war to 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, trenches, rivers, ridges, vegetation, barbed wire, etc.) to represent a scene of a famous historical engagement. Students will each receive 1:72 scale miniature soldiers 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 Fire and Fury historical wargaming 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. Topics in this series include: Operation Torch/North Africa (Quarter 1), Battle of Stalingrad (Quarter 2), Iwo Jima (Quarter 3), and Philppine Sea (Quarter 4). There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
6th-8th
Art in Action: Picasso in Perspective (WED)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
Elementary artists can get in on the action as they learn about a different artist or artistic style each week and create a representative piece using a wide range of artistic supplies such as tempura and water color paints, pastels, pencils, cray pas, oil pastel crayons, specialty papers, sculpting media, and embellishments. First quarter, students will meet one best-known artists of all times. Picasso's art career spanned 79 years and included painting, sculpting, ceramics, poetry, stage design, and writing. The class will use a variety of materials and techniques to represent works from Picasso's Blue Period, Rose Period, African Period, Cubism, Neoclassicism and Surrealism. Topics in this Series: Picasso in Perspective (Quarter 1); Original Works of the Worlds Oceans (Quarter 2); American Artist Spotlight (Quarter 3); Destination Art (Quarter 4). Supply Fee: There is a supply fee of $25.00, payable to the instructor on the first day of class which covers consumable class materials such a specialty papers, watercolor pencils, and paints.
10:00 am-10:55 am
3rd-4th
Junior Art Studio: Kings and Queens, Kids' Medieval Art (WED-11AM)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
This class is a multi-media art sampler for our youngest artists! Each week students will learn a few fun facts about a type of art or artist, view sample works, and then will create a project in the style of the artist using a wide variety of materials and representative colors, patterns, textures, and embellishments. Young artists will have the opportunity to work with a different media each week such as tempera paint, various papers, color pencils, markers, tissue paper, translucent tracing paper, cray pas, oil pastels, charcoals, and watercolors. First quarter, Junior artists will explore a variety of artistic techniques as they make medieval art projects such as a crown project, handmade parchment paper, an individual coat of arms, and a custom shield. Topics in this Series: Kings and Queens- Kids' Medieval Art (Quarter 1); Artists & their Animals (Quarter 2); Whimsical Winter Works (Quarter 3); Scenic Seascapes (Quarter 4). Supply Fee: There is a supply fee of $25.00, payable to the instructor on the first day of class which covers consumable class materials such a specialty papers, watercolor pencils, and paints.
11:00 am-11:55 am
K-2nd
Junior Art Studio: Kings and Queens, Kids' Medieval Art (WED-12PM)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 4
This class is a multi-media art sampler for our youngest artists! Each week students will learn a few fun facts about a type of art or artist, view sample works, and then will create a project in the style of the artist using a wide variety of materials and representative colors, patterns, textures, and embellishments. Young artists will have the opportunity to work with a different media each week such as tempera paint, various papers, color pencils, markers, tissue paper, translucent tracing paper, cray pas, oil pastels, charcoals, and watercolors. First quarter, Junior artists will explore a variety of artistic techniques as they make medieval art projects such as a crown project, handmade parchment paper, an individual coat of arms, and a custom shield. Topics in this Series: Kings and Queens- Kids' Medieval Art (Quarter 1); Artists & their Animals (Quarter 2); Whimsical Winter Works (Quarter 3); Scenic Seascapes (Quarter 4). Supply Fee: There is a supply fee of $25.00, payable to the instructor on the first day of class which covers consumable class materials such a specialty papers, watercolor pencils, and paints.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
K-2nd
Globetrotters Kids' Geography: Indonesia & Morocco
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
Discover geography and diverse cultures in this interactive, imaginary tour of the world. Each quarter, students will take a classroom journey to two distinct nations. They will locate the highlighted countries on the world map and complete a map project before buckling in for a fictional flight to the featured locales. Once they have "arrived" in the country, they will begin with an introduction to home and school life by meeting a child through a story or video. Students will learn to recognize similarities and appreciate differences when they compare that child's home, clothing, food, town, daily activities, and school to their own. In subsequent weeks, our Globe Trotters will learn about the culture and traditions of the country through songs, games, projects, and activities that highlight elements like folktales, customs, celebrations, distinct features, language, points of interest, or native species. First quarter, students will journey to Indonesia and Morocco. Did you know that Indonesia is home to over 100 endangered animals? Meet the mouse deer, the "orange tree man" (orangutan), and Komodo dragon, and learn about a land of volcanoes and 17,000 islands. Discover that Morocco is home to camels, elaborate painted tile, and exquisite tea. Learn about the nomadic peoples and massive marketplaces. Example projects from these countries may include: Make Indonesian-inspired shadow puppets, batik printed fabric, detailed henna hand designs and tile painting. Students will be excited by geography and culture when approached through this engaging, multi-disciplinary exploration of diverse countries of the globe! Topics in this Series include Indonesia and Morocco (Quarter 1), Sweden and Mexico (Quarter 2), Ireland and Japan (Quarter 4), Peru and India (Quarter 4). A supply fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Please note: This instructor only accepts cash payments.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
2nd-4th
Creative Chronicles: Once Upon a...Secret Room
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Children are full of stories and bubbling over with big ideas! In this class, students will learn how to capture their creative vision into a simple story that they will write and illustrate. First quarter, our storytellers will uncover passages and portals beyond bookshelves and blank walls. Will they find the key to the mysterious secret room, or can they ever unlock the truth? Students will learn how to build a Story Arc through guided, weekly activities. They will discover the key elements to composing a story such as crafting characters, posing a problem, advancing the action, constructing the climax, and writing the resolution- through brainstorming questions like, "Who is in your story?", "Where does this take place?", "What does that look like?" and "What happened after ____?" Emerging writers or readers are welcome and will receive support, if needed, to get their own words written down. Psst- don't tell your child, but this class helps lay the foundation in language arts for more advanced creative writing and composition. Topics in this Series: Once Upon a...Secret Room (Quarter 1), Shipwreck (Quarter 2), Magic Kingdom (Quarter 3), Winding Path (Quarter 4)
11:00 am-11:55 am
2nd-4th
Sew Fun: Build a Bear
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Kids will learn the basics of hand sewing and discover it is "sew fun" to create items that can play with and use every day. First quarter, Sew Fun students will sew an 14" felt-fur stuffy bear and stitch his custom clothes from cotton, knit, and felt. Kids will learn practical sewing skills such as pinning and placement, a running stitch, attaching a button, scissor skills, stuffing, and working with simple patterns. The group will be working with both pre-cut felt and fabric components and uncut fabric that they will cut, stitch, finish and personalize with buttons and embellishments. 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. A material fee of $40.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Note: Project themes or materials are subject to change due to availability or sourcing at the time of the class. Topics in this series include: Build-A-Bear (Quarter 1), Cozy Quilts (Quarter 2), Good Night, Sleep Tight (Quarter 3), and On-the-Go (Quarter 4).
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
3rd-5th
Harry Potter Handicrafts: Guest Prof. Dumbledore
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
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 first term at Hogwarts! This term, we welcome Professor Dumbledore to inspire us as we create a Pensieve along with crafts related to your core classes such as a magic wand (Charms), Repelling Dementors (Defense Against the Dark Arts), and more!
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. Note: Project themes or materials are subject to change due to availability or sourcing at the time of the class.
Topics in this Series: Guest Prof. Dumbledore (Quarter 1); Guest Prof. Sprout (Quarter 2); Guest Profs. Snape & Slughorn (Quarter 3), and Guest Profs. Hagrid & Hooch (Quarter 4).
Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $40.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.
What to Bring: Students should bring good scissors for cutting paper/fabric, a ruler, and a low temp, mini hot glue gun to class each week.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
5th-8th
Ultimate Magic Academy: Groovy Green Wand
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
Curious coins, baffling balls, confounding cards, and puzzling papers! Students will learn tricks of the trade from a professional magician using the Discover Magic curriculum! This class will unlock the secret tricks of the Green Wand curriculum. Students will unlock the secrets to eight special magic tricks: Radical Ropes, Total Chaos, Money Maker, Picasso Pouch, Future Card, Trap Door, Gifted, and Luck Winner. Each week, kids will learn how to perform a unique magic trick, and students will practice and perfect the illusion in class so they can come home and mystify their friends and family. For each trick, students will receive a custom magic prop and full color instructions, and at the end of each class, every magician will take home a Top Secret file folder with additional tricks they can practice. Student magicians will be given a secret password each week to gain access to an additional magic trick on the Discover Magic website (parents will need to work the magic to set up the child's online account.) Along with the actual magic, students will discuss a life skill each week that is essential to a good magician (and student) such as public speaking, presentation skills, practicing, being prepared, and reading your audience. Magicians who complete the class will receive a certificate and magic wand. Topics in this Series: Groovy Green Wand (Quarter 1), Baffling Blue Wand (Quarter 2); Perplxing Purple Wand (Quarter 3) and Bewildering Black Wand (Quarter 4) Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $50.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
3rd-6th
Physics- Lab (On-Level or Honors)
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 2
9:30 am-10:55 am
11th-12th
(Year Long)
Interdisciplinary Science: Foundations in Biology, Chemistr...
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
**This class will be taught in a Hybrid format with an online lecture on Mondays (10:00 am - 10:55 am) over a live, online platform and in-person lab and activities on Wednesdays (11:00 am - 11:55 am). Registration for the Lab section will automatically enroll the student in the Lecture section.** Why do Mentos candies in Coke make a fizzy mess? How do skateboarders survive spins on a half-pipe? What causes some lithium-ion batteries to burst into flames? Answers to these questions can be found in the study of high school science! Interdisciplinary Science is a year-long, introductory high school science course which examines the living and non-living worlds. This survey course introduces key concepts from Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, which will lay the foundation for students to pursue more rigorous, year-long high school science courses in each discipline. This course also serves as a science survey, or overview, for students who will not be pursuing a STEM field or advanced education. Students will learn about the principles of scientific investigations and engineering practices, the Scientific Method, and the basic format of a lab report. They will practice taking measurements, recording data, converting units of measure, and related mathematical concepts such as 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. Topics in biology will include molecular, cellular, classification, organisms, populations, and ecosystems. Students will explore the relationships between living things and their environments. The chemistry units will cover the composition of matter, atomic structure and periodic table, and chemical bonds and reactions, while the survey of physics will include forces and motions; conservation of energy, thermal energy, electricity and magnetism; and wave phenomena, characteristics, behavior, including electromagnetic and sound waves. Meeting Dates: This is a 29-week course with the week off to be announced. Format: This is a hybrid course with the lecture taught synchronously online on Mondays and hands-on experiments done in a lab on Wednesdays. Prerequisites: Students should have completed 8th grade math or a course in Pre-Algebra prior to taking Interdisciplinary Science. They should be familiar with ratios, rates, proportions, decimals, percents, exponents, and solving one-variable equations. Class Expectations: For both in-person and virtual class meetings, students are expected to come prepared, have class materials, and be ready to participate in class discussions and activities. During virtual lectures (Mondays), students are expected to be seated at a desk or table and have their cameras on. Workload: Students should expect to spend 2-3 hours per week outside of class on reading and homework assignments. Assignments: All class announcements and assignments will be communicated via 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 or rent Physical Science - Interactive Science by Pearson / Savvas Publishing (ISBN # 978-0133209266) and Biology For Dummies (ISBN # 978-1119345374 ) Materials: Students should bring the following supplies to each class: Five Star spiral graph ruled notebook, scientific calculator, colored pencils, glue stick, pens or pencils to write with, and a ruler. Students will be asked to bring a laptop to class on some days. Lab/Supply Fee: A lab fee of $100.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a full credit in Lab Science for purposes of a high school transcript.
11:00 am-11:55 am
9th-10th
(Year Long)
Integrated Middle School Science (12pm)
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 5
This year-long, hands-on science course is a survey of key concepts in the fields of Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science which will give 7th and 8th grade students the fundamentals they need to tackle high school-level 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. For a more robust introduction to life and lab sciences, students may want to concurrently register for the Dissection Lab class and/or the Bio Chem Learning Labs program. 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.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
7th-8th
(Year Long)
Integrated Middle School Science (1pm)
Quarter(s): 1,2,3,4
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
This year-long, hands-on science course is a survey of key concepts in the fields of Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science which will give 7th and 8th grade students the fundamentals they need to tackle high school-level 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. For a more robust introduction to life and lab sciences, students may want to concurrently register for the Dissection Lab class and/or the Bio Chem Learning Labs program. 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.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
7th-8th
(Year Long)
All About Astronomy: Classical & Current Star-Gazing
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
Every single week there are gripping headlines heralding new developments and discoveries in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, and space exploration:" NASA's Artemis II announced its crew. Space X Starship self-destructed. Europe's JUICE will go to Jupiter. James Webb Space Telescope finds oldest proto-galaxies. China, Russia, India, and South Korea are in a new space race to reach the moon. A total solar eclipse will be viewed in 2026." These are exciting fields to follow, and this is a thrilling time to learn about space science in Compass's "All About Astronomy" series. First quarter, students will learn about classical and modern land-based star-gazing. What could the ancients detect with their sundials? What did the Egyptians and Greeks observe with their astrolabes, and how did Galileo Galilei's use of the telescope change our understanding of astronomy? Fast-forward to today's land-based observatories. What will the new, Giant Magellan Telescope tell us from a mountaintop facility in Chile when it is completed in 2025? In this class, students will look at the oldest and newest technologies for ground-based observation of the skies. They will discover what limitations exist with even the most modern equipment and how astronomers compensate for those. Students will enhance their understanding of astronomical observation with in-class projects such as building a telescope, a sundial, and an astrolabe. There is a $20.00 material fee due payable to the teacher for telescope kits. Topics in this series include: Classical & Current Star-Gazing (Quarter 1); Mission to the Moon (Quarter 2); Modern & Space-Based Searches (Quarter 3); and Mission to Mars (Quarter 4)
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
5th-6th
4th Grade Math Mammoth- Complete Curriculum (Sem 1)
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Mon, Wed
Open Spots: 3
4th grade math is a full-year, complete math curriculum for students who have covered the 3rd grade equivalent math skills (see prerequisites). This course uses the Grade 4 Math Mammoth curriculum which homeschool guru Cathy Duffy (cathyduffyreviews.com) calls "an amazingly well-developed program." She praises the program saying, "Math Mammoth has created a very high-quality product... the content is also top-notch. Some people have compared Math Mammoth with Singapore Math since both programs teach for mastery and understanding." Read more about Math Mammoth here: https://www.mathmammoth.com/complete-curriculum This class meets twice a week and is designed to be a complete program in which students receive instruction in person at Compass and complete homework on off-days at home. Parents do not have to select a curriculum or deliver the instruction, but rather are expected to ensure that assignments are being completed on time and assisting the student in checking attempted homework. Topics covered in Grade 4 Math Mammoth include: Chapter 1: Addition, Subtraction, Patterns, and Graphs Chapter 2: Large Numbers and Place Value Chapter 3: Multi-Digit Multiplication Chapter 4: Time and Measuring Chapter 5: Division Chapter 6: Geometry Chapter 7: Fractions Chapter 8: Decimals 4th Grade Math is being offered at Compass as a full year class with 59 in-person class meetings. Attendance is very important. In the event of a missed class due to illness or travel, students may cover the missed lesson through online recorded lectures by the author available on YouTube. Prerequisites: Grade 3 Math or equivalent, with experience/familiarity in following: -Multiplication tables and basic division facts -Mental addition and subtraction -Regrouping in addition and subtraction (carrying and borrowing) -Basic word problems -Multiplication and related concepts -Clock to the minute and elapsed time calculations -Basic money calculations (finding totals and change) -Place value and rounding with four-digit numbers -Quadrilaterals, perimeter, and area -Division and related concepts (remainder, word problems) -Measuring lines in inches and centimeters -Basic usage of measuring units -The concept of a fraction and mixed number, equivalent fractions, and comparing fractions For guidance if a child is ready for Grade 4 math, parents can administer the Math Mammoth end-of-3rd-grade placement test. A score of 80% is recommended to place into Grade 4. Assignments: Assignments will be made in class as a range of pages to complete on the topics that were taught in class. The instructor will follow up with an email repeating the assigned pages. Assessments: Each class, the instructor will check that students have completed the assigned homework. Homework will be recorded as attempted or not attempted. Parents will be provided with an answer key for homework. Students will have take-home unit tests that will be graded by the instructor. Parents may track unit test scores in order to assign their own grades and complete homeschool record-keeping. Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to Compass on the first day of class for Grade 4, color edition worktext book. Students will be issued the 4A book first semester, and the 4B book second semester. What to Bring: Students should bring a spiral notebook, pencil, and their worktext to class each week.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
3rd-5th
(Semester Long)
Compass Kindergarten- Math Minds (Sem 1)
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 2
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 Wednesdays, the focus will be on Math where students will be exposed to basic mathematical concepts such as adding, subtracting, skip counting, ordinal numbers, and time through stories and play. 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. Please note: This instructor only accepts cash payments. 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 14-week semester with priority registration for continuing students. Parents who are shopping around or applying to alternate kindergarten programs should review the Compass withdrawal policy.
10:00 am-12:55 pm
K
(Semester Long)
Spanish Para Pequenos (Little Ones)- WED Q1
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: -1
Hola! Spanish Para Pequenos (Spanish for Little Ones) is a fun, play-based, Spanish immersion class for young children. Following the native language-learning process, children will be exposed to the sounds, letters, and high-frequency words in Spanish through songs, games, stories, puppets, and other interactive activities. The teacher will provide all necessary toys and objects to give young children tangible, and hands-on ways to apply new concepts in practical real-life situations. The instructor uses some Montessori-style activities that create a high-energy, playful environment, engaging tactile and kinesthetic learners alike while appealing to children's natural curiosities. The vocabulary and language structures presented in each session follow a new letter of the alphabet each week that will include greetings, simple phrases, foods, colors, numbers, animals, common action verbs, calendar phrases, articles of clothing and seasonal topics. Vocabulary will be repeated and reviewed often to aid in the retention of the language, and will primarily develop listening and speaking skills. The goal of this introductory course is to lay foundations in phonics and essential vocabulary words while having fun and building confidence in a foreign language. Who knows, your child might just come home singing their new favorite Spanish nursery rhyme!
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
PK-1st
Private Music Lessons: Violin (25 min)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Private Music Lessons- Steffany Shock (Violin)
9:30 am-9:55 am
1st-Adult
Guitar: Intermediate I
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
Students will learn more advanaced techniques of playing the guitar! In this class, students will continue to learn melodies, chords, and strumming patterns for familiar songs from a variety of genres chosen by the instructor and students. Students are encouraged to bring in music they are interested in learning. Students will learn more advanced chords, beyond pure major and minor chords. Songs with more than 3 chords will be covered, and songs in 3/4 and 6/8 will be introduced. Students should plan to practice at home several times each week. Each student will need a least a beginner level acoustic guitar. New students who wish to enroll in Advanced Beginner should have approximately 24-30 hours of prior instruction in order to match the pace of the enrolled students.
10:00 am-10:55 am
5th-8th
(Semester Long)
Guitar for Beginners I
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
Learn the fundamentals of playing the guitar! In this class, students will learn basic melodies such as Happy Birthday, Jingle Bells, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, as well as classic rock favorites like Smoke on the Water, etc. Kids will learn to play chords and strumming patterns for familiar songs chosen by the instructor and students. Students are encouraged to bring in music they are interested in learning. New chords and new songs will be added each week as students also learn to read music and basic music theory. Students will also learn how to hold, tune, and care for their guitars. Each student will need a least a beginner level acoustic guitar. Students should be able to read at grade level for this class and should plan to practice at home several times each week. Students should expect to spend 20-30 minutes per day most days practicing chords and melodies from class. There is a materials fee of $10.00 payable to the Compass on the first day of class for a tablature notebook.
11:00 am-11:55 am
5th-8th
(Semester Long)
Ukulele for Beginners I
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 2
Did you know that the ukulele is not just a miniature guitar? It is a member of the Portuguese lute family, but its sound was popularized in Hawaiian music. Ukulele's fun, compact size also appeals to kids and is a great "first" stringed instrument! In this class, kids will learn how to hold and strum the ukulele. Students will learn basic chords and chord progressions, musical notation and theory, and notes in the first position. Sample songs taught at this level include "Skip to My Lou", "Stand By Me", "Ode to Joy", and "When the Saints Go Marching In." Each student should purchase or rent a good quality ukulele for the class. Music Book: The instructor will select a music book for the class and ask parents to purchase the book individually (estimated $10.00 - 15.00)
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
3rd-6th
(Semester Long)
Private Music Lessons: Guitar (55 min)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Private Music Lessons- Ney Mello (Guitar)
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
1st-Adult
Private Music Lessons: Guitar (55 min)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Private Music Lessons- Ney Mello (Guitar)
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
1st-Adult
Spanish Para Estudiantes- Mi Mismo (Myself)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
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. Limited cues in English will be used to prompt students in the first few weeks. 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. 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.
11:00 am-11:55 am
6th-8th
Chess- Beginner 1 (Wed)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
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 Grandmaster Rashad Babaev. Whether you're a budding tactician or a curious beginner, prepare to sharpen your mind and rise to the challenge. In Beginning Chess, students will use the Foundation Level curriculum developed by Grandmaster Babaev for his GMChessPrep program. During Quarter 1, the goal is to build curiosity and understand basic orientation and historical context. The class will touch on the history of chess including origins in the ancient east, its spread through Europe, and a case study of chess player Paul Morphy. Students will learn chess board basics such as set-up, files, ranks, corners, white vs. black camp, the demarcation line, and king side versus queen side. Highlighted pieces will include the King and its importance and movement and the Pawns' structure, movement, and basic promotion. 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.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
2nd-5th
Chess- Advanced Beginner 1 (Wed)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
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 Grandmaster Rashad Babaev. 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 1, the focus is on history, basic strategy, and endgame fundamentals. The class will explore deeper historical facts and the evolution of the game of chess including chess cultures (India, Persia, Arab world, and Europe) along with the featured players Steinitz and Lasker. Students will learn about the three phases of the game- opening, middle game, and endgame along with endgame scenarios of King v. King + Knight (draw), King vs. King + Bishop (draw), King + Queen vs. King (basic checkmate), and King + Rook vs. King. 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.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
3rd-6th
Chess- Intermediate 1
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 2
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 Grandmaster Rashad Babaev. 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 1, the focus will be on history, classical champions, and endgame strategy. The group will examine the history of chess since the 20th century , styles from classical to hypermodern, and chess as a global, intellectual sport. The will examine the approaches of three champions: Jose Raul Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, and Vera Menchik. The class will learn about endgame strategies including a checkmate with two bishops, vertical, horizontal, and diagonal opposition, and king + pawn vs. king, king on 6th rank, and winning and drawing zones. Students will practice drills with increasing complexity. 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.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
4th-7th
Demystifying Music Theory
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 2
Dive into the fundamentals of music theory in a fun and interactive way! This course is your gateway to understanding how music works- from reading notes on a staff to playing rhythms, scales, and chords with confidence. Whether you're just starting out or brushing up on the basics, you'll explore essential topics like staves, clefs, pitch and rhythmic values, time signatures, and more. Designed to match Grades 1 - 3 of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music theory exams, this course provides a solid foundation for musicians at all levels. The instructor will demonstrate hands-on activities to reinforce each concept and may use simple quizzes to help you track your progress. The class will begin by unpacking the elements of Western music notation- learning how to read notes, understanding rhythm, and recognizing basic chord structures like triads. The class will also become familiar with common performance directions you'll see in written music. Using your instrument, you'll bring theory to life by practicing scales, arpeggios, and rhythmic patterns. Even if you think you know the basics, this course offers a structured way to revisit and strengthen your understanding. This class is essential for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students of any instrument including those in the Homeschool Concert Band, Homeschool String Ensemble, taking private lessons, self-taught, or interested in songwriting, composing, or music production. This is a 6-week class that does not meet on 9/24/25.
10:00 am-10:55 am
3rd-8th
French with Friends: C'est Moi (It's Me!)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
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.
11:00 am-11:55 am
3rd-4th
Writers' Workshop: Creating Children's Books
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Who remembers Peter Rabbit, Frog & Toad, or the Little Engine that Could? In this class, middle school students will reminisce, write, and illustrate, their own children's picture. Initially, students will review illustrated children's books to gain an understanding of the creative process and the elements that help make a children's book successful with instructor/children's author Karen Hickman. Using graphic organizers to brainstorm ideas for the character, setting, and conflict of their own stories, students will work on story ideas, pitch their story concepts to their peers, and incorporate peer feedback as they develop their stories. Students will create storyboards to plan the relationship between the illustrations and text. Finally, students will learn about a variety of methods to bind their books in an attractive manner and present their books to their peers. The Writers Workshop gives middle school students in grades 6-7 the skills they need for writing, reading, listening, and speaking that come from practicing by putting pen to paper. In class, students will share drafts and in-progress works to receive peer feedback and promote revising and editing skills. Each quarter, students will review samples of literature and write about popular themes using the story elements of that theme. Imagination and creativity come easily to most young writers, but acquiring technical skills is also important. Each quarter, students will focus on specific skills in addition to specific genres as part of their "Writer's Tool Kit." These skills include: grammar basis such as parts and kinds of sentences, plurals, possessives, punctuation; learning how to use a dictionary and a thesaurus; and advanced middle/high school skills like summarizing, outlining, note taking, writing a book report, or citing sources. Homework: Students are expected to write in a journal for a minimum of four minutes per day and respond to prompts that are sent home on an assignment bookmark. They will also be asked to read short assignments such as a chapter or excerpt in preparation for class discussions. Topics in this Series: Creating Children's Books (Quarter 1); Time Travel- Fantasy & Science Fiction (Quarter 2); Time Travel- Historical Fiction (Quarter 3); and Reading Classics, Writing New Endings (Quarter 4).
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
6th-8th
French Foundations: C'est Moi (It's Me!)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Bonjour! French Foundations is an introductory class for middle school-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, days/dates, etc), adjectives, greetings, and simple phrases. Students will learn beginning grammatical constructions such as noun-verb agreement, noun-adjective agreement, adjective placement, and the rules of regular verb conjugation. Students will be encouraged to speak aloud and converse with classmates, but also to learn to sound out, spell, and read beginning, 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, grammar, and usage while having fun and building confidence in a foreign language. Students should be at grade level in their reading. Fluency should not be expected at this level.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
5th-6th
French Fundamentals: Part I
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 4
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 Fundamentsals 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. This is a 13-week semester with the week off to be announced. 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) Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a full credit in Foreign Language for purposes of a high school transcript.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
7th-8th
(Semester Long)
Starting with Strings: Beginning Violin I
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
10:00 am-10:55 am
2nd-6th
(Semester Long)
Homeschool String Ensemble (Sem1)
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 2
Homeschool musicians who play violin, viola, cello, or bass are invited to join this homeschool string ensemble! Musicians will have an opportunity to develop ensemble skills and enjoy the experience of practicing, playing, and performing as a group. Themusicians will work on several group songs each semester where they will improve musical literacy 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. 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. There will be a supply fee of
11:00 am-11:55 am
4th-9th
(Semester Long)
Junior Engineering with LEGO: Super Structures (Wed)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
Students will use LEGO to design and build simple engineering projects out of everyone's favorite building toy! In this 90-minute class, students will explore concepts and vocabulary in physics, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, aerospace engineering, and architecture while playing with their creations. First quarter, junior engineers will tackle Super Structures, using the Pyramids of Giza, the Great Wall of China, the Seattle Space Needed, Eiffel Tower, and the world's biggest bridges for their inspiration. Each class begins with 10-minutes of free build from tubs of LEGO components followed by a short discussion and demonstration of the day's project and concepts. Students build individually or in groups. Instructors will provide individual assistance, facilitate challenges, performance testing, competitions, and modifications to projects. Some projects may have been introduced in prior year's sessions, but each new build is unique, and student's building skills and understanding will have grown. Students must be minimum age 5 and able to separate from their parents for this class. Topics in this Series: Super Structures (Quarter 1); Awesome Automobiles (Quarter 2); Monster Machines (Quarter 3); Colossal Construction (Quarter 4).
10:00 am-11:25 am
K-2nd
Drawing for Fun: Comic Art & Characters (12PM)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 2
Anyone can learn to draw! A professional artist will teach kids how to draw a variety of projects by breaking down complex forms and figures into simple shapes and giving them dimensions through shading, shadow, and textures. Projects will focus on fantasy and fictional subjects which are a great choice to keep beginning artists from becoming frustrated when their work does not look "the real thing." Bam! Pow! First quarter, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of drawing comics, with an emphasis on drawing fantasy characters and developing a storyline. They will be taught the basics of illustrating an animal or an imaginary creature by combining and replicating simple shapes to create the character's form. The class will learn to draw simple costumes and props around their character to convey setting without drawing elaborate landscapes, and they will learn how to express thoughts and conversation through dialogue bubbles. This is not a "follow-the-leader" or copy/mimic art class, but rather a supportive environment where students are encouraged to create their own fantasy characters and scenarios. They will receive individual coaching and feedback to develop the characters that they dream up rather than trying to replicate well-known existing characters like DC, Marvel, Disney, or Looney Tunes. Young artists having fun playing off each other's ideas to draw outrageous imaginary characters and worlds. The instructor will often use prompts to get the ideas flowing and to encourage collaboration. The instructor has a class rule that illustrations must be rated "G" with no violence (guns, knives, blood/gore) and will often suggest alternatives such as battle with unexpected objects like baguettes or bananas! Students' practice illustrations and draft renderings will be drawn with regular #2 pencil in sketchbooks, but they are welcome to add color to their work with colored pencils or markers, if desired. There is a $15.00 material fee payable to the instructor on the first day for a sketchbook and shared classroom art supplies. Topics in this Series include: Comic Art and Characters (Quarter 1); Comics with a Cast of Characters (Quarter 2), Fantastical Figures (Quarter 3), and Playful Portraits (Quarter 4).
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
5th-6th
Get to Know Government: Constitution in Context
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: -1
Does the President have the power to declare war? Can the Supreme Court make laws? What if we want to change a part of the Constitution? Students will use their best detective skills to examine the US Constitution. Using an inquiry-based approach, middle school students will be given leading questions to investigate in the Constitution and other founding documents. The class will look at the Articles of Confederation, and discover why that document was not working for the young nation. They will debate the Federalist and Anti-Federalist issues of the day, and will learn how James Madison borrowed part of Virginia's state constitution to help frame the new US Constitution. Students will delve into the US Constitution to understand its Preamble, Articles, and Amendments. Find out what powers and restrictions are actually listed in the Constitution and how many times it has been revised. Students will learn what amendments have been proposed but failed to be adopted, and what others may be on the horizon.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
6th-8th
Extra, Extra! Non Fiction News-Writing (Q1)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Be part of a team! Join the Compass Collaborative newspaper staff. The staff is a mixed-age team with students from 6th to 12th grade. Students will learn about journalism and develop writing skills. They will craft effective articles, conduct interviews, and write reviews. Each quarter, writing assignments and responsibilities will be divided based on individual interests. Students will each contribute at least 2-3 items to the Collaborative edition each quarter including articles of their chosing (book critiques, movie reviews, field trip recommendations, short fiction, poetry, comics, jokes, tc) and assigned articles about happenings at Compass. While research and data collection will occur outside of class, a portion of staff meetings will be dedicated to writing and editing. The newspaper advisor will use these sessions to demonstrate what constitutes 'good' writing. All staff members will practice editing skills to improve grammar, punctuation, and overall clarity and accuracy in their writing. Students will be informally paired for peer review and feedback on their writing. All students register for the same class, and roles and responsibilities will be reviewed and delegated during the first meetings. Students should expect to work on assignments outside of class and will be expected to bring a laptop, notebook, and pen/pencil to each class meeting.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
6th-12th
Compass Crochet Club- Beginners (WED Q1)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
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. First quarter, new beginners will learn four basic stitches: Chain, Single Crochet, Half Doublet Crochet, and Double Crochet. When ready, beginners will make a wall hanging. New students are welcome to join the club any quarter and will start at the first stitches and projects. Intermediate and advanced crocheters are invited to our weekly gathering. Beginners appreciate having role models and and extra set of hands. Intermediate and advanced crocheters can earn service hours by assisting the newer crafters. They may bring their own in-progress projects or may work on crochet projects for community service such as NICU infant hats, caps for the homeless, or blankets for Project Linus. For beginners, a $30.00 supply fee is due payable to the instructor on/before the first week of the club. Intermediate and advanced crocheters may enroll in the club for a nominal facility fee of $10.00 per quarter (see Activity Fees page).
3:00 pm-3:55 pm
4th-8th
Morning Mystery: Shadow Spy School
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 4
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.
At the Shadow Spy School, secrets and surveillance shape the syllabus. This isn't just any academy- it's the supreme school for stealth and subterfuge, where teens train to master misdirection, perfect personas, and deceive with dazzling dexterity. Each year, the centerpiece celebration is the Disguise Dinner, a night steeped in secrecy and soaked in suspense. But this year, the atmosphere is alive with anxious anticipation. A sinister scheme may sabotage the soiree. Who's behind it? What is the menacing motive? Every exchange might hide a critical clue. As you step into Mirage Manor, it becomes clear-this is no simple supper. It's a mission masquerading as a meal. The game has begun, and your moves matter, and the spellbinding saga starts.
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:
10:00 am-10:55 am
6th-8th
Krav Maga Self Defense for Kids- Red Stripe (Wed)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 3
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. First quarter, students will have the chance to earn a Red Stripe. Featured moves include: cover defense and wrist locks (red stripe); straight punch defense and bear hugs (orange stripe); head movement defense and front 2-handed choke (yellow stripe); round kick defense and back 2-handed choke (green stripe); front kick defense and guillotine choke (blue stripe); clinch defense and rear choke (purple stripe); ground striking defense and head lock defense (brown stripe); and 360 defense and full Nelson (black stripe). 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. Topics in this Series: Red Stripe (1st Quarter), Orange Stripe (2nd Quarter), Yellow Stripe (3rd Quarter) and Green Stripe (4th Quarter). Assessments: Belt testing for promotion will be by coach recommendation, but on average will take 4 quarters. 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. What to Bring: Refillable water bottle. What to Wear: Participants should wear their belt along with shorts, leggings, or loose, comfortable athletic pants, and comfortable athletic shoes or sneakers.
11:00 am-11:55 am
5th-8th
Junior Gymnastics: Floor Fun
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
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. First quarter "Floor Fun" will introduce basic tumbling such as forward and backward somersaults and cartwheels. 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).
12:00 pm-12:50 pm
K-3rd
Fencing for Young Beginners (Q1)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 2
Fencing is the clashing of steel and competitive spirit combined with the battle of the wits. Apply the rules of Olympic fencing, and you have a physically and mentally challenging game of strategy, often called, "physical chess." In Beginning Fencing, students will learn the rules of the sport as well as footwork, attacks, parries, responses, and how to judge matches. Beginning students will use the epee, a thin, lightweight sword with broad hand guard and will wear a wireless electronic scoring sensor over layers of protective gear. Returning students will work with both the epee and foil. The physical benefits of fencing are an increase in agility, balance and coordination. Fencing also provides mental benefits such as improved focus, strategy and confidence. Fencing is safety-oriented with blunt tip weapons, chest protectors, chest/sleeve pads, fencing jacket, gloves, and face mask. Students may enroll any quarter. All equipment is provided by the instructor. Students are asked to wear full length, comfortable athletic pants such as running pants or sweatpants (no jeans, no shorts, no dresses or skirts), and low-heeled athletic shoes.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
2nd-4th
Fencing for Beginners & Advanced Beginners (Q1)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Fencing is the clashing of steel and competitive spirit combined with the battle of the wits. Apply the rules of Olympic fencing, and you have a physically and mentally challenging game of strategy, often called, "physical chess."
In Beginning Fencing, students will learn the rules of the sport as well as footwork, attacks, parries, responses, and how to judge matches. Beginning students will use the epee, a thin, lightweight sword with broad hand guard and will wear a wireless electronic scoring sensor over layers of protective gear. Returning students will work with both the epee and foil.
The physical benefits of fencing are an increase in agility, balance and coordination. Fencing also provides mental benefits such as improved focus, strategy and confidence. Fencing is safety-oriented with blunt tip weapons, chest protectors, chest/sleeve pads, fencing jacket, gloves, and face mask.
Students may enroll any quarter. All equipment is provided by the instructor. Students are asked to wear full length, comfortable athletic pants such as running pants or sweatpants (no jeans, no shorts, no dresses or skirts), and low-heeled athletic shoes.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
5th-8th
Cooking: Copy Cat Favorites- Restautant Rewinds
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
Save money and make it yourself! Did you know you can recreate your favorite meals and snack foods-just like the ones you find at the grocery store, restaurants, or even vending machines? Copycat Cooking lets you enjoy the taste and fun of store-bought favorites right at home. Best of all, making these delicious dishes yourself means you can skip the preservatives, additives, and other ingredients you'd rather avoid. This quarter, Compass chefs will make: -McDonalds- Egg McMuffin -Cracker Barrel- Hash Brown Casserole -Chipotle Burrito Bowl -Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits -DIsney Dole Whip -Panda Express Chow Mein -Crumbl Chocolate Crumb Cake Cookie 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. Topics in this Series: Restaurant Rewinds (Quarter 1), TBD (Quarter 2), TBD (Quarter 3), TBD (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to the instructor on or before the first day of class. What to Wear: Students should wear clean clothes and have long hair tied back, braided, or secured under a bandana (male and female). Cooking Class Requirements:For more information and FAQs, see the Compass Cooking Classes webpage.
10:00 am-10:55 am
6th-8th
Cooking: Global Gourmet for Kids- Mexican
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
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: -Mexican Street Corn Flatbread -Mexican Salad with Grilled Corn -Caldo de Pollo -Mexican rice -Sheet pan fajitas -Black Bean Dip and Corn Salsa -Tres Leche Cake 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: Mexican (Quarter 1), Italian (Quarter 2), Japanese (Quarter 3), French (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.
12:00 pm-12:55 pm
3rd-5th
Cooking: Global Gourmet for Tweens- Mexican
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 0
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: -Mexican Street Corn Flatbread -Mexican Salad with Grilled Corn -Caldo de Pollo -Mexican rice -Sheet pan fajitas -Black Bean Dip and Corn Salsa -Tres Leche Cake 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: Mexican (Quarter 1), Italian (Quarter 2), Japanese (Quarter 3), French (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.
1:00 pm-1:55 pm
6th-8th
Cooking: Chef's Special- Food Truck Favorites
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 4
A chef is a skilled artist in the kitchen, crafting culinary masterpieces that range from delicate hors d'oeuvres and brawny barbecues to succulent salads and decadent desserts. A "Chef's Special" features limited-edition menu items or seasonal delights - and in this class, the Chef's Special is a workshop-style series serving up 7 - 8 fun, delicious, and creatively themed niche dishes. This quarter's Chef's Special features.... -Fish Tacos and Slaw -Beef Nachos -Parmesan Chicken Tenders with Marinara -Gourmet Grilled Cheese -Empanadas -Cinnamon Donuts -Strawberry Puff Glazed Donuts -Loaded Cheese Fries 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. Topics in this Series: Food Truck Favorites (Quarter 1), Chocolate Candy Making(Quarter 2), TBD (Quarter 3), Virginia Springtime Specialties (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to the instructor via Zelle 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.
2:00 pm-2:55 pm
3rd-5th
Ballet Fun: Peter and the Wolf
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 1
Young dancers will practice skills in musicality, balance, flexibility, and coordination as they learn to dance as a group. Each quarter, a different musical fairytale ballet will provide the inspiration and the music for the class. Dancers will become familiar with the story of the ballet and the orchestral music as they go through their own routine. The music, story, and characters will serve as an inspiration for creative movement. First quarter, young dancers will learn the story of Peter and the Wolf, composed by Sergei Prokofiev and performed as a ballet since 1995. In class, dancers will learn to recognize, understand, and apply techniques from the Vaganova ballet method such as: 1st - 6th positions, marching and skipping, demi plie, grand plie, saute, bourree, grand jete, and tendu. Students will also develop their physical conditioning and learn teamwork. Dancers in this level must be minimum age 4 by the start of class. A demonstration of skills learned will be showcased for parents on the last class each quarter. Registration is for one morning class, however students who wish to further their skills are encouraged to sign up for both Monday and Wednesday morning lessons. Compass ballet students will have an opportunity to audition for the Alchemy Ballet Academy Winter Performance (including excerpts from The Nutcracker). Ballet students are expected to wear appropriate attire. Young ladies must wear a leotard with skirt (attached or detached), pink tights, and soft pink ballet shoes in canvas or leather. Young men must wear a slim-fitting white t-shirt, black shorts, white socks, and soft black ballet shoes in canvas or leather. Topics in this series include:Peter and the Wolf (Quarter 1), The Nutcracker (Quarter 2), Fairy Doll (Quarter 3), and Carnival of the Animals (Quarter 4)
10:00 am-10:50 am
PreK-2nd
Nature Quest: Adventurers- Fall (Wed)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 2
Have fun the final weeks of summer! Look forward to early fall! Animals are active and sunning themselves. Plants are mature, and flowers have gone to seed. The stream may have slowed down from summer drought, but discoveries at the water's edge abound. Step outdoors to each week to explore nature with a senior naturalist/outdoor educator. Take a break from sit-down classes, indoor activities, and screen time to explore the natural world, get fresh air, and exercise. The group will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon while they discover all the secrets that woods hold when you stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn-over, and peek under! A portion of each session will be seeking and discussing what is found each season. Students will get to know native animals and key types of plants and trees in our area. Emphasis will be on becoming comfortable with things they encounter outdoors, observing and appreciating discoveries in nature, safe exploration of the woods, and how to be a good steward of nature. The class will also discuss outdoor skills such as shelter and outdoor safety. Students will play games in the woods to practice outdoor skills. Visit the Compass Nature Quest class webpage for more information on the program, location, and Frequently Asked Questions. Students should come prepared for class with outdoor/play clothes, closed-toe shoes, sunscreen and/or insect repellent, a hat, and jacket or layered outerwear depending on the weather/temperature. The group exploration/activities in the woods are for enrolled students only, and tag-along parents and siblings cannot be accommodated.
12:00 pm-12:50 pm
1st-2nd
Outdoor Survivor Jr- Fall (Wed)
Quarter(s): 1
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 2
Venture outdoors each week to explore the woods with a senior naturalist and mentor while learning valuable survival skills. Students will learn how to construct a temporary debris shelter, make cordage, identify edibles, track animals, purify water, perform basic first aid, and use maps and compass (orienteering). Students will get to know native animals and key types of plants and trees in our area. Emphasis will be on becoming comfortable with things you encounter outdoors, safe exploration of the woods, how to be a good steward of nature, and what to do if you ever became lost or injured in the woods. Skills will be reintroduced and adapted each each quarter because the available plants, animals, materials, and water sources change with each season. Students will have a blast, develop greater self-confidence, and build a strong connection to nature and to the real world! Explorations in the woodsis for enrolled students only, and tag-along parents and siblings cannot be accommodated. For information on where the class meets, what to wear, and inclement weather, see the webpage for Compass's Nature Quest program.
1:00 pm-2:50 pm
3rd-4th
RunFit Kidz Club (Fall)
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 4
RunFit Kidz is a fun, non-competitive co-ed program for mixed age students of all fitness levels. The program is designed to introduce a passion for fitness and running in a supportive group environment with emphasis on the proper mechanics of running, nutrition/hydration, pacing, and personal goal-setting. Each class session will include dynamic warm-ups, strength training, running technique activities and drills, cool-down stretching, and plenty of games, such as relays. The program is designed to help emerging runners build incremental endurance over 8 weeks, and the group's accomplishments are celebrated with a 5K (3 mile) celebration fun run/walk. For more details on the program, see the Compass webpage.
3:15 pm-4:30 pm
1st-8th
(Semester Long)
Courtroom Drama: Trial Advocacy
Quarter(s): 1,2
Day(s): Wed
Open Spots: 4
Objections. Impeachments. Accusations. Contempt. Courtrooms can be filled with drama, though not always as seen on popular television portrayals. Trial advocacy is an engaging introduction to the legal world for high school students. Teens will step into the dynamic and thrilling world of trial advocacy, portraying the roles of witnesses and attorneys for the prosecution and defense in a mock criminal case. Throughout the semester, they will be instructed on how to analyze, strategize, and prepare a legal case. First semester, students will learn the challenging art of crafting opening statements, closing arguments, and eliciting witness testimony through direct and cross-examinations in a persuasive, winsome, and compelling manner. The class will be taught federal rules of evidence by real attorneys and coaches who have collectively over 15 years of experience in mock trials at the high school and collegiate levels. Students will learn courtroom etiquette and strategize with their classmates to construct a clear, organized, and passionate argument for their client. Students will also have the opportunity to hone their acting skills and creativity, stepping into vital roles as witnesses, and testifying in support of either the prosecution or defense. Throughout the semester, they will develop and sharpen their critical thinking and public speaking skills. This class will bolster a student's confidence to advocate for themselves, introduce and deepen their knowledge of trial advocacy and procedures, and so much more. Students do not need prior experience in trial advocacy, mock trials, or interest in law school to participate: no matter what career path a student is on, Trial Advocacy will provide students with enhanced written and oral communication, teamwork, leadership, and professionalism that will last a lifetime. High School Mock Trial Team: Selection of mock trial competition team members is by audition in the spring. Enrollment in this course is required of all members of Compass's mock trial competition team. Those who are curious about high school mock trial, higher education in law, or a career in the criminal justice system are welcome and encouraged to enroll. Students who are enrolled in the class only may be invited to meet with the competition team as an alternate, scrimmage partner, or full member, if recommended by the Instructors. Class Format: This class will meet at a virtual, synchronous lecture. Students are expected to be seated at a desk or table and have their cameras and microphones on to participate in class. Workload: Students who are enrolled in the class only should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week outside of class working on writing, collaborating with other students, and memorizing their presentations. Students who are enrolled in the class and are competing members of the mock trial team have an additional, 2-hour in-person weekly team meeting, partner work, scrimmages, rehearsals, and regional and state competitions, for an estimated 5-6 additional hours of work outside of class. Assignments and Assessments: Students will receive feedback on all assignments. There are no exams in this course, but there will be pop quizzes and points assigned for completed assignments, presentations, and participation. Textbook/Materials: The case packet and course documents will be posted to an online classroom management system by the instructors. Credit: For a student who is enrolled in the class only, the homeschool family may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in Humanities, Civics, or Career Exploration for purposes of a high school transcript. For a student who is enrolled in the class and a member of the competing mock trial team, the homeschool family may wish to count this course as a full credit at the honors level.
5:00 pm-7:00 pm
9th-12th
(Semester Long)
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