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Compass students can register here to receive a discount code for a FREE membership at the Elite level (a $179 value) in Volunteer Scholars, a Compass affiliate, where you can earn the American Volunteer Service Award (AVSA), the American Citizenship Award (ACA), National Distinguished Student Leadership Award (NDSLA), and/or the Sacred Service Commendation (SSC). Additional information about these awards can be found on the Volunteer Scholars webpage. Non-Compass homeschooled students from Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington, Stafford, and Fauquier counties, or Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park cities) can register here to receive a discount code for a membership in Volunteer Scholars at the Premier level for $39 instead of $99- a $60 savings- or an Elite level membership for $59 instead of $179- a $120 savings. Additional information about this awards can be found on the Volunteer Scholars webpage. The $39/$59 fee will be collected by Volunteer Scholars rather than Compass.

Enjoy a day on the snowy slopes skiing with homeschool friends at Liberty Mountain Resort in Fairfield, PA. Date: Monday, February 8, 2027 Options:

• Full Adventure Package: includes group transportation, equipment rental, lesson, lift ticket & lunch
• Meet Us There Package: includes equipment rental, lesson, lift ticket & lunch

• 8:30 am (bus departs)
• 10:30 am – 3:00 pm “on the mountain” lessons/skiing
• 5:00 pm (bus returns to Compass)

• Minimum age 7 for lessons. Ages 7-9, must have a participating parent or designated adult
• This event can be drop-off for children ages 10+
• This program is being coordinated by MC Youth Ski Club which is owned by a Compass parent.
• All participants will be required to set up access and sign waivers through MCYSC’s online portal prior to the trip.

Prerequisites: None

Compass 2 College: Foundations helps high school families of 9th and 10th graders get organized early with college planning, transcripts, GPA calculation, course records, testing options, and advising. Students receive two advising meetings each year, priority access to PSAT preparation workshops, the opportunity to apply for Compass-exclusive internships, and guidance on service, leadership, and student awards. The goal is to help families build a strong, well-documented high school record without waiting until senior year. Read more about Compass 2 College.

Please read and sign this form indicating that you have a student(s) registered in one or more Core Courses which have an in-person class expectation and an at-home work component.  Please see your family schedule to see which classes are considered "Core Courses".

Please fill out this form for each Teen, age 13+, who is taking classes at Compass. Please note that an unaccompanied Teen may not remain on campus during non-class hours (before, between, or after scheduled classes), clubs, or special events without this form on file.

Educational matinees bring history lesson plans to life through a live medieval tournament featuring jousting, sword fighting, and horsemanship, with lunch included. Students explore the Middle Ages, the roles of nobility, and medieval knights and their horses during a structured school-day experience. Date: Friday, December 4, 2026 Time: 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (arrive 10:15 am) Location Name: Medieval Times Address: 7000 Arundel Mills Cir, Hanover, MD 21076 Ages/Grades: K-Adult (recommended minimum age 6). This is not recommended for children under the age 6 because of the length of the show, loud cheering/shouting, and dark. Parents & Siblings: All attending parents and siblings must pay the admission fee. Cost: $57.00 per person (includes server tip) Program Description: Step through the castle gates and into Medieval Spain! The Compass group will enter the arena and be seated together for an educational matinee that brings the Middle Ages to life through nearly two hours of live action, storytelling, and pageantry. Students will watch knights compete on horseback in a dramatic tournament featuring jousting, sword fighting, hand-to-hand combat, and impressive displays of horsemanship and falconry. Along the way, the performance introduces students to life in the Middle Ages, including the roles of nobility, the traditions of medieval knights, and the importance of horses in medieval culture. A four-course lunch is served which includes oven-roasted chicken, garlic bread, sweet corn cobette, herb-roasted potato, and a chocolate chip cookie. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly meals are available upon request. Parking & Arrival: There is free parking in the mall parking lot. Enter near entrance #5, near Old Navy. Notes:

• Attendees must arrive at 10:00 am to meet their group and check-in.
• This is a family field trip and parents (or parent proxies) are expected to remain onsite.
• Late arrivals cannot be accommodated once programming begins.
• Students may not be dropped off.
• A collection of study guides are available for download from Medieval Times.

In this course, middle schoolers will expand their understanding of how AI works and begin to evaluate its role in the real world. They will explore core concepts behind AI systems, improve their ability to communicate with AI tools, and examine important topics such as fairness, bias, and ethical use. How do you move from basic questions to powerful, precise control of AI? Second quarter, students take their skills to the next level by learning advanced prompting techniques and how to evaluate and refine outputs. They will design multi-step prompts, experiment with different approaches, and optimize results for clarity, accuracy, and creativity. Through prompt engineering challenges and hands-on workshops, students will test what works, improve what doesn't, and create original content using AI. Technology access in this class will include both instructor-led demonstrations with classroom projections, and hands-on individual laptop use with safety constraints and limited distractions. Topics in this series include: Inside the System (Quarter 1), Ask, Refine, Realize (Quarter 2), Truth or Manipulated? (Quarter 3), and Build for Impact (Quarter 4).

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. Second quarter, young dancers will learn the story of The Nutcracker, composed by Tchaikovsky and performed as a ballet since 1892. 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. A demonstration of skills learned will be showcased for parents on the last class each quarter. 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. Students must be age 4 by the start of class. Topics in this series: The Little Humpbacked Horse (Quarter 1); The Nutcracker (Quarter 2); Swan Lake (Quarter 3); and Don Quixote (Quarter 4).

Prerequisites: None

Candy-cane columns, licorice lattice, gumdrop gutters, iced icicles, or a peppermint path. Journey to your own Candyland with darling gingerbread houses adorned with unique confection constructions. Enjoy your gingerbread house as a holiday centerpiece or a delicious pull-apart treat! Students will learn how to plan their design considering layout and symmetry. Then they will learn how to embellish with Royal icing and candy-encrusted details. They will also learn how to simulate frosted shingles and how to do chocolate writing. The instructor will provide a mouth-watering array of candy decor choices. Notes: (1) For children under age 8, an adult must attend with the child. Over age 8, children may be dropped (2) Some garnishes (gummies or marshmallows) may contain gelatin and food coloring. (3) Each student should bring a cookie sheet to transport his/her gingerbread house home. (4) There is a supply fee of $25.00 due to the instructor on/before start of the workshop.

Warm ovens. Wonderful aromas. A table made more meaningful by their own hands. In Kids' Own Thanksgiving, young cooks step into the heart of the holiday by preparing delicious, crowd-pleasing dishes to share with their families. This hands-on workshop celebrates the joy of giving, as students create recipes they can proudly contribute to the Thanksgiving table. Students will prepare a selection of festive favorites with a creative twist including:

• Spinach Stuffing Balls
• Victorian Sugared Cranberries
• Tomato Manchego Tartlets
• Apricot and Prosciutto Focaccia

Two armies. One battlefield. Infinite possibilities. Across a checkered board, two mighty monarchies prepare for battle. In this legendary clash of kings and queens, which side will triumph in a test of wit, patience, perseverance, and strategy? Students will explore the logic and thrill of the timeless game of chess under the expert guidance of an International Chess Master. Whether you're a budding tactician or a curious beginner, prepare to sharpen your mind and rise to the challenge. Advanced Intermediate Chess is for students with 3+ years experience playing chess and an interest in preparing for competitive play. Second quarter will focus on opening repertoire, strategic identity, and "deep middle games" through the examination of great champions, advanced endgame theory, and classical game mastery. The group will learn about advanced opening concepts such as positional sacrifices, move-order nuances, transpositions, and defensive setups. The class will also learn about building an opening repertoire and tactical, strategic, or hybrid style, and using chess engines + databases to explore novelty. They will learn patterns and board geometry through Taimanov's Knight Check, the Rh-Nf7 trick, and Morphy's and Pillsbury's Mates. Learning and playing chess promote problem solving, decision making, critical and creative thinking, general cognitive ability, scholastic skills, and mathematical achievement (Univ. of Minnesota). Experts suggest that the game of chess teaches analytical and disciplined thinking skills, while raising self esteem, teaching motivation and determination, and sportsmanship (Kasparov Foundation). Each class will be spent part on instruction and part on playing time in practice matches with classmates while the instructor gives tips and reminders. Compass chess students will be given access to GMChessPrep's online portal for virtual chess practice opportunities between classes. Also, students who are absent can request a make-up session during a regularly scheduled GMC online evening group class.

Prerequisites: Intermediate Chess

Everyone can learn to sing! This quarter, children will sing classics that shine such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz, "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music, "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, or "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers. Once the group is formed and their musicality is evaluated, the instructor will offer a selection of pieces tailored to the ensemble. The quarter's repertoire will include at least one group choral number. Students will work on other music as solos, duets, or small group numbers. This introduction to vocal development and performance includes posture, breathing, intonation, and the principles of blending vocal harmonies. Basic musical notation will be introduced as well as melodic and harmonic intervals. No previous musical experience is required- just the joy of singing! Singers will be expected to memorize pieces and participate in a showcase for parents at the end of the quarter. Topics in this series include: Broadway Beats (Quarter 1), Classic Chorals (Quarter 2), Screen Sensations (Quarter 3), and Hollywood Hits (Quarter 4).

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

• Carrot Hummus
• Zucchini Ribbons with Sunflower Seeds
• Corn Chowder
• Orange Garlic Broccoli
• Creamy Tuscan Chicken
• Mushroom and Bacon Dutch Baby
• Mini Grasshopper Pies

Go beyond the trail. Learn to see the wild. Curious Naturalists Field School is a guided, small-group exploration led by a senior master naturalist and environmental educator. Meeting bi-weekly, families engage in purposeful field study where every outing is an opportunity to investigate, identify, and understand the natural world in depth. This is not a casual nature walk. Families learn how to observe like naturalists and think like scientists as they identify native plants, track seasonal changes, study wildlife signs, and examine ecosystems up close. With expert guidance, they explore topics such as botany, ecology, water systems, and habitat relationships, building real knowledge of the environment around them. Led by a credentialed educator with advanced training in environmental science, stream monitoring, and habitat restoration, each session is grounded in both expertise and experience. The group may assess stream health, recognize invasive species, understand watershed dynamics, and participate in meaningful stewardship practices. Curious Naturalists Field School offers a deeper, more intentional outdoor experience for families ready to move beyond basic exploration. It cultivates curiosity, sharpens observation, and builds confidence in the field while fostering a lasting connection to the natural world. This is a family program with parents and children participating together. Each participant in a family must register and pay separately. Children under age 3 are free to tag along, provided they are not a distraction. This is not a drop-off program. Registration and commitment is by single date with the group meeting bi-weekly. For more information on outdoor expectations, see the Compass outdoor class webpage.

Go beyond the trail. Learn to see the wild. Curious Naturalists Field School is a guided, small-group exploration led by a senior master naturalist and environmental educator. Meeting bi-weekly, families engage in purposeful field study where every outing is an opportunity to investigate, identify, and understand the natural world in depth. This is not a casual nature walk. Families learn how to observe like naturalists and think like scientists as they identify native plants, track seasonal changes, study wildlife signs, and examine ecosystems up close. With expert guidance, they explore topics such as botany, ecology, water systems, and habitat relationships, building real knowledge of the environment around them. Led by a credentialed educator with advanced training in environmental science, stream monitoring, and habitat restoration, each session is grounded in both expertise and experience. The group may assess stream health, recognize invasive species, understand watershed dynamics, and participate in meaningful stewardship practices. Curious Naturalists Field School offers a deeper, more intentional outdoor experience for families ready to move beyond basic exploration. It cultivates curiosity, sharpens observation, and builds confidence in the field while fostering a lasting connection to the natural world. This is a family program with parents and children participating together. Each participant in a family must register and pay separately. Children under age 3 are free to tag along, provided they are not a distraction. This is not a drop-off program. Registration and commitment is by single date with the group meeting bi-weekly. For more information on outdoor expectations, see the Compass outdoor class webpage.

Ready, set, code! Young learners will jump into the world of coding as they explore block-based programming and early concepts inspired by JavaScript and Python. Through hands-on challenges and simple game creation, students will discover how code turns their ideas into interactive fun. Digital Clubhouse is a computer lab environment in which students work through the Black Rocket curriculum under the direction of computer science coaches. The lab environment allows students to enroll at any quarter, fosters brand new coders, and encourages those with prior coding experience. All digital tools and software used in class are safe, locally installed educational editions accessed only by the student and not connected to any public platforms. The class tuition includes a student technology fee that covers the use of instructor-provided classroom laptops loaded with the required software, applications, and licenses. At the end of the class, students will receive access to Black Rocket's interactive learning platform to continue their coding journey at home. Topics in this Series: Young Game Designer (Quarter 1), Young Coders (Quarter 2), Young Animators (Quarter 3), Young Sound Mixers (Quarter 4)

Welcome to the Extreme Animal Kingdom, where the most incredible creatures on Earth push the limits of life itself! In this thrilling, hands-on exploration, students will encounter animals with jaw-dropping abilities and unbelievable adaptations. Some glow in the dark, lighting up the ocean depths like living lanterns, while others thrive in boiling, toxic waters near undersea volcanoes. Tiny organisms can freeze solid or dry out completely-then come back to life years later. Some animals can live without oxygen or regrow entire body parts, while others can change color in an instant or turn nearly invisible. Lightning-fast predators can run as fast as a car or punch with the speed of a bullet, while ingenious builders create intricate homes and traps. From animals smaller than a speck of dust to giants larger than a bus, students will discover how life survives, adapts, and thrives in the most extreme environments on Earth. Get ready to explore the strange, the surprising, and the truly wild! Step into the tiny but mighty world of arthropods, where strength, speed, and survival take on incredible forms. Students will explore insects, spiders, and crustaceans that can lift many times their body weight, build intricate structures, and undergo dramatic transformations. With exoskeletons and extraordinary abilities, these creatures dominate nearly every habitat on Earth. Get ready to be amazed by the small creatures that make a big impact! opics in this Series: Microscopic & Marine Marvels (Quarter 1); Amazing Arthropods (Quarter 2); Remarkable Reptiles & Relatives (Quarter 3); Marvelous Mammals (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

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

• Quebec Poutine
• The Great Canadian Salad
• Newfoundland Pea Soup
• Quebec Tourtiere (contains pork)
• Crepes
• Nova Scotia's Hodgepodge
• Date Squares
• Maple Butter Tart

A powerful hurricane season forecasted. Polar ice caps receding. Hydraulic fracking. Solar power. Everywhere we look, environmental science is in the news! Living Planet is a middle school environmental science class which merges the fields of geology, biology, chemistry, and meteorology to explain the earth as an interconnected system with both natural and human-made influences. This year middle schoolers will sample environmental science topics in a lab-based investigation. Second quarter, students will embark on the study of our atmosphere, including global weather patterns, climate studies, and air pollution. The group will learn about the methods scientists use to study these phenomena, including satellite monitoring, air sampling, and chemical analyses. Students will do in-class labs to make predictions, collect and graph data, draw conclusions, and develop models of key Environmental Science processes. Topics in this series include: Geology & Soils Lab (first quarter); Atmosphere Lab (second quarter); Water Lab (third quarter); and Climate Patterns Lab (fourth quarter). There is a $20.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class for consumable materials.

Each week, students will tackle math puzzles, challenges, and learn new "tricks" and techniques to solve a variety of math problems, all while learning about the masterminds behind founding principles of modern mathematics. Students will learn about the life and times of a great mathematician and then explore key concepts, principles, and formulas introduced by the featured master. Students' problem- solving skills will be honed as they examine the historical, cultural, and personal context for discoveries in mathematics. The class will work sample problems and use experiments and manipulatives to demonstrate the formulas, theories, short-cuts, or alternate approaches suggested by famous mathematicians. Second quarter, students will be exposed to a wide variety of math terms, concepts, and patterns from the great problem solvers including Eratosthenes, Napier, Polya, and Babbage. Topics in this Series: Geometry Challenges (Quarter 1); Pattens & Problems Solvers (Quarter 2); Great Discoveries (Quarter 3); and Modern Challenges (Quarter 4).

Big creativity for little hands! This playful, hands-on class is designed especially for our youngest artists to explore a wide variety of art materials in a fun and supportive environment. Each week, preschoolers will dive into themed projects using tempera paints, finger paints, watercolors, markers, pastels, and more. Circles, squares, triangles, and more come to life in this fun-filled art adventure! Second quarter, students will learn recognize, create, and combine shapes while building confidence and creativity through playful experimentation. Students must be at least 3-1/2 years old and able to separate and participate independently in a small group setting. There is a $20.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class. Topics in this series include: Creative Color (Q1), Super Shapes (Q2), Terrific Texture (Q3), and Fun with Forms (Q4).

Student engineers will be challenged to design, build, and program a Sumo robot to compete in compete in table-top combat. Will the robotic sumo wrestler be able to shove a full can or topple an opponent with the use of motors, sensors, and articulated components? Student engineers will be challenged to design, build, and program a robot to complete several unique mazes in the fastest possible time. Students will learn to program their robots to make "decisions" when exploring an unfamiliar maze such as "go straight until you encounter a wall" and "turn to the right if you run into an obstacle." Students will use the LEGO MINDSTORMS Education EV3 robotics sets. They will build with motors, wheels/axles, gears, levers, and special components. Students will have to install touch, sound, color, gyro, ultrasonic, and/or infrared sensors while also learning to program sequences and commands that use input/output devices for controlled movements and precise turns. Using the drag-and-drop EV3 programming menu, students will learn to program their robots while experimenting with key concepts such as fixed values, variables, loops, and logic constructs. This course integrates science, engineering and computational thinking while introducing physical constraints, units of measurement, and coordinate systems. But, don't worry, this is a beginning robotics class. Prior experience is not expected, but returning students are welcome. Each student will build his/her own robotic project, so students can progress and customize at their own pace. In general, in this class, students will spend two weeks assembling, three weeks programming, and two weeks testing and re-designing. Topics in this Series: Maze Runner (Quarter 1), Sumo Bots (Quarter 2), Mars Rover (Quarter 3), and Explore Atlantis (Quarter 4).

Buenos dias! Spanish Amigos (Friends) is a fun, play-based, Spanish immersion class for young students. Much like learning their native language, students will be exposed to the sounds, vocabulary, and phrases in Spanish through songs, games, stories, interactive and hands-on activities. The teacher will bring toys and objects each week to give kids tangible, hands-on examples of the vocabulary being introduced. Each quarter introduces new themes and new vocabulary in Spanish, so children can continue to build their language basics. Themes and units are non-sequential, so students may enroll in this level in any quarter. Limited cues in English will be used to prompt students in the first few weeks. Instruction will be predominantly verbal, but key vocabulary words may be written down for students to begin a sense of spelling. A limited amount of writing, spelling, and reading will be expected to emphasize new vocabulary and complete workbook/handout exercises, but note-taking from the board will not be required. The goal of this introductory course is to lay foundations in sounds, vocabulary, and simple phrases while having fun and building confidence in a foreign language. Fluency should not be expected at this level. Recommendations: Students should be at grade level for reading in English. Some homework will be assigned. Textbook: Students will be working from Viva el Espanol- System A (ISBN #978-0076029525) from McGraw-Hill. Compass pre-purchases copies of this book from the publisher. A supply fee of $26.00 is due payable to Compass on/before the first day. Students will only need to purchase this book the first quarter they are enrolled.

"S" is for science, and "A" is for art in the study of STEAM, but have you thought about the science in art? Artists must understand the science of the materials that the use: how they tint and texturize, mix and melt, dye and dry, blend or bend. There is a complex community of scientists and engineers with specialties in polymers, glass, chemicals, paper, and textiles who design the materials that artists use to create their art. This class will learn about the science and properties of some unique artistic processes and materials and how and why they work. Second quarter, the class will experiment with the chemistry and behavior of paints and dyes. Students will work with dyes that float, suminagashi (Japanese ink marbling) techniques, and photoreactive paper. They will experiment with centrifugal chromatography and the science of colors. The class will discover where pigments come from- both natural and synthetic- and look at special types such as glow-in-the-dark pigments. Students will discover the difference and unique properties of oil paints, acrylic paints, and gouache paint with respect to blending, dry time, texture, sheen, etc. Other class activities include making and using your own paint, working with thermochromic pigments (change color based on temperature), and using photoreactive paper (chemical changes based on light exposure). There is a $35.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day.Topics in this series: Resins & Polymers (Quarter 1), Paints & Dyes (Quarter 2), Optical Illusions & Color (Quarter 3), and Paper Engineers (Quarter 4).

Homeschool Swim Lessons are taught at the Reston YMCA located 0.9 miles/ 3 minute drive from Compass's classroom facility. For more information on swimming lessons, see the program webpage. During the first lesson, students will be observed and determined to be Beginner or Advanced Beginner level, and the class will be divided accordingly among two instructors. Beginners level is for students with little to no swim experience and will cover YMCA Level 1 skills such as water acclimation, floatation, water movement, putting face in the water, swimming 5 feet without a floatation device, and becoming comfortable on back in water. Advanced Beginners level will review all skills in beginner-level class and add YMCA Level 2 skills such as stamina, swimming one length of the pool (25 yards), performing elementary backstroke, rotary breathing, becoming comfortable in deep water, and stroke introduction to include: front crawl, backstroke, and elementary breaststroke. Please note that these skills will be introduced and progress at different rates depending on the comfortable level and experience of enrolled students and may take more than one quarter to complete. At times, students might be moved to a different swimming group (same day, same time, different instructor) to better match the experience level of enrolled children. Lessons are 40 minutes long, running from 0:05 until 0:45 after the hour, leaving enough time to towel dry, change clothes, and return to Compass for your next class. Students should bring a swimsuit, towel, and change of clothes. Googles and swim caps are optional. A parent (or parent proxy) is required to remain on site. Parents may wait on poolside benches or lobby seating. YMCA waivers must be signed and returned for each swimmer. All registration is completed through Compass. All YMCA swimming classes are taught by certified, experienced, background-checked adult instructors with experience teaching children. Consider enrolling your child in both Tuesday and Thursday classes to improve their rate of learning.

Prerequisites: None

Kids take to the stage as they collaboratively write and perform their very own play with unique characters and an original storyline. What happens when Wednesday gets weird and wild? Our actors will create crazy characters and silly scenes to explain what happened when Wednesday went awry. Students will begin with improvisational games to get to know each other and start to brainstorm about their original play. Through group activities and guided discussion, the student actors will decide on characters, conflict, and conclusion, and the story they want to tell. The script will be developed and customized for this class with input from the students. The class will learn the practical aspects of acting, as they work on script read-through, blocking, costume/prop design, and planning the show. Student actors will explore skills such as stage movement, character development, emotional expression, and observation/concentration while learning to portray their original character. Students will develop their own "actor's toolkit" of voice, body, and imagination in this creative process! Actors will grow in confidence and communication skills in preparation for a final sharing with parents on the last day of the quarter. Once the script is fully developed with everyone's parts, it will be emailed to parents. Parents will be expected to help their children memorize their script/lines/cues and assemble a simple make-at-home costume, ideally from clothing items and accessories you already own and a little creativity. Note: Students who are emerging readers (not able to read at a 3rd/4th grade level) would be better suited to the Young Actor's Playhouse class, rather than this level. Topics in this series: Medieval Mayhem (Quarter 1), Wacky Wednesday (Quarter 2), Spy Spoof (Quarter 3), Kooky Cooking Contest (Quarter 4). This is a 6-week class that does not meet on December 10.

This class moves students beyond basic understanding and into actively using AI as a tool for learning, problem-solving, and creativity. Students will explore how AI systems work, practice writing more precise prompts to improve results, and learn to identify errors and bias in AI responses. Through hands-on activities, students will strengthen their critical thinking while gaining practical experience. How can you get better results from AI? Second quarter, students learn how to communicate clearly and effectively with AI by crafting strong prompts. They will explore how small changes in wording can lead to big differences in output and begin to understand the cause-and-effect relationship between input and results. Through engaging activities like prompt battles, rewriting challenges, output comparisons, and an AI-themed escape room, students will practice refining their questions to guide AI more successfully. The focus is on helping students become thoughtful, confident users who can direct and evaluate AI effectively, rather than simply relying on it. Technology access in this class is instructor-led demonstrations with classroom projections, supported by small group stations with one laptops per 2 to 3 students. Topics in this series include: How It's Built (Quarter 1), Ask Perfect Prompts (Quarter 2), Fair or Flawed (Quarter 3), and Real-World Solitions (Quarter 4).

Students will draw in a relaxed, informal studio setting where they will learn the fundamentals of drawing through character design. Students will create original characters inspired by animation, comics, and games, focusing on facial expressions, poses, and personality. Students will practice breaking the human figure and animal forms into simple shapes to construct believable and expressive characters. Emphasis will be on proportion, gesture, and movement, helping students bring their drawings to life. Student artists will learn techniques such as creating a "good line," outlining, patterning, and introductory shading. Elements of art will include line, shape, and pattern, along with principles such as contrast and emphasis. The instructor will demonstrate techniques through sample drawings, and students may follow along or apply the skills to their own ideas. This class is ideal for beginners and helps build confidence by showing students that drawing does not have to be "perfect" to be powerful. There is a suppy fee of $18.00 due payable to the instructor for new students only. Topics in this series include: Style & Self (Quarter 1), Characters & Creatures (Quarter 2), Stuff to Sketch (Quarter 3), and Fantasy Figures (Quarter 4).

Art in Action is a dynamic, hands-on program designed to expand students' artistic skills and creative thinking. Each week, students will study a different artist or artistic movement, explore key concepts and techniques, and analyze examples of notable works before creating their own original pieces inspired by what they have learned. Using a variety of media, students will refine their understanding of color, composition, texture, and design while developing greater confidence and independence in their artistic expression. Second quarter, students explore the art of watercolor, learning how to control the flow of paint while experimenting with blending, layering, and transparency. Through guided projects, they develop observation skills and discover how light, shadow, and careful technique can bring their work to life. Featured artists include J.M.W. Turner, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Winslow Homer. A partial list of projects this quarter includes: watercolor techniques sampler, nature study painting, sky & atmosphere study, still life painting, resist art, landscape layers, watercolor texture experiments, and illustrated poetry painting using watercolor paints (pan and liquid), watercolor paper (various weights), brushes (round, detail, wash), sponges, pencils, erasers, masking fluid, wax crayons, salt, plastic wrap, spray bottles, palettes, drawing boards, reference images, rulers, fine liners, and canvases. Topics in this series include: Abstract Adventures (Quarter 1), Watercolor Wonders (Quarter 2), Global Gallery (Quarter 3), and Fantasy & Fiction- Harry Potter Inspired Art (Quarter 4)

Kids are naturally curious about chemistry! Chemistry explains the properties, behaviors, and interactions of materials around us: things we eat, drink, clean with, wear, drive, and even play with. Kids can use chemistry to understand how things taste, smell, mix, melt, combust, feel, and whether they are recyclable or rubbish, helpful or harmful, nutritious or not. Chemistry is key to understanding the world around us, including other areas of science. In this class, kids begin to use scientific words to describe their observations and will become familiar with some science apparatuses. Second quarter, kids will discover chemistry in action and in industry. They will grow great crystals and test how to treat tarnished metal. Our chemists will discover how cabbage juice can be used to check for acids and bases. They will discover how to melt ice with salt and how to remove salt from solution (desalinization). Students will make simple cell batteries to power a small light bulb. What shines brighter- a potato or a pomelo- and why? The class will learn to use basic chemistry to do copper plating and explore the properties of paint. There is a lab fee of $25.00 due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class. Topics in this series include: Chemistry in the Kitchen (Quarter 1), Chemistry in Action (Quarter 2), Chemistry at Home (Quarter 3), and Chemistry of Toys (Quarter 4).

Two armies. One battlefield. Infinite possibilities. Across a checkered board, two mighty monarchies prepare for battle. In this legendary clash of kings and queens, which side will triumph in a test of wit, patience, perseverance, and strategy? Students will explore the logic and thrill of the timeless game of chess under the expert guidance of an International Chess Master. Whether you're a budding tactician or a curious beginner, prepare to sharpen your mind and rise to the challenge. In Advanced Beginning Chess, students will use the Explorers Level curriculum developed by Grandmaster Babaev for his GMChessPrep program. During Quarter 2, the focus will be on opening principles, positional play, and advanced endgames. The class will learn how to start the chess game considering basic piece development, control of the center, castling early and king safety. Students will continue to learn endgame scenarios such as King + Pawn vs. King and promotion techniques, the Passed Pawn, the Rule of the Square, and vertical opposition. Finally, the class will be introduced to mini games with quick mates and traps such as Scholar's Mate, Fool's Mate, and F7 attacks. Learning and playing chess promote problem solving, decision making, critical and creative thinking, general cognitive ability, scholastic skills, and mathematical achievement (Univ. of Minnesota). Experts suggest that the game of chess teaches analytical and disciplined thinking skills, while raising self esteem, teaching motivation and determination, and sportsmanship (Kasparov Foundation). Each class will be spent part on instruction and part on playing time in practice matches with classmates while the instructor gives tips and reminders. Compass chess students will be given access to GMChessPrep's online portal for virtual chess practice opportunities between classes. Also, students who are absent can request a make-up session during a regularly scheduled GMC online evening group class.

Prerequisites: Beginner Chess

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

• Carrot Hummus
• Zucchini Ribbons with Sunflower Seeds
• Corn Chowder
• Orange Garlic Broccoli
• Creamy Tuscan Chicken
• Mushroom and Bacon Dutch Baby
• Mini Grasshopper Pies

Focus on the "E" in STEM- Engineering! Discover the everyday challenges we can solve through engineering in this hands-on, project-focused class! Students will tackle simulated challenges that span a variety of engineering disciplines and practice the three main steps of the engineering design process by asking, "What is the problem?", "What are possible solutions?" and, "How can I improve on the design?" Second quarter, the class will learn about the careers of Civil Engineers and their responsibility for designing, constructing, and maintaining public infrastructure such as dams, bridges, tunnels, roads, airports, subway systems, and water supply systems. Students will model civil engineering challenges with projects such as the newspaper bridge challenge, spaghetti skyscraper, a geodesic dome, and earthquake-proof structures. Students will work together to solve problems and brainstorm options given a variety of project materials. For each project, students will be challenged to adjust their designs, make modifications, re-design to optimize their creations, and retest performance. Basic building, measuring, data collection, and equations will be used to challenge all minds in engineering! There is a $25.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the start of class. Topics in this Series include: Electrical Lab (Quarter 1); Civil Lab (Quarter 2); Mechanical Lab (Quarter 3); and Green (Sustainable) Lab (Quarter 4).

Welcome to Fun with Physics, where the world around you comes alive! Physics is happening everywhere- when you push a swing, roll a ball, or watch something fall. In this hands-on class, students will explore how things move, what makes them stop, and how energy is all around us. Get ready to experiment, explore, and discover the science you can see, feel, and play with every day! Second quarter our young scientists will dive deeper into matter by exploring solids, density, and the surprising properties of polymers and non-Newtonian fluids. They will observe how materials change through heating, cooling, and mixing. Sample projects include making slime and other polymers, testing melting and freezing points, and experimenting with oobleck and bubble structures. Topics in this Series: Messy Matter & Mixtures (Quarter 1); Squishy Science & Solids (Quarter 2); Mighty Motion & Energy (Quarter 3); Wacky Waves & Wonders (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

FUNctional Fitness is a dynamic PE program for that incorporates well-rounded exercises to get tweens up and moving mid-day! No two workouts are the same, but each day's activities incorporate exercises that target 10 areas: cardio-vascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. FUNctional Fitness focuses on functional movements that are fundamental to all aspects of play and exercise- pulling, pushing, running, throwing, climbing, lifting, and jumping. Work-outs are scalable and adaptable to different individual's own level, and the emphasis is on fun, safety, and personal accomplishment rather than competition among classmates. When the weather permits, some exercises may be taken outdoors. The physical challenges of FUNctional Fitness will foster self-confidence, focus, and help instill a foundation for a lifetime of fitness. The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in FUNctional Fitness at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order. All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. FUNctional Fitness continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

Great Books for Girls is a book club just for preteen girls. Each quarter, students read one high-quality novel and spend class time doing more than just discussing it. Girls act out scenes, debate character decisions, write alternate endings or origin stories, and dig into the research behind the story. Through conversation and guided activities, students begin to read more closely and notice how authors build characters, develop themes, and make choices about how to tell a story. Each quarter, one book is the teacher's selection and a second book is chosen by the class from a short, approved list. Students read assigned chapters at home and come to class prepared to share their reflections and discuss the books. All books are selected from Newbery Medalists and Honor Books, Caldecott Medal titles, A Mighty Girl book lists, Parents' Choice Award winners, and proven classics of children's fiction. This year's themes and teacher's choice books: Quarter1: Leadership (When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller, 2021 Newbery Medal); Quarter 2: Strength (One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome, 2025 Newbery Honor); Quarter 3: Imagination (The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera, 2023 Newbery Medal); and Quarter 4: Independence (Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, 2025 Newbery Honor). Level: This class is designed for 5th and 6th graders. 4th grade students reading above grade level are welcome. Novels: The cost of a new, mass-market paperback edition of the first book title is included in the class tuition. Parents are responsible for buying or borrowing a copy of the second book from the library, once selected. What to Bring: Current novel, paper, pen or pencil, and a highlighter. Sticky notes or adhesive flags are helpful for marking favorite passages.

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

• Red Stripe

• OrangeStripe

• Yellow Stripe

• Green Stripe

• Blue Stripe

• Purple Stripe

• Brown Stripe

• Black Stripe

Step outdoors and into nature's living laboratory! This outdoor science class immerses students in real-world field study where the woods, streams, and wetlands become the classroom. Each week, explorers will practice the methods of natural scientists as they investigate ecology, geology, zoology (local wildlife), botany (plants), ornithology (birds), mycology (fungi), and entomology (insects), in our own suburban ecosystem. Students will observe natural systems in action as they examine life cycles, the water cycle, and the local watershed; explore suburban wetlands; and uncover the balance between producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as predator- prey relationships and food webs. Seasonal cycles will guide discoveries as young naturalists watch habitats transform and learn how plants and animals adapt throughout the year. Each week, students will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon with a senior naturalist and outdoor educator. This program offers a refreshing break from sit-down, indoor, and screen-based learning,encouraging movement, fresh air, curiosity, and hands-on discovery. Students will learn to stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn things over, and peek beneath the surface to uncover nature's hidden wonders. A portion of every session will focus on developing confidence and comfort in the outdoors. Emphasis will be placed on safe, respectful, and responsible exploration, environmental stewardship, and appreciating what we find in nature. Students will also enjoy nature-based games that reinforce teamwork and exploration skills. See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Learn history and geography through hands-on, interactive play rather than by studying flat, dull maps! Many great games feature play on map-based boards that can be used as teaching tools. Visual and kinesthetic learners will remember where Mongolia and Madagascar are when they have amassed miniature armies there! The instructor will use board games from his personal collection as teaching tools. In addition, he creates custom boards to use with modified game rules and playing pieces.   Second quarter, students will learn about the American Civil War using a custom table-top US map and the rules and playing pieces blended from Risk and the Battle for the States game. Students typically play in teams representing the eastern theater, western theater, and naval theater. The game continues week-to-week with students reviewing the geography as they set the game back up. For this conflict, students learn which states were engaged and where they were located, capitals and key cities, shared borders and boundaries, and prominent geographic features and waterways. They gain an understanding of why the states were at war and how those events influenced history and the modern map. Topics in this series include: The 18th Century World (Quarter 1); The American Civil War (Quarter 2), Imperial Asia (Quarter 3), and The World at War- WWI (Quarter 4).

If your child is going to read, let's make it unforgettable. Rich stories, vivid characters, and books they actually want to open. No dry passages. No busywork. Just real literature that pulls them in and keeps them thinking long after the last page. Strong reading and writing skills do not just matter in language arts. They drive success across every subject. This dynamic weekly reading group is built for small cohorts of 6 to 10 students working at a similar level. The setting allows kids to feel confident, appropriately challenged, and genuinely engaged. Guided by an experienced language arts teacher, students move through a literature-based curriculum that connects everything they learn. In this class, books are the center of it all. Vocabulary grows naturally from the story. Grammar is taught in context. Writing assignments are meaningful and tied directly to characters, themes, and ideas. The result is a cohesive and immersive approach to language arts that sticks. Each week, students explore engaging texts while building critical skills such as comprehension, prediction, visualization, and verbal expression. Reading should feel like an adventure. In this class, it is. Books covered in this level include: Quarter 1: - Because of Winn-Dixie - The Hundred Dresses Quarter 2: - Flora and Ulysses - The Great Kapok Tree Quarter 3: - Charlotte's Web - Alexander and the No Good, Terrible, Very Bad Day Quarter 4: - Sarah Plain and Tall - I Survived The Shark Attacks of 1916 Placement: Readiness matters. Because this is a comprehensive program, students should be working at a similar level in reading, comprehension, and writing. Parents are encouraged to use results from a nationally normed assessment, such as those used for the Virginia Evidence of Progress to confirm their child's grade level equivalency. This program is designed for students who thrive in a traditional literature-based setting. Students who are more than one year behind in language arts, or who show a significant gap between reading and writing skills, may be better supported in the Reading Ready program or through private tutoring. Students with diagnosed learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, or language processing disorders may benefit more from the structured literacy approach offered in the Reading Ready program. Homework: Learning continues at home in a simple, manageable way. Families receive themed activities that reinforce skills without adding stress. For many learners, Reading Rally can serve as a complete language arts program, covering reading, comprehension, writing, spelling, and grammar without the need for additional curriculum. Supply Fee: The fee for mass market paperback copies of the class texts is included.

Successful social skills help children navigate nearly every aspect of their lives. Building confidence in social settings can improve self-esteem and increase comfort in group environments- whether at school, in sports, trying new activities, spending time with family, or connecting with friends. While all children benefit from strengthening social skills, some need additional guidance and practice. In this class, students will work with an educational specialist and former school counselor to develop practical strategies for common social challenges. Topics include conversation skills, recognizing and expressing emotions, perspective-taking, managing stress, communicating with parents, building friendships, and navigating sibling relationships. This small-group class is highly interactive and engaging, incorporating games, role-playing, video examples, modeled behavior, and hands-on activities to reinforce learning. Students benefit most from participating for multiple quarters. While some activities are repeated for reinforcement, new content is introduced regularly. As new students join, the group dynamic evolves, providing opportunities to practice skills in varied, real-life scenarios. Over time, children build greater confidence and comfort in their social interactions. Note: This class is designed for neurotypical children. It is not intended as a therapeutic or clinical intervention for children who may require more specialized support.

Total Training is a dynamic PE program for that incorporates well-rounded exercises to get teens moving mid-day! No two workouts are the same, but each day's activities incorporate exercises that target 10 areas: cardio-vascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. Total Training focuses on functional movements that are fundamental to all aspects of play and exercise- pulling, pushing, running, throwing, climbing, lifting, and jumping. Work-outs are scalable and adaptable to different individual's own level, and the emphasis is on fun, safety, and personal accomplishment rather than competition among classmates. The physical challenges of Total Training will foster self-confidence, focus, and help instill a foundation for a lifetime of fitness. The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Teens may enroll in Total Training at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order. All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. Total Training continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

Homeschool Swim Lessons are taught at the Reston YMCA located 0.9 miles/ 3 minute drive from Compass's classroom facility. For more information on swimming lessons, see the program webpage. During the first lesson, students will be observed and determined to be Beginner or Advanced Beginner level, and the class will be divided accordingly among two instructors. Beginners level is for students with little to no swim experience and will cover YMCA Level 1 skills such as water acclimation, floatation, water movement, putting face in the water, swimming 5 feet without a floatation device, and becoming comfortable on back in water. Advanced Beginners level will review all skills in beginner-level class and add YMCA Level 2 skills such as stamina, swimming one length of the pool (25 yards), performing elementary backstroke, rotary breathing, becoming comfortable in deep water, and stroke introduction to include: front crawl, backstroke, and elementary breaststroke. Please note that these skills will be introduced and progress at different rates depending on the comfortable level and experience of enrolled students and may take more than one quarter to complete. At times, students might be moved to a different swimming group (same day, same time, different instructor) to better match the experience level of enrolled children. Lessons are 40 minutes long, running from 0:05 until 0:45 after the hour, leaving enough time to towel dry, change clothes, and return to Compass for your next class. Students should bring a swimsuit, towel, and change of clothes. Googles and swim caps are optional. A parent (or parent proxy) is required to remain on site. Parents may wait on poolside benches or lobby seating. YMCA waivers must be signed and returned for each swimmer. All registration is completed through Compass. All YMCA swimming classes are taught by certified, experienced, background-checked adult instructors with experience teaching children. Consider enrolling your child in both Tuesday and Thursday classes to improve their rate of learning.

Prerequisites: None

Adventures in Art is an engaging, hands-on creative experience designed for growing artists! Each week, students will explore a new artist or artistic style, learn interesting background facts, study inspiring examples, and create their own artwork inspired by what they observe. Working with a wide variety of materials, students will experiment with color, pattern, texture, and design as they develop their skills and bring their creative ideas to life. Second quarter, students bring animals to life through art using a wide range of styles, colors, and techniques. Each class explores a fun new way to create, then students jump in to design their own animal artwork, from realistic creatures to bold, imaginative designs. Along the way, they experiment with color, pattern, and texture while building creativity and confidence. Featured artists include Winslow Homer, Paul Gauguin, Franz Marc, and Dean Russo. A partial list of projects this quarter includes: colorful jungle animal painting, animal in nature watercolor, expressive animal portrait, animal pattern design, habitat scene collage, mythical creature drawing, and animal silhouette at sunset painting using pencils, erasers, black markers, colored pencils, crayons, oil pastels, watercolor and tempera paints, paintbrushes, white drawing paper, canvases, colored construction paper, cardstock, tissue paper, cardboard, glue sticks, liquid glue, and scissors. Topics in this series include: Stellar Celestial Subjects (Quarter 1), Creatures in Color (Quarter 2), A Tale of Two Styles (Quarter 3) and Murals, Monuments & Museums (Quarter 4).

Art in Action is a dynamic, hands-on program designed to expand students' artistic skills and creative thinking. Each week, students will study a different artist or artistic movement, explore key concepts and techniques, and analyze examples of notable works before creating their own original pieces inspired by what they have learned. Using a variety of media, students will refine their understanding of color, composition, texture, and design while developing greater confidence and independence in their artistic expression. Second quarter, students explore the art of watercolor, learning how to control the flow of paint while experimenting with blending, layering, and transparency. Through guided projects, they develop observation skills and discover how light, shadow, and careful technique can bring their work to life. Featured artists include J.M.W. Turner, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Winslow Homer. A partial list of projects this quarter includes: watercolor techniques sampler, nature study painting, sky & atmosphere study, still life painting, resist art, landscape layers, watercolor texture experiments, and illustrated poetry painting using watercolor paints (pan and liquid), watercolor paper (various weights), brushes (round, detail, wash), sponges, pencils, erasers, masking fluid, wax crayons, salt, plastic wrap, spray bottles, palettes, drawing boards, reference images, rulers, fine liners, and canvases. Topics in this series include: Abstract Adventures (Quarter 1), Watercolor Wonders (Quarter 2), Global Gallery (Quarter 3), and Fantasy & Fiction- Harry Potter Inspired Art (Quarter 4)

This boxing fundamentals class helps teens build coordination, confidence, and controlled athletic movement in a safe and structured environment. Students will learn proper boxing stance and footwork, practice space awareness and movement control, and develop correct punching mechanics through guided drills. Conditioning exercises will improve balance, focus, and overall fitness while building strength and endurance. All power punches are directed only at heavy bag- never at another student. Students will practice shadow sparring, a non-contact drill that focuses on movement, timing, and technique rather than striking an opponent. Safety is a top priority. There will be no head contact, no hard punches to the body, and no student-to-student striking of any kind. The class emphasizes discipline, self-control, and skill development rather than aggression. BoxFit for Teens offers a positive outlet for energy while helping students improve coordination, fitness, and confidence in a supportive, supervised setting. The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Teens may enroll in Total Training at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order. All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. BoxFit continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

Two armies. One battlefield. Infinite possibilities. Across a checkered board, two mighty monarchies prepare for battle. In this legendary clash of kings and queens, which side will triumph in a test of wit, patience, perseverance, and strategy? Students will explore the logic and thrill of the timeless game of chess under the expert guidance of an International Chess Master. Whether you're a budding tactician or a curious beginner, prepare to sharpen your mind and rise to the challenge. In Intermediate Chess, students will use the Strategists Level curriculum developed by Grandmaster Babaev for his GMChessPrep program. During Quarter 2, the focus will be on pawn dynamics, practical endgames, and board control. The group will continue an examination of endgame strategies including: double pawns, triple pawns, passed pawns, and protected-pass pawns. The class will evaluate mating patterns such as Weak Dark Squares, Lolli's Mate, Pawn on 7th, and Queen-Bishop set-up. They will cover basic opening principles like control of the center, piece development, and king safety, and opening names like Italian, Scotch, and brief introduction to Four Knights. Students will work visual examples, play practice positions, learn to identify and evaluate value and weakness through visual examples, and puzzle practice. Learning and playing chess promote problem solving, decision making, critical and creative thinking, general cognitive ability, scholastic skills, and mathematical achievement (Univ. of Minnesota). Experts suggest that the game of chess teaches analytical and disciplined thinking skills, while raising self-esteem, teaching motivation and determination, and sportsmanship (Kasparov Foundation). Each class will be spent part on instruction and part on playing time in practice matches with classmates while the instructor gives tips and reminders. Compass chess students will be given access to GMChessPrep's online portal for virtual chess practice opportunities between classes. Also, students who are absent can request a make-up session during a regularly scheduled GMC online evening group class.

Prerequisites: Advanced Beginner Chess

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

• Carrot Hummus
• Zucchini Ribbons with Sunflower Seeds
• Corn Chowder
• Orange Garlic Broccoli
• Creamy Tuscan Chicken
• Mushroom and Bacon Dutch Baby
• Mini Grasshopper Pies

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. This quarter, our storytellers will make up the myth of a mystical mountain. Will they find magicians, monsters, mermaids, and more? 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 ____?" Students should be able to read, write, and spell at the second grade level or higher for this class. Psst- don't tell your child, but this class helps lay the foundation in language arts for more advanced creative writing and composition. Pair this class with Acting: Kids Theater or Writing Wonders to further encourage communication and storytelling skills. The supply fee is included in the class tuition. Topics in this series: Great Race (Quarter 1), Mythical Mountain (Quarter 2), Time Machine (Quarter 3), and Fantastical Forest (Quarter 4). This is a 6-week class that does not meet on December 10.

Students will draw in a relaxed, informal studio setting, where they will learn the fundamentals of drawing along with the elements of art and principles of design. Most drawing projects are "student's own" where each artist selects their own subject to incorporate demonstrated techniques such as representing light and dark, creating texture and patterns, and shading to show dimension. Second quarter, students will learn how to draw portraits first by learning how to do proportions and features in a more traditional representation then by exploring fantastic and ficitonal people, beasts, and pets through exaggerating and manipulating proportions while maintaining the basics. The instructor will demonstrate various techniques by developing a sample drawing. Students may elect to follow the class sample or may apply the drawing skills to an entirely unique drawing. This class is suitable for beginners who have never drawn before and for intermediate art students who have worked with other media and are interested in exploring drawing. Drawing can provide a relaxing, needed break from rigorous academic classes and over-scheduled lives in a fun, supportive environment. Topics in this Series: Everyday Objects (Quarter 1), Portraits and Creative Caricatures (Quarter 2), Creating Narrative (Quarter 3), and Imitating Illustration Styles (Quarter 4). Workload: Work outside of class is optional for those who wish to practice their drawing techniques. Assessments: Individual feedback is given in class. Formal assessments will not be given. Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $18.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class for a sketchbook, a pencil box with pencils of varying hardness, and an eraser. Returning drawing students do not need to pay a supply fee and are expected to replace their drawing supplies as needed, with similar or better quality. Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in Fine Arts for purposes of a high school transcript.

Become a world-traveling eco adventurer and earth scientist without leaving Compass! Study the world's most exciting and diverse ecosystems and learn about the incredible biologic and geologic phenomena that shape them. Venture into caves and coasts, tundra and taiga, and forests and fjords. Each week, student scientists will begin by locating the fascinating features on a map before learning about these incredible habitats from the ground-up, starting with the geology of a place, then working their way through the climate, biome, flora, and fauna. Hands-on labs and in-class activities will reinforce regional and ecological diversity by examining rock types, classifying plants, observing insects, or modelling weather phenomena. Bundle up! Second quarter, students will journey to the northern latitudes. The class begin in the frozen north of the Arctic Circle, then travel south through Greenland, Russia, and Europe. Students will see how some animal and human populations deal with environmental extremes through seasonal migrations. Along the way, the class will learn about cold weather phenomena, polar ice, tundra and taiga (coniferous forest) biomes, inland seas, and the seasonal effects of polar nights and midnight sun. Topics in this Series: The Americas and Antarctica (Quarter 1); Northern Latitudes (Quarter 2); Africa and Asia (Quarter 3); and All About Islands (Quarter 4). Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $20.00 is due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Salut! French with Friends is an introductory French class for elementary-aged students. The class will be taught in a predominantly immersion environment. Limited cues in English will be used to prompt students or explain difficult concepts. French language instruction will be presented in a natural learning sequence beginning with nouns (such as colors, numbers, clothing, foods, animals, family members, days/dates, etc), adjectives, beginning verbs, greetings, and simple phrases. Songs, games, stories, and hands-on activities will be used in class to review vocabulary and phrases. Emphasis will be on conversation, but students will be encouraged to learn to spell and sound out written French. Aspects of Francophone culture such as holidays, foods, and traditions will be incorporated in the classes. Each quarter introduces new themes and new vocabulary in French, so continuing students can continue to build their language basics. However, themes and units are non-sequential, so students may enroll in this level in any quarter. The goal of this introductory course is to lay foundations in sounds, vocabulary, and simple phrases while having fun and building confidence in a foreign language. Fluency should not be expected at this level.

FUNctional Fitness is a dynamic PE program for that incorporates well-rounded exercises to get kids up and moving mid-day! No two workouts are the same, but each day's activities incorporate exercises that target 10 areas: cardio-vascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. FUNctional Fitness focuses on functional movements that are fundamental to all aspects of play and exercise- pulling, pushing, running, throwing, climbing, lifting, and jumping. Work-outs are scalable and adaptable to different individual's own level, and the emphasis is on fun, safety, and personal accomplishment rather than competition among classmates. When the weather permits, some exercises may be taken outdoors. The physical challenges of FUNctional Fitness will foster self-confidence, focus, and help instill a foundation for a lifetime of fitness. The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in FUNctional Fitness at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order. All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. FUNctional Fitness continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

FUNctional Fitness is a dynamic PE program for that incorporates well-rounded exercises to get tweens up and moving mid-day! No two workouts are the same, but each day's activities incorporate exercises that target 10 areas: cardio-vascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. FUNctional Fitness focuses on functional movements that are fundamental to all aspects of play and exercise- pulling, pushing, running, throwing, climbing, lifting, and jumping. Work-outs are scalable and adaptable to different individual's own level, and the emphasis is on fun, safety, and personal accomplishment rather than competition among classmates. When the weather permits, some exercises may be taken outdoors. The physical challenges of FUNctional Fitness will foster self-confidence, focus, and help instill a foundation for a lifetime of fitness. The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in FUNctional Fitness at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order. All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. FUNctional Fitness continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

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

• Quebec Poutine
• The Great Canadian Salad
• Newfoundland Pea Soup
• Quebec Tourtiere (contains pork)
• Crepes
• Nova Scotia's Hodgepodge
• Date Squares
• Maple Butter Tart

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. Second quarter, junior engineers will get "wild" and build a zoo of articulated animals! Using mechanical concepts like rachet, linkage, and levers, and the fantastic diversity in the animal kingdom, our creators will build leaping dolphins, towering giraffes, swinging monkeys, jumping grasshoppers, and more! 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. Notes:(1)Students must be minimum age 5 and able to separate from their parents for this class. (2) Projects are built from shared, Compass-owned components, so students will not bring completed projects home. Parents, however, can step into class 15 minutes before the end of each session to photograph their child's construction. Topics in this Series: Fantastic Fliers & Space Racers (Quarter 1); Articulated Aniamls (Quarter 2); Winter Wonders (Quarter 3); Construct a Carnival (Quarter 4)

Prerequisites: Minimum age 5

How does one king unite a broken continent? Discover the rise of Charlemagne, from constant warfare and clever diplomacy to his crowning as Emperor of a new Roman Empire. He expanded his rule across much of Europe through relentless campaigns and strategic alliances. Explore how his conquests and reforms sparked the Carolingian Renaissance, transforming learning, writing, and communication. Students will choose from among several options for their diorama: a battlefield, seaports, or a medieval town. Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, and historical maps, students will create a 12" X 18" diorama board and populate it with 1:72 scale historical figures. Once individual projects are constructed, students will combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to approximate a larger battlefield terrain. Students will spend the remainder of the quarter learning about the tactics and outcomes of the military engagement while playing a table-top strategy game. Student strategists will use a simplified version of the Fire and Fury historical war gaming rule system for moving troops and equipment. Along with their classmates, students will see how battles progressed and test different outcome scenarios that might have occurred with different battlefield choices. Students will also receive dozens of miniatures to re-enact the historical battles! Course documents, such as period maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. There is a $25.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the start of classes. Topics in this series include: Vikings Invade Europe(Quarter 1), Charlemagne Builds an Empire (Quarter 2), Pirates Plunder the New World (Quarter 3), Napoleon Falls at Waterloo (Quarter 4).

Step outdoors and into nature's living laboratory! This outdoor science class immerses students in real-world field study where the woods, streams, and wetlands become the classroom. Each week, explorers will practice the methods of natural scientists as they investigate ecology, geology, zoology (local wildlife), botany (plants), ornithology (birds), mycology (fungi), and entomology (insects), in our own suburban ecosystem. Students will observe natural systems in action as they examine life cycles, the water cycle, and the local watershed; explore suburban wetlands; and uncover the balance between producers, consumers, and decomposers, as well as predator- prey relationships and food webs. Seasonal cycles will guide discoveries as young naturalists watch habitats transform and learn how plants and animals adapt throughout the year. Each week, students will explore the southern section of Sugarland Stream Valley Park in Herndon with a senior naturalist and outdoor educator. This program offers a refreshing break from sit-down, indoor, and screen-based learning,encouraging movement, fresh air, curiosity, and hands-on discovery. Students will learn to stop, look, listen, smell, touch, turn things over, and peek beneath the surface to uncover nature's hidden wonders. A portion of every session will focus on developing confidence and comfort in the outdoors. Emphasis will be placed on safe, respectful, and responsible exploration, environmental stewardship, and appreciating what we find in nature. Students will also enjoy nature-based games that reinforce teamwork and exploration skills. See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

Learn history and geography through hands-on, interactive play rather than by studying flat, dull maps! Many great games feature play on map-based boards that can be used as teaching tools. Visual and kinesthetic learners will remember where Mongolia and Madagascar are when they have amassed miniature armies there! The instructor will use board games from his personal collection as teaching tools. In addition, he creates custom boards to use with modified game rules and playing pieces.   Second quarter, students will learn about the American Civil War using a custom table-top US map and the rules and playing pieces blended from Risk and the Battle for the States game. Students typically play in teams representing the eastern theater, western theater, and naval theater. The game continues week-to-week with students reviewing the geography as they set the game back up. For this conflict, students learn which states were engaged and where they were located, capitals and key cities, shared borders and boundaries, and prominent geographic features and waterways. They gain an understanding of why the states were at war and how those events influenced history and the modern map. Topics in this series include: The 18th Century World (Quarter 1); The American Civil War (Quarter 2), Imperial Asia (Quarter 3), and The World at War- WWI (Quarter 4).

If your child is going to read, let's make it unforgettable. Rich stories, vivid characters, and books they actually want to open. No dry passages. No busywork. Just real literature that pulls them in and keeps them thinking long after the last page. Strong reading and writing skills do not just matter in language arts. They drive success across every subject. This dynamic weekly reading group is built for small cohorts of 6 to 10 students working at a similar level. The setting allows kids to feel confident, appropriately challenged, and genuinely engaged. Guided by an experienced language arts teacher, students move through a literature-based curriculum that connects everything they learn. In this class, books are the center of it all. Vocabulary grows naturally from the story. Grammar is taught in context. Writing assignments are meaningful and tied directly to characters, themes, and ideas. The result is a cohesive and immersive approach to language arts that sticks. Each week, students explore engaging texts while building critical skills such as comprehension, prediction, visualization, and verbal expression. Reading should feel like an adventure. In this class, it is. Books covered in this level include: Quarter 2: - I Survived the Great Chicago Fire 1871 - Stuart Little by E.B. White Quarter 3: - Frindel -The Wild Rescuers Guardians of the Taiga Quarter 4: - Coming soon - Coming soon Placement: Readiness matters. Because this is a comprehensive program, students should be working at a similar level in reading, comprehension, and writing. Parents are encouraged to use results from a nationally normed assessment, such as those used for the Virginia Evidence of Progress to confirm their child's grade level equivalency. This program is designed for students who thrive in a traditional literature-based setting. Students who are more than one year behind in language arts, or who show a significant gap between reading and writing skills, may be better supported in the Reading Ready program or through private tutoring. Students with diagnosed learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, or language processing disorders may benefit more from the structured literacy approach offered in the Reading Ready program. Homework: Learning continues at home in a simple, manageable way. Families receive themed activities that reinforce skills without adding stress. For many learners, Reading Rally can serve as a complete language arts program, covering reading, comprehension, writing, spelling, and grammar without the need for additional curriculum. Supply Fee: The fee for mass market paperback copies of the class texts is included.

From stage and screen and just in time for Halloween! Learn ghoulish special effects make-up tricks from a professional make-up artist. In this two-hour clinic, teens will learn how to create realistic effects that they can apply to transform themselves into a zombie, monster, troll, demon, or other dark creatures. Students will learn how to create hollow, sunken eyes and peeling or ripping skin using professional make-up products on themselves or their friends. A special effects make-up kit of consisting of cream make-up, coagulated blood gel, modelling putty, liquid latex, make-up sponges, and applicators is included in the class fee. Each student must bring a stand-up table top mirror to the class. The clinic is for students ages 13 and up.

Hola! Spanish Para Pequenos (Spanish for Little Ones) is a fun, play-based, Spanish immersion class for young children. Following the native language-learning process, children will be exposed to the sounds, letters, and high-frequency words in Spanish through songs, games, stories, puppets, and other interactive activities. The instructor will provide all necessary toys and objects to give young children tangible, and hands-on ways to apply new concepts in practical real-life situations. The instructor uses some Montessori-style activities that create a high-energy, playful environment, engaging tactile and kinesthetic learners alike while appealing to children's natural curiosities. The vocabulary and language structures presented in each session follow a new letter of the alphabet each week that will include greetings, simple phrases, foods, colors, numbers, animals, common action verbs, calendar phrases, articles of clothing and seasonal topics. Vocabulary will be repeated and reviewed often to aid in the retention of the language, and will primarily develop listening and speaking skills. The goal of this introductory course is to lay foundations in sounds, vocabulary, and simple phrases while having fun and building confidence in a foreign language. Fluency should not be expected at this level. Who knows, your child might just come home singing their new favorite Spanish nursery rhyme!

Homeschool Swim Lessons are taught at the Reston YMCA located 0.9 miles/ 3 minute drive from Compass's classroom facility. For more information on swimming lessons, see the program webpage. Intermediate level is for students who are proficient in Advanced Beginner level skills such as swimming one length of the pool (25 yards), performing elementary backstroke, and becoming comfortable in deep water. Intermediate swimmers will cover Levels 3 of the YMCA program including elementary breaststroke, backstroke, front crawl with rotary breathing all at 25 yards, with work towards Level 4 skills including stamina and increasing all swimming to 50 yards or more, plus breast stroke, elementary butterfly stroke and kick, elementary dives, and turns. Please note that these skills will be introduced and progress at different rates depending on the comfortable level and experience of enrolled students and may take more than one quarter to complete. At times, students might be moved to a different swimming group (same day, same time, different instructor) to better match the experience level of enrolled children. Lessons are 40 minutes long, running from 0:05 until 0:45 after the hour, leaving enough time to towel dry, change clothes, and return to Compass for your next class. Students should bring a swimsuit, towel, and change of clothes. Googles and swim caps are optional. A parent (or parent proxy) is required to remain on site. Parents may wait on poolside benches or lobby seating. YMCA waivers must be signed and returned for each swimmer. All registration is completed through Compass. All YMCA swimming classes are taught by certified, experienced, background-checked adult instructors with experience teaching children. Consider enrolling your child in both Tuesday and Thursday classes to improve their rate of learning.

Prerequisites: None

Private Lessons with Elise Doucet

Cancellation/Rescheduling: In the event of a change in your schedule, Compass requires 24 hours notice to reschedule the private lessons. Every effort will be made to reschedule the session at a time that is mutually agreeable to the teacher, the student/client, and Compass. In the event of a no-show or change/cancellation occurring less than 24 hours before the scheduled instruction session, pre-paid fees will be forfeited and no refund will be offered.

Prerequisites: None

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

• Mini Mixed Cerry Cornmeal Cobblers
• Mini Apple Pies
• Chocolate Mocha Pie
• Sweet Potato Praline Pie
• Meijer Lemon Shaker Pie
• Maple Pie
• Apricot Almond Pie with Caramel Sauce (contains nuts)

Take command of the battlefield as you design and deploy your own 3D military diorama. After early defeats across the Pacific, the United States halted Japanese expansion at Midway and carried the fight to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. What followed was a grueling campaign on land and sea, where control of a single airfield could determine the fate of the entire region. This class examines the brutal island fighting and the repeated naval battles at Iron Bottom Sound that marked the beginning of the Allied offensive. Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, and historical maps, students will each form a 10" X 14" shaped, foam diorama with landscape elements (hills, valleys, rivers, ridges, vegetation, airfields, etc) to represent a scene of a famous historical engagement. Students will each receive scale miniature naval ships to populate their scene. Once individual projects are constructed, students will combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to approximate the larger battlefield terrain. Students will spend the remainder of the quarter learning about the tactics and outcomes of the military engagement while playing a table-top strategy game. Student strategists will use a simplified version of the Axis and Allies gaming rule system for moving troops and equipment. Along with their classmates, students will see how this battle progressed and test different outcome scenarios that might have occurred with different battlefield choices. The instructor will use maps and visual presentations to explain the historical background and circumstances leading up to the specific battle. Course documents, such as period maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Topics in this year's series include: Pearl Harbor (Quarter 1), Guadalcanal (Quarter 2), D-Day (Quarter 3), and Battle of the Bulge (Quarter 4).

Chewy, chunky, crispy, or crunchy- kids love cookies! Join us for a one-day, 3-hour Christmas Cookie Academy where bakers will craft 3 kinds of cookies. In the workshop, kids will prepare and bake: Spiced Sugar Cookies with Espresso Glaze, Spritz Butter Cookies, Orange Cranberry Cookies with Orange Glaze, and White Chocolate Cherry Oat. Students will leave with a tray of 3-4 dozen cookies ready for an exchange or holiday party and the recipes to repeat the cookies at home. See the Compass Cooking Class webpage for more FAQs about our cooking classes. There is a supply fee of $25.00 due to the instructor on/before the start of the workshop.

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

• Carrot Hummus
• Zucchini Ribbons with Sunflower Seeds
• Corn Chowder
• Orange Garlic Broccoli
• Creamy Tuscan Chicken
• Mushroom and Bacon Dutch Baby
• Mini Grasshopper Pies

Student artists will enjoy working hands-on, in 3-dimensions with clay and mosaics to create original decorative arts. Clay sculpture and mosaics are multi-sensory, and students enjoy the tactile experience of shaping, sculpting, cutting, arranging, layering, texturing, and finishing a variety of materials. Decorative art engages a different artistic skillset than coloring, drawing, and writing, and encourages creativity to represent objects in three dimensions. In this studio environment, students will create original hand-made pieces using a range of artistic techniques and a myriad of materials. Second quarter, students will work hands-on with natural clay, exploring the many forms and possibilities of this versatile medium. Projects will be sculpted in weeks one, three, and five, with painting and finishing in weeks two, four, and six. In week seven, students will complete a make-and-take multimedia project using air-dry clay. Throughout the quarter, they will experiment with texture and pattern using a variety of tools, as well as explore different painting techniques and color applications. With each new lesson and project, students will continue to develop their hand-building techniques and finishing skills. Projects this quarter include: a pinch-pot acorn bowl, a fall leaf plate (slab building with imprints), and a coil-build harvest pumpkin. A supply fee of $40.00 per student is due payable to the instructor on or before the first day of class. Topics in this Series: Mosaic Makers (Quarters 1, 3) and Clay Crafters (Quarters 2, 4)

What giants ruled the land before the age of T. rex? Discover the Jurassic world of Europe and Africa, where massive sauropods roamed and fierce predators hunted across ancient landscapes. Explore famous fossil sites and meet dinosaurs like Allosaurus and long-necked giants that dominated this earlier age. Each student will create an individual diorama. Students will craft and hand-shape their scene on a 10" X 14" foam board using artistic, model-making techniques. They will customize their dioramas with landforms, landscape elements, and vegetation. Once individual projects are constructed, students will populate them with miniature figures and combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to create a larger terrain. Students will then compete in a pre-history-based survival strategy game. Each student will have at least one board and set of miniatures to take home with them. Course documents such as maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. Students must be minimum age 8 to take this class. Topics in this series include: Ancient Seas (Quarter 1), Cretaceous North America and Asia (Quarter 2), Cretaceous South America and Africa (Quarter 3), Ice Age Giants (Quarter 4). There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Prerequisites: Minimum age 8

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.

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.

FUNctional Fitness is a dynamic PE program for that incorporates well-rounded exercises to get tweens up and moving mid-day! No two workouts are the same, but each day's activities incorporate exercises that target 10 areas: cardio-vascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. FUNctional Fitness focuses on functional movements that are fundamental to all aspects of play and exercise- pulling, pushing, running, throwing, climbing, lifting, and jumping. Work-outs are scalable and adaptable to different individual's own level, and the emphasis is on fun, safety, and personal accomplishment rather than competition among classmates. When the weather permits, some exercises may be taken outdoors. The physical challenges of FUNctional Fitness will foster self-confidence, focus, and help instill a foundation for a lifetime of fitness. The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in FUNctional Fitness at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order. All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. FUNctional Fitness continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

Graphic Great Novels is the class for students who think they do not like reading, and for the ones who already do. Each quarter, students read three illustrated adaptations of classic novels from the Saddleback Educational Publishing Illustrated Classics Series. Children will become familiar with timeless tales from some of the world's best-known authors- Dickens, Stevenson, Twain, Dumas, Verne, Shakespeare, and more. The format makes them approachable and genuinely fun to read. Students often leave curious about the original novels- that is the point! Second quarter, students will read some of the best of the Bard in abridged Shakespeare Shorts. Meet merchant Antonio, a moneylender, and their romantic interests in old Italy in The Merchant of Venice. Journey to a magical forest to learn what happens when whimsical fairies influence the fates of four young lovers in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and unravel mistaken identities, misunderstandings, and mis adventures of a cast of characters in The Twelfth Night. Each quarter opens with an introduction to the graphic novel format, covering panels, speech bubbles, visual pacing, and how illustrators make meaning alongside words. From there, students read about half a graphic novel per week at home (25 to 30 pages), individually or as a family. In class, students discuss the stories, analyze characters and themes, and explore other versions of the same tale through excerpts, audio, or film clips. These novels are generally considered appropriate for readers ages 8 to 12. Students who complete all four quarters will read 12 illustrated classics-three per quarter-building their own complete illustrated classic library. Because students will need the same editions of all three graphic novels, Compass will pre-purchase the book bundles. A supply fee of $48.00 is due payable to Compass on or before the first day of class. Topics in this series include: All Out Adventure (Quarter 1), Shakespeare Shorts (Quarter 2), Blockbuster British Books (Quarter 3), and Tragic Transformations (Quarter 4)

Junior Art Studio is a colorful, hands-on art adventure designed especially for our youngest artists! Each week, students will discover a new artist or art style, learn a few fun facts, explore inspiring examples, and then create their own masterpiece inspired by what they have seen. Using a wide variety of materials, students will experiment with colors, patterns, textures, and embellishments as they bring their ideas to life. Second quarter, students explore how environments and locations around the world inspire artistic expression. Each lesson will explore the use of texture, layering, and visual storytelling while exploring the world. Featured topics and locations include: the Redwood Forests, Lascaux Caves, Grand Canyon, Mount Fuji, Great Barrier Reef, the Statue of Liberty, and the Sahara Desert. A partial list of projects this quarter includes: tree bark rubbings, forest drawings, cave-style animal paintings, layered canyon landscapes, mountain paintings, underwater collage, paper sculpture, desert silhouettes, and a travel postcard using chalk pastels, crayons, watercolor paint, brown craft paper, tissue paper, glue, scissors, sponges, acrylics, oil pastels, canvases, and specialty papers. Topics in this series include: Color Quest (Quarter 1), Destination Discoveries (Quarter 2), Native Nations (Quarter 3), and Multi-Media Mix (Quarter 4). There is a $25.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day.

Mega Maps is an interactive examination of the Age of Discovery, a period from the 15th to the 17th century in Europe. Against the backdrop of a giant, classroom-sized map, students will follow the European explorers who embarked on voyages of discovery, mapped new territories, established trade routes, and encountered new cultures and peoples. Students will engage in an inquiry-based investigation of the prominent explorers, learning about their finds and failures to gain an understanding of world history and geography, region-by-region. The class will cooperatively create the mega map adding features and details week by week as their understanding of the region expands. All students will contribute to coloring countries, depicting demarcations, rendering rivers, sketching seas, mapping mountains, delineating deserts, situating cities, crafting clay contours, and fashioning famous landmarks. The custom mega map will serve as a giant game board for in-class simulations, scavenger hunts, strategy games, and more. Second quarter, the class will follow explorers like Columbus, Ponce de Leon, Cabot, Cartier, Hudson, and Champlain to North America and the Caribbean. There, these explorers led expeditions of areas now known as Hispaniola, Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Honduras, Nicaragua, Florida, eastern Canada, Quebec, Hudson River and Hudson Bay, and northeastern North America. The class will learn about their goals of discovering a northwest passage to Asia, finding the fountain of youth, and setting up trading posts. They will trace the voyages and expeditions of these explorers on the mega map to understand the establishment of colonies, the exchange of goods and ideas between continents, and the intermingling of diverse cultures. There is a $15.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the start of class. Topics in this Series: South & Central America (Quarter 1); North America & the Caribbean (Quarter 2); Africa (Quarter 3), and Asia (Quarter 4).

Can you crack the case before time runs out? Each week, students are presented with a new medical mystery. Armed with clues like a patient's age, symptoms, and history, they must ask the right diagnostic questions to uncover what is really going on. Has this patient traveled out of the country? Has he eaten a new food? Does she have a fever, rash, or weight loss? As they narrow down the possibilities, students will determine whether the illness is bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic while learning how diseases spread, how they are treated, and how they can be prevented. Second quarter, the mystery patients will be suffering from fungal infections. A partial list of featured diseases includes: Ringworm (Tinea), Candidiasis (Candida albicans), Valley Fever (Coccidioidomycosis).Lab activities will utilize safe, lab-friendly organisms (e.g., non-pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and prepared slides). Topics in this series include: Baffling Bacteria (Quarter 1), Foul Fungus (Quarter 2), Vile Viruses (Quarter 3), and Pesky Parasites (Quarter 4). There is a $25.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the start of class.

Venture outdoors each week to explore the woods with a senior naturalist and mentor while learning valuable survival skills. Students will learn how to construct a temporary shelter, make cordage, craft a bow and arrow, identify edible plants, track animals, and purify water. The group will learn knife safety and skills like whittling a spoon and spatula; how to use maps and compass (orienteering), and basic first aid. Students will practice animal and plant identification and will catch and identify macro-invertebrates to determine stream health (outdoor temperatures permitting.) Emphasis will be on becoming comfortable with things you encounter outdoors, safe exploration of the woods, how to be a good steward of nature, and what to do if you ever became lost or injured in the woods. Skills will be reintroduced and adapted each each quarter because the available plants, animals, materials, and water sources change with each season. Students will have a blast, develop greater self-confidence, and build a strong connection to nature and to the real world! Explorations in the woods is for enrolled students only, and tag-along parents and siblings cannot be accommodated. For information on where the class meets, what to wear, and inclement weather, see the webpage for Compass's Outdoor Classes. See Compass's Outdoor Classes webpage for more information on meeting location, what to bring, what to wear, inclement weather, and more.

If your child is going to read, let's make it unforgettable. Rich stories, vivid characters, and books they actually want to open. No dry passages. No busywork. Just real literature that pulls them in and keeps them thinking long after the last page. Strong reading and writing skills do not just matter in language arts. They drive success across every subject. This dynamic weekly reading group is built for small cohorts of 6 to 10 students working at a similar level. The setting allows kids to feel confident, appropriately challenged, and genuinely engaged. Guided by an experienced language arts teacher, students move through a literature-based curriculum that connects everything they learn. In this class, books are the center of it all. Vocabulary grows naturally from the story. Grammar is taught in context. Writing assignments are meaningful and tied directly to characters, themes, and ideas. The result is a cohesive and immersive approach to language arts that sticks. Each week, students explore engaging texts while building critical skills such as comprehension, prediction, visualization, and verbal expression. Reading should feel like an adventure. In this class, it is. Books covered in this level include: Quarter 2: - Number the Stars by Lois Lowry - I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii AD 79 Quarter 3: - SlugFest by Gordan Korman - Holes by Louis Sachar Quarter 4: - Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein - The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe By CS Lewis Placement: Readiness matters. Because this is a comprehensive program, students should be working at a similar level in reading, comprehension, and writing. Parents are encouraged to use results from a nationally normed assessment, such as those used for the Virginia Evidence of Progress to confirm their child's grade level equivalency. This program is designed for students who thrive in a traditional literature-based setting. Students who are more than one year behind in language arts, or who show a significant gap between reading and writing skills, may be better supported in the Reading Ready program or through private tutoring. Students with diagnosed learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, or language processing disorders may benefit more from the structured literacy approach offered in the Reading Ready program. Homework: Learning continues at home in a simple, manageable way. Families receive themed activities that reinforce skills without adding stress. For many learners, Reading Rally can serve as a complete language arts program, covering reading, comprehension, writing, spelling, and grammar without the need for additional curriculum. Supply Fee: The fee for mass market paperback copies of the class texts is included.

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

Prerequisites: Algebra I

Teen weight training is an introduction to strength training in a small group class under the guidance of a seasoned, experienced coach. The primary lifts covered in class will be: back squat, bench press, deadlift, and strict press which are all compound moves that employ multiple muscle groups. These lifts are also "functional" meaning they engage the core and train muscles to work cooperatively in daily activities such as picking up a box or hoisting a parcel to a high shelf. Emphasis will be on correct form, posture, and safety. The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Teens may enroll in Weight Training at any time, regardless of the color name. No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order. All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. Teen Weight Training continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve strength.

The Science of Stuff takes students beyond observation and into understanding the powerful chemical and physical laws that govern the world around them. Through engaging, hands-on investigations, students will explore the field of physical science covering matter, molecules, forces, motion, chemical reactions, waves, electricity, and magnetism in ways that make complex ideas clear and tangible. Each quarter- CLICK!, CRASH!, FIZZ!, and SPARK!- builds a deeper understanding of how and why objects move, interact, and change. Students will test ideas, analyze results, and discover physics and chemistry at work. Second Quarter, students will investigate how matter moves and interacts. The class will explore forces, inertia, Newton's laws of motion, momentum, energy transfer, collisions, friction, and gravity. Students will see how the physical properties of matter explored in quarter one connect directly to how objects accelerate, collide, and come to rest. Labs include inertia demonstrations and experiments with momentum and energy transfer. Topics in this Series: CLICK! (Matter & Molecules)- Quarter 1; CRASH! (Forces & Motion)- Quarter 2 ; FIZZ! (Chemical Reactions)- Quarter 3; and SPARK! (Waves, Electricity & Magnetism)- Quarter 4. There is a $20.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

Writing is not only a critical skill for school and life, it gives kids a voice! In this class, fifth and sixth graders will gain confidence, increase writing fluency, and learn how to incorporate writing into everyday work and play. The objective of this class is for each student to progress and improve his/her own writing. This class does not have a fixed curriculum trying to achieve the same outcome and same skillset for each child, because each student comes to class with different writing experience and varying needs. Instead, through personalized feedback from the instructor and peer feedback exercises, student writers will improve their writing skills from where they started. Students will learn the steps of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing. Key skills practiced at this level include organizing one's thoughts, defining a purpose and audience for the paper, formulating a topic sentence or main idea, developing supporting details, using correct sentence structure (for example, initial capitalization and end punctuation). Students will always be encouraged to write about what interests them. They will write for a few minutes in class each week and will be expected to write short assignments at home and submit their work to the instructor for feedback. Each week, the instructor will share brief lessons on grammar (such as correct capitalization, agreement, tenses, parts of speech, use of adjectives/adverbs), and/or style (for example, using metaphors, adding details, building tension). Examples and exercises will be presented from a variety of styles and genres with the instructor using models from fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Students should be on or near grade level for reading. Writing Well is offered each quarter under the same class name, but students may take it each quarter to continue to improve their writing skills.

Crafty Kids Club is a weekly afternoon meet-up for COVID-Cautious kids of all ages. Kids gather and socialize while completing a craft encompassing a wide variety of materials and techniques such as: wooden, wearables, simple sewing, painting, sculpting, paper, beading, and mixed media. Kids will enjoy the camaraderie of working alongside a group of friends in Crafty Kids Club, and parents will appreciate the break! Parent Notes: - All the supplies are provided: No need to search high and low for the needed materials. - Reduce waste and clutter: No need to buy large quantities of specialty supplies for a one-time project. - Reduce clean-up: Leave the glue, paint, and glitter mess at Compass. - Kids get to experiment with a variety of materials and techniques, even if YOU are not crafty. - Crafting improves dexterity and fine motor skills, and an afterschool club makes a great social outlet. This is a 6-week class that does not meet on December 10, 2026

What is the Great Red Spot? Which moons of Jupiter and Saturn could harbor life? Why is Pluto no longer a planet? Could there be a large ninth planet at the edge of our Solar System? Find out the answers to these mysteries and other great discoveries about our Outer Solar System comprised of the four gaseous planets- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune-, their rings and moons, dwarf planets, Kuiper Belt, and more. Astronomy enthusiasts will enjoy exploring details about the outrageous workings of outer space with an amateur astronomer and engineer. Each class will explore concepts relevant to our corner of the universe- the outer solar system- with supporting activities such as modeling to understand relative distance and sizes. Other activities will examine ring formation, atmospheres, magnetic fields, and comets. The class will debate the possible existence of Planet 9. Finally, students will discuss the exploration of our outer solar system through probe fly-bys, orbiters, landers, and telescopes. Future themes in this series include: Inner Solar System (Quarter 1); Outer Solar System (Quarter 2); Stars, Galaxies, and the Cosmos (Quarter 3); and Exoplanets and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life (Quarter 4).

Take command of the battlefield as you design and deploy your own 3D military diorama. After early defeats across the Pacific, the United States halted Japanese expansion at Midway and carried the fight to Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. What followed was a grueling campaign on land and sea, where control of a single airfield could determine the fate of the entire region. This class examines the brutal island fighting and the repeated naval battles at Iron Bottom Sound that marked the beginning of the Allied offensive. Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, and historical maps, students will each form a 10" X 14" shaped, foam diorama with landscape elements (hills, valleys, rivers, ridges, vegetation, airfields, etc) to represent a scene of a famous historical engagement. Students will each receive scale miniature naval ships to populate their scene. Once individual projects are constructed, students will combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to approximate the larger battlefield terrain. Students will spend the remainder of the quarter learning about the tactics and outcomes of the military engagement while playing a table-top strategy game. Student strategists will use a simplified version of the Axis and Allies gaming rule system for moving troops and equipment. Along with their classmates, students will see how this battle progressed and test different outcome scenarios that might have occurred with different battlefield choices. The instructor will use maps and visual presentations to explain the historical background and circumstances leading up to the specific battle. Course documents, such as period maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class. Topics in this year's series include: Pearl Harbor (Quarter 1), Guadalcanal (Quarter 2), D-Day (Quarter 3), and Battle of the Bulge (Quarter 4).

Teens will enjoy the logic and challenge of the timeless strategy board game as they learn and play chess with classmates. This is a multi-level class open to Beginners, Advanced Beginners, or Intermediate Players. Instruction will be differentiated based on the make-up of the class, and teens will be placed in pairs or groups depending on experience. Each session will be with some time dedicated to a lesson and some time reserved for in-class matches that are monitored and supported by the coach. Beginners may play as a group against the instructor which is a low-pressure way to learn the game. Teens who are engrossed in their games may continue their play into Friday Teen Game Night. Learning and playing chess supports 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). Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in logic/reasoning or and elective for purposes of a high school transcript.

In Cover-to-Cover, middle school-aged students will read renowned classics and award-winning young adult literature. This book discussion group will examine a different theme each quarter to introduce students to literary analysis. Students will read, examine, and compare two full-length novels that share similar themes through facilitated discussions and extension activities which encourage students to make personal connections to what is read. The group will evaluate themes, characters, setting, and writing style. Second quarter, students will study the genre of Animal Tales with Animal Farm by George Orwell and The Call of the Wild by Jack London. Assigned chapters are expected to be read at home, either as read-aloud, individual silent reading, or listening to the unabridged audiobook. Students should come to class prepared to discuss the reading. Classroom discussions will emphasize the use of textual evidence when explaining thoughts and opinions. Students will be assigned creative, short assignments to enhance and demonstrate their understanding of each novel such as quote explications, thematic questions, or imagining a conversation between characters from different books. Topics in this Series: Science Fiction (Quarter 1); Animal Tales (Quarter 2); Dystopian (Quarter 3); and Mystery & Detective (Quarter 4). Textbook/Materials: The cost of new, mass market paperback editions are included in class tuition because students need clean copies for annotation and must be able to reference identical page numbering. Supply Fee: Included What to Bring: Students should bring the current novel, paper, pen or pencil and highlighter to class each week. Some students may wish to bring paper clips, adhesive flags or post-it notes for marking pages.

Prerequisites: Reading at Grade Level

In this introductory high school English workshop, students will be introduced to the concepts of literary genres and analytical writing. Each quarter, the class will examine one select work or genre. Students will learn to recognize figurative language, tone, subtext and diction, identify symbolism and imagery, and develop an awareness of narrative perspective and of the social-historical contexts in which these works were created. Second quarter will feature Poetry from an anthology. Composition: Students will also learn the fundamental components of academic writing, including how to construct a thesis statement that makes an argument, how to support their ideas effectively with textual evidence, how to organize an argument logically, and how to cite sources in MLA format. Some class periods will be dedicated Writing Lab session in which students write in-class in order to get on-the-spot support and feedback from the teacher. Students should bring laptops to these class sessions. Topics in this Series: The Novel (Quarter 1), Poetry (Quarter 2), The Play (Quarter 3), and The Epic (Quarter 4). Students who continue from one quarter to the next will receive priority registration. Prerequisites: Students should be able to read at grade level, and it is recommended that students have had a middle school writing class. Workload: Students should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week outside of class. Assignments: All assignments will be posted in a Google Classroom management site. Students will need their own gmail accounts to access Google Classroom. Assessments: Students' written assignments will be graded using a rubric and assigned points that the homeschool parent can use when assigning an overall class grade. Textbooks/Materials: Students will receive a class packet of selected poetry. Supply Fee: Included What to Bring: Students should bring the current novel, paper, pen or pencil and highlighter to class each week. Some students may wish to bring paper clips, adhesive flags or post-it notes for marking passages/pages. Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a partial credit in English for purposes of a high school transcript. (Full credit if all 4 quarters are taken.)

Prerequisites: Reading and Writing at Grade Level

FUNctional Fitness is a dynamic PE program for that incorporates well-rounded exercises to get tweens up and moving mid-day! No two workouts are the same, but each day's activities incorporate exercises that target 10 areas: cardio-vascular endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, agility, balance, and accuracy. FUNctional Fitness focuses on functional movements that are fundamental to all aspects of play and exercise- pulling, pushing, running, throwing, climbing, lifting, and jumping. Work-outs are scalable and adaptable to different individual's own level, and the emphasis is on fun, safety, and personal accomplishment rather than competition among classmates. When the weather permits, some exercises may be taken outdoors. The physical challenges of FUNctional Fitness will foster self-confidence, focus, and help instill a foundation for a lifetime of fitness. The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in FUNctional Fitness at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order. All equipment is furnished. Students are asked to wear loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants, and comfortable, supportive athletic shoes. FUNctional Fitness continues each quarter, and students may repeat the class to continue to improve fitness. No two workouts are the same!

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 second term at Hogwarts! In addition to your core wizarding classes, special projects will be inspired by guest professor Madame Pomfrey such as a Skele-Gro Bottle and Potion Lotion. This is a great class for Harry Potter fans who love the magical world, even for those who have not read all of the books or watched all of the movies. Projects and class discussions are geared to not reveal significant series spoilers. Note: A few classes may include a Harry Potter-inspired food creation or personal care product. The ingredients will be identified in advance, and students with food or ingredient allergies or dietary restrictions will need to check before handling/consuming. Substitute ingredients cannot be provided for those with food allergies or restrictions. Topics in this Series: Quirrell's Creations (Quarter 1); Pomfrey's Potions (Quarter 2); Flitwick's Favorites (Quarter 3); and Lockhart's Fabrications (Quarter 4) Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $35.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

Jiu-Jitsu Fit is a fun, interactive, physical fitness program for tweens incorporating the Brazilian self-defense martial art of Jiu-Jitsu. Students will follow a well-rounded physical fitness program that incorporates moves and strategies of Jiu-Jitsu to increase strength, flexibility, conditioning, endurance, coordination, balance, and fun! Students will practice techniques for resolving conflicts, dealing with bullies, projecting confidence, and developing stranger awareness in the games and exercises they complete in class. Jiu-Jitsu Fit helps tweens stay active, builds self-esteem, and encourages teamwork. Jiu-Jitsu uses grappling and ground work in addition to standing self-defense positions. The color name in the class title refers to the collectable token students will earn each quarter they take the class. Collect all 8! Students may enroll in Jiu Jitsu Fit at any time, regardless of the color name No one color is a prerequisite for any other color, and tokens can be earned in any order. Some partner work may be co-ed. Students will work on mats in socks or bare feet and should come to class wearing loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants and bring a refillable water bottle.

Toffee. Taffy. Truffles... End the day on a sweet note! Kids will enjoy making and eating delicious confections. Each week they will prepare a fresh, handmade dessert or sweet such as: pies, cakes, cookies, tarts, trifles, mousses, puddings, candies, fudge, brittle, or chocolates. The class will include some icing, decorating, and garnishing techniques for completed desserts. This quarter, the Compass bakers treats include:

• Mini Mixed Cerry Cornmeal Cobblers
• Mini Apple Pies
• Chocolate Mocha Pie
• Sweet Potato Praline Pie
• Meijer Lemon Shaker Pie
• Maple Pie
• Apricot Almond Pie with Caramel Sauce (contains nuts)

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

• Red Stripe

• OrangeStripe

• Yellow Stripe

• Green Stripe

• Blue Stripe

• Purple Stripe

• Brown Stripe

• Black Stripe

Mindful Mosaics is run as a studio art class where students create unique compositions and work at their own pace under the guidance of an experienced mosaic artist. Each quarter, students are taught new design, cutting, layout, and finishing techniques and are introduced to new mosaic materials which they can incorporate into inspired, original pieces. The instructor can suggest possible themes for projects based on the featured materials, but most students work on individual projects that reflect their own interests, hobbies, or decor. Students who are new to mosaics will complete a quick checkerboard project (complete with wooden checkers) to teach pattern, layout, and lines before starting an individual projects. For each project, students will choose from a variety of substrates- rectangular, square, shaped, or circular backboards (typically first-year students), or special forms or 3D objects (experienced students). Each project will expand a student's understanding of color, pattern, rhythm, texture, and spacing as they complete rich, dimensioned compositions. Students will be able to incorporate other glass, ceramic, and porcelain tiles into their projects and may select feature elements such as beautiful glass gems, millefiori, sliced stone, metallic ornaments, mirrored bits, or shells, to serve as focal points in their mosaic piece. The mosaic can be monochromatic, complimentary, or contrasting colors. A broad pallet of colors is always available, and new colors are added each quarter to reflect the season. Students will develop a skillset for mosaic artistry over multiple quarters or years. As each student demonstrates mastery of basic skills, safety, and artistic expression, that student will be taught advanced techniques, materials, tools, composition, and color theory. A typical progression in mosaics is: (1) Whole tiles in symmetric design on a flat, rectangular substrate with emphasis on proper spacing and adhesion; (2) Tile cut with nippers in themed design and individual color choices on a flat wood substrate; (3) Sheet glass cut with pistol grip, breaking, and/or running pliers with emphasis on composition, color, and design on a flat or curved substrate; (4) Progress to 3D substrate and advanced adhesives; (5) Learn porcelain and ceramic cutting, special adhesives, and advanced design. Note:There is no prerequisite for this class. The number of projects completed each quarter depends on the student's work speed and attendance in class. Compass parents are welcome to register for the class to work alongside their teens, or to work on their own, while their teen is in another Compass class. Workload: Students should expect to spend 0-1 hours per week outside of class. Assessments: will not be given. Materials Fees: All material fees are due payable to the instructor on or before the first day of class by cash, check or electronic payment. Materials used vary depending on a student's experience with mosaic. Beginner Material Fee: $55.00 for a selection of Beginner Materials, including: vitreous glass, ceramic, mini, eco recycled glass, beach glass, glitter glass, glass gems, ceramic pebble, shells, metallic crystal, subway glass Adhesive: weld bond Grout: bone or charcoal color Cutters: wheeled tile nippers Substrate: 2D/Flat 12" x 12",10" x 10", 8" X 8", 4" X 4", framed mirrors, ornament shapes Advanced Material Fee: $65.00 for a selection of Advanced Materials including: All Beginner Materials plus, iridized glass, cathedral sheet glass, opaque sheet glass, color fusion, millefiori, Van Gogh glass, natural stone and minerals, special effects glass, water glass, colored mirror, illumination glass, china plates, rhinestone, ball chain Adhesives: weld bond, thin-set mortar, silicone Grout: Custom colors (purple, rose, green, blue, earth, orange) Cutters: wheeled tile nippers, porcelain hand tool, hand file, pistol grip, beetle bits cutting system Substrates: All flat shapes plus, 3D forms (egg, sphere, cone, pyramid, etc.), cut out sentiments, trays, glass bottle, mini sleds, flower pot, picture frame, sun catcher. Additional Fee: There may be additional fees for premium materials such as tesserae (by request and consultation with instructor), mother of pearl, 24 kt gold tiles (market rate), or specially cut substrates. Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in Fine Arts for purposes of a high school transcript. Note: This is a 6-week class

If your child is going to read, let's make it unforgettable. Rich stories, vivid characters, and books they actually want to open. No dry passages. No busywork. Just real literature that pulls them in and keeps them thinking long after the last page. Strong reading and writing skills do not just matter in language arts. They drive success across every subject. This dynamic weekly reading group is built for small cohorts of 6 to 10 students working at a similar level. The setting allows kids to feel confident, appropriately challenged, and genuinely engaged. Guided by an experienced language arts teacher, students move through a literature-based curriculum that connects everything they learn. In this class, books are the center of it all. Vocabulary grows naturally from the story. Grammar is taught in context. Writing assignments are meaningful and tied directly to characters, themes, and ideas. The result is a cohesive and immersive approach to language arts that sticks. Each week, students explore engaging texts while building critical skills such as comprehension, prediction, visualization, and verbal expression. Reading should feel like an adventure. In this class, it is. Books covered in this level include: Quarter 1: - The Giver - Dragonwings Quarter 2: - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - The Dark Is Rising Quarter 3: - Restart by Gordan Korman - The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Quarter 4: -Percy Jackson The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan - Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell Placement: Readiness matters. Because this is a comprehensive program, students should be working at a similar level in reading, comprehension, and writing. Parents are encouraged to use results from a nationally normed assessment, such as those used for the Virginia Evidence of Progress to confirm their child's grade level equivalency. This program is designed for students who thrive in a traditional literature-based setting. Students who are more than one year behind in language arts, or who show a significant gap between reading and writing skills, may be better supported in the Reading Ready program or through private tutoring. Students with diagnosed learning differences such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, or language processing disorders may benefit more from the structured literacy approach offered in the Reading Ready program. Homework: Learning continues at home in a simple, manageable way. Families receive themed activities that reinforce skills without adding stress. For many learners, Reading Rally can serve as a complete language arts program, covering reading, comprehension, writing, spelling, and grammar without the need for additional curriculum. Supply Fee: The fee for mass market paperback copies of the class texts is included.

Students of all ages will love the energy and exhilaration of drumming! Students will learn rhythms and drumming patterns from West Africa and other cultures. In this "hands-on" class, students will learn hand-drumming on djembe drums and accompanying percussion accessories such as tambourines, triangles, rhythm sticks, maracas, and bongos. Students will learn the difference between steady beat, rhythms, and polyrhythms, which involve patterning, call and response, and different tonal levels. Drummers will be "in the groove" as they learn single stroke rolls, single and double paradiddle, frills, and patterns. They will be encouraged to experiment with different percussion instruments and to improvise. New drummers are welcome to enroll any quarter, and returning drummers are encouraged to return and continue to learn more complex drumming techniques. Drummers may be divided by age and/or drumming experience in class with each group taught the same rhythm with varying degrees of difficulty. All instruments are provided by the instructor.

Step into a world of imagination, strategy, and storytelling! In this club, teens will work together to create characters, explore fantasy worlds, and go on epic adventures using the popular tabletop roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons. Through creative problem-solving, teamwork, and storytelling, members will learn the basics of the game while building friendships and having fun. No experience is needed-just a sense of adventure! All games and scenarios will be moderated and facilitated by an experienced Compass instructor and Dungeon Master.

The Science of Stuff takes students beyond observation and into understanding the powerful chemical and physical laws that govern the world around them. Through engaging, hands-on investigations, students will explore the field of physical science covering matter, molecules, forces, motion, chemical reactions, waves, electricity, and magnetism in ways that make complex ideas clear and tangible. Each quarter- CLICK!, CRASH!, FIZZ!, and SPARK!- builds a deeper understanding of how and why objects move, interact, and change. Students will test ideas, analyze results, and discover physics and chemistry at work. Second Quarter, students will investigate how matter moves and interacts. The class will explore forces, inertia, Newton's laws of motion, momentum, energy transfer, collisions, friction, and gravity. Students will see how the physical properties of matter explored in quarter one connect directly to how objects accelerate, collide, and come to rest. Labs include inertia demonstrations and experiments with momentum and energy transfer. Topics in this Series: CLICK! (Matter & Molecules)- Quarter 1; CRASH! (Forces & Motion)- Quarter 2 ; FIZZ! (Chemical Reactions)- Quarter 3; and SPARK! (Waves, Electricity & Magnetism)- Quarter 4. There is a $20.00 lab fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class.

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. 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. Students will unlock the secrets to seven special magic tricks from the Orange Wand curriculum like: Legendary Loops, Forgotten Fairy Tales, Lightning Ball, Hocus Pocus Handkerchief, Magic Map, Special Delivery, and others. 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. There is a $45.00 supply fee due payable to the instructor on/before the first day of class. Topics in this series: Radical Red Wands (Quarter 1); Orange Wand Wonders (Quarter 2); Yellow Wand Illusions (Quarter 3); and Glittering Gold Wand (Quarter 4).

Prerequisites: None

Wannabe Writers is a beginning writing class for first and second graders. Students will use creative journaling and illustrations to respond to simple writing prompts. The class will explore the use of various punctuation for simple sentences and will use new vocabulary words to express an idea. Each week, students will share their completed writing and drawings with their classmates. For this level, students must be able to read a Level 1 reader independently and possess the readiness skills outlined below. Children may repeat this class each quarter as new prompts and writing techniques will be introduced each session, and assignments will not be repeated. Note: This class is designed for students to enjoy a fun, new dimension of writing with peers and a teacher, but this will not take the place of a comprehensive language arts curriculum and regular writing practice. Writing Readiness: Enrolling students must be able to (1) recognize, spell and write his/her first and last name; (2) recognize and write all upper case and lower case letters and know the corresponding sounds; (3) spell and pronounce simple blends, (4) recognize the following sight words: all, am, are, at, ate, be, black, brown, but, came, day, did, do, eat, four, get, go, good, have, he, in, into, is, like, must, new, no, now, on, our, out, please, pretty, ran, ride, saw, say, she, so, soon, that, the, there, they, this, to, too, under, want, was, well, went, what, white, who, will, with, yes; (5) spell and write all 2-letter sight words unaided; (6) be familiar with simple sentence structure; and (7) hold and use a pencil correctly.

Our readers and writers will explore classic tales in a variety of creative, multi-media interpretations. Pulling from classic children's literature including fairy tales, fables, and favorites, such as Newberry Award medalists, the group will explore 3-4 well-known stories each quarter (generally spending 2 weeks per tale). Second quarter will feature the tales of The Princess and the Pea and The Emperor's New Clothes. For each story, the instructor will share a lively read-aloud of the featured story. Next, the class will watch a short clip of an animated, televised, or stage version of the same story. Finally, the group will hear a re-telling of the same story from a different angle, such as one adapted to a different theme, a different era, or a different culture. Students will discuss what was the same and what was different among the different adaptations. Was a character added or omitted? Was the performed version true to the original? Finally, students will write and illustrate their own, original re-telling of the story by changing characters, setting, or even crafting a surprise, new ending. New Twists on Old Tales introduces some basic literary elements and rudimentary literary analysis skills to encourage children to think more deeply about what they read. Topics in this Series: Favorite Fables (Quarter 1), Fantasy Fiction (Quarter 2), Marvelous Myths (Quarter 3), and Astonishing Adventures (Quarter 4) This is a 6-week class that does not meet on December 10, 2026

Journey through dance to Andalusia in southern Spain in this contemporary ballet and choreography club inspired by Alchemy Ballet's original production, The Andalusian Nutcracker. Set in Granada at the magnificent Alhambra Palace, The Andalusian Nutcracker reimagines the familiar holiday ballet through an original story by Lorraine Spiegler. Young Maria receives a magical Andalusian Horse Nutcracker and embarks on an adventure into an enchanted world inspired by the history, stories, music, dance, and diverse cultures of southern Spain. Students will experience ballet not only as technique, but as a theatrical art form that brings together movement, music, character, culture, and storytelling. Throughout the semester, dancers will explore contemporary and classical ballet, original choreography, musicality, and ensemble work while discovering some of the Iberian, Flamenco, Moorish, Sephardic, and Mediterranean influences that have helped shape Andalusian culture. Dancers will learn original choreography created for Alchemy Ballet's Andalusian Nutcracker while developing coordination, artistry, musicality, spatial awareness, choreographic memory, and performance skills. Working collaboratively as an ensemble, students will also gain insight into how an original ballet develops from story and musical inspiration into choreography and theatrical performance.

Enter the BuildZone and step into a world of endless possibilities, where over 10,000 building components are at your fingertips! From Keva Planks to K'Nex, Magnatiles to Marble Runs, Tubelox, Chaos Tower, and Pipe Builders-this is the ultimate mash-up of all things construction. Here, you're the architect, the engineer, the mastermind. Stack it, snap it, connect it- then remix it! What happens when you combine pieces from totally different sets? You get taller towers, stronger structures, and mind-blowing mega builds! Build solo masterpieces or team up for cool collaborations. Every session is a chance to dream big, build bigger, and let your imagination break all the rules. This is a hands-on afternoon lab intended to provide opportunities for kids to socialize and tap into their creative energy in a relaxed club setting. No formal curriculum or lessons are provided. This is a supervised free-build session. All participants are expected to help pick up and to follow all Compass rules on indoor behavior including respecting materials, supplies, and furnishings.

Prerequisites: None

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

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. Second quarter, beginners will select from two projects: a big, bulky scarf using the single crochet and chain stitches plus a fringe stitch OR, a holiday garland that uses the Bubble Stitch to look like popcorn and cranberries. New students are welcome to join the club at any point during the year and will begin with foundational stitches and starter projects. Intermediate and advanced crocheters are encouraged to refine their skills, share tips and techniques, and serve as peer role models for newer members. More experienced participants may bring their own works in progress or contribute to meaningful service projects, such as crocheting NICU infant hats, caps for the homeless, or blankets for Project Linus. Parents are welcome to join the club and may register to learn and crochet alongside their children. There is a $30.00 supply fee is due payable to the instructor on/before the first week of the club. Note: This is a 6-week club.

Math like you've never seen it before. In Crazy 8s Math Club, kids experience math as something active, social, and genuinely fun. Developed by the Bedtime Math Foundation, this national program features high-energy games and hands-on challenges that appeal to students of all ability levels. Quarter 2 continues the fun with a new lineup of high-energy challenges, including Shooting Stars, Cowabunga, Pirate Treasure Hunt, Epic Air Traffic Control, Off the Charts, Crazy Card Club, Super Cube Shuffle, and Road Trip. Through these interactive games, students strengthen their skills in addition, subtraction, and factoring while exploring number patterns, sequences, and comparisons. As they play, students build understanding of fractions, measurement, area, and perimeter, along with concepts like symmetry, spatial reasoning, and coordinate plotting. Activities also introduce logic and strategy through simple combinatorics, probability, and multi-step thinking. Students work with bar charts, matrices, and Venn diagrams to organize and interpret information, while practicing categorizing, counting, and recognizing patterns in new and creative ways. This is not a traditional math class. Crazy 8s Math Club is recreational, energetic, and designed to show kids that math is everywhere and something to look forward to. Second graders may not enroll in this level.

Prerequisites: None

Cryptids Club is for fans of "cryptozoology" meet to discuss and debate mythical (or real?) creatures sich as Big Foot, Yeti, Loch Ness Monster, chupacabra, and others. Club members will examine reports and news stories to consider the possibility of these popular creatures. The club is open to all area homeschooled students, whether or not they are enrolled at Compass. There is a no activity fee for Compass students to participate.

In this introductory high school English workshop, students will be introduced to the concepts of literary genres and analytical writing. Each quarter, the class will examine one select work or genre. Students will learn to recognize figurative language, tone, subtext and diction, identify symbolism and imagery, and develop an awareness of narrative perspective and of the social-historical contexts in which these works were created. Second quarter will feature Poetry from an anthology. Composition: Students will also learn the fundamental components of academic writing, including how to construct a thesis statement that makes an argument, how to support their ideas effectively with textual evidence, how to organize an argument logically, and how to cite sources in MLA format. Some class periods will be dedicated Writing Lab session in which students write in-class in order to get on-the-spot support and feedback from the teacher. Students should bring laptops to these class sessions. Topics in this Series: The Novel (Quarter 1), Poetry (Quarter 2), The Play (Quarter 3), and The Epic (Quarter 4). Students who continue from one quarter to the next will receive priority registration. Prerequisites: Students should be able to read at grade level, and it is recommended that students have had a middle school writing class. Workload: Students should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week outside of class. Assignments: All assignments will be posted in a Google Classroom management site. Students will need their own gmail accounts to access Google Classroom. Assessments: Students' written assignments will be graded using a rubric and assigned points that the homeschool parent can use when assigning an overall class grade. Textbooks/Materials: Students will receive a class packet of selected poetry. Supply Fee: Included What to Bring: Students should bring the current novel, paper, pen or pencil and highlighter to class each week. Some students may wish to bring paper clips, adhesive flags or post-it notes for marking passages/pages. Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a partial credit in English for purposes of a high school transcript. (Full credit if all 4 quarters are taken.)

Prerequisites: Reading and Writing at Grade Level

Middle School Social Club is a biweekly get-together for students ages 12 - 14 who want a fun, low-pressure way to meet other middle schoolers, build friendships, and enjoy time together outside the classroom. Every other week, students will take part in supervised group games, icebreakers, team challenges, and other collaborative activities designed to get everyone talking, laughing, and participating. Past activities have included field-day games and sand volleyball (outdoors), "Honey, I Shrunk the Middle Schooler!" (jumbo games such as giant Twister, Jenga, UNO, and checkers), BINGO, making personal pita pizzas, watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", and puzzle- and riddle-based group challenges. Activities will vary from meeting to meeting, with an emphasis on participation, teamwork, conversation, and simply having fun with peers.

Parlez-vous fun? Whether you are a seasoned francophone or simply a fan of all things French, this lively club is your passport to language, culture, and connection. Students will practice conversational French in a relaxed, welcoming setting while diving into games, short TV clips, current events, and even French cartoons. From bonjour to bon appetit, every meeting offers something new to explore. Throughout the quarter, members will celebrate French culture and traditions, learning about holidays, customs, and everyday life across the French-speaking world. And because no French experience is complete without food, the club will head to the kitchen once or twice each quarter to prepare (and enjoy!) classic treats like crepes, madeleines, and macarons. Come for the conversation- stay for the culture, camaraderie, and cuisine!

Pay annual member dues here. For more information on Alpha Rho, the Compass chapter of Eta Sigma Alpha, the National Homeschool Honor Society, see the chapter website. Note that there is an application and acceptance process before a student can pay chapter dues online. Chapter dues are $45.00 for non- Compass students, and there is a $2.50 credit card convenience fee for those paying online.