Compass Connections

• Freshman/New Student Orientation- Wed., August 9, 1:30-3:00 pm
• First Day of School- Mon., August 14
  
• Back to School Night- Tues., August 22, 6:00-8:00 pm
  
• School Picture Day- Mon., August 28
• Back to School Picnic- Thurs., August 31, 4:15-6:45 pm

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The Compass Academy staff is looking forward to welcoming students to the building on Monday, August 14th. There are some exciting improvements and additions at Compass, including the raised bed garden built by Compass students, planting of native perennial flowers in the courtyard, increased experiential learning opportunities, and a few significant, student-friendly changes in the academic hallway. We can't wait to welcome both new and returning students to the Compass community.

Part-time Compass Academy students who are eligible for a parking pass at their home high school must complete an application for a parking pass at either East or North. Once they receive a pass from their home high school, Compass students will complete the parking pass application for Compass, submitting it by the first day of school, which will enable them to drive to and from Compass on days when their pass is valid for no additional fee.

Full-time Compass Academy students with a valid driver's license may apply for a parking pass at Compass Academy. The parking pass application is linked here. Students should complete this application and bring the required documentation (license and registration) to the Compass office on or before the first day of school.

Please note that parking in the Compass lot will be on a first come, first served basis each day. Students who arrive after the lot is full should park on Oak Street adjacent to the school where there is legal street parking.

Bus information for high school students will be available online starting August 7th at noon. Visit the district's Bus Route E-Link at that time to find your student's route(s). Call (331)228-5180 if you have any questions.

Students who attend Compass part-time and East or North part-time will have a shuttle bus provided between buildings. This will not appear on your student's route information in E-Link. There is also a shuttle bus from Compass to East and North at the 2:25 dismissal for students who are participating in athletics or activities at their home high school. Students may ride this route as needed.

Compass students will have their school pictures taken on Monday, August 28th. This photo will be used for Compass student IDs and for the Compass yearbook. Picture order forms will be distributed at school, but you may also order online at this link: shop.hrimaging.com.

If your student has medication that needs to be dropped off at the Nurse's Office, Lisa Kearbey, the Compass Academy nurse, will be in her office at Compass on Thursday and Friday, August 10th and 11th, from 9:15 am to 4:00 pm to receive medication drop-offs and to answer questions. Parents are also welcome to call or email Ms. Kearbey with nursing and health care related questions at any time. Her extension is (331)228-2780 and her email address is lisa.kearbey@d303.org.

To report a student absence, please call the Haines Center main line at (331)228-3400 and follow the menu options for Compass Academy. If a student who attends class at both their home high school and Compass will need to miss a full day of school, parents only need to call Compass Academy for students' attendance to be entered. Compass Academy office staff will ensure communication between school buildings.

Many Compass Academy students engaged in job shadowing through this program last year, and we are hoping that even more students will participate this year. In the city's career pathway job shadow program, Compass students can shadow people in many career fields, including engineering, communications, accounting, firefighting, government, law enforcement, construction, forestry, water management, and vehicle maintenance. Students who participate in job shadowing on Wednesdays, and then write reflections about their experiences, have the opportunity to earn credit for career exploration.

More information regarding how to sign up for this opportunity will be shared soon.

Sharon Stanley, Director

Email: sharon.stanley@d303.org
Website: https://compassacademy.d303.org/
Location: Compass Academy, South 9th Street, St. Charles, IL, USA
Phone: (331)228-3400
Twitter: @CompassD303

Are you interested in joining the Parent Teacher Organization for Compass Academy? Would you like to partner with Compass Academy to support one of our initiatives? We are eager to partner with families and community members to plan events, coordinate career-oriented speakers, and connect students with work-based and other learning opportunities. If you would like to engage in conversation about any of these topics, or if you just want to know how you can help, check next week's newsletter for information on how to get involved.