Compass Connections

Clubs & Activities Start This Week!

• Labor Day (No School)- Monday, September 2
  
• Youth & Government Meeting- Tuesday, September 3, 3:45-4:45 (Rm. 111)
• Block E Academic Support- Tuesday, September 3, 3:45-5:45 (Rm. 140)
• Suffolk University College Rep Visit- Thursday, September 5, 11:50-12:20 (Conference Room 141A)
• Theater Club- Thursday, September 5, 3:45-4:45 (Rm. 142)
• Block E Academic Support- Thursday, September 5, 3:45-5:45 (Rm. 140)
• St. Charles East Homecoming Assembly- Monday, September 9 (CA students' bus will depart SCE at 9:33 after the assembly ends)
• Intramurals- Monday, September 9, 3:45-4:45 (Gym)
  
• St. Anthony College of Nursing Rep Visit- Monday, September 9, 11:50-12:20 (Conference Room 141A)
• Dungeons & Dragons Club- Monday, September 9, 3:45-4:45 (Rm. 111)
• Tech Makerspace- Tuesday, September 10, 3:45-4:45 (Rm. 144)
• Block E Academic Support- Tuesday, September 10, 3:45-5:45 (Rm. 140)
• Manufacturing & Technology Show Field Trip (Chicago)- Wednesday, September 11, 9:15-3:00 (Sign up with Mrs. Stevens, see below for more info)
• Culinary Club- Thursday, September 12, 3:45-4:45 (Rm. 143)
• Block E Academic Support- Thursday, September 12, 3:45-5:45 (Rm. 140)
• St. Charles East Homecoming Parade- Friday, September 13, 1:00 (CA students will have the option of walking as a group with staff to Main Street to watch it before returning to CA for pm classes)

IF YOU COULDN'T MAKE IT TO BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT LAST TUESDAY OR IF YOU WANT TO REVISIT THE PRESENTATION SLIDES, CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW THE SLIDESHOW.

Students who are interested in staying for clubs or activities, or who need to stay for Block E Academic Support, may stay any day they would like to stay and take the Compass activity bus at 4:50, which will take them to the elementary school closest to their home. To register for the activity bus on a day-by-day basis, students may sign up any Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday during lunch in the community room.

Picture Day at Compass was last Monday, 8/28. If you would like to view your student's photo and order, you may do so through the HR Imaging website. If your student missed Picture Day, we will have a day for retakes in early October so watch this newsletter for that information to be shared soon.

Any students who do not take buses and are dropped off before 9:15 may enter door 1 or door 27 (formerly 17). Students who arrive after 9:15 must enter the building through door 1. Before the 9:15 start of day, parents are encouraged to drop students off in the Compass parking lot (the one with an entrance on Oak Street) to avoid blocking the buses. At the 2:10 dismissal, parents who are picking students up MUST do so on the Oak Street side to avoid interfering with Compass and Early Childhood buses on 9th Street and to ensure the safety of high school and preschool students who are walking to buses.

During the day, if you are picking your student up for an early dismissal due to an appointment or illness, please park in a visitor's spot along the front of the building on 9th Street and enter the building by ringing the bell at door 1. This is the new Compass entrance for ALL parents and visitors.

Compass Academy now has a main office! The office is located by door 1, so any parents or visitors who need to come in to school for meetings, medication drop-off, etc., should park in a visitor's spot by door 1 and ring the bell for entry. The main office is where you will find Ms. Chavira, the Compass administrative assistant, Mrs. Kearbey, the school nurse, and Mrs. Stanley, the Director of Compass Academy.

If you need to reach the Compass main office directly, you may call Ms. Chavira at (331)228-6638.

Connect with other Compass families and keep up-to-date on Compass events by joining this group that is only open to Compass students and families. The Compass Parent Advisory Committee (CPAC) is hosting a Meet & Greet event on September 5 at 7 pm. Find out more about this and how to get involved as a Compass Academy parent by joining the group!

Students in The Human Experience: Genocide seminar, an interdisciplinary Geography and English course, took a field trip to the Illinois Holocaust Museum for an experiential learning opportunity last Wednesday. Both during the trip and in reflections afterwards, students asked thoughtful questions and engaged in critical thinking about complex issues, sharing knowledge and opinions about the history of conflicts and current global issues.

STUDENTS RECEIVED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE OPTIONS LAST WEEK IN ADVISORY. PLEASE NOTE: FIELD TRIPS ARE TYPICALLY ONLY OFFERED ON WEDNESDAYS AND ARE ALMOST ALWAYS SHARED WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WEEKS IN ADVANCE. IN THE COMPASS MODEL, THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING IN WHICH STUDENTS ENGAGE ON FIELD TRIPS IS INTEGRAL TO THE LEARNING IN THEIR COURSES, SO STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND ALL FIELD TRIPS THAT ARE COURSE-ALIGNED.

STUDENTS MAY COMPLETE THEIR LUNCH ORDER FOR THE WEEK BY CLICKING THE BOX ABOVE AND MAKING THEIR SELECTION BY 9:45 A.M. MONDAY MORNING.

Compass Academy students pre-order their lunch, so if your student plans to order lunch, please have them complete the form that is linked above. Students are always welcome to bring food from home, if they prefer. If your student may qualify for free or reduced lunch, please complete this form or have them get a paper copy of the form from the Compass office.

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 classes at both their home high school and Compass will need to miss a full day of school, parents must either inform East or North that their student is also a Compass student so that the Compass office is informed of the absence or they must call Compass Academy directly to report their students' absence. If parents make just one call to Compass to report a full day absence for part-time students, the Compass Academy administrative assistant, Ms. Chavira, will ensure communication between buildings.

In D303, we value the opportunity to provide a community of care and support to our families, especially those faced with financial hardship. If your family is currently experiencing a significant financial need, our community partnerships have several supports available for families, including school clothes/shoes, winter coats/accessories, school supplies, toiletries, holiday meals, and/or holiday gifts. If you would like to be considered for any of these supports, please complete the Family Resource Form by September 13, 2024.

En D303, valoramos la oportunidad de proveer una comunidad de cuidado y apoyo a nuestras familias, especialmente a aquellas que enfrentan dificultades financieras. Si su familia está experimentando actualmente una necesidad financiera significativa, nuestras asociaciones comunitarias tienen varios apoyos disponibles para las familias, incluyendo: ropa/calzado para la escuela, abrigos/accesorios de invierno, materiales escolares, artículos de aseo personal, comidas para los días festivos, y/o regalos para navidad. Si desea que se le tenga en cuenta para cualquiera de estas ayudas, por favor, rellene este formulario. Para ser considerado, es fundamental que complete esta encuesta a más tardar el viernes 13 de septiembre.

Are you interested in learning about the various career options available in St. Charles? Through the city's career pathway job shadow program, Compass students can shadow people in many career fields, including office administration, communications, accounting, firefighting, government, law enforcement, construction, forestry, water management, and vehicle maintenance. Students who participate in job shadowing during the school year, and then write reflections about their experiences, have the opportunity to earn credit for Career Exploration.

For more information about this opportunity, students should scan the appropriate QR code on the bulletin board in the academic hall or make an appointment to see Ms. Ohlson, the Compass counselor.

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
X (Twitter): @CompassD303