Compass Connections

• Dungeons & Dragons Club: Monday, November 10th, 3:45-4:45 (Rm. 111)
• Block E/SWAMP: Tuesday, November 11th, 3:45-5:45 (Rm. 140)
• Tech Makerspace: Tuesday, November 11th, 3:45-4:45 (Rm. 144)
• Field Trip to St. Charles Veterinary Clinic: Wednesday, November 12th, 9:30am-12:00pm
• Culinary Club: Thursday, November 13th, 3:45-4:45 (Rm. 143)
• Block E/SWAMP: Thursday, November 13th, 3:45-5:45 (Rm. 140)
• FAFSA Completion Workshop: Thursday, November 13th, 6:00-7:30 (Rm. 140) *SIGN UP WITH MS. OHLSON*

A group of Navigators interested in learning more about educational opportunities offered at Elgin Community College took a field trip with Ms. Ohlson on Wednesday, which provided them information about multiple exciting career-focused programs offered at the school while also allowing them to explore the restaurant staffed by students in the culinary program and the histopathology lab used by students in the histotechnology program.

• Early College Credit Information Night: St. Charles North Auditorium- November 18, 2025, 6:30-8:30 pm
• Fox Valley College Fair: St. Charles North H.S.- March 24, 2026, 5:30-7:30 pm

Interested in connecting with representatives from traditional apprenticeship programs, union trades, employers, and colleges offering non-traditional apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship opportunities? Please consider joining us on a field trip to ECC for the Apprenticeship Expo on Thursday, November 20th from 9:30 a.m. -10:15 a.m.

Please Note: This is a first come, first served event and space is limited. Interested students should sign up in the Main Office no later than 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 13th.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Since 1948, the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley has awarded over $30 million in scholarships. The Community Foundation offers over 200 plus scholarship opportunities to students who will attend an accredited institution of higher education within the United States of America during the 2025-2026 academic year. The application window will open on November 1, 2025 and will close on January 20, 2026. If you need assistance, please contact Beth Christoffel at 630-896-7800.

ECC-Seigle Scholars Program

The Seigle Scholar Program at Elgin Community College (ECC) is an incredible opportunity open to high school seniors planning to transfer to a four-year university. It offers a full-ride scholarship to ECC covering tuition, books, fees and more—so you can focus on your studies. For scholarship details, eligibility, and an easy online application, visit the Seigle Scholars web page. The application deadline is January 15, 2026.

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.

Families who wish to learn more about Free and Reduced-Price Meals or fee waivers can find information and application links on the District 303 website under Parents & Community.

• For Free and Reduced-Price Meals, visit: district.d303.org/foodservices
• For Fee Waivers, visit: district.d303.org/fee-waivers

Applications are available year-round for families whose household circumstances may have changed.

STUDENTS MAY COMPLETE THEIR LUNCH ORDER FOR THE WEEK BY CLICKING THE BOX ABOVE AND MAKING THEIR SELECTION BY 10:00 A.M. ON THE FIRST MORNING OF THE SCHOOL WEEK.

D303 is hosting a parent-empowerment series featuring Dr. Megan Schmitz of Vital Living Wellness Solutions. The series, titled “Guiding Students from Avoidance to Achievement,” includes three evening events at North High School and is part of D303’s student-attendance initiative.

Attention graduating students:

The State of Illinois requires all graduating students to either complete the FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid), or complete the non-participation form to receive their diploma.

For students completing the FAFSA:

Students who have applied, or plan to apply to 2-year, 4-year, or technical schools that use the FAFSA can begin completing this form on October 1, 2025. Completion of this form allows educational institutions to provide financial aid support that is need-based. Many institutions also require a FAFSA on file for students to receive institutional scholarships or grants. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is a great resource for students and parents to get assistance filling out the FAFSA.

The FAFSA is completed by both students and their parents completing their respective parts of the online application. Students and parents establish separate FSA ID's with the website linked above to complete their portions of the online document. Students should make sure to use their PERSONAL EMAIL (not school email) to complete the FAFSA, since emails from outside entities are blocked on school email accounts. Directions to set up an FSA ID that work for both students and parents are HERE.

Students not completing the FAFSA:

Some students' post high school path might not involve the need to pay for education or training (example: when students enlist in a branch of our military, they don't need financial aid). These students should create an account on the ISAC portal (linked above in this email), and sign off with their parents electronically, indicating they are aware of the financial aid opportunities available via the FAFSA, but declining them.

Questions?

For help completing the FAFSA, see the isac.org website for more information and support.

If you need general information, please get in touch with Ms. Ohlson.

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.

Important information for students who are interested in taking an AP exam but are not enrolled in the corresponding AP course:

• Students wishing to take any AP exams for classes in which they are not enrolled must register and pay for the exam no later than Friday, November 7. The fee is $100 per exam and is non-refundable. Students who are interested in registering must see Ms. Ohlson to receive the appropriate form and relevant information.

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

Instagram: @d303compassacademy