Compass Connections
October 18, 2026
- Picture Retake Day: Monday, October 19, 10:15-11:30 am (Rm. 140)
- Pokemon Go Club: Monday, October 19, 3:45-4:45 pm (Rm. 140)
- Chess Club: Tuesday, October 20, 3:45-4:45 pm (LRC)
- Experiential/Blended Learning Day: Wednesday, October 21
- ECC College Fair: Wednesday, October 21, 6-8 pm (see below)
- PSAT/NMSQT TESTING: Thursday, October 22 (Juniors Only - see below)
- SWAMP: Thursday, October 22, 3:45-4:45 pm (Rm. 140)
- FAFSA Completion WORKSHOP: Thursday, October 22, 6-7 pm (Rm. 140)
- Pokemon Go Club: Monday, October 26, 3:45-4:45 pm (Rm. 140)
- Gator CORE: Tuesday, October 27, 3:45-4:45 pm (Rm. 111)
- SWAMP: Tuesday, October 27, 3:45-4:45 pm (Rm. 140)
- Manufacturing Month Tours (Choice Trip): Wednesday, October 28, 9 am-1 pm
- D303 PATHWAYS NIGHT: Wednesday, October 28, 6-8 pm
- Dungeons & Dragons Club: Thursday, October 29, 3:45-4:45 pm (Rm. 111)
- SWAMP: Thursday, October 29, 3:45-4:45 pm (Rm. 140)
Picture retake day at Compass Academy is Monday, October 19th. Photos will be taken between 10:15-11:30 a.m. If your student missed Picture Day in August or if they would like a retake, please plan to have their photo taken on 10/19. This photo will be available for purchase at this link and will be included in the Compass yearbook.
All D303 Juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT exam on Thursday, 10/22/26, during the regular school day. The PSAT/NMSQT exam is a preliminary SAT that also opens the door to consideration for National Merit scholarships. This will be an online exam and students will need to bring their school-issued Chromebooks. All juniors who are scheduled to take the ACT at Compass (or who took the Progress Learning ACT at Compass) will also take the PSAT/NMSQT here. Only juniors who have 4 or more periods at St. Charles East or North will take the exam there. Juniors will resume their regular class schedule after testing. All other students (9th, 10th, and 12th graders) will have a regular day of school.
The PSAT/NMSQT consists of the following test sections:
Reading & Writing (64 minutes)
Module 1= 2 pretest & 25 operational for a total of 27 questions; 32 minutes
Module 2= 2 pretest & 25 operational for a total of 27 questions; 32 minutes
Math (70 minutes)
Module 1= 2 pretest and 20 operational for a total of 22 questions; 35 minutes
Module 2= 2 pretest and 20 operational for a total of 22 questions; 35 minutes
More details and room/section assignments will be shared via email to juniors and their parents on Monday, 10/19. Please review the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide to help prepare for test day.
Join us for some fun adventures this semester in college and career exploration. Students of all ages at Compass Academy are welcome and encouraged to participate in any field trips and events labeled "Choice Trip" in the Compass Connections. Even if students are unsure of their post high school plans, participation in field trips is a fun way to extend learning on a Wednesday.
FALL EVENTS:
October 22nd -- Compass Academy FAFSA Completion Night, 6-7 pm -- seniors and parents: bring your device and submit your FAFSA application. We will be joined by Mr. Christian Montes, our rep from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Don't miss it!
October 28th -- Manufacturing Month Tours -- tour 2 of our local manufacturing businesses to learn how a variety of materials are made here in the Tri-Cities. Field trip forms for this trip will be accessible next week when we hear which 2 locations Compass Academy is assigned this year.
October 28th -- D303 Pathways Night, 6-8 pm - career options fair hosted by Compass Academy 6-8pm -- Join us to explore the many post high school career opportunities that don't require a student to receive a 4-year college degree. Community College programs, tech schools, union trades, US Military, and local municipal jobs will be represented. This is always a great night!
November 4th --The volunteer opportunity on November 4th has changed from Northern IL Food Bank, to Feed My Starving Children. Complete THIS document to join us to pack food to help feed hungry children.
November 11th -- College Visit Field Trip to North Central College
November 17th -- Early College Credit Night -- 6:30-8:30pm in the East HS Little Theatre. This annual event will highlight opportunities for eligible D303 high school students to begin earning college credits during high school.
NOTE: Some field trips have limited space available. Student spaces will be given by the order the signed and completed field trip forms are received in the main office (note: not by email). Students are welcome to drop forms off to Ms. Chavira in the main office. If a waitlist is needed for a field trip, a student and the parent/guardian who signed their field trip form will receive notice via email they have been waitlisted.
Not hearing from Ms. Ohlson implies she is planning for the student to attend the field trip. All students attending (parents will be CC'd) will receive a confirmation/reminder email about field trip participation the school day closest to the trip. Students need transportation to and from Compass on Wednesdays in time for the field trip departure time listed on the field trip form. We cannot delay departure for late students -- please arrive 5 minutes before the listed departure time.
If students can't make a field trip they signed up for, please notify Ms. Ohlson immediately so that another student might join us instead.
Elgin Community College will host 145+ colleges and universities to help students and families explore post-secondary options. All current college, high school, and prospective students are encouraged to attend to discover transfer opportunities. The Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling sponsors this free event with ECC and other local schools.
The fair utilizes StriveScan to make information sharing easier for students. This app-based system is free for students, and registration is encouraged before the fair. Colleges will scan your barcode during the fair to send you more information about their schools. The day after the fair, you will receive a report with information on the colleges with whom you scanned.
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Time: 6 to 8 pm
Location: ECC Main Campus, Building J, Events Center
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 visit the Compass website's Experiential Learning Opportunities page, scan the appropriate QR code on the bulletin board in the academic hall, or make an appointment to see Ms. Ohlson, the Compass counselor.
Compass Academy
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