FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR NEW COMPASS STUDENTS: Wednesday, August 12th (see below for more info)
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR RETURNING COMPASS STUDENTS: Thursday, August 13th
Compass School ID/Yearbook Picture Day: Tuesday, August 18th, 9:45-11:45 am
First Experiential Learning/Blended Wednesday: Wednesday, August 19th (see below for more info)
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: Thursday, August 27th, 6:00-8:00 pm
Back to School Picnic: Thursday, September 3rd, 4:00-6:30 pm
NO SCHOOL (STAFF INSTITUTE DAY): Friday, September 4th
NO SCHOOL (LABOR DAY): Monday, September 7th

As noted in the email sent to students and parents on July 1st, the first day of school for all students who are new to Compass Academy, regardless of grade level, is Wednesday, August 12th. Dismissal on this day will be at 2:10 for all Compass students who end their day at Compass. Instead of having a separate orientation day, the first day of school will provide all students who are new to Compass the opportunity to receive an overview of how things work at Compass, including transportation, lunch, Power Block, and Experiential Learning Wednesdays, while being introduced to the systems and procedures that are unique to Compass. Students will attend their classes on the first day so that they can meet their teachers, get an introduction to competency-based assessment and project-based learning, and get an overview of what to expect in each seminar, advisory, and independent study. There will also be dedicated time for them to do all of the things that are typically done at Orientation, such as receiving Chromebooks (if new to the district), exploring learning spaces, selecting a locker, and receiving some Compass spirit items. Returning Compass Academy students will have an Experiential Learning Wednesday on August 12th, so their first day of in-person attendance will be Thursday, August 13th. They will attend classes on that day and will be dismissed at their regularly scheduled time.

The District 303 Transportation Office is introducing a Bus Tracker app for students, parents, and families to use called Zonar MyView. MyView is a new mobile app available for parents and students to use to track their school bus using a smartphone or tablet. App users will be able to see the bus’s location whenever they need and set alerts for when the bus is nearby, allowing users to receive bus information in a timely manner. This feature will not need school support. It will be supported by Zonar, the bus tracking app company, and the D303 Transportation Office. Bus route information will be available in the app no later than Monday, August 10th.

Parking at school is a privilege. Our goal is to provide the maximum number of eligible drivers the opportunity to drive to and from Compass Academy. Students who are seeking a parking pass for their home high school must complete the application process for St. Charles East/North and pay the appropriate fees. There is no additional fee for a parking pass at Compass, but any student who parks in a Compass student spot must have a Compass pass visible in their vehicle. Students are expected to comply with all rules and regulations listed in the D303 discipline policy. Student passes will be distributed on the first day of school. In order to receive a pass, all applicants must have a completed application and a valid driver's license with proof of registration for the vehicle they will be driving. Students must present their driver's license and up-to-date registration information in the Compass Main Office in order to receive a pass. Any student who parks in a Compass student space in the lot or along 9th Street must have a Compass parking pass, but due to limited spots, Compass student parking spots will be filled on a first come, first served basis each day. There is also street parking available on Oak Street for students who arrive after the lot is full.

Students will receive more information about these options within the first two weeks of school during advisory. Additional information will also be shared with parents on Back to School Night.

PLEASE NOTE: FIELD TRIPS ARE TYPICALLY ONLY OFFERED ON WEDNESDAYS AND ARE ALMOST ALWAYS SHARED WITH STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SEVERAL 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.

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.

The Discovery Program exposes students to a broad range of activities designed to encourage their interest in healthcare careers. Program activities include tours, guest speakers, group discussion, and hands-on projects. Meetings are most often on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00am-12:00pm. The NM Discovery West Chapter and the Greater DeKalb Chapter collaborate a lot, so meetings will be held at Central DuPage Hospital, Delnor Hospital, Kishwaukee Hospital, and various off-site NM locations. Please note, meeting dates, times, and topics are subject to change. Participants are responsible for their own transportation.

For information about the Discovery Program and how to apply.

The application deadline is 9/28/26.