Compass Connections

• Staff Institute Days (No School): Monday-Tuesday, August 11th-12th
• FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR NEW COMPASS STUDENTS: Wednesday, August 13th (see below for more info)
• FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR RETURNING COMPASS STUDENTS: Thursday, August 14th
• First Experiential Learning/Blended Wednesday: Wednesday, August 20th (see below for more info)
• BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT: Thursday, August 21st, 6:00-8:00 pm
• Compass School/Yearbook Picture Day: Tuesday, August 26th, 10 am- 12 pm
• Back to School Picnic: Thursday, August 28th, 4:00-6:30 pm
• NO SCHOOL (STAFF INSTITUTE DAY): Friday, August 29th
• NO SCHOOL (LABOR DAY): Monday, September 1st

The first day of school for all students who are new to Compass Academy, regardless of grade level, is Wednesday, August 13th. This day will start at 9:15 (or 7:15 for part-time students) and will end at 1:30 for all Compass students. (This time was changed to ensure that D303 transportation could be provided for students who need it.)

On 8/13, part-time Compass students will attend their classes at their home high school and will take the bus to Compass at their assigned time, which for most students will be after 2nd period at East or North. Full-time Compass students will take their scheduled bus before school and will take the same route home at 1:30. (More information about this day will be emailed next week.)

Returning Compass Academy students who are not Student Leaders will have an Experiential Learning/Blended Wednesday on August 13th, so their first day of in-person attendance will be Thursday, August 14th. If returning Compass students are part-time, they should still attend their classes at East or North on 8/13.

Parents/guardians can find their student's bus route information through Home Access Center (HAC) by following these steps:

1. Log in to HAC using your username and password.
2. Once you are logged in, click on the Registration tab at the top of the page.
3. Scroll down to find the section titled "School Transportation." This will provide information on pickup and drop off times, as well as bus stop location.

Call (331)228-5180 if you have any questions.

All eligible Compass Academy students will receive District 303 transportation both to and from school and between school buildings if they are taking classes at their home high school or Fox Valley Career Center. The regular Compass shuttle bus from East/North to Compass after 2nd period may not appear in HAC, but all Compass students may take this shuttle as needed. There is also a shuttle at the 2:10 Compass dismissal to take students back to East/North for athletics and other extracurricular activities. Information regarding Wednesday routes home for students with unusual part-time schedules (more than periods 1-2 at their home high school) will be communicated separately via email on Monday, 8/11.

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.

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.

District 303 is committed to creating an environment where students can fully engage in learning and teachers can fully support their success. To achieve this, we are implementing a cell phone procedure that helps create fewer distractions and greater focus on learning inside our classrooms. For more details, please see below. All Compass Academy teachers will teach and reinforce this procedure during the first few days of school.

Compass Academy students and families may order Compass spirit wear at any time through our Spirit Wear Store, which you may access by clicking the image below. All purchases are customizable and are shipped directly to your home.

District 303 is excited to introduce our new college and career readiness platform, SchooLinks. SchooLinks is a modern, college and career readiness platform that prepares students for what comes after graduation. SchooLinks helps students discover their interests and strengths, explore colleges and careers, and create an individualized career and academic plan that best reflects their post-secondary goals.

Beginning in the 2025–26 school year, SchooLinks will be available to students and families in grades 6–12 across District 303. This innovative tool replaces Naviance and provides a more comprehensive and engaging experience for future planning.

Research shows that students who have the support of engaged families and staff members are more likely to demonstrate qualities that include:

• Improved academic performance

• Enrollment in more rigorous courses

• Better attendance rates

• Increased enrollment in a community/technical college or a 4-year university

How SchooLinks will be rolled out:

• Seniors will activate their SchooLinks accounts during their Senior Meetings in the first two weeks of the 2025–26 school year to jumpstart their post-secondary planning and/or college application process.

• Parents/Guardians will have access to their own SchooLinks accounts beginning in September 2025. This will allow you to partner with your student in their planning journey—reviewing options together, tracking progress, and staying connected to key milestones and deadlines.

We’re confident that SchooLinks will strengthen our shared commitment to student success beyond graduation. More information about the rollout for grades 9–12 and how parents can activate their accounts will be shared within the next two weeks.

STUDENTS WILL GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE OPTIONS WITHIN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF SCHOOL DURING ADVISORY. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE SHARED WITH PARENTS ON BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT AS WELL. 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.

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