Compass Connections

• 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)
• Compass Club Meetings Begin: Monday, August 24th (more information to come)
• 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

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.

This Tuesday, August 18th, is school picture day at Compass Academy. Every student will have the opportunity to have their picture taken for the yearbook, for Compass IDs, and for families to order. To order your student's pictures, visit the HR Imaging site. For students who are absent, there will be a picture retake day in late fall to ensure that all students have the opportunity to receive school pictures.

Back to School Night is next Thursday, August 27th, from 6-8 pm. Whether you are a new Compass parent or a parent of a returning student, ALL Compass parents should plan to attend! Along with the opportunity to connect with other Compass parents and to meet your student’s teachers (many of whom are new to Compass), you will have the opportunity to learn more about:

• How to interpret Schoology and ParentVUE for Compass classes
• College and career planning events at Compass

• New initiatives at Compass this year

• How to support your student's success at Compass

• Competency-based learning and assessment at Compass

• How to read your student’s credit matrix and Student Success Plan

• Independent Study options (including ISLE and COVE)

• Experiential Learning Wednesdays

• The end-of-semester Celebration of Learning

• Compass Parent Advisory Committee (our version of PTO)

• Whom to contact for what

We look forward to welcoming you to the building next Thursday! Please enter at door 1, the Compass main entrance.

VISITOR PARKING: All parking spaces directly in front of the building along 9th (Compass/EC main entrance area) will be reserved exclusively for visitor parking and parent drop-off/pickup.(Parents may also drop off or pick up students in the South Lot, but if they will be parking to enter the building, they should park in a spot on 9th Street.)

STUDENT PARKING: All student drivers must park in the South Lot (entrance on Oak Street).

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 south lot must have a Compass parking pass.

Compass Academy students pre-order their lunch, so if your student plans to order lunch, they will be able to complete the form that will be linked here next week. 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.

Compass staff members were excited to welcome students to Compass for the first week of the 2026-27 school year. The first few days' activities were focused on helping students make connections, learn about their classes, and engage in creative and collaborative problem-solving. Pictured below are groups of students in Advisory trying to build the tallest free-standing tower they could out of the provided materials, and students using strategies to solve a puzzle connecting mythology to geography.

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.

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.

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.

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