Compass Chronicle
Online Elementary School | Spring 2018
Happy Spring!
The new year brings a fresh start, new goals, and renewed ambitions. Since our last newsletter, our elementary school has been operating at full capacity. Each day our teachers work to bring the best learning experiences to our scholars. We began the New Year with a rally for our scholars. During our New Year's rally, we talked about setting goals and taught scholars about the power of goal-setting. In February we had our Valentine's Day Rally! The scholars played games organized by our staff and had a great time. In March we celebrated scholars' art projects during our Scholar Art Faire. We also started hosting virtual recess for scholars where they meet virtually with Mr. Thompson and their peers to engage and share with each other. During virtual recess, scholars shared their pets, art creations, favorite games and have enjoyed just spending time with each other! Stay tuned for more exciting scholar adventures.
Sincerely,
Steven Thompson, Elementary School Coordinator
Table of Contents
- Family Spotlights
- Scholar Projects & Assignments
- Staff Spotlight
- Share Your Story
FAMILY SPOTLIGHTS
We are also featuring the Leon Family.
Isabella Leon, an elementary school scholar shares her experience at CCS.
CCS: We know that often with our scholars that each day is different, but what would a typical day look like for you and your scholar?
Isabella: My typical day never goes as planned, because it can change with a phone call from my manager or agent. I use a daily planner and start by writing down all my goals for the day. My day usually starts with breakfast and then I walk or run on the treadmill for about 15 minutes to build up my lungs for singing. Next, I start my school work for the day and after a few hours, I spend time studying my scripts for acting class and auditions. Sometimes I have to do my school work in the car, on set, during weekends or late at night. I take acting classes twice a week in Hollywood, voice lessons, private dance lessons, piano and Ukulele lessons each week.
CCS: What is your passion or favorite hobby outside of school?
Isabella: I have been pursuing music since I was in preschool, I attended The Academy of Dance and Music. Creating music is my passion. I recently released my first single called Dance With Me on iTunes and Spotify.
CCS: What steps did you have to take to create your song? What was that experience like?
Isabella: It took a lot of hard work to create my original song. I spent many hours writing and rewriting the song. I had to start over from my original draft. I also spent many hours in the studio. Luckily, I have an amazing team who helped me master my song.
CCS: What is your song about? What inspired you to create the song?
Isabella: My song is about girl power and being independent. What inspired me to write it is all the powerful and inspirational women in my life.
CCS: What do you hope to accomplish in the future?
Isabella: In the future, I hope to inspire others my age with my music so that they can accomplish their goals and dreams with hard work and a lot of practice. I also hope to have a foundation that teaches children how to volunteer and give back to their community.
CCS: How has being part of Compass Charter Schools helped you pursue your goals?
Isabella: If it wasn’t for Compass Charter Schools, I would never be able to pursue my dreams. My Mom always says “It takes a village” and Compass is a big part of my village.
CCS: What do you enjoy most about being a scholar at Compass Charter Schools?
Isabella: What I enjoy most about being a scholar at Compass is my learning experience in the online elementary school program. I love all my course materials and programs!
This month we’re featuring the Furlow Family.
Learning Coach Shawana and her elementary school scholar Jeremiah share their experience at Compass.
CCS: We know that often with our scholars that each day is different, but what would a typical day look like for you and your scholar?
Shawana: I have found that Jeremiah works best on his own schedule, which often varies. Usually, he wakes up and is excited to begin working. Then, he logs into his math or language arts courses and starts his lessons. He also uses iReady, ABC Mouse, and is working on writing more in his journal each day. We do take a few breaks throughout the day.
CCS: What has been your greatest joy in schooling your scholar at home?
Shawana: My greatest joy has been seeing the progress that Jeremiah has made. I enjoy watching him learn and being amazed at what he can do. I’m always wondering how he has learned so much. I feel like he’s completed more learning than my other kids in brick-and-mortar schools. He’s also so happy to learn.
CCS: Share a challenge that you have experienced as a learning coach and how you have worked to overcome the challenge.
Shawana: I had to learn how to create a schedule and plan based on what worked best with Jeremiah. I learned that a strict schedule didn’t work best for him. I had to adjust what we were doing and change it to make it fit his needs.
CCS: Why did you decide to school from home with Compass Charter Schools?
Shawana: I decided that we should try schooling at home and I wanted an online program, too. We started researching and I found Compass Charter Schools. I liked their core values, and it made me think about the arts and sciences and how much learning he would do. So, we called the school and enrolled him right away.
CCS: Share a piece of advice you’d give to a parent thinking about taking their child out of school to school at home?
Shawana: My advice would be to have a lot of patience in the beginning. Just remember that it’s new for everyone: the scholar, and the parent. It takes time to get adjusted and create the right schedule for your family.
CCS: What do you, your scholar and the family enjoy doing together during your free time?
Shawana: We enjoy going to the beach, the park, the movies, and doing family trips to Las Vegas.
SCHOLAR PROJECTS & ASSIGNMENTS
Scholars also created 2-foot high egg catchers that allowed the egg to drop without breaking. They used the Engineer Design Process to design, build, and reflect on their challenges while building their egg catcher.
STAFF SPOTLIGHTS
Vikki Shumaker, an elementary school teacher at CCS.
CCS: What is your job title and what are a couple of the things you do at Compass Charter Schools? How long have you worked for this organization?
Vikki: I am an elementary school teacher at Compass Charter Schools. I have been teaching 4th and 5th-grade scholars at Compass for the past two years. As an elementary school teacher with online scholars, I monitor their educational activity, ensure that they are successful with our curriculum, hold live learning labs with scholars, and communicate with learning coaches (parents) regarding their scholars.
CCS: Tell us your “why” for doing what you do here at CCS?
Vikki: I enjoy what I do here at Compass because I love seeing the scholars succeed and hearing how happy they are about being part of our Compass community.
CCS: As an educator, is there a piece of advice you’d like to share with learning coaches or scholars?
Vikki: A piece of advice that I would like to share with both learning coaches and scholars is to remember to stay involved at school. There are so many activities at our school that can have a very positive impact on scholars' education and socialization. I encourage scholars to join clubs, participate in learning labs, join competitions, and attend the awesome field trips that Compass organizes each month!
CCS: Share one thing about you that very few people know?
Vikki: One thing that very few people know about me is that I am part Japanese, and I absolutely love Japanese culture. I studied the Japanese language for two years in college and learned how to read and write in Japanese.
CCS: What do you and your family like to do during your free time?
Vikki: My family and I love to travel and spend time together. We go to the beach several times each year to relax, go on walks, play games, and just enjoy time together. We really hope to make it to Japan one day for an amazing trip!
Sarah Eagleton, an elementary school teachers at CCS.
CCS: What is your job title and what are a couple of the things you do at Compass Charter Schools? How long have you worked for this organization?
Sarah: I am an elementary school teacher at Compass. I teach 4th and 5th-grade scholars in our Lanes program. I have been teaching at Compass for the past two years.
CCS: Tell us your “why” for doing what you do here at CCS?
Sarah: I was drawn to Compass because of the flexible and unique approach to education. I am passionate about giving my scholars all of the tools they need to be successful in their school work, and in life. For each scholar, these tools are different, because no one person is the same. At Compass, I feel confident that I can fully support each scholar and empower them to be the best version of themselves.
CCS: As an educator, is there a piece of advice you’d like to share with learning coaches or scholars?
Sarah: One piece of advice that I would like to share with learning coaches and scholars is that being self-motivated can be challenging, but it is the key to success at Compass!
CCS: Share one thing about you that very few people know?
Sarah: Most people don't know that I am an Ordained Minister and I have performed marriage ceremonies for a few of my friends!
CCS: What do you and your family like to do during your free time?
Sarah: My family and I really enjoy traveling! This past year we visited the bison in Yellowstone National Park, went snorkeling with stingrays and sharks in Belize, ate seafood in San Francisco, and went sledding in snowy Pennsylvania.
SHARE YOUR STORY
Compass Charter Schools
Email: info@compasscharters.org
Website: www.compasscharters.org
Location: 850 Hampshire Road, Suite P, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States
Phone: 855-937-4227
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CompassCS/
Twitter: @CompassCS
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