Compass Chronicle
Yolo Charter | Summer 2021
A Word From our Principal, Jason Bee
Congratulations, Firebirds, we did it; the 2020-2021 school year is officially in the books, and what a year it has been! I am proud of all of the work, determination, and perseverance on display every day by our Compass scholars. I am proud to have served as your principal to know many of you throughout the year. I am grateful to all of our teachers and learning coaches for all of their work in supporting our scholar’s success and building a school community centered on achievement, respect, teamwork, integrity, and collaboration.
I am so very proud of our graduating senior class, congratulations to every one of you. Your future is in your hands, and I know you will each make the most of the opportunities that come your way. I am also proud of our promoting 8-grade, 5-grade, and kindergarten classes. Your promotion leads to a different world full of challenges and opportunities, but don’t forget you are not alone; your teacher(s) learning coaches are here to help.
I hope you all have a wonderful summer break and can take time to reflect on all you learned and experienced this school year.
Respectfully yours,
~Jason Bee
What's Been Happening at the Yolo Charter?
Gardening Club News
Thomas A., a Gardening Club member, has a wonderful harvest of radishes! You can see all the steps involved, from sprouting seeds to the final harvest!
National Honor Society
Work Samples and Learning Labs!
Chinese Dynasties!
Teaching Video: Composite for Volume
The Rock Business!
Alonzo L., first-grader, created a business selling rocks with melted crayon designs. He learned about marketing and trading with other kids during a market event!
Excellent Artist!
Scholar Spotlight: Meet the Fliflet Family!
We Are The Fliflet Family
Hi, I’m Brandi.
My family lives in coastal Sonoma County, about an hour’s drive north of San Francisco. We’re currently wrapping our 11th year of homeschooling (grades 10, 8, and 6), and making plans for a two-week road trip, as we do most years in early May.
When I was approached to participate in the Compass newsletter, I fumbled initially to identify what notable perspective I had to offer. On reflection, though, my particular insight on homeschooling spans over a decade, and in that time, I (we) have learned so much.
With many parents looking at education through a new lens this year, the scope - and intent - of educational choice has become a dynamic and especially poignant aspect of public and private discourse. But truly, the topic is not a new one. Rather, it’s a long-established practical and intellectual wrestling of sorts, with roots much further back than this pandemic, much more significant than my mere 11 years.
And for that, I take heart.
To those of you finding your way within this world of home education - maybe for the first time - let me reassure you: The road before you is well-worn and ever-improving. It may be made of mere cobblestone, but it is navigable. It is navigable, promising, and often just as significant as the destination itself. Homeschooling may be a road less taken, but it is not a path unknown. On the contrary, it is doable, workable, and incredibly beneficial.
It all begins with a change of mind.
And so you might now be wondering what changed my mind. What set me on this particular cobblestone path? While many seek alternative education as an aspect of conscience or a reaction against a specific experience in the traditional school system, I arrived here simply searching for a time. All those years ago…with kindergarten looming and a three-year-old and three-month-old in tow. I began by searching for a school best suited to fit an imagined academic pursuit. What I soon realized was that this particular pursuit was only one aspect of a much bigger picture. Increasingly, naggingly, the full-day kindergarten classes available in our area seemed like such a huge sacrifice of time, our time.
Fleeting time.
My kids were little, and they loved each other. I knew separating them at that tender age would change the dynamics of their relationship, and I wasn’t ready to give that up. Their academic journey began to figure secondarily, really. Insignificant in comparison. But this simple change of mindset put me on a path of enormous discovery and incredible scholarly growth. Growth which has multiplied exponentially - relationally, academically, and individually. Looking back, it was one of the truest instincts I’ve ever had and one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Yes, it’s been hard. Hard, sometimes clumsy, and often, incredibly isolating. In all, it’s been a real, significant sacrifice. But what good thing doesn’t come of sacrifice? When I chose to begin homeschooling all those years ago, my mantra was simply “year-by-year.” I was singularly committed to adjust as needed (and to be honest, that assertion helped stave off the practical naysayers you likely recognize as well). But the years multiplied, and the growth continued. Building blocks turned into Archimedes, turned into Socrates, turned into today. My kids are curious, confident, multidimensional, and engaged. It’s a thrill to see their lives unfold. I’m so immensely grateful we chose to homeschool.
I’m so thankful we stole back our time.
Brandi Graves is the mother of three Compass Charter students and lives with her family in Sonoma County, California. She writes about her life as a homeschooler, artist, and business owner on her Instagram account @savagesublimeandco.
Keeping Up with the Carrolls
Meet the Caroll Family!
Pictured above: Shana, Mike, Moxley (3-grade), Maeryn (2-grade), Poppy (TK), and Macklyn (not yet a student)
After being diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer, one of the questions we are asked the most frequently is, “Will you stop homeschooling?” The answer is easy and clear, “No.” Homeschooling three (Moxley, Maeryn, and Poppy) of our four children through Compass Charter Schools has been one of the biggest gifts we have received and given to the children.
We are an adventurous family who makes moments count. Therefore, teaching and learning through experiences is one of the reasons the Compass Options Program suits us. It provides a healthy balance of accountability and flexibility- a balance we value, and quite honestly, we need. It is nice to turn in work samples from the National Park Junior Ranger Programs- our children have earned over 40 badges! Or be able to advance their math skills through their lemonade and bake sale side hustle. Need a math work sample? Perfect, we will submit their ledger. These are the types of work samples we submit, and our Supervising Teacher, Holly Dong, accepts them with a smile. We are fortunate to have Mrs. Dong on our team as she is beyond organized, reliable, and encouraging.
Teaching at home and virtually through Compass enables us to spend additional time with the children. It allows us to really get to know them academically, their strengths, interests, and struggles. For example, we had concerns early on regarding our daughter’s speech and reading. It only took mentioning it once to Holly, and the special education department was in contact with us. The IEP process was flawless and painless, and we are beyond appreciative of the language and reading services our daughter receives through the special education department. This department is prompt, thorough, and accessible. Most importantly, we have a confident daughter excited to learn- something we weren’t quite sure we would ever have. As we mentioned, Compass Charter Schools has been a gift to our family. We look forward to many more years with Compass.
Staff Spotlight: Meet Holly Dong, Options Supervising Teacher
Meet Holly Dong!
I’m Holly Dong, and I am finishing my second year as a Supervising Teacher here at Compass. I have a huge heart for individualized learning and for the families I work with! I homeschooled my own son through 8-grade (and again this year for his senior year), and I love being able to support others in the homeschool community.
Especially this time of year, my biggest piece of advice for learning coaches is: “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” There is always the new, bright and shiny curriculum that seems perfect, but if your scholar is progressing, learning, and happy, don’t switch!
Something not many people know about me is that I love to spend my free time listening to audiobooks and knitting. I have been working for years on a blanket for my son, but I mostly knit socks before that. They are the one item that you can wear in the Southern California heat that is knitted!
My family loves to take our RV camping for fun. This summer, we will be going to Lassen National Park, and I am so excited! Our favorite trip so far has been to Zion and Bryce National Parks.
Staff Spotlight: Meet Beth Preece Foster, Online Middle School Math Teacher
Meet Beth Preece Foster!
Hi, my name is Beth Preece Foster. I am an Online Math Teacher for 7 and 8-grades. I have been in the field of education for 19 years and have been a K-8 teacher for ten years. Middle school is my favorite grade level because I love helping scholars prepare for high school and beyond. This is my first year working with Compass Charter Schools, and I am thrilled to be a part of the family. I love the community of friendly families, teachers, and staff.
As a teacher, I have a passion for helping scholars find their voices so they can advocate for themselves, and I try to help them find their talents and see how great they are. I strive to prepare scholars for the real world and spend a lot of time teaching with technology. I love using technology as a learning tool and encourage scholars to utilize technology in their learning to look up math videos, create visual notes, and practice teaching others through virtual recordings and sharing in labs.
I have a piece of advice for scholars and families to speak up by communicating with your supervising teacher. We are here to help and LOVE helping you reach your goals! Try to come to all your learning labs and participate in our live lessons. Share out and be brave; your ideas matter!!
A little known fact about me is that I used to spend my summers as a Backcountry Kayaking Guide in Alaska. I was able to spend my summers observing puffins, brown bears, orcas, and humpback whales. One day, I hope to return to Alaska to teach summer programs to curious students!
I am a mom to two lovely daughters, both in high school. We are outdoorsy types and love to spend time in all kinds of nature. We visit our local beaches, mountains, and deserts as often as we can and also like to travel to see family and friends around the country.
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Compass Charter Schools
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Website: www.compasscharters.org
Location: 850 Hampshire Road, Suite P, Thousand Oaks, CA, United States
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