Compass Chronicle
Online Elementary School | Winter 2018
Welcome to 2018!
Happy New Year! A new year brings with it new challenges, dreams, and expectations. The Online Elementary School Team at Compass Charter Schools is privileged and honored to work with an amazing group of scholars and families. Each and every day, all of our teachers strive to create the best learning experience for your children. We are dedicated to seeing each scholar reach their potential and be equipped to achieve their dreams and utilize each and every gift and talent that they have. As your coordinator, my time is spent looking for new ways to inspire and challenge the scholars we serve.
In this newsletter, you are going to see some of the exciting projects and lessons happening in our classrooms. You will get a peek into the lives of two of our teachers, and hear about the experiences of two families who are on this Compass journey with you. As you sit back with your coffee or favorite beverage, I encourage you to reflect on being a part of a unique community joined together with the idea of creating the most valuable experience for your individual scholar.
We appreciate all of you and all that you do. Thank you for being a part of our Compass family!
Sincerely,
Steven Thompson, Elementary School Coordinator
Table of Contents
- What's New in Elementary School
- Scholar & Family Spotlight
- Scholar Projects & Assignments
- Staff Spotlight
- Share Your Story
WHAT'S NEW IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?
What is new? In Elementary School, we believe that appreciation and gratitude create a thriving culture. We had two great events in November that captured the essence of those two attributes. In November, before Thanksgiving break, we had a Gratitude Rally, where scholars shared what they were thankful for. It was heart-warming and refreshing to listen to all the blessings shared by the group. In December, we had our first Holiday Traditions Rally. Our scholars came together and shared how they celebrate during the holiday season. We learned so much as scholars engaged us with stories of meals, holiday games, and family events that warmed all of our hearts. Our teachers finished the year by hosting our first Virtual Holiday Party! We played a holiday trivia game, shared recipes, and had a virtual gift exchange.
One item that we would like to pass along for everyone to try is called Friday Brags! Our teachers share one win that they had during the week. We invite all of our scholars and families to take time each week and share one victory that you had!
FAMILY SPOTLIGHTS
This month we are featuring the Chavez Family.
Penny Chavez, an elementary school learning coach shares her family's experience at CCS.
CCS: We know that often with our scholars each day is different, but what would a typical day look like for you and your scholar?
Penny: Our typical day runs from about 7:30 am until about 1:30 pm. After getting up, making beds, getting dressed, and taking my older kids to their school, we come home and get started. We have a first-grade scholar and a second-grade scholar that I support by alternating my time between scholars and their school subjects.
CCS: What has been your greatest joy in schooling your scholars at home?
Penny: My greatest joy is knowing that I am teaching my kids the information. It is so fun that I can teach my daughter history and watch her get excited and relate to the lessons. I love teaching my son math skills. He has made such an improvement, and it is very satisfying to know that I taught them the skills they need to succeed.
CCS: What has been your biggest challenge with schooling at home?
Penny: My biggest challenge as a parent who helps my kids learn at home has been supporting my son. He is a very smart kid, but teaching him has been a challenge because he is a very active boy, and I have learned to be patient when working with him. I have called and asked for advice from his teacher Mrs. Hooper, and she has given me creative ways to harness his energy and ideas.
CCS: Why did you decide to school from home with Compass Charter Schools?
Penny:We decided to choose online learning after watching my four older kids struggle with mandatory curriculums in traditional schools. I decided to give online learning at home a try to see if the one-on-one attention could help my children succeed. I have been very pleased with the results. I researched many schools and chose Compass Charter Schools because I liked the reviews and comments that I read on the Internet. I also did not want my kids to develop some of the bad habits that I had noticed in both of my older kids as well as the community. Immunizations also played a factor in my decision to choose learning at home. I have been very pleased with my decision to enroll my kids in the online learning program at Compass Charter Schools.
CCS: Share a piece of advice you’d give to a parent thinking about taking their child out of school to school at home?
Penny: The biggest piece of advice that I would give a new parent is to be patient and to know that the time you are spending with your kids is a great reward. I also would say that when in doubt, call your teacher because they are very helpful and have given me so much great advice.
CCS: What do you, your scholar, and the family enjoy doing together during your free time?
Penny: In our free time (with 6 kids, we have very little) we love to be together as a family! We love to go bike riding, play basketball and board games, have movie nights, but most of all just be together.
We are also featuring the Reyes Family.
Cherylynn Reyes, an elementary school learning coach shares her family’s experience at CCS.
CCS: What has been your greatest joy in schooling your scholar at home?
Cherylynn: What I really enjoy about online learning from home is that when my scholars are enjoying a certain subject or concept, we can spend extra time learning about it. I can help them engage even further than they would have in a traditional brick-and-mortar school. I also like that I am able to see what they are struggling with so that I can spend extra time figuring out different ways to help them grasp the concept. Another thing I really enjoy is that learning from home allows me to be involved in my scholar’s education, and it also allows my youngest daughter, who will start school next year, to be involved. Being able to see my youngest daughter get involved and enjoy learning has been amazing. I know she’s developing a positive outlook on school and her education.
CCS: Why did you decide to school from home with Compass Charter Schools?
Cherylynn: Our family had been thinking about schooling at home for a while, but I wasn't sure if I could handle teaching my kids on my own. Then I learned about K12, which provides all of the materials I need to help my scholars learn at home so I figured we should try it out. Through the K12 website, we were able to enroll in Compass Charter Schools, which allows us to use the K12 program. I support my kids as their learning coach and teach them using the K12 website and materials. With K12 and the help of Compass Charter Schools’ staff and teachers, we were able to learn and easily get the hang of schooling at home.
CCS: Share a piece of advice you’d give to a parent thinking about taking their child out of school to school at home?
Cherylynn: The advice I would give to parents who are thinking about schooling at home is to first do some research on what kind of experience you would like your kids to have, and know your options. Schools like Compass Charter Schools have a couple of different programs to choose from such as K12, their new Lanes program, and the Options Program. Also, try to get advice from parents who are already schooling at home so that you can learn about the benefits and challenges. Lastly, choosing to school at home may seem overwhelming at first, but with the help of teachers, staff, and other parents, it will become easy. And before you know it, a whole year will go by and you'll be ready to start another year.
SCHOLAR PROJECTS & ASSIGNMENTS
Compass Lanes scholars and learning coaches are enjoying our math program, TenMarks. Lanes scholars love the lessons, videos, and Jam Sessions. These help build essential skills for understanding and math fact fluency in an engaging and interactive way. Learning Coaches have shared that they appreciate the individualized instruction for their child through personal work and lesson amplifiers. Math has never been more fun!
STAFF SPOTLIGHTS
Michelle Kenbeek, an elementary school teacher at CCS.
CCS: Can you tell us about your role and responsibilities at Compass Charter Schools?
Michelle: I teach our fourth and fifth-grade scholars in our Compass Lanes program.
CCS: How long have you been part of our Compass community?
Michelle: I have been working at Compass Charter Schools since August of 2013.
CCS: What do you enjoy most about being part of Compass?
Michelle: I believe in the individualized approach to learning and the flexibility that Compass offers scholars and allows them to proceed at their own pace in their academic subjects.
CCS: As an educator, is there a piece of advice you’d like to share with learning coaches or scholars?
Michelle: It’s very important that our families create a routine for the scholars to follow each day. In addition, it’s very important that scholars and their families keep in touch and connect with their teachers every day.
CCS: Can you share one thing about yourself that very few people know?
Michelle: I love to go to country music concerts. I go to at least ten concerts a year.
Monique Grimes, 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 Compass?
Monique: I teach our fourth and fifth-grade elementary scholars, and this is my third year at CCS.
CCS: What do you enjoy most about being part of Compass and the work you do here?
Monique: We have a different approach for teaching here at Compass. I enjoy that we are free to use different methods and have different options for our scholars.
CCS: As an educator, is there a piece of advice you’d like to share with learning coaches or scholars?
Monique: Don’t give up, everyone learns differently! We aren’t a cookie-cutter program. Don’t get discouraged, take advantage of the flexibility of our program. Also, try to travel and go places. Don’t just stay at home -explore the world around you while you learn.
CCS: Can you share one thing about yourself that very few people know?
Monique: Not many people know that I was a dancer. I did ballet, tap, modern dance and created my own production.
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
Copyright © 2017, All rights reserved.