Compass is a four-week program that prepares incoming freshmen for high school by modeling the real M-A experience during the summer. Students review eighth grade material, get to know their teachers early, and participate in courses varying from working in the Computer Lab to getting to understand weight room machines.
M-A’s Summer Compass program is designed to support incoming ninth graders through their transition into high school. Since the late ‘90s, Compass has prioritized evolving curriculum, which the District can change in order to accurately support incoming freshmen.
Now, Compass not only gives students a chance to become accustomed to high school life before school starts, but it also helps students meet new friends and earn high school credits, all before officially starting their freshman year.
Compass helps ease the transition to M-A by familiarizing students with the campus and academics. “It’s not for everyone. It’s not an honors accelerated program, but for kids who are super anxious, so that when they start in August, they are not overwhelmed,” staff member Jennifer Carson said. Carson has been with the program since its creation.
One of Compass’ biggest benefits is the chance for teachers to meet their new students. Carson has always been passionate about the Compass program. “I have been a teacher in the program or the principal or something in the summer, because I’m passionate about [students] starting high school,” she said.
Algebra I teacher Amy Law enjoys meeting the new students and helping them with the transition. “I got to meet a lot of new freshmen, most of whom I actually teach now because I teach Algebra I. So it’s nice to see that they have someone who has a familiar face,” Law said.
Beyond just familiar faces students can talk to once the school year starts, Compass prepares students for the big changes in high school. Physical Education teacher Amanda Bianchi says Compass has helped her students adjust more quickly to high school life.
“The Compass program for P.E. gives all of the students coming from all the different middle schools an understanding of what a high school P.E. program looks like,” Bianchi said. “I have a lot of Compass students in the fall when they get here, and they all seem like they feel comfortable at M-A.”
While students cited various reasons for attending Compass, most agreed that they got more than what they bargained for. “I decided to do Compass for the five points [of credit],” freshman Charlie Chen said. “The experience went really well. I met new teachers and new friends, and the best part was meeting my math teacher who I have now.”
Coming from a smaller middle school, sophomore Sophiann Lin expressed how Compass helped her adjust to the larger environment. “It was fun, and I think it’s a very helpful and convenient thing for incoming ninth graders because it helps you get a glimpse of what your high school experience will be like,” Lin said. “Also, if you come into school with not that many friends, you can make new friends earlier.”
Compass is not limited to freshmen and teachers. After experiencing Compass herself, senior Destiny Pulido is now a peer mentor for the program. Pulido says her time mentoring at Compass went beyond simply preparing students for the academic and logistical side of high school.
“At the beginning, [the students attending] were quiet and timid, and a lot of them didn’t really have friends,” Pulido said. “But then, over the course of the four weeks, I would see them starting to hang out with people. The whole program became a huge friend group, and they would always smile at each other in the hallway. They still smile [at] each other.”
