Creative Arts Program

A watercolor painting of a landscape at sunset with a large moon in the sky, a bare tree in the foreground, and a few birds flying around.

At Compass, our creative arts program is for everyone, a space where students explore music, visual art, theater, and performance in ways that build skill, confidence, and self-expression. Some students arrive having never picked up an instrument or called themselves an artist, while others come with experience but are looking for a place where they feel safe to grow. In our program, students learn by doing: they write, paint, rehearse, perform, and collaborate. Along the way, they take creative risks, support one another, and begin to see themselves not just as participants, but as creators.

That growth comes to life through special events that bring our whole community together. Each winter, students take the stage for our Variety Show, sharing music, skits, and original work in a joyful celebration of courage and creativity. In the spring, our Art and Music Fundraiser showcases student artwork and performances, giving families and community members the opportunity to celebrate and support student talent. Proceeds from student artwork sales are shared equally, with half going directly to the student artist and half supporting the Compass art department, helping students experience both the value of their creative work and the importance of investing back into the program. Then, at the end of the school year in May, students write, rehearse, and perform their own One-Act Plays, building teamwork, communication skills, creativity, and stage confidence through the full process of creating original productions.

These moments highlight more than artistic skill; they reflect resilience, growth, and pride. Many students begin the year unsure of themselves. By the time they step on stage or display their work, they stand taller. They try things they once thought were “not for them,” and often surprise themselves in the process. That transformation, from hesitant to confident, is at the heart of the arts at Compass and a powerful example of how students discover what they are truly capable of.

Two young women performing music with one singing into a microphone and the other playing an acoustic guitar on stage.
Two men singing into a microphone during a performance or karaoke night. The man on the left has shoulder-length reddish-brown hair and is wearing a black shirt, while the man on the right has short curly hair and glasses, wearing a black t-shirt.
Colorful hand-drawn illustration of various flowers including purple, yellow, red, orange, and black blooms with green leaves on a white background.
A pencil drawing of a woman with short hair, dark lipstick, and a hoodie, signed by Odette.
A group of young people standing together, some in front of microphones, likely at a performance or rehearsal. The girl in the center has long hair with pink tips and is looking slightly upwards. Others around her are focused or looking downward, pos
A young man playing an electric guitar on stage, with music stands and a Fender amplifier nearby.
A watercolor illustration of flowers, including purple, yellow, and white blooms, with green leaves and blue and yellow splotches in the background.
Young woman with long dark hair and a black choker wearing a black dress with polka dots, playing a small red ukulele in front of a microphone on a stand.
A young man with glasses and curly black hair, wearing a black T-shirt, standing indoors near a large window with bright light. The background has a rustic brick wall.
Two young men standing next to each other against a light-colored wall, both dressed in black, in a dimly lit room.
Hand-drawn illustration of five colorful flowers, including a pink blossom, pink and purple sweet peas, a purple pansy, a purple violet, and a yellow flower, each with green leaves.
A young man with glasses and a mustache looking at a laptop screen, sitting at a table with a black tablecloth, in front of a decorative partition with a grid pattern.
A watercolor painting of various flowers, including hibiscus, daisy, and bell-shaped flowers, on a background with purple and blue watercolor splashes and an airplane silhouette.
A realistic pencil sketch of a woman with long, wavy hair and expressive eyes, looking slightly to the side.
Two women engaged in a staged sword fight operation with foam swords, on a theatrical stage illuminated with purple lighting, against a brick wall backdrop with autumn leaves decoration.
Woman sitting inside a camping tent with a stone wall background, smiling at the camera.
Two men standing and talking in front of a donation board at an indoor event with a stone wall background and a window.
A young man wearing a pink and purple floral baseball cap and a dark quilted vest giving two thumbs up. He is standing in front of a framed art piece of a person with sunglasses and headphones, with some pink graffiti-style writing nearby.
Two women, one with short curly hair and a nose piercing and the other with long hair tied back, are looking at paintings on a beige wall in an art gallery. One woman wears glasses and a patterned cap, and they are both wearing dark sleeveless tops.
A woman with light skin, long wavy hair, wearing glasses and a leopard print blouse, smiling in an indoor setting.
A person wearing a black jacket and shirt, smiling with their eyes closed, with a guitar visible in the background.
A person playing the piano in a dimly lit room with wooden ceiling beams, while another person reads sheet music nearby.
Profile of a young man with glasses, dark curly hair, wearing a dark T-shirt, standing against a textured brick wall.
Close-up of a young woman with brown hair and glasses, wearing a dark sweater and light collared shirt, looking to the left.
Young woman with shoulder-length hair working with electronic equipment near a stone wall and a window with bright sunlight outside.
Two young men posing for a photo indoors, with one showing a peace sign and the other giving a thumbs-up. They are standing in front of a brick wall with a large lighting fixture visible.
A man dressed in vintage clothing, including a plaid shirt, a blazer, beige pants, and a black hat, holding an axe over his shoulder, smiling and standing in front of a brick wall and a folding room divider.
A person with short curly hair playing a keyboard near a window with stone walls and trees outside.
Two women are viewing artwork in a gallery. One woman has short brown hair and is wearing a black sleeveless top with a choker. The other woman has long hair tied back, is wearing glasses, a patterned cap, and a dark top. They are standing side by si
Mixed media artwork featuring a portrait of a person with blue hair and green eyes, surrounded by colorful stars and abstract elements, created with paint and collage on reflective foil.
A young man with glasses and curly black hair, standing indoors near a window with a brick wall behind him. He is wearing a dark t-shirt and looking towards the camera with a neutral expression.
A person wearing a gray newsboy cap, a white shirt, black vest, and black pants stands against a brick wall, smiling slightly and looking downward. Another woman wearing a black hat with red accents and a black top, smiling and laughing, sits below h
Colorful abstract chalk drawing on paper featuring diagonal stripes, swirls, and mountain-like shapes in vibrant pinks, purples, blues, greens, yellows, and reds.
Group of young musicians rehearsing indoors near a large window, with some sitting and others standing, playing instruments and preparing.
A sunny park scene with green grass, trees, and bamboo on the right side. The sky is blue with sunlight shining through the trees.
People gathered at an art gallery, viewing framed artwork on the wall. The group includes an elderly man and woman, a woman with red hair and glasses, and a man with a black cap and backpack. The scene appears to be a social event.
A young woman with long wavy hair, partially dyed pink, speaking into a microphone during a performance or speech. She is wearing a light-colored, patterned top and has multiple earrings.
A young man with glasses, wearing a dark t-shirt and a watch, raising his arms while standing next to a digital drum set in a brick-walled room.
A woman dressed in vintage style clothing with a white blouse, red vest, and a matching long red skirt, wearing a black hat with a flower, standing against a stone wall.
A group of people standing together in a room with stone walls and arched windows, some are singing or speaking into microphones, others appear to be listening or preparing to perform, with a music stand and sound equipment visible.
Sunset sky with colorful clouds, silhouettes of trees and power lines, and parked cars in a residential area.
A young man with curly hair wearing a flat cap, white shirt, and brown vest, sitting in front of a shoji screen, looking at a woman with glasses and a bow tie, who is partly visible.
A potted plant with white tulip flowers and green leaves on a black surface, with some pears and apples in the background.
A group of people, including a man with glasses and gray hair, talking at an art gallery. The background features various colorful paintings and a vintage clock on a wooden cabinet.
Person with shoulder-length hair and a black shirt smiling inside a building near a window, with a brick wall in the background.
A close-up of two orange California poppy flowers blooming on a bed of dry grass and small twigs.
A man with closed eyes smiling, wearing a black hat, a dark suit, a white shirt, a red tie, and a gold chain, standing in front of a brick wall.
A man in a dark suit and hat and a woman in vintage clothing, with a hat, talking and smiling in front of a brick wall and a folding screen.
A man and woman shake hands on stage against a brick wall. The woman wears a dark green dress, decorative hat, and patterned tights. The man wears a trench coat and a wide-brimmed hat.
Two young men dressed in vintage attire, one wearing a gray cap and suspenders, and the other wearing a gray beret and vest, standing in front of a stone wall and shoji screen, looking at each other.
Blurred background of pink, purple, and gold bokeh lights.
A chessboard with various decorative chess pieces, some resembling animals, and a row of white and yellow pawns.
A piece of artwork with an abstract floral pattern of overlapping yellow and blue flowers with black outlines on white paper.
A colorful topographic map with contour lines over an abstract watercolored background, depicting a hand with fingers spread.
A colorful mixed media artwork featuring a purple face with closed eyes, red lips, surrounded by orange and black butterflies, floral patterns, and textured patches of various colors and materials.