The advisory program is designed to help guide students through the challenges, changes and opportunities presented during middle school, and to provide students with a safe, friendly place to receive support and encouragement. Through the advisory program, each Middle School student is paired with an advisor who oversees his or her academic and social progress as part of a small advisory group, generally about seven students, which meets three times a week during a designated time in the academic schedule. Advisories focus on different issues such as study skills, time management, goal setting, cyber safety, nutrition, conflict resolution, friendship, ethical dilemmas and sound decision-making.
The advisor also serves as the primary liaison between the school and the family. As parents and advisors work together to create the best possible Middle School experience for students, we all work hard to be sure communication is open, frequent, positive, and respectful.
The goals of the advisory program include:
- Provide an environment and activities that will foster bonding within an advisory group so students feel accepted and valued by teachers and peers
- Help students cope with academic concerns and set goals to facilitate positive school experiences
- Give students avenues through which to discover their uniqueness so that they might come to appreciate the many differences among people
- Promote critical thinking skills through discussion and problem-solving activities so that students can learn to make responsible choices
- Develop listening skills and an understanding of the roadblocks that hinder effective communication
- Build self-esteem in students so that they might become confident, capable young people who accept responsibility for their own actions
- Heighten student awareness of good citizenship by providing opportunities for meaningful contributions to the school and broader community