The Advisory Program
It is our strong belief that each Middle School student should be well known by at least one adult in the Middle School. While small classes ensure that all students have close contact with each of their teachers, it is in the Advisory Program that teachers and students are able to interact on a more personal level.
Each year, students are assigned to an Advisory. Each Advisory has two advisors who serve as the students’ advocates and guides through the year (in 7th grade there is one advisor for a each group on 10 students). The advisors closely monitor each student’s academic and social progress by attending grade level meetings, reviewing reports, talking with an advisee’s teachers and conducting one-on-one conferences with each student in order to facilitate a positive, productive relationship.
Each advisory has 15 -18 students and meets each day for 30 minutes. During this time, students engage in activities and discussions which focus on academic progress, social development, personal growth and community awareness. For example, one week advisories may focus on organizational/study skills, the next week students may find themselves involved in self-awareness activities. Advisory activities are designed and differentiated to address the developmental needs of each particular grade level. Advisory time also remains flexible so that attention may be given to a specific current event as well.
It is the responsibility of the advisors to establish good channels of communication between the school and home. For specific classroom issues, parents should contact the class teacher directly. When a parent needs to communicate any concerns regarding a student’s general progress or wonders whom to turn to with issues or concerns in the Middle School, the advisor should first be contacted. Advisors will attend any meetings involving one of their advisee’s academic or disciplinary problems.
Many community service projects are run through Advisory. Each fall Middle School students participate in a food drive which benefits local senior citizens. By November, everyone is hard at work creating a Gift Box filled with personalized gifts for an orphan at the Zubovsky School. In April, you will find our hallways filled with clothing for donations to various charities. Students are involved in the direct delivery of such services whenever possible.
Please click on the files below to view monthly Advisory schedules.
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