Advising

Upon entrance into Upper School, students are placed into groups of 10-12 and paired with a faculty advisor. The heart of the advisory program is the relationship that develops between students and their advisor over the four years of Upper School. Advisories meet twice per week and spend time working on studentship skills, discussing topics such as current events and the responsible use of social media, setting goals, reflecting on experiences, and bonding over breakfast. Advisors oversee the academic and extracurricular life of their students and act as the first point of contact on campus for students’ families.

Each morning begins in advisory to welcome students, help them prepare for the day ahead, celebrate important occasions, and share announcements. Students return to advisory every day for our Extra Help period.

An important part of Middle School is teaching students to organize their time and materials, ask for help, plan ahead, and advocate for themselves. 5th grade students return to advisory at the end of the day for Closing Circle. This provides advisors a chance to check in with their advisees, discuss highlights from the day, and help them plan ahead for the next day.

Students have a longer advisory period that typically meets once or twice a month to focus on our AEIOU program. This curriculum is designed to build empathy, awareness, and understanding in our students as they explore topics related to identity and diversity.