Upper School Advisory

Upper School Advisory evolved out of the faculty’s desire to provide a deeper level of service to students; especially in the areas of adolescent issues, diversity, helping others, and school values. Advisories extend the individual attention provided for our students while creating a small group setting for more in-depth discussions about important issues. These small groups support special bonds between a group of students and a faculty member that goes beyond the traditional classroom setting.

Each advisory group of seven to 10 students is composed of a mixture of boys and girls in grades sixth through eighth. One Upper School teacher serves as advisor. Students remain with the same advisor and the same group until graduation. Each year rising sixth graders fill the vacancies created by graduating eighth graders.

Advisory groups meet once a week on Thursdays from 12:30-1:20. During this time the group eats lunch together and participates in a variety of advisory activities related to values, service learning (helping others), and issues of diversity and adolescent development. Periodically, during the year advisees meet individually with their advisor to review annual goals, grades, and teacher comments.

Students perform year-long community service projects in their advisory Helping Others, Helping Ourselves program.