Advisory

During a weekly advisory block, students participate in activities to develop habits that live up to our School Creed and four community pillars: initiative, integrity, compassion, and determination. Each division explores a specific pillar, and the three divisions all connect to the pillar of integrity as an ongoing strand. Each division also meets for a weekly community meeting, where we explore the School Creed and celebrate students’ growth. 

In primary school, we emphasize individual responsibilities as students and explore and celebrate the diversity of cultures in our classes and larger school community. At a developmentally appropriate level, we spend time during advisory to explore civics and grapple with current events in our class and larger community. In elementary school, we emphasize our pillars of compassion and integrity, and explore how each person contributes to a joyful community of learning where all voices are heard.

In middle school, three of our six advisory blocks each week take place in grade-specific groups. During this time, students have health classes, develop executive function skills like organization and time management, focus on grade-specific secondary school placement tasks, and prepare for special initiatives related to the transition to high school. These initiatives include High School Week, which offers an introduction to life in high school, including a changed schedule, increased workload, new privileges, and higher expectations.

The remaining advisory blocks are in multi-age groups of around ten middle schoolers led by an advisor. These groupings offer opportunities to build new bonds and foster intentional advisor-advisee relationships. During team block, middle school students focus on the community pillar of integrity, developing a personal understanding of what it means and how that connects to how a student participates as a member of the school community, their plans for high school, and their aspirations for their careers and as global citizens. Students use this time for mindfulness and reflection, connecting to the School Creed, and preparing for annual middle school trips such as our three-day outdoor adventure trip and a special day where each advisory group plans their own field trip to explore New York City.