Advisory at PHS Middle School

We are off and running, and running quite smoothly at that!  Each student has met with their adviser today and gotten a bit of an introduction into what happens during Advisory time.  Advisory can be a difficult thing to define, as it is a flexible time in our day that allows for a variety of activities.  Here's what we can tell you with certainty about our Advisory program:

In the middle school, the Advisory program is designed to be mission-based, meaning it is reflective of the mission of our school.

Mission of PHS: The mission of The Pembroke Hill School is to enable all students to build character and to develop their intellectual, physical and creative abilities to the highest level

A mission-based Advisory program is:

• evaluated on the basis of service to the mission
• is focused on student engagement, but “engagement” is not always about having fun
• the cultural tendency is toward embracing the role of the adviser along with other mission-based, professional responsibilities
• activities involve students in a variety of ways and regularly engage them in reflecting on their learning experience
• parents regularly hear from advisers, administrators and others at school about what occurs in advisory and how students benefit from the program

The role of the adviser is to be a/an:

• advocate
• mentor
• encourager
• facilitator
• front-line contact

An adviser is not:

• disciplinarian
• friend
• counselor

Advisory Goals and Priorities 2014

RELATIONSHIPS * ONE-ON-ONES * CONTESTS * ROTATIONS * SERVICE LEARNING

Relationships

• Time set aside to socialize and activities to get to know each other
• Assisting our 8th grade students as mentors for the 6th and 7th grade
• Enhancing our RESPECT for ourselves and others
• Developing COMPASSION for those in our PHS and KC community

One-on-Ones

• Completed as Mid-Quarters are sent out
• Time will be set aside to meet with each advisee individually
• Nurturing our advisees understanding of SCHOLARSHIP

Contests

• Simple, Friday only contests
• Mostly designed by Student Advisory Panel
• To increase our relationships with our partner advisory groups, quarterly contest scores will be calculated as partners
• Practicing INTEGRITY in a fun way

Rotations

• Thursdays of Blue Week we will again have advisory rotations
• Will allow for 6th grade transition activities, 8th grade leadership activities, iPad support, study skills, study hall, open gym and additional announcements given there is no assembly on Blue Week
• Opportunities to focus on all 4 Values (RESPECT, COMPASSION, SCHOLARSHIP, INTEGRITY)

Service Learning

• Kids for Wish Kids - flexibility for each advisory to get involved as much or as little as they would like
• No planned service project during winter holidays, instead focusing on Make-A-Wish
• Coming together as a school with COMPASSION to make a difference for someone else