The Middle School Advisory Program

Middle school students face unique challenges as they explore newfound freedoms and responsibilities while adjusting to increasingly complex social structures. According to Middle School Head Dan Keller, the Advisory Program was created to address these needs and developmental challenges.

“We recognize and value growing adolescents above all else. The Advisory Program fits our Middle School philosophy of educating the whole child.”

Mr. Dan Keller, advisory coordinator Ms. Laura Drossner, and Middle School guidance counselor Ms. Mary Foard thoughtfully match each student with an advisor, based on shared interests and personality traits. They also evaluate student relationships in each group of 10 and work to coordinate a strong and supportive team. Middle School students then meet with their advisories two times per week to do a variety of social, service, character-building, and academic activities.

These activities range from pure fun (dance-offs, charades, giant jenga, and celebrating birthdays) to pragmatic (managing iPads, study skills, and course selections) to service-oriented. Several years ago, Ms. Drossner’s advisory created a Petting Zoo with their household pets, charged $1 admission school-wide, and donated all proceeds to SPAN (Serving People Across Neighborhoods). This year, the entire Middle School worked together through their advisories to make and deliver blankets for children at Sarah’s House.

Community Lies at the Core of the Program

While the activities themselves are meaningful, for Mr. Keller the best part of program is watching the cultivation of friendships in each advisory. “Over the course of the year, you’ll see the group move from, say, 5 pairs to one unit of 10. This evolution is most rewarding to witness." The goal is to provide each student with a mentor and supportive group whom he/she can trust and rely on. The bond that forms between advisors and advisees is special and made of many seemingly small moments throughout the year. Ms. Drossner shares one such moment as she points out a former advisee’s self-portrait front and center in her room.

“I remember the day he brought it in to Advisory. He didn’t think it was any good. In fact, he wanted to throw it away. I said, ‘No way! I am going to hang it on my wall!’”

After three classroom moves, that portrait is still hanging in her classroom. Every time, that student walks by her room, he can’t help but see it ... and Ms. Drossner catches him smiling.

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