Saint Joseph Catholic High School STRIVE STUDENT PROGRAM ADVISORY

STRIVE WHAT IS IT? Every student linked to an advisor. Sense of community Smaller class size allows for stronger connections. Every student linked to an advisor: if you completed a selection form, you received one of your five choices. Those that did not complete a form were placed based on availability. 9/10 or 11/12: Grade 9’s and 11’s will be with their current advisor for 2 years (grades 9 &10 or 11&12), Grade 10’s and 12’s will be with their advisor for one year. Meet all year: Advisory groups will meet throughout the entire school year. Early on, meetings will be longer and more frequent until the beginnings of a personal learning plan are developed. Later, in October, the meetings will be less frequent but equally important as students learn to personalize their learning experience. Changes to the program may be as we go along in order to fine tune the program. Personal Learning Plan: With their advisor, students will develop a personal learning plan that outlines their educational experience so far, their future plans as well as interests and strengths. Sense of community: With only 20-22 students linked to each teacher, it is the hope that we become familiar and friendly with each other. 9/10 or 11/12 You will spend two years with your advisor if you enter in the starting grade. Meet all year. Your advisor will act as your mentor and monitor your progression through high school. Personal Learning Plan Where have you been, where are you going?

Encourage a sense of belonging, decreasing anonymity. GOALS OF ADVISORY? STRIVE Create a more personalized approach to student learning Decrease in truancy, increase in achievement. Personalization: Students will have some choice in their education – when we move to Focus Friday’s, (which we will talk about in more detail in the next couple of weeks), students will choose what areas they are more interested, where they require extra help and where they would like to enhance their learning. Help adjusting: An advisor is the person students can go to for any questions regarding their high school experience. Belonging: students should feel better connected to school because there is an adult monitoring progress and keeping track of them. Academic advising: with the development of the personal learning plan, students will be able to ask advice on course selection as well as strategies for improving achievement. Truancy/achievement: Through this program, advisors will monitor attendance and lates in hopes of improving attendance and decreasing lateness. This as well as goal setting in the personal learning plan should improve student achievement. Help student better adjust to school, you have someone to go to for answers. Encourage a sense of belonging, decreasing anonymity. Students will receive academic advising and coaching.

ADVISOR Responsibilities Plan activities Advocate for advisees The advisor will prepare activities for the time spent together. They will work individually with students on their personal learning plans, they will guide course selection and offer strategies to improve achievement. Advisors will be in contact with parents/guardians and they will work with their advisees to promote their goals. Monitor Personal Learning Plans Parental contact Offer academic advice

STUDENTS Responsibilities ATTEND SELF-ADVOCATE PARTICIPATE DEVELOP PLP The student role is to attend the advisory meetings, assemblies, celebrations as well as Focus Friday sessions. They are to participate in the development of their personal learning plan as well as any activities planned by their advisor. They are to respect the other members of their group. Students should be prepared to explain their path and the educational choices they wish to make to move them along their path. PARTICIPATE DEVELOP PLP RESPECT OTHERS

PARENTS Responsibilities CONTACT ADVISOR MONITOR PERSONAL LEARNING PLAN Parents should play an active role in their child’s education. They should contact their child’s advisor when any concerns arise or if there is any circumstance that may affect their student’s progress. Parents are to ensure attendance, offer feedback about the program when requested, support their student however necessary and be aware of their student’s personal learning plan. ENCOURAGE ATTENDANCE SUPPORT STUDENT OFFER FEEDBACK