1. CANNON SCHOOL Upper School Advisory Program 2008-2009

2. What is the Purpose of Advisory?
Promote positive student-teacher relationships
Help students understand themselves and others better
Identify their interests, values, needs and abilities
Help students develop positive self-images
Provide social exchange and peer recognition in a safe environment
Provide information, and coping strategies to help students make healthy choices

3. What is the Purpose of the Advisor?
Serve as a liaison between the parents and school
Provide academic and emotional support to students to ensure their academic success
Coordinate appropriate and thorough academic advising for the students including the maintenance of academic advising folders
Help students learn what it takes to be successful in school and accept responsibility for their own success
Communicate information and take daily attendance

4. What are the challenges Advisory programs face?
Most teachers have had little or no formal training to serve as an advisor.
Goals of Advisory can be unclear.
Advisory takes t i m e that some believe could be invested in subject areas.
Engaging in a program that requires personal sharing can be uncomfortable.
Interactions with some parents can be less than pleasant, at times.

5. What is the Role of the Deans?
Vision

6. What is the Role of the Deans?
Develop a robust, four year program of Advisory Activities that will be well-planned, appropriate, and devised with an understanding of faculty concerns
Schedule Advisory Activities so that students and teachers know what to expect and when to expect it.
Plan time and activities that reflect developmental needs of Upper School students.
Ensure that activities are appropriate and feasible within the context and philosophy of Cannon.

7. Vision
Develop a robust, four year program of Advisory Activities that are specific to each grade and encompassing the following themes:
Academic
Health
Adaptive Expertise
Core values

8. Vision Grade 9 Issues Core values: Adaptive Expertise: Know yourself
Transition
Core values:
Adaptive Expertise: Know yourself
Academic Advising: Personality Test, Time Management and Organization
Health:
Forming positive relationships
Identity
Facebook
Bullying

9. Vision Grade 10 Issues Core Values:? Adaptive Expertise:?
Balance
beginning the college process
Driving
Core Values:?
Adaptive Expertise:?
Academic Advising: Balancing Social Life with Academic Goals, Rigor
Health:
Alcohol, Drugs
Sex

10. Vision Grade 11 Issues Core Values:? Adaptive Expertise:?
SAT/ACT
College stuff
Core Values:?
Adaptive Expertise:?
Academic Advising: Stress
Health:
Eating right
stress

11. Vision Grade 12 Issues Core Values:? Adaptive Expertise:?
Graduation
College acceptance
Transition to college, leaving with grace and dignity, breaking away, etc.
Core Values:?
Adaptive Expertise:?
Academic Advising: Staying Motivated
Health:
Identity

12. Morning Announcements a.k.a – “Advisory Agenda”
Vision
Morning Announcements
a.k.a – “Advisory Agenda”
Read by a student each morning to facilitate the beginning of each day.
Attendance while they are busy
Daily quotes, Missions of the day/week, celebration of excellence, etc.

13. What is the Role of the Advisor?
Build a relationship with your advisees.
Be present!
Get to know them by asking questions, looking at their comments, grades, etc.
Encourage cohesion of the Advisory (celebrate birthdays, celebrate athletic victories, academic achievements)
Some advisors facilitate “meals” with their Advisory (pizza at lunch, bagels for breakfast)
Meet with advisees on an individual basis before parent conferences
Meet with advisees on an individual basis before course selection

14. What is the Role of the Advisor?
Build a relationship with the parents of your advisees.
Initiate conversation with an or phone call at the start of the year
Communicate regularly
Host meetings between the advisee’s teachers and parents
Serve as an advocate or support network for the student (i.e. Honor Council accusations, reaching resolutions with their teachers)
Inform them of concerns

15. What is the Role of the Advisor?
Keep and maintain records and documents for each advisee
Daily Attendance
Collect and read Fall comments
Empower advisees with “student-led” conferences
Collect Report Cards
Save s that reference your advisees
Save parent s

16. What is the Role of the Advisor?
Facilitate “Advisory Periods”
8:07 – 8:15
create an environment where your advisees “run” the session
have them read the “Advisory Agenda” to the entire group
take attendance, check for dress code, make other announcements, seek out individuals over concerns, etc.
Advisory Meetings During Student Life Block

17. What is the Role of the Advisor?
Serve as a resource for the Deans
Communicate (cc) with Deans on concerns
Help develop the Advisory Program
Academic Advising
Be engaged in the life of your advisees
Attend all meetings that involve your advisees (grade-level meetings, Big Brother/Big Sister meetings, etc.)
Safety
Check attendance during fire drill

18. Perspective