Advisory

"If even one person in a school knows him/her well enough to care, a student's chances of success go up dramatically." Theodore Sizer

This quotation summarizes our thinking about Advisory. Fenway teachers and their Advisory students become friends and allies, interested in each other's lives-a support group. In small groups that can focus on a range of subjects, teachers and students make new connections, and together create a more personalized educational plan. Advisors are the direct link between the school and the home. They maintain regular communication and should be the first contact if parents have questions.

Advisory can also be a place to prepare Portfolios and practice for Exhibitions. Student can help to check each other's work and confront obstacles that might limit success.

In 9th and 10th Grade Advisory, students focus on the "Fenway Tool Kit" --skills and habits that support students' readiness for learning: mental health and stress reduction; the "safety guidelines"; fitness and exercise; time management; diet and nutrition; and sexuality and its risks/choices. Junior and Senior Advisory help students explore options for college and career opportunities.

Advisory is also much more! It involves…

· Developing personal relationships with other students and with teachers · Sharing/supporting each individual in the group · Discussing community issues · Co-parenting · Reflective writing · Debating/speaking skills · Teen issues forum · Town Meetings · Making informed decisions · Study skills and time management · Violence prevention · Preparing for portfolio deadlines and exhibitions · Calendar items/school information · Motivational speakers · Watching important and interesting videos · Digital Community · Facing History and Ourselves case studies · and more…….!

Part of Advisory, and a requirement for graduation, is that all students perform 40 hours of community service during their time at Fenway. Most often these hours are arranged and clocked by the Advisor and then reported to the House Coordinators. Besides being a requirement by the state and city, Fenway has always believed that community service helps students to understand the needs of the community and to learn about themselves through giving back to other people. Talk to your Advisor about when your community service will take place.