Advisory at Holton
What is Advisory?
Beginning in sixth grade, advisory is a place where students build community and connection beyond their academic, artistic, and athletic pursuits at Holton - a community built on a foundation of support, trust, collaboration, respect, and encouragement. This is a space for students to explore who they are, develop social and emotional skills and competencies, set and work towards goals inside and outside of the classroom, and cultivate the skills needed to be engaged and contributing members of diverse communities.
Advisory groups are made up of 10-15 students and 2 adult advisors. Advisory groups meet twice per week.
What are the goals of advisory at Holton?
There are three main goals of advisory:
- Learn Well - Academic Advisement: the advisor supports students in tracking and monitoring their academic and behavioral progress and in goal setting and reflection.
- Live Well - Social Emotional Learning: the advisor supports students in developing and strengthening key learning and life competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and responsible decision making.
- Lead Well - Creating Community: the advisor creates an advisory group where students feel connection and belonging; where students can work on building relationship skills.
What is the role of the advisor?
Advisors serve as a support and advocate for each advisee. The advisory structure provides opportunities to:
- build an authentic community that responds to the personalities and needs of students
- develop a common set of expectations and cultural norms that reflect the needs of the group, as well as the larger Holton community
- cultivate a sense of trust and respect regarding how each of you (students and adults) care for yourselves and each other
- establish strong one-on-one relationships in which each student can feel seen, heard, recognized, and respected
- create an environment where your advisees feel empowered to:
- explore a variety of social and emotional learning opportunities
- engage in a variety of conversations from everyday issues to those that impact our communities locally, nationally, and globally
- become an active, engaged, and contributing member of a community, from advisory to the world at large.
As the students’ advocate, advisors partner with the Student-Centered Support Team, Administrators, parents/guardians, teachers, and class deans to guide them through their Learn Well, Live Well, Lead Well experience at Holton.
From a Student Perspective - What is advisory?
Your advisors serve as your main ‘person’ at school. They are a resource and an advocate for you and the main point of contact for your parents/guardians. You and your advisors will get to know each other and cultivate a relationship. They will collaborate with you to develop your academic strengths, identify your opportunities for growth, and to celebrate your interests, passions, and accomplishments both inside and outside of the classroom.
Your advisor will encourage you along your journey to understanding who you are, how you learn best, what inspires you, and how you interact with the world around you. Together, you and your advisors will create realistic goals and strategize actionable steps for working towards them. Your advisors are some of your most important advocates here at Holton. They will work with you, help guide you, and connect you to the resources you need to progress and grow.