Each section of each grade has an assigned Grade Advisor who also teaches those students. This teacher acts as a liaison to the parents and as an advocate for the students.
FOR 7th and 8th GRADE STUDENTS, THE ROLE OF GRADE ADVISOR IS TO:
Pray for your child and others in the class.
The Grade Advisor will meet with other grade advisors and faculty on a regular basis to encourage one another in maintaining an Upper School culture that aspires to recognize and acknowledge God’s glory lived out in each child. The communication among Grade Advisors will give Westminster Academy a continuing conversation about the quality of education and overall experience students are having as individuals and as a whole.
Keep a sense of the pulse of the class.
With students moving from class to class and teacher to teacher, the Grade Advisor is charged with maintaining a grade-level perspective. Should there be issues that arise within a grade, whether academic or behavior, the Grade Advisor will work with the faculty, Houses and parents within a given grade to work toward solutions.
Encourage the students to build esprit de corps in their grade.
This will be done primarily through working with the leadership established in a given grade. From a morning “breakfast” to special events, Grade Advisors will help students to be intentional in identifying ways to have the best grade experience possible. Grade Advisors will also work with the Houses to help create meaningful experiences.
Keep attendance for activity periods.
Each day, one period is set aside as an activity period. On Tuesdays, the time is used for assemblies. On Thursdays, the activity period is used for House meetings. Monday, Wednesday and Friday activity periods have multiple uses, and Grade Advisors are responsible to know what their advisees are involved in and where they are during these times.
IN ADDTION TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES ABOVE, THE 9TH–12TH GRADE ADVISOR WILL ALSO:
Provide a meaningful class meeting experience.
Grade Advisors will work to create a meaningful class meeting time during at least one activity period per week. They will work with Class Officers to identify ways the time can be used to benefit the entire class. The class meeting time may be used to plan class events and fundraisers.
Oversee the election of Class Officers.
Annually, students pick Class Officers. Typically, responsibilities include President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, though each class is given some freedom in how the responsibilities are fulfilled. The Grade Advisor will assist in this process and work with the officers throughout the year.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND WHAT GRADE ADVISORS ARE NOT:
- They are not there to reduce the role we ask you to play in your child’s education.
- It is not the Grade Advisor’s responsibility to make sure homework is done, assignment books are complete, field trip money is in hand, plan and carry out social events or make sure students are aware of dates for which they are responsible. Rather than remove areas in which we want parental involvement, one of our goals is to respect and encourage your integral role as the responsible party in your child’s education.
- They are not to replace the responsibility you have in addressing concerns with individual teachers.
Please go directly to the teacher or individual with whom you have a concern. If the issue is a grade-specific issue, then the Grade Advisor should be contacted first. If the concern is not addressed after that visit, you should meet with Andrew Smith.
You will receive your child’s schedule of classes as well as the name of his or her Grade Advisor at Meet the Teacher Day. Please pray for all of those who care so deeply about your children and an education that aspires to teach them to love that which is worth loving.