Advisory+Handbook

[[file:Advisory Handbook 9-3-15.doc|Advisory Handbook]]
**__Ledyard High School Mission Statement __** Ledyard High School's mission is to engage all students in meaningful learning, providing them with the skills necessary to reach their potential through achievement of academic, civic and social expectations essential to personal fulfillment, responsible citizenship and lifelong learning.

Students and graduates of Ledyard High School will:
 * __Ledyard High School Academic Expectations__**
 * 1) 1. Read and write critically and effectively for a variety of purposes
 * 2) 2. Speak clearly and communicate ideas accurately in a variety of settings
 * 3) 3. Employ problem-solving skills effectively
 * 4) 4. Employ effective research and study skills
 * 5) 5. Demonstrate critical thinking skills

Students and graduates of Ledyard High School will:
 * __Ledyard High School Civic & Social Expectations__**
 * 1) 1. Demonstrate responsible behavior and citizenship.
 * 2) 2. Work effectively in independent and collaborative settings.
 * 3) 3. Respect human and cultural diversity.
 * 4) 4. Take responsibility for their own lifelong learning and personal health and well being.

Research clearly shows that high school students perform better in the classroom, are more likely to remain enrolled in school, and have lower levels of health risk behaviors when they feel connected to their school. Ledyard High School’s Advisory Program will facilitate that connection by supporting the implementation of each student’s success plan through academic advising, career development, and personalization of the educational experience for each student. Advisory programs have many definitions. At Ledyard High School, an advisory program is an arrangement in which one adult and a small group of students have an opportunity to interact on a scheduled basis in order to establish a connection and provide an environment for academic guidance and support, everyday administrative details, recognition, and activities to promote career choices and citizenship.
 * __Ledyard High School Advisory Handbook __**
 * __What Is An Advisory? __**

We believe that everyone at the school should be accorded the respect of being known well. Personalization is not just courtesy; it is the necessary condition for efficient and effective teaching of each student. Advisory provides a formal and ongoing program through which each student has an adult in Ledyard High School, in addition to their school counselor, who knows the student well and assists the student in achievement of Ledyard High School’s Mission and Expectations for Student Learning. In addition, advisory serves
 * __The Purposes Of Advisory __** [[file:///C:/Users/Administrator/Downloads/Advisory%20Handbook%209-3-15%20(11).doc#_msocom_1|[AOF1]]]


 * **To foster academic success **
 * 1) 1. Monitor academic achievement of students
 * 2) 2. Facilitate academic interventions for individuals
 * 3) 3. Advise students about academic decisions
 * 4) 4. Support the development of student success plans
 * 5) 5. Partner with parents and other stakeholders
 * **To cultivate a positive school climate and positive peer relations **
 * 1) <span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. Provide for every student an adult who knows them well
 * 2) <span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. Provide for every student a small peer group with whom to interact
 * 3) <span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. Provide opportunities for all students to practice social skills, conflict resolution, and tolerance
 * 4) <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. To encourage supportive peer relationships and practice conflict resolution
 * 5) <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. To facilitate community governance and conversations
 * 6) <span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">6. <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">To foster communication between the home and school and among members of the school community
 * **<span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">To provide essential but non-traditional skill instruction **
 * 1) <span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. Support the development of Student Success Plans
 * 2) <span style="color: #00b050; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. Provide support for transitions to high school, post-secondary, or career
 * 3) <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. To prepare students for life transitions including career development and post-secondary opportunities
 * 4) <span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. To promote character development and explore moral dilemmas
 * 5) <span style="color: #7030a0; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. To explore the process of group development and have fun

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Formerly called Morning Meeting, advisories are structured in small groups by grade. Each student is assigned an advisory teacher. Advisory groups will meet a minimum of four times a week for a short period of time to conduct the normal business of morning announcements and morning attendance. Two to three times a month, advisory will meet for a longer period of time to focus on activities designed to meet the purposes of advisory. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">These activities will come from a variety of sources and at least the general theme or structure of the activity will come from designated grade level leaders or the advisory committee. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advisory content will focus on the purpose to be achieved and the grade level of the advisory. Content may revolve around essential questions, themes, or skills. <span style="color: #231f20; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Routines, that both advisor and advisees can count on to structure their experience together, are important. Examples of content for advisory are included at the end of this handbook.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Structure of Advisory __**
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Content of Advisory __**


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Role of the Advisor __**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advisors are staff members who facilitate grade specific collaborative advisory groups and meet individually with members of their advisory.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advisors take an active role in keeping up with each students’ academic status at school by gathering information about academic standing and performance in the classroom.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advisors serve as a point of contact for parents of their advisees and may communicate regularly with parents about their child’s school performance.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advisors are advocates for their students and may need to intervene in situations where a student’s academics are poor or need to recognize situations where a student is in need of greater assistance and determine the appropriate personnel to provide that resource.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advisors do not need special credentials. Advisory requires compassionate adults with a positive attitude toward working with students.


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Assessment of Advisory __**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The LHS community will periodically assess the advisory program to determine its effectiveness in promoting Ledyard High School’s Mission Statement. Information gathered such as survey results, attendance and discipline records, standardized test scores, numbers of students participating in extra-curricular activities and other measures of academic success will be used to make the assessment and to guide efforts to improve the program's effectiveness.


 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advisory Activities __**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">There are numerous activities that advisories could do to meet goals and purposes of advisory. A partial list of such activities that could be done at Ledyard High School include,

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Building Community/Team Building <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Career Paths/College Planning <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Learning About Clubs/Activities <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Community Involvement/Service <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Conflict Resolution <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Decision Making/Problem Solving <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Getting Acquainted/Ice Breakers <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Goal Setting and Revising <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Graduation Portfolio Management <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harassment & Bullying Prevention <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Job Seeking Skills <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Leadership Skills <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mission Statement Review <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Organizational Skills <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">School Orientation <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">School Rule Review <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Self-advocacy <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Self-reflection/Self-assessment <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Standardized Test Taking Skills <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Student Success Plan Management <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Technology/Internet Use Issues <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tolerance/Diversity

Past Advisory Activities 2012-2015
 * Blue & White Day
 * Quarterly Goal Setting
 * Handbook Review
 * PSAT Introduction & Review
 * Class Elections
 * Community Building
 * Study Skills
 * Academic Check Ins
 * SAT Preparation
 * Student Profiles
 * Partner with A Senior/Freshman
 * Junior-Senior Sharing
 * Financial Literacy & Money Management
 * Career Planning
 * CAPT Preparation
 * Peer Relations
 * College & Career Pathways
 * College & Career Planning
 * Women’s Rights
 * Activity Day

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Handbook Sources:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Narragansett High School Advisory Handbook <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">New Visions for Public Schools Advisory Handbook <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advisory Handbook from Alliance.brown.edu <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">College Board Advisory Handbook

Colors indicate an effort to sort by category to isolate the broader themes