Advising

With the start of the 2005-2006 school year, Drew School launched a new, theme-based advising program.  At Drew, academic advising is just one half of what faculty advisors do.  The other half revolves around “citizenship” advising—life guidance on topics that might not be covered either in the classroom or at the dinner table.  To suit advising topics to the particular needs of each grade level, an umbrella theme encompasses each year’s advising focus– adapting for freshman, discovery for sophomores, balance for juniors and independence for seniors.  Each theme provides a framework for advisors to choose relevant and timely topics to discuss during weekly advisory meetings, which last a full class period.  Providing this structure for the program also ensures that advising is a uniformly productive time for all students.

Each advisory group is handcrafted with a focus on matching students and advisors who will complement each other.  The result is a cohesive group that moves together through the students’ time at Drew, learning and growing not just as students, but also as citizens.  This philosophy towards advising is in keeping with Drew’s mission “to engage and support the academic talents, initiatives and self-confidence of each of our students while encouraging them to be respectful, responsible citizens.”

The following are examples of the types of topics covered:

Adapting – Freshmen

  • How things work at Drew
  • Ways to get involved at Drew
  • Time management skills
  • Speakers on issues facing teens like: peer pressure, drugs and alcohol

Discovery – Sophomore

  • Community Service opportunities
  • Summer travel and study opportunities
  • Responsible social skills and peer pressure
  • Academic guidance for junior year class selection (2nd semester)

Balance – Junior

  • Stress and how to handle it
  • College process with leadership from college counselor
  • Yoga, Meditation
  • SAT (2nd Semester)
  • College Essay (2nd Semester)
  • Assessing long-range talents and goals

Independence – Senior

  • First semester grades, Transcript check, College Application process
  • Life Skills: job applications, managing money, time management, thinking and acting responsibly, how to find an apartment, taxes, maintaining a healthy lifestyle