Student Advisory

At Odyssey Charter High School

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Why Do Advisory?

• Community-building among students, promoting a positive peer culture

• Academic advising and coaching• Preparing students for college and career• Response to NAAS accreditation team

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Our Mission

Odyssey Charter School is a community of educators, students and their families committed to individual achievement through innovative instruction and guidance, both direct and online.

Core Values• Integrity• Respect• Initiative• Flexibility

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Successful Advisory Programs

"Advisory is the most significant way in which we evidence our commitment to personalization. It is the only class that all students take. It is the only class that nearly all of our adults teach.  Nothing we do here is more student-centered.  Nothing we do here is more important."

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Successful Advisory Programs

"An  advisory program is a critical element in a school where you want to have every kid connected to an adult.  I don't know how you'd ensure that sense of connection and community without it."

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Advisory Goals

• Advisees will be known and feel know consistently by one adult

• Advisees will have easy and regular access to academic advising from an advisor who actively monitors their progress.

• Advisees will learn to advocate for themselves and deal effectively with adults

• Advisees will adjust more effectively to our online high school, and to new grade levels

• Advisees will contribute in a positive way to a school's climate

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Advisory and Parents

• Advisors will be the primary and consistent contact for parents and gardians, so that parents can access holistic information about, and be more supportive of, their child

• The advisory program will strengthen parents' and guardians' awareness of, involvement in, and support of the school

• Advisors will develop partnership with parents and guardians to encourage their child's progress

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Advisory Groups

• Mixed grade levels• @ 32 advisors each advisory will have 12 or

13 students.• Advisory will take place in each of the

classrooms, the learning lab and/or student union.o Other possibilities include the board room

and lunch room.• What if I really don't want an advisory?

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Advisor's Role and Expectations• When and how will advisors receive

training?oOur program is unique.oAll advisors will receive the advisory book.oWorkshops will happen during the Planning Retreat, prior to and during the school year.

oWorking to get ESR in for training.

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Advisor's Role and Expectations

• What will be the advisor's role vis-a-vis parents and guardians?o Advisors will be kept informed of academic

progress by handing out unsats and report cardsadvisors may have the ability to login as students

o Advisors will learn about course content from presentations by other teachers

o Being the mediator between parents and teachers

o The parent should contact the teacher directly after the advisor has talked to the teacher to help mediate the issue.cc from b_d_solis @ flickr

Advisor's Role and Expectations

•Advisors are not involved in discipline• Advisors will recommend students for

academic and attendance RPCs.•Advisory will be part of your annual

evaluation

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Advisory and Other Classes

• Advisory projects can be tied to other classes• Advisory is the time to set-up peer tutoring

oas well as youth leadership opportunitiesoand career exploration

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Concerns About Advisory

• Helping kids become organized and persistent, feel heard and helping them plan their futures - aren't those roles for parents?

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Concerns About Advisory

• I don't like that touchy-feely stuff.

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Concerns About Advisory

• Teachers aren't trained to be counselors.

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Your Questions About Advisory

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