Advisors are an essential strand that runs through every PCD student experience. Every PCD student is assigned an advisor who knows your child across all areas of school life, and provides support, oversight, and guidance, to help each student make the most of his/her PCD opportunities. Over time, advisory groups (typically about seven students) become a core of peers, who navigate shared experiences and explore community themes together.
In the Middle School, every student is a member of an advisory group which may be single or multi-grade and is led by a middle school teacher, who understands the subtle differences among the three middle school years.
In the Upper School, ninth grade students are teamed with advisors who are specialists in this pivotal, transitional year. In 10th grade, students are assigned new advisors who provide consistent guidance through graduation.
Advisors play an important role in a student's school life. New students meet their advisors on their first day of school and continue to see them each day during homeroom—a convenient time to "check in," as well as during regularly scheduled advisory meeting times. Advisory groups offer one-on-one time to review academic progress and discuss specific questions and needs, as well as group time to discuss school-wide issues (course selection, the student handbook, community service day projects, etc.). Advisory groups also work together on community curriculum activities and to discuss community themes. Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, advisors know their students from multiple perspectives and are always available to help students think out loud, strategize, organize, or just chat.
Advisors help students select a rigorous curriculum that takes into account individual interests and strengths, and provides the strongest possible preparation for college. Often the advisor is the faculty member who knows the student best, from the most diverse perspectives, and can be the student’s strongest advocate for success across multiple venues.
The advisor is the first point of contact between families and the school. Conferences are conducted twice a year between advisors and parents, but advisors are available throughout the year to address concerns and refer parents to those in the community who can offer additional support as needed.