Rationale

The advising system at Gann Academy has three basic tenets:

• Every student is worthy of attention and a watchful eye.
• Every student deserves positive guidance when making critical decisions.
• Every student is entitled to an adult advocate within the school community.

Role of Advisor

At its core, the advisor’s responsibility is to help guide students in matters of academic and social adjustment to school life. One principal avenue in meeting this obligation is through regularly scheduled weekly meetings. During this time, the advisor checks in with his/her advisees and offers guidance on whatever issues may be of concern, academic or otherwise. Should an advisee ever confront issues of a significant nature, the advisor consults with the appropriate Dean and others to coordinate appropriate strategies.

Advisee Groups

When a student enters Gann Academy, s/he is assigned to an advisee group of approximately seven to nine freshmen and a freshman advisor   In the 2010-2011 school year, students in 10th-12th grade will be placed in a mixed grade advisor group.  Most students will stay in that group until graduation unless there are specific reasons that another group or advisor will be a better match.  Advisee groups meet weekly.  Advisors use the time to both get to know each individual student but also to help the group form a mini-community within the school for support and guidance.  Each year, in January or February, there are parent/student/advisor conferences to discuss the social-emotional, spiritual and academic well-being and direction of each student.  Additional conferences are scheduled if needed as well. 

Academic Advising

As the principal academic counselor to their advisees, advisors consult with teachers to keep track of their advisees’ progress in class. If the need presents itself, the advisor will call a meeting of the advisee’s teachers, the school’s learning specialists, and if necessary, the advisee’s parents to discuss appropriate strategies. Advisors are familiar with the school’s graduation requirements and serve to ensure that students remain on track to meet those standards.

Advisor as Advocate

The advisor serves as a student’s chief advocate in all school matters, whether in the realm of discipline or otherwise. For example, if ever a student should be in need of special administrative consideration (such as receiving permission for an extra college visitation day or dropping a course in the middle of a term for medical reasons), the advisor helps the student navigate the proper channels of administration. If disciplinary action should ever be called for, the advisor is the messenger and advocate—never the judge.

Deans

The 9th grade program, including advisory, is coordinated by the 9th Grade Class Dean.  The Dean of Students and the Associate Dean of Students are principally responsible for monitoring academic and social issues for 10th –12th grade. They keep track of any significant student concerns and address them in an appropriate fashion. Deans conduct regular grade level faculty meetings to discuss grade level issues as well as to discuss individual student needs. Deans also work closely with Student Council representatives from each grade, as well as with other faculty advisors, to develop appropriate social activities.

Collaborating with Parents

Since both parents and advisors want only what is best for the student, Gann Academy holds that it is vitally important for the advisor to establish an atmosphere of true collaboration with parents. Advisors have mid-year meetings and write summary reports for each of their advisees at the end of the year and communication takes place on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Through regular contact with students, their teachers, and their parents, the students are served in the most supportive fashion possible.