Middle School Advisories

In the Middle School at SSFS, Advisory is one of the primary places where students are cared for, known as individuals, and experience the confidence that comes from a deep sense of belonging. It's one of the most meaningful ways we carry out our mission.

Middle School is an exciting time of tremendous development—it can also be a tremendously challenging phase. What if your child was championed by a rock-solid teaching team and backed by a loyal band of classmates, boldly exploring each academic year together? At SSFS, that’s our model. Here’s to a middle school journey that’s anything by middle-of-the-road!

Speaking of the journey, at SSFS, the advisor serves as your child's tour guide. Middle School advisors have numerous roles in the lives of their advisees. They are responsible for serving as student advocates, supporting their advisees in school endeavors, and helping them to achieve an appropriate balance between academic and extracurricular activities. Some of their official duties include clerking and guiding weekly advisory meetings, supervising tutorial, Meeting for Worship, and other activities, and periodic conferences which ensure understanding and partnership between home and school.  

Unofficially, but just as important, is the expectation that the faculty member will make the effort to get to know the student beyond the structured classroom setting. At the start of the year, each advisor administers an "Advisee Inventory," which assists the advisor in learning about the advisee’s likes and dislikes and some of their personal interests and habits. The advisee inventories, which include student statements about nightly study habits and screen time, can be very helpful during parent/guardian-teacher conferences.