In the Middle and Upper Schools, each student is paired with a faculty advisor.
Advisors are faculty members whose primary responsibility is monitoring students’ academic and social progress, arranging parent-teacher meetings, and helping students choose their classes each spring for the following year.
Journey to an Extraordinary Life
Wakefield School has developed a process – the Journey to an Extraordinary Life (JEL) - for creating and monitoring the progress of each student toward his/her academic, extracurricular and interpersonal goals. This process requires each advisor, in conjunction with a student’s teachers, coaches, and activity leaders, to help students identify a “roadmap” and goals to guide them on their journey.
In addition to guiding students on their Journey to an Extraordinary Life and monitoring students’ school success, advisors serve as a resource for students who need an adult to turn to when they have questions or concerns about social, ethical, family, or other issues. Advisors, working in conjunction with the Dean of Students, also serve as the primary liaison between parents and the school about academic or social issues that arise.
Students meet with their advisor, and the other 6-8 students in their advisory group, briefly every morning. This meeting provides students and the advisor a chance to touch base about the day’s events and to share important announcements. Advisors also regularly schedule time to see their advisees in a one-on-one setting. Students are always welcome to seek out their advisor whenever necessary.