Charting a Course for Success
The Middle Division Advisory program is seamlessly integrated into our Middle Division experience and aligns perfectly with Stevenson’s mission to foster belonging, purpose and agency in our students. This research-informed approach is designed to help adolescents navigate life with confidence, clarity and connection.
Key Benefits for Our Students
- Purposeful Learning: Students engage in weekly lessons that encourage self-reflection and purpose exploration, connecting academic pursuits and challenges to real-world situations.
- Emotional Intelligence: Through advisory periods and small group discussions, students develop crucial emotional skills and personal resilience. We know that emotional safety and understanding require real practice. Middle Division Advisory provides a space to normalize the wide range of social and emotional experiences that kids often feel they face alone.
- Community Connection: The program emphasizes empathy and community engagement, reinforcing Stevenson’s values of inclusivity and social responsibility. Advisory groups are an excellent way to build communities within communities at Stevenson.
Middle Division Head Scott Parker emphasizes, “At Stevenson, we believe in first knowing and then educating the whole child. Middle Division Advisory allows us to balance student-centered, rigorous academics with essential social-emotional development, preparing our students not just for academic success, but for a life that is broad, enriched and joyful.”
Our Approach
- Integrated Learning: Advisory principles are woven into our mission to prepare students for success in school and beyond, creating a cohesive learning experience. Teachers are provided a wide range of options to engage students in these conversations. The program is flexible and can be adapted for time, format, and to meet the unique needs of each advisory group.
- Supportive Environment: Teachers and staff model the program’s values, fostering a culture of emotional well-being and mutual respect. Advisory groups meet daily, allowing us to better understand our students – their personal goals, their challenges, and how we might adjust their learning experiences to meet them where they are in their development.
- Long-Term Vision: We view this as a multi-year journey, allowing students to deepen their understanding of themselves, their peers and their place in the community over time. The advisory experience evolves and grows as students move through Middle Division and beyond.
