By Emily Gilburt ’16

Plans for a possibly renovated Advisory period are in the works as the program is officially returning next school year, despite social studies teacher Aileen Woolley stepping down from her current position as head of Advisory.

Woolley will assist in the organization and programming of the Advisory period for next year. She had a 0.4 allocation to head Advisory this year, meaning that she taught three class periods instead of the regular five. At this time, the school is awaiting a final budget in order to enhance and further run the program. The current advisory board, formed from a cross section of students representing every grade level, are reviewing suggestions, student and faculty surveys and criticisms in order to make proper changes for next year. Woolley believes new blood will increase the sustainability and popularity of the program.

Woolley explained that she has collected powerful anecdotal evidence that students are benefiting from Advisory. “There are a lot of reasons for Advisory but the number one reason, I would say, is to increase the chances that every student has the social and emotional support that is necessary to go through school,” said Woolley.

A second goal of Advisory is to reinforce the traits in students that lead to them becoming successful. Advisory periods also have become an important avenue of communication, whether it be receiving report cards, student government information or tuning into dates for an upcoming school dance.

A hurdle that Advisory will face moving forward to a second year is that not all students and staff see Advisory as helpful or worthwhile. Some teachers also do not feel as though the time taken out of the daily schedule is being put to good use.

Woolley acknowledges the concerns of students and teachers about Advisory period, but she remains excited about possible new ideas for Advisory period. This semester, seniors received an entirely new program based on their personal requests called Warrior Talks. In this program, seniors listen to a variety of speakers who address real-life responsibilities; for example, how to be safe and make good choices at beach week. Seniors will also attend assemblies where heads of departments will share important information, like keeping literature in their lives past high school, as a sort of send-off to the seniors. The student and teaching staff will be given the opportunity at the end of year to formally submit their ideas for changes to make to Advisory.

“I am excited that an infrastructure [for Advisory] is set; even though we’re going to develop it, I feel like I’ve done my job,” said Woolley.