Student Advising

Students have a faculty advisor who is charged with guiding them through the New School both academically and with regard to the students relationship to the community and to other community members. This advisor also acts as the link between the school and parents, keeping parents informed of a students overall progress, scheduling, academic issues, social issues, etc. While this in no way precludes teacher/parent communication, it is hoped that students and parents will see the advisor as their initial point of contact for information, concerns, and suggestions.

The responsibilities of the Student Advisor are as follows:

• Maintaining an on-going relationship with each student in their advisory, listening to their frustrations, ideas, problems, and attempting to be their representative at staff meetings, etc.

• Keeping track of each student's schedule, making sure that the student is progressing realistically toward graduation; all changes in schedule need to be approved by the Advisor, in consultation with the student's parent and all teachers involved. Any student wishing to change a class should consult their Advisor, who will outline for them the necessary steps.

• Helping advisees to develop a petition/portfolio.

• Act as a central communication point for faculty, students, and parents, keeping track of each advisees progress, schedule, activities, and issues so that the student, a parent, or another teacher can obtain information quickly and easily. Parents and teachers are asked to notify the students Advisor of any communications or decisions that they may reach in regards to a course.

Advisors meet with their advisees twice each quarter to look at student schedules, air issues, and to facilitate course changes as necessary. In addition, advisors and advisees schedule one-on-one time as necessary (at least one meeting per quarter) to go over the student's progress, schedule, community involvement, etc. Advisors may take a student out of class, with approval from the classroom teacher, for these individual meetings.