Advisor Lunches

The lunches got underway in the first week of October, and take place every Thursday, with two groups seated together at each table. More than just additional facetime for the advisors and their advisees, the lunches provide a different atmosphere where they can connect. The idea came out of recommendations made after a working group led by Special Education teacher and House Director of Renfrew House Mrs. Chelsea Russell conducted a deep dive into the advisor program.

 

Deputy Head of School Mr. William Nicholas, who leads the advisor program, calls it “a traditional strength” of the School. House Directors give students one source of support, and a way for their parents to connect to the School, and advisors are another link for both students and their parents. While House Directors have 50 or 60 students to look after, advisors have eight, Mr. Nicholas points out, so students get to know their advisors well, and get to know the students in their groups — who come from different Houses and represent a mix of genders and grades.

 

In addition to their two fixed sessions every week — meetings on Monday and lunch every Thursday — advisors meet with advisees on other occasions as well, depending on what’s on the agenda. For example, with assessments coming out shortly, there will be additional one-on-one sessions.

 

Advisors are part of a student’s support system from the moment they arrive on campus, helping them meet the demands of a Shawnigan education by assisting with the decision-making process and communicating with parents on a regular basis. They can be drawn from any area of the School, and are matched with their advisees by the Admissions staff based on strict criteria. “It’s done carefully and intentionally to match them with interests as far as possible,” Mr. Nicholas comments. “It’s not random.”

 

Advisors also help students who are struggling in class to find support, either with the Learning Centre or their individual teachers — Mr. Nicholas calls them “the first layer of support” — and they help senior students look at life after Shawnigan.

 

Advisors will also be helping students with their Soul Seeking projects, which will be launching soon. The projects are student-led, but advisors help them stay on track, and can help direct them toward teachers in the School who are experts in the area they are studying. The Advisor group pairings at lunch tables will be the same for Soul Seeking groups as well.