“Whether it’s carving pumpkins in the fall, making holiday cookies in the winter, or sitting around a faculty member’s fireplace eating brownie sundaes, the consensus is that students simply enjoy being in a home,” one Suffield advisor pointed out. Married advisors like faculty members Nick Zanussi and Erika Picciotto-Zanussi often combine their advisee functions and gatherings where students meet, eat, and play games. The advisory program pays it forward for all parties involved; it is an extension of a student’s social circle as well as an opportunity to be another member of the advisor’s family. We asked several seniors and their advisors to tell us more about what makes Suffield’s advisory program so special. We wanted to find out just how much of an impact advisors had on their advisees and vice versa. By digging a little deeper, we discovered something quite rare: an opportunity for advisors and advisees to thank each other for how much they’ve influenced each other. In nearly every interview we conducted, we heard advisors and advisees say how close they’ve grown to one another. When asked how frequently they communicate, the response was often, “we talk or text every single day.” In the interviews we also learned there are flexible strategies in place for building and sustaining these relationships. Suffield’s mission lays the groundwork and the rest falls into place.
"EACH STUDENT AT SUFFIELD IS ASSIGNED A FACULTY ADVISOR WHO SERVES AS A CENTRAL RESOURCE WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY FOR THE STUDENT, AND WHO MONITORS THEIR ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL PROGRESS. ADVISORS ARE AVAILABLE TO THE STUDENTS IN ORDER TO HELP THEM SUCCEED AT SUFFIELD BY KEEPING TRACK OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS, ASSISTING WITH COURSE PLANNING AND SELECTION, HELPING WITH PERSONAL MATTERS, AND FACILITATING GOOD COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE STUDENT AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. THERE ARE REGULARLY SCHEDULED TIMES SET ASIDE FOR MEETINGS WITH THE ADVISOR. IN ADDITION, ADVISORS ARE EXPECTED TO MEET WEEKLY WITH ALL NEW STUDENTS DURING THE FALL TERM, AND MONTHLY WITH ALL STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AT A MINIMUM. THEY RECEIVE RELEVANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR ADVISEES FROM CLASSROOM TEACHERS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, AND DORM PARENTS. ADVISORS HAVE FORMAL WRITTEN CONTACT WITH FAMILIES THROUGH THE ADVISOR REPORT THAT IS WRITTEN TWICE EACH YEAR. IN ADDITION TO ADVISOR REPORTS, EMAIL, AND PHONE CONTACT, THERE ARE SCHEDULED MEETINGS FOR PARENTS AND THEIR CHILD'S ADVISOR DURING THE FALL AND SPRING PARENTS' WEEKENDS. ADDITIONAL MEETINGS CAN BE ARRANGED DIRECTLY WITH THE ADVISOR. STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SHOULD SEEK OUT THEIR ADVISORS ON ANY MATTER. THEY CAN BE A RESOURCE FOR ADDRESSING CONCERNS OR DIRECTING STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO AN APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATOR." STUDENT AND PARENT HANDBOOK 16
SUFFIELD