The advisory system is at the heart of the Lawrence Academy experience, and is one of the most important components of life on campus.

Advisors monitor their students’ welfare and academic progress, and are also families’ main point of contact at LA. However, advisory groups are much more than a required daily check-in: They’re close-knit units where students should gain confidence and inspiration, and feel safe to share both triumphs and struggles. The advisor and fellow advisees provide guidance, motivation, and friendship; some celebrate birthdays and other big milestones. In short, an advisory group becomes an on-campus family.

Every other Wednesday during advisory meetings, students receive electronic progress reports from their teachers (and, if applicable, their learning coach) that contain praise, encouragement, and constructive criticism, as well as advice, reinforcement, and specific pointers for improving academic performance. Comments are addressed to the students themselves, allowing students to take responsibility for their learning, with the student’s advisor supporting that ownership.

Perhaps more importantly, the frequency and consistency of feedback gives advisors insight into patterns or changes in a student’s attitude or behavior that could be the first sign of a problem. A written comment can spark a one-on-one session, a larger conversation, or a phone call home to the student’s family. Opening the door for these sorts of interventions often helps clear up misunderstandings or solve a potential problem early on.

Lawrence Academy students, like all 21st century teenagers, are faced with sometimes-overwhelming realities as they learn more about themselves and their place in the local, national, and global communities.