Advising
At Scattergood, it is acknowledged that students are leaving behind friends and family, living away from home most likely for the first time in their life. Because of this, Scattergood developed the Advisor program. In it, each student is assigned a staff adviser who is responsible for checking in with the students and keeping track of how things are going both academically and socially. An Advisor is someone who a student can go to when they need someone to talk to, someone to help them with a specific problem, or when they need a ride in to town. Parents are encouraged to contact the advisor when needed and can decide with the advisor on the first day of school how and when such contact can be made. The advising system is a way to make sure that each student has at least one adult staff member with whom they have made a connection. Though students often make friends with many of the staff, it is always more comfortable in the beginning to know there is already someone to go to.
Community Life Reports
Community Life Reports for each student are prepared by the advisors four times a year and are mailed with academic reports at the end of blocks one, three, five and seven. These reports evaluate the student in a holistic way, looking at the student's total involvement at the school. Dorm life, crew experiences, health, social life, accountability, committee work, and community involvement are areas commonly covered in a community life report. During regular meetings with their advisees, advisors share reports from other staff members and explore the successes and difficulties of their advisees. The seventh block community life report is often written by the student, after a conversation with the advisor.
