Advisory Program - Seattle Academy

At Seattle Academy, the Advisory program is designed to foster meaningful relationships and provide holistic support for students throughout their time at SAAS. Advisory is more than a weekly meeting—it’s a structure of care, connection, and mentorship that helps students ground a student’s experience

Each advisory consists of a faculty advisor and a small group of roughly 12 same-grade peers. This group becomes a reliable space for connection, reflection, and guidance. Faculty advisors intentionally shape a unique culture within their advisory group to promote a sense of familiarity and trust.

Faculty Advisors at SAAS

For Students, Advisors:

Serve as trusted adults
Support students in navigating academic and social experiences
Provide guidance on course selection and graduation requirements
Offer organizational support and strategies
Foster social-emotional development
Facilitate conflict resolution with peers or teachers
Help connect students with relevant resources

For Families, Advisors:

Act as the primary point of contact and communication
Offer insight into a student’s overall well-being and academic progress
Coordinate academic support and personalized plans
Serve as a conduit between home and school

Advisory at SAAS

Advisors work closely with grade-level teachers, coordinators, counseling, and administration, to be a clear conduit of information and support between school and home. Advisory activities and meeting structure evolves at each grade-level in alignment with students’ age and developmental stage. However, the core mission of advisory remains consistent from Middle School to Upper School.

Advisory by Division

Middle School

Middle School

In Middle School, students are assigned a new advisory group and advisor each year, building a wide range of connections across their time at SAAS. Advisories meet frequently each week, offering both structured curriculum and informal check-ins.

Components of Middle School Advisory include:

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Extended advisory sessions incorporate grade-level SEL curriculum addressing topics like empathy, digital citizenship, friendships, and language.
Connection & Organization: Shorter sessions throughout the week allow time for announcements, gratitude journals, organization help (like binder clean-outs), and casual community-building games.
Conferences: Faculty advisors facilitate parent-teacher conferences and collaborate with families to support student growth.

Upper School

Upper School

In Upper School, students are matched with an advisor in 9th grade and remain with the same group through graduation, deepening bonds over time. Advisory meets once per week and is shaped by the advisor and students.

Advisory in the Upper School includes:

A space to rest, reset, and reconnect—often over a snack or game
A hub for important school announcements and check-ins
A flexible environment shaped by the needs of each group

No matter the grade level, the heart and purpose of Advisory remains the same: creating a trusted space for students to be known, supported, and empowered—academically, socially, and emotionally. Faculty advisors work in close partnership with teachers, coordinators, counselors, and administration to ensure students thrive.

A Mentorship Approach:

While each student is assigned a faculty advisor, we recognize that mentorship happens organically. A student’s go-to adult may be their advisor—or it may be a coach, teacher, trip leader, or other trusted adult. The advisor helps identify and support those connections, while also acting as a consistent anchor throughout the student’s journey.