Grade Advising Day

Every year, the Upper School suspends classes for one day to focus on topics relevant to the grade. This year, Grade Advising Day for Upper School students will focus on building community and strengthening student health and well-being. In the morning, freshman will be involved in group-building activities, sophomores will be involved in service projects in locations around Portland, juniors will collaborate in series of small workshops designed to help them understand the results of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Test, which they took in mid November. They will explore their preference indicators as they relate to their passage through the college process. At the end of the morning, students will receive a personalized folder with further details about their individual preferences and predilections that will help inform their approach to the college search and application process. Seniors will attend workshops devoted to self-care and personal growth. Self-defense, yoga, healthy cooking and meditation are a sampling of the offerings.

In the afternoon, each group will enjoy lunch together. After lunch, the freshmen will gain skills around how to help a friend, sophomores will attend a presentation focused on compassion and service,  and juniors and seniors will attend a college preparatory presentation by Speak About It, which offers a performance about consent, boundaries, and healthy relationships. After the presentation, students will meet in small groups for further discussions around these topics. All parents are invited to an evening program by Speak About It on Thursday, February 9 at 7:00 pm in the theater.

Students are expected to arrive on campus for Grade Advising day by 8:05 am as usual. All grades will return to campus by 1:45 p.m. in time for classes and other activities starting at 2:00 p.m.