Leaders Shaping Leaders

Christ Lutheran’s Exemplary Advisory Program

Each of Christ Lutheran’s junior high students is paired with a teacher or staff member as a 7th grader.  The adult mentors them for the 2 years of junior high, checking on grades, helping with note taking and organization, etc. to ensure that they reach their maximum potential while they are at CLS.

In the Zona sat down with 2 CLS students and their mentors: 7th grader Kennedy Williams and her mentor Tracy Skoog and 7th grader Jake Mara and his mentor Christie Roe.

zona: What has the CLS Advisory Program meant to you? Has it helped you become a better student? How?

kennedy: The advisory program is very unique. It has definitely made me a better student. It makes me aware of what I need to do better and what I need to strive for.

zona: Who is your Advisor? What are some of your Advisor’s greatest attributes?

kennedy: Mrs. Skoog is my advisor. She is hilarious, smart, helpful, and the best thing about her is that she always has your back.

zona: What exactly does your Advisor advise? How has your Advisor prepared you better for eighth grade and high school?

kennedy: Your advisor shows you your current grades, helps you plan study time, and more things like that. It has prepared me; the program has shown me skills I can use in later years.

 zona: Where do you want to go to high school? Are you excited to be an eighth grader and be the “king of the school” next year?

kennedy: I will most likely go to Arcadia. I guess I am excited to be in eighth grade, but I’ve also heard it is a big challenge, which also makes me a little nervous.

zona: What would you tell a classmate that was interested in the Advisory Program?

kennedy: I would tell them that it is extremely helpful and would definitely impact them for the rest of their school years.

zona: What else do you like to do when you’re not studying or attending class? Do you have any interesting hobbies, or collections? Do you play sports?

kennedy: Yes, I play soccer for the Blackhawks. We have done extremely well, winning the league and state.

zona: What’s your favorite TV show? Favorite book you ever read? Favorite subject in school? Least favorite noise? Favorite dessert? Favorite restaurant in town to go to with your family? Favorite board game? Favorite video game? Favorite band?

kennedy: Favorite TV shows: Pretty Little Liars, Glee, Modern Family, and The Middle… Favorite book: Heaven is for Real. Favorite subject: science or writing… Least favorite noise: styrofoam rubbing together… Favorite dessert: pazooki… Favorite restaurant: Sauce… Favorite board game: Clue… Favorite video game: Temple Run… Favorite band: One Direction.

zona: What has the CLS Advisory Program meant to you? Has it helped you become a better student? How?

jake: The CLS Advisory programs keeps me focused on school and what I need to work on. Yes, it keeps me on top of my work.

zona: Who is your Advisor? What are some of your Advisor’s greatest attributes?

jake: Mrs. Roe she is funny, energetic, and very encouraging.

zona: What exactly does your Advisor advise? How has your Advisor prepared you better for the eighth grade, or even high school?

jake: Each advisor is given a certain number of students to advise. It is nice to have Mrs. Roe as an advisor because she is also an 8th grade teacher so she knows what my work is in 8th grade.

zona: Where do you want to go to high school? Are you excited to be an eighth grader and be the “king of the school” next year?

 jake: I haven’t thought about it much but I am probably going to go to Arcadia. I guess I am a little excited to be an 8th grader.

zona: What else do you like to do when you’re not studying or attending class? Do you have any interesting hobbies, or collections? Do you play sports?

 jake: Yes, I do play sports I like to play baseball, football, and sometimes basketball.

zona: Is your dad cool? What makes him such a great dad?

 jake: Yes, my dad is fun to be around because he is funny, he likes to watch sports with me, and I can always count on him to be there for me.

 zona: How about your mom, why should your mom win the “Mom of the Year” award, if there was such a thing?

 jake: My mom should win it because she is kind, generous, and always there for me just like my dad.

 zona: What’s your favorite TV show? Favorite book you ever read? Favorite subject in school? Least favorite noise? Favorite dessert? Favorite restaurant in town to go to with your family? Favorite board game? Favorite video game? Favorite band? Top two songs on your iPod? Favorite vacation destination? Dream car?

 jake: SNL, The Great Brain, Math Screeching, Crème Brule, Yard House, Apples to Apples, Call of Duty, Gym Class Heroes, Good Feeling and Stereo Hearts , Mexico, Ferrari.

zona: If you could hang out with one person on a Saturday, dead or alive, make believe or real, who would it be and what would you guys do?

 jake: If I could I hang out with one person it would probably be Will Ferrell, and we would watch a bunch of his funny movies.

zona: Would you like to give a ZONA “shout out” to your parents?

 jake: I would just like to thank my parents for everything they do for me.

Christie Roe, Jake’s advisor, was a stockbroker before she became an English teacher. She had 3 boys graduate from CLS.

zona: Tell us about the Advisory program?

christie: We began the Advisory program three years ago after hearing about it at a conference we attend in Long Beach every three years. The conference is called CAPSO: Catholic and Private School Organization. A number of our faculty happened to attend the session and were excited and impressed by the presenter and the results they had seen in their school.

 zona: Did you get picked to be a part to this program or did you volunteer?

christie: We decided three years ago to implement the program and by and large are very happy with it. The goal is to have one advisor for a group of 10-12 junior high students (7th and 8^th graders in each Advisory group), thus all the junior high faculty are involved, as well as a few other staff people to keep the ratio where we want it. The program allows for individualized attention for each student as they transition to and move through junior high.

 zona: What is your favorite part of the program?

christie: Over the years we have continued to tweak the curriculum and are arriving at a happy medium of a core curriculum with some flexible time in the 45 minutes we meet each Wednesday afternoon. The structured time allows for a lesson which is centered around a variety of topics including time management, learning styles, organization, personality profiles, etc. The flexible time allows the advisors to review grades and progress with the students weekly.

 zona: Can you tell us something great about Jake and Kennedy?

christie: While I don’t know Kennedy or Jake well, as I teach 8^th grade and they are 7th graders, I do have Jake in Advisory. He’s a very strong student who is transitioning well to junior high. He is a hard worker and an enjoyable young man with a delightful sense of humor. Likewise, I had time with Kennedy this fall at another program we have, Astrocamp. Kennedy is a leader and a tremendous athlete.

 zona: How long have you been teaching?

christie: This is my 8th year of teaching English and literature at Christ Lutheran. I love sharing my faith on a daily basis and am humbled to be a part of a student’s life at such a pivotal time in their learning and personal growth.

zona: What did you do before you became a teacher? What subject(s) do you teach now?

christie: Prior to teaching at Christ Lutheran, I taught English 101 and 102 at Mesa Community College and

Scottsdale Community College. Before we had children (a zillion years ago!) I was a financial advisor with E.F. Hutton.

zona: Would you recommend this program to other teachers and/or schools?

christie: I think the Advisory program holds much potential for our students and future at CLS. Our low student to teacher ratio allows for this program to be successful, which may not be a possibility in the larger public school classrooms.

Tracey Skoog, Kennedy’s advisor, is also an English teacher and has one current CLS student in 5th grade and one who graduated from CLS.

zona: Tell us about the Advisory program?

tracey: Our advisory program is made up of small groups consisting of 12-14 students and a faculty member advisor. Groups meet once a week. During these meetings, students have the opportunity to conference with their advisor one-on-one for the purpose of discussing grades and addressing other issues or concerns. Advisors also lead students in lessons that address topics such as study skills, organization and time management. Advisors also act as liaison between school and home. This is very beneficial since junior high students work with 6-8 teachers per day.

zona: Did you get picked to be a part to this program or did you volunteer?

tracey: Being an advisor is a responsibility of most junior high teachers.

 zona: What is your favorite part of the program?

tracey: My favorite part of the program is having the opportunity to develop relationships with students and families.

 zona: Can you tell us something great about Kennedy?

tracey: Kennedy is a hard very hard worker. She is organized, studious and makes the job of advising an easy one.

 zona: What did you do before you became a teacher? What subject(s) do you teach now?

 tracey: This is my 20th year of teaching. I’ve always been a teacher. I have taught many ages and have enjoyed them all. I have to be honest and admit that junior high is one of my favorite age levels to teach. I currently teach 7th grade English and Literature.

zona: How long have you been involved with this program?

 tracey: This is my 4th year with the advisory program.

zona: Would you recommend this program to other teachers and/or schools?

 tracey: I would definitely recommend this program to others. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to help students and families develop connections between school and home. It is also important to provide students with an individual that they can go to for support or questions throughout the two years in junior high.