Advisory has been around for a long time, but the reason for it finally coming to Har-Ber is because it is a part of the $25 million Race to the Top grant.

“Advisory period is a small group setting made up of one adult and students to create a sense of community here at Har-Ber,” said graphic design teacher Christy Watts.

This extra period or time is a district initiative, so it will be enforced in next years schedule.

“We were the only school who asked for a year to plan, because we want make sure we incorporate everything that is needed.” said special ed teacher Laura Venters.

There is a group of 12 teachers and administrators that meet every Wednesday morning at 7:50 to discuss plans about Advisory Period.

“I’m a member of the committee that is researching how harber will structure their Advisory Project,” said Watts.

This committee consists of 12 main members who pull the rest of the staff on their ideas and thoughts. When they go deeper into one idea or finalize anything, the members report back to the staff. There are five groups that the committee focuses on, those being content, schedule, grouping, rules, and accountability.

“I feel I will have some say,” said family and consumer science teacher Kimberly Oliver.

With the time being individualized, students are prone to interact more and get more accomplished in this allotted time. The opportunity gives teachers time to discuss relationships, give academic support, and plan for life after high school with students.

“We want it to be under 20 students per teacher. The closer we get to 15 the better,” said Venters

“If done correctly, it will positively affect students. That’s the goal. If it’s not, then reevaluation should take place and changes made,” said Oliver.

One of the goals of this new addition to the schedule is to help prepare students for the workforce or for college. Which ever path they choose to follow, teachers will work one on one to help equip them with the needed knowledge.

“My ambitions are really high and I don’t think a teacher is going to help me personally because I know what I want to do and I plan to do it, but that doesn’t mean that it wont help someone else,” said junior Fu Xin Keller.

The Coalition of Essential Schools has found that when a teacher knows a student well and individualises their attention towards them, he or she has a higher chance of academic success.

The Coalition says that Advisory Groups promote trust, and decency between the teacher and student. This time not only helps with the students relationships within school, but also promotes positive interactions outside of school grounds.

“Teachers really have to show compassion when trying to guide a student,” said Keller. “I think as long as the teacher pays attention to the kid who isn’t as self-motivated just as much to the kid that is, it might be a good idea.”