advisory changes
ADVISORY CHANGES
As the School Administration worked hard to reimagine what on-campus learning would look like physically, there were also many meetings, conversations, and planning done to ensure that the programming for 2020–2021 reflected the changing world. In March of 2020, Director of Health and Wellness Hope Rupley was asked to provide remote programming to support the mental and physical well-being of students. There were opportunities for students to participate in everything from virtual boot camp to discussions centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion. After a summer of careful planning, Belmont Hill welcomed students, faculty, and staff back to campus four days a week while using Wednesday as a day for remote learning and deep cleaning of campus. To minimize contact with other students and faculty, the school day on campus was divided into three longer class periods with an hour break for advisory and lunch. During this time, students meet with their advisor and same group of students each day. Originally designed to assist with contact tracing, students and faculty alike began to enjoy having a consistent part of their day among so many other changes.
The Advisory Program has become a place for students to create and foster deeper friendships as well as an opportunity for advisors to learn more about their advisees on a deeper level. “The balance of free time and intentional social-emotional learning programming together has really resonated with the boys,” said Mrs. Rupley. SCHEDULED ADVISORY TIME REPRESENTS A FOCUSED APPROACH FOR EACH DAY
Monday is used as “Community Time” where students can eat lunch and have less structured time during their day. There has been a combination of indoor and outdoor activities. In the nicer weather, there were opportunities for the boys to be outdoors, and to play socially distanced games such as Spikeball, Wiffle ball, soccer, and more. In the late fall, Belmont Hill became home to a nine-hole disc golf course, which provided a fun way for the boys to be competitive and stay outside. As the weather changed, an outdoor ice rink was created and installed as an added safe, outdoor student activity.
www.belmonthill.org
winter–spring 2021
21
