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Like a Lighthouse, Advisory guides students through high school journey
Like a Lighthouse, Advisory guides students through high school journey
Article by Cooper Sundra ’26
Like the sighting of a lighthouse – whether while in the midst of a storm or on a clear, pleasant day – Paul VI’s Advisories are a constant, illuminating beam of light guiding students through their high school journey to new shores.
Four days a week, these groups of 20 or so students representing all four grade levels meet to reset, rejoice, review, or relax while building connections with other students in the same core group throughout their years at PVI. Led by pairs of Big Brothers & Big Sisters and two teacher-advisors, each 25-minute gathering serves as a safe “go-to” harbor where students participate in whole-group activities, small-group sessions, partnerships, or autonomously. Advisories embrace the opportunity to attend Mass together in the Chapel during their advisory period about once a month.
PVI’s Advisory program is a community-centric initiative designed to create a welcoming, relationship-building environment where students can share, reflect upon, participate in, and/or secure support regarding challenges or concerns unique to their particular experiences or with questions in general common in the life of a high school student.
“Through Advisory, students are able to have intentional time with students from other grade levels, sports teams, clubs, and extracurriculars,” explained Mr. Nick Zaso, Assistant Coordinator of Campus Ministry. “This mixed variety of students come to study, laugh, pray, and enjoy fellowship in communion with one another. Students are able to receive mentorship from upperclassmen and, in turn, grow to be mentors themselves to younger students.”
Advisory runs from 1-1:25 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; students are dismissed early on Wednesdays for teachers’ professional development meetings. Advisory not only gives students a chance to relax and socialize with peers of different age groups, but also provides students a reprieve in the middle of the day from their regular 90-minute class routines. It’s also a great time to catch up or get ahead with schoolwork.
“I like how Advisory is scheduled in the middle of the day,” shares Pat Ngongba ’24. “It gives us a break from our classes, a chance to get some work done if we need to, and the opportunity to socialize with new and old friends.”
Advisory also helps bring the school together as one with all the activities done together throughout the school year.
“In addition to leading Intention Rosaries once a month with our group and staying on top of everyone’s grades, I’m looking forward to launching some new initiatives with my co-advisor/ teacher Ms. Fassinger this year to further help students get to know more about each other and feel comfortable talking to each other outside class time,” shares Mr. Joseph Sebastian, Theology teacher.
A new addition to Advisory this year is the opportunity to attend Mass and receive the Sacrament of Communion with a few other advisory groups. Experiencing Mass with one’s advisory further helps bring students closer to each other and to God.
“We all need grace and truth,” shares Fr. Stephen Schultz, PVI’s Chaplain. “I want our students to consider Mass less of a big event as it is in the Panther Athletic Center and see the Mass as a beautiful prayer we can pray every day.”
