Advisory is like your family at school
Aurum Preparatory Academy (Aurum Prep) students start and end the school day in a relaxed and intimate class with about 15 peers. Advisory is a time where students have an opportunity to bond with their advisor, bond with their peers, and talk about real world issues affecting them in school or the world at-large. Advisories are small communities at our free public school where we focus on social-emotional support and team-building.
At the heart of Advisory is a simple, research-based concept – consistent, supportive relationships are what students need to thrive. Research shows that students need rich experiences combining action and reflection to develop a set of critical skills. These skills include growth, optimism, leadership, and design thinking - each a key part of our curriculum at Aurum Prep. Advisory provides a space for these rich experiences and invites students to show up, grow and evolve every year.
Positive Character Education and Moral Leadership
Aurum Prep teachers serve as Advisors. The Advisor’s role is that of a mentor rather than a teacher, providing a wide variety of support to each 6th to 8th grade student. Each Advisory group stays together throughout all three years and competes against other Advisories every week for academic progress and team work, as well as various fun competitions throughout the year. This creates strong bonds – teaching strategy, sportsmanship, and camaraderie. Students naturally learn positive character education and moral leadership by building community in this way.
Our dedication to positive character education through Advisory is a key reason why Aurum Prep students graduate as moral, civic, altruistic, healthy and successful beings. We modeled our Advisories after successful initiatives across the nation which show Advisory to be the most important class for students’ social-emotional wellbeing.
Additional Academic Support
The first 30 minutes and last hour of every school day at Aurum Prep we dedicated to Advisory. Beginning and ending every day together creates a safe and supportive environment to work on anything students need. We call that final hour of the day Focus Hour and leave it open for each student to spend time on personalized learning platforms, school work, or additional tutoring.
Advisors work with students 1:1 or in small groups and advise on any topic that arises. This close relationship gives Advisors insight into every individual’s grades and opportunities for mentoring, encouraging, and elevating students toward future goals. When students need extra tutoring or counseling, Advisors identify the need early on and take steps to help students get the right support.
Student-Led Conferences
Advisors act as a point person to communicate with families throughout the year and to discuss student progress at each conference. Family conferences are led by the student and supported by the Advisor. Student-led conferences assist our middle school students in honing presentation and speaking skills while gaining experience in leadership and discourse. Connecting Aurum Prep families with each student’s closest mentor offers a holistic view of progress, ability to relate to other students, and general well-being.
Advisory of the Week
Each week at our Student Town Hall (Community Circle), we name an Advisory of the Week. Each Advisory is incentivized to participate and can win prizes by working together in school-wide competitions like our door decorating contests.
Is your 6th to 8th grader ready for a safe, small, free school in East Oakland with a compassionate and representative teaching staff? Give us a call today at (510) 746-7860 or email any questions to info@aurumprep.org. We are enrolling now!
About Aurum Prep
Aurum Preparatory Academy teaches college preparation, character development, and design thinking to students in Oakland, Ca. Through rigorous instruction and positive character education, Aurum Prep educates all students in grades 6 through 8 to succeed in high school, college, and life, and serve as the next generation of moral leaders. Enroll your middle school student today.
The future begins today. At Aurum Prep, our students are taking the steps they need to celebrate today, and make tomorrow brighter. Learn more about enrolling your student at our tuition-free middle school, today:
Call us at 415.763.8974
Email us at info@aurumprep.org
Fill out our Registration Packet