Issue link: https://trevordayschool.uberflip.com/i/1518706
their own strengths and passions despite living in the same household. I love hearing slightly different versions of the same story and I think to myself that I should get the parent perspective too. This is life in the Middle School Common Room. The mood in the room can cycle from chaos to calm and back to chaos in minutes. Some might argue that it's a controlled cacophony of chaos. The teachers double as advisors and we all have desks in the Common Room so we can be accessible and available to students. There's no need to make an appointment. We remind them constantly: Just stop by anytime. In the Middle School, faculty advisors act as a centralized resource, advocate, and liaison for their advisees. Advisors and advisees meet once a cycle and advisors then send a quick note home to parents. It's our way of keeping the lines of communication open all year long. Sometimes the discussion gets more serious. A student may be going through some friend drama and might need an adult's perspective. A middle schooler might be overwhelmed by all of the work on their plate and an advisor is there to help them prioritize what needs to get done first. Sometimes advisors talk to parents because a strong school- home partnership is crucial during high-stress times. "To me, it is all about being that empathetic person at school who knows that student best and always has their best interests at heart," said Meghan McDonough, the 8th- grade science teacher and former 8th- grade dean. "Even though we may need to have tough conversations at times, if we have developed our relationship successfully, our advisee knows that we are coming from a place of support and wanting to help them have the best middle school experience that they can." Talking to an advisor "helped me to manage my stress and worries about going into high school. It allowed me to relieve my nerves and figure out a way to push through," said Nathan K. '27. "Having an advisor is really helpful and everyone should take advantage. It calmed my nerves down and made me relax. Now going into high school, I feel more confident than ever and know how to manage my work levels." There is no place to hide in the Common Room. Instead, you are invited and encouraged to be a part of its community. We want to see students comparing notes while working on their math homework together. We want students actively seeking support from their teachers. Sometimes you even see the younger students asking the older ones for help. Regardless of the situation, one thing is for sure: The connections made between students and teachers in the Common Room are at the core of a Trevor education. While in Middle School, students are required to meet with their advisors once per cycle. It's definitely a "forced" connection at first. But it's certainly not mandatory for Trevor Upper Schoolers to come back to visit. You know you have a meaningful connection when upper schoolers come back to the 5th floor and sit and chat about what's happening in their lives after they've left our Middle School cocoon. I love receiving random emails or texts and bumping into students in Central Park long after they have graduated. It was even more special getting together with former students and their parents when my family lived overseas. It was so cool to catch up in Paris or Hong Kong or Tokyo and see my "kids," who are now in their 40s, married, and/or have children of their own. All of the teachers feel the same way. "The most rewarding parts of our Advisory Program are that we get to make a real, genuine connection— for life—with our advisees! … I consistently have advisees come back to visit or keep in touch after they have moved on to high school and even beyond. It is a bond that is really social," Ms. McDonough said. "We also can help students realize their potential, set goals, and achieve them. We get to witness such growth— it is honestly my favorite part of my job!" Ms. McDonough said. TREVOR DAY SCHOOL / 23 INSIDE TREVOR TREVOR TRANSLATES FEATURE AR TICLES ALUMNI