Something special happens at Hockaday for 25 minutes each day.
45 Upper School advisories meet in their respective homerooms to get a bit of a break from classes, catch up or connect and perhaps even sneak in a special seasonal treat.
No advisory is quite the same. Grouped in cohorts of about ten students each, advisories have long served as micro “families” where students can convene in a relaxed atmosphere.
Many students find unique ways to personalize their advisories and make them memorable parts of their four-year high school journey together.
“They’ve done everything from creating a memory box of Polaroids to adopting ‘Gerald the Cat,’ a little mascot that was mysteriously left hanging on my door one day,” said Assistant Head of Upper School, Scott Bowman. He has just seen his first full cycle of advisees graduate and is serving as a junior advisor again this year.
It’s through the quirky, student-led rituals that each advisory becomes a place where students can blow off steam and just be themselves.
“One year we started the NonComplaint Fridays,” said Karen Sanchez, Computer Science teacher and veteran advisor of five years. “We would write positive things on the board that were going well or that we were looking forward to heading into the weekend which just lifted the mood.”
Advisors encourage the girls to use the opportunity to step away from their customary activities and friend circles to make these times and spaces their own.
“I think it can be easy to fall into the expected or predictable groups at school, whether it be through sports, clubs, or all the other things students do on campus,” Bowman said. “I love that advisory sort of disrupts that. It allows kids to make connections with students they may not have classes with or have a chance to engage with otherwise.”
Through observing several advisories, one theme became unequivocally clear. Advisories thrive on creative traditions that center around food. From fresh griddle pancakes and chocolate fondue, to “Socktober” goodie exchanges and Crumbl cookie tastings, a popular part of advisory seems to be its delectables.
“A particular favorite has been making guacamole from scratch. My advisees get fresh ingredients and make it all right here in the classroom. Our motto has become: ‘What happens in Guaco, stays in Guaco,’” said Upper School Math teacher, Natalia Ismail, an eighth-year advisor.
Some traditions like decorating the ceiling tiles or Secret Santa have stuck around since as far back as 2012. Others, like playing Dance Dance Revolution, Wii or Spikeball became most popular after the pandemic when girls spent a lot more time in advisories between classes.
“We ended up starting to play the New York Times game, Connections, which has been a surprising hit,” said Upper School Spanish teacher April Burns, who is in her second year at Hockaday and loves seeing a little friendly competition in her advisory through brain games.
Students have also stumbled upon more casual traditions that keep their advisories lighthearted and content.
“Our advisory literally has a Costco membership to keep the snacks stocked,” junior Mia Temple from Ms. Girard’s advisory said. “We usually make a run once a month to get the classics- dot pretzels, goldfish, and of course, something from the bakery.”
Some students want advisory to be a full class length, but others say it’s just right because of the long-term relationship spanning over four years.
“I like the idea of students staying with the same advisory group as I see them become more trusting and allow us to become better advocates over time,” Sanchez said. “It becomes a place where the girls feel they can belong.”
