Student Support

ADVISORY

The middle school advisory system pairs students with teachers who serve as their guides, mentors, and advocates on all aspects of middle school life.

In sixth grade, there are four advisory groups of 11 students each.  In seventh and eighth grades, groups average 8 students per advisor.  Advisors are middle school teachers who spend a great deal of non-academic time with their charges and serve as the “go-to” person for students and their parents.  Advisors strive to form a deep and trusting relationship with their advisees.  They are present to support, to advise, and to sit in on both the tough discussions as well as be a part of the silly moments. Groups meet three times a week in morning settings before school and also during afternoon study hall sessions.  This times allow students to study, organize materials, chart out the week’s academic calendar, and of course, to chat, and to simply be present with a teacher and a small group of peers outside of the routine schedule of daily classes.  Advisory lunches, regular celebrations, buddy programs with lower school students, group-building activities, gender split discussions, and various other events are often organized around advisory groups.

COUNSELING

The school has a part time counselor who is on campus daily.  The counselor provides office hours and holds weekly grade level “lunch clubs” which are open to all students.  These clubs provide a healthy, safe and respectful venue for discussing all manner of school and life topics germane to young people and students in our school. 

In addition, the school engages two other counselors.  One sponsors a weekly “Girls’ Club” and one a “Diversity Club” for students.  These clubs touch on social dynamics, student relationships, and other topics that middle school girls, and kids in general, navigate through on a daily basis.

The head of school, head of middle school, school counselor and school chaplain share teaching responsibility for teaching “Focus” classes which meet each week.  Each one brings his/her own personal perspective and position to bear in discussing a variety of topics.  Discussions touch on topics that range from adolescent drug use to teen angst to decision-making, ethics and pertinent school and greater world issues. 

HIGH SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

St. Anne’s has a proven record of secondary school placement.  While the faculty prepares students for success in high school, it is the achievement and exemplary character that St. Anne’s graduates have demonstrated in high school that upholds our school’s excellent reputation and continues to open doors to our graduates.  The head of middle school coordinates high school counseling along with the head of school.  They provide a timeline and other resources, meet with families and students, offer mock interviews, and provide continuing counsel on the local high school landscape and options.  Faculty and administration pen elaborate, honest, and detailed letters of recommendation, which support students and provide high schools with timely and comprehensive applications.
   

High School Matriculation for St. Anne’s Class of 2010:

	Arapahoe High School (6) Bishop Machebeuf (2) Cherry Creek High School (2) Colorado Academy (3) East High School (5) George Washington IB (1) Kent Denver High School (7) Littleton High School IB (7) Regis Jesuit High School (3) Salisbury School (2) Valor Christian High School (4)

High School Matriculation for St. Anne’s Class of 2009:

	Bishop Machebeuf (1) Colorado Academy (3) Deerfield Academy (2) East High School (8) George Washington IB (3) Heritage (3) Kent Denver High School (16) Littleton IB (2) Mullen High School (1) St. Mary’s Academy (2)

LIBRARY AND TECHNOLOGY

The St. Anne’s library offers a wonderful environment for students to seek information, find resources and pursue their studies.  With a large collection of books, comfortable reading nooks, and a warm fireplace, the library is an ideal spot to learn.  Within the library are 12 computers and an attached computer lab containing 25 more.  Access to the library is available to teachers and students at all moments of the day and access to the Internet is supervised and available for school-related work.

STUDY SUPPORT

Part of the St. Anne’s mission includes “surrounding children with outstanding and inspirational teachers who strive for academic excellence in a nurturing environment.”  The relationship between teachers and students at St. Anne’s is remarkably rich.  Alumni consistently speak to the profound effect that their teachers had on them during their years at St. Anne’s.  The academic foundation that is created here relies heavily on the support, guidance and encouragement provided by teachers to their charges in middle school. St. Anne’s teachers spend considerable time assisting students outside of class, before school, during study hall and breaks, and simply during free time.  Middle scholars have a BLOC (Building Learning Outside of the Classroom) period 6 of every 7 days during which all academic teachers are available.  This is an opportune moment for students to seek out help from any of their subject teachers.

St. Anne’s also provides a daily, supervised study hall in the library for all students from grades 3 through 8.  It begins at the end of the school day, 3:05 p.m., and continues until 4:30 p.m.  At this time, the Extended Day program in the lower school building is available to students until 6 p.m.  Extended Day provides a space for students to do artwork, continue studying, or simply hang out with their schoolmates.