Paper on Effective Class Advisory

1. A Paper on Class Advisory for Bannister Academy
Mann Rentoy
PREAMBLE:
An effective Class Adviser has probably the greatest impact on the formation of the
students, and is one of the most essential elements in creating a healthy school climate.
Probably, his influence is greater than the mentor’s, who only meets the students once or
twice a month, or the Values teacher’s, who meets the students only 3 or 4 times a week.
The Class Adviser has the occasion to meet with his Advisory Class everyday, sometimes
even more than once a day if he/she also handles the class in a subject, which is usually
the case.
On his effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) lies the “spirit” (or lack of it) of the Class. If
effective, he/she is able to create a sense of class unity that can energize everyone to
achieve the class goals. And these goals can include academic excellence, co- and extra-
curricular achievements, and yes, even personal and moral growth and acquiring an
exceptional sense of loyalty towards the school and the spirit of the school.
Given all these, it is very important that the school chooses well and trains well the Class
Advisers. It is important, therefore, that those who are appointed as Class Advisers have
the following traits:
1. They have a full understanding and sincere appreciation of the spirit (mission
and vision) of the school (i.e., academic excellence and personal formation taken
seriously; full adherence to the school mission and vision; etc.)
2. Since they are the direct link of the school with the parents and the students, they
can communicate with ease, orally and in writing. (The Mentor chats with the
parents only 3 times a year. The Class Adviser communicates with them
practically everyday, through the diary, and 3 times a year through the Parents’
Forums, and sometimes more if there are special projects or concerns.)
3. Since they coordinate all the activities of the class (e.g., co-curriculars, extra-
curriculars, Linggo ng Wika, Academic Contests, Assemblies, Student Seminars,
etc.,) they have the intellectual capacity and some managerial skills to handle
the many and various concerns throughout the school year.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Takes charge of the order and discipline of his advisory class when the class
attends co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
2. Links the school administration to the class and to the parents of his class, and
ensures unity with the school.
3. Informs parents of failing students of the status of their children.

2. 4. Investigates minor, major and grave offenses committed by members of his
advisory class.
5. Looks after the general points of order in his advisory class. (e.g. seat plan, job
assignments, notices on the bulletin board, classroom decorations, etc…)
6. Seeks support from parents of his advisory class for school projects and activities.
7. Implements the Virtue of the Month (V.O.M.) Program: commentary writing and
reading, posting of mottos, etc.
8. Coordinates the Parents Forums.
9. Promotes personal formation of his class as a class and in their relations with one
another.
10. Helps in organizing family activities (e.g., fun run, exhibits, etc.).
11. Collates the grades of his advisory class in all subjects.
12. Consistently motivates the students in his advisory class.
13. Checks and signs the diaries of his advisory students daily.
14. Checks the students class day and gala attire.
15. Accompanies his advisory class during assemblies. (e.g. Flag Ceremony, Student
Assemblies, Recognition, etc…)
16. Conducts Advisory and GMRC classes.
17. Plans class presentations and practices the students for these.
18. Attends faculty meetings, meetings of class advisers and deliberation meetings.
Other Areas of Concern for the Class Adviser:
A. During the Flag Ceremony
1. The Class adviser accompanies his advisory class during the flag
ceremony.
2. He must make sure that his students are properly aligned, well behaved,
attentive and participate in the singing of the national anthem and in the
recitation of the “Panunumpa sa Watatwat”.

3. B. During Student Assemblies and Similar Activities
1. The CA must remind the students of their proper behavior during student
assemblies and other activities requiring the presence of the entire class.
2. He must accompany the class during these activities.
3. He must be very vigilant of his class’ comportment.
C. In the Cafeteria
1. The CA must remind the students of their proper comportment in the
cafeteria.
- Forming a line when getting their orders.
- Returning cafeteria utensils at the used items counter
- Picking up food particles which are left on the table
- ETC…
2. The CA must help his students learn the basics of good table manners.
D. In the Classroom
1. The CA decorates the classroom at the beginning of the school year to set
a welcoming atmosphere.
2. He makes sure that the decorations are elegant and properly laid out.
3. The CA should see to it that his advisory room is always clean.
4. He updates his decorations and bulletin board regularly.
5. He frequently reminds and follows up the students in his advisory class
regarding their job assignments.
6. He is vigilant on areas needing repair, especially in his advisory classroom.
7. He follows up his students regarding prompt submission of reply slips.
8. He organizes the class officers of his advisory class.
9. It would be good to post the names of birthday celebrants for the month.
10. It would be good to greet students on their birthdays or on special
occasions.
11. In case of death in the family of his student, the class adviser informs the
Management immediately.

4. 12. He acknowledges promptly favors and commendations received from the
parents or officers of the school through “thank you” notes in the diary or
“thank you” cards.
13. He replies promptly to inquiries of parents.
14. He should be very punctual in all appointments especially with officers of
the school and parents.
15. He avoids any form of negative familiarity with students, parents and
teachers.
16. He teaches his students to be thoughtful by initiating acts of kindness:
- when one of his students in his advisory class gets sick.
- when a new baby comes in the family of his student.
- on birthdays of the parents of his advisory student.
- other special occasions.
17. He avoids asking any personal favors from the parents.
JOB ASSIGNMENTS:
All students should be given opportunity to carry out tasks other than those
required in the curriculum for the year. Job Assignments are means to develop a sense of
responsibility, to eliminate the “señorito attitude”, to live the spirit of service, and to
break the routine of regular school work.
Possible Classroom Job Assignments:
1. Doorman
2. Chalk
3. Blackboard and Eraser
4. Errands
5. Windows
6. Lockers
7. Teacher’s Table
8. Litters
9. Wastebasket
10. Seat Alignment
11. Time Keeper
12. Reply Slips
13. Homework Assignments

5. 14. Posters
15. Classroom Library
All classroom job assignments are made by the class adviser. Job Assignments
are rotated among the students on a quarterly basis. Each student in the class should have
an assignment. The class adviser should also devise ways to monitor the performance of
job assignments. This will instill in the students a sense of importance for carrying out
these small duties.
Load Requirement:
Seeing all these, it becomes very clear why it is proper to count “Advisory Load”
as one full subject in reckoning the full load of a teacher. In some cases, in fact, the
demands are even greater than that of one subject. Consider the following:
Daily
20 to 30 minutes
 to meet the class for advisory period where important
announcements and reminders are made
 to distribute communications to parents (memos, printed matters,
mails, etc.)
 to launch or reiterate the Virtue of the Month (V.O.M.)
 to accompany the class in the Morning Assembly (flag-raising,
announcements, etc.)
 to collect reply slips and/or payments for certain special
activities
 to give a specific direction or indications for the day or the week
Daily
20 to 30 minutes
 to sign the diaries and use them as the school’s tool to directly
communicate with parents on a daily basis
 an effective Class Adviser does not use the diary simply to
“reprimand” students (writing warnings or reminders regarding
student’s wrongdoings, etc.). An effective CA uses the diary to
communicate good news and also to win the confidence of the
parents (greeting them—through the diary—on their birthdays,
anniversaries, etc.)
 an effective Class Adviser uses the diary to update parents of the
progress of their child’s performance (good or bad) on a regular
basis

6. Quarterly
Grades/Cards
 the CA is responsible for making sure that the cards are
distributed according to schedule. For this, he/she has the task of
making sure that all the teachers are able to submit on time. On
him/her also lies the burden of making sure that mistakes in the
printing of the cards are avoided, or totally eliminated.
Academic Chats
 the CA has to chat with the parents of students who performing
poorly, as well as give on-time warnings to those who are in
danger of failing
 he is expected to draw up plans for each of the failing students in
his class
Seasonal
Parents Forums
 this happens 3 or 4 times a year
 the CA spends time following up parents in his class so as to
achieve high attendance: an effective CA even calls up ALL the
families in his class to personally invite/remind them.
 the CA fulfills usual assignments given to him/her by the Head
Master: ushering during the Forum night, registration,
decorations, etc.
Family Day/Fun Run/ etc.
 the tasks here are varied and many: campaigning for attendance
among his students; following up parents regarding registration;
distribution of shirts and collection of payments and fees;
pushing participation in the various related activities organized
in connection to the celebration, etc. etc. This period is one of the
most taxing for the Class Advisers.
Student Excursions/Educational Trips
 this is equally taxing for the Class Advisers. Tasks include:
planning, organizing, holding these trips; arranging
transportation; making sure of security; budgeting and
accounting of all expenses; collection and disbursement of funds;
coordinating with parents through letters and phone calls;
campaigning for participation among the students; addressing
concerns of parents and students; and ultimately taking
responsibility for the success of the trips
Usual Special Activities

7.  the CA is expected to ascertain participation of his class in the
various special activities that are held every year:
o BUWAN NG WIKA
o LATIN EXHIBIT
o TEACHERS’ DAY
o CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
o FUN RUN
o AMAZING RACE
o Etc.
Others
The most effective and efficient CAs are those who find time and energy to have
initiatives that can greatly benefit the students in his class. This is not an exhaustive
listing, but these are some ideas to consider:
1. team-building seminars
2. leadership seminars/activities
3. class outings/excursions
4. study weekend
5. many outreach activities throughout the year
6. Class Newsletter
7. Class website
8. Camp-outs
9. review classes/enrichment sessions
Given these traits, the training of the Class Advisers should be complete and thorough,
addressing all these expectations.
Here is an example of how a summer training seminar for Class Advisers will look
like:
1st Talk General View – What is an Effective Class Adviser
Workshop The Most Important Virtues of an Effective Class Adviser
2nd Talk Understanding Bannister: What Makes the School Distinct?
Workshop What are the Essential Goals of a Good Class?
3rd Talk Speak Better, Write Better
Workshop List down DOs and DON’Ts in Diary Communication
Workshop Drawing up Personal Growth Plans for Better Communication
4th Talk Becoming Better Managers/Boosting Effectiveness

8. Workshop Applying the 7 Habits inside the Classroom
Drawing Up the Class Adviser Kit/Manual
Making the Most out of the CA Kit/Manual
Some Ideas for the Class Adviser:
This is the Vision for your Class:
* students very proud to be in your class; students are very happy to be in your class: they
think the other classes are pitiful compared to yours
* students from other classes envy your class; they’d want to be there
* parents are so satisfied and confident with you because they know their Class Adviser
genuinely cares for their children: they’re just too eager to help you and support you
* parents’ satisfaction comes specially from the realization that you are a role model for
their child: virtuous, upright, moral, high impact teacher
* parents and students speak highly of your professionalism, your punctuality, your
firmness but fairness, your kindness, your positive attitude: that you bring out the best in
the students
* they may have complaints and issues, but your presence, your attitude, your support all
make the problems look trivial and insignificant
* they may lose trust in some teachers, in systems, in curriculum: but your being their
child’s Class Adviser makes up for whatever shortcomings there are. And they are still
able to say: IT’S STILL WORTHWHILE TO BE IN BANNISTER!
* your students support you through and through; the last thing they’d ever want is to
upset you, offend you or be in disfavor with you
* you are the spirit of the class; the soul of the Team; the magic behind the great class
that it is
* the team spirit is so strong: failure of one student causes sadness for the whole class;
and success of one student is great joy for the whole class.
* there may be misunderstandings among the students every now and then, but they are
ready to forgive for the sake of Class Unity
This is the vision. This is what our classes can become… regardless of however our class
may have been last year, or in the previous years.
If there is anything right now that Bannister needs to become a really great school, it is
this: a set of EFFECTIVE CLASS ADVISERS!
5. Our role is to produce MEN AND WOMEN OF INTEGRITY: the Class Advisers are
the single, most important factor for Bannister’s success in this task: not the mentor, not
the academic subject teacher.

9. * we teach them integrity when we come to class PUNCTUALLY everyday. 2 minutes
before start of the day, eager and ready. Not dragging our feet.
* they learn integrity in the way we carry ourselves: they know
we are not lazy
we are always in control of our passion and temper
we love our job and we love our work
we do not cheat them
we do not cheat the school
we do not cheat ourselves
we have fear of God in the way we live our life
we have the right priorities in place
we do not take short cuts for selfish reasons
we are loyal
we ourselves are MEN and WOMEN OF INTEGRITY
Mann Rentoy
10 April 2012