The Portledge Pillars in Action: Middle School Advisory

The Middle School Advisory program at Portledge School stands as a cornerstone in the holistic development of students, nurturing their academic, social, and emotional growth.
The Middle School Advisory program at Portledge School stands as a cornerstone in the holistic development of students, nurturing their academic, social, and emotional growth. This program is meticulously designed to foster a supportive community where each child feels valued, heard, and empowered. 

Students are assigned advisors in 6th-grade who help them transition into Middle School. Beginning in seventh grade, students are then assigned an advisor who will stay with them for the next two years. Advisories meet every day for a 30-minute block, and once a week, there is an Extended Advisory. “The Extended Advisory sections are typically character development lessons,” Mrs. Ferruggia, Middle School Science Teacher and 7th-grade advisor, explains. “We work on preparing them for conferences, and this year we did skits. Each advisory had to do a skit on a different pillar. We chose Kindness.”

Over the past two years, the Upper School Community Service program has blossomed into the Community Partnership Experience (CPE), featuring partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Middle School students begin to prepare for their future CPE trips in advisory. This year, Mrs. Ferruggia implemented the Acts of Kindness initiative for Middle School Advisories. Students sent thoughtful and encouraging letters to the Farmingdale students who were impacted by the devastating bus accident in September. They also created a “Kindness Tree” bulletin board, wrote letters to the children at St. Jude’s hospital, fundraised for our military veterans, partnered with Lower School classes where they played games and read to the younger children, mailed home thank you letters to their parents, participated in the “Valentines for Veterans” program, and wrote “Words of Wisdom” cards to the 5th graders as they prepare to leave Lower School. 

By actively engaging in these projects, students learn to navigate challenges, collaborate effectively with their peers across different Divisions, and advocate for causes they believe in. “I think kids learn life skills best from other kids. And I think it's one of the best things that came out of it,” Mrs. Ferruggia says. “They’re making a difference where they didn’t think they could.”  

Ultimately, the Middle School Advisory program at Portledge School plays a pivotal role in shaping well-rounded individuals who are not only academically proficient but also compassionate, resilient, and socially conscious. “I’ve been at Portledge for a long time, and not once have I seen negativity spread throughout our campus,” Logan L. ’29, one of Mrs. Ferruggia’s advisees, explains. “From the Lower School to the Upper School, everyone always looks up to those pillars.” Marina Z. ’29 noted that this advisory program is essential to her experience at Portledge. “Portledge has taught me four very important lessons: honor, purpose, respect, and kindness, “ she says. “These are the pillars that inspire me to help our Portledge community and the community outside of Portledge with the help of our wonderful teachers.”

We look forward to watching the Acts of Kindness Initiative grow as our 7th-grade students move on to 8th grade and beyond.

Upcoming Events

List of 3 events.

View All Events
*NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
Portledge School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy applies to, but is not limited to, educational policies, admission, financial aid, hiring and employment practices, use of school facilities, athletics, and other school-administered programs.