Academic Advising

It finally feels like spring has come to Sonoma County! And with the sunshine and green grass comes another season: course sign-ups for the next school year for our 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. 

The announcement of the new school year’s course offerings is always highly anticipated and buzzed about, as students set their sights on brand new electives or look forward to annually offered classes they’ve been waiting to take. It’s also a time for students to think about their long term goals, not just for the remainder of their high school years, but after high school, as well. 

Our academic advising program is designed to give our students a personalized opportunity to receive expert advice, while also empowering them to make their own choices as they register for their classes. The end goal is for each student to have a well-balanced course of study that allows them to explore a variety of interests and disciplines, to be challenged at the appropriate level, and to be well-prepared for what comes next.

Over the last few weeks, Registrar and Director of Academic Services Oona McKnight and College Counselors Rolando Crisostomo and Katie May have been meeting with every 9th-11th grader individually to help them select their courses for next year. In these meetings, they are able to give each student personalized counseling, taking into account teacher recommendations and prerequisite requirements. These conversations cover not just the upcoming year, but each year following so that students can see the big picture for their time at SA.

If students are interested in pursuing an Academic Concentration (in STEM, Global Citizenship, or Global Stewardship/Climate Justice), these meetings provide a chance to ensure that they are on track to meet the necessary course requirements. The College Counselors are also on hand to provide input on course selections for students who are interested in specific university systems or competitive majors, while also taking into account the need for balance and time for meaningful engagement in co-curricular activities. 

The personal attention each student gets during their annual Academic Advising meeting is just one example of our commitment to seeing each student as an individual with unique strengths, challenges, goals, responsibilities outside of school, and passions. Rather than trying to fit every student into a uniform mold of “generic ideal applicant,” we try to help our students to mold their course pathways to fit them and their own aspirations, understanding that this looks different for students depending on their goals. This personal attention continues through the College Counseling program, as students are encouraged to develop self-knowledge as they identify colleges that will be good matches for them.

Through our graduation requirements, we give our students a strong and rigorous liberal arts foundation that prepares them to apply to college. By graduation, they will have attained crucial skills ranging from research to data analysis to argumentation to self expression. From there, each student has chances to follow pathways that will challenge them, deepen understanding of their existing interests, and awaken them to new ideas.