Along with the many changes this year, the VBCPS School Board allowed each high school to incorporate advisory as they please.
This year, the Ocean Lakes administration decided to turn it into inclusive openings and intentional closings.
Last year, advisory occurred between the second and third block every Wednesday for social and emotional health, but now in its place, inclusive openings and intentional closings are mandatory for every class.
“[In advisory], you were focusing on building relationships with students,” said instructional technology specialist Meri Riddick.
In recent years, advisory was meant to prepare students for careers and academics as well as to sustain a helpful relationship between students and teachers. This is also the objective of inclusive openings and intentional closings this year.
“I like [inclusive openings and intentional closings] a lot better than advisory,” said senior Hannah Hicks. “They are more thought out and centered around things we are learning.”
Previously, there was an adjusted schedule on Wednesdays for an advisory block, but there were issues that resulted in the change in the schedule every week.
“Every Wednesday felt like a hiccup,” said assistant principal Leah Nelson. “It never seemed like teachers got into the groove of things.”
According to Nelson, the idea of advisory, inclusive openings and intentional closings is to provide students with a way to socially and emotionally grow.
The advisory block was removed from all students’ schedules because it was not as rewarding as the school hoped. Instances of some students forgetting about the advisory block was another prominent issue.
“I don’t think advisory benefited me because no one seemed into it,” said sophomore Justin Salvador. “It felt like the teacher was forced to do it.”
