Building Community at OCS
Groups at OCS- Also called CCC for Community Connection Circle
Advisory group/class is a place where our 5-8th grade students and their advisor come together as a family to share, to play, and to develop and enhance the well-being of the students. It is characterized by a sense of freedom and fosters a sense of belonging.
Why Advisory Groups
- Strengthens connectedness at the middle level.
- Advocates suggest a direct link between a student’s emotional and social experience and academic achievement.
- Promotes self-esteem.
- Research shows that advisory students are less likely to drop out and have a low incidence of substance abuse.
Overall Goals of Advisory
- Support all students in being successful academically, socially and personally.
- Foster a sense of belonging (in the group and the school).
- Foster a sense of self in each student and a sense of community.
- Throughput the school year advisory class should be working toward the ability to function as a huge listening group: attentive, appreciative of other’s individual uniqueness, helpful, caring.
Minecraft Picture Board
The theme for 5th grade Advisory/CCC is ”Minecrafting our way through Middle School.” Students were to create their own Minecraft character using words, or items that describe who they are. It was a way for students to get to know each other during their first few sessions of Advisory/CCC.
Classroom Advisory/CCC Bullying Session
Here at the Upper School students are participating in a series of bullying activities and discussions. Shown here is a group of students in their Advisory/CCC group discussing whether certain situations are bullying or not. The main criteria being any action that: intentionally inflicts physical or verbal hurt, is repetitive and involves a power difference between the students involved.