Meg's Gateway Retreat Reflection

What did we learn?
It feels like forever since I did this with my first advisory.  I wasn't sure what to expect with this advisory - would they take it seriously?  Do they understand the consequences if they don't take it seriously?

We discussed the four pieces to our Gateway year - Project work/depth, Community/Community service, Addressing our Gaps, and LEADERSHIP.  The students struggled to get into their work a little after playing in the Iron's Homestead autumn-filled grounds, but soon enough, they settled into the ideas we were presenting.

LEADERSHIP was our biggest theme - we wanted the students to know that everyone is a leader in their own way.  And what STEPPING UP looks like, depends on the student.  The 10th graders did an excellent job brainstorming what Leadership looks like to them .. in the advisory, the school, and the community.

I was happy when the students shared their frustrations ... and the parts in Gateway that make them nervous - like all the pressure to pass and feeling like they might have too much on their plate.  Fear is a part of this process and I am excited to work with everyone on how to get over these fears.

Teambuilding -- our advisories are tied ... Game is on!!!!
Roberto joined us to facilitate some teambuilding - Bombshelter, crossing the atlantic, and crossing the sand were all fun activities ... what did we learn from them???

My advisory learned that our ADVISORY GAP is COMMUNICATION (okay .. last year we learned this ... but these activities made it obvious!!)  So often we feel communication looks like this ....

Two people talking.
But it should really look like this .....

One person talking, one person LISTENING!!!!

We need to listen to each other ...  we need to stop talking long enough to hear other people and to care to hear other people.  We need to be strategic with our plans and support one another once we do start those plans.  We need to stop blaming other people when we are called out for not following the rules

In the words of Roberto "The BEST advisories are the ones that HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE!  It is not a 1:1 education with your advisor ... it is a 15:1 with your advisor and advisory!!!!  Use the supports around you and be supportive to those around you".