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Individualization
Siena seeks to create a highly individualized and personalized learning experience for each student. We accomplish this by maintaining a small overall school size and small class sizes, and by providing students with a range of individual supports such as a faculty advisor and an individualized learning plan. The school faculty meets regularly to discuss and actively manage individual student progress.
The Student Compass
Siena's individualized approach to learning begins with the Student Compass, a unique learning map that we create for each student. This individualized learning plan is designed to orient and guide each student as they travel their own unique educational journey. The Student Compass is developed by the staff, in consultation with parents and students, and is regularly reviewed and modified as necessary. It specifies key learning goals and strategies, and identifies areas of strength and interest for each student. In addition to quarterly grade reports, progress on the Student Compass objectives is reported at the end of each semester.
Advisor Groups
Personalized attention to each student is further enhanced by faculty advisors who provide individualized guidance and support. Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who acts as a counselor for the student and monitors the student's academic progress. The advisor also serves as the primary point of contact for all communication with the parents, helping to streamline and coordinate communication between parents and the school. Students meet with their advisor twice a day, once during morning homeroom and again in the afternoon before dismissal. The morning homeroom provides opportunities for D.E.A.R. time (Drop Everything and Read) and to check that the students are organized and prepared for the day. Finally, afternoon homeroom provides a smooth transition home, including the gathering of all materials required for homework.
Parent Communication
Effective home-school communication is a critical element of student success at Siena. Our staff works in close cooperation with parents to ensure regular communication of important information and individual student progress. Parents receive a weekly e-mail or phone call from the advisor updating them on their student's progress. Advisors call home to discuss mid-quarter grades (four times a year) and regular parent-teacher conferences are also scheduled.
Communication between home and Siena is supplemented by the use of student assignment planners and communication folders. Assignment planners are used to record homework and other assignments in each class period, and students maintain a communication folder in which all important letters, memos and other documents for the parents are placed. We encourage parents to check these each night. In addition, a weekly parent newsletter is e-mailed home on Fridays.
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