Leelanau students enjoy uncommon access to teachers who become both
friends and mentors, instructing, answering questions, modeling
positive intellectual and social attitudes, or just talking. Within
our exceptionally small community–around 90 students and 40
teachers, staff, and administrators–your student’s presence,
his personality, and his voice never slip by unnoticed.
In astronomy class with only six peers, he observes the night sky
through our 14” Celestron telescope. His drama class embarks
on a spontaneous trip to see a local performance. After dinner,
his ornithology instructor spots an unusual bird and gathers the
class for a quick look. We live together. We learn together. We
know each other.
At Leelanau, your student feels at home. Our Family Advisory Units,
groups of five to seven students and two faculty “parents,”
meet regularly and informally throughout the week. The “family”
provides consistent care and attention to your student’s non-academic
needs–gathering for a holiday celebration in Glen Arbor, slipping
a birthday card under the door, or sharing homemade cookies for
no reason at all.
Family Advisory Unit
(FAU)
The FAU is designed
to support the individual student enrolled at The Leelanau School.
The advisor will communicate with parents and help the student succeed
in education academically and in the school community. With most
students away from their home for the first time, this group functions
as a substitute family.
The FAU
The FAU consists
of two Advisors who are school faculty or staff and are referred
to as FAU parents, and a group of 6-8 students. The FAU sits together
at Quiet Period in the mornings, the advisors deliver mail daily
and have formal meetings twice a week. The group eats lunch together
once a week. In addition, the FAU group participates in several
recreational outings throughout the school year.
The Student
Each student
is part of an FAU and participates in meetings and outings with
the group as well as meets individually with the FAU advisor(s).
The student is encouraged to share successes and difficulties in
school life and other personal concerns with the FAU family.
The Advisor
The Advisor’s
role is to nurture, inform, advocate and be involved in disciplinary
matters. The Advisor knows the student’s strengths and weaknesses,
is aware of educational and family history, and knows the student’s
interests. The Advisor is familiar with the student’s Admission
File and the student’s academic standing.
The FAU advisor
monitors Quiet Period attendance daily as well as dress code. When
a student is not in attendance, the advisor takes note and reports
to the appropriate authority. The Advisor adheres to appropriate
confidentiality rules in order to create a trusting relationship.
If necessary, the advisor coordinates staffings for students who
need increased support
The Advisor
periodically provides the students’ parents with written reports
and phone calls about the student’s progress. Parents can contact
the student’s FAU Advisor through the school’s telephone
system or at home when necessary.
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