Campus Family
a family away from home
At Leelanau, your student feels at home. Our Family Advisory Units, groups of six to eight students and three 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 three 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 twice a week, the advisors deliver mail daily and 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.