Family Conferences

At Trevor each family is invited to conference with a home room teacher (Nursery - Grade 5) or an advisor (Grades 6 - 12) twice a year or more if necessary. Typically, one family conference is held in November and one in March. The school also sends two or three written reports home, also depending on the student's grade level. Our conferences always include the student. We believe that collaborative conferences, inclusive of all three parties who participate in a student's education, are the only way to insure that all three points-of-view are shared. With the student present, the group can work constructively and collaboratively; agreeing upon and setting attainable goals for the student. Collaborative conferencing creates a foundation for excellent communication, success and achievement. The model is patterned after the impressive counseling techniques of the Ackerman Institute for the Family.

How Family Conferences Work

When a conference is called, the students' homeroom teacher (East Campus - Grades N-5) or Advisor (West Campus Grades 6-12) prepares a comprehensive assessment report of the student's progress. At the conference the teacher serves as moderator and the information is presented objectively so that it is clear to all parties involved, including the student. We believe that the only information that is truly useful during conferences is that which is clearly understood by the student. Once the information is understood and accepted, the group sets out to create a short list of reasonable and attainable goals for the student to reach by the next conference or until the next written report is sent home. Homeroom teachers/advisors track the students' progress and report to the family and student when goals are met or when goals need to remain on the list.