Manual for Class Advisers

1. The Effective Class Adviser
An effective Class Adviser has probably the greatest impact on the formation of the
students. Probably, his influence is greater than the tutor’s, who only meets the student
once a month, or the Religion teacher’s, who meets the student only 3 or 4 times a week.
The Class Adviser has the occasion to meet with his Advisory Class everyday, sometimes
even more than once a day if he also handles the class in a subject, which is usually the
case.
On his effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) lies the “spirit” (or lack of it) of the Class. If
effective, he is able to create a sense of class unity that can energize everyone to achieve
the class goals. And these goals can include academic excellence, co- and extra-curricular
achievements, and yes, even spiritual growth and exceptional sense of loyalty towards the
school and the spirit of the school.
Given all these, it is very important that the school chooses well and trains well the Class
Advisers. It is important, therefore, that those who are appointed as Class Advisers have
the following traits:
1. They have a full understanding and sincere appreciation of the spirit of the
school (i.e., sanctification of work, which therefore includes academic excellence
and personal formation taken seriously; loyalty to the Magisterium; love for the
Sacraments; full adherence to the principle of “Parents First” and other similar
basic PAREF principles; etc.)
2. Since they are the direct link of the school with the parents and the students, they
can communicate with ease, orally and in writing. (The Tutor chats with
parents only 3 times a year. The Class Adviser communicates with them
practically everyday, through the diary, and 3 times a year through the PQFs, and
sometimes more if there are special projects or concerns.)
3. Since they are in charge of the weekly Class Mass sponsorship, and coordination
of Class recollections/retreats/seminars, they have more than just the minimum
level of spiritual life, necessary for them to fulfill their apostolic assignments. As
such, they see the Chaplain for spiritual direction regularly. (Here, I would
venture to add that they, therefore, should be practicing Catholic. I cannot
imagine how a non-Catholic Class Adviser can be pushing Southridge formation
along the same direction.)
4. Since they coordinate all the activities of the class (e.g., co-curriculars, Fathers
Day, Linggo ng Wika, Academic Contests, Assemblies, Student Seminars, etc.,
etc.) they have the intellectual capacity and some managerial skills to handle
the many and various concerns throughout the school year.
Given these traits, the training of the Class Advisers should be complete and thorough,
addressing all these expectations.

2. Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Takes charge of the order and discipline of his advisory class when the class
attends co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.
2. Links the school administration to the class, to the parents of his class, in
particular to the Parent Coordinators and ensures unity with the school.
3. Informs parents of failing students of the status of their children.
4. Investigates minor, major and grave offenses committed by members of his
advisory class.
5. Looks after the general points of order in his advisory class. (e.g. seat plan, job
assignments, notices on the bulletin board, classroom decorations, etc…)
6. Seeks support from parents of his advisory class for school projects and activities.
7. Implements the Virtue of the Month (V.O.M.) Program: commentary writing and
reading, posting of mottos, etc.
8. Coordinates the Parents Quarterly Forums.
9. Promotes personal formation of his class as a class and in their relations with one
another.
10. Helps in organizing Father and Son activities.
11. Collates the grades of his advisory class in all subjects
12. Consistently motivates the students in his advisory class.
13. Checks and signs the diaries of his advisory students daily.
14. Checks the students class day and gala attire.
15. Accompanies his advisory class during assemblies. (e.g. Flag Ceremony, Holy
Mass, Student Assemblies, Parangal, etc…)
16. Conducts Advisory and GMRC classes.
17. Plans class presentations and practices the students for these.
18. Attends BIDORY meetings, Student Awards deliberation meetings, and Council
of Class Advisers’ meetings

3. Other Areas of Concern for the Class Adviser:
A. During the Flag Ceremony
1. The Class adviser accompanies his advisory class during the flag
ceremony.
2. He must make sure that his students are properly aligned, well behaved,
attentive and participate in the singing of the national anthem and in the
recitation of the “Panunumpa sa Watatwat”.
B. In the Chapel
1. The CA accompanies his advisory class during the Holy Mass sponsorship
and other regular liturgical celebrations (First Friday Masses, Corpus
Christi, June 26 Masses, etc.).
2. The CA makes sure that his class observes the proper oratory norms of
conduct.
C. During Student Assemblies and Similar Activities
1. The CA must remind the students of their proper behavior during student
assemblies and other activities requiring the presence of the entire class.
2. He must accompany the class during these activities.
3. He must be very vigilant on his class’ comportment.
D. In the Cafeteria
1. The CA must remind the students of their proper comportment in the
cafeteria.
- Forming a line when getting their orders.
- Returning cafeteria utensils at the used items counter
- Picking up food particles which are left on the table
- ETC…
2. The CA must help his students learn the basics of good table manners.
E. In the Classroom
1. The CA decorates the classroom at the beginning of the school year to set
a welcome atmosphere.
2. He makes sure that the decorations are elegant and properly laid out.
3. The CA should see to it that his advisory room is always clean.

4. 4. He updates his decorations and bulletin board regularly.
5. He frequently reminds and follows up the students in his advisory class as
regards their job assignments.
6. He is vigilant on areas needing repair, especially in his advisory
classroom.
7. He follows up his students as regards prompt submission of reply slips.
8. He organizes the class officers of his advisory class.
9. It would be good to post the names of birthday celebrants for the month.
10. It would be good to greet students on their birthdays or on special
occasions.
11. In case of death in the family of his student, the class adviser informs the
Management Staff immediately.
12. He acknowledges promptly favors and commendations received from the
parents or officers of the school through “thank you” notes in the diary or
“thank you” cards.
13. He replies promptly on all inquiries of parents.
14. He should be very punctual in all appointments especially with officers of
the school and parents.
15. He avoids any form of negative familiarity with students, parents and
teachers.
16. He turns over non–edible gift items from parents to the office of the
Principal.
17. He is thoughtful:
- when one of his students in his advisory class gets sick.
- when a new baby comes in the family of his student.
- on birthdays of the parents of his advisory student.
- other special occasions.
This can be done through a card or a note in the diary.
18. He avoids asking any personal favors from the parents.
19. When the class adviser is in doubt, he consults his superior officer.

5. 20. When consultation is not possible there and then, he acts with prudence
then report.
JOB ASSIGNMENTS:
All students shall be given opportunity to carry out tasks other than those required
in the curriculum for the year. Job Assignments are means to develop a sense of
responsibility, to eliminate the “señorito attitude”, to live the spirit of service, and to
break the routine of regular school work.
Classroom Job Assignments:
1. Doorman
2. Chalk
3. Blackboard and Eraser
4. Errands
5. Windows
6. Lockers
7. Teacher’s Table
8. Litters
9. Wastebasket
10. Seat Alignment
11. Time Keeper
12. Reply Slips
13. Homework Assignments
14. Posters
15. Prayer
All classroom job assignments are made by the class adviser. Job Assignments
are rotated among the students on a quarterly basis. Each student in the class should have
an assignment. The class adviser should also devise ways to monitor the performance of
job assignments. This will instill in the boys a sense of importance for carrying out these
small duties.

6. Load Requirement:
Seeing all these, it becomes very clear why it is proper to count “Advisory Load”
as one full subject in reckoning the full load of a teacher. In some cases, in fact, the
demands are even greater than that of one subject. Consider the following:
Daily
15 to 20 minutes
• to meet the class for advisory period where important
announcements and reminders are made
• to distribute communications to parents (memos, printed matters,
mails, etc.)
• to launch or reiterate the Virtue of the Month (V.O.M.)
• to accompany the class in the Morning Assembly (flag-raising,
announcements, morning prayers, etc.)—Mondays and Fridays
• to collect reply slips and/or payments for certain special
activities
• to give a specific direction or indications for the day or the week
Daily
20 to 30 minutes
• to sign the diaries and use them as the school’s tool to directly
communicate with parents on a daily basis
• an effective Class Adviser does not use the diary simply to
“reprimand” students (writing warnings or reminders regarding
student’s wrongdoings, etc.). An effective CA uses the diary to
communicate good news and also to win the confidence of the
parents (greeting them—through the diary—on their birthdays,
anniversaries, etc.)
• an effective Class Adviser uses the diary to update parents of the
progress of their son’s performance (good or bad) on a regular
basis
Quarterly
Grades/Cards
• the CA is responsible for making sure that the cards are
distributed according to schedule. For this, he has the task of
making sure that all the teachers are able to submit on time. On
him also lies the burden of making sure that mistakes in the
printing of the cards are avoided, or totally eliminated.

7. Student Award Nomination
• the CA has to make sure that usual procedures in the nomination
for Student Awards are followed punctually.
• He collates and keeps these records of nominations.
• He has to chair the deliberation for his own class when the time
comes.
BIDORY Chats
• he has to chat with the parents of students in the BIDORY list, as
well as give on-time warnings to those who are in danger of
failing
• he is expected to draw up plans for each of the BIDORY
students in his class
Seasonal
Parents Quarterly Forums
• this happens 3 times a year
• the CA spends many hours preparing his class for their
performance during the PQFs: dance or song number, exhibit,
class profiles etc.
• the CA spends hours following up parents in his class so as to
achieve high attendance: an effective CA even calls up ALL the
families in his class to personally invite/remind them.
• the CA fulfills usual assignments given to them by the Principal
and/or Vice-Principal: ushering during the PQF night,
registration, decorations, etc. In some cases, the parents
themselves take care of some of these details.
Fathers’ Day
• the tasks here are varied and many: teaching his class certain
dance steps for the coming celebration; following up parents
regarding registration; distribution of shirts and collection of
payments and fees; pushing participation in a golf tournament or
in the other related activities organized by the committee, etc.etc.
This period is one of the most taxing for the Class Advisers.
Student Seminar
• this is equally taxing for the Class Advisers. Tasks include:
planning, organizing, holding the student seminar; arranging
transportation, board and lodging for the entire batch; making
sure of security; budgeting and accounting of all expenses;
collection and disbursement of funds; coordinating with parents
through letters and phone calls; campaigning for participation
among the students; addressing concerns of parents and students;

8. and ultimately taking responsibility for the success of the
seminar
Father & Son Activity
• much like the Student Seminar, except that the parents help a
great deal in the material aspect of the activity. Nevertheless, the
CA is expected to push attendance among the fathers and the
sons; to coordinate between the school and the parents; to assure
the formative aspect of the activity, etc.
Corpus Christi
• the CA coordinates the work that has to be done by his class with
regard to the traditional Corpus Christi Procession: acquiring
materials for the slabs, coordinating the execution, etc.
Usual Special Activities
• the CA is expected to ascertain participation of his class in the
various special activities that are held every year:
o BUWAN NG WIKA
o CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
o DIRECTOR’S DAY
o TEACHERS’ DAY
o RECOLLECTION/SEMINAR (in high school only)
Others
The most effective and efficient CAs are those who find time and energy to have
initiatives that can greatly benefit the students in his class. This is not an exhaustive
listing, but these are some that a number of CAs these past years have been organizing:
1. team-building seminars
2. leadership seminars/activities
3. rosary recitation on special days
4. class pilgrimages
5. class outings/excursions
6. study weekend
7. many outreach activities throughout the year
8. Class Newsletter
9. review classes
Conclusion
From this long list, it is obvious why there is a need to assign 1-full subject load to
Advisory Load. In fact, the real load can sometimes be greater than that of 1 subject.