A student’s advisor is a key resource for him, and his parents, in making sure he is on track, setting appropriate goals, and feeling happy and fulfilled in his work. Advisors serve as an academic coach, personal motivator, and caring friend. Please see Advisor Program for more information about the benefits of the advisor-advisee relationship.

The most successful students are those who work closely with their teachers, and our boys know it. At St. Sebastian’s extra help is part of the culture. Guidance from classroom teachers is the first and most powerful form of academic support. Thanks to extraordinarily small average class sizes (10), teachers work one-on-one with students both in and out of the classroom. Teachers know their students well, and they recognize when a boy might need a few extra minutes to master a concept or push a great idea further. As boys mature in their studies and academic self-awareness, they recognize for themselves when to meet with their teacher. 

This dedicated room staffed by Math Department Faculty is available every day to all students of all Math levels, from pre-algebra to multivariable calculus. Students take advantage of Math Lab to get help with a tricky problem, to prepare for an upcoming test, or to challenge themselves with some fun, advanced math problems.

Teachers write individual progress reports eight times a year, at each of the mid-quarter marking periods. The reports include a letter grade, effort grade, and a detailed narrative about the student’s recent performance and achievement. The personalized nature of the teacher comments reveals how closely teachers work with students and how well they know them and the keys to their learning.