Mission
The Heights School is a private, independent, preparatory school for boys, grades three to twelve. Our mission is to assist parents in the intellectual, moral, physical, and spiritual education of their sons, with dedicated teachers training boys rigorously in the liberal arts. This formation in virtue fosters respect for every person, a desire to serve God and others, and an optimistic attitude towards life's challenges.
Opus Dei
The School's Christian orientation and spiritual formation are entrusted to Opus Dei, a Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church. Opus Dei's purpose is to foster among men and women of every walk of life a profound awareness of the universal call to holiness and apostolate, pursued freely and on their own responsibility, in their ordinary work and place in society.
Founded in 1928 by Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, Opus Dei received its definitive juridical approval by the Holy See in 1982. It began in Chicago in 1949 and now serves in over twenty-five cities in the United States and over sixty countries worldwide. The spiritual direction of The Heights School is entrusted to Opus Dei; the Board of Directors and the Administrative Council are responsible for all other aspects of the School.
Advisory
The School makes a point to foster one-on-one teaching and mentoring opportunities between faculty members and students. Teachers are always available for one-on-one academic help; two full-time school chaplains offer guidance or counseling to interested students; and every student has a personal advisor, who makes the mission of the School personal for each boy.
The goal of Advisory is to help each student reach his potential both in his academic endeavors and in his personal formation as a man. Each advisor looks out for his advisees. This is the most basic of all his duties: "How is the student doing in class? What do his teachers say about his development? Is he interacting well with his peers?" The advisor thinks about each advisee. "What are his talents and weaknesses? What could he do with his gifts? How should he be developing academically?" The advisor must work with the parents of each advisee. Advisors strive to help parents in the upbringing of their son. It is important therefore that advisors and parents talk to each other regularly.
After observing each advisee and thinking about him, the advisor can point things out that the advisee may not realize about himself. An advisee may be reminded of the importance of using his time well on school nights—"It's a fact: surfing the Internet for hours doesn't help." A second one may be told that it's better to do certain subjects first while others may be taken care of later. And yet another could be told that he needs to get his binder in order. The possibilities are endless.
Advisors meet with their advisees at least once a month. This regular contact fosters fruitful conversation, goal-setting, and accountability. Each advisor meets with the Head of Advisory on a quarterly basis to help the advisors present the mission of the School well and discuss each student individually so they can benefit from every opportunity the School offers.
