Community Well-Being

At Pingry, Community Well-Being means creating a culture where students feel safe to practice, try, make mistakes, and grow as they are supported every step of the way.

Our teachers, CAST team, coaches, and counselors work in close partnership to help every student become their best self, honoring each child’s unique learning style and developmental needs. With dedicated learning specialists and school counselors in every division—Lower, Middle, and Upper School—supported by an Academic Support Manager and a K–12 Community Well-Being Director, students experience consistent, caring support throughout their Pingry journey. Through intentional collaboration between learning specialists and classroom educators, students build essential executive-functioning skills such as problem-solving, responsible decision-making, self-awareness, self-regulation, and social awareness. These shared commitments ensure that every student is known, supported, and equipped to thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally—within a community that believes deeply in their potential.

The Counseling and Academic Support Team (CAST)

Pingry's CAST Department supports the day-to-day functions and tools essential to building a healthy and balanced life.

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What We Help Students Build

Self-regulation
Interpersonal skills
Organization & planning
Advocacy
Time management
Study strategies
Problem-solving
Responsible decision-making
Social awareness & relationships

Daily & Weekly Touchpoints

Morning Meeting (LS, MS, US)
Advisory (MS/US)
Assemblies
Community Time
Peer Leadership
Health & Wellness programming
CAST check-ins

Who’s Here to Help

Couseling and Academic Support Team (CAST)
Made up of School Counselors and Learning Specialists
School Counselors
Athletic Trainers
Advisors
Teachers
Coaches
Deans
Nurses / Health Office

There is a point person for every kid in the school who cares about them and knows them. Alan Van Antwerp,
Dean of Student Life for Advising and Peer Leadership

Well-Being Programming at Pingry

Peer Leadership

Peer Leadership

Pingry’s Peer Leadership Program empowers Upper School students to learn from—and lean on—each other. Guided by the Dean of Student Life for Advising and Peer Leadership, the program pairs younger students with trained Peer Leaders who model empathy, authenticity, and strong communication skills.

Peer Leaders help establish a supportive advisory environment by facilitating conversations, building community within each group, and serving as approachable role models who understand the student experience firsthand. Through weekly activities, shared grade-level themes, and daily touchpoints, they help their peers develop key life skills such as self-awareness, problem-solving, responsible decision-making, and relationship-building.

By strengthening connection and belonging in advisory groups, Peer Leadership ensures that every student has not only an adult mentor, but also a trusted peer who “has their back” and contributes to a positive, inclusive Upper School culture.

Health & Learning

Health & Learning

From fire safety and basic hygiene in the Lower School, to physical development, citizenship, decision-making, and substance abuse education in the Middle School, to Upper School coursework culminating in certifications in Basic Life Support, First Aid, and Teen Mental Health First Aid, Pingry’s health education curriculum is designed to equip students with skills that support emotional, social, and physical well-being. Students in all divisions learn techniques for problem-solving, relaxation, and stress management, with opportunities to practice these skills in a safe, supportive environment.

Advisory

Advisory

Upper School

In the Upper School, advisory ensures that every student is known, supported, and connected throughout their high school journey. Each student is paired with a dedicated faculty advisor—alongside daily touchpoints and weekly advisory sessions—to help navigate academic choices, personal development, and the day-to-day rhythm of Upper School life.

A structured advisory curriculum provides consistency while offering space for flexibility, balancing logistics, assembly preparation, skill-building, and fun, de-stress activities. Advisors receive weekly guidance and grade-level themes that anchor meaningful discussions on well-being, decision-making, relationships, and personal growth.

Supported by Peer Leaders and the Dean of Student Life for Advising and Peer Leadership, the program builds trust, strengthens community, and ensures that students have a reliable adult, and supportive peers, who know them well. The result is a thriving, research-informed program that helps students grow into confident, thoughtful, and connected young adults.

Middle School

In the Middle School, advisory provides the structure and support students need as they navigate a transformative stage of learning and growth. Each student joins a small advisory group led by a dedicated faculty advisor who helps them manage academic expectations, develop healthy relationships, and build a strong sense of belonging in an increasingly complex social world.

A hallmark of Middle School advisory is the student-led conference, a cornerstone of the division’s student-centered philosophy. Through guided reflection, goal-setting, and direct communication with teachers and families, students take ownership of their learning and personal development. This process nurtures self-advocacy, confidence, and deeper understanding of how they learn best.

Across advisory meetings and community touchpoints, students practice skills such as self-awareness, responsible decision-making, social awareness, organization, and relationship-building. By the end of their three-year Middle School experience, students enter the Upper School equipped with the independence, communication skills, and confidence they need to thrive in a familiar yet more challenging setting.

Lower School

In the Lower School, advisory takes shape through the Responsive Classroom approach—a daily structure that supports student well-being, connection, and readiness to learn. Each morning begins with a 30-minute Morning Meeting that helps students feel seen, heard, and grounded for the day ahead. Through greetings, sharing, group activities, and a morning message, children practice essential social-emotional skills such as cooperation, empathy, responsibility, assertiveness, and self-control.

Supported by intentional teacher language and consistent routines, Responsive Classroom strengthens relationships and nurtures a sense of belonging. It ensures that even our youngest learners start each day with trust, connection, and the social-emotional tools they need to thrive.

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