ATTLEBORO - An advisory program that pairs small groups of high school students with a single staff member throughout their careers is gradually building relationships and reinforcing students' connections with their school.

Jean Hickox, who long advocated for such a program and helped to launch it this year, said at the last school committee meeting that the purpose of the program is to increase communication and develop a sense of community. Hickox, a Spanish teacher, said the need for the program was reinforced for her last year following the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech.

Students came to class deeply affected by the incident, and were unable to talk about anything else. The incident brought into focus students' need to communicate with teachers on a broad range of subjects, ranging from such traumatic incidents, to resolving personal conflicts and academics.

Students participate in 30-minute advisory sessions twice a month. A maximum of 13 students are assigned to a single staff member. Hickox, who said the sessions got "mixed reviews" from seniors this year, said they ultimately will be recognized by students as a valuable part of high school experience.