Quest

Mentoring for Leadership, Learning, and Service

Quest Time is Merit’s unique daily mentoring program designed to help students lead, learn, and serve in practical, meaningful ways. It directly supports Merit Preparatory Academy’s mission to provide “an outstanding educational experience designed to instill excellence, build a love of learning and service, and create principled leaders who will engage in real world challenges and opportunities.”

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Through Quest Time, students learn to set and achieve personal and academic goals, reflect on their progress, and contribute actively to their communities while growing in confidence and character. This structured mentoring program ensures that each student can take the next step in learning and life, preparing them to thrive both inside and outside of the classroom.

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Grounded in Core Values 

At the heart of Quest Time are grade-level values that guide each student’s journey:

• 7th: Belonging
   

• 8th: Vision
   

• 9th: Intelligence
   

• 10th: Service
   

• 11th: Determination
   

• 12th: Leadership
   

These values are woven into weekly lessons, discussions, and projects, ensuring that students learn to apply them in their daily decisions, relationships, and contributions to the school community.

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Defining Student Success

Quest Time is a pass/fail course, but the program is not focused on receiving a grade; it’s about personal growth and progress. Students succeed when they learn to set achievable goals, track their progress, and take responsibility for their learning while serving others. Weekly reflections help students identify their wins, build resilience, and celebrate progress toward their goals.

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A Mentoring Program, Not Just Advisory

Quest Time goes beyond a typical advisory or homeroom period. It is a structured, mission-aligned mentoring program with daily activities focused on goal setting, personal growth, academic accountability, reflection, and service. This structure helps students develop practical skills while building a strong, supportive community within the school and beyond.

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Real-World Application and Hands-On Learning

Quest Time connects learning to the real world through hands-on service and leadership projects. Each semester, classes complete projects that address real-world issues or improve our school community. Weekly challenges, guest speakers, and service activities ensure that students can apply what they learn in meaningful, impactful ways.

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Supporting Every Learner

Quest Time is designed to support students at all readiness levels. Teacher-mentors use regular check-ins and conversations to guide students in setting personal goals, whether they need extra structure to stay on track with school work or are ready to stretch themselves their own individual life ambitions. This approach helps every student set out on their own personal quest in both academics and real life.

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Reflective and Growth-Focused Assessment

Assessment in Quest Time is reflective, focusing on progress and growth. Students complete weekly reflections scored with a clear rubric, emphasizing effort, honesty, and improvement. Teacher-mentors provide personalized feedback to celebrate successes and guide continued development.

 

 

Building Life Skills That Last

Beyond academics, Quest Time helps students develop essential life skills. Students practice goal-setting, time management, teamwork, and effective communication, while projects and service activities build leadership and problem-solving abilities that prepare them for real-world challenges.

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What Students Love About Quest Time

Students regularly report that they appreciate Quest Time as a daily opportunity to plan, reflect, and reset within a supportive mentoring environment. Many enjoy building connections in small mentoring groups, contributing to meaningful projects, and using this structured time to balance academic and personal growth.

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Why Quest Time Matters

Quest Time is an essential part of what makes Merit Preparatory Academy a place where students are known by name and supported in their unique paths. It embodies Merit’s mission to “instill excellence, build a love of learning and service, and create principled leaders” by helping students take practical steps toward their goals while developing character, practicing leadership skills, and fostering a joy of service. Through Quest Time, students learn that leadership and learning are not confined to classrooms, but are lived out daily in ways that prepare them to engage confidently with real-world challenges and opportunities.