Submitted by Alex Lara, HKHS Senior
(March 28, 2023) — March 22, 2023 marked the first Senior Portfolio Day at Haddam-Killingworth High School. Beginning with the Class of 2023, the State of Connecticut, through Public Act 17-42, requires a “mastery credit’ to be completed in the senior year in order to graduate. To meet this new state graduation requirement, HKHS initiated the Senior Portfolio as a demonstration of the collective work of each student.
Starting in freshman year and continuing throughout their years at HKHS, all students must now compile their best assignments into a digital portfolio with the help of teachers and school counselors. Much of the guidance to this end is given during the student’s weekly advisory period. The Senior Portfolio must contain material meeting five core learning expectations:
1. Demonstrate personal responsibility, character, cultural understanding, and ethical
behavior;
2. Communicate clearly and effectively in order to express ideas and connect with
others;
3. Investigate, evaluate, and apply information;
4. Work both independently and collaboratively toward a specific outcome;
5. Demonstrate creative, innovative, and reflective thinking.
These expectations can be met in a variety of ways. For example, to meet learning expectation #1, students can include community service or employment experience, extra-curricular activity participation, or letters of recommendation from faculty and employers.
Prior to Senior Portfolio Day, students met with their school counselors and with either Principal Donna Hayward or Assistant Principal Adam Apicella to share how they met learning expectation #1. All seniors were sent suggestions in advance and examples to share that might include community service experience and reflections, co-curricular participation and positive contribution, employment experience, letters of recommendation from faculty or employers, reflections on personal discipline issues and/or personal growth over time, impactful participation in special school programs, or volunteer work with community organizations.
For learning expectations #2-5, students collected exemplary assignments completed over their four years of high school that demonstrated growth in each learning expectation, referred to as “artifacts.” Commonly used artifacts included essays, presentations and projects encompassing a wide variety of subjects and skills.
I personally used such varied artifacts such as a barn star built in my Metals class, as well as a gingerbread house made in my Food Service class to show that I had met the standards. The bulk of the Portfolio presentation consisted of displaying these artifacts and explaining their adherence to and demonstration of the Learning Expectations.
Students had mixed feelings about the Senior Portfolio.
“I get that we had to do it for the state requirement, but it really did show growth,” one student stated. “It was a valuable insight to see how I’ve progressed in many ways,” he said.
Senior Portfolio presentations began at noon on March 22nd as each student made a formal presentation of their compiled work to a panel of three faculty members for grading. The Senior Portfolio was graded pass/fail. Relief was the overwhelming sentiment as portfolio day concluded. Although aware of the value of this portfolio, Seniors were more than glad to clear this new hurdle on their road to graduation.
