Details This program has been in place for 20

Years. Each student prepares a portfolio

freshman through junior years for a grade in English.

English teachers keep portfolios until the end of the junior year.

Each student who intends to walk at graduation participates in the portfolio presentation.

Portfolio Objectives:

Each person will create reflections on their pieces to demonstrate their evidence of learning and their progressive development of applying skills and strategies to the real world.

Students will present in a professional environment what they have learned in high school, and how they will apply this knowledge after graduation.

Dripping Springs graduates will gear their presentations toward their professionals and demonstrate how they are a “Portrait of a Dripping Springs ISD Graduate.”

What is a “Portrait of a Dripping Springs ISD

Graduate”?

Life Long Learner

One who continuously seeks knowledge and information to use for setting and attaining lofty goals, who constantly evaluates and monitors, who is open to alternatives for investigation, and who remains flexible and adaptive to change.

Accomplished Communicator One who possesses and

effectively uses the levels of communication skills prescribed by today’s multi-faceted and rapidly changing world…skills in listening, speaking, writing, reading, mathematics, and technology presentations.

Skillful Problem Solver

One who can identify a problem using available data to organize, analyze, interpret, and predict consequences, so that problems inherent in a rapidly changing society can be solved effectively.

Conscientious Citizen

One who is honest and steadfast in beliefs about our nation and its tenets of diversity, understands how our government functions, willingly contributes to the many aspects of community, and responsibly manages time and other resources.

Contributing Member of Society One who possesses high

standards for self whether leading or contributing to the successful attainment of team goals, takes pride in his own work, and is dependable and creative.

Conscientious CitizenPersonal Standard

Attire: How does the student appear ? Dress slacks and shirt with tie or blouse with slacks and skirt, or a dress. Appropriate length /attire

Introduction: Does the student demonstrate proper introductory techniques for an interview? handshake, eye contact, etc.

Personal Standard continued Professionalism: Does the student

demonstrate personal skills such as self-confidence, perseverance, and positive attitude necessary for employment

Organization: Does the portfolio have all the required items and appear neat and organized in order to follow the established assignment guidelines?

Accomplished Communicator

Communication Standard Preparedness: Does the delivery reflect

preparation? Effective Communication: Does the

student demonstrate original thought and creativity through effective communication?

Support of Cover Letter: Does the cover letter communicate the student’s final assessment of his or her portfolio effectively, free of punctuation, typographical, and grammatical errors?

Skillful Problem SolverThinking & Problem Solving

Standard Critical Thinking: Does the student

present works which demonstrate creative thinking, logical reasoning, or problem solving?

Critical Thinking: Does the student present relevant information or data that is clearly identified and appropriate?

Accomplished Communicator &

Conscientious CitizenInterpersonal Standard

Cooperative Working Relationships: Does the student present evidence of teamwork or shared responsibilities?

Cooperative Working Relationships: Does the student show leadership or acceptance of supervision in order to work productively with others?

Life Long LeanerMaking Connections

Standard

Application of Knowledge: Does the student demonstrate integration of knowledge and skills from various disciplines which may be applied to real world situations?

Accomplished Communicator

Technology Literacy Standard

Technological Growth: Has the student used technology to enhance presentation of projects or work in current or previous years? Is a technology piece present?

Technology Presentation of Portfolio: How well was the technology used to enhance the presentation?

Contributing Member of Society

Employment Literacy

Career Pathways: Does the student reflect a career path in the business resume?

Employment Strategies: Has the student participated in strategies for obtaining employment or a career path?

Freshman – Junior Year Portfolio Requirements

Cover Page Activity Resume Six Reflections & Pieces Extracurricular Section Awards & Honors Section Community Service Section

Senior Requirements A Cover Page with Title Cover Letter Business Resume Activities Resume Transcript & Test Scores Letters of Recommendation &

Commendations Acceptance Letter(s) to Colleges or

Universities (if applicable) Scholarship Letters (if applicable) Awards, Certificates, Photos of Trophies,

Community Service Hour Certificates, Etc…

Senior Requirements Continued College/Career/Interest Reflection and

piece Most Satisfying Reflection and Piece Area for Growth Reflection and Piece Biography of a Work Reflection and Piece Technology Reflection and Piece Free Pick Reflection and Piece Peer Assessment Parent Assessment Self-Assessment

Due Dates Friday, 1-11 Student Information Sheet

Wednesday, 1-16 Draft of Cover Letter

Wed to Friday, 2-15 Portfolio

Friday, 3-8 Visual Presentation

Presentations begin after Spring Break

Creating Reflections

Choose both academic & non-academic Be creative You must have a hard copy of the piece

itself Reflections are nine sentence s or half a

page roughly Use Times New Roman 12 point font Show team work, critical thinking, and

problem solving in at least one reflection

Creating the Reflection

NO HEADING ON THE REFLECTIONS!

Title at top

Name of piece underneath

Then type the paragraph of nine sentences (half a page)

Paragraph Includes

Explain what the work is

Explain what you did to complete the task

Explain why you have chosen the piece for that category

What are the Portfolio Pieces

College & Career Piece This piece should reflect and tie directly

into what you want to do after high school (your major, career choice, travel, etc…). This piece does not have to be academic. It may be a piece of art, a photo and/or video of you at a job, organization, activity, or athletic event etc…

The reflection should include why you

chose this particular piece and how it was created, how it directly ties in with what you want to do, and any other insights towards the piece & your college & career.

Most Satisfying Piece This piece should reflect a work that you

proud to complete and that gave you a sense of accomplishment. It should be school related, but it does not have to be academic. It may be an extracurricular activity, community service, or activity related piece. Again, you may be creative with this piece, as long as it is relevant.

  The reflection should include why you

chose this particular piece, how and why it gave you a sense of accomplishment, and any other insights towards the piece & what made it satisfying to you.

Area for Growth Piece NEWChanged from Least Satisfying This piece displays an area you did not do well,

but you learned from the experience. This can be a test you failed, a time you didn’t get to play, or a point in your life where you “dropped the ball.” You should not focus on the negative aspects of this piece or use the time to place blame on someone else. It should be an example of a time you fell, but how you picked yourself back up.

  The reflection should include why you chose this

particular piece, how and why it is or was an area for growth, and any other insights towards the piece. You should include what you learned & how you managed to put a positive spin on it. Again, keep the negativity out of your reflection.

Biography of a Work This piece should reflect any type of process

you had to follow in order to accomplish your goal. This piece should be an academic piece and should continue with the direction of your portfolio. This should be a positive piece that highlights your skills, work ethic, and the amount of time and effort to complete.

  The reflection should include how this is a

process piece, the steps you had to complete, how you went about completing these steps, how this process will help you in your endeavors, and any other insights towards the piece.

Technology Piece This piece will differ from the rest of your pieces.

It must keep with the continuity of your portfolio and should be relevant; however, it may be academic, extracurricular, a hobby, activity, etc… This should highlight your technology skills & may come in a variety of forms: video, computer, programming, gaming, photography, blogs, power point, etc.

  The reflection should include how and/where

you learned this technology, the challenges you face with this technology, what you like about this certain type of technology, the amount of time & effort that went into creating this technology piece, and any other insights towards the piece.

Free Pick This piece should continue to follow in the

direction of your portfolio, but it can highlight any other area of your life. You may choose academic & non-academic pieces: extracurricular, organizations, activities, church, after school jobs, family, etc.

  The reflection should include how this is

relevant to your senior portfolio, why you chose this as your free pick, what you have learned from your free pick, and any other insights towards the piece.

Tips for Success Proofread; catch errors Be organized Practice (30 minute presentation) Complete all items Give teachers time to write letters

of recommendation Make sure you have uploaded your

presentation and tested them prior to your presentation

Tips for Introducing Yourself

When your committee walks in, be sure to shake their hands.

Look them in the eye. Introduce yourself to all committee

members. If you already know a person on the

committee, you should still shake his/her hand & acknowledge them by name.

What to Bring

Provide a folder for each committee member (you are usually safe with 3). Inside your folder you will include your cover letter, resume, and reflections (optional).

You may also include references or other significant items in this folder.

Final Presentation Tips Maintain eye contact during the

entire presentation. Be prepared for questions. Ask your committee if they have

any questions. At the end of your presentation, be

sure to thank each of them! Be confident!  BE ON TIME!!!!

Dress for Portfolio Presentation Dress nice in professional colors. No blue jeans, sneakers, flip-flops or t-

shirts. Girls should be in nice skirts and pants

with a blouse or dresses and wearing nice business colored heels with close or peak toes (nothing too short or revealing/ no bandage skirts).

Boys should be in slacks or khaki pants with a long sleeve button down shirt and a tie with dress shoes, loafers, sperrys

Boys and girls should follow dress code, and both have an option to wear suits.

Technology Information for visual aid

PC computers with MS Office 2000 & Data Projector

Save presentation to flash drive

Internet & Server Access

Check presentation one week prior to presentation on library lap top computers

Technology Restraints No super disks No ZIP drives If iMovie is used, you provide your own

computer and program If you bring your own MAC, you need your

own adapter In iMovie, you can covert the presentation in

Quick Time Pictures and movies may not appear or open

in Power Point on Macbooks

Instructional Items & Assessments

Cover Letter Instructions Resume Information Visual Aid Recommendations Self-Assessment Parent Assessment/Review Peer Assessment/Review Student Information Sheet

Student Benefits Students take great pride in their

presentation once it is complete. Students walk out with a product that

shows the culmination of four years of work at Dripping Springs High School.

Students are sometimes offered internships after a presentation.

Students feel a sense of accomplishment.

Students gain the experience of a formal interview with a panel.