Westbrook High School Portrait of a Graduate
Overview of Portrait of a Graduate
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At Westbrook High School, we are committed to fully integrating those PoG attributes into our daily classroom lessons and instructional programming. Our ongoing goals include creating authentic learning experiences to explicitly teach these skills and attributes, while also embedding the language of the PoG into the academic, social, and emotional fabric of our high school community.
Please explore this page for updates on how we are fostering well-rounded, future-ready graduates who embody critical problem solving, creative thinking, effective communication, persevering actions, responsible decision making, and are socially aware at Westbrook High School.
2023-2024 Portrait of Graduate Implementation and Ongoing Integration
During the 2023-2024, the high school community focused on increasing alignment of advisory lessons to our PoG initiative and increasing frequency of classroom assignments and projects aligned to PoG to provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their success in each priority PoG attribute.
WHS Advisory Program
The high school advisory program increased in frequency from twice per monthly to weekly. This additional time in advisory lessons Opens in a new browser tab has provided more opportunities for students to engage in activities specifically designed to improve understanding and application of the Westbrook Portrait of a Graduate. One lesson per month is dedicated to introducing the priority attribute of the month and subsequent mini-lessons are designed to support student learning of those PoG skills and attributes.
To start off the PoG work this year, students engaged in an activity called “PoG Carousel Brainstorm Lesson” during which students discussed the meaning of each attribute. In small groups, students charted actions they could take to demonstrate their understanding and success over time with each PoG attribute. A meaningful and powerful record was created that captured PoG in their own words and voices. Follow lessons and connections to this initial work occurred throughout the year in advisory PoG lessons and in classrooms.
Classroom Practices Aligned to Westbrook of a Graduate
Each quarter, teachers choose a major assignment or assessment and score student work using the Westbrook Portrait of a Graduate rubric. Students upload the assignment and completed rubrics to their portfolios. They also complete a reflection that includes a description of the project, description of the skills and knowledge learned, how they would improve the assignment using feedback from peers and teachers, and how this connects to their future career pathways.
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In September 2024, students in Grades 9-12 completed a PoG Carousel Brainstorm during advisory. Meeting in groups of 2 or 3, students discussed each PoG attribute and charted actions they can take that show evidence that they are proficient.
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In March 2024, business leaders attended each grade level advisory and led a PoG aligned lesson on critical problem solving, specifically business ethics.
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In September 2024, students in Grades 9-12 completed a PoG Carousel Brainstorm during advisory. Meeting in groups of 2 or 3, students discussed each PoG attribute and charted actions they can take that show evidence that they are proficient.
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In March 2024, business leaders attended each grade level advisory and led a PoG aligned lesson on critical problem solving, specifically business ethics.
Future Westbrook High School Portrait of Graduate Implementation Work
Over the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, the following Portrait of a Graduate work will occur at Westbrook High School to help our students better understand what each attribute means and to provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning and growth in each of the priority PoG attributes.
- Exploration of action steps needed to fully and consistently implement the reporting aspect of PoG student progress by course and to meet new graduation requirements, including consistent use of PoG rubrics
- Ongoing professional development and learning to align lesson objectives to PoG attributes in each content area classroom when appropriate and applicable
- Continued communication and celebration of PoG student work and activities on website and weekly communications
