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 Citizen
Personal 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 selfconfidence, 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 Solver
Thinking & 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 Citizen
Interpersonal 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 Leaner
Making 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

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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

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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 NEW
Changed 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.

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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
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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.