Overview

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The Senior Portfolio is the culminating project of students’ high school career.
It provides students with the opportunity to bring together all that they have learned in twelve years of school.

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Students choose samples of their best works and create a portfolio that will showcase their unique talents, strengths and expertise.
Senior Portfolio consists of four parts:
– (a) the portfolio,
– (b) community service hours,
– (c) the Reflective Research Essay,
– (d) the oral presentation.
Students begin building their Senior
Portfolio in ninth grade and it is a work in progress throughout their 4 years at PGHS.

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Advocacy teacher will be the main source of guidance and support throughout the process.
English 12 teachers will become student mentors during their senior year.

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The Senior portfolio will worth 25% of student’s Term 2 weighted grade in
English 12.

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Best Work Samples
– Collected in Advocacy on the following dates:
– October 23, January 8, February 20 (Seniors),
March 26, April 30
– Best work must be from the approved schoolwide list or approved by the assigning teacher
– If students have an assignment or project that is not on the Best Works list they must submit a “Best Works Approval Form”

The School-wide Best Works Approved list can be found in the Senior Handbook on the school webpage www.pghs.net

Forms and files can also be found by clicking the Advocacy Link under “Programs” on the school’s webpage

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Make sure that your BEST works is on the school’s approved list.
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Bring it to your advocacy class any time before it’s due (store it in your folder so you’ll have it when you need it.)

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What if I have a project or assignment that is not on the list?
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You will need to fill out and submit a “Best
Works” approval form.

Describe the assignment
Explain why it should be included as a best work

Reflection Windows
– A short reflective piece (3 developed paragraphs) that explains why you selected this sample, a description of the assignment and how the sample relates to growth, strength or goals.

Log Sheet
Log each best work sample on this sheet, include date, description & reason for selecting the sample.

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Best Work Samples
– Include Best works in your portfolio which reflect each of the following:
 Growth – sample shows how you’ve grown &/or improved over time (i.e.. An improved grade or success in a class where you’ve struggled.)
 Strength – reflects your strengths as a student
 Future Plans & Goals - sample reflects your future plans after graduation (i.e. a project complete in
CAD or Photography)

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Community service is not a requirement, but without it you CANNOT earn an A on your Senior Portfolio.
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Students completing 55 hours of
‘approved’ community service will earn cords at graduation.

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All community service hours must be pre-approved by
Advocacy teachers so that you can be certain they will count before you perform the community service.

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There are now 2 options for completing the Community
Service Requirement
Option #1:
– Hours must be completed in full each school year in order for students to earn a community service cord.
 9th grade: optional
 10 th grade: 10 hours
 11 th grade: 20 hours
 12 th grade: 25 hours
See Appendix B13 for a breakdown of community service hours for transfer students

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Option #2:Partial Credit
If you didn’t complete all of the required hours during any one year, you can still earn partial credit on the Senior Portfolio, but no Recognition Cord.
Complete 2 out of the 3 years to earn 6 out of the 10 points
Complete 1 out of the 3 years to earn 3 out of the 10 points

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Remember to complete a Community
Service Prior Approval form and have it signed by your Advocacy teacher BEFORE beginning EACH activity
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Also, all work completed in the summer counts towards the next year’s total
Students cannot make up hours for the previous year during the summer.

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Essay written in
Senior English

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During STAR testing, Seniors will present their Senior portfolios to a panel of judges
– students will describe their “best work” samples and discuss how these carefully chosen pieces of work fit into the categories: growth, strengths, and future goals and plans.

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Seniors must have parents sign and return the permission form found in the portfolio handbook

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How are students graded on their Senior
Portfolio?
– Students are responsible for having 5 Best Work
Samples and Reflection Windows in their final
Portfolio. 1 from each grade level & 1 “freebie” from any grade level
– If students fail to submit a BW & RW on a designated due date, they will receive a “NP” (No Pass) for the quarter and every quarter until they are caught up with the required number of BW’s & RW’s.

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9 th graders are required to collect 2 Best
Works (BW) & Reflection Windows (RF)
(1 each semester)
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10 th & 11 th graders are required to collect
4 BW’s and RW’s (1 each quarter)
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12 th graders are required to collect 2 BW’s and RW’s (1 each quarter)

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At the end of each school year, students will write a “Summative Letter” which synthesizes all best works collected throughout the year.

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Best work assignments and community service hour requirements will be proportional to when students enter
PGHS. For instance a student who transfers during the 2nd quarter of their sophomore year is required to have 3
BW’s & RW’s ( 1 from each quarter of his/her sophomore year that he/she attended PGHS and none from 9 th grade)

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With the exception of the Reflective
Research paper and accompanying outline, all Senior portfolio assignments should be brought to your Advocacy teacher to be checked off.
At the beginning of the 2 nd semester of your Senior year, you will be given your portfolio to take to your senior English teacher.

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The complete Senior Portfolio handbook
(including all of the templates, forms, rubrics and samples) is located on the website ( www.pghs.net
). You can read, print and or download all of the info.
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If you would like a copy of the handbook, please talk to your Advocacy teacher and one will be provided.