WHS seniors present portfolios

This year’s Wahkiakum High School graduates will be the first class required to assemble and present a senior portfolio.

“A senior portfolio is a collection of things that represent the student,” WHS Principal Loren Davis said.

Students are given instructions for the portfolio as freshmen and are encouraged to begin collecting the information necessary for the presentation they will give their senior year.

“It is up to the local school districts to control what they would like to do with the senior project,” Davis said.

Some schools will require students to finish a major project during their senior year. Davis said that the administration at Wahkiakum High School decided to spread out that work over all four years, so it isn’t such a huge deal in their senior year.

The portfolio includes accomplishments the student has made during their high school career, including awards and certificates, a resume, an overview of community service the student has performed and a Kuder assessment.

The Kuder is an online test every senior must participate in that will help to determine the best career choice according to the skills, interests and values of the student. The site will link the student with different web pages so research can be done on the careers determined by the test.

It also will link the students to college websites, where training for such careers can be obtained.

“It is something that will help them realize that there are occupations and careers out that will fit their interests and values,” Davis explained.

The portfolio must include a “high school and beyond plan,” an essay written by the student that tells the reader what plans he or she has for the future and how they will achieve those goals.

Part of the state requirement for the senior project of portfolios includes this essay. There is no length requirement; however, students must follow the suggested guidelines set forth by the state.

While the state does not require oral presentations, WHS expects students to present their portfolios to a panel of three, including a member of the community who volunteers to come hear a block of presentations, a faculty of staff member, and one person of the student's choosing that is not a fellow student.

Each senior is given a window of 20 minutes, but they often won’t need that much time, Davis said. The majority of students will put together a Powerpoint presentation, while others will use a document camera to show off their work.

Students are graded on the final product. If all elements are included in the portfolio and subsequent presentation, full credit will be received.

Davis said high school staff determined the best course of action to take in grading the portfolios and prepared rubrics for the students to follow while preparing the final editions of their portfolios and presentations.

If a student does not receive a passing grade during their first opportunity at presentations, they are given a second chance a week later. Students must meet the minimum requirements on both the portfolio and the presentation.