The Abington School District recently unveiled the “Portrait of a Graduate” initiative, described as “a collaborative and collective vision that provides an enriched community-wide understanding of what being a graduate of Abington Schools means.”
The district launched a community survey in November 2024 to develop the initiative, which “defines the knowledge, skills, and traits every student should develop from grades K-12 in order to prepare them for success in college, career and life” and features the following attributes:
- Problem Solver
- Skilled Communicator and Collaborator
- Resilient Learner and Achiever
- Creative and Innovative Thinker
- Informed and Engaged Citizen
The survey’s 700+ responses were refined by a districtwide committee. Abington Senior High School students enrolled in the Design, Photography, and Illustration program at the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology in Willow Grove developed the Portrait of a Graduate graphic.
“We appreciate the input of our staff, students, parents/guardians and community members who came together to help us build a framework that reflects the priorities and aspirations of the Abington Township and Borough of Rockledge communities,” Dr. Jeffrey Fecher, Superintendent of Schools, said. “It emphasizes not only academic excellence, but also the essential competencies students need to thrive in an ever-changing world.”
The Teaching and Learning Department is developing a multi-year districtwide plan to determine how these indicators will be infused into the K-12 curriculum, officials said.
“The Portrait of a Graduate skills and attributes are an end-goal for all of our students across our district’s nine schools,” Ms. Laura Enama, Assistant Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning, said. “However, what resiliency looks like in a first grader will differ from how we measure that trait at a 9th-grade level, just like it will vary based upon a student’s individualized educational goals. As a result, the ways we infuse the Portrait of a Graduate into the programs within each grade will vary, but the aim remains the same — to ensure that every student is building upon this foundation as they move from grades K-12.”
More details can be viewed here.
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