Student Directions

Overview

The Graduate Portfolio is a structured collection of materials that document a student’s academic, professional, and personal development throughout their time at Valley High School. It serves as a reflective tool and a resource to support the transition into post-secondary education, employment, or other career pathways. 

Purpose

The portfolio is designed to:
• Showcase academic achievements, work experience, and skills.
• Organize essential documents for college, job applications, and scholarships.
• Prepare students for professional communication and career readiness.
• Demonstrate readiness for post-secondary opportunities.

Portfolio Participation and Expectations

The portfolio will be developed during access periods, class assignments, field trips, and other required activities. 

Step 1: Set Up a Google Drive Folder  (How to set up link) 

Each student must create a dedicated Google Drive folder titled ‘Graduate Portfolio - [Your Name]’. Then create a FIVE sub-folders, one for each competency: 

• College and Career Readiness, 

• Communication, 

• Community, 

• Financial Literacy, 

• Mental and Physical Strength.

All artifacts and artifact connect will be stored in these folders.

Step 2: Collect and Organize Artifacts

Students must gather artifacts that demonstrate academic, professional, and personal growth. These materials will be completed through coursework and assigned activities. 

Examples of these include:

• Certificates of achievement from VHS, your work, volunteer organizations

• Work samples (essays, projects, creative work)

• Volunteer or work experience documentation (resumes, letters of recommendation) 

• Financial literacy assignments (budget plans, tax forms, W-4 completion)

• Photos of your activities

This resource can help you choose which artifacts to put in which competencies.

Step 3:  Connect artifact to your competency

For each artifact, you need to explain how the artifacts connects to or proves your competency

Use this 

Step 4: Participate in Required Workshops and Activities

Portfolio components will be completed during access periods, class assignments, and designated activities to ensure that students receive support and stay on track. 

Examples of provided workshops and activities may include:

• Mock Interviews

• Career Exploration Assignments

• Public Speaking Workshop

• Job Readiness Activities

Step 5: Finalize and Organize Portfolio

As the semester progresses, students should review their materials and ensure all portfolio components are properly formatted, labeled, and stored in their Google Drive folder.

• Ensure all required documents are present and properly organized.

• Revise materials based on feedback.

• Prepare for the final portfolio presentation.

Step 6: Present the Portfolio

The portfolio culminates in a Graduate Portfolio Presentation, where students showcase their achievements, reflect on their growth, and discuss their future goals. PRESENTATION INSTRUCTIONS