Presentations of Learning

Along with developing the skills and knowledge within disciplines and courses, students and faculty also focus on the development of a core set of capacities unique to our curriculum: The GCDS Portrait of a Learner. From nursey to twelfth grade, our academic program supports the growth of these capacities in every student. 

In the Upper School, students work with their faculty mentors to track their personal growth in these areas year-to-year.  In addition to culminating projects and final exams, at the end of each spring term, every student hosts what we call a Presentation of Learning (or "POL"), during which they reflect on their academic work, faculty feedback, and goals they've set for the year. They design a visual presentation, including clips of performances, demonstrations of robotics and chemical experiments, and examples of written and artistic work from all of their courses. Through this presentation, they track their progress toward their Portrait capacities, and they articulate their goals for the upcoming school year. An intellectual highlight of our community's year, students invite faculty, peers, and family members to their POL to reflect on their accomplishments, and to gather input and reflection on their personal growth.