Wood River Families,
We hope you had a wonderful holiday break! As we begin the 2nd semester on Tuesday, January 6th, we’re excited to welcome students back and look forward to a semester filled with new opportunities for learning and growth.
Over the past year and a half, we have worked together to develop the Wood River Rural Schools Portrait of a Graduate, which identifies the qualities and skills we want every Wood River student to possess upon receiving their diploma. To guide this process, we gathered input from students, staff, parents, and community members, and consulted with local colleges and industry leaders.
In summary, parents want their students to be prepared for whatever comes next, whether that’s college, entering the workforce, or joining the military. Employers desire reliability, a willingness to learn, and for. Community members hope our graduates will be engaged citizens who make a positive difference.
Based on this feedback, we have organized the Portrait of a Graduate into three areas: Academic, Culture, and Leadership. Each area includes proposed benchmarks that outline key skills and experiences for our graduates.
Academic
Each Wood River graduate is prepared academically for their next steps after high school. They have demonstrated responsibility, critical thinking skills, and goal setting, as well as the willingness to learn from their mistakes, overcome obstacles, and follow through on tasks on deadline.
Potential* Benchmarks:
Exceed the minimum high school credits (260) and pass the necessary classes for graduation
Accomplish at least one of the following:
Earn 12 college credits through dual enrollment classes
Earn a 20 or higher on the ACT
Earn at least one industry certification
Complete at least one certified job experience
Culture
Each Wood River graduate is ready to contribute to the community and world. They show up. They are dependable. Their hard work ethic has been shown independently and on teams. They have proven their communication and collaboration skills through working with classmates in areas where they have interest and have served their community.
Potential* Benchmarks:
Achieve 95% attendance during high school
Actively involved in at least 2 school activities/groups/teams per year
Contribute at least 20 hours of community service during junior and senior years
Leadership
Each Wood River graduate understands how to lead in their own way. They are decision makers and problem solvers with resilience, confidence, and adaptability. Through the Leader In Me curriculum, students learn about leadership, document their personal growth, and ultimately present their journey to a community panel.
Potential* Benchmarks:
Complete multi-year leadership portfolio
Present leadership summary capstone report
Trained in the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
We encourage families to review these benchmarks and discuss their students' goals for the coming semester. Your partnership is vital to helping every student reach their full potential. If you have questions or would like to provide feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out to me: tzessin@wrrsd.org.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Wood River Schools. We look forward to a fantastic semester together!
Terry
Terry Zessin
Superintendent
