Across all schools, we continue to strengthen the integration of the Portrait of the Graduate (POG) competencies through interdisciplinary projects, curriculum alignment, and expanded opportunities for student voice, leadership, and authentic learning experiences.

At the Coventry Grammar School (CGS), the Grade 2 Passage Project was revised to align with the Wit & Wisdom Civil Rights module, strengthening connections between literacy instruction and competency development. Students explore influential individuals and reflect on the character traits needed to positively impact their communities. To provide an authentic audience, students will now share their presentations through the school’s daily video announcements, elevating student voice across the building. CGS also created a crosswalk aligning Portrait of the Graduate competencies with Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) expectations to ensure developmentally appropriate integration of these skills across content areas.

At the G.H. Robertson School (GHR), Passage Projects in Grades 4 and 5 continue to highlight interdisciplinary learning and presentation skills. Grade 4 students integrate their research with a field experience to the State Capitol and virtual tours of Connecticut tourism destinations while examining the question of whether Connecticut is a good place to live. Students apply Portrait of the Graduate rubrics for collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and innovation throughout the process.

At the Capt. Nathan Hale School (CNH), the Passage Project has been redesigned to increase coherence and student choice. Aligned with the social studies curriculum, students research global issues, particularly poverty, and examine related challenges such as education, healthcare, water access, and infrastructure in African countries. Students compare how these issues affect communities locally, nationally, and globally. Projects will be presented to families during a student showcase in the Library Media Center. Additionally, Grade 7 teams continue refining the project scope, with English classes incorporating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for research and inquiry.

At Coventry High School (CHS), the timeline for the Grade 10 Interdisciplinary Project was adjusted to accommodate the growing number of students enrolled in AP and dual enrollment courses, with presentations now scheduled for the spring. Teachers also refined support materials, topic guidance, and presentation preparation, including a practice presentation opportunity for all students. The Senior Portfolio Project, revised last year to align with Portrait of the Graduate competencies, continues to demonstrate positive outcomes and will be reviewed annually to ensure continued student success.

In Kindergarten and Grade 2, as well as Grades 3-6, students also participate in Project Lead the Way modules, providing guaranteed experiences that build innovation, perseverance, adaptability, and creativity through engineering and computer programming challenges. Grade levels have further strengthened the integration of Portrait of the Graduate competencies by embedding POG criteria into content area rubrics and expanding opportunities for student self-reflection on academic and social emotional growth.

Collectively, these efforts strengthen coherence across grade levels, deepen student engagement in authentic learning experiences, and ensure our students continue to develop the critical competencies outlined in the district’s Portrait of the Graduate.