Some St. Mary School students caught a glimpse of the real world
last week as local business owners, community leaders, alumni,
parents and parishioners interviewed them on their scholastic
accomplishments. Full article
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Some St. Mary School students caught a glimpse of the real world last week as local business owners, community leaders, alumni, parents and parishioners interviewed them on their scholastic accomplishments.
The graduating eighth graders decorated colorful poster boards with their names in glitter, lists of redeeming qualities written in marker and photos that included baby snapshots all the way to eighth grade graduation photos.
It was part of the school’s Student Learning Portfolio Project reserved for graduating students that encouraged accountability, self-awareness and the creation of a portfolio reflecting evidence of achievement and growth.
The project, developed by St. Mary School teachers Cecile Mantecon and Georgia Stern, also required a self-assessment, subsequent periodic self-evaluations and exposed students to a formal interview process.
“We wanted a world experience for them,” Stern said.
She said the project is meant to prepare the kids for high school, college and even a job after they are done with school. She emphasized receiving a grade is one thing, while getting feedback is another.
“I think the best part was that I learned about myself and my improvements as a student,” said 14-year-old Dylan Taylor of the two 30-minute interviews for each student. “This process helped me learn that I want to be an architect.”
Mantecon said the process for gathering interviewers began small with her friends and gradually grew to 28 interviewers.
“We started off with good friends. We then looked at the population and the kids,” said Mantecon. “It was more of we need a person like this or a person like that.”
Sabrina Aragon, 13, said, “I liked the interviews the best because I got to meet new people and show them how we improved.”
