The Canajoharie Central School District is embarking on an exciting new project to help envision what our students will need to succeed in the 21st Century.
The district is asking for the public’s help in developing an initiative called a “Portrait of a Graduate.” Think of today’s kindergarteners and what skills they will need to be productive and successful citizens in society and their careers. They will graduate in 2035.
Here at the Canajoharie Central School District, we want to be future driven and develop a plan from this portrait and develop programming that will ensure our students have the skills needed.
What is Portrait of a Graduate?
Portrait of a Graduate is a national program used by school districts to help determine the skills students will need to succeed in the future.
Every school system is unique, but they are connected by a shared aspiration: that all students have an educational experience that prepares them to become lifelong learners and contributors. Now more than ever, that experience must not only provide for the acquisition of rigorous academic content, but it must also be more intentional about fostering empathy, creative thinking, adaptability, collaboration, plus more 21st century skills and mindsets that our students need to navigate and thrive in this complex, rapidly changing world.
Many school systems across the country have engaged their larger community in developing a Portrait of a Graduate, a collective vision that articulates the community’s aspirations for their students. Locally developed, but globally positioned, the Portrait of a Graduate serves as a North Star for system transformation. Providing strategic direction for the redesign of the overall educational experience for students, this collective vision reinvigorates and re-engages students, educators, and community stakeholders. As school system leaders it is important to identify your shared aspirations as you engage with your broader community to consider these essential questions:
- What are the hopes, dreams, and aspirations that your community has for every student?
- What are the skills and mindsets that students need to thrive in our ever-changing world?
- What are the implications for learning and equitable structures and practices in your school system?
What are the next steps?
The Canajoharie CSD is asking our community to take a short survey to find out what they
This survey will provide the Graduate Profile Committee with valuable information as they take on the task of choosing FIVE competencies which will guide the creation of the Canajoharie Graduate Profile.
What comes after the survey?
After we gather the information and filter through the results we will be forming a committee to devise the final product and help with new programming. If you would be interested in possibly being on that committee please fill in the information below.