District teams outline 'Portrait of a Graduate' rollout and classroom rubrics

Members of the district’s instructional leadership teams presented an update on the Blackstone Millville District’s Portrait of a Graduate during the March 9 meeting, describing how the five pillars (character, citizenship, collaboration, communication, critical thinking) are being scaled from early elementary through high school.

Emily Turgen, representing the middle-school ILT, said the high-school model helped shape district language and that schools created student-facing "I can" statements so young learners could understand goals. She said learning walks and cross-level meetings in February were used to align language and expectations across grade levels.

"We have our five main pillars with character, citizenship, collaboration, communication and critical thinking that we're sticking with throughout the entire district," Emily Turgen said. Presenters described classroom practices tied to each pillar: monthly student-of-the-month recognitions, laminated collaboration rubrics on student desks for group work, authentic assessments with student choice, and a ticket-drawing incentive system for adults and students who observe pillar-aligned behavior.

Elementary staff detailed how they adapted language for three- to five-year-olds and linked book recommendations and family newsletters to each month's pillar so parents could reinforce learning at home. Presenters said the middle-school and high-school rubrics will be used as exemplars while the complex is building grade-level rubrics and plans for a district-wide display of the Portrait of a Graduate roadmap in school lobbies.

Committee members asked about measurement and fidelity. Presenters said the district is creating classroom rubrics and plans for vertical walkthroughs and learning walks to observe implementation and encourage consistency. Staff emphasized embedding the framework in existing classroom activities rather than adding another separate initiative.

Next steps include finalizing rubrics across grade spans, scheduling PD to support teacher implementation, and continuing student and parent engagement activities.

The presentation preceded the public hearing on the FY24 budget and was framed by presenters as the instructional and cultural context that informs budget priorities.