By Michael Ganci, Local Media Editor, Syntax, for The Bronxville School

Jan. 27, 2016:  Bronxville High School freshmen have the opportunity to track their accomplishments throughout their high school careers and choose how the world perceives them by developing digital portfolios.

Ninth-graders are the first ones to take on this innovative and creative approach at the high school, which was initiated by the counseling department.

Counseling department Director Anne Abbatecola said that the idea behind the project was to guide students in their awareness of the Bronxville Promise and development in each of the four dispositions: leadership, critical thinking, innovation, and engaged citizenship. Since each student's portfolio will be expanded upon over the years, students will be able to identify how they've improved and progressed over time.

"We're growing together and helping students identify their development in the dispositions in all areas of their lives, including academics, athletics, and extracurricular activities," said Abbatecola, who added that counselors will periodically check in with students throughout the semester.

The digital portfolio project was launched this year on January 12, when the students began working on their "about me" section. They'll also be able to enhance their portfolios by adding pictures, videos, and projects they complete during their high school years. By the end of this year, the ninth-graders are expected to have uploaded one to two works that show their progress within the dispositions of the Bronxville Promise.

English teachers Genevieve Jaffe and Franco D'Alessandro, who are involved with the introduction of the project, will guide students in the selection of their first portfolio submissions. Director of Technology Jennifer Forsberg, director of technology, and Brad Ashley, instructional technology specialist, have also been involved with the launch of the project. They collaborated with the counseling department to build a template and show students how to edit and make entries into their portfolio. 

Ninth-grader Lindsey Cruikshank said that the project would help her track her progress over time and further develop her leadership skills.

"It will be interesting because it will be authentic," ninth-grader Viena Pentikainen said about the portfolio project. "It will be a good tool, especially for college applications."

Kirsten Ircha, also a ninth-grader, saw the project as an opportunity to set new goals for herself. As a multifaceted student already--she runs track, plays the viola and hand bells, sings in choir, does Ukrainian dancing, and volunteers at a church that helps formerly imprisoned women assimilate into society--Ircha said that the project would be a good reflection of how she grows and what she achieves over the next four years.

"Students will be asked to reflect on each portfolio entry as they grow as students and individuals in The Bronxville School and will make connections between school and life beyond Bronxville," Abbatecola said. "We hope that they will proudly share their portfolios with family and friends. This is only the beginning of a process of gathering evidence of their individual growth and accomplishments throughout high school."

Pictured here:  Bronxville High School freshmen developing digital portfolios to identify how they improve and progress during their high school careers.

Photo courtesy The Bronxville School