The Moultonborough School District has embarked on the process to create a Prek-12 Portrait of a Learner this school year as a way to encompass the non-academic skills and dispositions a student should possess as they progress through, and upon graduation from, the Moultonborough School District. In addition to the academic standards, the skills and dispositions a student possess help them demonstrate their learning and knowledge. These are dispositions such as the ability to communicate effectively and clearly, the ability to collaborate with others, and the ability to adapt to new situations.
Initially, the district engaged in the process as the New England Association of Schools and College accreditation requires a Portrait of a Graduate for the high school. However, as educators, we know the development of these dispositions starts in PreK and needs to be nurtured as they progress through different grade-levels.
The committee began by recognizing the unique existence of a Community Charter for the town of Moultonborough, which is utilized throughout the school district. The Community Charter states:
We, the Community of Moultonborough School District, affirm the existence of the following ethical ideals and encourage all members of our community to embrace, practice, promote and uphold these ideals as adopted in the Moultonborough Community Charter.
RESPECT - means to hold yourself, others, the community, and the environment in such high regard that thoughts, words and deeds promote the health, strength, and highest quality of existence for all.
RESPONSIBILITY - means to distinguish between right and wrong, to be morally, legally, and mentally accountable and to understand there are consequences for all choices.
INTEGRITY - means to be honest, truthful, trustworthy, sincere, fair and honorable.
COMPASSION - means to recognize the distress of others and to have the desire to make a difference by providing relief and help.
MORAL COURAGE - means deliberate and practical reasoning and action in circumstances of difficulty, intolerance or trouble.
The Portrait of a Learner will provide an update to the Moultonborough Community Chart dispositions and how they are aligned with what, and how, we teach. The committee decided to use the America Succeeds list of durable skills as a jumping off point.
The list of success skills below comes from a combination of widely recognized frameworks for 21st-century skills and workforce readiness, as well as research on the essential competencies needed for success in today's rapidly changing world.
- Adaptability
- Problem-solving and Critical Thinking
- Communication and Collaboration
- Digital Literacy and Technology Skills
- Financial Literacy
- Emotional Intelligence and Resilience
- Global Awareness and Cultural Competence
- Creativity and Innovation
- Leadership and Initiative
- Entrepreneurial Mindset
The committee has spent the fall and winter of 2024-2025 soliciting feedback from all stakeholders (staff, students, parents, and community members) by asking them to take a survey.Your insights, experiences, and ideas are vital in helping us understand how to best prepare our young people for the challenges and opportunities that await them.How You Can Get Involved: Survey Participation: We will soon be launching a community-wide survey to gather input on the skills, dispositions, and real-world experiences that are most important for our graduates. Your feedback will help shape the vision document that guides our educational efforts.
Focus Groups: We are also hosting a series of focus groups with local businesses, organizations, parents, and educators to gather deeper insights on how the community can partner with the school to provide meaningful learning experiences for our students.**Why Your Voice Matters:Moultonborough is built on a strong sense of community, and our students thrive when we work together to support them. Whether it’s offering internships, job shadowing, mentorship, or simply sharing your thoughts on how we can improve, your participation will have a lasting impact on our students' success.Stay tuned for more details about the survey and focus group dates. In December, you may have gotten a visit from the School District at your business or organization as we went out seeking feedback or participated in the focus group at the Library. We hope you will consider taking a few minutes to provide us with your feedback. If you have any questions, please email Angel Littlefield, Director of Curriculum, at alittlefield@sau45.org.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to working with you to build a brighter future for our young people!Links to the Moultonborough Portrait of a Learner Surveys by stakeholder groups
Student Feedback: www.slido.com #Students
Moultonborough Staff Feedback: www.slido.com #School
Parent Feedback: www.slido.com #Parents
Community Feedback (Someone does not have a child currently in the Moultonborough Schools or staff member): www.slido.com #Panthers
Alumni Feedback: www.slido.com #Alumni