 Completed Portfolio: Includes all required items on the Culminating Project Checklist. (Additional items are also encouraged.) Should be well organized. Should be a complete reflection of what you have accomplished so far in high school.  Student Led Conference: An oral presentation of your Portfolio, including your plans for the future, for your T-Bird Futures Advisor and a parent/guardian/guest.  ALL students in Washington State are required to complete a Culminating Project to graduate.

 The student-led conference is truly student-led: YOU are in charge. It’s up to you to prepare well, introduce your parents and advisor, lead the discussion, and conclude the conference.  Using your portfolio as a guide, you’ll share your progress with your advisor and your parents/ guardians and address these questions: What have I accomplished in school this year? What do I want to do in the future? Who am I – as a student and as an individual?

 Use the worksheet to take notes for the required sections of the High School & Beyond Plan.  Your High School and Beyond Plan must be completed and submitted in your Portfolio Senior Year. This is not required for Sophomore and Juniors this year. The next few slides is an Introduction only.

Each student graduating from high school in Washington State in 2008 or after must complete a High School & Beyond Plan. The High School & Beyond Plan is a state graduation requirement; however, the contents of that plan are up to the individual school district. The High School & Beyond Plan is based on the work students are required to complete using Career Cruising. By now, you should have a good idea of what you hopes to do next year and have completed many of the steps needed to prepare for next year.

 The High School & Beyond Plan is a typed, 5-paragraph essay usually written in your senior year of high school.  The essay will have a heading that includes the student’s name, “High School & Beyond Plan”, and the date.

 Your Career Pathway and career that is most interesting to you. This should include the reasons you selected the pathway/career.

 The postsecondary education or training you will need to pursue this career and the steps you have taken during your junior/senior year to prepare for and apply to these choices.  The course you took during high school to prepare for postsecondary education/training and for your career.

 The Career Planning Activities you completed during high school to prepare for your career, including job shadows, internships, research and volunteer service.  The plan you have made to finance the next several years of your life.  And finally, your backup-plan in case you cannot attend your first-choice post secondary school/training.

 Introduction  Explain that the purpose of the SLC is to address these questions: What have I accomplished in school this year? What do I hope to do in the future? Who am I?  Ask your guests if they have any questions for you  Thank your guests for attending your conference

 Discuss your classes and teachers (don’t forget to share work from your portfolio). Which classes have you enjoyed? Which are the most challenging?  Explain your plans to improve academically.  Discuss your academic plan and the classes you plan to take next year. Why do you want to take these classes? What do your electives say about you?

 What do you want to do after high school? What are your interests?  Explain what you’ve learned about life after high school and postsecondary education.  What areas do you feel like you have a good understanding of? What areas do you have questions about or need additional help?

 Discuss what’s most important to you: The activities you do in your free time. The activities you’re involved in at school. (Which activities? Why?) Your contributions to the larger community (Volunteer Service).  Explain what you’ve accomplished this year that you are most proud of

 Sign up for an SLC time that will work for you and your guests from your Advisor’s schedule.  Fill in the name of the person you’re inviting and the date and time you chose for your SLC on the invitation postcard.  Get the address label from your Advisor, verify it is correct, and stick it on your SLC postcard.  Return your postcard to your Advisor to be mailed home.  Confirm with your guests that the time will work and reschedule with your Advisor if necessary.

 Plan what you want to say: You will be given an outline in T-Bird Futures to help you prepare. Plan both what you’ll say and what you’ll show from your portfolio.  Practice, practice, practice! You’ll have some time in T-Bird Futures to practice for your conference, but you should also practice on your own. Get a friend to listen and ask questions.

 Dress and behave appropriately: Plan to wear dress clothes to your conference. You want to look and act your best!  Be prompt and prepared: Make sure you arrive on time for your conference, and make sure you have your portfolio with you.  Be polite: Start your conference by introducing your guests to your advisor. End your conference by thanking them for taking the time to attend.

 Be passionate!!! This conference is your chance to share who you are – and what you want to get out of school. Speak up – don’t talk in a monotone! Make eye contact Be proud of what you’ve accomplished and honest about what you want to improve

 Schedule your SLC and prepare your SLC Invitation Postcard  Review the Culminating Project Checklist for your grade level and make sure you have everything that you are supposed to have.  Verify that you have met the 90% requirement for Career Cruising and work on it if necessary.  SENIORS: Work on your High School & Beyond Plan if it is not finished.