Wareham High School students will now have to compile a portfolio of work completed since middle school, and present it to graders during an exit interview, in order to graduate. The School Committee approved the new requirement, which goes into effect this academic year, on Wednesday, Dec. 15.

The portfolio “puts the student directly in the middle of his or her own learning,” said School Committee Chair Cliff Sylvia, following a presentation by Wareham High School Principal Scott Palladino and Assistant Principal Debbie Freitas. “That's powerful learning, no matter how you slice it.”

The new requirement was unanimously approved, though members of the School Committee expressed concern about implementing a new graduation requirement three months into the school year.

“Now you're telling students that in order to graduate, a portfolio is a requirement,” said School Committee member Kenneth Fontes. “They should have known that going into the school year.”

But Palladino noted that the entire senior class was alerted on the second day of school that the portfolio would likely become a graduation requirement, which alleviated concern among School Committee members. Furthermore, students have been required to maintain a portfolio since middle school. Portfolios currently serve as the final exam for some English courses.

The portfolios required for graduation will include students' MCAS history, an “about me” section written by the student, examples of work completed in high school English, math, science, social studies, physical education and health, and samples of middle school assignments. Students will also write a reflection on each assignment included in the portfolio.

As part of the requirement, students will complete an exit interview with teachers and/or administrators during finals week of their senior year of high school. Students will present their portfolio and answer questions about their work. The portfolio will then be scored by the interviewers.

The portfolio is already a graduation requirement for students who have below-proficient MCAS scores, and was approved as an acceptable assessment of academic proficiency by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The requirement will simply expand to the entire student body now.

Freitas said that building the portfolios and reflecting on the work that they've completed over the years creates a sense of pride for students.

“They say they are grateful for the process in the end,” she said.