Portrait of a Newtown Graduate

| Portrait of a Newtown Graduate

represents the Newtown Board of Education’s shared vision for student success and serves as a cornerstone of district planning, instructional design, and continuous improvement. Developed collaboratively with educators and stakeholders, this framework articulates the knowledge, skills, and dispositions every student should demonstrate upon graduation.


The Board and district leadership use the Portrait of a Graduate to guide strategic decisions related to curriculum, professional learning, resource allocation, and policy development—ensuring alignment between district goals, classroom practice, and student outcomes.

Newtown graduates are successfully prepared to be:

The Newtown Board of Education is committed to ensuring these graduate characteristics are embedded throughout the district’s instructional programs, assessment practices, and professional learning initiatives. The Portrait of a Newtown Graduate provides a shared language for excellence and accountability and reflects the Board’s dedication to preparing students for college, career, and civic life.

Critical Thinkers

  • Students analyze and evaluate information, consider multiple perspectives, and use credible evidence to draw conclusions and solve problems.

Collaborators

  • Students work productively with others, value diverse contributions, share responsibility, and collaborate toward common goals.

Open and Respectful Communicators

  • Students engage in thoughtful exchange of ideas across multiple formats, listen actively, communicate clearly, and demonstrate perspective-taking.

Innovators

  • Students approach challenges creatively, seek new solutions, reframe problems, and take initiative while remaining curious, reflective, and forward-thinking.

Ethical and Compassionate Citizens

  • Students act with integrity, demonstrate empathy, understand multiple perspectives, and contribute positively to their school and broader community.

Resilient and Adaptable Achievers

  • Students persist through challenges, respond positively to setbacks, seek feedback, reflect on experiences, and take action to improve.

Strategic Planners

  • Students set goals, manage time effectively, prioritize tasks, utilize feedback and resources, and approach complex work with thoughtful planning.


Critical Thinker

Definition

A critical thinker is a learner who analyzes and evaluates information to make connections and draw concluisons

Attributes

  1. Works independently
  2. Considers and understands multipulr perspectives
  3. Uses credible data to support ideas
  4. Questions resluts to ensure best outcomes

Collaborator

Definition

A collaborator is a learner who works with others to achieve a common goal or complete a task. They emphasize teamwork, sharing ideas, and cooperating to reach the best possible result.

Attributes

  1. Participates in sharing goals and responsibilities
  2. Values and understands all team members contributions, unique knowledge and skills
  3. Works with others to reach a consensus

Open & Respectful Communicator

Definition

An open and respectful communicator is a learner who engages in respectful exchange of informaiton and ideas, whether verbal, non-verbal, written, or through the use of technology

Attributes

  1. Listens actively in conversations
  2. Shares ideas and infomarion in a clear, organized, and honest manner
  3. Engages in perspective talking

Innovator

Definition

An innovator is a learner who considers multiple avenues and perspectives of possible solutions, and is brave enough to try them.

Attributes

  1. Reframes challenges
  2. Seeks new solutions, resources and ideas
  3. Takes the initiative to develop imaginative and abstract ideas
  4. Is reflective, curious, creative, and forward-thinking

Ethical & Compassionate Citizen

Definition

An ethical and compassionate citizen is a learner who stands up for what is right by showing empathy and concern for the well-being of others.

Attributes

  1. Has integrity in their actions, even when it is difficult
  2. Understands multiple perspectives
  3. Develops a genuine desire to help others and promote the common good

Resilient & Adaptive Achiever

Definition

A resilient and adaptable achiever is a learner who is able to respond positively to setbacks with a belief that you can do

Attributes

  1. Maintains a positive attitude
  2. Seeks, evaluates, and applies feedback on work
  3. Reflects on and analyzes

Strategic Planner

Definition

A strategic planner is a learner who becomes more efficient by setting clear goals, managing time effectively, and approaching tasks with a thoughtful plan.

Attributes

  1. Sets clear, achievable objectives and works steadily toward them
  2. Plans and prioritizes tasks effectively to meet deadlines
  3. Breaks down complex tasks into manageable steps
  4. Keeps track of deadlines, instructions, and necessary materials