When creating the Portrait of a Graduate, BBCHS began a journey of framing a new vision for our school system – defining what skills, traits, and abilities that our students must possess to succeed in the 21^st century. Now more than ever, BBCHS must not only provide for the acquisition of rigorous academic content, but it must also be more intentional about fostering critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, citizenship, and character because our young people need to thrive in this complex and rapidly changing world. Locally developed, but globally positioned, the Portrait of a Graduate serves as a North Star for system transformation. Providing strategic direction for the redesign of the overall educational experience for students, this collective vision reinvigorates and re-engages students, teachers, and community stakeholders.

This portrait of a graduate embodies six skills we believe are necessary for students to be successful: Critical thinking, communication, citizenship, collaboration, creativity, and character. This defines our approach to teaching and learning – engaging students in programs and initiatives designed specifically to help them master all these skills.